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Kevin Nolan reassured Notts County fans squad will be strengthened the right way

Kevin Nolan has reassured Notts County fans that the squad will be strengthened with players who will not only make the team competitive in League Two, but who will be at Meadow Lane for the full season.
The Magpies have been relatively quiet in the transfer window so far, with Terry Hawkridge and Lewis Alessandra the only two acquisitions, although every player who was already on the books and offered a new deal has renewed their stay.
Some fans have expressed concern at the lack of new blood in the team, with local rivals Mansfield Town signing a glut of new players, but Nolan insists that there is a lot of hard work still to be done prior to the end of the window.
He told the official Notts site: "We are working hard to ensure we get a number of quality players in.
"We are trying to find out if certain people are available and if they want to come here but, like last season, there will be nobody here who does not want to be here.
"If someone does not want to be here then they will be shown the door and the players we bring in will want to come here, work with us and be a part of this fantastic football club which is going in the right direction.
"We have a few targets and hopefully a few gems up our sleeve but there is still a lot of hard work to do.
"We have a couple of lads coming in to be a part of the training squad so there will be some unknown faces but we are trying to get a squad which will be here for the season and be capable of making sure we compete in the division."
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Joe Jones

Super Danny Allsopp: Contract extension signings are testament to good atmosphere at Notts County

All the Notts County players that were offered contracts have re-signed, which speaks volumes for the atmosphere that people like Alan Hardy and Kevin Nolan have created around the club.
Some people may dismiss players such as Curtis Thompson and Haydn Hollis signing the contracts offered to them, but as Adam Campbell signing for Morecambe has shown, players that were on the fringe of our squad are capable of signing for our League Two rivals.
The tying down of Jon Stead and Shola Ameobi perfectly demonstrates the attraction of Notts as a club, of the atmosphere and aspirations that the aforementioned people have demonstrated.
Stead had numerous offers, by his own admission, from throughout the world including the United States. Some may snort at the American leagues, but the offer of a ‘last payday’ as so many modern footballers find all too alluring (see the Chinese Super League) is quite real.
The fact that a combination of the competitiveness of the Football League, the feel-good factor created by Nolan and the aspirations of Hardy has convinced Stead to sign a new contract with the club is outstanding.
He is not alone. Ameobi - who without a doubt has received interest from other clubs in and around (or even above) us following some fine performances in a Notts shirt - has also re-signed. No doubt ex-colleague Nolan had an influence, but I don’t think it was the only pull factor.
I also echo some fans’ opinions that a young, pacy striker to learn from Shola and Stead would fit perfectly, but let us not underestimate the threat these two veterans pose to opposition defences. We saw it last season, we will see it again next season.
We all want to see new signings, we all have an F5 button that is showing the signs of a bit of wear and tear. We have already signed two wingers, who may not receive the ‘trial by Wikipedia’ nod of approval, but we have to trust Nolan’s judgement, January 2017 didn’t prove so bad.
There has been many a season where Notts have offered contracts to existing squad players who have chosen to move, for one reason or another. We should be confident that the players who we have offered contracts have all signed, they all want to be here, and the reasons why they want to be here should be reassuring for all Notts fans.
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Super_Danny_Allsopp

