yelobeli

A couple of their goals were top drawer and very little that Stone could have done about them. Just frustrating that the third goal was never a free kick or a booking and was taken from the wrong place. And the ball he gave away for the first one... blimey; that was a shocker. Jodi's goal... sublime. "Always believe in...".

On the plus side, this was my first time at Colchester's "new" (ish) ground. And there were a lot of positives. Really cheap tickets if you bought in advance, with ample cheap secure parking right off the A12 and an 8 minute walk. Decent fan zone, helpful stewards, free programmes, and a good view from seats right by the pitch. Unfortunately, a few of our fans can be right dicks, especially at away games. We know who they are, and we see them having a go every week (is it too direct to say the same old "Weekend Offenders"?). Yes, the keeper was time-wasting. The ref dealt with it. You don't shove players. And if you do, then you deserve to be thrown out (and he was lucky to be the only one). If you have a season ticket then the club needs to tell you that's the fastest way to lose it. As for the idiot who threw the ball back on the pitch when Jodi was trying to take a quick corner; what were you thinking? You deserved the earful he gave you (though it was typically classy of Jodi to apologise afterwards). Our fans have built up a good reputation over the last couple of years. Don't let a few idiots spoil things.

I wouldn’t say well-liked. A lot of Labour supporters don’t trust him because he was a minister in the Tory/Lib Dem coalition. The Tories hate him because the Lib Dems are nicking a lot of what you might call the one nation, pro Europe, centre right voters (the sort who liked Ken Clarke more than Boris Johnson). Personally, I’m not a Lib Dem, but I’ve voted for them tactically (and unsuccessfully) a few times. I think he’s basically decent and is making a good job of one of the hardest jobs around. But their last leader was a disaster, so it’s a low bar.

Easy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acdX9XH20cw The quarter-final was almost equally memorable - and a brilliant day out - even if the eventual result was heartbreaking.

1978-1986 (real name Graham Ward).. 8 years because I started in the Junior Department - I was a boarder and in the Minster Choir.

I never knew this. Like me, he grew up in Notts in the 70’s and 80’s and didn’t jump on Clough’s bandwagon? I respect that, even if he was at the hated High School when I was at the slightly less hated Minster.

He will have loved this -

https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/luton-town-kenilworth-road-premier-league-b2416806.html

Wishing him a happy retirement. I'm guessing it's for good this time. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/66793441 And hoping that he gets back to do that gig at the Playhouse next year.

I'm probably not the only Notts fan who has a lot of love for Luton. The team we took down with us on our last day in the top flight, thanks to a goal from Rob Matthews, who went on to play for them when he left Notts. Oh, what a night that was, getting back to London and meeting up with Coventry fans at the Head of Steam in Euston... I still don't know how I got back home. They too went down to non-league and had never returned to the top flight until this season. They've not exactly had the most excellent start to the season... This is a good read. https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/sep/21/fear-not-luton-theres-still-joy-to-be-found-in-a-losing-streak

I'm nervous that my getting Chicksen's name and number on my shirt has condemned him to a season on the bench! I've not been to the new-ish stadium and I'm looking forward to a big Notts crowd. There's been a lot of money spent in what was always a grotty town centre (think how Mansfield or Worksop was, and it was worse than either). So I'm going to wander around the market and check out the street food stalls for lunch.

I don't expect such a high line this season. We got caught out a few times last year and could get punished against the more talented League 2 clubs.

I've been to Plough Lane, but the two Wimbledon games that stick out are the home game when Steve Cherry save John Fashanu's life, and the trip to Selhurst Park the same year when we completed the weird triple of going there three times in two seasons and losing to three different clubs.

Agreed about a lot of these. Sutton's going to be a tough ticket, and it clashes with the Family Day v Yorkshire at Trent Bridge, so I'm assuming I won't be at that one. Sorry that Salford's on a Friday night, which probably counts that out too. Bradford and Harrogate are in the diary. Daughter lives in Leeds, so hope to drag her and her boyfriend along to those, pint by gaslight at Hales in Harrogate is a must. As is a curry at Prashad's in Bradford. Bring on the spicy vegan burgers at Forest Green, and hope we're celebrating. Only local game for me this year will be Colchester - everything else is at least a 5 hour round trip - so will definitely be there, with my partner's son, as his beloved Tractor Boys are away. New ground for me too. A bit more luxurious than Layer Road.

I think I'd forgotten I was ever a member! I live 3.5 hours away. I've got back into going to games over the last 18 months since my Mum died and I've been up in Notts to see my Dad every couple of weeks. He's about to move to Suffolk to be near me, but now that I've got back into the habit... Plus my daughter starts at Notts Uni in September, so I can combine seeing football with seeing her. May even drag her to a game.

I hope it's a fun afternoon out and that both sets of fans behave. Getting stuffed again wouldn't be a great feeling, but anything less than a 3 goal defeat will be fine as long as we play well.

Top of League Two five years ago. One of these teams will be in the top flight next season. Of course we can dream.

Luton - the other team who went down with us and have never played in the Prem... Coventry - who we saved from the drop by beating Luton on the last day of that season (let's not go into more recent history)... Or Middlesbrough, who we beat on the way up in 91? I know who I'd like to see go up. And we can dream.

Chicksen didn't have his best game on Saturday, but both the wing backs have been superb all season.

I liked what Jodi Jones said after the match; that he didn't panic at half time - Notts could have been 3-0 up after 15 minutes, so there was no reason why they couldn't score 3 after the break. Jodi's taken a while to settle, and until his cross for the equaliser wasted a few opportunities yesterday, but he's clearly a quality player. Nemane's clearance was also one of the moments of the season for me. He kept us in it.

Let's not forget seven appearances and a couple of goals for England U21. Might have had more had he not been competing with Shearer.