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The world of football is a place where hopes rise and fall quicker than the English summer. Notts, with its eyes locked on the brass ring of promotion, has made its intentions clear: up the table or bust. This ambitious quest for glory has offloaded Stuart Maynard, our ex-head coach, to the annals of "what could have been." In his stead, we welcome Martin Paterson, whose introduction has divided fans as neatly as a knife through a contentious pie. Entering Meadow Lane feels like encountering numerous fresh faces all prepared to assist us in pursuing our ambitious aspirations. Ollie Norburn stands ready to assume command in the midfield and we must not disregard our latest striker acquisition, Matthew Dennis, aged 23 from Carlisle United. Word has it he has been outpacing defenders with remarkable ease. The squad has also been seasoned with the likes of Tom Iorpenda, a loanee from Wigan, and the Afghan sensation Maziar Kouhyar, expertly adding a dash of international flair to the midfield. Our goalkeeping woes, a Shakespearean tragedy unto themselves, find solace in young Harry Griffiths, who stands valiantly ready to catch more than just colds. The tactical wisdom underpinning these acquisitions appears based on increased creativity in midfield, complemented by Norburn and Iorpenda's versatility. Yet, in what could only be described as a tale begging for a melodramatic twist, Alex Bass has exited the picture. His departure and the bewildering cancellation of a friendly match with his acquiring club have spun enough yarn to knit a conspiracy theory sweater. Was it a case of cold feet or even colder negotiations? Who’s to say? Rest assured, our speculation retains the vividness of an abstract painting - colourful, yet unclear. The past 2024-25 season taught lessons with the ominous absence of Macaulay Langstaff, now at Millwall, leaving us feeling much like a jilted lover. To compound matters, Junior Morias’s loan and Cedwyn Scott's sale to Carlisle United have left Notts's frontline resembling a solo act rather than a full band. Nevertheless, the partnership between Alassana Jatta and David McGoldrick channels a harmony only rivalled by Lennon and McCartney - a potent duo turbocharging Notts's campaign for near glory. Then there's Bass, that stalwart guardian between the posts, whose departure is akin to removing the heart from an otherwise sturdy body. His contribution was a buoyant force in our defence, whose exit leaves us clutching at straws faster than a scoliosis test on a Monday morning. The defensive signings of Jacob Bedeau and Matty Platt seem valiant, but without a confident keeper, they might just be the proverbial knights missing their trusty steeds. The lesson from seasons past rings louder than the chime of Big Ben: cash is king, and quality must be queen. The Reedtz brothers have done a stellar job ushering improvements both on the pitch and away from it. Yet, with the spectre of promotion ever present, now more than ever, savvy spending becomes the clarion call. The team desperately requires additional talented players especially a skilled goalkeeper. This need is as evident as the intense atmosphere during a penalty shootout. In this grand theatre of sport, balancing hope with reality is the dance for any ambitious club. Losing players who lit up the pitch is undoubtedly a bitter pill, but this accentuates the urgency of recruiting talent capable of reinventing our story. Will Jarvis's arrival brings excitement, while Mai Traore's role remains a tantalizing mystery, much like the whereabouts of the last odd sock. With our new coach’s attacking zeal, bolstered by further signings, it’s a concoction that might just brew a season to remember. Or, in classic Notts fashion, we may spend our time grappling with playoff fate. Football is the unpredictable whirlwind it always has been, but at least we aren't hurtling headfirst towards relegation - knock on wood. As the curtain rises on this thrilling saga, eyes will nervously follow each incoming talent. These players are like the threads that will decide whether Notts climbs to greatness or ends up with a story that didn’t quite meet expectations. This season is no ordinary one. It has surprises many unexpected events suspense & loads of drama all combined.

