Nick Tsaroulla Finds His Feet at Notts County: "It Feels Like Home Now"

Notts County defender Nick Tsaroulla has quickly adapted to life at Meadow Lane, demonstrating both his skill on the pitch and a genuine passion for the club and its fanbase.

The 25-year-old joined Notts over the summer and has since made 14 appearances, totalling 713 minutes. In a recent interview, he spoke openly about his journey, settling in, and his experiences playing in a different position.

“It feels like home now,” Tsaroulla shared. “Obviously settling, I was super excited and just tried to continue that. I really found my joy and a little bit of form now. So I'm just trying to sort of roll with it and carry on enjoying it here.”

Tsaroulla’s position at Notts has evolved since his arrival, with him frequently playing on the right side of the pitch - an adjustment that has highlighted his versatility.

“To be fair, I spoke with the gaffer before and I’m comfortable playing either side. I feel like with the right, I've kind of really taken it in my stride now,” he explained, acknowledging that this switch offers him more attacking options.

“It gives me, I don’t want to say too much to the opposition, but kind of gives me even more of an ability to cut in. I know I can use my right foot, having scored quite a few goals with my right foot in my previous season. So I know I can go down the line, cross it.”

This adaptability has been advantageous for both Tsaroulla and the team, especially as his counterpart, Kellan Gordon, also switched sides.

The two former Crawley players bring a shared understanding to their roles. “We're both comfortable playing either side, and it gives the opposition something else to think about,” he added. “It messes around with the opposition and makes it hard for them to defend us.”

With fellow winger Jodi Jones sidelined due to injury, Tsaroulla acknowledges the void left by Jones but remains confident in his unique abilities. “Nah, not at all,” he said when asked if he felt pressured to replicate Jones’ performance.

“Everyone knows how good he is, but I'm my own player. I feel like I offer different qualities to Jodi. Obviously, there are similarities where we both can dribble and beat people, but he's Jodi Jones, I'm Nick Tsaroulla, and I feel like I’ll bring a different side to the game that he does.”

Known for his instinctual dribbling and ability to beat opponents, Tsaroulla has already impressed Notts fans with his exciting style. His recent match against Barrow was a prime example.

Reflecting on his near-goal, he explained, “It’s instinctual for me. I've been doing it since I was young, you know, a little gift of mine. It's just something that I try and go out there, be free, just enjoy myself, and that kind of comes out naturally. It was unfortunate it didn’t go in, but hopefully soon.”

Playing at Meadow Lane has been a dream come true for Tsaroulla, who savours each match. “It’s unbelievable,” he said, describing his experience.

“I said to my mum and dad that I can never take a home game here for granted. Every time I go out there, you proper take every moment in because you don’t know how long you're gonna have this for, and it’s a special opportunity. So yeah, every time I step out there, I really soak it all in, take it in, and just try and go and enjoy myself.”

With the FA Cup approaching, Tsaroulla reflected on his past success in the competition, including his memorable goal for Crawley in a 3-0 win over Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds.

“The FA Cup’s a really special competition for me, so every time it comes around, it kind of brings back that special moment in my life,” he revealed. That goal, he said, remains “the best moment in my footballing life.”

Now, however, his focus is fully on Notts County. Tsaroulla has a personal connection to the club, one that began even before his signing.

Reflecting on an FA Cup clash last year, he shared, “I remember coming away from that game and going, I said to my parents, if there’s a club that I want to play for, it’s this one. You could feel it. Despite us losing, I really enjoyed that game, it was a proper footballing game.”

Having achieved his dream, Tsaroulla is grateful to be on the Meadow Lane side of the pitch, with the Notts fans cheering him on.

With his skill, passion, and dedication to making the most of each game, he’s set to be a vital player as Notts County continues their campaign.

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