Joe Jones

Grimsby Town defender Ben Davies has talked about his time at Notts County under the Munto regime as the Mariners travel to Meadow Lane for a League Two meeting. The midfielder-turned-defender spent a year-and-a-half at NG2, during which he helped the Magpies to the fourth-tier title as a culmination of a rollercoaster period under the "ownership" of the shady entity. “I’ve got nothing but happy memories there,” Davies told the Grimsby Telegraph. “Obviously going there with Sven and all the hype that was around the place, the 18 months I spent there was just a constant high really. “There was a lot of money pumped into the club at that time, and we had the likes of Kasper (Schmeichel), Lee Hughes and Sol Campbell – the team was too good for the league really, and we won a lot of games 3, 4 or 5-0. “It was nice to get the promotion, and be playing with some of the best players I’ve played with over my career. “Sven was absolutely brilliant. He was at training every day, he was at every game, and he was really hands-on with it all. “He made it a really relaxed atmosphere, and obviously winning most weeks brings that as well. On Campbell’s time at Meadow Lane, Davies added: “He came and he was there for about eight weeks trying to get fit. “He got fit, and then he trained for about three weeks with us, and you could just tell how good he was then. “He played a couple of games and then got injured again. I think he was getting frustrated at that time, and we were winning games. “But even with him being there for just three or four months, you learned so much off him with his professionalism and the way he went about things, and obviously with Kasper as well the professionalism was taken to a new level. “The way things were done, it was like a Premier League club - it was just unfortunate really that they couldn’t carry it on. “Obviously it will be nice to go back there and see everyone, but we’ll be desperate to get the win.” Share your thoughts about this news story on Pride of Nottingham by signing up to the website, visiting the forum and joining in the chat with hundreds of fellow Notts County fans. Fancy showcasing your brand or business on Pride of Nottingham? Click here to find out more about sponsorship and advertising opportunities with us.

Head to head Notts County and Grimsby Town have met a total of 80 times over the years. The first fixture came on 5 October 1893. Notts won the Division Two clash 2-0 at Trent Bridge. The Magpies have 27 wins, while the Mariners have 33, and 20 games have been drawn. Our last meeting was in League Two last season at Blundell Park on 21 January, and the Mariners won 2-0. Stats Notts County are winless in their last four home league meetings with Grimsby, although three these matches have been drawn (L1). The Mariners have lost just one of their last five EFL encounters with the Magpies (W2 D2), conceding just four goals. Jorge Grant has been directly involved in seven goals in his last six League Two outings (4 goals, 3 assists). Grimsby are the only side yet to lose a single point from a winning position in League Two this season. History Grimsby Town FC was formed in 1878 after a meeting held at the Wellington Arms public house in Freeman Street, Grimsby. Several attendees included members of the local Worsley Cricket Club who wanted to form a football club to occupy the empty winter evenings after the cricket season had finished The club was originally called Grimsby Pelham, this being the family name of the Earl of Yarborough, a significant landowner in the area. In 1880 the club purchased land at Clee Park which was to become their ground until 1889 when they relocated to Abbey Park, before moving again in 1899 to their present home, Blundell Park. The club is the most successful of the three professional league clubs in historic Lincolnshire, being the only one to play top-flight football. It is also the only club of the three to reach an FA Cup semi-final (doing so on two occasions) and is the only one to succeed in two finals at the old Wembley Stadium. It has also spent more time in the English game's first and second tiers than any other club from Lincolnshire. Notable managers include Bill Shankly, who went on to guide Liverpool to three League titles, two FA Cups and a UEFA Cup triumph and Lawrie McMenemy who, after securing promotion to the then third division in 1972, moved to Southampton where he won the FA Cup in 1976. Alan Buckley is the club's most successful manager; he had three spells as team manager between 1988 and 2008, guiding the club to three promotions and two appearances at Wembley Stadium during the 1997–98 season winning both the Football League Trophy and the Football League Second Division Play-Off Final. In 2008 Buckley took Grimsby to the capital again, but lost out to MK Dons in the final of the Football League Trophy. The Mariners had also reached the Football League Two Play-Off final in 2006 at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium, but lost the match 1–0 to Cheltenham Town. Later trips to the Wembley in 2013 and 2016 saw them defeated in the FA Trophy final by Wrexham and FC Halifax Town respectively. Grimsby managed to reach the Conference play-off final in both 2015 and 2016, after losing to Bristol Rovers they defeated Forest Green Rovers to earn promotion back to the Football League. Initial relegation from back in 2010 made them the fourth club to compete in all top five divisions of English football (after Carlisle United, Oxford United, and Luton Town). Team news Aside from the long-term injuries, Kevin Nolan has no fresh worries ahead of Saturday's game and is likely to stick with the majority of the players that started in the draw with Luton. Grimsby boss Russell Slade hopes to have James Berrett available - the midfielder was passed fit to face Forest Green last week but broke down in the warm-up. Share your thoughts about this Stat Attack piece on Pride of Nottingham by signing up to the website, visiting the forum and joining in the chat with hundreds of fellow Notts County fans. Fancy showcasing your brand or business on Pride of Nottingham? Click here to find out more about sponsorship and advertising opportunities with us.

