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After their win over Fleetwood on Saturday, Notts join Port Vale as the only two clubs that have beaten all 91 league clubs in the four tiers.

Those complaining about the infrastructure are short-minded fans who want Notts to live in the stone ages and never be in a position to match more elite clubs that don’t have to worry about the facilities they have because they are state of the art. Every season we would fall further and further behind; nobody ever complains about the pitches, work and they shouldn’t - other areas. It’s just excuses to complain and something to argue is holding us back, when it allows Notts to move forward.

https://www.nottscountyfc.co.uk/news/2025/september/08/update--lifeline/ "The hugely successful Lifeline scheme is helping to elevate our performance infrastructure, with the latest donations helping to take our facilities to the next level. This year, two generous donations totalling nearly £150,000 have been made. Around half of this amount is going towards the development of a high-performance gym at our Highfields training base. Currently being constructed off-site after receiving planning permission, the gym will be a transformative addition. Chief executive Joe Palmer said: “The new gym will be a game-changer for us – a Premier-standard facility that will significantly enhance the team’s performance capabilities. “We’re incredibly grateful for Lifeline’s support - and members can be assured that their contributions are being put to excellent use. We’re very excited about this project.” The facility will support both performance and rehabilitation efforts. Palmer added: “It will allow us to be more effective with pre-training activation, ensuring players are properly warmed up, building load and stability into their muscles, helping prevent injuries and enabling more effective training.” Last season, Lifeline funding enabled the installation of handrails in the Derek Pavis Stand, and a further £12,000 contribution will complete that project. The remaining funds from this year’s donations have supported the creation of safe standing areas in the Kop and Jimmy Sirrel Stand, and have kickstarted a programme to replace all 36 turnstiles around the stadium – many of which are now failing. Lifeline has funded the first six replacements, ensuring smoother matchday entry for fans in key areas. With this year’s contributions, Lifeline’s total donations to Notts County have surpassed £4 million since its launch in 1986. Palmer added: “That’s a remarkable achievement and highlights the vital role Lifeline has played in our club over the years. Members should take great pride in their contributions – we thank them sincerely for their loyal support and hope it continues for many years to come.”

A lot has been posted recently on here about the club spending money on infrastructure rather than players, so some fans will be pleased to hear the Lifeline funds some of that so it doesn’t affect the player budget. So if you want to make a difference join lifeline. Join Lifeline – limited spaces available A limited number of vacancies have arisen for supporters to join Lifeline. To take advantage of this rare opportunity, or to find out more, please email [email protected], call 0115 955 7200 or visit our club shop.

Whoever decides what the Lifeline money goes on always seems to get it right in my book. Good common sense investments that speak for themselves. Good to hear from Joe Palmer as well.

I’ve gone for Matt Palmer. He was in control from start to finish and kept things ticking nicely. His passing helped set the pace and got us moving forward with purpose. He also worked hard off the ball. I noticed him winning it back plenty of times and doing his bit defensively. He looked sharp in both directions. I watched the full match back on video, so my vote’s based on that. I wasn’t there in person, but Palmer stood out clearly.

I hope Martin Paterson is ready and that he and the squad are not distracted by anything off the pitch. The focus needs to be fully on Gillingham. They are a strong team and have come a long way since last season. It’s good to be talking about football again instead of everything else going on. I think the team should stay mostly the same. The only change I’d make is bringing Jodi Jones back into the squad. There’s no other reason to switch things around. Gillingham play with pace and seem sharp on the counter attack. We need to block every ball and be smart with our tackles. If we keep moving and make sure we get goal side, we can give them a real headache.

Big shock a few games ago when everyone near me thought I had won £100. I swear, it was announced as £200, though the amount in the entries put up on the OS says £100. I thought it said the same this past week when I heard a familiar name that had reached out to me via email. I tried to join Lifeline back in the day, but I found myself unable, as the limit was in place and no waiting list was available. 😔 I do think it's a very important part of the community around Notts, and those 2,500 fans are amazing people who offer a lot of security and improvements when it comes to it. I also think Lynn Lawson does a great job managing it; if anyone has ever been to a Lifeline event, you will have seen this with your own eyes. It's such an important part of our club's DNA.

