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Notts County 2017-18 pre-season fixtures

The 2016-17 season ended a few weeks ago, however Notts have already announced their pre-season line-up which sees two key fixtures at Meadow Lane. One of which includes a late Wednesday night against our neighbours and rivals Nottingham Forest.
The Magpies will be looking to use the month of July as a way to get back to full fitness and fine-tune every aspect of the team before the start of the season.
Here are the fixtures:
Saturday 8th July, 3pm: Rolls Royce Leisure (A)
Saturday 15th July, 3pm: Basford United (A)
Wednesday 19th July, 7:45pm Nottingham Forest (H)
Saturday 22nd July, 3pm: Wigan Athletic (H)
Saturday 29th July, 3pm: York City (Y)
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Chris

Notts County eye Lewis Alessandra has their second signing of the summer

Notts County are reportedly closing in on Lewis Alessandra who is set to have a medical with the club.
The Magpies' may have fought off competition from Port Vale for the Hartlepool United winger, who is set to become the second signing of the summer at Meadow Lane according to The Post.
Vale had reportedly shown interest in Alessandra, yet it is understood that the attacking wide-man is now set to undergo a medical on Friday after Notts successfully reached an agreement over a fee with Hartlepool.
Notts owner Alan Hardy has allegedly stumped up a five-figure fee for the 28-year-old, who impressed for Pools last season despite their relegation to the National League.
Although Alessandra can play upfront as a striker, he regularly featured on the right wing for Pools last season where he impressed largely with his performances in League Two.
Alessandra scored nine goals and created another nine which led to significant interest, but is now expected to sign for Kevin Nolan after the Notts manager expressed a desire to add more of a goal threat.
Notts have also signed Terry Hawkridge from Lincoln City earlier this month.
Chris

Notts Alumni: James "Jimmy" Logan

With Notts County having such a rich history, there are dozens of illustrious former players for every generation over the last 150 years, with some individuals having excelled for the club so far back that nobody currently alive will have seen them play.
This is the case of James "Jimmy" Logan, who was born in a time when Alexander Graham Bell, Thomas Edison and Queen Victoria were still alive.
Born on 24 June 1870 in the Scottish town of Troon, Logan began his career at Ayr United, just down the coast from his hometown.
National scouts soon spotted his potential and, in March 1891, he played in the Scotland side that beat Wales 4-3 in Wrexham, scoring on his debut.
However, the Scottish game was amateur at the time, while south of the border, clubs were turning professional, so many footballers were drawn to England.
On the day of the win over Wales, Logan was spotted by Sunderland scouts, and soon enough he signed for the Wearside club, though he only made two appearances as they won the 1891-92 Football League.
In October 1892 he returned to Ayr briefly before signing for Aston Villa for a transfer fee of £30.
He played ten times for them in the 1892-93 season, scoring on seven occasions, and followed that up with one goal in four games before Notts County signed him.
The Magpies were a Second Division club at this point, but Logan did not let this deter him, scoring 21 goals in 21 games and guiding the club to their first FA Cup Final.
To get there, Notts eliminated three clubs from the First Division, including Nottingham Forest, who they beat 4-1 in a replay, and so they lined up to face Bolton at Goodison Park.
In front of 37,000 people, Notts were done and dusted by the 70th minute as Arthur Watson opened the scoring in the 18th minute before Logan struck in the 29th, 67th and 70th minutes of the match - a feat managed by just one player before.
Another record broken was that Notts became the first team from outside the top flight to win the FA Cup and, appropriately enough, they received a hero's welcome when they returned to Nottingham.
“One would have to seek far back into the annals of demonstrations of a public nature to find a parallel to the proceedings on Saturday night,” enthused the Nottingham Evening Post.
The loudest cheers were for the man of the match. “Logan was the hero of the day,” wrote the Sheffield Independent, “and played in a brilliant fashion”. Another writer was moved to state: “He was like a clipper in full sail all through.”
Logan then moved on to play for Dundee and later Newcastle United in short but successful stints, scoring eight goals in the nine games, before transferring to Loughborough.
It was here that his career, and sadly his life, ended, in very unfortunate circumstances.
On Friday, April 3, the Luffs travelled to Sandbach to play Crewe Alexandra, and won 2-1.
The next day, they travelled by train to Manchester to take on Newton Heath, the club which later became Manchester United - but had forgotten the kits in Sandbach.
“Loughborough turned out in borrowed plumes,” reported The Monitor and News. “The search for clothing delayed the start for half an hour.”
In driving rain, 4,000 witnessed Loughborough lose 2-0 and the team, wearing the same drenched clothes as they wore in the game, returned to the Midlands.
Logan – who had a history of ill health – caught a chill and missed the next three games.
He recovered to return to action and scored in the final game of the season, a 4-1 win over Crewe, and looked to be recovering over the next month, but sadly it wasn't to be.
“No serious consequences were anticipated ’til Saturday,” reported the Monitor, “when the internal complaint of which he suffered led to complications and in the end brought on pneumonia.”
From then on, Logan went rapidly downhill. By Monday, James Logan was dead. He was 25.