Why is it that whenever things start looking vaguely positive for Notts County, the universe immediately slams the panic button? You’d think supporting the Magpies would come with a health warning by now. We’ve had 11 new arrivals, Curtis Edwards politely ushered out to Gateshead, Jack Hinchy turning up on loan market, and the midfield reinforced with what looks like a group discount at the “young loanee” section of the Football League. So far, so standard. But then the real curveball: Director of Football Roberto Gagliardi has left the club. By “mutual consent”, naturally, which in football-speak usually means “please go away quietly and don’t touch anything on your way out”. This all lands just five months after he arrived, complete with a fancy job title that started as “Head of Football” before someone decided “Director” sounded more important. The actual implication was simple: Martin Paterson runs the matchday show, while Gagliardi shuffles papers and pretends the loan market isn’t an elaborate version of speed dating. On paper, his CV looked sturdy enough: experience at Göztepe in Turkey, Portsmouth, and enough buzzwords about “wealth of experience” to fill a LinkedIn profile. But he was following Richard Montague, who had the annoying habit of actually signing players who fit the club’s style. Gagliardi, by contrast, seemed addicted to the loan system like a teenager hoarding free Spotify trials. What’s odd is how quickly he’s gone. This wasn’t some random stranger off the street; the Reedtz brothers knew him, worked with him, vouched for him. It should have been a neat fit. Instead, we’re left with the usual fanbase speculation buffet: did the Reedtz lose faith? Was it politics? Or did everyone simply realise, far too late, that it wasn’t working? He himself had said he wanted to work for people he believed in, praising the Reedtz for their patience and lack of emotion in decision-making. Which is a bit awkward now, since he’s lasted about as long as a Love Island couple after the cameras stop rolling. The timing doesn’t help either. Notts have started the season in a way best described as “patchy”. Pre-season included a jolly jaunt to Germany that, in hindsight, probably would’ve been more useful if spent in Nottingham making the players run up hills. Transfer targets may have slipped through the cracks, hence the sudden panic-buying of loans. The matches have been a mixed bag too. Newport looked promising but unlucky. Salford reminded us we can still be bullied. Barrow was like watching a balloon slowly deflate. Beating Shrewsbury 4-1 should’ve been a highlight, but felt more like we’d been gifted goals by a team that couldn’t pass water. Bromley was disappointing for entirely new reasons. And then, just when despair set in, wins against Tranmere and Fleetwood arrived, suggesting the squad is finally capable of lasting an entire 90 minutes without collapsing. Meanwhile, the Jatta saga added a touch of absurdity: ruled out with a “back spasm” one week, then reappearing after the club triggered a contract extension the next. Convenient timing, that. So yes, it feels like a transition period. Criticism of the Reedtz might be harsh, but there’s no denying that right now the whole thing feels like watching someone try to solve a Rubik’s Cube with oven gloves on. My focus, like everyone else’s, will always be on the pitch. But you can’t ignore the sense that behind the scenes, something isn’t quite clicking.

Since my last bout of keyboard clattering, Stuart Maynard has somehow surfed the tsunami of fan outrage without wiping out spectacularly. Astonishingly, Notts managed to snatch the 2nd place spot. Quite the magic trick for a manager who was being booed louder than a pantomime villain just for losing an FA Cup game and an away match against Salford. Given the circumstances, we haven't nosedived into oblivion, which is, frankly, impressive. I must admit, I was wrong about Dan Crowley before, shocking, I know. But it's crucial not to jump the gun before the ink's dry. Take your eye off the ball, pun fully intended, and you start to slip. As a fan base, perhaps we need to exhibit a tad more faith in the club's ability to adapt to changes without spontaneously combusting. Losing Dan Crowley won't be the catastrophic event some are prophesying. If he genuinely believes MK Dons, a club with all the rich history of a microwaved lasagna, is his destiny, then perhaps his ambitions lie elsewhere, beyond mere promotion. Let's not forget that Notts actually beefed up after selling Cal Roberts. At his peak, he was unstoppable, a player who could flip a game on its head faster than you could say "transfer window." Crowley, talented as he is, seemed to have grown a bit too comfortable holding the midfield like a man clutching a lukewarm cup of tea. The first half of the season, he and Jodi Jones were dynamic, until inconsistency and injuries crashed the party. Twenty-five games in, we're smack dab in the middle of a promotion race. The transfer window swings open, and the club has been busy, snapping up Zak Johnson on loan and the young Everton midfielder Charlie Whitaker. Will Jarvis joins the fray too, an exciting prospect, though I'd personally prefer if a striker waltzed in as well. Things aren't looking nearly as dire as when I first penned my doom-laden scribbles here on the Pride of Nottingham. Stuart Maynard has steered Notts to some brilliant results, and the form has improved from "abysmal" to "actually quite decent." The recent away win against Accrington Stanley was a solid performance, a rare sight worth celebrating. We've been boosted by the news that rising Spurs star George Abbott will remain for the rest of the season, despite the rumour mill trying to whip up a frenzy about a potential recall and another Ryan Yates saga. Add to that whispers of Plymouth eyeing Alassana Jatta, and you might think the sky is falling. But again, let's have a little faith in the club's ability to adapt if Jatta decides to pack his bags. Selling a £400,000 signing for £750,000 isn't exactly a disaster; it's decent business, even if it feels like pawning off the family silver. I get the frustration of offloading our best players. Personally, I'd prefer this sort of wheeling and dealing happened when we're not in the thick of an active campaign, but life seldom bends to our whims. Naturally, these things can't always be helped. The club likely has every scenario mapped out on a whiteboard somewhere and, fingers crossed, we'll hear news of a new striker sauntering in soon. The fan base seems relatively content at the moment, but if a bump does occur, let's try not to descend into collective hysteria. If you've supported Notts as long as I have, you'll know that selling players can be a double-edged sword. But when those sales strengthen the existing squad, perhaps it's time to trust in the mysterious "system" everyone keeps mentioning. A gentle reminder: Notts has to knuckle down for the remainder of the season. The return of Jodi Jones to full fitness will be a massive boon. Yes, the news of Lucas Ness and Scott Robertson likely being out for the rest of the 2024–25 League Two season is a kick in the teeth, but let's pull together, take the rough with the smooth, and see how this rollercoaster ends. The final run of games looks quite exciting from where I'm sitting, and I still fancy Notts' chances of clinching automatic promotion. We've got everything to play for at this stage, and despite December looking grimmer than a rain-soaked Tuesday, we've come through that dreary period far better than we went into it.