The impact of the Lifeline’s initiatives goes beyond financial contributions. it’s about community and ensuring Notts County remains competitive both on and off the pitch. Enhancements like the high-performance gym are game-changers, giving our players the tools needed to excel. Fans can appreciate smoother matchday entries with updated turnstiles, highlights of the club’s dedication to improving fan experiences. Equally impressive is Lifeline's proven legacy in enriching the club's infrastructure, a testament to what passionate support can achieve. It’s good to know that every contribution, big or small, collectively drives the club forward.

It’s worth knowing that you can join a waiting list to become a Lifeline member. As of 2023, all places have been taken. Interest in the scheme went up during COVID, which helped bring the membership back to its full limit of 2,500 people. I’m not sure if that limit is due to gambling laws, small lottery rules, or just what the club finds easiest to manage. They might look into raising the cap by another 500, if it’s allowed.

It would have been better if the graphic showed the teams we beat first, instead of listing them in alphabetical order. That would have made the achievement stand out more. Notts has plenty to be proud of, and this is another great moment to add to the list. It’s another feather in our cap, and it shows how far we’ve come. The team deserves credit for it.

A great win on the road for Notts at such a a tough place to go & get a result. Credit has to go to the players for the 2nd half display. A touch of class from Jatta helping to st up Notts's winning goal was just the reason why Notts have missed him for 5 games. For your PON Man of the Match I have selected the starting 11 plus three substitutes for you to make your choice. Those players are, Starting eleven. Roos, McDonald, Bedeau, Aljofree, Cotter, Norburn Palmer, Tsaroulla, Iorpenda, Jones, Dennis. Subs. Jatta, Grant, Gordon.

I think it's time to give a lot more credit to Rod McDonald. I chose him again. His reading of the game was excellent, he got himself in the right spots to intercept or clear time after time. He was so far behind Platt and Bedeau last season, so who would've thought he'd be in the early running for Player of the Year. Also a word for Kellan Gordon. I hope his winner today gives him the confidence to contribute more. I'd say he's a much better all-round wing-back than Cotter, who's more of a full-back.

Joe Palmer’s words resonate with the pride we all feel as Lifeline members. Knowing that our support funds Premier-standard facilities reinforces the tangible impact of our commitment to Notts. The gym and improvements like safe standing areas prove that our club is progressing, preparing players optimally while respecting fans' experiences at Meadow Lane. It's initiatives like these that create a more dynamic, enjoyable environment, attracting more fans to games and new members to Lifeline itself. Let’s keep this momentum, ensuring the foundations we lay today serve every purpose possible for seasons ahead.

Rod McDonald for me, I thought he was class in defence and I did notice Jacob Bedeau having a bit of a go because he had to track a player who shot straight towards Kelle Roos, but all the defenders at times get caught out at least once, and they need to mop the play up as a team. McDonald looked good in the air, calm on the ball, and defensively solid against a physical team that liked to leave things on every challenge they made. My son turned to me and asked if I thought Matty Platt would come straight back into the team, and I said that I don't think he should when he's recovered from his injury. McDonald has done superbly and has taken this game time well. I thought he dealt very well with Fleetwood Town.

Notts were on top until Tranmere scored, and the left side looked strong. I did think we should’ve used Barry Cotter more, though. He looked sharp when he got the ball and had a few good chances. I gave my vote to Matt Palmer, but I was close to picking Rod McDonald instead. Nick Tsaroulla had a solid first half and looked better than Jacob Bedeau. Tom Iorpenda carried the ball well but gave it away too often with soft passes. He linked up nicely with Tsaroulla, but I think Tranmere’s height and rough play made it harder for him. Still, I thought he had a decent game.

I voted for Palmer, but having watched back the full match replay, it could easily have been McDonald.

