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So as I write this on the 26/08/18 Kevin Nolan has been sacked following a termination of his contract by the NCFC board following a 3-1 loss to Lincoln City. After around 18 months in charge it was with Mr. Hardy’s best interests to part ways with the ex- West Ham, Bolton and Newcastle midfielder. I am writing this article to understand the thought process behind his sacking, will we miss him? And is promotion still achievable? During Nolan’s time with the Magpies he managed 85 games with 35 being victories, 23 draws and 26 lost. With recent form the Scouse came under constant fire from media and fans. Notts County managed only 8 wins in 28 games in the football league which could be compared to relegation form at parts. However, it was not all doom and gloom for Kevin which as Notts fans we should remember. The reason I have called it an era in the title is because in my opinion it was. Kevin Nolan restored one thing with his time at Notts which we had not had for a while and that was HOPE. Nolan grabbed the team by the scruff on the neck on their knees in January 2017 and turned a 10-game losing streak into promotion form to keep the magpies up. He also brought some amazing talent in Jorge Grant, Ryan Yates and Josh Clackstone. Since then Ryan has now exceeded a 500,000 price tag and Jorge Grant has now moved up in leagues. Clackstone now plays regularly in the Championship with Hull City and Kevin Nolan has contributed to their careers and made them better players. Nolan also reached his first play off as a manager last year in the 2018/19 season which as fans we were extremely happy with but also disappointed as his decline in form as a manager cost us automatic promotion. It definitely was a era in my opinion because he was the first manager under Hardy that actually achieved something and provided the fans with some memories we will never forget and for that we can’t thank Kev enough. Will we miss him? My answer is 50/50. I think Yes because he was a very strict manager with high standards which reflected on the pitch. Last year we played with heart and desire and he made every player work to wear the Notts County shirt. I also think No because his off-pitch attitude has been rumored to be unprofessional and lazy. I also think he has lost passion for the game which reflected on the touchline in recent games. Kevin Nolan could’ve done so much more to turn around his bad patch but decided not to. He became arrogant and in denial about problems within the team. So overall I think it was best for him and Notts County to move on. Is promotion still achievable? My honest opinion, No. It is not the fact we have lost 4 game sin a row but we now have to go through a transition period with an new manager and set of backroom staff. I think it will take another few months for the team to gel and settle down unfortunately, and in this league, you have to hit the ground running otherwise It will eat you up and spit you out and then next thing you know you’re bottom of the league. It depends how well we do under Chettle but before you know it we could be in serious trouble and then we will once again be in a fight to get into the play offs. It is paramount we turn this form around soon to restore the faith in Hardy and the signings. I am sure everyone from PON sends Kevin Nolan their best wishes for the future and really hopes to see him succeed. On a personal note, Kevin Nolan is the manager who brought me back to Meadow Lane after 2 years away from the sport and in turn got me involved with PON so for that I can’t thank him enough and the work he has done at the club has not gone unnoticed and in my opinion should be remembered forever for what he has done for Notts County. My first game I attended in 2 years was against Mansfield to watch this man’s managerial debut and I am now proud to say I am once again a season ticket holder to this amazing club. It’s because of the faith, hope and determination that was restored into Notts County by Kevin Nolan. Thanks for everything Kev. Whether you were Nolan IN or OUT, I would like to hear your thought on the sacking and where you think the club goes from here. Also, one memory that stands out over the past 18 months under Kevin Nolan. Mine would be the Jonathan Forte equalizer against Cambridge. Thank you for reading PON. Share your thoughts about this feature article on Pride of Nottingham by signing up to the website, visiting the forum and joining in the chat with hundreds of fellow Notts County fans. Fancy showcasing your brand or business on Pride of Nottingham? Click here to find out more about sponsorship and advertising opportunities with us.