As a mark of respect, the next day the Midland League championship flag was lowered to half mast at the club’s Athletic Ground.
At 3.30pm on May 29, Logan's body was lowered into the grave at plot 34 of compartment 114 at Loughborough Cemetery. A nameless hole in the ground. A pauper's grave.
This is seemingly where the story ends, but fast forward 120 years, Andy Black and Jimmy Willan launched a campaign to give Logan the recognition he deserved.
Until August 2016, the only reminder of him had been a sign on a dirt road leading to the town's Derby Road playing fields, bearing the name James Logan Way.
Andy and Jimmy's campaign culminated in the unveiling of the headstone at Loughborough Cemetery, in Leicester Road, on August 23, 2016.
A proper tribute to a legendary football player - just how it should be.

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Joe Jones

Alan Hardy wants closer links between Notts County and Nottingham Forest

Notts County owner Alan Hardy has expressed his desire to forge closer links with Nottingham Forest and praised the attitude of their young players.
Jorge Grant, who Forest are looking to sign up on a three-year deal, had a successful loan spell at Meadow Lane, and Hardy believes all their academy prospects are being brought up the right way.
In his weekly Nottingham Post column, he wrote: "We want to continue to strengthen links with our neighbours.
"I do know that our manager, Kevin Nolan, has a good relationship with Frank McParland, their director of football.
"Forest do have an abundance of excellent young players who are on our doorstep and it would be remiss of us not to explore those avenues.
"There's something I greatly admire about the character of those Forest boys. They are really nice people to have around your football club and in the changing room.
"They have a great work ethic, they are the last off the training pitch, they always have a smile on their face and it's just the type of people that Kevin and I like as players.
"Whatever Forest do over there, they are certainly teaching them the right way."
To read the rest of Alan Hardy's weekly Nottingham Post column, click here.
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Joe Jones

Alan Hardy eager to see Jorge Grant in Notts County colours again

Alan Hardy has reiterated that he wants Jorge Grant back in a Notts County shirt but is unsure of Nottingham Forest's plans for the 22-year-old.
The Magpies chairman is willing to fund a move for the in-demand playmaker, who scored six goals in 23 games for the Magpies after arriving on loan from the City Ground in January.
However, Forest - who had the option of extending Grant's contract by another 12 months - have opted to put a three-year deal on the table, while there is also interest from Wigan Athletic.
"I would love to buy Jorge because he is a quality player and a really good lad," said Hardy.
"While it's great taking players on loan nothing can beat having a player on your books who lays down roots and becomes part of your long-term journey.
"He was instrumental for us last season and produced some wonderful goals and football along the way.
"But at this moment in time we don't know what Mark Warburton's view is.
"He may well fancy him for next year and make him a part of his plans. That's something we are waiting to find out.
"We would love to see him back here on loan if we cannot take him on a permanent deal.
"The fans absolutely love him here, he played regularly and the way he conducted himself was fantastic.
"He has that sparkle and the ability to turn a game on its head.
"Jorge is obviously settled in Nottingham and that's important for a player as it allows them to concentrate on their football.
"He doesn't have to worry about travelling, what hotel he is staying in and so on.
"We are really pleased that Jorge is wanting to put roots down in Nottingham and hopefully we will see him back at Meadow Lane next season."
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Joe Jones

Notts County settle winding petition after "dramatic compromise"

The threat of liquidation hanging over Notts County has been formally lifted.
A petition to wind up the club was dismissed on Wednesday at the High Court in London after a "dramatic compromise" was signed at the door of the court.
Notts were being pursued for debts said to be more than £600,000 owed to Pinnacle Advantage Ltd, a company of which former Notts owner Ray Trew was director.
The League Two club had been trying to agree a settlement with the administrators for Pinnacle, which was liquidated last July.
When the matter returned to court, Simon Johnson, appearing for Pinnacle, told Miss Registrar Derrett: "A dramatic compromise has just been signed outside court".
James Pickering, representing Notts County, confirmed the compromise, and there were no other creditors the registrar declared: "The petition is dismissed with no order as to costs."
Originally, the club had faced a winding-up application brought by Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs over reported debts of £500,000 - when the tax man's bill was settled, Pinnacle stepped in as a "substitute creditor".
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Joe Jones

