As Notts County prepare for their first home game of the 2024-25 League Two season, head coach Stuart Maynard has shared his excitement about the upcoming fixture, highlighting the importance of making Meadow Lane a fortress.
The club has undergone significant pitch renovations, laying a completely new surface, which prevented the hosting of any home pre-season friendlies.
Now, with the improvements complete, Maynard and his squad are eager to put on a show for their supporters. The Magpies' first two matches of the season have taken place away from home, giving the newly laid pitch time to settle. Maynard has expressed confidence in the quality of the new surface, which he believes will play a crucial role in how the team performs throughout the season.
"I'm not a specialist in growing grass," Maynard admits, "but when you're on it, you can tell the grass coverage is unbelievable. It doesn't tear up, and you don't seem to get any divots on it. The ball travels so quickly, which is huge for us in the way that we want to play." For Maynard, the speed of the pitch is integral to his team's strategy, which revolves around moving the opposition and creating overloads to break down defences.
Notts County's style of play, which relies heavily on quick ball movement and precision passing, will likely benefit from the new surface. The head coach is keen to ensure his team adapts quickly to the dimensions and characteristics of the pitch. "The dimensions are a bit bigger this season compared to last season," he explains. "We've made sure the training pitch we're using is a similar size to get used to the dimensions. It does make a difference in the areas where you receive the ball and the space on the pitch."
With over 6,000 season ticket holders, Notts County is among the best-supported clubs in League Two, and Maynard is determined to harness that support to create a formidable home advantage. "We're a huge club within this division," he says. "To get 6,000 season tickets in League Two is incredible. We’ve got to make sure we make our home a fortress. We've got to make it as difficult as we can for the opposition, and any advantage we can get, we’ve got to make sure we swing it in our way."
Maynard is also mindful of the challenge posed by Fleetwood Town, their opponents in Sunday’s fixture. The Lancashire club, having recently been relegated from League One, have started the season strongly and will be looking to bounce back immediately. "I think they're going to be a team that's right up there in the mix," Maynard acknowledges. "They have a very good front two, probably the best we’ve seen in this division. We know they're going to pose a massive threat, but we've got to focus on ourselves, stop them, and also be our own threat."
The timing of the match has also been influenced by external factors, with Nottingham Forest’s home game on Saturday necessitating that Notts County play on Sunday. Although this isn’t ideal for Maynard, he remains philosophical. "We’d prefer to play on Saturday, but it’s the same game day, and we’ll prepare right for it."
Notts County’s partnership with the local university has provided a significant boost to their training facilities, offering state-of-the-art equipment to aid in player recovery and injury prevention. "We’re very lucky to have this partnership," says Maynard. "There’s equipment that a football club wouldn’t normally invest in because it’s too expensive for the amount you would use it. It’s huge, and we’re really excited about the partnership growing over the years."
As the new season progresses, Stuart Maynard’s focus is clear: to build on the solid foundation laid during the summer, make Meadow Lane a fortress, and guide Notts County to success in League Two. With a new pitch underfoot and the unwavering support of their fans, the Magpies are ready to take flight.
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