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Chris

Neal Bishop Interview!

By Chris, in Media,

Pride of Nottingham had kindly been allowed permission by Neal Bishop to ask him a series of questions. As one of our only surviving League Two winning players at the time, we were hopeful of being able to ask Neal some questions about his time at the club which he kindly accepted. During a busy December period the questions were sent across to Neal but unfortunately I waited to publish his answers. We're very grateful for the time and kindness shown by Neal who was expecting his first child with his partner Fran, which shows his dedication towards fans.

Having spent time in the lower leagues, how did you feel when you made the step up to the football league with Barnet?

Yeah i was delighted, i think i was 25 when the chance came to go into the football league with Barnet, there was a bit of interest from other clubs but Barnet made me feel like they really wanted me so it made my choice easy.

How does this reflect now, having played with Notts in League one and being promotion challenges for the Championship?

Looking back i honestly can say i wouldn't change the way my career has progressed, obviously i would have liked to go into the football league earlier but i loved my time in non league and met some great people so i wouldn't change that for the world

Do you have any match day rituals?

I've got no rituals are superstitions on a match day, as long as your preparation is spot on I don't believe putting 1 boot on before another makes that much difference!

What's it like at Christmas being a professional footballer?

Christmas is actually a time of year i really enjoy as its non stop games, and as a footballer, there's nothing better than playing competitive games, it can be hard on lads who are away from there family's but we get our time off come May so we cant really complain

What do you consider to be your greatest achievement so far and what are your ambitions for the future?

I think there's been so many personal highlights in the last few years it impossible to single out 1, the Man City games were brilliant, beating Sunderland, winning league 2, going to Juve, been made captain, all have been fantastic, for the future, the aim of myself and the football club has got to be the championship

What's your favourite music, any particular bands/singers?

I'm not someone who follows a particular singer or band, my music collection is fairly eclectic, there's stuff in there from 60s soul to 90s dance!

What's been your favourite Notts shirt and football shirt in general?

My personal favourite was the home shirt of our 1st season in league 1, as for the away shirts i like the pink 1 we currently play in

You and Lee Hughes feature in our flyer, what are your thoughts on being featured on it for a Fan Site?

Aha! very good! any picture I'm in with Hughsey as great as he makes me look like I've got hair!

Apart from Lee Hughes, you are the only Notts player remaining from the 2009/10 season. What's it like for players who come in on loan or on a transfer that don't know any other players?

I've never done it myself but i imagine its really hard to come into a new dressing room, full of strangers, knowing you could be gone again in a week or so, however since I've been here our dressing room has been full of great lads and anyone who has come in has been welcomed in to the group from day 1

Lastly, what would you say would be your most defining moment of this season so far?

I'm hoping this seasons defining moment is yet to come!

Please note that the questions were asked before Lee Hughes's departure. We would also like to Thank Neal for answering our questions and congratulate Neal and Fran! On their first child little baby Oscar! (Future Notts captain no doubt)
Joe Jones
Over the years, many football clubs with a proud history and tradition have found themselves staring into the abyss. Manchester City, Portsmouth FC, Luton Town, Leeds United, Southampton FC, Sheffield United, and in recent times Swindon Town. Many more have come close to extinction because of problems, financial or otherwise. Notts County in the mid-2000s were one such club, administration and near-liquidation on the verge of condemning the club to a long spell outside the football league and possibly out of existence.
Inspirational, hard-working, talismanic signings are needed to drag the club "kicking and screaming" out of the mire. Andy Morrison famously did so for Manchester City in 98/99, and for Notts, none were more determined and dogged, not to mention more "talismanic" (in a literal sense) than Richard "Ricky" Ravenhill.
Brought in by Ian McParland in May 2009, with Notts County having finished a second consecutive year in the bottom six of the Football League, Ravenhill, part of the Doncaster Rovers team that scaled from the Conference to League 1 in just two years, knew what it took to get out of the bottom division of English league football.
Born in 1981, the Doncastrian was part of the Leeds United academy, joining the club as a ten-year old. He then became part of Barnsley's youth team in 2000, and was a promising youth and reserve team player, before hometown club Doncaster Rovers snapped up the combative midfielder in early 2002.
His arrival at the then-Conference side was a precursor to the club's rapid rise up the league pyramid, as the South Yorkshire club ended up being the first club to go up into the Football League by virtue of the play-offs in 2003. Previously, the Conference only admitted the winner into what was then known as Division Three.
The following year, Ravenhill helped his team achieve back-to-back promotions, as Doncaster defied all expectations to win the title and propel his team to fixtures against the likes of Sheffield Wednesday and Bradford, regional giants which were playing in the Premiership not long before.
He also partook in Doncaster’s incredible 2005-06 League Cup run, beating Manchester City and Aston Villa before taking Arsenal all the way to penalties in the quarter-finals. In total, the midfielder clocked up 137 appearances for Donny.
By 2006, however, Ravenhill found first-team opportunities scarce and, after a brief loan at Chester City, was released, signing a one-year contract with Grimsby Town. In January 2007 he went on loan to Darlington, where he finally found his stride and, once the Shakers made the deal permanent in the summer, became a fan favourite.
In total, he made 88 appearances for Darlington, before financial issues meant the club had to allow him to leave on a free transfer.
Notts County, rebuilding the team following two disastrous seasons in the bottom tier of the Football League, signed the midfielder, "Charlie" McParland describing the deal as a "massive bonus for (Notts)".
He made his debut in the first game of the 09/10 season, playing part in a 5-0 drubbing of Bradford City at Meadow Lane. Throughout the course of the season, he became a fan favourite for his combative, full-blooded style of play, snapping away at opposition players, breaking up play and linking the defence and attack, while off the pitch, he would keep a calm, collective head in the face of the whirlwind events taking place at the Lane, often sharing his honest, erudite views with the local media.
Despite all the uncertainty regarding his position in the team - marquee signings were often rumoured to be in discussions with Notts - and, later in the season, the future of the club itself, Ravenhill's professionalism, heart-on-sleeve approach and determination led to him starting 40 of 46 league games as the team conquered League Two, winning 14 of their last 18 games to clinch the title.
Though he excelled in his role of midfield enforcer, not afraid to put his body and disciplinary record on the line for the good of the team, he also managed to get himself on the scoresheet several times in spectacular fashion.
He scored the opener against Macclesfield away in August 2009, an outstanding volley against Burton Albion four months later, in a performance described by then-caretaker boss Dave Kevan as worthy of "man-of-the-match" (despite Lee Hughes scoring a hat-trick in the same game) and another stunning strike in the home game against Morecambe in mid-April, during which he admits he was tired and "heavy-legged" following the birth of his second child two days prior.
A season fraught with uncertainty and drama, 2009/10 ended joyously for Notts, with Ravenhill overseeing a third career promotion and getting his hands on a second championship crown. The talisman had made it happen again.
The 2010/11 season, with Notts back in the third tier after a six-year absence, saw more of the same from Ravenhill, playing 24 league games and taking part in two classic FA Cup matches against eventual winners Manchester City, nearly beating the Premiership giants at Meadow Lane.
In September 2011, he was in the starting eleven against Italian giants Juventus for the first ever game at their new stadium, an unforgettable evening for both clubs.
Sadly, things took a turn for the worse for Ravenhill, as a collision with a Tranmere Rovers player left him sidelined with concussion, and in his absence, Gavin Mahon cemented his position in central midfield alongside Neal Bishop.
Ravenhill made only two more league starts for Notts, against Colchester United, two months after he was injured against Tranmere, and against Wycombe at Meadow Lane, but with his contract running out at the end of the season and manager Martin Allen not being able to guarantee him first-team football, the decision was made to let Ricky go on loan to Bradford City, where he impressed the Bantams so much they offered him a two-and-a-half-year contract.
The player enjoyed a bright spell at the Yorkshire club as they battled to the final of the 2013 League Cup against all odds, beating three Premier League sides among the way, and earning promotion to League One at the end of the season.
The twilight years of Ravenhill's career would subsequently take him to Northampton Town, Mansfield Town and Buxton FC, where he continues to play today.
Share your thoughts about Ricky Ravenhill on Pride of Nottingham by signing up to the website, visiting the forum and joining the conversation.
ncfcdrapes
Keith Curle was on a hiding to nothing as Notts ventured to Portsmouth for the re-arranged League One encounter – and in spite of victory only more causes for concern returned to Nottingham. Pompey are a club in absolute crisis. Ahead of facing the Magpies for the third time this season, having lost in the return at Meadow Lane and in the FA Cup at Fratton Park, they had gone 15 games without a win. Twelve of those had been defeats with the most recent a 3-1 loss at home to the only side below them in the table, the equally woeful Hartlepool.