Seven years since our first and only visit. Seven exciting, long, sometimes joyful, but mostly nerve-wrecking years. But at the Oldham game the Swedish magpies were back, It wont take that long again. There was a lot of boiled up excitement for both me and Fredric as we drove up from London city airport on Friday. Seven years ago we visited Meadow Lane and Notts County to write a big article about the club as a part of my journalism exam. Since then we been fans, following intensely from afar by radio or the web. But at last we got the chance to be back. We left Nottingham overwhelmed – and wanting to return soon again. Notts have often been described as a family club, now we know excatly why. After being contacted by Notts-Joe, who is the webmaster of Pride of Nottingham, we arranged to meet up with him along with his son Jake and friend Martin before the game to do a small interview about us Swedish magpies travelling to the game. Just after we met, Notts-Joe introduced us to commercial manager Damian Irvine who really took us in. Without us saying anything, we all found ourselves inside Meadow Lane, meeting players like Hayden Mullins and legend Mike Edwards, both really friendly, sitting in the dugout and much more. Being on a Notts-high after that tour we were guided for a pitstop in the MLSB meeting more great fans – and the Norwegian magpies, before we found ourselves in the Kop. What a great feeling that was! The Notts fans are truly great at creating an atmosphere. We went to see Manchester City vs Chelsea on the following Sunday (don't hold it against us) and I can tell you that the crowd of 45 000+ or so would have been out-sung. Second half, sitting with Notts-Joe, Jake and Martin, almost got us on the field it felt and we really hoped for a goal to make the day perfect, but hey, at least we didnt lose and really, this club is about more than just the football and result. People like Damian, Notts-Joe, Jake and Martin showed what this great club is all about and I know that there are more people like that who support Notts. That's one part of what makes this club great, never mind the division. After saying goodbye to our new Notts-friends both Fredrik and I walked from Meadow Lane happy but hungry (we were supposed to eat before the game but then we met Notts-Joe and Damian....). We left Nottingham the day after but I can promise it wont take seven years next time. Hopefully, after telling all our friends about our trip, there will be more than two Swedish magpies. Meet the Fans 14/15 - SWEDEN SPECIAL

The title of this article is a bit of an understatement when it comes to Notts County v Walsall. The clubs have been playing eachother fairly regularly for 119 years now and this Saturday's match will be the 61st competitive meeting between the two. Notts just edge it on the history - winning 25 of the previous 60 meetings compared to Walsall's wins. There have also been 15 draws. Notts have scored 103 goals against Walsall, while they've scored 81 against us. The first meeting between the two clubs took place way back on 20th January 1894 in a Second Division game. Back then Walsall were known as Walsall Town Swifts, as they were founded in 1888 following the amalgamation of the town's two original football clubs - Walsall Town and Walsall Swifts. Notts won that first meeting 2-0 thanks to goals from Dan Bruce and Alf Shelton. They visited Walsall's Fellows Park ground for the first time later that season on 12th March but were beaten 2-1. Jimmy Logan got Notts' only goal that day, and just 19 days later he would go on to write himself into Notts County folklore by scoring a hat-trick in the FA Cup final at The Oval, as Notts beat Bolton 4-1. The following season, Notts beat Walsall 5-0 at Meadow Lane on Christmas Day thanks to goals from David Calderhead, Sam Donnelly, and a hat-trick from Jimmy Logan. The 5 goal margin remains the equal biggest win for Notts against The Saddlers. The 1894-95 season saw Notts finish 3rd in the Second Division but the Magpies lost their promotion Test Match 2-1 to Derby County. In 1896 Walsall Town Swifts became Walsall FC, but the new name didn't give them anymore luck, as they were beaten 5-2 on 14th November. Two months later, Notts achieved their first ever win at Fellows Park thanks to two goals from John Murphy, and one from Ernest Bell. Notts were promoted to Division One at the end of the 1896-97 season, and the clubs didn't meet again until 3rd April 1931 in a division Three South game. Notts equalled their biggest margin of victory againt The Saddlers, with two goals from Tom Fenner, a goal from Tom Keetley, and a hat-trick from Harold Andrews securing a 6-1 win for The Magpies. The two sides met again just 3 days later but Walsall gained some revenge with a 1-0 win. That was one of just 7 defeats Notts suffered all season on their way to the league title. They finished with 59 points - 8 clear of second placed Crystal Palace. Notts travelled to Walsall on the final day of the 1936-37 season for what was a huge game for both sides. Notts were second in the table, 2 points adrift of Luton Town and if Notts won and Luton lost, there was a chance Notts could steal the title. Walsall on the other hand faced relegation if they lost and other results went against them. The Saddlers won the game 2-1 to secure their safety and keep Notts down. Notts got a bit of revenge the following season though. Walsall struggled again and Notts' 3-1 win at Meadow Lane on the penultimate day all-but confirmed Walsal's relegation. The two ides met in Cup Competition for the first time in 1939 in an FA Cup 4th round tie. The original game at Meadow Lane ended 0-0, but Walsall won the replay 4-0 five days later. The 1959-60 season in