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The Match Officials

Shrewsbury Town started the 2013/14 campaign quite well, as a side which has struggled in the past few seasons. Their fans will no doubt have thought things might have turned a corner, however there is one thing to be said. They know how to scrap and fight for their League One status! In their past six games, they've only managed to pick up two points. Brentford 1-1 at their home, whilst they drawn away to Port Vale 0-0. Notts come into the game having lost to promotion chasing Wolves, however we have picked up six points from our last six games. We now take a look at the match officials! On Saturday the match officials at Meadow Lane will be referee Sebastian Stockbridge, with his two assistants Christopher Kavanagh and Ben Toner. The fourth official is Andy Newbold.
 
Match Officials;
 
Referee; Sebastian Stockbridge has taken control of fifteen league games, he's been the referee in two F.A Cup games and one JPT tie. During these games he's issued a total of 66 yellow cards, whilst he's only sent off four players. The majority of games have been League Two standard, a total of 8 games. He's featured six times in League One and once in the Championship.
Interesting Fact – Sebastian Stockbridge actually officiated our game against Tranmere Rovers back in September 2013, in which we won 2-0. Goals coming from Joss Labadie 7th minute mark and Marcus Haber 79th minute.
 
Assistant Referees; Christopher Kavanagh has been the 1st assistant a total of four times, he's been the 2nd assistant once and the fourth official twice. He has however spent the majority of time officiating lower league games, where he once issues 8 yellow cards and 1 red all within the same game.
Ben Toner was the 1st assistant once, he's been the 2nd assistant three times and the fourth official once. Like Christopher Kavanagh, Ben Toner has been the referee in a number of lower league games. He's issued 25 yellow cards in 5 games in the conference.
Interesting Fact – In 15 conference games and 1 F.A Cup tie, Christopher Kavanagh has issued a total of 51 yellow cards. He has only issued 6 red cards – Compared to Ben Toner's 16 conference games and 1 F.A Cup Tie, 42 Yellows and 3 red cards.
 
The Fourth Official; Andy Newbold has been the fourth official twice so far in this season, he's been the 1st official three times and the 2nd official 5 times. He's officiated four times within League One, three times within the Championship and twice in League Two.
Interesting Fact – Back in 2009, Andy Newbold was an assistant in a famous Premiership encounter. No, this wasn't a local derby between either Liverpool, Manchester or London big occasions. This was a simple tie between Sunderland vs Liverpool, so why was this exactly a famous encounter? You might recall if you watch the attached video below.
 
[center]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5O8ch-rSFY
The beach ball goal of 2009! Despite the calls for rematch, it was decided the result was final. Let this be a warning to anyone considering having a bit of harmless fun by throwing items onto the pitch, it might just backfire!
 
Do you have an opinion on the game? - Match Thread
Also, please do leave us a comment below if you have time.
Chris

Wolverhampton Wanderers 2 - 0 Notts County

Well, it was always going to be a difficult game, away at a team that was plying its trade in the Premier League two years ago, but one can't help but feel a little deflated after today's display, as Notts County came crashing to a 2-0 defeat at Wolverhampton Wanderers, thanks to a brace from midfielder Michael Jacobs, whose goals came either side of half time.

Shaun Derry named an unchanged starting line-up following the 3-0 victory against Coventry City last week, with the only change coming on the bench, as youngster Ronan Murray, back from suspension, came in place of Curtis Thompson.
Wolves had the better of a scrappy opening period, and their first attempt on goal came in the 12th minute as Nouha Dicko cut in from the right and curled a left-footed shot just off target. The same player came close again two minutes later after some good build-up play.
On the quarter-hour mark, however, Bakary Sako was able to pick out Scott Golbourne on the overlap and the left-back’s cross was nodded home at close range by the unmarked Jacobs.
Wolves continued to dominate after their opener, Sako’s powerful effort from a tight angle having to be turned around the post by Bartosz Bialkowski.
County nearly pulled one back midway through the first half, as James Spencer picked out Callum McGregor in the box with a fine ball, but the County youngster poked his shot just wide.
Wolves were soon back on the attack as Sako’s powerful shot was parried by Bart, Alan Sheehan having to make a frantic clearance from the rebound.
The Molineux outfit were 2-0 up just before the hour, as Richard Stearman strode forward into the final third and squared a ball for Jacobs. The 22-year-old proceeded to bend home a 25-yard shot that squirmed past Bart.
It could easily have been 3-0 moments later when Jacobs’ through-ball sent James Henry racing clear but the Polish shot-stopper made a smart save in a one-on-one.
The home side kept threatening and consolidating their dominance throughout the rest of the game, but with 11 minutes of the game left, Notts missed a great chance to pull a goal back when Jack Grealish headed over from Jamal Campbell-Ryce’s cross.
The Magpies are now back in the relegation zone.
Joe Jones

Stat Attack: Wolverhampton Wanderers v Notts County

Notts County and Wolverhampton Wanderers have a long history of facing each other. The first fixture came all the way back in January 1889 (about a century before I was born! –JJ), with the Magpies securing an emphatic 3-0 win.

Over the years, County’s record hasn’t quite lived up to the standard of the first game. We’ve won 23 games, but lost 37. Out of the 83 fixtures that have taken place over the years, 21 have ended in a draw.
Wolves have played Notts three times since the turn of the century: On the 21st September 2010 in the Carling Cup, where Wolves won 4-2, just over four months ago, on the 8th October 2013, in the Johnston's Paint Trophy, where Notts won on penalties after a 0-0 draw, and in League One a month later, in November, where we lost 1-0.
 
Prior to the 2010 clash, you have to go back all the way to 1994 for the last encounter between these two: a 1-0 defeat in Division 1 (back then this was the second tier).
That's nothing, however. The longest period of time between Notts and Wolves facing off is from January 1935 to November 1976 - a huge 41 years! To put that into perspective, Elvis Presley was four days old at the time of the 1935 fixture, while the 1976 fixture was just nine months before his untimely passing.
Wolves became founder members of the Football League in 1888, and finishing 3rd in the inaugural season as well as reaching the FA Cup final (where they lost 3-0 to the Preston North End).
Wolves were the first club to score to 7000 League goals - Wolves achieved this when Seol Ki-Hyeon scored in the 1-1 draw at Crystal Palace on the 10th December 2006.
 
The Black Country side suffered the ignominy of successive relegations, tumbling out of the Premier League during the 2011-12 season and then finishing in the Championship bottom three in 2012-13.
Wolves boast three top-flight titles, four FA Cups and two League Cups, in addition to four Charity/Community Shields. That places them on a par with Newcastle United (13) and just under Manchester City (15) in terms of total trophies won in their history.
Wolves keeper Carl Ikeme is fit to challenge Aaron McCarey for a place between the sticks after six weeks out with a broken hand.
Kenny Jackett's outfit, second in League One after four straight victories, play for the first time in a fortnight following last Saturday's postponement at Stevenage.
Wolves midfielder Jamie O'Hara, who is out of favour at Molineux, has been allowed to travel to the United States to undertake a three-week training programme in Los Angeles.
 
Notts are still without Dean Leacock, who is struggling with a calf and thigh injury, but striker Ronan Murray is back after suspension.
The Pies have not won a league game at Molineux since 1991, but we did win on our last visit in October when the boys in black and white knocked the beleaguered Black Country club out of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy 3-1 on penalties.
Joe Jones

The F.A Cup Early Years

Here is Part 7 in the series '150 Years of Football'. As before there are links to previous articles for anyone who missed them or wishes to read again.

As I have explained previously, football in the mid 1800's was very haphazard and with very little organisation. Clubs were being formed all over the UK, playing games to different rules. The Football Association was founded on the 26th October 1863 and the Challenge cup which bears its name was first contested in 1871/2, proving to be very popular with clubs throughout the country. However to take part in this competition teams had to accept FA rules.This helped bring together teams playing the varying forms of football under one set of rules - Association Football.
So how did football develop and what about the teams in the 1870's. Well here goes as I try to explain.
 
By the 1871/2 season The FA had 50 member clubs, 15 of which entered the cup competition originally but only 12 actually played with 12 games in total.
Queen Park who were a leading Scottish club from Glasgow managed to get as far as the semi-final without actually playing a game due to opposition withdrawals and byes. At this time there was a rule allowing both teams through to the next round in the event of a draw, at the organising committees discretion. After holding Wanderers to a draw they had to withdraw themselves as they couldn't afford to travel from Glasgow to London again.
 
The very first FA Challenge Cup final was played at Kennington Oval 16/3/1872. The Wanderers beat The Royal Engineers 1 - 0.
The 2000 spectators who paid 1 shilling to attend this match witnessed a game considerably different to the game we know today. There were no free kicks or penalties. The goals had no cross bar or nets and there was no centre circle or half way line marked out on the pitch.
The Royal Engineers lost Lieutenant Creswell after 10 minutes with a broken collar bone, this being the first recorded accident in soccer, and no substitutes then either.
Wanderers were a team formed by old boys from prominent English public schools. They didn't have a permanent home ground but played at various venues in London and the south of England, hence their name. The team went into decline in the late 1800's when a lot of its members chose to play for the teams formed at their old schools.
A new Wanderers team was re-formed in 2009 and now play in the Surrey South Eastern Combination.
 