Haydn Hollis signs new contract at Notts County

Haydn Hollis has become the latest player to commit his future to Notts County after signing a new deal at Meadow Lane.
The 24-year-old central defender, a Magpies academy product, has made 133 appearances for the club since making his debut in January 2012, and has scored seven goals.
Hollis told the official Notts site: "Since the manager told me he wanted to offer me a new deal I’ve been desperate to sign it.
"The gaffer’s someone I love working for and Richard Thomas and Mark Crossley also deserve a lot of credit, along with everyone else the manager has with him.
"The club’s going into a new time now - we're even getting a new kit brand. It's completely changing and I’m glad I’m going to be a part of it."
Notts boss Kevin Nolan added: "I am absolutely delighted that Haydn has decided to stay with us.
"I have spoken a number of times about his attitude and the way he carries himself about the club - he has been first class since I walked through the door.
"Even when he found himself out of the squad he never let his professionalism or commitment slip. He kept working hard and thoroughly deserves his new deal."
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Joe Jones

Alan Hardy praises Matt Tootle for opening up about mental health struggles

Alan Hardy has praised Matt Tootle after the defender opened up about his mental health struggles and pledged to do more to ensure players are supported at Notts County.
The 26-year-old spoke about his battles with anxiety and depression earlier on in his career, admitting he "thought about ending it" and receiving treatment at the Priory Clinic.
"It takes a lot of guts and it was very brave of him to speak about it," Hardy told the Nottingham Post.
"To a degree, I've got a lot of affinity with what he was saying. People who know me, know that I'm not necessarily a level person; I'm up one day and down the next.
"I'm not comparing myself to Matt Tootle, but I've experienced a little bit of living in highs and lows. And when that low becomes even lower, then I can certainly identify with how low he must have got.
"It's very sad. The problem with mental illness and depression is that when you're at that point, hardly anybody can help you. It has to come from within and you have to dig really deep.
"I haven't seen (Tootle) since he did that interview, so next time I see him I will certainly be shaking him by the hand and saying, 'well done for digging deep and getting yourself out of that'."
Asked if clubs are more aware now about mental health issues among players, Hardy said: "No, I don't think they are. I don't think we are here.
"It's something which I'll be taking with John Wilson, our chief medic, about in the summer; about how we can identify what's going on with the players and whether we should be having some sort of psychological coaching to make sure the guys are in a good place.
"If you're not in a good place mentally, you've got no chance of performing well out on the pitch. I don't think as a society we do enough. It's something that we need to look at. We need to make sure we do more to really help those players. But Matt has done fantastic to come out and say what he's said, and to get himself back on top."
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Joe Jones

Alan Hardy: 'Notts County have already smashed last year's season ticket sales'

Alan Hardy has revealed that Notts County had already smashed the previous year's season ticket sales before the 2016-17 campaign was even over.
Season tickets for the 2017-18 campaign went up on sale on March 24, with the Notts owner attributing the increased take-up to optimism about the Magpies' future on and off the pitch.
"We have smashed last season's sales," Hardy told the Nottingham Post. "We had exceeded last year's season ticket sales before the season had finished.
"Sales have slowed down a little bit now because there's no football, but hopefully once the new Puma kit gets released that can give them another boost. That should land with us in the middle of July.
"Once the players report back for training at the end of June and the new kit comes out, then those sales will accelerate again.
"I just want to say a massive thank you to those fans who have bought their tickets early and really supported us.
"To exceed last year's season ticket sales before the season had even finished was remarkable.
"It shows how much enthusiasm and confidence the fans have got for next year.
"We exceeded it by about 10 percent up on last season's sales before the season had expired, it's tremendous."
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Joe Jones