Forget Pompey having been in the Premier League this time two years ago, forget them having won the FA Cup as recently as 2008, they are nothing short of an appalling football club at the minute – and you can only feel sorry for a very loyal group of fans, for it is the off-pitch finances that have crippled their once proud club.

So much so that Curle knew he had to win at Fratton Park. He had to recover from Saturday’s first away defeat in his almost year-long tenure, losing 2-1 at Leyton Orient, and start another away run. This time with victory.

Nothing else would do. Regardless of Notts’ own disappointing form which has seen the play-offs become a distant dream having figured in the top six for so much of the season, playing Pompey at the moment should result in just one thing – three points. And really by two or three goals.

As it was, two came – but only just. It was agonising viewing and listening as the Magpies struggled to not only break down a Portsmouth side with several youth products and short-term contracted players. Not only that, but the hosts were the more threatening for long periods.

Notts’ lack of striking options again showed its head as balls were fizzed across the box, and possession well kept, but nothing was showing up top. The almost constant need for a new striker again reared its head as Pompey dealt with the very little attacks mustered by Curle’s men with the ease of a side that had instead gone 15 games without losing.

Passing was poor, albeit in difficult conditions, and optimism drained.

Finally, Jeff Hughes eased the tension in the 81st minute, before Francois Zoko, at last, rounded things off. There was time for Neal Bishop to foolishly get sent off, incredibly Notts’ seventh dismissal of the season. But three points were secure.

Nothing more than that though. It was the very least expected of Curle’s men. Trouble is, the length of time it took to get that first goal, the lack of a goal threat for much of the game and the trouble created by a terrible Portsmouth side in actual fact made this more like a defeat than a victory in some ways.

Curle was on a hiding to nothing, and while he got the minimum required, far more questions have to be asked given such a poor performance against arguably the worst team this level has ever seen.
Chris

Striker poised to sign?

By Chris, in News,

Various rumours often circulate around the footballing world, at Meadow Lane it's no different for Notts County especially in recent years (I dare not say why). Recent reports have seen us linked with an ex premiership striker who was originally assumed to be Craig Beattie, who failed to impress Keith Curle. It was stated in local media that he wanted to bring in players who could make an impact straight away and concerns regarding Craig’s fitness were raised therefore the experienced striker wasn't offered terms at the football club.

In recent weeks various names have been mentioned but the club, especially the media team who suggest no signings will be made. Many fans also don't expect any additional squad players since Mr Trew openly spoke about clawing back a 70k loss.

This doesn't seem to have made any impact on the rumours which have seen us in recent years linked with a fair few players.

It depends where you read but you will come across at least one rumour surrounding a striker. Ian Henderson has been mentioned across various social streams including the official facebook page for Notts County.

The most popular however surrounds a more experienced player, who is close to the end of his career. The player in question is at the age seemed to be preferred by Keith Curle being mature at the age of 33.

Jason Scotland, who was released by Ipswich Town on the 21 January 2013 after agreeing terms to mutually terminate his contract, is being linked with Notts County in online media.

This story is also gaining momentum on Twitter, which has seen tweets suggest that the player is set to sign with the club shortly.