It's been a while since I wrote a blog; for me, the personal ones were aimed at a release, while the insightful ones about PON were more about behind-the-scenes information and updates. In fact, I am writing this as I go along, which will hopefully end up less like a random ramble but more like a case of reminding myself where I was. I have spent a lot of time reflecting, thinking about how differently I would have gone about things, given what I know now. You do make mistakes, but you have to own them and move forward. I know some might think dwelling on things isn't healthy, but for someone who suffers greatly from mental health issues, it's the one useful way to get a real sense of perspective on things. To say I care about Notts, I think it's obvious to anyone who knows me. There are times when I think of how passionate my grandfather Ray was about Notts, and how useful he would be to a site like this. He really was a walking encyclopedia on Notts. Name a game, and he would tell you the score, attendance, date, and all that information. I think he would have also been a huge asset when I think of things I have done wrong. Saying that, it's not like I have ever shot someone, but to say I wasn't prepared when I did get the vision right. I think I started with too much, too soon, for example. My initial vision was to share cherished memories and articles inspired by the insights of fans in the front end and just be a general forum. Yet, it can become addictive to add things, and, reflecting, it could be confusing for a lot of people who aren't used to it. I have spoken before about the first time I saw a fan browsing PON at Meadow Lane, and how that gave me encouragement along with a buzz. I used to get it when members joined, but with so many never really doing anything over time, it just became less expected. I don't want the wrong impression given here; it's like if you open a store and have people come in but never really purchase anything. The exhilaration of your first sale and the thrill of acquiring your fifth active customer can quickly become commonplace. I don't take members for granted, but my point about people joining only to disappear really used to baffle me. Back in the day, I used to email regular content out in newsletters, but those got few hits, and I think it became a little annoying. When these do return, it will be for those who want them, and I have learned a lot more about what makes people excited to read content. That's the thing I have learned the most: you pick things up, and over time, if you keep working on it, you get better. I learned a lot from Joe Jones's time working alongside me, and fans frequently say how they feel I am undervalued, but he was a real driving force in shaping PON. Then again, those who, for whatever reason, decide to be awkward towards me try to claim I make the site about me when, in fact, I try my hardest to make the community feel valued. It's been a long journey for me: 20 years in visioning the concept, 15 in working on it productively, and 13 in trying to get it right. That's a chunk of my life, and I still sometimes feel I am no different than when I started, but that is just my negative thoughts taking over. Fact is, I have grown as a person immensely from being very shy to more reserved but able to communicate in person. I have picked up, improved, and learned so many skills, and all have been worthwhile. Having my family's support, my father, and my dearly missed mum, who was a common talking point amongst my friends on match day. My children and wife. All have played their roles in encouraging me, helping me, and making the site what it is. Credit can't be taken by one person alone; it's a community effort, and my only goal these days is to bring value to people. Do what I enjoy most, make the most of what I can while I can, and by the end of it. I know I can be proud and feel like my grandfather Ray and my mother would be, too. Sentimental ending?I am not leaving it there. While my time as of this week has mostly been spent on overcoming an illness, it has given me time to think about things. There are some exciting things that I think regular and active members will enjoy. My friend @True Magpie, is working hard on bringing some positive changes in terms of help guides which I will be chipping in with myself. I also aim to add a new cetegory to my blog, where I digest my thoughts on Notts games. I used to struggle with match reports, I hated the idea of writing them because I would always want to add my thoughts. Give a reflection based on what went wrong, but never really understanding how to write what happened. Each paragraph used to be an headache, I wrapped my head around it's basically telling a story of how the game unfolded and the focus is to openly construstive to both teams. Exhibit honesty without any bias or embellishment.