Carl Dickinson has admitted that he truly feels Notts County will achieve promotion this season. The Magpies currently sit second in League Two on 42 points, level with top-placed Luton Town who boast a huge +30 goal difference. In addition, Notts have successfully overcome blips over the course of the season and remain as focused and sharp as ever going into the festive period. “I was talking to my wife the other day and we were discussing the way things are going,” Dickinson told the Nottingham Post. “She said ‘what do you think?’. And I just said I know it’s going to happen. “I compare it to when I got promoted with Stoke (in 2007-08). That dressing room was the best I’ve been in. “But this one is so close to it that’s it’s frightening. I just have this massive feeling it is going to be our year. It’s up to us to do it, but I feel it’s going to happen.” Share your thoughts about this news story on Pride of Nottingham by signing up to the website, visiting the forum and joining in the chat with hundreds of fellow Notts County fans. Fancy showcasing your brand or business on Pride of Nottingham? Click here to find out more about sponsorship and advertising opportunities with us.

Kevin Nolan has stressed that Notts County must maintain their high standards from last week's 1-1 draw at Luton Town going into Saturday's encounter with Grimsby Town. Many had tipped the Hatters to derail the Magpies' charge at Kenilworth Road but the visitors emerged with a share of the spoils which keeps them level on points with the League Two leaders. Up next is a game with the Mariners at Meadow Lane and Nolan insists the momentum - and the impressive home form - must continue. "There is no point in going to Luton, getting a point and then putting in a shabby performance this weekend," he told the official Notts site. "We have to follow it up and our standards have to stay as high as they were last Saturday. If they are, we will have a fantastic opportunity to get the three points. "The home record we have is something I will look back on in my later years and have great pride in. "It's been a fantastic year since I came in and I have been delighted with the response I have got from the boys and the work that has gone on both on and off the field. "We have a massive 2018 coming up. We have to maintain things and not sit back and think 'We've got there.' We are always looking for extra little bits to help us better ourselves." Share your thoughts about this news story on Pride of Nottingham by signing up to the website, visiting the forum and joining in the chat with hundreds of fellow Notts County fans. Fancy showcasing your brand or business on Pride of Nottingham? Click here to find out more about sponsorship and advertising opportunities with us.

Hello and welcome to episode 35 of the Pride of Nottingham PONcast, presented by Chris and JJ. In this week's episode we discuss Notts County's draw with Luton Town from last week, a superb results which keeps the Magpies level on points with the League Two leaders. We also look ahead to Saturday's league meeting with Grimsby Town, a great opportunity to keep momentum going in front of the Black and White Army at Meadow Lane. In addition, we discuss whether struggling teams should have their Christmas parties cancelled, like John Sheridan did at Notts last year and ex-County boss Sam Allardyce has done at Everton this year. We also check out what kind of attacker we should look to recruit in January - someone pacey, a poacher, a battering ram or something else? And on what contract terms? All this and more only in episode 35 of the Pride of Nottingham PONcast! Share your thoughts about this PONcast episode on Pride of Nottingham by signing up to the website, visiting the forum and joining in the chat with hundreds of fellow Notts County fans. Fancy showcasing your brand or business on Pride of Nottingham? Click here to find out more about sponsorship and advertising opportunities with us.