Jason, unlike previous targets, does show signs that he can be a prime goal scorer, as he had enjoyed a successful period with Swansea City netting 45 goals – in 90 games in 2007 to 2009 seasons. He also has had success at various clubs including St. Johnstone and most recently Ipswich Town where he scored 19 goals – in 87 games having been with the club since 2010 until his release.

Typically a strong forward who plays very well off advanced midfielders, he's known for being in the right place at the right time and has scored a few goals from being a poacher due to good reading of the game.

It is unclear if he has left the club due to his fitness levels although a different class from the earlier names being Beattie and Henderson. He could very well be worth the gamble, as calm composure could be what's missing at Meadow Lane at this point in time.
Joe Jones
Notts County's amazing unbeaten away run came to an end at the Matchroom Stadium as the Pies were beaten 2-1 by Leyton Orient, in a frustrating afternoon which saw goalkeeper Bartosz Bialkowski carried off on a stretcher. The defeat deprived Notts of a 23rd consecutive unbeaten away game, and handed Keith Curle his first ever away loss. Unchanged from the impressive 1-0 win against Oldham, the Pies looked to make it back-to-back wins for the first time since November, and found themselves under pressure from the start, Lee Cook firing wide from a David Mooney cross.

The first Notts chance fell to Neal Bishop, who, after great work from Jeff Hughes, found his attempt blocked by O's midfielder Lloyd James, JCR not being able to follow it up, while at the other end, the unmarked Mooney sliced it wide after a good Gary Liddle invervention.

Then came the main talking point of the match: as MacDonald came towards the Notts goal, Bialkowski rushed out to make a save, but the Orient forward caught the keeper on the head as he tried to take the ball around him.

Six minutes of treatment and a yellow card for MacDonald later, Bart was taken off on a stretcher, and the highly rated but untested Fabian Speiss came on in his place.

Not long after the restart, some great work by Bish tested the O's defence, first with a low cross which couldn't quite find Showunmi and Arquin, then by winning a corner which saw Hughes' shot blocked and Sheehan fire wide.

Shortly afterwards, Speiss was tested for the first time in the game, a fine reaction save denying Cook, before former Orient player Dean Leacock made a last-ditch tackle to thwart Mooney.

The additional eight minutes of injury time saw the game spring back to life, Andre Boucaud playing a fantastic cross to Yoann Arquin, whose header smashed against the crossbar, before Alan Judge's half volley, again after some inspirational play, went just over.

Speiss made another fine save to deny MacDonald, before the in-form Sheehan delivered another cross at the other end which connected with Showunmi and very nearly made it in.

After the break, Showunmi, oozing confidence after his first league goal against Oldham on Tuesday, headed inches over, connecting with a JCR cross, while Judge's long-range hit forced the Orient keeper into a save.

At the other end, Speiss showed just why he is so highly rated by the Notts hierachy, his full-stretch save denying Martin Rowland's deflected free kick, and blocking Mooney's placed shot with his leg.

Eventually, Orient took the lead, as the Notts defence allowed Cook too much time and space on the ball. His shot was well saved by Speiss but the keeper could do nothing to stop Mooney scoring from the rebound.

It wasn't long before Orient were in the Notts area again after the restart, Mooney's shot being deflected behind for a corner, and more lax defending saw Mathieu Baudry double the lead with a volley. Two goals conceded in the space of three minutes, the County players and fans shell-shocked.

As Romello Nangle came on for Arquin, a lull followed where the match officials swapped positions as a result of the referee's injury, before Notts pulled one back, Showunmi's hard work allowing Jeff Hughes to finish from eight yards. 2-1, twelve minutes to go.

Orient were dominant thereafter and could have scored several but for excellent defensive work by Sheehan and Bishop, and of course, the outstanding Speiss.

But for a chance by Hughes, a glancing header, Notts struggled to pierce the O's defence again, and the match ended 2-1, the home team claiming all three points, Notts' sublime away record in tatters, the team eight points adrift of the play-offs and sweating over Bialkowski's fitness. At least Fabian Speiss proved to be a very capable deputy in between the sticks.
Chris
On the back of the first home win since November, Notts County fans will be planning their 134 mile journey to the home of Leyton Orient as our away record could roll on for a full year if we make the next couple of away games without defeat.

This would be great achievement, adding to the fantastic year of celebrating 150 years. It's now more than ever we hope to see a return to consistency as Pride of Nottingham ask Orient fan Lee a series of questions in which we hope to gain further insight to the football club he supports.

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

I've been a supporter for over 25 years now and have a season ticket in the office block (West Stand). Tend to go to about 75% of the away games as well.

How optimistic ahead of the season were you and the majority of the Orient fans?

After last season when we just avoided relegation then I thought things couldn't get much worse, but we started in the same vein before picking up a bit.

In your opening matches your side appeared to struggle with consistency bar the impressive win over Yeovil, how important were the 3 games you won in succession?

The win at Swindon was hard fought and certainly changed the mood amongst the fans. In all honestly we were lucky to beat Brentford and the Yeovil game was the first time we had looked like a football team.

Has the recent weather had any effect on your latest fixtures?

Due to the weather and the cup fixtures we have had we have been playing Sat/Tues every week in January and will do near enough every week in February too. Some of our players look exhausted and could do with a rest.

Are there any games which stand out for you personally this season and could you tell us about the match?

Well I missed some of our better results (4-1 at Carlisle etc) due to being on holiday, but I would say the win at Swindon was very important as it looked like we didn't know how to win at the time.

Russell Slade was caretaker manager of Notts County in 94/95 season but unfortunately for him it didn't work out, what are your thoughts on him as a manager?

Some of our fans go overboard calling him "Super Russ", some go the opposite way saying he is awful. I think "Above Average" would be the term I would use for him. We can range from looking excellent to looking non-league under him.

Has a Leyton Orient supporter could you tell us about your favourite players past and present?

Past - Alan Comfort, Carl Griffiths, Steve Castle. Present - Moses Odubajo, Kevin Lisbie and Lee Cook.

Can you tell our fans a little about your ground, facilities and any nearby pubs etc?