Ah, the beautiful game. Except when it isn’t. Over the past few weeks, I’ve found myself sinking deeper into a pit of despair, not because of anything happening on the pitch, but because of the unique breed of hysteria emanating from certain corners of the Notts County fanbase. It’s as if some believe we’re entitled to waltz our way to the top of the league with the ease of a TikTok influencer making their morning matcha. Spoiler alert: we’re not. This sense of entitlement, coupled with a knee-jerk dismissal of just how far the club has clawed its way back from the brink, is as exhausting as a wet Tuesday night away fixture. Let’s rewind to the recent fans’ forum. A glimmer of hope! A rare oasis of satisfaction in a desert of misplaced rage. Those in attendance seemed genuinely optimistic about the club’s plans for January. But, as ever, it didn’t take long for the mood to nosedive. Almost immediately, the pitchforks were out for Stuart Maynard, with some fans sharpening their knives for a couple of players as well. Honestly, the venom is ridiculous. Lest we forget, Notts County has never been a club known for champagne football or a stress-free existence. Supporting this team has always been more of a gritty soap opera than a glossy Netflix drama. Progress here isn’t measured in leaps and bounds, but in the tiny victories. Let’s be grateful we’re no longer teetering on the edge of oblivion like we were not so long ago. And yet, despite six players being sidelined through injury, some fans are spinning conspiracy theories about Dan Crowley packing his bags for London. (Spoiler: he’s not. Put down the tin foil hat.) Where has the logic gone? Has it been benched too? The reaction to our FA Cup second-round loss to Peterborough United was another highlight in this melodrama. Before the game, some fans wanted a weakened lineup. Post-game, those same people were clutching their pearls over the strong XI that Stuart Maynard fielded. You can’t win. (And apparently, neither can we, but let’s not dwell on that.) It’s easy to dissect every decision with the smug clarity of hindsight, isn’t it? Did Maynard make substitutions to rest players or protect them? Who knows? He’s a football manager, not a psychic. Now, about last night’s loss to Walsall. Predictably, it’s triggered another full-blown meltdown. Let’s recap: six players out injured, including key figures like Matty Platt, Jodi Jones, and (the apparently London-bound) Dan Crowley. This isn’t just bad luck; it’s like fate has us on speed dial for its next cruel prank. Here’s the thing: clubs that are serious about progressing use moments like this to recalibrate and come back stronger. Despite everything, Notts County is in a better place this season than it has been in years. There’s actual promise here, and if we can just get through December with some dignity intact, January could be the start of something special. Let’s not forget the bigger picture. Players are drawn to the club because they like how we play and believe in where we’re headed. That’s a huge selling point, and it counts for something. So, while it’s tempting to wallow in doom and gloom, how about we focus on what’s going right? Football is a long, winding road, not a straight sprint to glory. So let’s all take a deep breath, stop yelling at Maynard, and remember why we love this maddening, beautiful, frustrating team. Come on you Pies!