Kevin Nolan talks Notts County pre-season, fixtures and transfer activity

Notts County boss Kevin Nolan has given his opinion on several current topics, including pre-season, the recently-released League Two fixtures, transfer window activity and higher-league loanees such as Jorge Grant.
It is low season within English football at present as many players and staff are on holiday, recuperating from the season just gone and with at least a week until pre-season gets underway.
However, plenty of work is being done behind the scenes, with contracts being signed (or turned down) by players already on a club's books, as well as thrashing out deals to bring new players in.
And this week, the EFL fixtures were released, giving fans the chance to begin planning their excursions on the road to follow their beloved teams (and cancel any other plans that may have got in the way of their beloved football).
Nolan is about to embark on his first ever full season as a manager, so for him it's relatively uncharted territory.
Speaking to the Nottingham Post, he touched on a number of topics.
On fixtures (and previous boss Sam Allardyce)
"I don't want to place too much emphasis on it, but I always believe in hitting the ground running.
"I've got that from Sam Allardyce. He massively believed in having a good start and that's why all that preparation will be going into the first game.
"It's not about beating Nottingham Forest in a friendly and then losing to Coventry and then losing to Chesterfield.
"They are the two games that matter so that Forest (pre-season friendly) game, while it will be a fantastic occasion, will be about the boys getting those minutes in and making sure they are good minutes too.
"We want to be ready, we don't want injuries and we want to make sure we keep moving forward, making sure that everybody is getting fitter.
"Then come August 5, we are ready to explode and hitting the ground running."
On the Carabao Cup first round clash at Scunthorpe United
"It is a difficult one but it will be a good test for our boys to see if they have the ability to match them.
"It is a game we will go and enjoy and hopefully give a good account of ourselves to get through to the next round."
On players and current transfer dealings
"We've kept everybody that we have wanted to retain from last season's squad.
"Now it's about looking at specific positions, particularly the spine of the team.
"We are also looking at signing a left-sider so we are talking to people and seeing if they want to come here.
"As I've always said I want people who want to play for this club and I don't want to be negotiating for £50 here or £100 there.
"I want a player who has a passion and a desire to play for Notts County."
On Jorge Grant
"I am absolutely delighted for Jorge (on his new Nottingham Forest deal).
"I've built up a great relationship with him and I think the boy is a special talent.
"He thrived in the environment that we created for him here and I spoke very well with his dad in the office and on the phone.
"He is going to be one of those boys that I will continue to speak to throughout my career I think.
"He knows what is expected of him. He's got a lovely family behind him, he's got a little bit of nice arrogance about him.
"It's what he needs to become a top player. He's got fire in his belly and you have to embrace that.
"But I am hoping if Jorge gets made available for loan again that he comes back here."
On other higher-league loanees
"We want people to come here and thrive so we can have that great relationship with Nottingham Forest.
"We've already built up good relations with Arsenal, Hull and West Brom after the loan signings we made from them last season.
"That's what you want, but for me Jorge was obviously the pick of the bunch.
"He's a lovely lad and I am hoping that he goes over the road and speaks highly of us.
"Anyone who is coming through at Forest and is sitting there wondering about us, then they can go to Jorge and ask him about us.
"I am sure he will say 'get yourself over there' because we will make players better."
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Joe Jones

Alan hardy plans to speak to EFL over certain Notts County fixtures

Alan Hardy has revealed that he plans to speak to the EFL about certain aspects of the Notts County fixture list.
On Wednesday, all 72 clubs found out their fixtures for the 2018/18 League Two season, with the Magpies starting with a trip to Coventry City followed by a home game with Chesterfield.
Despite the tough start against two League One relegation sufferers, Hardy is relishing those games, but was left unhappy with having an opening away game for the seventh consecutive season as well as some of the festive fixtures.
He wrote in the Nottingham Post: "Amid all the euphoria of the fixtures coming out, I have to say there were a couple of aspects I was very disappointed with.
"We are away on the opening day for the seventh consecutive season and I need to have a conversation with the Football League as to how that can happen.
"The Christmas holiday fixtures are also extremely disappointing.
"We play Morecambe on Boxing Day and leaving at 10am in the morning and getting home at 9pm isn't appealing at all.
"Christmas has always been about families and not spending seven or eight hours in the car travelling to a game.
"At the chairman's conference recently, I was talking to the fixtures secretary and said that it must take hours and hours of planning.
"But apparently it all goes into a computer allied to certain conditions that ourselves and Forest must not be at home on the same day for instance.
"There is also another that tries to cut down on the travelling for a midweek fixture, but we have Yeovil and Exeter away on Tuesday nights.
"It's disappointing the return games are not on a Tuesday either because at least it would have been fair to both sides.
"I just don't think the EFL have done a great job in terms of the scheduling and it's something I intend to raise."
To read the full column on the Nottingham Post website, click here.
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Joe Jones

Liam Noble is an expensive gamble at £100,000 - Notts County should invest more wisely