Notts County have successfully navigated the crunch clash with Luton Town last weekend, now we're back at Meadow Lane this weekend as we take on Grimsby Town. The Mariners have enjoyed a decent enough season so far, sitting 11th in the table with nine wins, five draws and seven defeats. Pride of Nottingham spoke to Grimsby fan Steve to get an insight on the opposition. About Steve: Been a fan since the 90s and my favourite player of all time is John McDermott. 1) Grimsby spent six years in the non-league before coming back up. What led to your drop into the Conference and how did you eventually climb back up? Financial problems at the start of the 2000s were the beginning of the rot, we plummeted down the leagues, and then in 2009-10 several disastrous decisions - giving our youth team coach the permanent job, moving Barry Conlon on - saw us down into non-league, which is a notoriously difficult league to get out of. 2) Blundell Park is famously situated in Cleethorpes rather than Grimsby. Is this something that fans currently talk/moan about or is it no big deal? Not really. The name Grimsby Town goes back to the 19th century and the move to Blundell Park was made on the turn of the century, so it's just how it's always been. 3) There was some uproar from a number of Grimbarians about that Sacha Baron Cohen film named after your town when it came out. What was the general consensus from Mariners fans about it? Opinions were split fairly even to be fair. Some people were offended at being depicted as typical "Northern" (in the Southerner definition of the word ie North of the Watford Gap) slobs, others were annoyed the town barely featured, but me and a lot of others just thought it was a laugh (not as good as his other films though) and kind of basked in the limelight for a bit. 4) Thomas Turgoose, the actor who made a name for himself in Nottingham-filmed This Is England, is a big Grimsby fan. Have you or any of your friends ever met him and what's he like in terms of supporting the club? Can't say I do I'm afraid, but I'm a big fan of TIE - the film and the shows - proper telly (or cinema), maybe Cohen could have a word of two with Shane Meadows! 5) Who are your biggest rivals and, if a different team, who have been your most recent rivals? Hull City are our main rivals but we haven't met in competitive games, cup or league, since the 1990s. More recently it's been Lincoln City, we've battled plenty of times in league (and non-league) so it's good to see them back. 6) Who are your team's danger men? And what do you think the score/scorers will be? Luke Summerfield is a creative midfielder who likes to get forward and is very direct, he'll be a threat. Sam Jones is also going to be a handful - he's a striker who's really good at ghosting inbehind the opposition defence. And I think it'll end 1-1, Jones to get our goal. Share your thoughts about this Opposition View article on Pride of Nottingham by signing up to the website, visiting the forum and joining in the chat with hundreds of fellow Notts County fans. Fancy showcasing your brand or business on Pride of Nottingham? Click here to find out more about sponsorship and advertising opportunities with us.

What's been happening in League Two over the last week? Here is Pride of Nottingham's round-up of the biggest League Two news from the last seven days. - All 72 English Football League clubs agreed to interview at least one black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) candidate for vacant managerial or first-team coaching jobs, an arrangement that will come into force on January 1 and last until the end of next season. - Nathan Jones of Luton Town won November's L2 Manager of the Month award, while Forest Green Rovers striker Christian Doidge picked up the Player of the Month gong. - Wycombe Wanderers extended Birmingham City defender Dan Scarr's loan until the end of the season. The 22-year-old initially joined the club on loan in August until January 1, and has made 13 appearances in all competitions for the Chairboys so far. - Yeovil Town "categorically denied" rumours of a proposed takeover by a consortium of business leaders from the area. A statement said: "The sale of the club is not currently part of Insight's remit or the intentions of YTFC's majority shareholders." - Lincoln City striker Matt Rhead signed a one-year contract extension to keep him at the club until June 2019. The 33-year-old joined the Imps from Mansfield in 2015 and has 38 goals from 102 league games in his time at Sincil Bank. - Newport County have opened contract talks with captain Joss Labadie, who is in the final few months of his current deal having joined the Exiles from Dagenham and Redbridge in 2016. Share your thoughts about this news round-up on Pride of Nottingham by signing up to the website, visiting the forum and joining in the chat with hundreds of fellow Notts County fans. Fancy showcasing your brand or business on Pride of Nottingham? Click here to find out more about sponsorship and advertising opportunities with us.

Notts County chairman Alan Hardy has tipped Kevin Nolan to become manager of England in the future. The former Leyton Orient boss has seen his stock rise since arriving at Meadow Lane a year ago, leaving the Magpies out of relegation trouble by the end of the 2016-17 season. Since then, Notts have risen to second place in League Two on goal difference, having held top spot on several occasions, and have the best home record outside of the Premier League in 2017. Nolan also scooped the manager of the month award for September and won another nomination for Notts’ results in November. “I’ve often spoken of my admiration for Kevin as both a person and a manager,” Hardy told the Nottingham Post. "What he has done here, in such a short space of time, has been nothing short of remarkable. “What he and the players have achieved has surpassed all of our expectations and the progress has been remarkable. “I’ve no doubt in my mind that Kevin will go on to manage at the elite level and I am certain that he will go on to manage England at some point. “I just think he has all the tools you need both in his ability to motivate players, the uncanny knack he has of understanding them and being able to relate to them. Share your thoughts about this news story on Pride of Nottingham by signing up to the website, visiting the forum and joining in the chat with hundreds of fellow Notts County fans. Fancy showcasing your brand or business on Pride of Nottingham? Click here to find out more about sponsorship and advertising opportunities with us.