This blog is personal, as a result it’s not your typical read on Notts County and I thought that I should warn potential readers before – if you prefer the regular variety of opinions be sure to have a read of our home page otherwise I would suggest clicking away from this blog. Towards the end of last season I decided to make changes, I wasn’t all that happy with things and as most fans (who know me) will have seen I started using my real name. It was more of a positive change than I had thought, but I was worried about trolls. Despite this I was actually pleased, as I made the change for the right reasons – some fans didn’t know if they should call me Joe or Chris and the confusion really started to impact how I felt inside. I’m not going to dwell on the mental side of my feelings, despite people claiming to understand depression – I find most don’t have the foggiest and take to judging rather than offering support which does help to heal. So, I cast my mind back to the remaining league home games – a point where I started to realise that the regular fans that I grew to enjoy speaking with, well, the numbers had dwindled despite the new ownership. I wanted things to be different, I wanted to feel happier and I realised at this point avoiding things only impacted how I felt. Those people who warned me about others, the idiots who would send me stupid messages and the likes of a certain fan who has received a lot of media attention for being the tool that he is – really take no bearing on me. I ended the 2016-2017 season promising myself that I would try harder to be more sociable, I mean I don’t avoid it but I tend to be busy. I’m not the biggest user of social media, I write my thoughts and feelings – rather than reforming to the standard form, popularity really doesn’t concern me. Yet I did want to try and break some of the anxiety that I felt inside. There’s people who only see the confident, fairly outgoing Chris – who don’t understand remotely why at times I find it hard to even speak. And again this comes back to the ‘judgemental’ side of things, though it is something I have been trying to tackle head on. In my private life, I try to occupy myself as the close season I have fewer things to do and this is the time I fall into traps about what I think about, and how I feel. My wife’s has been a great support, as we have made a lot of home improvements – and things feel homely. The house had been left in a very bad state by the former owners, plus teens and thieves who had vandalised the property and stole all the lead or mental in the house. It’s funny how little things, such as blinds or just having the kitchen in a more finished state changes how you see things – again this is something I felt I would take notice of with match days which is a good release for me. Though I wished my son would attend more games, there’s many who ask about him and it’s not the same but I do respect his decision. This season I feel I’ve been doing the right things, as I use Fridays to focus on my health and the weekend as a way to just to enjoy without the pressure of having to do things. That said, match days are extremely busy for me but if I wanted – I could make it easier. I’m hoping to get back on the road once things settle, I can’t justify spending money away from my family and I really do need to choose which away games I make carefully – fingers crossed I can get to Mansfield as I haven’t yet been to the One-Call Stadium.

Last saturday I went to see notts play with my dad, I woke up before him and mum got me my breakfast. I like having cereals before I go out, but my sister Ava wanted to come. She kept passing me her shoes all excited, I thought it was funny but I told her I didnt think she was coming. We walked down to the bottom of the road, dad was messing about and he kept telling me we was going to win. He asked me how I thought we would do, I dont like guessing so I tell him we will either win, lose or draw. One of our friends was celebrating her birthday, dad said we needed to get a balloon but we couldn't find one. On the way walking to the ground, this man with a funny accent started talking to dad. It turned out he was a walsall fan, he walked with us until dad directed him and his partner to a pub. Dad sent them in the wrong direction by mistake, I hope he found somewhere to drink before the game. Dad wrote on a card, it was now I realised I had lost the card I had made. I was a little upset but dad said I could write on the card and that it's the thought which counts, I just like making cards for people I like. Once near the ground dad went in to speak with some people, I went quite shy. We then went into the bar but dad did not get a drink. He started talking to our friends, I was happy to see them standing near the doors. Drew (a friend) came in and dad was already speaking to someone else he had met. Drew spoke to me, he's funny and very friendly. The person my dad was speaking to had a pretty nice camera and we went out but it started raining. We took shelter and they spoke a bit more before deciding it was best to get into the ground. We ran and then walked, it was funny for me because I was not bothered about it raining. Notts started the game quite badly and it wasnt long before the other team scored, dad did not seem very happy but he kept singing and trying to encourage me. I was more excited about being sat towards the back of the stand. At half time dad asked me if I wanted to play the drum, my sister Ellie as always wanted to play it herself and I was excited about trying but nervous. I did not think I would be allowed but dad insisted, he spoke to one of our fans who was sitting near the drum and I had a go but I was not very good. Someone else dad knew came and shown me, I played it a little better but it was good fun to try. After the other team scored three goals, I asked dad who controlled the scoreboard. He laughed and asked why, I then told him I wanted to go and have try of that. He asked me why laughing still. I told him I wanted to change the score to favour us. The fans where we sat was pretty vocal in support, although one fan kept swearing and I think hes naughty! He kept saying Notts was useless, I think it was just a bad day and I think fans some fans are quite unhappy people. At the end of the game it was 5!! goals to the other team and the player dad likes (Callum McGregor) was the only player to score for us. He scored a very nice free kick, I think we will do better next time, it was just a bad game. When we got back home, dad was getting ready to go to a party. He asked me to check on my blog, I was surprised to see all the comments but I was hungry and ended up forgetting to thank everyone. Im really happy that people read my blog, plus dad tweeted a few people and shared it on Facebook. There was comments elsewhere which was very kind, im hoping to write about an away day next time and hopefully one of my friends will answer some questions. I like when people reply to my blogs, its even better when they write really nice comments and like it on facebook. Its nice that Alan Judge and Bart saw it and that Aileen Trew reposted it to her friends. I like how Romeo read it too as he is my friend, i wish i got to see him more. Thank you for your kind comments and reading.