Transfer sagas are usually the domain of clubs in the upper echelons of the football pyramid. Virtually all the players currently in the middle of the annual soap opera currently play for one top team and are rumoured to desire a move to another top team.
Will David de Gea move to Real Madrid? Will Diego Costa return to Atletico Madrid? And so on and so on. It's basically the sort of cliche love triangle storyline you get in your typical soap opera / reality TV show, but adapted to the beautiful game.
But a similar "love triangle" is now taking place in the slightly less glamorous surroundings of League Two, and the three parties involved are Liam Noble, current squeeze Forest Green Rovers, and the ex, Notts County.
So the soap opera storyline is as follows: Noble was a bit of a bad boy back in the day, let Notts down on multiple occasions due to his disciplinary record, and so he was turfed out, clothes metaphorically chucked out the window and all that.
Noble then winds up at Forest Green, where former Magpies manager Mark Cooper - who had previously said the midfielder would not be allowed anywhere near Meadow Lane following one red card incident - was now at the helm.
And lo and behold, Noble gets his act together, weighs in with a modest seven goals and a gargantuan 21 assists, winds up becoming captain, and helps get FGR promoted. Oh, and his prior Achilles heel was no longer a problem - just eight yellow cards all season.
Now, you'd think a player whose career has been revived thanks to this club, and in turn has helped said club get into the Football League, would be buzzing from a personal and also a team perspective, and would be raring to go in League Two next season, maybe even show the ex what it's missing when it comes to the relevant matchdays.
But here comes the twist: Notts have tried to get Noble back, and Noble is reportedly eager to return to Meadow Lane - and FGR are having none of it, with Cooper publicly admitting the club had turned the initial bids for him down.
And of course, all this is being played out in front of the public. The Notts fanbase is still split over the prospect of Noble returning.
The Remain (at FGR) camp says ex-players should never return to pastures old, or haven't forgiven his previous indiscretions on the pitch, maybe even worrying whether he might return to the red card habits of old, while the Leave camp thinks his spell at FGR has changed him and he would be a much improved player this time round.
So what's PON's opinion on this? Well, Noble's had a barnstorming season, his goal tally is decent enough and his assist tally is amazing, and it looks like he's managed to get his act together on the disciplinary level.
But the point that sticks is the reported transfer fee - £100,000. Which in League Two / non-league, is frankly too high.
For that amount of money, you would expect a player to be unanimously accepted by the fanbase as a player that, in terms of how proven and reliable he will be, is as close to "guaranteed" as you can get.
And let's face it, even though he's had a great season, fans cannot be blamed for having doubts over his temperament and whether he would be the same player under Kevin Nolan as he was under Cooper, as well as the fact that League Two is markedly more difficult than the National League, and faced with tougher opposition, frustration may set in again - and we all know how that turned out.
So it's a gamble, a big big gamble, and at £100k, a risky one too. Surely for that amount of money we can get one or even two quality players who come with no prior baggage at Meadow Lane?
Just our opinion here, but whether this saga rumbles on well into August (or a future transfer window) or it comes to a tangible conclusion either in the form of a contract extension at FGR or the player standing in front of the cameras at the Lane holding a shirt with his name on the back and talking about how he's got unfinished business and wants to prove himself with this second chance bla bla bla... it's one that will continue to keep the Notts faithful talking.
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Joe Jones

Kevin Nolan sees Notts County, Mansfield Town derby as key clash of exciting season

Kevin Nolan has earmarked the Mansfield Town derby as arguably the biggest League Two clash of 2017-18 for Notts County, but believes it will be an exciting season all round.
The Magpies boss began his tenure at Meadow Lane with a goalless draw with the Stags which stopped a 10-game losing run in the league.
This season, Notts will face Mansfield away in September, and will also take on National League champions Lincoln City in the same month.
"Everybody is talking about the Mansfield game because of the atmosphere the game generates," he told the Nottingham Post.
"That's no disrespect to the other teams in the league, but I think there is more hype about that game because of the amount of signings they have made. They have got a whole new team plus the team they had from last year.
"But I think it's going to be an exciting season. You look at some of the teams and think 'crikey, some were playing in the Premier League', like Swindon and Coventry.
"I've never had a first day of the season as a manager. Being back in amongst it and hearing the fixtures gives you that little tingle and butterflies in the stomach.
"I am looking forward to seeing the boys next week and looking to see if we can add a few quality additions to those we've already signed."
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Joe Jones

Mixed feelings for Alan Hardy over Notts County League Two fixtures

Alan Hardy has spoken excitedly about the prospect of taking on Lincoln City this season in League Two and also of facing Coventry City in the very first game of the season, but was unhappy with the festive program.
The EFL fixtures for each of their three divisions were published at 9am on Wednesday, with Pride of Nottingham at Meadow Lane to cover the reveal as it happened.
The draw was not kind to the Magpies, however, as the Sky Blues and Chesterfield, both of whom were relegated from League One in 2016-17, would be first and second to take on Kevin Nolan's charges this season.
Hardy was happy enough with the initial set of games, but was even more excited about renewing rivalries with the Imps and with Mansfield Town.
He told the Nottingham Post: "The Mansfield game will obviously be massive with a big crowd, but I am really looking forward to playing Lincoln.
"Their boys will be cock-a-hoop after the season they have had and they will be full of confidence. I can't wait to get them here on our new pitch.
"But overall I can't wait. Coventry away for the first game is a top, top, draw. It will be tough, but how exciting?"
The post-Christmas fixtures are not kind either - Notts will travel to Morecambe on Boxing Day before a trip to Swindon just four days later.
"There are two disappointments for me and the first is that we play Morecambe on Boxing Day," Hardy continued.
"That means the fans are going to have to leave at 10am in the morning and is that really fair on their families?
"It's a poor fixture for us and that is then followed by another long trip to Swindon over the holiday period.
"It's also the seventh consecutive season we are away on the opening day and that can't be right."
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Joe Jones

Notts County begin 2017/18 EFL season with difficult fixtures

Notts County will begin the 2017/18 League Two season with a trip to Coventry City on Saturday 5 August.
As fixtures go, it is arguably one of the trickiest propositions for the Magpies, with the Sky Blues coming down from League One the previous season.
Things do not get easier either, with local rivals Chesterfield coming to Meadow Lane a week later in County's first home game of the campaign.
In terms of the other first local clashes of the season, Lincoln City will head to the Lane on 23 September, while Mansfield Town are the opponents at the One Call a week later.
The regular season will then finish with a home game against Luton Town on 5 May.
Here is a list of all the fixtures.