Chris Buckley: Notts County should not be relying on playoffs for promotion

The recent League Two playoff games between Exeter City and Carlisle United, and Luton Town and Blackpool, have highlighted the narrow gap for error within this division.
Exciting as they may be to watch, the playoffs aren’t easy, nor are they straightforward as people may think.
Promotion at the end of the day can reap rewards for any club that is successful enough to clinch it - the evolution and step forward can ultimately turn around a club's fortunes too.
League Two teams on their day can beat anyone, just look how Hartlepool United managed to claim a victory over the champions on the final day, so success on the field involves hard work and a lot of perseverance.
Whilst some fans will argue that the standard of football is dire, it’s improved a lot over the years and is certainly difficult.
I feel any lower tier division usually is this way, as the National League is about the hardest of them all – yet League Two is no easy street.
Clubs have to earn their promotion and if Notts hadn’t lost all those games in a row, we may have been able to turn things around.
When we were in the drop zone, I never felt we would push out and be on the verge of mathematically pushing up the higher end of the division. This alone shows you how quickly things can change in League Two.
The league won’t be any easier next season, we will welcome the return of Lincoln City – who I feel will have a culture shock after how a portion of their fans have reacted in the past few days (well done for your promotion lads, but focus - you’re not champions of League Two yet). Yet they will give the majority of teams a good game on their day.
Forest Green Rovers are rather unknown but I expect them to invest and to be more successful than most of the smaller League Two teams – i.e the sides like Newport County, Morecambe and Cheltenham Town.
Other clubs falling down the pyramid will add further depth to the competition already found, with Port Vale being no push over. Swindon Town and Chesterfield are also sides that should be able to put aside the woes of relegation in order to focus on a new campaign.
I am aware from various comments that Chesterfield are in some financial difficulty, yet I fully expect them to be pushing for the top half of the table.
Coventry City may go on to replicate what we did in 1998 or lead the division like Doncaster Rovers did this campaign – I wouldn’t expect them to slip up at all.
There will be more than 10 teams who are all capable of pushing for the top positions, so League Two won’t exactly be there for the taking for any club – let alone us.
Whilst we may be able to watchfully cast an eye on the playoffs in terms of realistic expectations, all of this will depend on the type of signings we make and how Kevin Nolan can further gel his squad together.
I would love Notts to push for automatic promotion, yet I would say that stability usually takes a few seasons and at this early stage it’s looking like we will be just another decent League Two team.
A handful of exciting signings could easily change this, whilst a ‘real’ togetherness on the pitch and impact from us fans in the stands in terms of support may encourage a hard-working Notts County to exceed expectations.
I noticed a friend's comment recently on Facebook which got me thinking. Byron Webster, the Millwall defender, had been quoted as saying: “Going up this way is the best way to it” – referring to his side's League One playoff final win over Bradford City at Wembley.
There’s no denying that a trip to Wembley can't be an historic and grand occasion, yet if you aim to be one the division's best, you can’t rely on them.
Notts fans who recall our own playoff final forays just need to cast their memories back to Brighton & Hove Albion - we know that they’re joyous occasions but on the other hand we then have the 2-0 defeat to Bradford back in 1996.
Our track record in the playoffs stands at two wins (1989-90 and 1990-91) and two defeats (1987-88 and 1995-96), which pretty much sums up the 50/50 nature of the beast.
Therefore, I would personally hope that we could recruit in strength and build to gain promotion automatically.
However, if Notts were to find themselves in the playoffs, I know we would give it a good shot. We just shouldn't have to rely on them in order to return to League One.
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Chris

Alan Hardy sets target for next season as he ups Kevin Nolan's budget by 10 percent

Alan Hardy has set a target for Notts County to finish either in the playoffs or very close to them next season.
In addition, he revealed that he has given manager Kevin Nolan a 10 percent increase on last year's playing budget in a bid to hit that target.
Hardy has already overseen the signing of Lincoln City winger Terry Hawkridge and is expecting seven or eight further additions in the transfer window.
"Our playing budget last year was about the seventh or eighth highest in the division," Hardy told the Nottingham Post.
"I've given Kevin an extra 10 percent on last year. That will probably take us to top four, in terms of budget in League Two.
"But I'm expecting a call from Kevin in the last week before the season starts, saying, 'could I just borrow….!' On a serious note, I'm sure Kevin will be able to get the players he needs within that budget.
"I'd like to be very close to the play-offs. I think it's fair to say there would be a tinge of disappointment if we don't make the play-offs, because I think we are plenty good enough. Once you're in the play-offs it is a bit of a lottery.
"Making the play-offs or being very close to the play-offs I think is the target. If we come below halfway, it would probably be a disappointing season."
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Joe Jones

Alan Hardy outlines plans for Notts County girls academy and sustainable ladies team

Alan Hardy has outlined his plans to set up a girls' academy at Notts County with a view to forming a sustainable Lady Pies outfit which will work its way up to the Women's Super League.
The Magpies owner and chairman took the decision to fold the original Notts County Ladies side last month due to it being unsustainable and "financial suicide" to keep afloat.
He was roundly criticised for the decision, but he insists that, as a business model, it simply did not work out, and this week he has pledged to bring women's football back to Meadow Lane the right way.
My ambition has always been to have a girls' academy sitting alongside the boys' academy," Hardy told the Nottingham Post.
"The boys' academy is super successful. We have a target and an ambition that 25 percent of the first-team will be made up of guys who have come through our academy in the next three years. That's the pathway we want, from academy through to first-team.
"Unfortunately, the ladies' team I inherited was an entity on its own. There was just the first-team; there was nothing that was attaching it to the club in any way – probably because it was brought over from Lincoln and it had no structure or foundations.
"As of next season, we will have an under-nines, under-10s and under-11s girls' academy, which will be playing in the boys' Young Elizabethan League (YEL).
"That will be starting in the next few weeks and we will be holding trials to pick out the best elite girls across the county, in order to take them on a wonderful coaching pathway from where they are now through to, ultimately, a ladies' first-team in six, eight years' time – and hopefully be the next England internationals.
"It's the start of something which has structure and foundations, and which is affordable and sustainable. It's always been my ambition.
"In the previous guise, Notts County Ladies was not a sustainable business model. And who knows where the Women's Super League will be in six years' time. It won't be in its current guise now, I'm sure of that. It will have morphed and developed.
"I would like Notts County to be a part of that. We'll have to work our way through the leagues and through the divisions, but that's how it should be.
"We will start at the bottom and we will work our way through. But the ultimate ambition is to have a ladies' team that is playing in the top-flight, whatever that is called and whatever it looks like.
"But what is absolutely critical is it is underpinned by an academy pathway, so girls who are joining that academy at age eight can see a very clear route through to the first-team."
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Joe Jones