The Royal Engineers were the first team to tour,visiting Nottingham, Derby and Sheffield in 1873.
The Army FA was formed in 1888.
On 7/11/2012 Wanderers played The Royal Engineers at the oval, 140 years after the first FA cup final losing 7 - 1
Wrexham AFC, the 1st welsh soccer club was formed this year.
 
The 1872/3 FA cup competition had 16 entrants and Queens Park were given byes to the semi final but withdrew before their scheduled match with Oxford University. Wanderers,having been given a bye to the final triumphed again and were also allowed to choose the venue, beating Oxford University 2 - 0 in the final in front of 3000 spectators. The attendance was considered to be lower than expected due to The Boat Race taking place later the same day.
Rangers FC were formed and corner kicks introduced in this year.
 
In 1873/4 there were 28 entrants for the cup. The rule giving the previous winner a bye to the final was changed for this season when Oxford University beat The Royal Engineers 2 - 0
Aston Villa formed this season.
In 1874/5, with 29 teams entering, The Royal Engineers beat Old Etonians 2 - 0 after a 1 - 1 draw.
Crossbar is introduced.
 
1875/6 saw The Wanderers beat Old Etonians 3 - 0 again after a 1 -1 draw. 32 teams entered this year.
Duration of a match set at 90 minutes this season.
Wanderers were the winners again in 1876/7 beating Oxford University 2 - 1. 37 teams entered.
We can see a gradual increase in the number of entrants for the cup each year but the competition was dominated by teams whose members came from a privileged background and therefore had more free time and money to cover traveling costs. The entrants also came mostly from London and the surrounding counties. As the road and rail network in the UK improved and travel became more accessible to the working classes it enabled more teams from further afield to take part in the cup.
 
So in 1877/8 Notts County entered the FA cup for the first time. Unfortunately they were knocked out in the first round 3 - 0 after a 1 - 1 draw, losing to Sheffield FC (The worlds 2 oldest football teams).
Wanderers made it three final wins in a row this year by beating The Royal Engineers 3 - 1. The attendance for this match was 4500 and 43 teams entered.
West Bromwich Albion and Newton Heath(Manchester United) and St.Domingo's(Everton) formed this year.
1878/9 Saw Notts County lose to Nottingham Forest 1-3 in the 1st round. Forest progressed to the semi final before losing 2 - 1 to Old Etonians who went on to beat Clapham Rovers 1 - 0 in the final.
Sunderland formed this year.
 
1879/80 was even worse for Notts County as they again went out in the 1st round losing 4 - 0 to Nottingham Forest. Again Forest made it to the semi finals before losing 1 - 0 to Oxford University. Clapham Rovers beat Oxford University 1 - 0 in the final.
Manchester City formed this year.
1880/81 was the 10th year of the FA Cup with 62 entrants, 4 didn't play. Notts County lost 3 - 1 to Aston Villa in the 3rd round Old Carthusians beat Old Etonians 3 - 0 in the final.
There were 73 entrants in the 1881/2 season. Notts County beat Wednesbury Strollers 11 - 1 after the FA ordered the original match to be replayed but went out in the next round 4 - 1 after two 2-2 draws to Aston Villa. Old Etonians beat Blackburn Rovers 1 -0 in the final.This was the first season a working class club and also from outside the London//South area had contested the final.
 
A programme from this match was sold at auction in May 2013 for a world record £35,250.
Queens Park Rangers and Tottenham Hotspur formed this year.
In 1882/3 the number of entrants for the cup rose to 84. Notts County beat Sheffield FC 4 -1 in the 1st round and after getting a bye in the 2nd round went on to beat Phoenix Bessemer in the 3rd round. In the 4th round Notts won away to Sheffield Wednesday 4 - 1 and then beat Aston Villa 4 -3 in the 5th round before losing in the semi final 2 -1 to Old Etonians .In the final, Blackburn Olympic beat Old Etonians 2 -1,becoming the first working class team to win the final and also ending the domination of amateur/upper class teams
Coventry City formed this year.
 
The1883/4 competition saw 100 entrants Notts had another good run beating Sheffield Heeley 3 - 1 in the 1st round. In the 2nd round they beat Nottingham Forest 3 - 0 and in the 3rd round won away at Grantham 4 -1. The 4th round saw Notts win 2 -1 away at Bolton after drawing 1 -1 at home before going on to beat Swifts(Slough) away 1 - 0 again after drawing at home(1 -1) Notts eventually went out in the semi final, losing 1 -0 to Blackburn Rovers who went on to beat Queens Park 2 - 1 in the final, which had an attendance of 12,000.
Derby County formed this year.
Leicester City formed as Leicester Fosse this year.
 
In the 1884/5 season 114 teams entered the cup. Here are a few of the results - In the 1st round Notts County beat Notts Olympic 2 - 0, Nottingham Forest 5- Rotherham Town(Not United) 0, Staveley 4 - Notts Rangers 1, Sheffield Heeley 1 - Notts Wanderers 0, Derby County 0 - Walsall Town 7, Derby Junction 1 - West Bromwich Albion 7, Wolverhampton Wanderers 2 - Derby St.Lukes 4 after a 0 - 0 draw, Derby Midland 1 - Wednesbury Old Athletic 2, Note the number of Nottingham and Derby teams.
Here's a few 2nd round results - Nottingham Forest 4 - Sheffield Heeley 1, Staveley 0 - Notts County 2, Derby St. Lukes 0 - Walsall Swifts 1
and round 3 - Notts County 5 -Sheffield FC 0, Sheffield Wednesday 1 - Nottingham Forest 2
and round 4 Swifts(Slough) 0 - Nottingham Forest 1, Walsall Swifts 1 - Notts County 4
Both Notts and Forest had byes in the 5th round.
6th round Notts County lost 2 - 1 after a 2 - 2 draw to Queens Park, Old Etonians lost 2 - 0 to Forest
In the semi final Forest lost 3 - 0, after a 1 - 1 draw to Queens park.
he final was a repeat of the previous season, with Blackburn Rovers beating Queens Park, this time 2 - 0-Attendance 12500.
In the summer of 1885 The FA legalised professionalism(This has been covered in Part 5 - How it came together)
The balance of power had now moved north but soon football would really take off.
 
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super_ram

Wolverhampton Wanderers - View

Wolves come into the game having won all their previous four games, they did however lose narrowly to Gillingham 1-0 prior to this. Notts will be optimistic after casting aside Coventry City. On paper Wolves have many quality players, however as we saw in the Johnstone Paint Trophy we can shut up shop against them and play fairly well against them. Notts fans will be travelling in good numbers, so the League One encounter will be all set. For this weeks opposition view we've spoken to Wolves fan Mike, below you will be able to read his view into our game. Enjoy YP!

Firstly, could you please tell prideofnottingham.co.uk a little about yourself such as how long you've been a Wolverhampton fan?

I'm 28 now. First game I remember was in 1990, at home to Bristol City, we won 3-1 and Steve Bull scored a hatrick. At the time Molineux was being rebuilt so it was a million miles away from what it is presently

At the start of the season can you share some of your doubts? Was you concerned about losing key players and did any signings put those feelings to bed?

The only doubt was not bouncing back at the first hurdle. The players that got us relegated from the Championship deserved to be shot and I was glad to see the back of/exclusion of them at the earliest opportunity.

The biggest relief for me was seeing the exclusion of Johnson, Henry, O'Hara, Ward and others by Jackett as soon as he arrived.

We played earlier in the season in the JPT at Molineux. Did you attend and what was your thoughts on the game?

I didn't attend no, but from what I gather it was a typical JPT/Early cup round game, no interest from the home support and nobody were really fussed by the result.

Kenny Jackett is quite the character, how do you feel about him as your manager and would you say the fans are pleased with him?

I had reservations initially but he's been excellent thus far. He's gotten rid of the bad apples with aplomb and given youngsters a chance. Danny Batth for instance was on loan at Sheffield Wednesday and made captain, when do you hear of that? a young loanee made captain? yet he wasn't given a chance by successive managers here. He's come into our side and now part of the tightest defence in League One.

The signings have been excellent, Jacobs and Henry were superb for the prices we've paid, McDonald has genuine quality for 400k.

Can you tell us how you feel the game will go, who the scorers/score will be?

County seem to be improving a lot with the exception of the Walsall result. Also boosted by the capture of the boy from Celtic who we were interested in ourselves... that said if we want to go up we simply have to be beating teams in the bottom 5/6. We're bound to create chances and we have conceded the fewest in League One.. with that, I'll say 2-0.

What would you say your highlights are of the season so far?

Beating Gillingham 4-0 at home must be one. After the previous two relegations we'd won just 19 of our previous 84 (league) games. So it was a massive moral booster even if it was a promoted side and we were expected to win.

Also, playing Orient at home we attracted a crowd of almost 29,000. For League One that's an achievement and we had the 4th highest attendance in Britain that day.