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Edited 21 hours ago by Joe Jones (show revisions)
Chris

Chris Buckley: Jon Stead and Shola Ameobi can use experience to help out young strikers at Notts County

With Jon Stead and Shola Ameobi both signing the contract extensions offered to them by Notts County, it dismisses my concerns over who can lead the Magpies front line during the 2017-18 season.
The majority of fans I know were quietly confident about both of them signing, but I had my doubts and I thought it would be just one of the two staying put.
Yet it is fantastic news that Kevin Nolan has successfully managed to retain them both, they showed us last season what a hard-working duo could do up front.
Even when they didn’t play together, they allowed a poor Magpie squad to bounce back and shine after the 10-game losing run in League Two.
Both players have a wealth of experience, each has something vastly different in their locker and I feel that they can be the key to passing the torch on and for this historic club to find their own natural goalscorer.
We all know it’s very unlikely that they will have the engines to play game after game from August to May - we have to accept that we will need someone else to step in for one or even both from time to time.
This isn’t a negative for me, I firmly feel it presents a perfect opportunity for Notts to recruit a young upcoming striker who can thrive as an understudy to the pair.
Stead has recently expressed his concern with the Notts squad, sending out a message that most fans will only know too well.
He said in relation to requiring a couple of 15-20+ goalscorers, "we are going to need a couple of them. I know the manager is working to get players in and I still think we are a little bit light. I think we need three or four more players in then we can have a right go."
There’s no denying we need more strength in depth in certain departments, yet a concern for me is injury up top and a lack of a pacey, speedy threat.
Aaron Collins would be the perfect example of someone young who fit the mould, he arrived with few expectations from my own opinion but quickly highlighted to me why he fitted the bill.
I feel Nolan should identify a young striker of that calibre who can fill the void and take the strain off Stead and Ameobi.
I’m not expecting fireworks from the off, yet it would be a great blessing to know we have depth throughout the squad and I feel the pair offer a lot of attraction to other potential signings – if we were able to get some creativity on the flanks and centre of midfield, for example.
Providing we strengthen the defence properly and allow the attacking players to do their thing, then I don’t see why a young striker couldn’t thrive at Meadow Lane.
I realise that we require a squad of about 22-25 players, but having the quality and depth in the squad will be paramount to Notts having a successful go this upcoming campaign.
Honestly, Notts should be far more hardworking – the question right now is all down to where the creativity will come from?
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Chris

Shola Ameobi signs new Notts County contract

Shola Ameobi has joined Notts County strike partner Jon Stead in extending his contract at Meadow Lane.
The former Newcastle United marksman joined the Magpies in the January 2017 transfer window and quickly became a fan favourite.
Playing under former teammate Kevin Nolan, he flourished in the Notts team and played a big part in their revival, scoring four times in 17 games.
Ameobi told the official Notts site: "I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at the club so far and I'm excited for what next season holds in store.
"I've been taken aback by the support of the fans, who have welcomed me into their club with open arms, and I'm determined to help make the 2017-18 campaign an enjoyable and successful one for them."
Nolan, meanwhile, said: "Not only did Shola make a huge impact on the pitch and in the dressing room, but he is also a big hit with our supporters.
"When a player of his quality and experience decides he wants to stay, it shows you are doing something right as a football club.
"It's great that the players have bought into what we want to try and do here. We now have the rest of the summer to look at ways we can develop and improve the squad."
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Joe Jones

Jon Stead reiterates desire to fire Notts County to top end of League Two table

Jon Stead has reiterated his desire to fire Notts County to the upper regions of the League Two table, for the fans and the club as well as for himself.
The 34-year-old was rumoured to be on the way out of Meadow Lane, with offers to join clubs all around the world, but he will be a Magpie next season after penning a new deal.
Stead admits that things spiralled out of control last season, but with Alan Hardy as owner and Kevin Nolan as manager, he believes things will kick on in 2017-18.
He told the Nottingham Post: "I want to be successful. I've had plenty of relegations and not many promotions.
"I want to be competing at the top end of the table season in, season out. I want that success and I want to do that here at Notts.
"I've got a great relationship with the club and the fans. They know I give it everything and that won't change.
"When I signed a couple of seasons ago, everything started well enough and looked promising.
"Suddenly things don't go to plan, things start to spiral and it looks as if it will go out of control. But the turnaround has been massive.
"It's huge for the club to have an owner with a real passion for the club. There's a real buzz about the place and it's great to be a part of."
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Joe Jones