Alan Hardy has revealed his hopes of having a new training ground for Notts County ready by January 2019. The Magpies owner is currently in negotiations with three parties over the potential site of the state-of-the-art facility and wants the plans firmly in place by next year. Notts currently train at Basford United's ground as part of an agreement between the two clubs, having previously been based in Ruddington and Arnold. “Negotiations will continue with three parties regarding location this week because, for the first time ever, I want this club to have its own dedicated facility by January 1, 2019,” Hardy told the Nottingham Post. “We have three options available to us that I am very carefully considering. Each is very exciting in different ways. Each has its own strengths and my job is to select the right one that builds a legacy for the future. “This club needs and deserves its own high performance training facility which delivers the very best that we can provide with resources available to us. “I’ve recently spent time at both Tottenham and Manchester City’s new facilities and while we can’t afford the enormous university style campus they have created, I have taken lots of ideas and styles from them both which has assisted me greatly. “This is an integral part of the blueprint I’m creating and will be our springboard for the future... going to the next level is hugely exciting and 2018 will hopefully see its realization." Share your thoughts about this news story on Pride of Nottingham by signing up to the website, visiting the forum and joining in the chat with hundreds of fellow Notts County fans. Fancy showcasing your brand or business on Pride of Nottingham? Click here to find out more about sponsorship and advertising opportunities with us.

Notts County manager Kevin Nolan, assistant Richard Thomas and coach Mark Crossley observed a Nottingham Panthers training session today and sat down for a chat with head coach Corey Neilson. The Nottingham Post reports that Thomas had been keen to take in a Panthers practice after coming to watch a game with Crossley earlier this season. Neilson, Nolan and the Notts coaches spoke at length about coaching methods, similarities between ice hockey and footbal, and more. “I had a nice chat to them. We spoke for about an hour in my office after the training session,” Neilson told the Post. “We spoke about the two sports and where they overlap when it comes to philosophies and tactics, just coaching stuff really. “It was fun. They have great minds and some really great questions. “It’s always good to share ideas and you’re foolish if you aren’t learning all the time in this business. You can learn from anyone. “It’s not just about your sport. You can learn from all sports and they had good insights on things like motivation, training and recovery.” Share your thoughts about this news story on Pride of Nottingham by signing up to the website, visiting the forum and joining in the chat with hundreds of fellow Notts County fans. Fancy showcasing your brand or business on Pride of Nottingham? Click here to find out more about sponsorship and advertising opportunities with us.

Alan Hardy has hailed Notts County's "meteoric" rise over 2017 and describes their progress as "unbelievable... even by our own expectations." This time last year the Magpies were freefalling towards the bottom of League Two as a losing run which eventually culminated to 10 games threatened the future of the club. However, Hardy's takeover of the club in January and subsequent business decisions led to steady progress which has led the club up to second in the table and a feelgood vibe around Meadow Lane. “To be competing against joint-top of the league is unbelievable progress even by our own expectations,” Hardy told the Nottingham Post. “It’s been meteoric over the last 10 months and it’s been truly wonderful to witness as we have already created some great memories. “The players are rising to the challenges before them and when you talk to them around the club you can just feel the confidence is getting greater. “You can feel their energy and it’s absolutely brilliant to see.” Share your thoughts about this news story on Pride of Nottingham by signing up to the website, visiting the forum and joining in the chat with hundreds of fellow Notts County fans. Fancy showcasing your brand or business on Pride of Nottingham? Click here to find out more about sponsorship and advertising opportunities with us.