Rod McDonald for his solidity at the back. Countered the aerial threat of a "long ball" Tranmere side Palmer back to his best but it has to go to McDonald

I suppose I've given myself ten games, so my analysis is as follows. At the current trajectory, we're looking mid-table. That's not a criticism of what we look like in a footballing sense, merely statistical. At present we’re averaging 1.375 points per game. If we continue in that vein, we’re seeing us finish 11th at best (this is based on the last 4/5 seasons. Let’s look at the scores: 1-1 draw against Newport (who are now 22nd) 2-1 loss against Salford (who are 3rd) 1-0 loss against Wigan - played a strong squad and garnered 65% possession 2-1 loss against Barrow (who are 21st) 4-1 win against Shrewsbury (who are 23rd) 2-2 draw against Bromley (who are 7th) 2-1 win against Tranmere (who are 16th) 3-0 loss against Lincoln (second squad put out) 1-0 win against Fleetwood (who are 11th) 1-0 loss against Gillingham (who sit in 2nd) MP sits on a 30% win rate - we also have scored 8 goals excluding the 4 we scored at Shrewsbury which feels like a bit of an outlier in scores. Now that’s the data side done, what have we been told about what’s expected. First and foremost, he’s been told by the club that they want promotion, “as simple as that” - 1st August, Martin Paterson (bbc). We’ve also been told that this is one of the highest budgets that we’ve had to date with the Reedz brothers, one which MP, up until recently deemed unsatisfactory as he wanted a new GK and a new striker. Lastly, we’ve been told physical elements and directives on changing the club to be more involved in the “dark arts”. 1 - We will not achieve that on the current trajectory. 2 - Whether or not we ever were able to compete or make inroads about getting in more players, it’s not his job, publicly, to say that. 3 - Although more physical players in terms of size have come in, we’re much more susceptible to crosses and set pieces than we ever were under Williams and Maynard. Onto MP himself. Forever the socialist, “it is not I, only we!” MP is driving the “we, the team” in terms of narrative. Whether that’s a collective call for unity or that of concealment of his real thoughts which come out in training or the dressing room, we’ll never know. We get versions of himself via interviews, which haven’t won me over. I think personally, that his career is something he links to hard graft and perseverance, and that he’s trying to change the club’s playing philosophy, not adapting or moulding it. There are occasions whereby I’ve enjoyed bits, because I’ve seen technical flair and exciting play happen, but then I question myself, is that because of him or in spite of him? There are players we’ve seen that have improved/deteriorated from his managerial/coaching style with Matt Palmer being the standout. If MP were to go, I’d worry about how it might affect his game for the remainder of the season. Bedeau and Jones have dropped in terms of a really high bar we’ve had here for a while, so suggests his methods are much more jarring than what we’ve seen before. I think MP is on a short contract here, given that it wasn’t mentioned in the press when he was appointed, so suggests he wasn’t highly regarded or was a backup to a backup - if this is indeed the case. If the owners have the foresight that it only takes one bad transfer window to throw out a DOF, then time is ticking very quickly for Martin. Lastly, Martin had 20 games at Burton before he was sacked, which I can see become a real big possibility if we don’t see improvements all over. (I think I deserve praise for not mentioning Roos or Grant once!) - also I have posted this on Footymad also, but thought it's an engaging conversation peice at least!

Hello, @SoccerLord. Welcome to the Pride of Nottingham. I hope you enjoy being a part of our Notts County community. Would you care to introduce yourself? See you around the site.

I felt up to the 30th minute that Matt Palmer would be earning my vote; everything a leader does on the pitch, he was involved in. Excellent in his tracking back, to the point he reminded me of Jim O'Brien when he would become possessed with wanting to get the ball back. And I think it's a huge credit to him and the partnership built on previous seasons, which led to Scott Robertson becoming quite competitive with doing exactly the same as what Palmer did, just going on to score a brilliant goal in the process. The game for me said a lot about how hard work pays off, because I don't think anyone underperformed, and I do think Jacob Bedeau looked more like his old self. I'm not targeting him; I just believe he's someone who could elevate his game and be more of the quality I know he can be, but he did well yesterday. Robertson, for me, is the rightful person to earn my vote, but I even think Kelle Roos deserves a shout.

Scott Robertson by a mile, his tenacity coupled with non stop energy and that wonderful goal ensured a positive outcome throughout. As a collective we never stopped from start to finish with good performances from Macdonald, Palmer and Hall when he came on. Great ethics obviously provided by Martin Patterson and his team, giving us a platform from which we can now build on and make progress going forward. Hopefully we can take this into the game against Crewe next week.

