Chris

When I was little, my brother (older) was always playing football in the garden. I showed very little signs early on of being interested as I preferred playing with toys. I used to spend hours with plastic toy soldiers, these days children don't play enough or go outside but once I did start playing football I quickly fell in love with the sport. I'm hoping my son will also take to the sport, as I think it will do wonders for his confidence. I think it's easier when the people who surround you inspire and draw you into it, which Jake doesn't. Growing up, I fondly recall my father taking my brother to Derby games. I always wanted to go, it disappointed me that I would always tend to be overlooked. This was something my Grandfather noticed and it's how my love for Notts County started. Being a young impressionable boy, I mainly liked teams I could watch on television. I used to watch division one games (now the championship). When I wasn't watching television or playing with my toys, I would be outside playing football with my brother and I quickly became obsessed with playing. Usually towards the end of the week, we would all play outside in the garden and I really thrived being able to play. My grandfather who was a huge Notts County fanatic would tell me stories, I used to listen with a glee in my eyes and I would always ask him to continue telling me about a story despite there being nothing else to say. He could tell the most amazing stories, his facts and knowledge were like no other. You could ask a question about the early days which he saw as a boy himself and he would relive it in crystal clear detail. I'll never forget the kindness, the life lessons he taught me and even now I get upset thinking that he's gone. It's something in honesty I have never got over, he was such an important part of my life and a big role model too. My early memories of attending games with him always involved around our Wembley trips, he would never allow me or my brother to miss out on going. I can remember travelling one time in a supporters coach, my grandfather parked his car at my uncles arcade and we waited opposite, outside a pub. This really annoying guy would always make a fuss of my brother and I. My grandfather was an extremely well liked man. Being young however, I hated it when strangers would come up to us and sort of steal our attention. There's a photo he took,somewhere in my parents house of a goal whilst he and my brother visited a play off final, I think I recall it being against Brighton . Despite being high up, my grandfather being the person he was, posed with my brother on his shoulders, very fond memory despite not actually being there. I do however flicker back to when we won the Anglo Italian Cup and he did the same thing to both me and my brother, although he was unable to take a photo of course. On a daily basis he would keep me informed on Notts's news, It was harder when I were little to check on what was going on, no internet and limited resources, it was great being able to bond with my grandfather in this way. The trips to Meadow Lane were always special, he would always put us first and no matter if he couldn't afford it really, he would still take us. I used to be fairly confident as a child but I didn't like speaking too much in certain situations. He would often call players so I was able to obtain signatures and I can recall him speaking with Michael Johnson and Phil Turner. It's a shame I no longer can recall the games that I attended with him, I do recall the Wembley trips but league and home cup ties are virtually just a vague recollection. My grandfather would collect programmes and thanks to him we have some very old programmes, in fact the earlier one's are no more than team sheets but very rare and special. I've continued this with my son, I collect and ask him to read them to me which he enjoys doing. Sadly in 05/03/2000 my grandfather passed away at the age of 71, he had believed to be suffering from bronchitis but it turned out to be cancer. Whenever an occasion would come about that was special, he would guarantee that my brother and I would be there. The 97/98 season was so special for this reason, I enjoyed having him lift me and proudly hold me in the air like I was the league trophy. On the final game he fell down some steps at Meadow Lane and hurt himself, I tried to help him as I know he would of done me. The last game I recall going with him was the friendly against Arsenal, he took me for two reasons 1) he didn't think I would see such a team for awhile at Meadow Lane and 2) since I liked them. He spent awhile trying to get Arsenal players in-attendance to sign the programme he bought me and I safely kept somewhere. I've avoided this sort of thing because it's hard when you lose someone when you're young, in such an unexpected way but I hope he's proud of me. I certainly think my life would have been different had he not been around, so in many ways I have him to thank for so much more than introducing me to Notts County. He's the proud great grandfather my own children would look up to, my father shares a similar relationship with them as I did with my grandfather. Raymond Townrow was more than my grandfather, he was my world. I'm thankful that I know he'll be looking after mine and Kate's daughter who we lost so tragically. I take great strength knowing she would have been well looked after with him, so Thank you granddad.