Although FC Barcelona have turned it into their motto, the truth is every single football club out there is "more than a club". It's a pillar of the community, it brings together people of all walks of life, it instils pride in an area's culture and heritage, and so much more. Notts County Football Club go a step further by giving back to the community, both local and global, with the help of Notts County FC Football in the Community. A lot of Notts fans may be vaguely aware of FITC but know little more about what they truly do, so Pride of Nottingham will cast the spotlight on them and their work. In 1989, Notts County FC founded the "Notts County FC Community Programme". This was set up by Footballers' Further Education and Vocational Training Scheme (FFE+VTS), which was a welfare scheme operated by the Professional Footballers Association (PFA) for its members. The NCFC Community Programme had the following aims: - Encourage more people especially children to play football - Provide training, leading to employment - Promote closer community links with professional football clubs - Encourage more people especially children to watch live professional matches - Maximise the use of facilities at professional football grounds Such was its success that it gained a National Award for Training Programme in 1994 and, six years later, gained charity status, became independent and former a board of trustees to become the Football In The Community charity it is today. With over 35 projects that cover all 20 city wards, FITC have enriched, empowered and encouraged hundreds of thousands of people across Nottingham over the last 28 years, and have been recognised for their great work with multiple awards, including the illustrious "Professional Club Community Programme of the Year" at the 2016 Sport & Recreation Awards. As of 2017 FITC continue to serve the community with the same passion and commitment they were founded with, focusing on 6 key areas of work (as displayed on their badge): - Social Inclusion - Health - Education - Sports Participation - National Citizens Service (NCS) - Fundraising Although working alongside Notts County FC, FITC is an independent charity which raises all its own funding, so it's essential for fans to get behind it and continue the great work they're doing in Nottingham. FITC recently held an event at West Bridgford's Poppy & Pint in which Notts legend Les Bradd talked about his illustrious career and it was enjoyed by all who came. And plenty more events are in the pipeline, such as the Inflatable 5k Nottingham (July 14) the Peak District TrekFest challenge (September 1), Robin Hood Marathon (September 30) and the CEO sleepout (October 11). FITC Media Officer Leighton T James said of working alongside Pride of Nottingham: "I find your articles and content insightful, humorous and strikes a cord with a very passionate and family friendly audience. "The tide is changing in the way football fans engage with the media. "When I was a child I remember visiting Sixfields Stadium, home of Northampton Town and my dad buying 'The Hotel End' fanzine and chucking to himself at the illustrations and articles written by cobblers fans. "Now, that has changed with the rise of social media and fan channels like Arsenal Fan TV. We are very happy to associate ourselves with fan site like PON." We at Pride of Nottingham are delighted to be working alongside Notts County FC Football in the Community and will do our very best to ensure it gets the spotlight it deserves. Find out more about Notts County FC Football in the Community by clicking here. Share your thoughts about this feature article on Pride of Nottingham by signing up to the website, visiting the forum and joining in the chat with hundreds of fellow Notts County fans. Fancy showcasing your brand or business on Pride of Nottingham? Click here to find out more about sponsorship and advertising opportunities with us.

Shola Ameobi has played down the significance of Notts County's 1-1 draw with Luton Town but insists that the Magpies could still be in the hunt for automatic promotion at the end of the season if they keep up the level shown at Kenilworth Road. Notts are still second in the table on goal difference, level on points with the impressive Hatters following the draw in Bedfordshire, in which Ameobi scored to cancel out Johnny Mullins's opener. Although there are still 25 games to go, the former Newcastle United striker says the team is enjoying the way things are at present and feels they can get a result at top teams, a 180 degree switch from how things were just last year. “We are not getting ahead of ourselves,” Ameobi told the Nottingham Post. “There is a long, long way to go yet. From where we were when I first came in, to where we are now shows we’ve done a tremendous job. “We are enjoying it. We went to Luton determined to get the win and that shows the mentality that has changed over the last few months. “We’ve gone to the top teams thinking we can get a result. That’s very positive for us going forward and if we can keep this level there’s no reason why we can’t be up there at the end of the season.” Share your thoughts about this news story on Pride of Nottingham by signing up to the website, visiting the forum and joining in the chat with hundreds of fellow Notts County fans. Fancy showcasing your brand or business on Pride of Nottingham? Click here to find out more about sponsorship and advertising opportunities with us.

Kevin Nolan has praised Notts County's fans for their continued "brilliant" support of the club and urged them to keep it up going into the busy festive period. The Magpies emerged from last weekend's crunch League Two clash with Luton Town with a point in a 1-1 draw, watched by 810 members of the Black and White Army. Up next for Notts are back-to-back home games against Grimsby Town and Cambridge United and Nolan paid tribute to the fanbase for their raucous support. “The fans were absolutely brilliant at Luton and I keep alluding to them because they’ve been fantastic,” he told the Nottingham Post. “It’s important they get behind us for the next two home games because teams are going to come and respect us. “We are going to have to be patient, and we need them to keep behind us and keep singing their hearts out like they did on Saturday. “It doesn’t half buoy the lads and get them up for it.” Share your thoughts about this news story on Pride of Nottingham by signing up to the website, visiting the forum and joining in the chat with hundreds of fellow Notts County fans. Fancy showcasing your brand or business on Pride of Nottingham? Click here to find out more about sponsorship and advertising opportunities with us.