Curtis Thompson latest player to commit future to Notts County

Curtis Thompson has become the latest player to pen a new contract at Notts County.
The 23-year-old has made 96 appearances for the Magpies having progressed through the club's academy and is believed to have penned a deal until the end of the 2017-18 season.
Thompson told the official Notts website: "I am delighted to be staying and I am looking forward to next season.
"I had some setbacks last season with a long-term injury and getting a red card against Crawley but this is a fresh start.
"Towards the end of the season the boys were getting good results so it's good to be staying with them."
Notts boss Kevin Nolan added: "I am very pleased Curtis has decided his future lies with us.
"He is a player with a great deal of potential and I'm looking forward to helping him continue his development here at Meadow Lane."
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Joe Jones

Jon Stead urges Notts County to strengthen squad ahead of new season

Jon Stead has set himself a target of 20 goals for Notts County next season, but insists that the squad needs to be strengthened ahead of the new campaign.
The 34-year-old put pen to paper on a new contract at Meadow Lane believed to be until the end of next season and, following his 14-goal turnaround in League Two in 2016-17, he wants to do even better going forward.
However, he says the Magpies need two players capable of it if they are to seriously become contenders for a promotion challenge next season.
"I want to be front and centre stage and playing a massive part of next season," he told the Nottingham Post. "The gaffer sees me playing a big part and I want to be hitting 20 goals next season.
"That's got to be the target and if we are going to be challenging then we are going to need somebody who scores 15 to 20 goals.
"In fact we are going to need a couple of them. I know the manager is working to get players in and I still think we are a little bit light. I think we need three or four more players in then we can have a right go.
"This is no disrespect to the players who have played in the wide positions over the last couple of seasons, but it has been something we have lacked.
"We have had good technical players, but they haven't been authentic wide players or those who get bums off seats.
"Lewis was a real handful when we played Hartlepool last season so to get those players in through the door is only going to help.
"It will certainly help me and I am sure the manager and the board are working hard behind the scenes to add more. There's still plenty of time yet to sign more players."
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Joe Jones

Notts Alumni: Albert Iremonger

As we know all too well, a footballer's credentials for his club do not always translate into international recognition. And the England squad is littered with such examples over the years.
Take Matt Le Tissier. One of the most talented players the nation has ever produced, he simply wasn't given the chance to do for the Three Lions what he did with Southampton. Likewise Chris Sutton, one half of the SAS strike partnership at Blackburn Rovers, was not really considered by England and only won one cap.
And the same goes for managers - although praising Brian Clough is done so through gritted teeth on this here website, nobody can deny that he was overlooked by England as both a player (he was a prolific forward in his playing days) and as a manager.
But in all fairness, this has been going on for the last century. Between 1905 and 1925, Notts County had on their books arguably the finest goalkeeper in the country, Albert Iremonger, but he never won a single England cap.
Born in Wilford on 15 June 1884, he was one of three siblings, alongside older brother James and younger brother Harry.
Needless to say, the Iremonger brothers were blessed genetically. All of them grew up to be around 6'5" in height, which is considered very tall even nowadays, never mind a century ago when people were considerably shorter.
Indeed, they all became leading footballers of the time, with James playing 301 times for Forest, while Harry turned out 11 times for the Reds, and Albert and James also played cricket for Nottinghamshire.
With regards to Albert, he began with local club Nottingham Jardines Athletic before signing for Notts in 1905 and making his debut against Sheffield Wednesday on April 1.

Seen as a giant with "hands like the claws of a JCB", Iremonger's physique was effectively the template for many future goalkeepers to this day - tall, athletic, strong and imposing, if a little on the skinny side. Think Thibaut Courtois.
And another common goalkeeping trait we see nowadays is temperament - they say you have to be crazy to be in goal, or at the very least display a bit of fire, and indeed, Iremonger was well known to be outspoken on the pitch.
He would often leave his goalmouth to argue decisions made by match officials, sometimes heading all the way up to the centre circle to do so.
If you think this would be a bit excessive nowadays, just imagine how he would have been deemed a century ago, in a much more gentlemanly era. Indeed, this fiery temperament is what supposedly stopped Iremonger from ever winning an England cap.