The hub and heart of the site is no doubt our community, I've tried to keep things engaging but simple. It's my first port of call when I visit, obviously due to me already knowing the content on the home page. It's the place also most commonly people visit, so I try to make sure it's not over cluttered. 1) If you click where it says "Welcome *your username*" you will see a menu display. This is where all sorts of useful likes are found and of course the place to edit your settings. It's pretty straight forward once you notice it, although you can do quite a bit from this location. My Profile, My Content, Manage Friends, Manage Blogs, My Gallery, My Settings, Content | Follow, Manage Ignore Prefs and Personal Messenger. You can also update your status here which shows in your profile and in the sidebar area of the community, a useful way to express yourself to the community. A useful tip to both Newpies and of course existing members is found in the breadcrumb bar. To the right you will see "Rules" please don't be put off by these but sure to familiarize yourself with our policies. "View New Content" the easy way to keep track on what's going off and has happened in the community, very good way of finding discusses to take part in also. To end you will see a little toggle box, if you scroll over it you will notice it says "Open Quick Navigation" this is a great way to quickly finding a location anywhere on our site. Easily noticeable is Community Message and of course the Community Notice, you don't have to take to much notice of these but eventually they will change. To the right, you will see the "sidebar" here we feature all the little pieces we feel you might be interested in. Next Match Block, Member of the Month, Mini League Table, Recent Status Updates, and Recent Topics. The Recent Topics is another useful way of keeping up-to-date with on goings within the community. If you follow this straight down, you will see a large block which lists Newest Users, Top Posters, Top Forums and Recent Posts. It's always nice to welcome a new member and you will find that one of our friendly members usually start a thread to welcome them, the two others "Top Posters" and "Top Forums" are just interesting information but of course again, the Recent Posts is another quick way to keep tabs on what's going on. Just a little lower than that, you will find some more useful information. A row of "Statistics" and then the "Who's Online", along with a little key legend to let you know what colour means what. This pretty much wraps the community index page up, in my next 101 blog series. I will cover #Posting. I hope these will be useful to everyone and if you're a new member please express yourself, seriously we're a very friendly community and it's the interactions which make any site. Right at the very bottom, we have our "Footer" with useful links inside. In the middle there's a button to send you back up to the top of the site, to the left - Change Theme (useful if you're on a mobile and the sites no detected your device) - Mark Community Read - Help - Rules and Privacy Polcy. To the right our copyright details and beneath you will see our chat system. The far right button (which I think looks like a pill) is the toggle on and off switch. Next to that the "blue and white" people icon, is our chat room and to the side very much like Facebook is the individual chat area (as you can I'm talking to Super Ram). To the left you find our social pages. Here's my previous Blog | Getting used to PoN 101 #Basics Thanks for reading!

Some of those who are friends on my facebook account, will have noticed my new addiction to the Football Manager 2013 Handheld series. It would probably come to know surprise to say, I'm a big football gamer and I've played the original PC series for years. I actually manage Brighton on my laptop. Yet it's the handheld version which I find most compelling. The reason is, I'm not bogged down with some of the features they've bloated the actual game with and I am able to play much quicker. It's nice, when you're on limited time. I started off as Notts County and it's who I still manage. Yay!! I haven't been sacked. It's fairly easy, yet this doesn't stop the joy because you can still get beaten by a team like Portsmouth (Yes I really did). First thing I was greeted with was Alan Judge requesting to move on, none the less I offered him a contact and a few days later he rejected. I decided to play a couple of games and in came an offer, so I though what the hell, he's leaving and 2million is more than enough to win this league win. So I sold him Now, I don't often regret selling a player on a game. I do, take it seriously, as I feel I am playing with my time - why shouldn't I? After all if I just played and it meant nothing, I would be wasting time! I played upto 9 games, I had won 6, drawn 2 and lost 1. Sitting on joint top of the league with 20 points, Preston being the side I shared this with but Coventry had a game in hand, who had 19 points. At this point I didn't feel like I had lost a goal scorer, or a player who would have changed games, so lucky me! I received Manager of the Month, so things were defiantly becoming addictive. At 17 games in, I sat top still and shared the position this time with Doncaster Rovers, however Notts had a game in hand. I also won yet again the Manager of the Month award. Things looking quite promising huh? Well with that said things started to unwind and I realized that my squad had an issue with midfielders and I needed a new striker (when doesn't Notts need a striker???). 