Please share some memories of match days during the years you have supported Wolves, perhaps you could also tell us about how you became a supporter of them?

For a while I was a home and away season ticket holder with friends but I stopped going away so much due to my career, I was a licensee in Wolves town centre for a while so I was often needed at work on matchdays etc after leaving the pub game I've started going away again but go mostly with my dad and his mates. It's always been a good craic. I've seen us lose 3-0 away at Pompey in the driving rain without a roof, and I've seen us beat Liverpool and Spurs away from home.. for me there is nothing better.

What formations have you been using this season and what do you expect to be the starting line up?

We had been playing with one up front with a midfield five with Dave Edwards making some great runs in which were causing a lot of problems for teams but after the transfer window we've reverted back to 4-4-2 with Dicko and Clarke. McDonald will dictate play and he can put a ball on a sixpence, and Evans is the classic Makelele type who breaks up play. Whilst Edwards was good playing the role above he lacks the discipline to play the Evans role and if he were to start we'd look totally lopsided.

I'd expect this

------------------McCreary------------------
Ricketts - Batth - Stearman - Golbourne
Jacobs - McDonald - Evans - Henry
-------------Clarke - Dicko------------------

The last five games has seen Wolves pick up 12 points, how many points do you see being picked up from your next five?

March will be make or break for us, we've got 8 games in the space of 28 days and looking at the opposition we need to be beating them if we're going up automatically. Brentford at the end of the month will be huge.

Notts County - H - Win
Brentford - A - Draw
Port Vale - H - Win
Swindon - A - Draw
Shrewsbury - H - Win

Which Wolves players have been vital to your recent performances? Can you tell us about the threats your side possesses as a whole?

We can break at lightning speed thanks to the speed of our wingers. In Sako we've got somebody who can be completely anonymous for 88 minutes and still score one and set one up in two minutes of brilliance. I really like Dicko because the lad scares defenders and we've scored two own goals from nervous defending.

The back four have been immense, to only concede 20 all season is a hell of a return and I think Evans too because he really is the glue of the side.

Who do you see as being a threat Wolves from our side and how do you see them being dealt with on the day?

The lad McGregor from Celtic. I don't think we've particularly set out to man mark anybody as of yet, as we play possession football the onus will be on County to 'come and get it' though as we saw against Preston, some managers turn up with a negative gameplan leaving their star players ineffective. PNE and Orient have. If I were County I'd accept we're rank outsiders and go for broke. Fortune favours the brave!

Can you advise our travelling fans about the area surrounding the ground? Such as local pubs, eating areas and of course parking?

There are very few pubs in town for away fans and even less by the stadium.

Walkabout in the city centre is your best bet. It's on Queen Street two minutes from the train station.

If arriving by train as you come out the station turn right and next to the BTP station is a marked subway, walk under there and turn right, theres a pub nearby called the Great Western, great pub busy on matchdays but a great atmosphere and I've seen away fans in there untroubled many occasions

Pride of Nottingham would like to thank Mike for taking the time to answer our questions, we wish Wolves all the very best and hope the better team wins on Saturday (whoever that may be). COYP!
Chris

The Match Officials

Pride of Nottingham once again takes a look at the 'Match Officials', this is in time for our away game against Wolverhampton Wanderers. This is your chance to gain an insight into those in charge of the game! We hope that you find the feature to be interesting, please do stay around if time permits and read up on some of our other content.

On Saturday the match officials for the away game against Wolverhampton Wanderers on the 15/02/2014. The Referee is Jeremy Simpson, with his assistants Simon Brown and Simon Clayton. The fourth official is Andy Woolmer.

Match Officials;

Referee; Jeremy Simpson has taken control of twenty league games, one F.A Cup game, one League Cup game and one JPT tie. Out of all these games he's issued a staggering amount of yellow cards totaling 68. However, he's only sent 5 players off so far. League 1 appears to be his level after making 9 appearances to-date, he has featured 5 times in the Championship and 6 times in League Two. The rest are split between the cup encounters he has officiated.

Interesting Fact; – The most he's carded in one game so far has been in a League Game featuring York City and Mansfield Town. A total of 6 yellows and 2 red cards were seen during this game which ended with Mansfield claiming the win 2-1.

Assistant Referees; Simon Brown was the 1st Assistant in Nottingham Forest's 4-1 win over Blackburn Rovers (booo). He's featured as the 1st assistant a total of 5 times, once in the Championship and two times both in League 1 and League 2. He's been a 2nd official once and a fourth official twice.

Simon Clayton has been the 1st official a total of 5 times, a 2nd official once and the fourth official once. He hasn't featured so far within the Championship, all his appearances have taken place within League 1 and League 2. A number of 4 times each.

Interesting Fact – If it wasn't interesting enough that both assistant officials are called “Simon”, Simon Brown was the 1st official in our home game against Peterborough United back on the 10th of August 2013.

The Fourth Official; Andy Woolmer has only featured once as the fourth official, he's made 4 appearances however as a referee. He's featured once within the Championship and 2 times equally in Leagues One and Two.

Interesting Fact – Andy Woolmer would have been the fourth official in Wolverhampton Wanderers postponed away game against Stevenage FC. He also holds a reputation for not giving penalties (usually within the right circumstances), as he's been mentioned numerous times within the media for this. Most recently in Coventry City's 2-1 win over Bristol City, where the Robins had an appeal waved away as Baker timely halted Cunningham with a perfectly timed challenge.

Do you have an opinion on the game? - Match Thread

Also, please do leave us a comment below if you have time.
Chris

Notts County 3 - 0 Coventry City

Another match day, another turn of events. Just when it seemed that we were perilously edging back towards the drop zone, comes another great performance, another great result, and another reassessment of our chances of surviving the drop.

Notts County comprehensively beat Coventry City this afternoon, as goals from Hayden Mullins, Jimmy Spencer and Alan Sheehan secured a fantastic 3-0 win.

Shaun Derry gave Spencer his full debut less than a week after signing from Huddersfield Town, as he replaced the big man Enoch Showunmi in attack. Meanwhile Mullins, who had made his first County appearance off the bench against Preston North End, lined up in the starting XI in place of Mark Fotheringham.

And despite Kevin Pilkington's immense performance between the sticks in last week's defeat at Preston North End, Bartosz Bialkowski was restored as the Magpies' Numero Uno.

The club paid tribute to former Notts legend Tony Hateley, who sadly passed away a week ago at the age of 72, by staging a minute's applause before the game.

Once proceedings got underway, the Sky Blues had the first chance of the game, as on-loan forward Nathan Delfouneso struck a shot that whizzed past the Notts post. The Pies hit back with a free kick from Callum McGregor that flew high above Joe Murphy.

Just before the quarter-hour mark, however, Notts were in the lead, thanks to a great run and cross from Jamal Campbell-Ryce that was met by the head of Birmingham City loanee Mullins. His goal sent the home stands into raptures.

Sheehan very nearly scored a few minutes later, but Murphy made a good save to thwart the left-back, before denying Manny Smith twice in quick succession.

Just after the half-hour mark, Notts doubled their lead courtesy of a simply fantastic strike from Spencer. The 22-year-old, let go by the Terriers on Transfer Deadline Day, certainly gave his former employers some food for thought after he won the ball in the final third, before striking a sumptuous 30-yard howitzer into the top-right corner.

Kieron Freeman and McGregor could have scored more goals before half time, but Coventry did just enough to keep the score down to 2-0.

The Sky Blues made two changes at the break, highlighting their desperation, but Notts weren't to do a Peterborough this time, and in fact increased their lead when JCR was fouled in the Coventry box three minutes before the end.

Sheehan stepped up and, making amends for his earlier miss, struck a great penalty to take the scoreline past "respectable" into "thrashing".

We've now stuck our heads just out of the relegation mire again, but with the sides below us having several games in hand, we've got to home that they don't make the most of the potential points up for grabs.