Elliott Hewitt pens new Notts County contract until 2019

Elliott Hewitt has accepted Notts County's offer of a new contract, signing a two-year deal at Meadow Lane.
The 22-year-old joined the Magpies in 2015 from Ipswich Town and has made 74 appearances for the club, turning out at right back, central defence, on the wing and in central midfield.
This season, Hewitt made 29 appearances in League Two as Notts finished 16th in the table, and scored twice.
He told the official Notts website: "I would like to say a big thank you to the manager and chairman for the faith they’ve shown in me.
"This is where I want to be and I’m looking forward to what I hope will be a great 2017-18 season for the club.”
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Chris

Jon Goodman named as new Notts County academy manager

Former Millwall, Wimbledon and Republic of Ireland forward Jon Goodman has been appointed as Notts County's new academy manager.
The 45-year-old joins the Magpies from the Nike Academy, where he spent three years coaching and developing talented unsigned players.
Goodman previously worked as head of sports science at Leeds United and Reading, and also ran a consultancy business which included Tottenham Hotspur and Southampton among its clients.
He told the official Notts website: “I am really excited to begin working at Notts County as academy manager.
“While working with Nike I took a keen interest in the club as I have known a number of the staff over the years. It’s also been brilliant to see the impact made by one of our former players, Jorge Grant, this season.
“I have been impressed by the vision, ambition and passion of the chairman, both for the club and the academy, and I look forward to delivering a successful programme that represents our core values of integrity, hard work, competition, positivity and responsibility."
Simon Clark, who was previously reported as having joined Notts as academy manager from Charlton Athletic, is now also on the books at Meadow Lane, as lead professional development phase coach.
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Joe Jones

The transfer window: Alan Hardy's thoughts and updates so far

The EFL regular season is now over, so for the clubs that aren't contesting the playoffs, it's full swing ahead in planning for next season.
Notts County owner Alan Hardy has this week written two columns on the Nottingham Post about his experiences of the transfer window so far, and what the club hopes to achieve and obtain in the upcoming one.
On his baptism of fire in the transfer window
Within two weeks of me taking on this role at Meadow Lane we were straight into the January transfer window. That was a real baptism of fire.
I was unable to sleep at night following intense negotiations over as little as £10 or £20 a week, and you wouldn't believe all the incentives that get built in along the way – appearance money, goal bonuses, all sorts.
I had been thrown in right at the deep end but I think it set me up really well for this transfer window. I feel far more prepared after picking up that invaluable experience.
What team he and Kevin Nolan would like to build
After the season finished, myself and the manager, Kevin Nolan, spent quite a lot of time talking about the team we'd like to build and what success looks like for us. That's success not only in terms of league position, but also in terms of how we're going to play and which formations we're going to use.
We both share a passion for attacking football, a strong defence, wide players who create lots of chances and big strikers in the area. We are absolutely on the same page in terms of what we'd like from a football perspective.
And, unlike in January, we now have almost a blank canvas to work from when it comes to forming a squad. It's quite exciting to be able to say, 'okay, what does the future look like?'.
The pitfalls of lower-league transfer window life
I found it quite surreal in a way, that you can get to the end of a season and find you've got five players signed on for next year. With Michael O'Connor out injured we are down to four players under contract for next season, which includes a goalkeeper – so, in essence, we've got three.
It was also quite daunting to think we've got the best part of 18 new contracts to negotiate, to agree and sign – quite a few of those will be for existing players, but you've still got to get everything agreed.
While there is some uncertainty over which players are yet to come and go, we do have a robust, carefully thought-out budget in place. Kevin and our chief executive, Jason Turner, will be working very closely together this summer, the former identifying his targets and the latter negotiating deals with agents and clubs.
In total I hope we'll be able to bring in around eight new players in a range of positions. Some we'll have to pay for, others will be out of contract and a few will come in on loan.
Kevin Nolan's reputation
What will be a huge help to us in the transfer market is Kevin's reputation. He's very, very well respected in the game and we're starting to receive calls from agents whose players are saying, 'I've heard such great things about Notts County and I want to play for Kevin Nolan'.
There are two players in particular who have been offered deals with League One clubs, but they would prefer to come to us. They are at the beginning of their footballing journey and feel they would learn so much more from Kevin because of his experience and knowledge, which is really refreshing to hear.
Having to let players down
This is a hugely exciting time of year in the world of football but it's incredibly ruthless at times, particularly when it comes to making decisions that affect the business. You only have to ask Kevin how he felt after having to tell a number of players recently that their time at Meadow Lane was up.
I share his compassion and find it tough talking about players as if they are just numbers, taking away the human side and doing your best not to be influenced by the fact they've got families to feed and mortgages to pay. Unfortunately, there's no room for sentiment in this industry.
What I found particularly difficult was saying goodbye to the academy players who we didn't offer professional contracts to. Letting them go was probably more heartbreaking than the professionals because those boys haven't yet had their chance.
It took me back to my early football days when I was released by Doncaster Rovers. It brought all those emotions back, from when I was 18 or 19 and thrown on the scrapheap.
It's a ruthless sport and I really feel for those academy players. They have given their all for the last couple of years to try to make it in the game and hopefully they will find other clubs and come back stronger.
To read Alan Hardy's Nottingham Post columns from this week, follow this link and this link.
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Joe Jones