26 games into the first season, Notts had won 15, drawn 7 and lost 4. Coventry City, whom were top had a 4 point advantage and we had hit a spell draws, with the odd loss. Fulham then strangely approached me, as if it's not enough the game refuses to allow Alan Judge to remain with us. It knew that Jeff Hughes also wanted to part, so I sold him for a nice figure 650k. By this point I had strengthened the squad, so it wasn't really all that much of a loss. I had signed Leon Clarke, Matt Thornhill and another two players which my memory fails to recall. Our league performances was still leaving questions, I can honestly say it's this point I felt in real life that some fans would have been calling for my head! with this in mind, I came up with a cunning plan and that was to do the unthinkable. Yes, I planned to attempt to win the F.A Cup or at least throw these discontent fans off my tracks for a little bit. In the dugout, against Wolves (which the game tells me is a big team). I sit and watch the Notts players have fun, we score and if it wasn't for Matt Thornhill, all the talk would have been for hat-trick hero Danny Webber. Bishop, Zoko, Showunmi and Clarke also got on the score sheet. Can you see what happened here? Yes, 6 of the 8 goals was scored by a striker! More importantly, we had won in the 4th round of the F.A Cup (I told you take these things seriously, didn't I?). The Quarter Final - Notts were drawn against no other than Manchester United. I had hoped for a less appealing fixture, as I could tell my plan was unraveling, which by half time United was 2-0 up. Yet, a lovely strike from Alan Sheehan meant we had every chance to get back into the game. We controlled spells of play, yet the better chances fell to United obviously and in the 80th minuted Shrek scored against us. Pleasingly, in the 90th minute a certain Neal Bishop decided to popup and give us hope. It finished 2-3. Not bad! By this point, I was making a tactical push to get back up and for a short period I actually felt I could pinch back the first position. We remained 2nd for a fair amount of time, which I would have been happy with but we went on a losing streak and ended up finishing inside the play-off spots. 4th isn't that bad really, when you consider how I tried to do a Keith Curle (obviously that was joke). We storm through the play offs, we drawn Yeovil and any one from Nottingham would probably say luck would be on their side. Yet it wasn't, we beat them easily by 2 goals and in the second leg. We beat them by 5 goals, a Webber and Clarke finale. This meant we had to face a side we beat both times in the season, you can already guess how this going to turn out. A early goal, seen Notts decide to park the bus (despite me shouting from the touchline and dipping my head). They snatched two goals fairly late on and that sealed their promotion to the Championship. With the season over, I decided to sort out the areas where I felt we was weak and could do with improving. I won't go into too much detail, I hope to install you all with another addition but let me tell you it was no easy task. Firstly no left sided midfielder wanted to talk contracts and I had the annoying issue of getting players to resign deals. Yet, I did manage to make myself happy and so... Thank you for reading my blog about a mobile game, which I am rather addicted too. I hope this is of some interest, you never know! I also hope it made you laugh at times. well okay, spoil sport. Over and out, Joe

Tonight's one of those days that make me wish I hadn't held back launching Pride of Nottingham, although to be honest the earlier site was stuck together using pva glue and built around paper mache. The earlier domain was actually 'notts-county.co.uk' which I still have active and if you type it in, you will be redirected back to here as it's now used as a forwarding domain. Certainly I owe many thanks to the earlier days to many kind people as I used to be part of a tight knit community which always made me feel very much at home but things weren't to be as the integration between the community and site were very much lacking. I had many good times working on the old site, so despite it's progress now I wouldn't say I fully regretted not taking it more seriously but I do wish I hadn't hidden away like I have over the years. My earlier times doing things like this were mainly around my poetry or the odd drawing. There was a point in time where I actually wanted to learn to code but that's not an easy task and those who can do it really have the power of the world wide web at their finger tips. It wasn't until my poetry and art site was fairly successful before I started contemplating trying my hands at doing a different type of site. The first idea being around helping people which didn't really work out to plan and almost knocked me back as the site was hacked by people who wanted money to return it to way it used to be. Due to earlier work commitments I worked every game and I never really got chance to go to Meadow Lane. Working in the hospitality trade can be very busy especially when you would work every hour possible. Feb-2008 Is when I purchased the old domain and I set about slowly trying to build a site around Notts as a way to get involved. It was pretty naive as I didn't have the time and for many years it became a side project which was one I tended to neglect but to be fair I was also pretty young at the time. To the modern day there's not an hour that goes by I don't do something to promote the site which at times I question 'Is it good enough?' certainly with everything in life there is room for improvement but I know that being a perfectionist the site has a good start. Within time it will improve and things will slowly come together, so anyone reading this who has a suggestion please do let me know. Tonight was very good in terms of the community coming together and I'm rather proud right now. The image above shows our stats and you can see that we are pulling in an audience. I will be focusing some time to completing areas which I have been saying for awhile I am working on but it's fairly awkward to build the way I'd like. This is the most we have had active at one time and 10 guests isn't that bad either This is another achievement I am really proud of and it's many thanks to those who helped today. I had decided to try to encourage activity as this will help the site no end with the promotion push of our own but I didn't want to seem ungrateful. I doubt we will hit a target like this again for some time which will be why I'd like to focus on making sure there's a reason for members to want to spend some of their free time with us. At least I would like to think this place can offer something to the Notts community, I will stride to improve on the things which lack and I am sure people understand as to why certain things aren't in-place now. We've come along way! Special Thanks to EVERYONE!