Notts currently occupy 19th place in the League One table, but are a solitary point above Sheffield United in 21st.
Joe Jones

Notts Alumni: Brian "Killer" Kilcline

Football is a sport of many styles, many methods, many tactics, many demographics. It’s one of the most inclusive sports in the world, which adds to its global appeal.
You can carve out a career if you’re a skinny 5’5’’ tactician and you can become a star if you’re a 6’6’’ giant built like a brick outhouse. You can be elegant and refined, or you can be uncompromising and sturdy.
Lionel Messi, Nobby Styles, Yaya Toure and Peter Crouch have all been capped multiple times for their respective international teams despite widely differing heights, builds and styles of play.
Brian Kilcline, English centre-back and former Notts County and Coventry legend, was able to get his hands on top-level silverware and forged a highly successful career in the English game, thanks to his tough, uncompromising style, which spread to his appearance – his long hair and beard, combined with his demeanour and passion, ensured that opposition players knew he wasn’t one to mess with.
Born on 7 May 1962, Kilcline began his footballing career with Notts County at the tender age of 16 after being scouted for South Notts Schoolboys, when he signed associate schoolboy forms in 1978.
He got arguably the best birthday present a young aspiring footballer could hope for when he signed a professional contract in 1980, though he already had senior team experience by this point.
He made his professional debut for Notts nine months earlier against Torquay United in the League Cup, before appearing in the league against Bristol Rovers a month later.
Kilcline made 184 League and Cup appearances, and was a key player in the squad that took Notts into the First Division in 1981. A strong, uncompromising defender with a Neanderthalesque appearance, he was the bane of opposition frontlines.
In the summer of 1984, Notts were relegated from the First Division, but Kilcline had the chance to remain in the top flight when Coventry City enquired about the tough tackler. The Sky Blues paid the Magpies £60,000 to secure Killer’s services, putting an end to his time at Meadow Lane.
Over at Highfield Road, Kilcline showed the same commitment and skills that served him so well at NG2, and was eventually made captain of the side.
Arguably his greatest moment in a Coventry jersey came 30 years ago, in 1987, when he led the Sky Blues out at Wembley in the FA Cup final, against highly fancied Tottenham Hotspur.
During the game, which finished 2-2 in normal time, such was his eagerness and drive that he ended up receiving an injury after a tackle on opposition player Gary Mabbutt and had to be substituted before the end of the regulation 90 minutes.
According to an interview, he ended up suffering from a blood clot in his leg and, despite it being a sunny day, he “watched extra-time through thick fog because I was sat beside our two doctors, who were chain smoking to calm their nerves”.
Mabbutt then scored the winner… for Coventry, that is, as he kneed the ball into his own net in the 95th minute. The underdogs then weathered the subsequent Spurs attacks to secure a 3-2 win and, crucially, the fabled, precious FA Cup.
Despite his injury, Kilcline was able to slowly hobble up the famous Wembley step to receive the trophy for the first time in Coventry's history.
Killer recalled an amusing anecdote about the aftermath of the game to The Mirror, where he had to spend time in hospital and wasn’t able to celebrate the cup win.
“We came back to Coventry, showed off the Cup, and I was straight out of the back door at the town hall and off to hospital. All the lads went on an end-of-season trip to Magaluf except me.
“There was no get well-soon card, just a gloating phone call from Dave Bennett and Cyrille Regis to say what a brilliant time they were having. I thought: 'You jammy b******s, I'm not having this' - so I flew out three days later and did my own exhaustive research of Magaluf's licensed premises!”
Oldham Athletic came in for Kilcline in the summer of 1991, paying Coventry a fee of £400,000. However, his time at Boundary Park didn’t work out, so he found himself upping sticks when former England legend Kevin Keegan, now manager of Newcastle United, enquired about his services. Killer duly became Kleine Kevin’s first signing with the (other) Magpies.
During five years at St James' Park, he captained Newcastle to the First Division title in 1993. Keegan later remarked that Kilcline was the most important signing he had ever made for the club. This was echoed by fans, who considered him partially responsible for saving the club from relegation and possible bankruptcy.
During the 1993-94 season, he briefly played for Swindon Town in the Premier -League, before returning to Nottinghamshire for a two-year spell with Mansfield Town, where he made 50 appearances.
His final season was that of 1997-98, where he had a brief spell with eventual Conference champions Halifax Town, before hanging up his boots.
According to The Mirror, Kilcline went backpacking around the world with his wife once his career wound down, then spent time with National Express as an ambassador and became involved in property renovation in Britain and overseas.
With 2017 signaling the 30-year anniversary of Kilcline lifting the FA Cup, the tall, eccentric now-55-year-old was interviewed by the Guardian in March, where he divulged several new anecdotes, including living on a boat, getting married the day after the Swindon Town Christmas night out, where he was found worse for wear outside the town's train station, taking wedding pictures in a graveyard, arm-wrestling Kanu, and setting up home in Holmfirth where he lives with his wife Lynn.
And in true Killer spirit, he shares the house with an eight-foot dragon and a mermaid.
Share your thoughts about this Notts Alumni feature about Brian Kilcline on Pride of Nottingham by signing up to the website, visiting the forum and joining in the chat with hundreds of fellow Notts County fans.
Joe Jones

Stat Attack: Notts County v Coventry City

There haven’t been many fixtures between Notts County and Coventry City, in all fairness: just 35 in the last 94 years. The first took place on the 6th November 1920, the Meadow Lane match ending in a 1-1 draw.

Plenty of high-scoring games between the two, with several 5-1s, 3-0s and 4-2s over the years.

Notts County have the upper hand in the head-to-heads – 17 victories over the Sky Blues, 11 defeats and 7 draws.

In 2001, Coventry were relegated from the Premier League after 34 years in the first tier. At the time, only Liverpool, Everton and Arsenal could boast longer tenures in the top flight.

In 2012, Coventry were relegated to the third tier in English Football for the first time in 48 years.

Coventry’s new stadium, the 32,609-capacity Ricoh Arena, was opened in August 2005, but following a rent dispute with the ground's owners the club opted to play their home games at Northampton Town's Sixfields Stadium starting in the 2013–14 season, a move which hasn’t proved popular with Sky Blues fans.

The club’s proudest moment was undoubtedly the 1987 FA Cup final at Wembley, which was won by the Sky Blues after an enthralling 3-2 win after two hours of football.

None other than Notts County old boy Brian Kilcline, who will be present tomorrow at Meadow Lane, held aloft the famous trophy!

Following Tottenham Hotspur player Gary Mabbutt’s own goal in extra time, which set Coventry on the way to their FA Cup final win, a fanzine was created called GMK – Gary Mabbutt’s Knee!

Notts County are without Callum Ball, who recently suffered an ankle ligaments injury, for six weeks, while fellow striker Ronan Murray is suspended so new boy James Spencer may start.

Bartosz Bialkowski missed the game at Preston but should be fine to replace goalkeeping coach Kevin Pilkington on Saturday.

Left-back Gareth Roberts and midfielder Hayden Mullins made their debuts during the 2-0 defeat to Preston last weekend. Mullins, on loan from Birmingham, came on as a substitute at Deepdale and will hope to be involved from the start on Saturday.

Dylan McGeouch will hope to finally make his debut for Coventry away at Notts County.

The midfielder arrived on loan from Celtic ahead of the close of the January transfer window but saw last weekend's clash against Walsall fall victim to a waterlogged pitch before missing Tuesday's 2-1 victory at Bristol City due to illness.

Fellow new arrivals Nathan Delfouneso and Mark Marshall made their bows at Ashton Gate, although striker Rory Donnelly returned to parent club Swansea for personal reasons before pulling on a City shirt.

Long-term absentee Callum Wilson remains sidelined with his shoulder injury.
Joe Jones

PoN's January Round Up!

Looking back over January, the foot of League One is as tight as ever, with no relegation certainties but a cluster of clubs who are in trouble as they search for improved form and more importantly results to clear away from danger a little. Stevenage were dragged into it as playing just three games in the month they secured just a single win, a somewhat surprise 2-0 win over Swindon Town. It was a terrible month for Sheffield United who in December had shown an improvement but last month saw them draw two and win two, not what manager Nigel Clough had bargained for.

Notts County enjoyed wins against Sheffield United and Bradford City at home and a single goal win at Stevenage with a 3-4 defeat at Peterborough and a bizzare 1-5 thumping at home to in-form Walsall where former County players Febian Brandy (with his first senior hat trick) and Craig Westcarr tormented their previous employers.

Shrewsbury Town had a rotten month with no less than four defeats and just the one success which saw the parting of the ways with manager Graham Turner.

Bristol City had to make do with with just two points return from their four games which saw two 1-3 defeats. Crewe managed two wins in five against Carlisle and MK Dons to give them a welcome six points for the month whereas Carlisle's poor season continues with just one win in their four games which included a 0-4 thumping at leyton Orient.

Tranmere managed a win and two draws whilst Crawley only played two games in January, both 2-2 draws. Oldham enjoyed a remarkable comeback to somehow beat Peterborough at Boundary Park by an amazing 5-4 scoreline after being 0-3 down. Colchester were unbeaten in their three games with good wins against Gillingham and Carlisle. Bradford City had to make do with three draws to go with their heavy defeat at Notts County whilst Coventry City had just the one defeat in their four games.

Out of the teams in mid table Swindon continue to win at home but can't do likewise on away soil. Port Vale recorded just the one win and Gillingham and MK Dons showed indifferent form. Moving on to the clubs in the top six, Walsall had a good month with three wins and three draws the highlight being a 5-1 win at Notts County.

Rotherham's season continues to roll with just the one defeat, a surprise 1-3 slip up against Coventry City. Preston and Leyton Orient continue to impress and pick up plenty of points whilst Wolves and Brentford seem to be the teams to watch out for for automatic promotion.
sadlad

The Match Officials

Ever wondered about the match officials? Pride of Nottingham introduces this new feature 'The Match Officials', it's your chance to learn a little more about the people in charge on match days. It's aimed towards providing an insight into the games they've officiated, so that we can go into games knowing more about each one.

Well here we are, meet the match officials for our home game against Coventry City on the 08/02/2014. The referee is Carl Berry, with his assistances Joe Hull and Darren Strain. The fourth official is Robert Atkin.

