Chris

Notts County fan Jon Marshall is visiting Kenya as part of the Nasio Trust, which helps change lives over in the African nation – A motto which the trust uses is “Changing Lives for the Good”. The Nasio Trust is a registered charity based in the UK and Kenya, it derives inspiration and values from the Christian faith which envisage a world where all children and young people are treated with love, and grow up to live self-reliant, healthy and fulfilling lives. Many of the children in Kenya are HIV orphans. This is in fact Jon's 4th visit to Kenya to an area called Mumias in Westen Kenya. He volunteers for the charity called Nasio Trust which helps children with HIV, via their scheme “Nasio G force” alongside aides from the United Kingdom. “This year we are constucting a medical centre, on arrival we had a field and a piece of paper. We had to design the medical centre based on government guide lines, locate materials, and put together a workforce” He said. “We handover on saturday to a local project manager after negotiating a price for the project. This is our 4th visit in which we have built two kitchens at different schools, dining rooms, etc. I sponsor a child named Dancan, my sponsorship covers his schooling cost.” He added. “When I come to kenya I do a home visit to his Mud Hut. He lives with his mum. His father has died. Most kenyans love football, they like english teams best. Whilst I have been out here I have told locals about Notts, given out some of my old shirts. I taught a massi warrior how to do the Hughsey”. As you can from the pictures importants of projects such as this and it a good thing, we all know a fan of Notts County who does great work with charities and in fact Pride of Nottingham knows a lot. Jon also added, “There are now more and more Notts Shirts in this region!!! I hope it helps them, the work we do is vital to helping bring change". Pride of Nottingham salutes Jon Marhsall, this is brilliant work and dedication shown. The helpers of the Nasio Trust should be very proud of their efforts, as should Jon. Keep up the good work and continue to show them the spirit of the club.

On loan winger Stephen McLaughlin is set to return to parent club Nottingham Forest, unless an extention can be agreed between Shaun Derry and Stuart Pearce for the services of the 24 year old Irish born player. He featured in his last game yesterday for the magpies, in a narrow 1-0 away win over Scunthorpe United which saw Notts County move to 3rd within the league. Notts have largely benefited from the arrival of Stephen McLaughlin who made an instant impact upon making his debut for the club and with the relations between Notts County and Nottingham Forest in talks, it is not completly out of the question to see some form of agreement reached. Nottingham Forest team mate Louis Laing has already extended his emergency deal for the duration of an additional 3 months. Stephen McLaughlin's appeared 5 times for Notts, 4 times within the league and once within the Johnstone's Paint Throphy. He's scored once against Scunthorpe United in the Johnstone's Paint Throphy, provided 4 assists within the league. Whilst being yellow carded once in the 89th minute in the 2-3 comeback win against Barnsley FC. Reaching a total of 360' game time within league one and 90' minutes within the Johnstone's Paint Throphy. In terms of overall performance in the English leagues, his personal best is actually whilst at Notts County. At Bristol City he only made 1 assist in 7 games and at Nottingham Forest it is 2 assists in 8 games. Would you like to see Stephen McLaughlin remain at Notts or should he return to his parent club Nottingham Forest. Pride of Nottingham is asking this very question, let us know your views.

Yesterday ended like I started my original journey, alone with my son in the cold. I found myself at times thinking about what Notts meant to me as a person, I looked around watching our fans react to each stage very differently. It was a roller-coaster shared by family and friends, in a sea of mixed shirts. Shaun Derry's branded Notts a “community”, which is something I've always found to be pretty much true. The only differences for me is the adventures you encounter with friends, I know I've been pretty lucky in that respect to have witnessed many great moments over the past 2-3 years. Being entirely honest and open, going back any further I know I wouldn't have had this insight which I do now. It could be a very naive way to look at it, yet there's always been more than a “community” feeling. I remember feeling like I do now but with my grandfather, all those days ago when he would take me to see Notts as a child. It feels like a family, yes some might not communicate with people but if you do, I know for sure that it wouldn't just be one person, it would be several and you're always adding to the overall total. Going 1-0 down to Barnsley, the away end felt very tense and it became more so after they had scored their second. Yet some didn't drop their heads, they shrugged off the disappointment and decided to see it through as we fans of lower division football often do. I watched as little pockets of the “Notts family” started to connect with each other, it slowly turned around as it did on the field. What a fantastic strike by Garry Thompson, it really allowed us to start believing we could comeback. The rest feels like history now, although I do feel that whatever Shaun Derry said at half time it probably included us fans. When we equalised the stand which we was situated in just came alive, by this point three people I don't know spoke to me and we started discussing our points briefly. I know that times are difficult, which you would be able to relate in family life. There's something always happening but the next time you're at a Notts match and it becomes quiet, make yourself heard and be accounted for as part of the community or family. Our journey is probably only beginning, when one ends another starts and I know my son “Super Pie” will share my sentiments when he is older.