I used to attend them religiously, but I find them to be quite pointless because any question worth knowing will be diluted or politically answered. It's to be expected, and as such I find it to be more of a waste of time. This one seems a lot more important, at least for me to see where other fans are coming from and getting a fairer reflection on what concerns people have. Outside of social media and beyond what fans say to me when I talk to them. I would hope the forum isn't an attempt to appease people, as I think it tends to cause more problems. My hope is that Notts can use this as a way to be informative to us fans and get the majority of supporters back on side with what matters. That is encouraging for the site, and I'm hoping we can climb the table; there have been teams who have struggled and gotten their act together. I would hope Notts sees how important we are to chasing promotion, digging ourselves out of tough times, and just mounting pressure. We had it for one brief season after promotion back to League Two.

As @theAnticlough mentioned, I don't think it would be a bad decision to allow Jodi some time to breathe and to try to use him as a super-sub once Gillingham begins to tire. The issue with having more than 3 subs is that teams tend to replace those who are not making an impact or who need to come off because they are tired. It can be a little less effective to bring someone on from off the bench aimed to bring a spark, so I would hope that Notts could make the most of the Matthew Dennis and Alassana Jatta duo. I might be more inclined to suggest leaving Barry Cotter on the bench, for a similar reason as Jodi. If we brought both of them on around the same time and they had started brightly before, it might make Gillingham rethink things. Going there can be tough; they are a good football side and won't be afraid to pressure Notts at the cost of committing their players forward. I think they will play quite deep in their defensive play, but much higher when they attack, and if we allow them to push us back. It could be a strong battle for both midfields. I am not sure what to predict, because both us and them make it hard to predict how it might unfold. It should be an entertaining game, even if it's just from a neutral fan's perspective.

A massive match for Notts on Saturday. The most important match of the season for Notts so far. It's a pity that developments off the pitch have been a bit of a distraction & I do hope that the players focus on the match rather than other distractions. I would stay with the same starting eleven that started the match against Fleetwood & have Jodi Jones on the bench initially. Gillingham are going to be tough. They are riding high at the top of League 2 & fully deserved to be there..Notts are going to need to continue playing with physicality & toughness & to keep it very tight at the back. We know that Notts are capable of hurting any team in this league with their front two strikers Jatta & Dennis. It's just a matter of waiting for opportunities up front & defending very well at the back. I would be very satisfied to come out of this fixture with a draw to keep the unbeaten run going. We will know quite a lot about Notts's promotion credentials after the final whistle.

I think it's a bit strange that it's happened all of a sudden without any form of unrest being reported. I know the club is quite good at keeping things internal, but I wouldn't have expected this decision. What makes it weirder for me is that Roberto has worked under the Reedtz before, so what has changed? It feels somewhat like when Tom Weal was surprisingly replaced, and fans like @Piethagoram speculated it might have been down to Aidan Stone being recommended as our first team keeper. I honestly don't know what to make of it, if the club has decided it's not working, or if Roberto expressed this. It doesn't really matter, but things like this play straight into the hands of the rumour mill.

The man talked a good game but that was about it really. His recruitment strategy was a head scratcher to say the least. I mean was Roos really the best option out there? I think we all know the answer to that one!

The Lifeline initiative continues to impress with how it’s shaping the future of Notts County. Investing in the high-performance gym is a remarkable step forward, bringing facilities up to higher standards. This is exactly the sort of foundation we need to build upon if we’re going to remain competitive in the league. It shows the club’s commitment to not just present success, but long-term development, both for the players' fitness and the supporters’ matchday experience.

This is brilliant! Last season I sort of realised Fleetwood were the missing one, but then I forgot it again 😁 Port Vale completed the set (again) in April when they beat Bromley. I can imagine we had the whole set at some point in the past before we had two-up-two-down with the National League. Maybe we did it in 97-98 when we found ourselves in L2 for the first time in decades and met teams like Scarborough for the first time. I can't remember it ever being mentioned before though.

Shot outs to the usual suspects - Palmer, McDonald, Dennis and this time Bedeau and Jatta for really solid 7 out of 10 performances, but I think Iorpenda just edged it. He was the difference IMO, the spark and the main thorn in their side. He was also asked to be the sole player linking midfield with the forwards this week, normally we have 2 in this role, and to be honest he did a better job alone than 2 players did in the games before.

I think we can safely say that McDonald's last 4 or 5 games were much better than Platt's form at the start of the season. That takes some getting your head around because of last season. Centre is definitely his best position. Last season we saw him most often in his worst of the 3 positions across the line.