Match Officials;

Referee; Carl Berry has taken control of six league games and one JPT cup tie. Within these 7 games, Carl's managed to avoid sending off a single player but has yellow carded 26 players in 6 of them. The only game in this current season which he's avoided using a card was on Saturday 30th November which saw Shrewsbury Town win away from home 3-1 against Stevenage FC.

Interesting Fact – Carl Berry sent off MK Dons manager Karl Robinson back in January 2012, Karl Robinson was so outraged after the game that he approached the match officials and was reported to say “I want a fair game, I want the right outcome. “People say that some go for you and some go against you but we’ve had no decisions that have won us a game this season.”.

You can follow Carl on Twitter - https://twitter.com/carljberry

Assistant Referees; Joe Hull's been fairly active playing mix roles so far this season. He's been an assistant within the Championship on numerous occasions, having been the 1st assistant 5 times, the 2nd official 4 times and fourth official once.

Darren Strain has spent the majority of this season assisting within League One. He's mainly been the 2nd official 6 times, whilst being the 1st official twice and the fourth official twice.

Interesting Fact – Joe Hull was the 1st Assistant in our earlier encounter this season against Coventry City, the well known game which saw Danny Haynes red carded.

The Fourth Official; Robert Atkin has mainly featured as a 1st assistant, which has seen him do so 4 times within this current season. He's been a second official once and has featured as the fourth official three times.

Interesting Fact – Out of the 8 games Robert Atkin as been a official 4 have resulted in draws, 2 home teams have one whilst 2 away have also won. Whilst our facts above only feature the league, Robert Atkin was the referee in a local game between Ilkeston FC and Grantham Town – His ability was questions by both managers in their post match comments.

Do you have an opinion on the game? - Match Thread

Also, please do leave us a comment below if you have time.
Chris

We've Met Before...

Notts County and Coventry City have been playing one another on and off since 1920, although due to both sides see-sawing between divisions for many years, there were often long gaps of a number of years between games.

This Saturday will see the 36th meeting between the two sides. The Magpies have the upper hand over the years, with 17 wins to the Sky Blues’ 11. There have also been 7 draws between the sides. Notts have scored 56 goals against the Sky Blues, while they have netted 49 against us.

The very first meeting between the two clubs took place on 6th November 1920 at Meadow Lane in Division 2. The game ended in a 1-1 draw – Billy McLeod scoring the Notts goal. The following weekend Notts made their first ever trip to Coventry’s Highfield Road stadium, and the match again ended in a 1-1 draw with Sam Richards scoring for Notts.

It wasn’t until 22nd April 1922 that there was a winner in a game between the two sides – Coventry winning 4-2 at Highfield road. But Notts got revenge the following season by doing the double over the Sky Blues on their way to the Division 2 title. Notts won 2-1 at Highfield Road on the opening day of the 1922-23 season – Harold Hill scoring both the visitors goals.

Notts then won the reverse fixture at Meadow Lane a week later 2-0, with goals from Horace Cope and Jack Cook.

With County winning promotion to Division 1 that season, there would not be another league meeting between the sides for 8 years, although in 1925 they did meet for the one and only time in the FA Cup – Notts winning 2-0 at Highfield Road in the first round on 10th January 1925 – thanks to goals from Donald Cock and Arthur Davis.

The two sides got back to playing each other in the league in 1930, in the Division Three South.

On 21st March 1936, Coventry racked up their biggest ever win over Notts with a 5-1 victory at Highfield Road on their way to the league title. They finished 1 point clear of Luton Town, 2 clear of 3rd placed Reading and 4 clear of 4th placed QPR, scoring 102 goals over the season.

The two would not meet again until the opening day of the 1950-51 Division 2 season, when Coventry picked up their first win at Meadow Lane with a 2-0 win. But Notts got their revenge at Highfield Road on 16th December, with the legendary Tommy Lawton scoring a brace in a 2-1 win.

Notts did the double over City again in 1951-52 as City finished second bottom of Division 2 and were relegated, leaving another 9 year gap before the sides met again, by now both in Divison 3. They enjoyed a busy Christmas in 1960, facing each other on consecutive days. The first meeting was on Boxing Day at Highfield Road and ended in a 2-2 draw – Notts goals coming from Roy Horobin and Bobby Forrest. The following day at Meadow Lane, County won 3-0 – with goals from Gerry Carver, a Don Roby penalty (Roby went on to play for Derby County later that season, one for you super_ram), and an Austin own goal.

The 1963-64 Division Three season was one of complete contrast for both sides. The Sky Blues finished top of the league, equal on 60 points with Crystal Palace but they won the league thanks to their haul of 98 goals. Notts on the other hand finished bottom of the league having conceded 92. Amazingly this was not the worst defensive record of the season – that honour went to second bottom Wrexham, who conceded 107 goals!

City did the double over Notts with a 3-0 win at Meadow Lane and a 2-0 win at Highfield Road.

Again, there was a 14 year wait before the sides met again in Division 1. Notts won both meetings in 81-82, and they racked up their biggest win over City on 16th February, with a 5-1 win at Highfield Road – the goals coming from Mark Goodwin, Rachid Harkouk, Gordon Mair, Trevor Christie and John Chiedozie (who also went on to play for Derby).

They repeated the score-line the following season at Meadow Lane on their way to a second successive 15th place finish in Division 1. This time Justin Fashanu scored 2 goals, and the other 3 game from Aki Lagtinen, Iain McCulloch and Paul Hooks.

On 14th September 1991, Notts visited Highfield Road for what turned out to be the last time, and suffered a 1-0 defeat on their way to relegation from Division 1.

Notts’ 1-0 win at Meadow Lane in April 1992 turned out to be the last meeting between the sides for 16 years, before league 2 Notts visited Championship Coventry’s Ricoh Arena for the first time in the first round of the League Cup in 2007 – City winning 3-0.

Last season saw the first league meetings between the sides in 20 years, with goals from Yoann Arquin and Andre Boucaud helping us to our first win at the Ricoh. The final game of the season ended in a 2-2 draw at Meadow Lane.

When the two sides met at Sixfields back in November, City won 3-0, and in truth we were lucky it was only 3-0. Since then however, things have changed, and we're a much tougher proposition who won't simply roll over.

Both of us have been involved in some high scoring games this season, here's hoping Notts can avenge the Sixfields slaughter of November and gain 3 massive points on Saturday. COYP!
weymouthPIE

Preston North End 2 - 0 Notts County

Well, where do we start? An amazing performance by Kevin Pilkington, but a pretty mediocre performance by Notts County, as we went down 2-0 to Preston North End today at Deepdale.

The goals were scored by Craig Davies and Joe Garner - a contentious penalty - but were it not for Pilks's sterling performance, it could have been much worse.

Shaun Derry was forced to pick the Notts goalkeeping coach today as Bartosz Bialkowski was unavailable through illness, while regular stand-in Fabian Spiess was still sidelined with a hand injury.

As a result, the 39-year-old took place between the posts, while youth teamer Harry Andrews was on the subs' bench.

In addition, Gareth Roberts took place in the starting XI today, at left-back, while Alan Sheehan shifted into central defence as a replacement for Dean Leacock.

Following Andre Boucaud’s trip on Garner in the very first minute, a dangerous free-kick from Paul Gallagher was pushed clear by Pilks.

At the other end, Jamal Campbell-Ryce burst down the flank before setting up Callum McGregor. The young Scot couldn't find Jack Grealish though.

A few minutes later, McGregor was able to set up Mark Fotheringham, but his shot was then deflected wide for a corner.

On the quarter-hour mark, The ball fell to Davies, who cracked off a volley from 20 yards on the turn. Pilks then pulled off a stunning save to thwart the Preston man, while two minutes later, Enoch Showunmi's thumping header cleared the bar by inches.

Midway through the first half, ex-Forest man Garner got his head onto a cross from John Welsh, but his effort was just off target. The Magpies were then able to launch a quick counter-attack and nearly scored through Grealish, his effort swerving away from goal.

A few minutes before half-time, Fotheringham nearly drew first blood for the away side through a deflected shot, but his effort, which wrong-footed Preston keeper Declan Rudd, went just wide and into the side netting.

After the break, Preston came back with intent, and very nearly scored if not for Welsh defender Roberts's timely last-gasp interventions.

Midway through the second half, North End broke the deadlock. Neil Kilkenny fed the ball to Davies, who was then given the space and time to turn towards goal before sending a shot soaring into the top-right corner. Pilks had no chance with that one.

To make matters worse, the home side doubled their lead within seven minutes. A penalty was gifted to Preston for a foul on Davies, despite the tackle being made outside of the Notts box.

Sadly, when a referee tells you that a red flower is a yellow flower, it's a yellow flower. Garner stepped up and converted the penalty for his 14th goal of the season, as well as giving Preston an insurmountable two-goal lead.

The game finished 2-0, and, well, we're right back in the mire.
Joe Jones

Stat Attack: Preston North End v Notts County

These two clubs, two of the oldest in the country (and by extension, the world) go back over 125 years. The first fixture between the two took place in November 1888, when Preston North End defeated the Magpies 7-0 in the first ever season of the Football League.