A couple of years ago, Notts County boasted a number of former Manchester United players in Alan Smith, Roy Carroll and Kevin Pilkington. Of those, only Smith is still at Meadow Lane, which has morphed into a bit of a "Newcastle United Old Boys Club" now. Smith also played at St James' Park, while Kevin Nolan and Shola Ameobi also donned the "other" black and white stripes up on Tyneside. Having former Premier League players, individuals whose careers continue to be held in high esteem, at Notts is a huge boost on three fronts - on the pitch, off the pitch, and in the marketing department. (And of course I can't omit Jon Stead from this, even though he's not a former Newcastle man - in fact he played for bitter rivals Sunderland - but he's also a distinguished former PL player with an illustrious career.) On the pitch, the former PL players can read the game fantastically, what with experience gained against playing for and against some of the top sides in England and some of the top players in the world. There is also the psychological boost of having players that have played at the top level that the opposition players will have grown up watching and, although some can step up their game accordingly, others will feel intimidated or perhaps even a bit starstruck. Off the pitch, these players will be a font of knowledge from their years at the top and, alongside ensuring that standards are as high as they can be, will also have a sharp and refined tactical awareness - and of course they can coach their teammates accordingly, as they will be learning from the best. And the final point, that of marketing, has always been quite important but never so much as the present day, when the explosion of social media ensures that millions, even billions, of people can discover and discuss the latest football information at the touch of a button. In this respect, having former Premier League players will generate interest from far beyond the NG postcode and even beyond Britain - the likes of Smith, Nolan, Ameobi and Stead will have fans from Man United, Newcastle, West Ham, Bolton, Blackburn and other big clubs eager to find out more about how they're doing at Notts. When Notts were drawn against Salford in the FA Cup, the game made it on terrestrial largely because of the narrative pitting the side owned by several players of the Class of 92 against a club boasting United alumni. By having an interesting back story, it generates interest and as such will be given the spotlight. Similarly, the club has featured a lot in the national press in recent months, with Nolan on Sky Sports and BBC Sport, Stead doing an interview in the Daily Mail and so on. Obviously the club has done a lot of media-worthy things for itself - the changing rooms for example - but that star element has elevated the club above a lot of other lower-league clubs in the media. In conclusion, the presence of players and coaches that once graced the Premier League has given Notts a massive boost on multiple fronts and, combined with the shrewd ownership and management of Alan Hardy, it's led to the club going upwards both in League Two and in the media spotlight. Share your thoughts about this feature article on Pride of Nottingham by signing up to the website, visiting the forum and joining in the chat with hundreds of fellow Notts County fans. Fancy showcasing your brand or business on Pride of Nottingham? Click here to find out more about sponsorship and advertising opportunities with us.

Luton Town manager Nathan Jones has praised Notts County for showing just why "they are such a good side" in Saturday's 1-1 draw at Kenilworth Road. The Magpies fell behind in the first half against the run of play when Johnny Mullins headed home to put the hosts ahead. However, Shola Ameobi hit back with a header of his own to earn a share of the spoils for County, who had goalkeeper Ross Fitzsimons to thank for a crucial point-blank save late on. Jones told the official Luton site: "I think it was a fair result in the end. We were nowhere near where we have been, but let's give some credit to Notts County because they must have contributed to stopping us doing that. I thought it was a very tight game, there was very little in it. "We scored from a set-play, they scored from a set-play and to be fair all our clear-cut chances came from set-plays and second phase. It was one of those games – a real tight game. For the level it's two good sides and we must be the two best sides in the league because the points say that. "We're both right on cue, both on 42 points after 21 games, that's what you need to go up [two points-per-game]. I think it's a fair result and let's give credit to Notts County, they came here and worked hard and showed why they are such a good side. "We have been in good form and we wanted to play a certain way. We didn't quite get that and I have given credit to Notts County for that, so I couldn't berate my players for it." Share your thoughts about this news story on Pride of Nottingham by signing up to the website, visiting the forum and joining in the chat with hundreds of fellow Notts County fans. Fancy showcasing your brand or business on Pride of Nottingham? Click here to find out more about sponsorship and advertising opportunities with us.