The ground is hemmed in by flats and away fans get to sit in the oldest stand which is also the only one with pillars. You can get in the Supporters Club by paying on the door, or you have the Coach & Horses on Leyton High Road. If you want to venture further afield the Birkbeck Tavern is a fantastic pub.

Please tell Pride of Nottingam who your main threats to Notts County are?

Lee Cook if he is on his game.

Do you have any thoughts on our players on who Orient should be wary of?

Well it will be interesting to see if Leacock will show more interest in playing for you than he did for us, and Campbell-Ryce could cause us problems. I also dislike Colin West with a passion

Are there any local derbies or grudge matches that you look forward to?

We have just had one derby against Brentford, but have the prospect of Southend in the JPT Area final coming up.

As the January transfer window is still open are you hopeful of any further signings?

I think we are pretty much up to the 65% on wages, so if Cook and Rowlands stay I can't see us adding any more players after the signings of Macdonald and Azeez.

We would like to Thank Southgate O (Lee) for taking the time to answer our questions.
Joe Jones
After snatching a draw from the jaws of defeat against Sheffield United the previous Saturday, Notts put in a dominant, lively display to outplay and defeat Oldham Athletic for their first win at Meadow Lane since November, courtesy of Enoch Showunmi's first league goal for the club. Just like the previous weekend, the snow and frosty weather meant the hard work had to begin well before the game, as club staff and supporters helped to clear the snow off the pitch to ensure Notts didn't suffer another postponement.

Once the game was officially on, Notts lined up in the 3-4-1-2 formation used against the Blades, making only one change - Showunmi replacing Francois Zoko, suspended after the weekend's fixture.

The home team dominated from the off, an Alan Sheehan free kick causing problems early on with Showunmi unable to convert with his back to goal, while a Bialkowski kick was helped on by the frontman and saw Jeff Hughes fire straight at Oldham keeper Dean Bouzaris. Then came the first real chance of the game - an Alan Judge free kick which whistled past the top-left corner, Bouzaris stranded.

More chances were to come, Andre Boucaud playing a Xavi-esque pass to the Irish Messi, who rounded the keeper but only fired into the side netting, before Yoann Arquin headed wide and shortly afterwards saw a powerful shot also just miss.

Before long, the pendulum swung Oldham's way, with forward Jose Baxter firing straight at Bialkowski. The away team then saw Matt Smith fire a volley which was denied by skipper Neal Bishop's outstanding block.

Boucaud, now a permanent Notts County player, repaid the faith put in him by the club with another wonderful through-ball straight to JCR, who cut inside and took a shot. The ensuing deflection fell nicely into the path of Showunmi and was tapped in for the opening goal.

Invigorated by taking the lead, the half finished with Notts playing some classy football, stringing passes together and showing moves off to the delight of the home fans, Jeff Hughes nearly making it 2-0 late on in the half.

Oldham, lucky only to be 1-0 down at half time, pressed on, and nearly made Notts pay for their missed chances, Jonathan Grounds missing with his powerful header, before midfielder Chris Sutherland headed towards an empty net, having beaten Bialkowski, only for Gary Liddle to majestically clear it off the goal-line.

The Latics, frustrated by their inability to breach the Notts defence, found themselves getting increasingly physical, and got several late tackles in before the ref decided he'd seen enough and got his card out, booking Grounds and James Welosowski in quick succession.

Notts' chances kept on coming, Showunmi nearly connecting with a JCR cross, before Hughes flashed a header across goal after a Sheehan free kick, Matt Smith preventing the chance from falling to Bishop for what would have been a certain goal.

The Irish Messi then saw his attempt just miss the right-hand upright after a mistake by Wesolowski seventy-eight minutes in, before Showunmi fired just over a minute later.

In the dying stages, Oldham kept pressing, but never really bothered Bialkowski, substitute Robbie Simpson attempting a couple of long-range shots and Jose Baxter not doing much better, before Notts saw out the final five minutes and confirmed the 3 points, much to the delight of the 3,229 home supporters who were finally able to celebrate a win at Meadow Lane since November.
Chris

Chairman's Notes - Oldham AFC

By Chris, in News,

On a night very much filled with optimism ahead of League One clash against Oldham Athletic, things again have turned to the weather which doesn't seem to be holding back Notts County or the great efforts shown by many involved within the club. The outcome I feel will be the turning point which leads me to mention Mr Trews comments from the #themag. In last nights edition were given more insight to some of our fans concerns as Mr Trew openly mentions talks about undersoil heating, also clearly the passion which PoN is trying to add on ourselves.

Good evening everyone and welcome to a very wintery Meadow Lane as we look to beat the weather once again to play this npower League 1 game against Oldham Athletic.

I have to start by saying a massive thank you to our Youth Team players and coaching staff, the office staff, groundstaff, the workforce supplied by our sponsors On-Call Recruitment and of course all of the supporters that volunteered to help get Saturday’s game against Sheffield United on.

If you are reading this it hopefully means that we have managed to beat the frost again this evening, which will have been another fantastic achievement. I can’t stress how important it is for the club to get games on whenever possible, we always do all that we can to get matches to go ahead as scheduled.

There has been further talk of undersoil heating over the past couple of weeks, but the truth is that, until we are at least in the Championship, this solution simply isn’t financially viable for us. That doesn’t mean that we are looking at and considering all available options though.

I would like to welcome the players, officials and supporters of Oldham that have made the trip south this evening. It was their continued involvement in the FA Cup with Budweiser that meant this game had to be postponed of course and I would like to wish them all the best for their game against Liverpool in that competition this weekend.

For Notts though, I am just hoping to see more of the passion and determination that were on show on Saturday because it is exactly that kind of display that we will need in every game from now until the end of the season if we want to be challenging for promotion.

Onwards and upwards
Ray Trew
Chairman

Pride of Nottingham again would like to Thank Mr Trew for his 'Chairman's Notes'.
Chris
Following the great work prior to the Sheffield United game, Notts County find themselves again at the mercy of the weather. Tomorrow will see us host the Latics who are, unfortunately for them, at the bottom end of the table, sitting in the 19th place, 5 positions away from Notts who now sit 14th but with 3 games over our visitors. We have taken the time to ask a series of questions to Bob, who gives us an insight into his time as an Oldham supporter who is sending a positive message about backing a young manager.