Division Four was a thriller for both clubs. The two spent most of the season fighting for promotion and by the time the two sides met on consecutive days in April, they were first and second in the table. Walsall led the way and had a fairly healthy cushion over Notts. The first meeting took place on 18th April in front of 22,728 at Meadow Lane. They saw The Magpies win 2-1 thanks to goals from Don Roby and Tony Hateley. This narrowed the gap to five points with four games left. The two met again in front of 14,752 at Fellows Park the following day and it ended 2-2 - Notts' goals coming from Alan Withers and Bobby Forrest (strange name to have as a Notts player!). Notts drew one and won two of their final three but it wasn't enough to secure the title. Both sides were promoted though. The two had good first seasons back in Division Three - Notts finishing 5th, but Walsall went one better and made it back-to-back promotions with a second place finish. Given the fairly regular nature of the meetings between the two sides over the years, it might surprise you to learn that it took Walsall until 24th October 1963 for their first ever win at Meadow Lane - nearly 70 years after the clubs first met. They won 1-0 on what was their 15th visit to Meadow Lane. Notts finished bottom of Divison Three that season. It took Walsall a further 25 years to earn their second win at Meadow Lane but it was a pretty important one. The two met in the Division Three play-offs in 1988 and The Saddlers ran out 3-1 winners at Meadow Lane. Notts couldnt turn it around in the second leg, which ended in a 1-1 draw and Walsall went on to beat Bristol City in the final. They were relegated straight back to Divison Three the following season, and on 7th October 1989, Notts visited Fellows Park for what would be the last time. It ended 2-2 - Tommy Johnson and Mark Draper getting the goals for Notts who would go on to win promotion via the play-offs under Neil Warnock. Walsall on the other hand made it back-to-back relegations amid financial worries. We didn't meet again until 1996 when we were both back in Division Two, and Notts visited Walsall's new Bescot Stadium for the first time on 10th February, the match ended 0-0. The Saddlers picked up what remains their biggest win over Notts on 30th September 2000, with a 5-1 win at the Bescot. That was also Notts' heaviest defeat of what was an otherwise decent season which saw us finish 8th in Divison Two. Most Walsall fans' best memory of playing Notts probably came on 14th April 2007 at Meadow Lane. A 2-1 victory sealed their promotion to league one, and they went on to secure the league title thanks to a last minute equaliser at Swindon on the final day, after Hartlepool were beaten at home by Bristol Rovers. Notts were of course promoted to League One in 2010 and achieved their first win at the Bescot on New Years' Day 2011 with a 3-0 win. The return fixture ended 1-1 a month later, just days after Notts held Manchester City to a draw in the FA Cup. Last season's meeting Saw Walsall win 1-0 at Meadow Lane thanks to Andy Butler's goal ten minutes from time on a frustrating afternoon for The Magpies. Yoann Arquin's second half strike was enough to earn Notts a share of the spoils in the return fixture. Thats the very long and hopefully interesting history of matches between Notts County and Walsall (well I've found researching it interesting!). It should be a good game on Saturday. Walsall have made a strong start with 3 wins out of 3 in league and cup, but Notts have a point to prove. A result of any sort on Saturday would be good against a strong side. I for one would take a repeat of the result there on 31st January 2012 - a scrappy 1-0 win for Notts! COYP!

We were within 5 Minutes of Staying in League One, 5 MINUTES. In the 85th minute V Gillingham Something happened and not in a good way. We were so close, yet so far away. My Girlfriend (Villa Fan) was out the house like a flash after their first Goal went in. I kicked the chair in frustration after the final whistle. HOW COULD YOU!! 5 BLOODY MINUTES. Time to focus on the Womens World Cup over here in Canada. Being a Volunteer at the newly refurbished Landsdowne Place, I have been able to see the Germans power through the group stages. With the Ivory Coast fans probably the best ever, even at 6-0. Then I got the chance to see England, and Ms Bronze score that beauty and then the Heartbreak of our own Laura Bassett. We still love you Girls!! July 1st rolls around (Happy Canada Day, 148 years old). My twitter feed starts to buzz about more than usual, Notts Have already signed Gill Swerts. There is rumours flying around about 4 more players coming in with Calibre. First in, comes Jon Stead. "Okay, we've made a statement of intent with this signing". All of a sudden, we were signing players left, right, and center. Mawouna Amevor, Adam Campbell, Kyle De Silva, Genaro Snijders, Julien Jenner, Filip Valencic & Graham Burke. We haven't had this much Transfer activity or hype since the Inglorious Munto year of 2009-2010. In most, if not all the Interviews Ricardo Moniz has spoken. He's always on about scoring goals and playing a fluid style. Like all of us have been crying out for over 4-5 years, we just want to be entertained. If we win or lose, we want to finish watching/listening to the game with a smile thinking we played well, it is what it is. After last night’s display against Arnold Town, I'm quietly confident about the upcoming season, as long as the team in the 2nd half is given enough time to gel and time to form part of the Notts County team, i can't see the first 11 changing very often, as we did last season. Unless of course Injuries and suspensions. Top 7 is a must, top 3 is realistic.