Notts County have claimed a superb 1-1 draw away at Luton Town to stay level on points with the League Two leaders. Shola Ameobi salvaged a point for the Magpies when he headed home the equaliser after Johnny Mullins had given the hosts the lead against the run of play in the first half. The result kept Notts five points clear of third place and six clear of fourth, as well as putting one of the trickiest fixtures of the year successfully behind them. How did the Notts fans, players and boss react to the draw? Pride of Nottingham takes a closer look. Kevin Nolan "We limited them to very few chances. Ross Fitzsimons pulled off a great save at the end, but overall we had a lot of opportunities - especially in the first half. "They hit us with a sucker punch, but that's what they do with the quality they have. You can't switch off for a minute. "Luckily enough we hit them back and it's a fantastic point. "We respected the fact Luton had really good attacking threats and I thought we thwarted them very well." Shola Ameobi "I thought we were the better side. They have a lot of great attacking players but the boys at the back defended unbelievably well and I can't really think of a time when they opened us up. "It was important that we were solid, which we spoke about before the game, and the guys played them perfectly. "They've been scoring seven and eight goals against teams here so to limit them to a goal from a set-piece is testament to how hard we worked." Players on social media The Black and White Army on PON Who r ya? You Pies: Great point well deserved , maybe could argue could have won with chances first half , then the late save kept the point so , I'm happy it's a terrific point , any doubts about whether we are contenders need to be forgotten , we are for sure , COYP upthepies: Difficult game but a solid point for Notts. I felt impressed with how we approached the game and handled Luton, first half we could have been leading easily. liampie: it was a good draw but goes to show that we wont win every big game and we certainly wont just lose because the other club is firing in the goals. i am pleased that it sounded like everyone played well, so its a good point and team performance. Chris: I always felt the game would be one of those that both sides ended up cancelling each other out. I'm not disappointed, I would have taken a draw and the performances sounded impressive. I think it goes along way to showing what we can achieve if we work hard, so just very happy with the point. It sounded like the squad played excellent, and I am pleased for players such as Dickinson who has received a lot of praise. It doesn't feel like a points dropped or anything like that and its just a very positive thing. There was the concern that they might break the defence but credit to each player, even Duffy. TheSkipper: I listened to the game on the radio, Notts sounded like they put a very impressive performance on show and equally matched Luton Town. Things might not have gone in favour of them at Kenilworth Road but the result is one of the best this season. Notts have an amazing togetherness, in both team spirit and effort and Kevin Nolan must be delighted with how things are. I feel like I can start believing more that we are able to gain promotion, which we can sort the hoofing out once we are out of League Two. There's no negatives about drawing 1-1 to a side like Luton at all. We have nothing to fear against any side provided we respect the approaching opposition. Neil Lowe: Best result of the season so far IMO.Listened in on the radio and it was pretty clear that Luton are used to things all their own way at Kenilworth Road,and they didn't get that today....and they didn't like it.What a brilliant spirit Notts have under KN,and I also hope this result will show our own doubting fans that we have nothing to fear against any side in League 2.So far,so good,lads.Keep it going.COYP Share your thoughts about this reaction piece on Pride of Nottingham by signing up to the website, visiting the forum and joining in the chat with hundreds of fellow Notts County fans. Fancy showcasing your brand or business on Pride of Nottingham? Click here to find out more about sponsorship and advertising opportunities with us.

Notts County have emerged from the crunch clash with League Two leaders Luton Town with a very creditable point in Saturday's 1-1 draw at Kenilworth Road. The Magpies fell behind in the first half against the run of play when Johnny Mullins headed home to put the hosts ahead. However, Shola Ameobi hit back with a header of his own to earn a share of the spoils for County, who had goalkeeper Ross Fitzsimons to thank for a crucial point-blank save late on to preserve the draw. The result keeps the Hatters top of the table on goal difference, with Notts breathing down their necks on the same amount of points. Pride of Nottingham has shared the official match highlights off the Notts YouTube channel so you can relive the key moments from the game. Share your thoughts about the game on Pride of Nottingham by signing up to the website, visiting the forum and joining in the chat with hundreds of fellow Notts County fans. Fancy showcasing your brand or business on Pride of Nottingham? Click here to find out more about sponsorship and advertising opportunities with us.

Shola Ameobi has claimed that Notts County were the better side in the 1-1 draw against Luton Town, which proved that the Magpies "can mix it with the best" in League Two. The Magpies impressed against the table-toppers and, even though they fell behind to Johnny Mullins's header, came from behind to claim a point through Ameobi's reply. "We knew it was going to be tough and the atmosphere was quite ferocious," the veteran striker told the Notts site. "But I think we dealt with it very well, which showed the character of the players. "We were disappointed to lose the goal after having so many chances but this side have shown resiliency. We had to dig in at times. "They're a good side at home but we showed our quality. We're delighted to get a point in the end and it goes to show we can mix it with the best in the league. "I thought we were the better side. They have a lot of great attacking players but the boys at the back defended unbelievably well and I can't really think of a time when they opened us up. "It was important that we were solid, which we spoke about before the game, and the guys played them perfectly. "They've been scoring seven and eight goals against teams here so to limit them to a goal from a set-piece is testament to how hard we worked." Share your thoughts about this news story on Pride of Nottingham by signing up to the website, visiting the forum and joining in the chat with hundreds of fellow Notts County fans. Fancy showcasing your brand or business on Pride of Nottingham? Click here to find out more about sponsorship and advertising opportunities with us.