The Arsenal goalkeeping great Bob Wilson recalled a story about Iremonger, as quoted in The Telegraph: "Iremonger took a penalty and the kick hit the crossbar with such force the ball went back over his head. Iremonger, a lanky stick insect, then raced back to retrieve the ball and in doing so struck a perfect shot into the top corner of his own goal."
There is even an anecdote which claims that, in a 1912 game against Arsenal, he wasted time sitting on the ball in the middle of the game. The referee tried various things, the last hope was to scare him away with a firework (yes, you read that right) but it failed, and the game was abandoned.
However, he also had a kindly side - another Telegraph article, which like the above picture, calls him Albert Ironmonger, claimed he "repelled opposing forwards simply by looking at them and then tossed dolly mixtures to kids in the crowd like a favourite uncle."
But while personality and anecdotes are subjective, Iremonger's stats in the game are undisputable (well, for the most part, as you're about to read on).
He was the Magpies' first-choice goalkeeper for 20 years, played a total of 601 games for them - a record unbroken to this day - and played in over 200 consecutive league and cup games (different sources specify different amounts, but the below cigarette card lists it as 204, so let's go with that).

His exceptional performances earned him a Football League cap in 1912 (back in the days where you'd literally win a cap which could be placed on your head).
When the First World War broke out, Iremonger served in the Footballer's Battalion, a colloquial term for the men who were contracted to football clubs - they were originally refused permission to join the Army but the clubs relented under media pressure - and fought under the badge of the Middlesex Regiment. Iremonger fought alongside brother Harry, and both brothers survived the war.
In 1925, Iremonger's time at Meadow Lane came to an end, and a year later, the 42-year-old became Lincoln City's oldest ever player. Although he was a short-term signing, he impressed in his 35 appearances for the club until 1927, after which he retired from the game.
Later in life, Iremonger became a landlord, first of the Cremorne in the Meadows and later the Ferry Inn in his native Wilford. Unfortunately, tragedy was to strike during the Second World War when his son, 1920-born Albert Harvey Iremonger, was killed in action in 1943 aged just 23.
Iremonger's story ends on 9 March 1958, when he passed away aged 73, but his legacy carries on to this day - the road behind Meadow Lane is named after him.
Sure, he may not have been able to make his mark with England, but let's face it - his place in Notts County and Nottinghamshire sporting history is 100 percent assured. He lived all his life in the region, and he will forever be remembered as a prodigal son of Nottinghamshire.

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Joe Jones

Notts County looking for two young fans to assist with new kit launch

Notts County are looking for two fans aged between 7 and 14 to help with the launch of the new team kit.
The club shared an article on its official website to announce they they are to give two Magpie-supporting youngsters the chance to star in a short film as part of the reveal, and will also be the first people to see the new Puma kit for 2017-18.
The statement read: "To be in with a chance of taking part, simply film a short video (approximately 20 – 40 seconds) explaining why you should be the first person to see the brand-new shirt.
"You may wish to predict what the new home and away kits will look like, or even reminisce over your favourite ever Notts shirt.
"Please send your video to [email protected], including 'Kit Reveal' in the subject line and supplying the following details:

- Child's full name
- Contact parent/guardian's full name
- Child's age
- Address
"The two winners will need to be available for filming on Tuesday 20 June and Wednesday 21 June.
"Filming will be late afternoon to fit around school times, and will take place at the winners' homes."
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Joe Jones

Why Jon Stead rejected worldwide interest to stay with Notts County

Jon Stead has elaborated on his decision to reject interest from all around the world to sign a new Notts County contract and promised that there is more to come from him next season.
During the 2016-17 campaign, the 34-year-old was the Magpies' highest scorer with 14 goals, and he won the League Two Player of the Month award for September.
There was interest from the United States for Stead, who was sidelined by injury midway through the season, but he has now committed his future to Meadow Lane by signing a new deal believed to be for one more year.
Stead told the Nottingham Post: "(Nolan) was obviously pleased I had signed but he made it clear from the day he walked through the door that he wanted me to be a part of his journey.
"As a player you want to be made to feel important by your manager and that was another reason as to why I decided to stay.
"I made the decision to stay about two-and-a-half weeks ago. I had been on holiday and had also been away from the club for two to three weeks. Being away from everything certainly helped give me clarity to decide what I was going to do.
"And even up until Thursday, I was still getting messages containing offers from clubs across the world. I had a couple in Sweden, then one to play in the Indian Super League, and obviously I spoke to quite a few clubs in America too.
"I just felt in the end that Notts felt right, but it took a lot of sleepless nights. It was not just a big decision for my career, but also my life. It's a massive undertaking to move abroad and I just felt that I wasn't ready to let go of the Football League.
"There's definitely more to come from me next season."
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Joe Jones