Over the years, Notts have had some very steady defenders. Mike Edwards was one of them and people called him Steady Eddie. In midfield, we had hard-working players like Matt Palmer and Neal Bishop who always gave their all and were very reliable. Now it feels like we have a new player doing the same. Rod McDonald has come in while Matty Platt has been out and he’s been brilliant. He’s not just filled the gap, he’s made that spot his own and is playing really well every game. He’s so solid in the middle of the back three that I don’t know how we’ll take him out. I keep thinking about how Platt will fit back in. Maybe I’m not the only one wondering that.

Well if I could I would give it to Martin Patterson for getting the team selection, tactics and substitutions all spot on. However I thought all the players deserve credit for that performance, they were superb but since I can only pick one I have to agree with the sponsors and choose Scott Robertson, he took his goal superbly and was a class act the whole match.

I find it more interesting to talk about the fans forum after it’s taken place. Sometimes you can pick up on things that aren’t said directly, and that makes the discussion more meaningful. I’m not really a fan of holding these forums when there are lots of complaints that don’t seem to have much reason behind them. I’m not saying that’s the case this time, because I do think the club should have given us more updates before fans had to push for it. The problem is we don’t tend to hold forums when things are going badly, and when things are going well, they often get ignored. That’s why I prefer to wait, see what’s been said, and talk about those points properly. I also like reading what other people think.

https://www.nottscountyfc.co.uk/news/2025/september/17/apply--fans--forum/ Statement by the Club."Our owners, chief executive and head coach will be discussing various topics at a fans’ forum on Thursday 2 October". "Chris and Alex Reedtz will be joined by Joe Palmer and Martin Paterson on the panel". "Season ticket holders can exclusively apply to attend the event, which begins at 7.30pm in the 1862 Suite, by tapping here. All applicants will be contacted via email - either to confirm their place or to be told they've been unsuccessful - in good time ahead of the event. If you wish to apply for more than one person, please submit a new form for each individual. Information regarding parking and other details will be shared with attendees in advance". "Those not in attendance can submit their questions using the form below and watch the event via a live stream. Pre-submitted questions will be answered in the first half of the evening, with questions from the floor to follow".

Gillingham won't want Notts to settle on the ball. I doubt they'll try to match our passing game either. I expect them to be more direct when creating chances, and they might see aerial balls as something we struggle with. It's been a weak spot for us at times. Notts are better at defending when the ball stays on the ground, so I imagine Gillingham will have done their homework. They'll likely focus on set pieces and crosses, trying to make the most of them. I hope Notts can avoid giving away easy corners, as Gillingham could really benefit from those. We need to keep up our recent form and protect the unbeaten run.

Martin Paterson will have some tough choices to make, with Jodi back will Jatta and Dennis continue as a front two? And we have a number of players like Grant, Bennetts and Hall who will all be desperate to start. I think we need to be brave and go there to outplay them in a football sense, try and keep the ball on the floor and make them chase us. If we get into a physical kind of slogging match I can only see one winner. We can take positives from how we dealt with Bromley's physicality, they are all about brute force and their goals were a tad lucky. But I totally expect Gillingham will play in a similar way, committing bodies into the box and hoping it breaks for them. Roos is going to be put under a lot of pressure, I think keeping things like corners and set-pieces to a minimum will be needed!

Great to hear about the safe standing areas, things like that really help make matchdays more enjoyable for fans. It’s also encouraging to see the club investing in infrastructure. Our players deserve the best possible facilities to support their performance and development.

The new gym sounds fantastic! It’s great to see the Lifeline funds being used so wisely. Can't wait to see the benefits on the pitch!

A 2nd successive win for Notts against a tough Fleetwood side at ML today. Hit man Dennis adds to his goal tally early in the 2nd half that proved to be the difference between the two sides. Martin Paterson will be happy with the clean sheet too, the first of the season & he will be happy that Notts saw out the game without conceding a late goal. So who's your PON Man of the Match today. I have chosen the Notts players who started the game for you to make your choice. Those players are. Roos, Aljofree, McDonald, Bedeau, Gordon, Norburn, Palmer, Tsaroula, Iorpenda, Jatta, Dennis.