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

I am 59 years old and supported Latics since 1970 after being told by some schoolmates to come and watch a player they called "Big Jim Fryatt". I was hooked from then on and it has been a roller coaster ride from then onwards!!

How do you feel things are going so far at this point in the season and are there any concerns regarding your low position yet?

Things are going from bad to worse at the moment and we seem to be going down like the Titanic. It is a shame since we have been very unlucky on many occasions added to by injuries and suspensions but they say you make your own luck but that seems elusive to say the least.

Could you please tell us about how many away games you've attended so far this season and up to this point which one has been your favourite?

I go with my son, to most away games and we are season tickets holders at BP.

My favourite away win was at Forest!!! What a day out and our fans were superb and outshouted the Forest fans even when we were losing.

In the 2010/2011 season in which Paul Dickov arrived as player manager, he sparked some impressive wins and appeared to turn things around for your club. What is your take on this?

I am a big fan of Dickov even though he has many calling for his head. He always tries to attack and win games and has some good contacts which have helped us e.g Derbyshire who has now gone back to Forest and Baxter and Wabara from MCFC. He is doing his best with little funds and is passionate for the club and the fans and that is why he has my support and will continue to do so despite our situation.

Why is your club nickname the Latics?

We are called "Latics" because it is short for "Athletic" albeit has been copied by Wigan who are the plastic "Latics" who have tried to steal it away from us. There is only ONE "Latics" and that is us.

Often I've taken part in quizzes where people tend to forget about Oldham featuring in the Premier League at the start of it's formation, do you recall anything about that season?

We were one of the original teams of the Premiership when we had a great team put together for next to nowt by Joe Royle. Great days when we more than matched our rivals down the road at Maine Road and Old Trafford.We had some great players e.g Ritchie, Barratt. Warhurst, Holden and Palmer.

Can you tell us which players at Oldham are most lively for you, posing a strong risk to our defence?

We are lightweight up front so do not feel we will pose any real threats but this is Latics we are talking about here who can go from one extreme to another. Our young striker who is pretty tall is Matt Smith and we have another youngster called Taylor who looks promising. Behind them we have a great signing called Jose Baxter who has shown loyalty to the club by signing a long contract when he could have gone on to a higher level. I put that down to Dickov as well.

If you were the manager, which two players of Notts County would you tell your strongest markers to watch for?

I do not know which players of yours to watch out for, I would say all 11 of them including your keeper!!!!

I visited Meadow Lane on the 5th of January, which was the day you played Nottingham Forest and impressively beat them. Some of your fans strongly felt you would win, did you attend the game and how important was the win for you?

Yes, I came to the Forest game but I did not think to be honest that we would win. Our second half team performance was superb and Simpson's two goals changed the game and sent the 3000 Oldham fans ballistic.

What is your favourite chant at away games?

My favourite chant is "Oh when the bllllluuueeeesssssssssssssss" or simply "Come on Oldham"

If you go back to any season and relive some of the memories which featured, can you tell me which season, when and why you would go back to that particular point in time?

My favourite season was 1990/1 when we got promotion as champions with the last game of the season at BP when we beat Sheff Weds 3-2 after being 2-0 down to them and winning with a late penalty by Redfern in front of the Chaddy End which was packed to the rafters. It was great winning loads of games both home and away and having huge support and also winning over lots of neutral fans who loved to see lowly Oldham take on and beat the top clubs. Sadly those days have gone and many fans have stopped going.

Where would you like to finish and which position do you realistically see Oldham finishing?

We need someone with a small fortune to spend but the chances of that happening are zilch. We can but try to keep faith and hope for better things in the future especially for our younger fans who have seen lean years and no doubt get ridiculed by their school mates who support the Manc clubs. Still.. we are die hard fans and loyal to OAFC and its future no matter what happens to us. We are having a new stand built soon so that is a starting point...like the phoenix rising from the ashes!!!

We would like to take the time to Thank Bob for answering our questions.
Chris

Chairman's Notes - Sheff Utd

By Chris, in News,

#themag is something I personally always enjoy and look forward to on Match Days. If I cannot make it, I will do my best to make sure it's not missed and so I usually walk down to Meadow Lane so I can obtain my copy to read with my son Jake. A feature that really stands out for me, is the personal notes from our Chairman Ray Trew. It brings an insightful view on recent on-going and his own thoughts ahead of games. His notes ahead of yesterdays match against Sheffield United is one I very much enjoyed, it's refreshing to read these comments.

Good afternoon everyone and welcome to Meadow Lane for this npower League 1 game against many people’s pre-season favourites for promotion, Sheffield United.

Obviously the first thing to say is that I hope the game has been given the go ahead and we can finally get back to playing football, we really don’t need any more games in hand.

The weather certainly hasn’t been kind to us in recent weeks and whilst that has allowed us to get a few players back fit, it also means we have had to keep the squad fresh and focused, which is difficult when they are not playing regularly.

We can’t whinge about it though, this is the situation that we find ourselves in and we have to address that as best we can, there is still all to play for and we’ve been in a similar situation in the past, which ended quite well as I remember!

I would like to welcome the players, officials and of course the supporters of Sheffield United to Meadow Lane, I am sure that they will arrive in numbers and in fine voice, so there will be a challenge on and off the pitch this afternoon.

Finally, in light of recent speculation, I would just like to reassure fans that Notts County are not in the midst of a financial crisis. Times are tight, as they are for all businesses, and I am certainly not prepared to keep bankrolling the club indefinitely, but that shouldn’t be a cause for concern.

It just means that we have to operate more astutely as a club and plans are already being put in place to ensure that we continue on a sound financial footing whilst also remaining competitive on the pitch. Your continued support can only go towards helping this obviously.