The 1888-89 season saw Preston remain unbeaten throughout, and would go on to become English football's first "Invincibles", a feat which remained unbroken until 2003-04 when Arsenal also went the whole season without losing. So really, Notts being thumped so heartily wasn't quite such a worrying thing!

Aside from Preston going the whole season unbeaten, they were also the first EVER winners of the Football League. Oh, and they won the FA Cup that year too!

The two clubs have met a total of 86 times, and sadly (for us Notts fans) the Lilywhites have the upper hand by quite a significant margin. They're won 40 times, while the Magpies have won 23 games. 23 draws have taken place.

The two teams that have played the most games overall in the Football League are, in fact, Notts County and Preston North End!

Meanwhile, Preston are ranked as the fourth most-successful English football club of all time domestically.

Over the years, there have been some varied scorelines. We've talked about the 7-0 back in 1888, but we've also had 6-2, 6-1, 6-0, 4-3 and 4-2.

Recently, meetings have been tamer (from a goal-scoring perspective). Since the turn of the millennium, we've clashed seven times, and between the two teams, a mere five goals have been scored.

The National Football Museum was originally situated in Deepdale, Preston, but was moved to Manchester in 2012.

Deepdale was used as the venue for the England U21s when they played Iceland in March 2011. Deepdale was used again at the end of the 2011-2012 season to host three U19s Elite Round matches with England, Slovenia and Switzerland all taking to the famous pitch. The three games were held at the end of May over six days.

Preston have made the play-offs in a record eight seasons, spanning all three league divisions, but have not yet been promoted via this route.

Preston have Neil Kilkenny available for tomorrow's game.

The midfielder, who penned a permanent deal with North End at the start of January, was sent off against Bradford in midweek and was due to serve a three-game ban before the FA overturned the decision on Thursday.

Striker Kevin Davies, meanwhile, will complete a three-match suspension of his own, but will return for the FA Cup replay with Nottingham Forest next Wednesday.

Otherwise, Lilywhites boss Simon Grayson has a full squad to choose from with the likes of Keith Keane, Chris Humphrey and Lee Holmes ready to replace Kilkenny.

Notts County have no new problems ahead of the trip to Preston and manager Shaun Derry will select from an unchanged squad.

After seeing his side thrashed 5-1 at home by Walsall last weekend Derry must decide whether to give those players a chance to redeem themselves or make changes at Deepdale.

The likes of Kwesi Appiah, Curtis Thompson, Greg Tempest, Haydn Hollis and Callum Ball are waiting in the wings should Derry opt to freshen things up.

Forward Ronan Murray will serve the second game of his three-match suspension while Mustapha Dumbuya and Gary Liddle remain out injured.

The new boys, Gareth Roberts and Hayden Mullins, will also be eager to make their Notts debuts.
Joe Jones

Notts County 1 - 5 Walsall

Well, here we go again. So much for progress. After a brave but ultimately fruitless effort in midweek against Peterborough United, today was a case of reverting back to the hapless, embarrassing displays of the first half of the season, as Notts capitulated 5-1 to Walsall in front of a home crowd.

The Magpies were boosted by the return of Callum McGregor, who had been so effective in 2013 for the boys in black and white. He lined up just behind striker Enoch Showunmi in place of the suspended Ronan Murray, with wingers Jack Grealish and Jamal Campbell-Ryce either side.

The first ten minutes were quite even, Walsall's Sam Mantom getting a shot in after two minutes, but McGregor replying with a great attempt not long after.

This impasse would be broken in the 24th minute, as former Notts player Craig Westcarr spotted Febian Brandy’s forward run with an incisive through-pass. Brandy, another former Magpie, simply rounded Bartosz Bialkowski with his first touch and placed the ball into an empty net.

Less than 10 minutes later, Brandy scored his second, after Notts were caught out following on from a corner. Milan Lalkovic beat Kieron Freeman and lashed a ball through to the Saddlers striker, who fired a shot into the top-left corner.

On the stroke of half-time, Brandy proceeded to seal his hat-trick, as another great Westcarr cross-chip fell to his teammate, who duly finished with his head. 3-0 at half time.

Things didn't get better after the restart, as a free kick taken by Sam Mantom fell to the unmarked Andy Butler, who had an easy header into Notts net.

Not even an hour on the clock and Walsall were 5-0 up, as Westcarr, ever the tormentor, grabbed a goal for himself against his former club, a simple route one strike following a long punt from the Walsall keeper.

The only positive from Notts was a stunning free kick from McGregor just after the hour, a scant consolation after having been thoroughly eviscerated.

Walsall have scored five or more goals away from home today for the first time since 1997 – a 7-0 FA Cup win at Macclesfield.

Meanwhile, Notts have conceded nine goals in two games and currently sit in 18th.

Don't let that fool you - we're only a point clear of the relegation zone, and have played the most games in the division (29). Four of the six sides below us have THREE games in hand.

Today's storms over Meadow Lane look set to stay for a lot longer.
Joe Jones

Stat Attack: Notts County v Walsall

Notts and Walsall’s fixture history dates back to the 1890s, but there haven’t been that many fixtures despite over a century of head-to-heads.

The first game took place on the 20th January 1894 and resulted in a 2-0 win for the Magpies.

In total, there have been 62 fixtures between the two sides, and this time, Notts holds the upper edge with 26 wins. The Saddlers have won 19 times, and 17 draws have taken place.

Walsall were formed as Walsall Town Swifts in 1888 when two local teams, Walsall Town F.C. and Walsall Swifts F.C. merged. The newly formed team’s first match was against Aston Villa, and resulted in a draw

Two players from this early era received England caps while at the club: Alf Jones and Albert Aldridge. They remain the only Walsall players to be so honoured.

In 1896, the Swifts changed their name to Walsall FC, the name that lives on today.

The club's nickname, The Saddlers, reflects Walsall's status as a traditional centre for saddle manufacture.

Walsall had Arsenal and England legend Paul Merson on their books a decade ago, as player and player-manager.

Sky Sports' Soccer AM have given Walsall the nickname "Warsaw" due to the similarity when pronouncing Walsall and Warsaw. The presenters of Soccer AM often refer to Walsall as "our friends from Poland".

Notts County are without suspended striker Ronan Murray, who was sent off in Tuesday's 4-3 loss at Peterborough.

Kwesi Appiah, who impressed making his debut as a substitute in that game, is pushing to replace Murray - as are fellow loan signings Callum Ball and, yes, Callum McGregor.

Walsall are without left-back Andy Taylor (knee), so Malvind Benning is likely to deputise.

The Saddlers are unbeaten in five and boast the best away defensive record in League One, having conceded 10 goals.
Joe Jones

View of our upcoming games

After the popular demand of our last upcoming games article, Pride of Nottingham returns with a view of Walsall FC, Preston North End, Coventry City, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Shrewsbury Town. On 21st of January 2014 Notts County played against Peterborough United, it was a game fans perhaps didn't foresee quite en-frilling but in fact Notts secure two very early goals. The game ended 4-3 in Peterborough's favour, however the passion installed by Shaun Derry surely as captured a significant change. Thing's don't get easier for the Magpies, these next few games will be tricky.

In our last edition I mentioned how we needed to prepare ourselves for the great escape, never did I think we would collect a huge 9 points from the 5 games played. However, I did feel Notts could gain 6, although realistically I felt 4 would be quite rewarding.

This doesn't mean it's all over, however it bides us some time and a chance to gain additional points to push us adrift of the relegation zone.

Walsall FC are a side which play free flowing football, although this isn't always the case and the perfect example would our scrappy away encounter at Bescot Stadium.

Craig Westcarr is their highest goal scorer notching up 11 so far this season. Adam Chambers is their most persistent fouler with 6 yellow cards, although Andy Taylor isn't far behind with 5. Andy Butler is their only player to be sent off, although he has been yellow carded twice.

In their last four games, they've picked up an impressive 8 points after drawing to Brentford 1-1 on the 18th January 2014. Sam Mantom clinched three points for saddler's as they beat Oldham Athletic 1-0, whilst at Tranmere Rovers they drew 1-1. Walsall also beat Sheffield United 2-1, which seen the club secure all 3 points after a 17 minute goal from Chris Porter.

Preston North End have finally settled within League One, they're a much better side under Simon Greyson and they're a side which should not be under estimated.

Former Nottingham Forest front man Joe Garner is their highest goal scorer with 13 goals, however they also have former Bolton Wanderers striker Kevin Davies who's scored 5. John Welsh and Bailey Wright share 6 yellow cards each. Kevin Davies, Stuart Beavon, Neil Kilkenny and Paul Gallagher have all be sent off once.

In their last four games, they've picked up 7 points in the league but notably defeated Ipswich Town 3-2 in the F.A Cup 3rd round replay. A late equaliser for Coventry meant the score finished 1-1, they lost 2-0 to Wolves. Beat Port Vale 3-2 after leading 3 nil for 69 minutes and they beat Shrewsbury Town 1-0.

Coventry City despite struggling with financial hardship and starting this 2013/2014 campaign with -10 points, are a very capable side but they are not the same side without leading striker Leon Clarke.