Notts County confirm signing of Lincoln City winger Terry Hawkridge

Notts County have made their first signing of the 2016-17 post-season by recruiting Lincoln City winger Terry Hawkridge on a two-year deal.
The Nottingham-born 27-year-old was part of the Imps side which cruised to National League glory this year, helping Danny Cowley's boys into League Two as well as the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.
Speaking to the official Notts website, Hawkridge - who played for Carlton Town and Hucknall Town early on in his career - said: “It was a tough decision to leave Lincoln.
"However, I feel I have unfinished business here having been released as a kid. It’s my home city – I’m originally from Top Valley – so I am buzzing to be here.
“I’m looking forward to getting started and learning a lot from the experienced players in the squad, as well as the manager.
“I didn’t know what was happening after the National League season finished but now I have signed here I can go away, enjoy a short break and come back ready for the first day of pre-season training.
“I’m a winger who can play on either side but I like to cut in from the left. I’ve got a bit of pace, I can cross with either foot and I have some tricks up my sleeve. I know I can bring goals and hopefully create some special memories here.”
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Joe Jones

Alan Hardy: 'Nottingham Forest likely to keep Jorge Grant on'

Alan Hardy has admitted that Nottingham Forest are likely to extend Jorge Grant's current deal at the City Ground.
The midfielder enjoyed a brilliant loan spell at Notts County this season and the club owner is eager to sign him up permanently.
However, Hardy is also aware that his progress at Meadow Lane will not have gone unnoticed by both his parent club - who have an option to extend his deal by another year, and any other suitors, with Bristol City and Wigan Athletic rumoured to be after him.
"Jorge enjoyed his time here. He did fantastically well," Hardy told the Nottingham Post. "I think Jorge is the first to admit that he's grown as a player since being here.
"That's no detriment to Forest, it's purely because he's been given the opportunity to play first-team football.
"The ball is in Forest's court. They have got an option on him and it looks like they are likely to exercise that option.
"Whether we then buy him from Forest or we have him on loan, or Forest may well decide to keep him, we'll have to see. Unfortunately, we aren't holding any of the cards.
"Discussion at the moment is between Forest and Jorge. We've registered our interest, Jorge knows how we feel, Jorge knows how much we would pay him, the ball is very much in Forest's court."
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Joe Jones

Juventus Update: April 2017

What a month April has been - and May is going quite well too!
On 5 April, Juventus qualified for the Coppa Italia final, despite losing 3-2 against Napoli in the second leg - a Gonzalo Higuain double on the night meant an aggregate win of 5-4.
The Argentine then scored two goals in the next game, against Chievo Verona in Serie A, for a 2-0 win.
And then came the best result of the month - a brace from Paulo Dybala and a goal from Giorgio Chiellini gave us a 3-0 win over Barcelona in the first leg of our Champions League quarter-final.
Back to league action and once again the Pipita Higuain strikes two goals for a 2-0 victory over Pescara and another step closer to the Scudetto.
Then the Champions' return - would Barca do what they did against Paris Saint-Germain? No is the answer, a goalless draw at the Camp Nou putting the Bianconeri through 3-0 on aggregate.
After the cup match, Juve beat Genoa 4-0 and drew with Atalanta to remain right on track for the title.
Editor's note: The game against Genoa also saw Tom Gordon Savage - the man who, back in 1903, was responsible for Juve adopting the black and white shirts from Notts - honoured at the Juventus Stadium. To read the account of Andy Black, the man who made it possible, here are part 1 and part 2 of the article.
In May, the impressive AS Monaco were put to the sword in both legs, Juve winning 2-0 and then 2-1 to reach the final in Cardiff, where Zinedine Zidane's Real Madrid lie in wait on 3 June.
At present, Juve are four points clear of Roma at the top of Serie A with two games to go, but attention turns to the Coppa Italia final tonight at 8pm against Lazio at the Stadio Olimpico - and we want to win our third in a row (and 12th overall)!
Our Juve is also proposing a new contract to Mario Mandzukic until 2020, because Super Mario is playing really well, even though he has had physical problems lately.
After the Roma game on Sunday 14 May, Daniele De Rossi said: "We (Roma) would win something, but, maybe in just a few years, we will understand that we are playing against a team (Juventus) who is writing the history of football."
This month MVP was again Paulo Dybala. This month, Juve must be careful to not lose points in the championship and play well in the Coppa Italia final! We are still in competition on all three fronts! FORZA JUVE!
Thank you to Leo from Daje Juve for this article. Follow them on Instagram by clicking here.
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PON_News