Jon Stead rejects America interest to sign new Notts County deal

Jon Stead has put pen to paper on a new contract at Notts County.
During the 2016-17 campaign, the 34-year-old was the Magpies' highest scorer with 14 goals, and he won the League Two Player of the Month award for September.
There was interest from the United States for Stead, who was sidelined by injury midway through the season, but he has now committed his future to Meadow Lane and he says he is "delighted" with the decision.
He told the official club site: "It took me a while to make sure it was the right thing for me and the family, but it definitely is and I can't wait to get going.
"I want to be here. It's exciting times - there's a real buzz about the place. You don't want to be looking from the outside and wishing you'd been involved.
"I know the gaffer sees me playing a big part in his team and that's all you want to hear as a player."
Manager Kevin Nolan added: "He doesn't only bring goals, but his all-round play, experience and professionalism are first class.
"He's the type of player any manager would love to have in their dressing room."
It is unconfirmed how long the new deal is for, but it is believed to be for one year.
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Chris

Jake Bugg to sponsor Notts County shirts for November 2017

Nottingham musician Jake Bugg has been named as one of the Notts County shirts sponsors for next season.
The 23-year-old, born and bred in Clifton, is a well-known name in the British music industry, having scored a UK number one album with his self-titled debut, while his two follow-ups charted in the nation's top five.
A Magpies fan, it has now been revealed that his name will be emblazoned across the Notts shirts in November, as part of the club's monthly sponsorship plan.
On Thursday, Notts announced each of the monthly shirt sponsors for the 2017-18 season.
The official club website also confirmed that the team's new Puma replica shirts will be available to purchase without a sponsor and that supporters will be able to have any of the 10 logos applied at no cost.

List of Notts County 2017-18 season shirt sponsors:
August: Mace Sport
September: Premier Electrical Services
October: SG Sports Gateway
November: Jake Bugg
December: Showcase Cinema De Lux
January: Eversheds Sutherland
February: The Senator Group
March: Bassingfield Woodyard
April: Premier Facilities Maintenance
Cup matches: Paragon Interiors Group
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Joe Jones

Alan Hardy: 'Notts County happy to re-sign Jorge Grant on loan if he needs first-team football'

Alan Hardy has claimed that Notts County will be on standby to possibly re-sign Jorge Grant on loan should he fail to cement a first-team place at Nottingham Forest.
The 22-year-old was on the fringes of the Reds first team in the previous campaign but, when taken on by Kevin Nolan midway through the season, had a huge impact.
Grant made 17 appearances and scored six goals from midfield to give the Magpies a huge shot in the arm and ended up surviving relegation from League Two with several games to spare.
As a reward, he was offered a new three-year contract at the City Ground, which he signed, but Hardy wrote in his weekly Nottingham Post column that Notts would be in pole position to take him on temporarily once again.
He wrote: "Obviously we had been hoping to sign him permanently because he's such a fantastic talent, but as soon as Forest put that deal on the table, I knew he was going to sign it.
"If I was in his position, I would have done exactly the same because, let's face it, how many three-year contracts get handed out these days?
"They are incredibly rare and at 22, Jorge is at that age where he needs to be settled and allowed to purely concentrate on his football.
"From what I understand, Mark Warburton, the Forest manager, has told all the players it is a clean slate, which obviously puts Jorge in an exciting position.
"He will now go away hoping to force his way into the first team, and I hope he is afforded the chance to prove himself over the course of pre-season.
"With the new owner in place and the manager, Warburton, having his first full transfer window to make new signings, that could mean Jorge is pushed down the pecking order.
"If that proves to be the case and there is a chance that he will go out on loan again, then we will be the first in the queue.
"I would absolutely love to have Jorge back at Notts if the chance arises again, but you can't begrudge him a shot of trying to get into Forest's first team.
"But there's absolutely no doubt in my mind that his performances for us at Notts were pivotal in Forest's decision to award him a new contract.
"If he had just been sitting on the bench and had not signed for us, the likelihood of him earning a three-year deal would have been extremely remote.
"I know Jorge thoroughly enjoyed his time here with us. The supporters loved him and he was a credit to himself during the few months he was here.
"He is a lovely lad who can sprinkle stardust on a game so it's a situation we will be constantly monitoring as we look to make new signings."
To read the rest of Alan Hardy's Nottingham Post column this week, click here.
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Joe Jones

