Fundraising launched for Notts County creation meeting plaque outside Nottingham Mercure Hotel

A fundraising drive has begun to design and install a plaque outside the Nottingham hotel where a meeting was held to create Notts County Football Club.

On December 7, 1864, a group of individuals gathered in Suite 102 in what was then the George Hotel - now the Mercure Hotel - on George Street, Hockley, and created the first professional ‘foot-ball’ club in the world.

Notts fan Andy Black has started a crowdfunding page with the aim of raising £450 so a plaque - the idea of which was proposed by the Nottingham Civic Society - can be installed by the Mercure Hotel's entrance to pay tribute to this historic meeting.

He told the Nottingham Post: “I am just a football fan and I am passionate about my club. After helping to raise funds for the Jimmy and Jack statue outside the stadium, I was asked to help raise funds for this plaque.

"I want to give Notts County fans the opportunity to contribute to a plaque to go outside the hotel.

“Nottingham Forest have the Brian Clough statue right in the city centre and I’d like to see more recognition of County in the centre of town.

"It will be of interest to tourists too who come through the city centre and will want to learn about the history of the club."

Notts owner Alan Hardy added: "We are extremely proud of our status as the world’s oldest Football League club and commend Andy’s efforts to commemorate our birthplace.

"The meeting that took place inside the Mercure in 1864 was hugely significant for the sport and the plaque will be a fitting way for people to learn more about our club’s unrivalled history."

The Post has also revealed that the plaque is going to be black with white writing, the colours of the club, and that the fundraisers hope to have the money raised by the end of October so the plaque is ready to be unveiled on the anniversary of the club’s creation in December.

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