FA agrees to 10 teams in WSL 1 and WSL 2 following folding of Notts County Ladies

The Football Association has agreed to a rebalancing of the number of teams in FA WSL 1 and FA WSL 2 for the 2017-18 season in the wake of Notts County Ladies folding.
The decision has been made to continue with 10 FA WSL 1 teams for the forthcoming 2017-18 season, which begins in September, ensuring there is even numbers in both divisions.
FA WSL 2 clubs are now able to apply for the remaining place in FA WSL 1.
The application process will require clubs to demonstrate how they will meet the additional licence criteria, financial and staffing requirements of FA WSL 1.
The decision, which will be made in June, will be based on the applicant clubs' skills in business management, youth development and marketing, as well as the quality of their facilities and their performances on the pitch in the past 12 months.
Before the Lady Pies' liquidation, there would have been 10 teams in WSL 1 for 2017-18, and 11 in WSL 2.
Everton can win the WSL 2 Spring Series title on Saturday, but there is no promotion and relegation between the top two tiers at the end of the one-off competition.
One of either Blackburn Rovers or Tottenham Hotspur, who face each other in a promotion play-off at the end of May, will join WSL 2 for the 2017-18 campaign.
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Joe Jones

Recognising Notts County's role in Tottenham Hotspur history

As the oldest Football League club in existence, Notts County have not only created history of their own, but they've also played a part in the history of other clubs.
By now all Notts fans will be well aware of the connection between the Magpies and Juventus, thanks to Nottingham man Tom Gordon Savage's procurement of shirts with black and white vertical stripes when he lived in Turin back in 1903.
But with Tottenham Hotspur saying goodbye to White Hart Lane this season as they prepare to move - via Wembley - to a brand new stadium, the focus has very much been on the now-dismantled ground's history.
And sure enough, Notts crop up there too, as they were the very first team to play against Spurs at White Hart Lane in the final year of the 19th century.
Logan Holmes of Spurs fansite Hotspur HQ writes: "On 4 September 1899, Tottenham played a friendly game against Notts County to mark the opening of their new ground. They have continued to play there ever since.
"The First Division club were the first visitors and 5,000 spectators were present. Notts took the lead through an own goal. Spurs inside right, Tom Pratt, brought them level by half-time and after the interval centre forward David Copeland completed a hat-trick, although for the last two goals County had been reduced to ten men as their goalkeeper was injured. County’s centre half, Walter Bull, who went in to goal, was to join Tottenham five years later.
"At that time the ground wasn’t known as White Hart Lane. It was only after the 1st World War that it took on that name. Before then it had been called ‘The High Road Ground’, although the club had favoured ‘Percy Park’ after Sir Henry Percy – Harry Hotspur.
"Prior to 1899 Tottenham had played at their Northumberland Park ground, having moved there in 1888 after originally playing their matches on Tottenham Marshes."
118 years later, White Hart Lane would host its final game as Spurs clinched a 2-1 win over the mighty Manchester United on 14 May 2017, dominating from start to finish.
And with the history of the ground the main focus of the day, Spurs had created special corner flags which boasted information of the first and last game at the Lane - one saying "14th May 2017" and featuring the Spurs and Man United badges, and the other saying "4th September 1899" and featuring the Spurs and Notts badges, with "To Dare Is To Do" written at the bottom of both.
Another historic White Hart Lane clash between the two teams took place on 10 March 1991, when Spurs hosted Notts in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.
The Magpies put their opponents to the sword, Don O'Riordan putting the visitors ahead with a sensational rocket from outside the box and Mark Draper bossing the midfield to the point that he was upstaging a certain England international by the name of Paul Gascoigne - you may have heard of him.
However, Spurs came out invigorated in the second half as Craig Short deflected Nayim's effort into his own net, before Gascoigne - who should have been sent off after elbowing Paul Harding in the face, leaving him with a black eye - struck a clinical shot into the far corner with just seven minutes left in the game.
O'Riordan, scorer of County's superb first goal in that tie, paid a visit to White Hart Lane on the Monday to reminisce about his memories of the stadium.
He wrote: "Wonderful memories visiting White Hart Lane. Sadly couldn't get on the pitch to take a photo of the goal I scored in during the quarter final in 1991.
"Met two Spurs fans who supported the club for 35+ years and they remembered the goal which was amazing and agreed Gazza should have been red carded lol.
"Has to be one of the biggest highlights of my career. Funny the lads even knew the first Tottenham game in their history (at White Hart Lane) was against Notts."
He then talked about what happened the day after the match: "After we lost at Spurs, Neil (Warnock) had us in next day that was normally a rest day but he told the YTS lads to tell us to make sure we had our kit and trainers on.
"This normally would mean a running session but we ended up in the sponsors lounge and Neil and Mick Jones brought 2 cases of beer for us to consume and he said we can make Wembley again win promotion and sample the Spurs atmosphere every week in the 1st Division.
"We looked at each other and had another drink and wondered what he was on about but how could we doubt this guy. Sure enough we beat Brighton (in the playoffs) and the rest as we all know is history."