Onwards and upwards
Ray Trew
Chairman

Special thanks to Mr Trew for granting permission to feature his 'Chairman's Notes'.
Joe Jones
Young people often follow in their parents' footsteps. A person's behaviour, opinions and actions will doubtlessly filter through to their children, and the same can be said about a person's career - as they have inside knowledge of their chosen field, this will influence the son or daughter, and the likelihood of them entering the same field is high. This is also the case in football, with professional players' kids often getting into the sport, where they can benefit from the parent's knowledge, experience and connections.
However, when your father is one of the greatest footballers of all time, sometimes it can place a burden on those young shoulders, especially when you're playing the same position as them. And when that position is goalkeeper, the most scrutinised of all, then there is a lot to live up to. Kasper Schmeichel, however, is doing just that.
The son of Man Utd and Denmark legend Peter, Kasper was born in Copenhagen in 1986, and in 2002, signed terms with Man City, where Schmeichel Sr enjoyed a fantastic season helping the newly promoted team consolidate their place in the Premier League after years in the wilderness.
As he learnt his trade, he was loaned out to Darlington, Bury and Falkirk, gaining valuable first team experience, before making his debut for City in August 2007, against West Ham. Against Arsenal, he kept a clean sheet and saved a Robin Van Persie penalty, further endearing him to the fans and earning him plaudits, but with the Thaksin Shinawatra takeover, all of a sudden City were expected to challenge for honours, a big ask for the fledgling keeper.
Another loan period at Cardiff followed before Schmeichel decided to leave the City of Manchester stadium, and with Sven Goran Eriksson, with whom he worked at City, coming to Meadow Lane, he signed up for Notts County.
An eye opening signing for the then League 2 team, the transfer fee was undisclosed but believed to have broken the club record, but straight from the off, it was clear Schmeichel was a cut above the rest. Keeping a clean sheet in his debut against Dagenham and Redbridge, he made the first-team goalkeeping position his, and by October the then 23-yr old had won the Player of the Month award.
Tall and imposing, the young keeper played with grit and determination beyond his years, and any defensive slip-ups led to him angrily reprimanding and gesticulating to the other Notts players, in a manner reminiscent of his father. His goalkeeping style was also like Schmeichel Sr - he'd throw himself at any loose ball, and use every which part of his body to stop it going anywhere near the goal. He was also fond of going up into the opposition box if Notts were behind, and nearly scored a prodigious overhead kick against Morecambe away.
Schmeichel's statistics speak for themselves - During his year with the Pies, the club conceded 0.67 goals per match - 29 goals conceded in 43 league appearances - and kept 24 clean sheets. A whirlwind season ended with the League 2 Championship and most importantly, promotion into League 1.
If that wasn't enough, the keeper showed himself to be a true gentleman and agreed to be released, forfeiting his contract and all future wages, rumoured to be around £15,000 a week, plus bonuses, with the club facing an uncertain future after the boardroom and takeover issues which beset the club. Director Ray Trew agreed this to be "a huge concession by such a young man" and helped the club survive after a very turbulent period.
After such a scintillating season, it wasn't long before bigger clubs showed their interest, and despite reported interest from Bayern Munich and Chelsea, Schmeichel opted for Leeds where first-team football was a certainty. More individual plaudits and nominations came his way as he was nominated for Player of the Month in August and won the Sky Sports POTM gong the same month. Injuries restricted his appearances but he still played 40 games, including a draw against Arsenal at the Emirates which earned an FA Cup replay.
His time at Elland Road, however, ended acrimoniously, as Leeds accepted an offer from Leicester for the young goalkeeper, reuniting him with Sven Goran Eriksson. Manager Simon Grayson claimed it was "going to be difficult" for a new deal to be agreed at Leeds, whilst Schmeichel refuted these claims publicly, expressing his shock at being transfer listed.
It turned out to be a blessing in disguise because Leicester and Schmeichel proved a match made in heaven. To this day the Dane remains with the Foxes and has proved instrumental in their ascent to the Premier League in 2014 and, despite suffering a broken metatarsal in training midway through the season that kept him out for a month, he was part of their amazing great escape in the latter stages of the campaign that kept them in the top flight.
Now 28 years old, his career has been one of fulfilment and stability since settling in Leicester, and to make things even better, he's become the Denmark national team's first-choice stopper. Quite frankly, it's nothing less than he deserves from the graft he's put in.
One thing is certain and its that he will always be remembered at Notts - it was an absolute honour to have Kasper Schmeichel at the Lane, and he will always be a fans' favourite for his style, performances, achievements and putting the club before himself. A true gentleman of the game and a Notts County legend.
Chris
Come snow, fog or freezing temperatures, we here at prideofnottingham.co.uk never give up. With the game truly at the perils of the weather, we decided to plough on as we speak to Sheffield United fan Martin to give us his views on tomorrows match. With Notts not having played a game since the very first day of January, focus remains on the blades consistent, but stuttering form. Sheffield United sit a whole 11 points above Notts in the League Table but Martin tells us why he will be happy with a draw…

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

I’m Martin, 24, and have been watching United since I was a kid in the mid-90s. I’ve had a season ticket every season since 2000.

What are your earliest memories as a fan, do you have any strong recollections of past games?

My first match and the earliest I can remember was a Coca Cola Cup game against Stockport County at Bramall Lane in September 1996. It was a Tuesday night, we lost 5-2 and I was hooked!

Other games that stand out are the FA Cup and League Cup games in 2002/03, where we reached the semi finals of both and knocked out teams such as Leeds and Sunderland, and also beat Liverpool 2-1 at Bramall Lane.

During your time supporting the Blades can you tell us your best memory and what you would prefer to forget about?

Best memory would be promotion to the Premiership in 2005/06. We won away at Cardiff on Good Friday which meant Leeds had to beat Reading the following day, which they were doing until Reading scored a late equaliser and sealed our promotion.

The play-off final against Huddersfield last season is the one I try to forget about. It was the third play-off final in a row we haven’t scored in and looked to have done it if we’d have scored our third penalty. Then it all went wrong before goalkeeper Steve Simonsen blazed over the bar. The fact we lost out on automatic promotion to our biggest rivals before losing in the play-offs made it worse.

