By Joe Jones
Notts County have the chance of topping the fledgling League Two table on Friday night if they beat Accrington Stanley at Meadow Lane.
The Magpies have improved game by game this season, with the 3-0 loss to Coventry City largely forgotten now thanks to improved performances and results.
With those over the Trent playing on Saturday, the Notts fixture has had to be moved, but if it all goes well, the Black and White Army can kickstart the bank holiday weekend the perfect way.
Ahead of the game, Pride of Nottingham spoke to Accrington fan Alan to get an insight on the opposition.
About Alan: I've been supporting Stanley since 2005, through my dad taking me to games as a kid, and my favourite player is Paul Mullin.
You're known as "the club that wouldn't die" - what's it been like supporting the club in recent years?
The last few years haven't been so bad to be fair. In the 60s, when the club went bankrupt, I've heard about how the town itself suffered and everyone was miserable before it was reformed. Then in the late 2000s we weren't far off it again. This decade we've had two playoff finishes and we're still dreaming of going up the leagues.
Since promotion to League Two in 2006, you've finished in the lower half of the table every season except for two, where you had playoff finishes in 2011 and 2016 - why such fluctuation in positions?
As good as it was reaching the playoffs, the problem is if you don't follow through and get promoted from them, and particularly in League Two, other clubs will identify your players as good prospects and snap them up. This happened both times, with many of our star players moving on, so it's back to square one.
That milk advert from the 1980s - do Accrington fans hear it a lot from away fans? What are your thoughts on it - a joke that's worn thin or something more positive?
I find it irritating as hell personally. Yes, we're not exactly a huge club, but now we're in the Football League, aren't we? I doubt either of those two kids made it beyond playing for their pub team. But some fans enjoy the recognition and say it's put the town and club on the map.
Accrington is a bit of a bogey team for Notts, who haven't beaten Stanley in the last 6 games. Have you seen any of the games and what did you make of the Notts performances?
I went to the last two home games against County. The first one we went 3-0 up and you lot seemed clueless, in all fairness, but you nearly pegged it back and it ended 3-2. The second one, we won 2-0 and it was our first home win for months - again, I feel we were more focused and organised than you on the day. But you lot have had a bad few years, from what I gather - I expect a much harder game this weekend.
Favourite memory as a supporter?
The 2015-16 season, where we were second in League Two and two points clear of fourth with just one game to go. Sadly we could only draw against Stevenage and other results went against us, and we couldn't negotiate the playoffs. So painful, but prior to that, a cracking season. And we got our own back against Stevenage the following year!
Danger men for Accrington this season / who should Notts watch out for?
Billy Kee is the main man, top scorer the last couple seasons and always a threat up front. And Sean McConville is quality too, a solid midfielder with an eye for goal and even better at creating chances for his teammates.
Final score / scorers
I'd love to say a good solid win but being realistic, I reckon a draw. 1-1, Kee to get our goal.
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