After a draw against Tranmere Rovers, Notts county return to Meadow Lane where they beat Bury FC 4-1 live on sky sports. Mr Trews notes found in the Carlisle United edition of #themag touches upon the armed forces who were present for charity at Meadow Lane and promoting the good work of Prostate Cancer UK. As always the notes are a highlight with the award winning programme and we're very proud to feature this on our website. Good afternoon everyone and welcome to Meadow Lane for this npower League 1 game against Carlisle United, our first home game since Chris Kiwomya was officially named as manager. We have some very special guests with us this afternoon, in representatives from the Territorial Army and SSAFA (Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen & Families Association) promoting the work of our armed forces and helping raise money to help support those that have served for our country. I have a tremendous amount of respect for the armed forces and the brave men and women who protect our interests and freedom both at home and abroad, so I hope you will make our guests feel most welcome and give generously if you see the collectors around the ground. We are also promoting the good work of Prostate Cancer UK, the official charity of the Football League for this season. As the most common form of cancer amongst men in the UK, we owe it to our fans to raise awareness of this disease and the treatments and support available to those affected by it. Lots going on off the pitch then, but of course the reason that we are all here is to see what happens on it and to that end I would like to welcome the players, officials and of course the supporters of Carlisle United to Meadow Lane. As I mentioned, this is Chris Kiwomya’s first home game since being confirmed as full-time manager and I hope that you will all get behind him as we look to build on the encouraging start that he has made in the job. I thought that we deserved more from the game at Tranmere on Tuesday night, but if we maintain that level of performance, we will get the rewards that we deserve in the run-in to the end of the season. Onwards and upwards Ray Trew Chairman Many Thanks to Mr Trew for the notes and the Media Team.

Carlisle suffered defeat at the hands of Walsall on 26/02/2013, Carlisle have found themselves in poor form in recent games. Notts County come off the back of a draw against Tranmere, which was a game that sounded like we had controlled fairly well. We've taken the time to speak with Dave ahead of our game against Carlisle, the first opposition view in recent times due to being unable to locate an interested party. We hope to continue to feature opposition views when possible. Firstly, could you tell prideofnottingham.co.uk a little about yourself, such as how long you've been a fan for? I've been a Carlisle United fan on-and-off since I was a child, although annoyingly I only started going to the games with family the year after our only top flight season. I was an early connector to the Internet, though, and I ran one of the first Carlisle United fansites - Reeves Is Offside Again! How do you feel about Carlisle United coming into the game on Saturday and what do you think the result will be? CUFC have been so inconsistent this season that we don't know what to expect from any game, although we do seem to win a few, then have a humiliating defeat, then get a few good results again. You previously lost to Walsall in what sounded like a very good game, was this a game you were looking forward to? Not particularly, unfortunately, as my gut feeling was that this was going to be our humiliating defeat, and so it turned out to be. Could you tell us about Greg Abbott and what your thoughts are of him as a manager? I think the politest thing I can say is that he is good at keeping his job, but that I've never been convinced about his abilities as a manager. Please share a high and low point from your memory of supporting Carlisle United? High points have to be the Wembley finals, and the low points were the seasons at the end of the Knighton era. What formation do you see Carlisle playing against us and do you generally stick to one formation? Probably an ineffectual one....... Will you be travelling yourself to Meadow Lane and how many times have you visited, could you tell us about it? I won't be there this Saturday, but I have been previously and had a good meal and pint in your supporters area under the stand, chatting with some of your fans. Who do you consider to be Notts County's danger-man and which of our players would prefer to see marked? I'll be honest and say that I pay no attention to Association Football other than Carlisle United, so I don't know many players of other clubs. I only watch soccer on TV to be sociable with friends and family. How many fans do you think Carlisle will bring to Meadow Lane on Saturday? We always have a strong away following, so I would expect to see at least 400 there. Are you looking forward to any remaining games and can you tell us why? I'm looking forward to the last game of the season so that this "nothing of a season" is over. Hopefully we'll avoid relegation, but with Ah'but in charge....... Where do you think your club will finished at the end of the season along with Notts County? I think Carlisle will just avoid relegation, but hopefully Ah'but will be gone very quickly and we can look forward to a better season next year. Preferably with better and more ambitious owners, too..... Pride of Nottingham would like to thank Dave for taking time to answer the question and SadLad for helping find a opposition fan.