Naturally Leon Clarke is their highest goal scorer with 18 goals, however Callum Wilson notched up 15 and Franck Moussa with 13. A lot depends on if they can keep Leon Clarke who surprised the Sky Blues fans by handing in a transfer request, although they process a very talented attacking squad. John Fleck and Conor Thomas both share 6 yellow cards each, whilst Carl Barker is the only Coventry City player to be sent off.

In their last four games, they've picked up 6 points. Two draws, 1-1 to Preston North End and 2-2 to Crawley. They beat Rotherham United 3-1 away from home in a game they were originally losing and draw to Oldham ending 1-1. On the 4th of January 2014 they also beat Barnsley 2-1, after also going down by 1 goal in the 3rd round of the F.A Cup. They now await Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium in the 4th round which will take place on the 24th of January 2014.

Wolverhampton Wanderers are a side doesn't require an introduction, although we have some good results against them this season – they are a Championship side still featuring quite a few of their Premier League squad back from 2012.

Leigh Griffiths is their highest goal scorer with 13 goal, whilst Bakary Sako is on 7. David Davis is the most persistent fouler in the Wolves side with 7 yellow cards and Richard Stearman is their only player to be sent off once – Surprised by this? I am.

In their last four games, they've picked up 4 points which as seen them drop from league leaders to 3rd place and they're now 5 points behind Leyton Orient who sit back on top. Wolves beat Preston 2-0, they lost 1-0 Gillingham FC, draw 1-1 to Tranmere Rovers and drawing 1-1 to Leyton Orient.

Shrewsbury Town are one of the weaker teams in League One, although they cannot be written off. They're a side that can surprise teams who fail to mark their offensive players.

Tom Bradshaw is their highest goal scorer on 5, Joe Jacobson and Dave Winfield have 4 yellow cards each and Jon Taylor's their only player to be sent off once.

In their last four games, they've picked up 3 points. They lost heavily to Rotherham United by 3 goals to nil, they narrowly lost 3-2 to MK Dons and again to Leyton Orient, the final score 2-0. However, they beat Oldham Athletic 2-1 – the Shrews first win since the 30th of November 2013.

I see Notts picking up 7 points, realistically who knows after our recent form but 5 would seem about spot on.

My key game is against Coventry City – they're a side I see entertaining us at Meadow Lane, with a reasonable chance of achieving something from the game. Walsall and Shrewsbury are games which strike me as 'winnable', Shrewsbury Town being the side we must defeat for sure.

COYP!!
Chris

Peterborough United 4 - 3 Notts County

What a manic game. Seven goals, two of which came in the first seven minutes, a sending off after quarter of an hour, a candidate for the League One Goal Of The Season, various penalty appeals turned down and more corners and set pieces that we care to remember. This was tonight’s game between Notts and Peterborough.

With plenty of news having unfolded throughout the course of the day, including a pitch inspection, players coming in and others being transfer listed, there was plenty to talk about before the game, never mind afterwards.

Notts got away to the perfect start as a cross from Alan Sheehan fell to Enoch Showunmi, who thumped the ball from six yards past Joe Day. Four minutes gone on the clock, advantage Magpies.

Buoyed by this great opening spell, things would get even better, because just three minutes later, a cross from Kieron Freeman fell to young Ronan Murray, who finished off the move by striking low past the Posh keeper.

Peterborough, blown away by this early rampage which saw them having to chase a two-goal lead after just seven minutes, upped the tempo and nearly pulled a goal back almost immediately, were it not for a last-ditch save from Bartosz Bialkowski’s legs.

Notts were able to weather the Posh advances initially, whilst getting a couple more efforts on goal, though not as effective as the early strikes.

On the quarter-hour mark, an off-the-ball incident saw Murray receive a straight red, meaning Notts would have to play the rest of the game - 75 minutes - with just ten men.

The dynamic start to the first half continued when the home side had a penalty appeal turned down, as Andre Boucaud allegedly fouled Danny Swanson in the box. The ref, however, gave nothing.

Unrelented, Posh kept coming, and eventually halved the deficit when Nicky Ajose, showing good control, fired the ball past Bart and into the net. The Pole just about got to it, but it squirmed past his fingertips. 2-1 and a sending off, all within 30 minutes.

Showunmi was then subbed off in the 32nd minute, Derry replacing the big man with Danny Haynes, who just today had been placed on the transfer list.

Haynes very nearly scored after coming on, Manny Smith playing him in over the top. The ex-Charlton man then fired a low shot, but Day managed to save the effort.

The Notts fans that paid £28 for a ticket weren’t to be disappointed, because the game would keep on giving drama. A period of end-to-end football ensued, with Notts chances coming from Jamal Campbell-Ryce, Andre Boucaud and Haynes, while Britt Assombalonga and Swanson weighed in with chances for the Posh.

The second half began with Peterborough fired up and eager to equalise. With less then ten minutes played since the restart, a rampant Posh duly got their equaliser, courtesy of Assombalonga’s header.

Peterborough took their foot off the pedal somewhat after their second goal, and Notts began the unenviable task of trying to redeem their wasted two-goal advantage. However, just as Notts pushed forward in a bid to retake the lead, in came the third Posh goal, an unstoppable long-range strike from Ajose.

That wasn’t to be the end of the story. Almost immediately, Jack Grealish, the young prodigy whose presence tonight was in doubt following on from his dead leg at the hands of Stevenage last weekend, drilled a left-footed shot past Day to make it 3-3.

Ajose, having already scored a brace, went one better and got his hat-trick with five minutes to go, as a goalmouth scramble took place in the Notts box following a corner, and the ex-Manchester United striker bundled the ball into the net.

There would be no last-ditch Notts equaliser; the game would finish 4-3, and though you cannot bemoan the sheer effort put in by Derry's boys, one cannot help but wonder what it could have been, had there been eleven men on the pitch.
Joe Jones

Stat Attack: Peterborough United v Notts County

Notts County and Peterborough have met a grand total of 43 times over the years, dating back to the 1960s.

The first meeting between the two, a Third Division fixture on the 7th September 1961, ended in a 2-2 draw.

Our record win over the Posh is a 6-0 drubbing at Meadow Lane in the 1970-71 season, while our record defeat to them is a 5-1 loss in 1963.

Peterborough United are nicknamed "The Posh" because Pat Tirrel, then manager of Fletton United - the current club’s previous incarnation - was reported to say he was "looking for posh players for a posh new team".

Fletton, previously known as the 'Brickies', re-formed as Peterborough and Fletton United in 1923, and both nicknames were in use through the 1920s, although supporters complained that 'Posh' references were sometimes used by newspapers in a derisory manner.

Peterborough and Fletton United folded in 1932, the present club was formed two years later and a Midland League debut against Gainsborough Trinity on 1st September 1934 was greeted with cries of 'Up The Posh' from the crowd.

14 years ago, Peterborough United clashed with Victoria Beckham, aka “Posh Spice”, over the use of the “Posh” nickname. She had apparently objected to Peterborough's plans to register "Posh" and "The Posh" as registered trademarks, but eventually backed down after realising the club had been using that nickname some 50 years before she was born.

Notts and Peterborough played a blinder of a game back on the 28th September 2010 at London Road, the Magpies surging into a two-goal lead courtesy of Ben Davies, before Gabrial Zakuani’s header halved the deficit. Craig Westcarr restored the away side’s two-goal lead, before Craig Mackail-Smith made things tense for the last half hour thanks to his angled shot.

The game is also known for a 22-man brawl at the final whistle, which resulted in an FA charge for both teams and a £15,000 fine.

Not many injuries to talk about before tonight’s game. Lee Tomlin is back from suspension for Posh but Tommy Rowe (thigh) and Michael Bostwick (hamstring) are doubts.

For Notts, Jack Grealish is a doubt, the club and manager not indicating whether he will start or not.

Callum Ball is pushing to start after scoring the only goal as a substitute in the win at Stevenage.
Joe Jones

Stevenage 0 - 1 Notts County

Well, folks, what a turnaround. Remember how we were dead and buried just a few weeks ago?

We've played three games this year. We've won all three. And we're now in 16th place in the League One table!

Today a great defensive performance saw us beat bottom of the table Stevenage 1-0. Callum Ball, his loan spell from Derby County extended, scored the only goal of the game to ensure the Magpies would extend their winning run.

In the meantime, Bartosz Bialkowski, our frankly ridiculously awesome goalkeeper, carried out another imperious performance between the sticks to deny the familiar Francois Zoko and his new comrades.

Notts, unchanged from their victory against Sheffield United, had to stave off Boro within the first five minutes, when Filipe Morais, assisted by Luke Freeman's cross, latched on to a dangerous ball to head downwards towards goal, only to be denied by Bialkowski's fine reflexes.

The ex-Chelsea player then struck again shortly after, but his shot was again parried away by our Polish man-barrier.

Just before the half-hour mark, Bart had to deny a swift turn-and-shot from Michael Doughty. Up next to try his luck was former Magpie Zoko, who, despite his desire to get on the scoresheet against his old club, was also denied by Bart's array of goalkeeping weaponry, the goalkeeper diving at the Ivorian's feet.