I woke up today very excited but nervous none the less, the reason? I had decided to break my social rules which prevents me from encountering negativity. It doesn't really work but I can pretend I cope. The day went very slow at first which is strange. I did much more than I normally would in the hours before I left for Meadow Lane and I wished I could spend time more like it normally. I had spent the majority of the time with my children who was off due to our alarm not going off. I bumped into a dear family friend, who i haven't seen for awhile and I wished my parents spent more time socializing with her family but I felt I allowed my nerves to get the better of me. (felt rude the way I ended the conversation) Not being defeated with how I feel about things, I didn't want to lose the chance of meeting up with some of the friendly people I have come across during starting the site. I sat in the MLSB looking around and feeling out sorts, as I don't really like bars. Jake and Ellie was taking turns using my phone to play games, until this elderly lady asked if she could sit down. Very nice that someone would ask, it's rare these days and of course I didn't mind. To be honest by this point I was glad of the company. I had a wonderful conversation with her and she helped entertain Jake, as by now Ellie had given up and had become bored (bless her) falling sleep in the chair she sat on. Jake really becomes brighter in these situation, I often fear about him becoming shy like I have been and it makes a huge difference to see him all bright eyed that he had someone interested in him who he wasn't related too. We left the MLSB about 10 minutes before kick off, I decided since Jake had been so good he could choose where we would sit. He decided to sit at the far back of the Pavis Stand and annoyingly (as kids do) decided he wanted the toilet after a few minutes of sitting down and not long after I had asked him. The game was very lively, I was impressed pretty much on the off and felt that we was easily in control. If I may, I would say I felt disappointed only by how we finished our moves. It lacked any real direction and could of secured an easier win if we did. They played incredibly well! I was waving like a madman trying to attract Mr Westwell attention, wearing my new pride and joy. (being a PoN T-Shirt). I decided to take him up on something he mentioned to me in a tweet, I approached him and openly spoke. This isn't something I normally would do but I am glad I did. He's someone I'm glad to have on my facebook friends list, despite not really knowing him. I admire his talent and the way he relates to us fans. Simply a truly great guy! He kindly took a few pictures, which will make Ellie's day as she was disappointed a few years back that Jake had been snapped. (without her) on our championship winning celebration game. I really like the T-Shirts, I was a bit nervous about putting it on and this is another thing I am glad I did. I can honestly say I wouldn't normally unless I had some dutch courage or in a very good mood. Second half we played a little different, I feel we allowed them to play the way they did but they did change their game plan which caused us concern but anyone who says that Oldham was a threat couldn't be more wrong. They was woeful on goal, in fact I don't really recall any clear cut chances apart from the one 'Every Liddle Helps' cleared of the line. I have to say, I wasn't sure it was him at the time. I was so far up and back, that I thought it could of been but was quite unsure. We gave a few flyers out in the stand and took to doing the same towards the end of the match. We easily gave away more than normal as Jake and I focused on doing so. Ellie helps but she is very quiet, a lot like her mum. A few people made a fuss of them both, which of course gave Jake his bright eyes. After Jake had handed a flyer to this guy, I didn't quite hear the comment made by him and sort of turned away. Only to notice the same guy return to speak with me and Jake in which he gave Jake his ticket and official team sheet. I very proud of Jake (Ellie too) but this feeling will be hard to forget. Reminds me a kind binman who gave me his Notts shirt, as I walking back from school at dinner time with Super Ram (my dad). I wonder if he remembers this? I couldn't forget it, it's a sign we have some very good fans.