Last year at school, my teacher gave me a task to make old-style internet graphics like signatures. I looked on Reddit and saw that forums like Pride of Nottingham had cool userbars in people’s signatures. They look a bit retro, but I think they’re really cool. I saw one made by @CliftonMagpie and it has a modern twist. It looks smart and I really like the style. If anyone wants one, I’d be happy to make it for them. Just let me know. I’ve already made one with a Notts County theme, but I can customise them to anything you like. I’ll share it if people are interested. I can do the logo, the writing and the design idea. I’ve seen some examples on Reddit and I’ll make mine the same size as Clifton’s, 500 by 35 pixels.

Because we got a clean sheet I think the accolade has to go to a defender and the player I thought who stood out was McDonald, he has improved immeasurably since he came into the team in place of the injured Platt and I think he’ll take a bit of unseating when Platt is fit.

I've really liked what I've seen from Iorpenda this season and today he was really good again, his skill level on the ball to beat a man sets him apart from both Palmer and Norwood (who I also thought were solid today). I went for McDonald though, I think him constantly winning the ball off their long balls was key to our win.

There were a couple of snippets there alongside all the corporate speak. Firstly, Jatta's contract extension. This is welcome news for obvious reasons, but also because it puts us in a stronger position if another club does come in for him. If his contract were running out in the summer, we'd have been under more pressure to take an offer as it'd have been our last chance to earn a transfer fee. Now we can wait till the summer or beyond. Then there's the playing budget. It's good that the board is trying to keep us competitive with what must be the biggest budget since 2018-19, but that doesn't necessarily mean we've exhausted it or that we've spent it well. In McGoldrick and Bass we've lost two players who were probably top earners, but my feeling is we've lost two excellent players and signed three average ones to take their place. To address a couple of the points made above, I think it's essential that the club generates more income off the pitch as this will allow it to support itself financially AND invest more on the pitch. It's the only way to go. Past owners have often talked about doing this too. but the brothers are the ones who have actually done it. I think they've made some mistakes this summer but overall we're in better hands with our current owners than we would be with overseas investors whose goal would be to extract money from the club.

Sonny Aljofree deserves some credit. I thought he was brilliant and handled himself well under pressure. Rod McDonald was superb. He dealt with the danger calmly and made some key blocks when things got messy. In all the panic and chaos, those two really stood out. They gave the team some much-needed stability.

rod mcdonald for me, he was very good at the back and played some nice balls out from defence which could have paid off better, but he looks like he has always been playing in his role. when he looks like he has never missed a game, it shows how matty platt needs to improve. both are great defenders at our level but mcdonald is taking his minutes right now. thats great to see!

Judging from the comments by Mark Stallard on the radio, I’ve gone for Matt Palmer.

Tranmere have made a good start to the season & are unbeaten with 2 wins & 2 draws from their 4 matches so far. Tranmere are unbeaten in their last three home games against Notts. Tranmere will be a tough nut to crack on their home soil. They are known for their physicality & Notts have tended to struggle against physical opponents. We don't know whether Jatta will be fit & there is doubt over the fitness of Jodi Jones too. But Notts do have Matt Dennis who is in tremendous form at the moment, so hopefully Notts will be a threat to the Tranmere rearguard. Notts need to start putting some good results together & coming away from Tranmere with a win would build lots of confidence for the team going forward. I would be happy for Notts to avoid defeat & get a creditable draw. A clean sheet would be even better, but I'm sure there will be some goals in this match.

I didn't see this coming at all, but I'm relieved the owners have acted as I don't think it was working. I'm sure we can all see that the squad is weaker. Bass, McGoldrick and Crowley have left and none has been adequately replaced. The new goalkeeper looks like a classic panic signing. We've clearly missed out on a number of signings and to fill the gap have brought in loanees of varying ability. We've also now got a bonkers collection of wing backs, some of whom no longer even make the squad. Us PONners don't always agree on things, but there's near consensus that the squad isn't a strong as it was last season. Yet if you think back to the owners' statement last week, they mentioned that the budget this season is their highest yet. So it's not much of a reach to assume they were unhappy too and decided to pull the plug before things really went downhill. The timing is perfect for the club as it gives us plenty of time to find a replacement in time for the January window.

I voted Gordon for scoring the winning goal, really didn't expect to get anything there. COYP