Sheffield United's recent games haven't quite gone as probably expect since losing to Hartlepool United, How are your fans reacting to these past results?

Understandably the fans aren’t too happy at losing two home games in a row to sides we should really be too strong for at home. I think a lot of Blades are more concerned with the style of play, as we’ve gone a lot more direct in our play lately. Danny Wilson has resorted to blaming the pitch which has antagonised a lot of the fans, as visiting teams have coped fine.

Can you single out your main threats to Notts County, who has been your best performers this season?

Prior to his season-ending injury I would have named Shaun Miller for both parts of this question, as he’s the most naturally gifted finisher I feel we have at the club. Since his injury I would go with Tony McMahon. He’s scored directly from three kicks in recent weeks and often puts in good crosses for Dave Kitson and others to attack.

If the game goes ahead, how do you feel you will do against Notts County?

Based on current form and how we’ve been playing I would happily take a point before the game. If I had to make a prediction I’d go with a score draw.

How many times have you visited or seen Notts County play Sheffield United?

Twice, and the Blades won both games rather comfortably. My first and only visit to Meadow Lane to watch United was when we won 5-2 last season. The other was the JPT game live on Sky this season.

What are your hopes for the rest of the season?

I’d have to say automatic promotion is the main aim, and anything less will be seen as a failure when you consider our resources compared to the rest of the teams in the league. I think I speak for most Blades fans when I saw we want to avoid the play-offs at all costs!

Who do you consider to be the player you have seen play for Sheffield United or any opposition?

Presume this means best player? In my time watching United I’d have to say James Beattie. He was scoring for fun in 07/08 and early 08/09. For an opposing side it would definitely be from the Premiership season. Take your pick from the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Gerrard, Lampard and Drogba etc.

Is there any pressure from the fans or the board with regards to Danny Wilson?

Hard to say in terms of the board. I would guess not at the moment due to us probably not having the money to sack him if we wanted to! The fan opinion is probably split 50/50. Some would like to see him replaced as it’s the January window and it could create some momentum similar to what happened at Sheffield Wednesday last season. Others think he should be given the rest of the season and then see where to go from there.

If team selection was down to you what changes would you make and how would you strengthen your team further?

The main thing I would improve is our options out wide, as we are lacking is wingers with pace. This was identified by Wilson and the fans last season and it was stated the situation was addressed. However, nothing has been done and we find ourselves with strikers often playing out side.

I would personally like to see more of our younger players given a chance. It’s something Wilson doesn’t seem keen on and has annoyed our fans after the chairman stated players who reached the FA Youth Cup final would be brought through to the first team. We have a 17 year old called Diego De Girolamo who has recently scored twice for Italy U18s, but isn’t yet deemed good enough for our first team. A lot of fans are interested to see what he could offer the first team, as his creativity is something we’re lacking.

Did you enjoy the local derby the previous season and how did you feel losing out in the playoff spot to them?

The Sheffield derby games are hard to enjoy due to the nerves involved. Last season was even worse due to the fact that both teams were in the unique position of both challenging at the top of the league. Losing promotion to them when we had a large points gap at one stage is hard to take. I can’t think of anything worse.

We would like to Thank Martin for the time of answering questions and sharing his views.
Chris

When will we play again?

By Chris, in News,

The Shrewsbury game seems to be a distant memory now. For myself it's hard to believe we haven't played since the 1st of January 2013. The weather forecast doesn't seem to help our lack of events surrounding Notts County. Apart from the signing of Andre Boucaud it has been very quiet, not much seems to be happening at all and I'm starting wonder if we will make any other signings. It's not a complaint, I'm just hopeful that we may add bulk to our squad. More importantly I cannot wait to see the colours of our team on the field, battling to rise back into the play-off spots.

In recent news reports you may of seen Scott Laird has publicly accepted Jamal Campbell-Ryce's apology regarding the challenge which caused Scott to break his leg. It's good to see, although it's a sign as to how quiet it has been at Meadow Lane as it's hardly a worthy of a headline story.

After the comments of Mr Trew, it's brought concerns regarding the 70k debt and although I don't like reading about any debt, I would like to add it's good that it's not much higher compared to Swindon Town who are reported to be losing £250,000 a month. It makes me even more grateful that we have the Trew's behind the club as I am sure his accountancy is vital to keeping things flowing without rising to such a concern.

I feel it's important that when the next game, whenever that may be, we get fully behind the club and squad, try to do as much as we can to help get back our finances which may allow us to be in a position next year to add further improvements. Survival is important, I wouldn't take anything else but would like to help secure a brighter, more promising future. After all, any help we give the club we may see reflect back towards us supporters and if not we can surely help reduce the debit by making sure we take along a friend or two, purchase from the club shop and even find alternative ways of getting money back to the club.

These postponements will not be helping, it's quite concerning but we can make the difference and I'm sure the club would appreciate all our efforts in trying to help ease the debt loss.

Over the next coming weeks I hope to bring more news to your screens, more signs of growth and although it's a slow start for us, it is nice to know that Pride of Nottingham is serving the Notts County community. It's important that we focus on being a good alternative source for fans and this is very much our focus. Please consider joining if you're a frequent reader, we would love to say hello and see our community (forum) flourish with new discussions.
Chris

Portsmouth - View

By Chris, in Opposition Views,

Ahead of our clash against Portsmouth FC, we've decided to ask a series of questions to Pompy fan WhoIzzet. Notts have suffered a turbulent period recently and whilst Pompy reside in the relegation places, both will be striving for the full 3 points this Saturday. Notts have beaten Pompy on two occasions this season already, but with Bury away at MK Dons, Portsmouth fans will see this as a fantastic opportunity to make ground in their search for maintaining their League One status. Wholzzet takes time out to tell us here at prideofnottingham.co.uk.