Notts County praised by Arsenal over Marc Bola development, claims Alan Hardy

Notts County have received positive feedback from Arsenal for how they coached Marc Bola during his loan spell at Meadow Lane, Alan Hardy has claimed.
The 19-year-old left-back joined the Magpies on loan in January and impressed in his 13 appearances for Kevin Nolan's side.
With Notts now likely more in good stead with clubs higher up the football pyramid due to their credentials in handling and nurturing young loanees, it is an avenue that the Magpies owner is looking to pursue.
"Marc was a huge success for us and he produced some excellent performances," Hardy told the Nottingham Post.
"I received some lovely correspondence from Arsenal saying that he had learned so much from his time with us.
"It's good to know we can help these players develop, while obviously helping us at the same time.
"The loan market is something we will use before the window shuts and the manager already has targets in mind.
"I think the Premier League clubs know that if they send their players to us, we will give them games and ultimately help them develop."
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Joe Jones

Joe Jones: Jorge Grant's new Nottingham Forest deal after Notts County loan is success story for all three parties

So it's set in stone - Jorge Grant had signed a new three-year deal at Nottingham Forest.
Naturally I was pretty gutted - for weeks I had been hoping that maybe, just maybe, the Reds would have thought "nah, we don't really need him - let's just let him go". And then Grant would have opted to remain in Nottingham and signed for Notts County, and we could have celebrated a pretty spectacular coup from Alan Hardy and Kevin Nolan.
But let's be realistic for a moment. Why would Forest decide to just let a 22-year-old academy product, that is already on their books, and has shown vast improvement in just a few months on loan in a team in a challenging division, which at the time of joining was fighting for its Football League future, and contributed to their eventual survival, and over the next few seasons could go on to become Premier League quality - why would they let him walk away for nothing?
As own goals go, that wouldn't even be Chris Brass or Jamie Pollock level - it would be full-on Theresa May (although I'm sure Forest would at least get the timing of the Mexican wave right).
In terms of Grant's own future, he's come through the ranks at the City Ground, so it's pretty natural for him to want to cement a first-team place at the team which has nurtured him throughout the years, plus with them still being in the Championship and, crucially, under new ownership, there is that renewed hope (for them lot anyway) that Forest might go on an upward trajectory.
So yeah, it's a massive shame that the outcome hasn't quite gone the way I - and all other Notts fans - would have wanted. But we've got to look at the positives. In terms of Grant's services, he *could* yet be dispatched on loan again next season at Meadow Lane, so there is always that hope, no matter how slender.
And even if he doesn't, I will take solace in something that Hardy said a while back which, though somewhat controversial, makes perfect logical business sense - the strengthening of relations between Forest and Notts.
Yes, I would rather put deep heat on my unmentionables than be seen in a Forest top, and yes, I will carry on singing about it always being a faeces-related expletive on the red side of the Trent, and when chanting about Nottingham being full of fun, the third item on the list (won't mention the first two, family site and all that) will always be County instead of that other team.
But in terms of the relationship between the two clubs at community and at boardroom level, it helps to have the two teams on good terms. And the Grant loan not only gave Notts impetus to go on to survive in the Football League, but it also allowed the player himself to flourish and, with a new season on the horizon, Forest have themselves a much-improved player that could potentially spearhead a turnaround in their recent fortunes.
And as for Grant himself, he never even had to leave the city, which saved him having to leave his family and friends behind, faff around trying to find new accomodation, get used to a new part of the country and so on and so on.
And that kind of thing does not go unnoticed, so there's every chance that other loan dealings can be sorted out to the benefit of all three parties (Notts, Forest, and player), which can only be a good thing.
So as much at it sucks having that sliver of hope regarding Grant potentially becoming a permanent Notts player taken away, I'm looking at the bigger picture and it's very much reassuring - in the short and long term, it's proven a success story for all three parties.
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Joe Jones

Jorge Grant grateful to Notts County for successful loan spell

Jorge Grant has thanked Notts County for having taken him on loan last season and playing a huge part in helping him win a new Nottingham Forest contract.
The 22-year-old was on the fringes of the Reds first team in the previous campaign but, when taken on by Kevin Nolan midway through the season, had a huge impact.
Grant made 17 appearances and scored six goals from midfield to give the Magpies a huge shot in the arm and ended up surviving relegation from League Two with several games to spare.
His loan spell at Meadow Lane ultimately saw Forest offer him a new three-year contract, which he signed this week, and he admits he probably wouldn't have had that chance were it not for his successful Notts spell.
"I loved it (at Notts). I've got to thank the chairman, the manager and the players," Grant told the Forest website.
"They've helped me get to the position I'm in with the new contract. I owe them a massive thanks and the fans were amazing.
"I didn't get the chance to go week in, week out here, but I did over the road and I got a few goals. I played some of my best football so hopefully I can do that here.
"I don't want to go back to not playing so I'm going to go give it my all in pre-season and hopefully impress the manager."
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Joe Jones

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