Chris

As we are quickly approaching the new season ahead, Pride of Nottingham is delighted to bring you this opposition view for the upcoming game against Alfreton Town courtesy of Reds fan 'DarkSithLord'. We have taken the time to ask eight questions, so that we can gain an insight to our fourth pre-season friendly and the opposition in general. Please be sure to leave a comment below regarding your own views, share and link. You Pies! Firstly, could you please tell prideofnottingham.co.uk a little about yourself such as how long you've been a Reds fan? I am 21 and I have been following the Reds for around 7 years after my Dad took me one Saturday and I was hooked from there! Can you tell our members and Notts fans in general a little bit about your clubs history and perhaps some of your achievements to date? Alfreton Town was formed in its present guise in 1959 after Alfreton Miners Welfare and Alfreton United merged. Just a year after being formed Alfreton achieved its highest attendance of 5,023 at North Street in 1960 when Matlock visited for a Midland League game. One of Alfreton most successful seasons came in 1969/70 when they took the Midland League by storm winning 32 of their 34 league games. Current Club chairman Wayne Bradley took over in 1996 when the club was at Level 6- The Northern Counties East League Premier and vowed to take the club to the Conference Premier and many didn't take him seriously but in 2010/11 after two failed Conference North play-off campaigns Alfreton were confirmed Conference North champions by a margin of 12 points following a 6-0 humbling of Guiseley FC and were promoted to the Conference Premier against all the odds. Pretty Ironic then that they were team to replace at us at Conference Premier (Now National League) when we were relegated on the last day of last season! How have you seen Alfreton Town grow over the years, both as a football club and also a town? I cant speak from experience but without a doubt Alfreton Town and the surroundings areas are unrecognisable from those humble beginnings in the Midland League. The Ground has been transformed too. It didn't even have any Dressing room for many years. The players had to use facilities just across the road at the Miners Welfare to get ready for matches!! What signings have Alfreton Town made so far? How do you feel this upcoming season will go for you and what are your expectations? IN - Sam Jones (Heanor Town) Todd Jordan (Lincoln) Tom Allan (Gateshead) Cliff Moyo (Free Agent) Sam Berry (Welling) Ryan Wilson (Ilkeston) OUT - Bradley Wood (Lincoln) Callum Howe (Lincoln), Anthony Howell (Cartlon), Messiah McDonald (Bradford Park Avenue) Luke Graham (Brackley) I must admit I was worried about what lay in store for this season but I think Nicky and Russ has done a very credible job following an exodus of players after relegation last term. They have recruited extremely well. Sam Jones from local Midland League side Heanor Town looks quite a player and in addition Alfeton withstood the interest from Lincoln to hold on to the services of star man Dan Bradley. And although of course its still early doors yet I think our performances against Sheff Wednesday and Rotherham have been fantastic and fully confirm our position as second favourites for promotion according to many bookies. My personal expectations were for a solid top 10 finish with a late but unsuccessful push for a play-off spot but Id say on current evidence I would be disappointed to miss out on the play-offs. How is your pre-season going so far, what was your reaction to the announcement of the planned friendlies and which of them stood out for you? Well I am sure your readers will be glad to hear that our friendly really stood out for me as I have a soft spot for the club as my Grandad was a supporter and for the sheer history and tradition that surround the club. It was gut wrenching when just a few hours after our relegation was confirmed I heard a similar fate had befallen Notts. Pre season couldn't really have gone any for us so far. We followed up 4-1 success away at Buxton with a credible 1-1 draw at home to Sheff Wed and an excellent 3-2 triumph over a very strong Rotherham squad on Tuesday evening. The news signings have began to gel extremely quickly and showed more passion and desire in the first half v Sheff Wed than for the whole of last season. Makes you wonder what could have been! Can we have your score and scorer predictions? Alfreton Town 2 (Joe Ironside and Sam Jones) Notts County 2 (John Stead and De Silva) Who are the players which Notts should be wary of and what formation do you see Alfreton selecting on Saturday? Dan Bradley. A pace winger and competitive midfielder with a good box of tricks who has a good turn of pace and is not shy to take someone on. Should be at least National League level and even League 2. John Johnstone Signed from Crewe on a 18 month deal last summer he has become a firm fans favourite. Another winger with good skills and a mean shot. Caused Rotherham problems all night on Tuesday Have you been following any of the Notts news? What do you think the squad we are assembling and what do you think of our chances of regaining promotion back to League One? From what I heard at the back end of last season Moniz got you playing some good football and had you appointed him just a few weeks earlier the outcome may have been different. But all in your signings have impressed me. I think John Stead is a excellent acquisition. Id say you look good for a play-off position but need more fire-power up front to push for an automatic spot. I have to say League 2 looks the strongest its been for a while so you will face tough opposition but I think you will bounce back at the first attempt. Pride of Nottingham would like to thank Reds fan DarkSithLord for taking the time to answer our questions, we wish Alfreton Town all the very best for a successful 2015/16 season campaign.

Back in mid-April, Notts County chairman Ray Trew announced during a radio interview that he would be creating a transfer committee at the club. This would consist of six members – all unknown at the time of the interview – who would discuss each player, before the manager, Ricardo Moniz made his final decision, as any manager should do if the chosen players were good enough for the club. After this interview, fans’ opinions were somewhat negative concerning the direction chosen by the club. The general opinion is that this would ultimately lead to bargain players being approved, as the general mood at the time was low. However, nobody knew for sure how this would work out and regardless it was the direction in which the club opted to go for. As the close season began, activity around Meadow Lane seemed very slow and fans hung onto any sort of transfer speculation linked with the club. When Notts made their first signing, it seemed that the mission of the current board and manager was to settle the worries and minds of loyal fans. The process of transfers is something generally handled on the quiet side at Meadow Lane it would seem. However, it wasn’t long before speculation and optimism started to creep into the fan base, with Ray Trew publicly voicing his thoughts on potential signings. Notts quickly started being linked with European talent, namely from the Dutch and Belgian leagues where Moniz has managed or dealt with before. Even names within the English division seemed to impress the majority. As the optimism increased, so did the transfers and, on merit, it seems that the transfer committee is doing a good job, as is Chief Scout Guy Branston who is heading the recruitment drive. It’s a little too early to say if it’s a complete success, but looking at the business done and achieved by the committee so far, it is certainly showing other clubs how it needs to be handled. With the club developing squad based on quality and not quantity, it’s easy to become excited when the players linked are of various skills and age ranges. It seems the five-step plan mentioned within local media really was the footprint for the success aimed towards the 2015-16 League Two campaign. Personally, I am satisfied with the direction in which the club appears to be going. I am also very keen to see the season underway and for fans to quickly jump on board, as success on the field for me can only be measured by the fans in attendance and naturally if Notts do get off to a bright start, the players arriving could seal a brighter future for this football club. It is a promising start for Notts, which does not warrant any sort of negativity remotely, and I am encouraged by the response I have seen. Let’s hope this season is a successful one for us, so we can finally push on together in the right direction.