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

I'm Jake, 32 years old from Horndean. I've supported Portsmouth for as long as I can remember, through the very-highs and very-lows. I'm also an admin on footballforums.net (Check us out!).

At the start of season things were looking quite positive for Portsmouth FC, with your league standings and attitude towards financial difficulties. How close is your club to resolving the issue regarding ownership and how did you feel at the start of the season?

The trust's bid to buy the club has gained strength beyond what anyone really anticipated, and that has been the major positive. It does seem that the fans now have a realistic chance of owning the club, but the likes of Chainrai seem to be doing what they can to derail our hopes. It's impossible to say how close we are to resolving our situation, because every time it looks like we're getting close, we hit another setback or two. At the start of the season I hoped that we could stay up, but my major concern was that we stabilised our finances.

Despite how the season has gone so far for your club, the fan base has shown amazing support. There doesn't seem much time for negativity, how do your fans stay so upbeat?

It's nice of you to say. I guess one important thing is that this has happened before. We've been on the brink so often that it doesn't tear us completely apart, but this will have to change soon as the Pompey support don't have unlimited patience. Attendances have understandably dwindled and until the ownership issue is resolved, there are some who won't return to Fratton Park.

Your 3 – 1 Win over Shrewsbury Town is probably the turning point of your season, the drop in points since is quite concerning. Would you say this is more a reflection on a loss of players, rather than the performances?

It's partly down to loss of players, but in truth our performances have been poor of late. There is enough ability in the squad so we shouldn't be performing so dreadfully in the league, but we are and this unfortunately has to be attributed to the manager. As much as Guy Whittingham is a popular figure in Portsmouth, he's not able to deal with the difficult situation as well as Michael Appleton could, and should perhaps step aside if results don't improve.

James Keene has returned on loan, how important is his return to the club?

He's a new attacking option, and with the departure of Izale McLeod it was important that we found someone to fill the gap. I couldn't possibly say if he will do well though. He didn't quite cut it for Pompey the first time around, but it sounds like he found his goal scoring feet in Sweden. I'll be interested to watch him play again and see how he's improved.

Do you expect any other additions to your squad?

I'm hoping there will be. A few players are due to leave the club on the 15th, so we will be chipping away at bare bones if we can't find any replacements. While the ownership issue is still up in the air, any deals will be very temporary, but it's important we don't just give up on this season while survival is still a possibility.

Who would you say are Portsmouth's danger men in our upcoming game and who has been your key player in recent performances?

Mustupha Dumbuya (leaving on the 15th) has become more and more of a menace down the wing in recent weeks and often seems to provide our most incisive threat going forward. Though his end product still leaves a lot to be desired, the Notts County defence will have to be aware of him. Paul Benson can also be a handful up front.

Which Notts County players do you feel your side should watch out for from a defensive point of view?

The trouble for Pompey fans is we're still getting used to having to stay up all night for a quick round up of the league highlights! I guess Yoann Arquin would be someone to watch out for considering he's County's top scorer, but in truth we are chaotic when it comes to set-pieces. If you have someone who can whip a dangerous ball in from a free-kick or corner, it's curtains for us.

How is Jon Harley getting on at Portsmouth?

I haven't been overly-impressed. We've been crying out for an attacking option down the wings, and while Dumbuya has stepped up his game in that department, Harley seems unable to offer the same kind of service. His defensive work is about average.

What game this season has been your favourite and why?

I guess beating Shrewsbury 3-1 did seem, as you say, like a turning point. It was a good feeling to see the team performing as a unit and getting the result without performing particularly well, and the match occurred just after the Supporters Trust was named the preferred bidder, so there was a renewed sense of optimism that day. But the highlights have been few and far between, and I doubt the club will be releasing an end of season DVD.

If you were a Notts County fan, how would you respond to the negativity which surrounds the club for very little reason(s), especially considering we're progressing nicely since our return from league two?

It's a strange one for sure. From what I know of the situation (which is very little, so excuse my ignorance), the chairman has made a statement asking the fans to stop moaning. I guess the craziness that goes on with Pompey means that I'm envious of anyone who has a stable football club to support. Whether promotion happens this year, next, in ten years - just enjoy the football, and the fact that the club is on the rise.

Where do you feel Portsmouth's final position will be at the end of the season?

We're quite doomed. Relegation beckons.

In summary, I should imagine Keith Curle will have this fixture down as three points for County, and he'd be absolutely right to. We are low on confidence, players and form, and in truth it would not be a surprised if we lost this by three or four. I hope the County fans enjoy their first visit to Fratton Park in a little while, bearing in mind that it is likely it will be the last for a while as well.

We would like to Thank WhoIzzet (Jake) for the time of answering questions and sharing his views.
Chris

Our Club, Our Passion

By Chris, in Media,

I've been very busy since opening Pride of Nottingham that I haven't had much time for my other hobbies. When I'm not doing things on here, I tend to be found on one of my other sites that I run. These are all things I am very passionate about, so it makes complete sense to bind two of them together. The first site I ever started was related to Poetry & Art, it's something that has been very positive in my life and great way for me to express myself. I very much enjoy writing as a hobby, over the years I feel I've gotten much better than being basic at it.

Please take the time to read
 
'Our Club, Our Passion'
by Notts-Joe

Will you stand with us,
As we fall, or as we win.
Be the spine, the song,
The roar of it all.
Be the pride,
Our passion, the life,
Of our ever dreaming belief,
Will you take a moment,
To think before you speak?
Can you encourage, inspire,
Be more than one fan,
Chant for the moment,
Sing when nothing can be sung,
Will you rise above,
The shadows which form from off the floor,
Can you back our team,
Just once more,
We will build as we grow,
One hundred and fifty years on,
Our club is our passion,
As fans we can be strong,
To challenge, to make a difference.
Together we are one,
Have faith in our tough times.
I will, will you?

http://youtu.be/wOhMz3CpA5E

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Pride of Nottingham is an independent fansite devoted to Notts County, the world’s oldest professional football club. Created in 2013, it has served as a source of Magpie news, features, match previews, reports, analysis and interviews for more than three years.

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