As Spurs wave goodbye to their home for 118 years and prepare to create new history, it's nice to know that Notts have played a part in some of it - and that clubs continue to pay tribute to us.
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Joe Jones

Lee Hughes: 'Notts County will play friendly at Worcester City'

New Worcester City joint-manager Lee Hughes has claimed that Notts County owner Alan Hardy has agreed to a pre-season friendly encounter between the two clubs.
Hughes remains a fan favourite at Meadow Lane, having netted 65 goals in 144 games in three-and-a-half seasons between 2009 and 2013.
The 40-year-old was appointed at the Victoria Ground earlier this month to work alongside John Snape at the seventh-tier club.
He told Worcester News: “I was on a question and answer at Notts County with supporters.
“The new owner was there and I asked him for a friendly game. He said yes, so he is going to bring a team down to play us in pre-season.”
The former West Bromwich Albion and Coventry City striker insists he is keen to boost cash-strapped Worcester financially.
“If the clubs want me to do questions and answers and forums I will do that,” Hughes added.
“I will try to generate a bit of money as I just want to help the club get into a better situation.”
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Joe Jones

Notts Alumni: Tommy Johnson

Tommy Johnson, born in Gateshead on 15 January 1971, knew he wanted to play for Notts County from his first trial at the club as a teenager.
In a 2013 interview at the annual Notts County Former Players' Association dinner, where he was presented with an Achievement award, he spoke of how he fell in love with the Magpies.
“I was 13 and I came down for trials and the first training session was with Jimmy Sirrel and that was the sort of club it was,” he said.
“All the players made you feel so welcome and, although my family wanted me to stay at home and play for Newcastle, I knew I wanted to play here and I’ve been here ever since.
“My time here was great and I couldn’t have had a better start to my career.”
Johnson joined Notts in 1987 as an apprentice after leaving school and such was his talent that he was a first-team regular by the end of the decade.
His prolific goalscoring helped Notts climb from the third tier to the First Division between 1989 and 1991, and in total he scored 57 goals in 149 appearances.
In 1992, Johnson left Meadow Lane and moved down a division to Derby County in a £1.3m deal.
His time at the Rams was fruitful as he claimed 30 goals in 58 appearances, but two playoff defeats in three seasons later, he decided to up sticks again, joining Aston Villa in 1995 and making his debut in the Premier League.
Johnson's future at the highest level looked promising as he scored four goals in 14 league games to help Villa stay in the Premier League.
However, he found his first-team opportunities limited as manager Brian Little signed Serbian striker Savo Milosevic, and Dwight Yorke was converted from a winger to a striker.
In 1996–97, Johnson was still unable to displace Yorke or Milosevic, managing just 20 league games and four goals, before he joined Scottish giants Celtic for £2.4mi on 27 March 1997 – transfer deadline day.
Despite seeing his career at Parkhead plagued by injury, he enjoyed some success at the club, including scoring the goal that won the 2000–01 Scottish Premier League title, and scoring in the 2000 Scottish League Cup final win over Aberdeen. He had also collected a title medal in 1997–98.
At Celtic, he played under managers Wim Jansen, Jozef Venglos, John Barnes, Kenny Dalglish and finally Martin O'Neill, but managed just 35 league games and scored 18 goals.
During his time at Celtic, Johnson was briefly loaned out to Everton in the autumn of 1999, where he played three times in the Premier League but failed to score.
A brief spell at Sheffield Wednesday followed before Johnson joined Kilmarnock and then Gillingham in December 2001. After two seasons at Gillingham, Johnson joined Sheffield United but only made one appearance there before moving on to Scunthorpe United.
During his time at the Iron he was loaned out to Tamworth, finally joining them on a permanent contract and staying there until the summer of 2006, when he joined Midland Football Alliance club Rocester.
After hanging up his boots, Johnson went into coaching and ended up rejoining Notts as part of the coaching staff under the management of Ian McParland on 1 November 2007, where he stayed until 2011.
Following on from his coaching spell at Meadow Lane, he worked at the Irish Football Association as a scout between January 2012 and August 2013, before a spell as Senior Overseas Scout at Cardiff City.
Johnson then became a coach educator for UEFA A and B licences at the IFA before taking a job as the head of player recruitment at Blackburn Rovers, where he continues to work today.
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Joe Jones

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