Jack Grealish, the skilful young player on loan from Aston Villa, was constantly targeted by the cynical (you don't say!) Boro players, to the point that Derry thought it best to sub him off. Ball came on for the youngster.

Stevenage, frustrated by Bart's heroics, found themselves sucker-punched just before the break, (Question: How good does it feel to use that word about our opposition? Answer: Very!) when, in the 42nd minute, Ball (the man) drove the ball (the spherical object) home through a crowded penalty area.

Stevenage attempted to launch a fight-back after the break, courtesy of Zoko and Lucas Akins, who scored on Tuesday against Swindon Town for his side's first league win since November, but Bart, with a little help from Manny Smith and Mark Fotheringham, wasn't to be beaten.

Ball was denied a second goal by home keeper Chris Day. A poor headerby Luke Jones saw the on-loan striker race into the area, but Day’s outstretched leg saved the, well, day.

Stevenage boss Graham Westley went for broke late on, but his side could not unlock a superb Notts back line.

The final whistle eventually went, to the sheer relief and joy of the travelling Notts fans.

Yes, we have played a game or two more than the sides below us, but should we keep this form up, then we should be safe! Fingers crossed, people!
Joe Jones

Stat Attack: Stevenage FC v Notts County

This edition of Pride of Nottingham's popular feature the "Stat Attack" focuses on the rise of Stevenage FC, formerly known as Stevenage Borough, are part of a “new guard” of Football League clubs that have risen up from the non-league in the last decade or so. As such, there haven’t been many fixtures between themselves and Notts County. All meetings between the two have come in the last three years. Stevenage have been a bit of a bogey team for the Magpies over the (three) years. They’ve won four of the six encounters, while Notts have won the other two.

The Boro were the first team to win a competitive final at the new Wembley Stadium in 2007, beating Kidderminster Harriers 3–2 to lift the FA Trophy in front of a competition record crowd of 53,262. They then went on to win the same trophy again just two years later and were runners up the following year. #NonLeagueBarcelona

Stevenage, after being promoted into the Football League in 2010, earned back-to-back promotions when they beat Torquay United 1–0 at Old Trafford in the 2010–11 League Two play-off final.

The Herts club was involved in a bitter spat with Premier League Newcastle United back in 1998, as they clashed in the FA Cup.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/9345266.stm

Stevenage should be unchanged after ending a seven-match winless run in midweek by beating Swindon Town.

Francois Zoko, ex-Magpie and scorer of 12 goals in 22 appearances for his new club, will start in attack against Notts, but defender Ben Chorley serves the second game of a three-match ban.

Notts County have no new injury or suspension problems.

And last but not least, Jack Grealish is available after extending his loan from Aston Villa!
Joe Jones

Stevenage FC - View

Stevenage FC come into the game having impressively defeated play-off chasing Swindon Town at home 2-0. The struggling League One team who currently sit bottom of the table, find themselves in a similar situation as ourselves. On Saturday the 4th of January 2014, Stevenage FC managed to beat Doncaster Rovers in the 4th round of the F.A cup by 3 goals to 2. Prior to their win against Swindon Town in the league, Stevenage have struggled to pick up points having lost 3 games and drawing 2. Pride of Nottingham returns with our opposition view which gives you an insight of a Stevenage FC fan.

Firstly, could you please tell prideofnottingham.co.uk a little about yourself such as how long you've been a Stevenage fan?

I moved to Stevenage in September 2005. I started going to watch Boro as a football loving neutral who felt he should support his local club, but quickly became a fan due to the great team ethic on show at Broadhall Way. I got my first season in the conference winning season and we haven't looked back since!

At the start of the season what was your expectations and how does this compare to where Stevenage currently find themselves?

We're bottom, so obviously I was hoping/expecting better than that. Realistically I was hoping for mid-table this season finishing 10-15th (which could still happen). We have a lot of squad re-balancing to do since Smith left and I don't expect that to be a quick process. Staying up would be a massive achievement from here, if we do that I can see a promotion challenge in 2015-16.

How do you think opposition fans view Stevenage FC?

The stereotypical view is "big, strong and physical" and you often get a tag of cynical thrown in for good measure. I'm happy for fans and teams to think that because that mean they underestimate the quality of the team to their detriment. I do think we have a problem with some match officials who come with those tags in the back of their mind and give all the 50:50s against us, but that's probably just my red and white tinted spectacles. Given we have one of the smallest budget in the league we have to make up for that with organisation and work-rate which is what the manager insists on from his players.

Can you tell us what your thoughts are Graham Westley, do you rate or like him as a manager?

Graham is an interesting character, you love him at your club and everyone else hates him (a bit like Neil Warnock). I wasn't a supporter of bringing Graham back last season because I didn't see how a man who left the club to take a 'bigger' role and then failed in that role could come back and still have respect in the dressing room. He clearly does though, and I love the team ethic he insists on from his footballer. Team before self. We know players will have to have the right mentality to sign for us, which is a major plus.

After picking up François Zoko on a free transfer, as Notts deemed him to be surplus to requirements. He seems to have found form for Stevenage, what is your view on this?

Zoko has been excellent, just what we needed and much better than he expected given we signed him on a free having been released from you guys. We lacked a clinical goal scorer and front man, particularly when Darius Charles was injured against Everton in the league cup (he's just now back after a lengthy break which is great for us!) I was delighted to see we'd signed him til the end of the season because without him I struggled to see where our goals were coming from to keep us up. Zoko himself has said he's enjoying playing a consistent position as the lead striker, which he hasn't had at previous club which might explain his change in performances.

Which League One team have you most looked forward to seeing play so far this season?

Peterborough, and in truth they were pretty disappointing. I enjoyed seeing Bozzie (Michael Bostwick) who was a massive player for us back in the day, but he's wasted at centre back. Far more potent in the Steven Gerrard type midfield role he played for us!

What have been your best and worst experiences as a Stevenage fan?

It's been mostly good. My best and worst experiences were both against Sheffield United, beating them at the Lamex in Novermber of the 2011/12 season, but then losing to them in the play-off semi final of the same season. Growing up a Wednesday fan it's always good to see United losing, but don't ask me about Stevenage 5 Sheffield Wednesday 1, I nearly exploded that day.

How important is Saturday for you and what do you think the outcome will be?

I don't think it's helpful to over-egg the importance of a single game. I wouldn't call it a must win. Every game is important though due to the hole our pre Christmas form has left us in. We particularly need better results against the teams around us in the league, so clearly we desperately need to get one over on you tomorrow!

What formation and starting 11 do you see Graham Westley choosing?

Westley will go 4,4,2. I expect to be unchanged from Swindon on Tuesday with Day in goal, Smith at right back, Hartley at left back, Jones and Ashton center backs. Doughty and Heslop in central midfield, Freeman left mid, Morais right mid, Akins and Zoko up front. Morais, Freeman and Akins will rotate positions throughout the game. We have had a couple of loan signings recently but I wouldn't expect to see them in the starting line up, maybe from the bench.

Which Stevenage players do you feel pose Notts County their main threat?

Zoko is obviously our most potent goal threat but Freeman is our man most likely to take someone on, beat them and create space for the rest of the team. He has great pace and technical ability and is deceptively strong for his size, if he can get his decision making and end product right he will follow in George Boyd's footsteps and play at the highest level.

How would you handle the main threats to Stevenage and which opposition players do you think will be key to have mark out of the game?

Enoch Showumni has goals in him, and Danny Haynes's pace will be a threat since our back 4 is short of pace. If If we can keep you playing in front of us and stop you threading through balls behind the back-line that will make the afternoon a lot more comfortable.

What is Stevenage like for travelling supporters? Can you tell us where opposition fans might find parking or things to do before kick off?

Stevenage is a friendly town and club. The East Terrace fans do like some banter with the away fans, but it is all good natured and comedy away fans get great respect. Parking near the ground is limited. Fairlands Valley Park has match day car-parking and is easily reached. If coming from the A1(M), follow the A602 as it should lead you to the car park, which will be on the left. If coming from the A10 along the A602, you will have to double back on yourself at the roundabout outside the ground to reach the car park. (Pinched from http://www.boroguide.co.uk/clubs/stevenage.php#.UtlASvvLcts a great resource for away fans).

The station is 15 minutes walk from the ground and is well sign-posted.

If you are at Stevenage early your best bet is to head up to the Old Town where the best restuarants and pubs are. In the New Town you will find a high street full of generic shops and a Wetherspoons like every other town center you've ever been to. Nearer to the ground Our Mutual Friend is a CAMRA pub with great real ales and ciders, and there is also a bar behind the away stand called The Broadhall Suite in which home and away fans can watch the lunchtime kick-off amicably. If you fancy a pre match stroll head north from the ground through Fairlands Valley Park which has woodland and lakes. It will be very muddy at this time of year though!

Pride of Nottingham would like to thank Patrick for stepping in and recovering this feature as all seemed lost. We wish Stevenage FC all the best with regards to the rest of their season and hopefully the best team will win on Saturday.
Chris

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