Despite remaining level with League Two leaders Luton Town on points, Notts County boss Kevin Nolan has spoken of his delight in edging closer to the "safety" 50-point mark. In Saturday's big game at Kenilworth Road, Johnny Mullins' header put the hosts ahead in the first half but Shola Ameobi hit back with a header of his own to earn a 1-1 draw. "We limited them to very few chances," Nolan told the official site. "Ross Fitzsimons pulled off a great save at the end, but overall we had a lot of opportunities - especially in the first half. "They hit us with a sucker punch, but that's what they do with the quality they have. You can't switch off for a minute. Luckily enough we hit them back and it's a fantastic point. "We respected the fact Luton had really good attacking threats and I thought we thwarted them very well. "We're ever-closer to that 50-point mark now, which is very pleasing. We've just got to make sure we get there as quickly as possible. "Let's see if we're still going blow-for-blow with Luton in March/April, because I'm sure they're going to be challenging for the title come the end of the season." Share your thoughts about this news story on Pride of Nottingham by signing up to the website, visiting the forum and joining in the chat with hundreds of fellow Notts County fans. Fancy showcasing your brand or business on Pride of Nottingham? Click here to find out more about sponsorship and advertising opportunities with us.

Notts County were tasked with the hardest challenge of the season so far in a fixture away at League Two leaders Luton Town but emerged from the game with a share of the spoils in a 1-1 draw. The visitors threatened first at Kenilworth Road as Ryan Yates sent a header goalwards from Carl Dickinson's delivery but Marek Stech deflected the ball over the bar before the midfielder poked the ensuing corner wide. Notts continued to threaten, with Jon Stead latching on to Terry Hawkridge's cross before holding off his defender and rolling the ball straight at the Hatters goalkeeper. Stead then had another chance after outmuscling Alan Sheehan to bring down the ball in the channel before cutting infield on his left foot, but once again Stech was equal to the effort. However, Luton went on to take the lead against the run of play on 26 minutes with their first shot on target. Sheehan sent a corner kick to the far post, where Johnny Mullins was perfectly placed to plant a downward header beyond Ross Fitzsimons to send the crowd barmy. Jorge Grant looked for an immediate reply, shooting at Stech, but the pendulum swung back towards the hosts before Notts finished the half strongly, albeit a goal behind. Luton made a better start to the second half, Danny Hylton turning his marker and seeing his ensuing effort charged down. County then threatened as Matt Tootle's cross headed over by Grant, while Yates pounced on a loose ball to sidefoot wide from the edge of the area. Kevin Nolan's side were able to find an equaliser when Mullins gave away a free kick on the hour mark, which Grant whipped into the box where Shola Ameobi was on hand to nod into the goal. Fitzsimons was the hero late on as he made a wonderful save from point-blank range against Mullins as the final whistle saw a share of the spoils. Share your thoughts about this match report on Pride of Nottingham by signing up to the website, visiting the forum and joining in the chat with hundreds of fellow Notts County fans. Fancy showcasing your brand or business on Pride of Nottingham? Click here to find out more about sponsorship and advertising opportunities with us.

Notts County have launched Generation 8, a new initiative which aims to generate interest in the Magpies among youngsters with a view to attracting future fans to the club. Part of the scheme will see 3,500 replica shirts given to schoolchildren across the county, with a number of schools having already been handed the tops. Magpies owner and chairman Alan Hardy has invested £100,000 in the scheme and the club plans to visit Year 3 pupils at 75 schools to hand out junior shirts and tickets. So far Notts have visited Richard Bonington Primary School where they handed out 60 shirts and 700 tickets for next week’s home game against Grimsby Town. Hogarth Academy were also paid a visit and 30 shirts were presented to pupils by two of the club’s players along with another 400 tickets for the game against Grimsby. “Engaging with the community, as I’ve always said, is critically important to Notts County both for the now and for the future,” Hardy told the Nottingham Post. “If we are to be a success on and off the field, then we have to get out there and show the county what our principles are and how we want to achieve our ambitions “That is why I am absolutely delighted with this scheme because children are the lifeblood of any football club. They are the next generation of supporters and are hugely important to this club’s future. “And I have been absolutely delighted with the response we have had so far. If we can see more black and white shirts being worn around the county, then it will be a job well done.” Share your thoughts about this news story on Pride of Nottingham by signing up to the website, visiting the forum and joining in the chat with hundreds of fellow Notts County fans. Fancy showcasing your brand or business on Pride of Nottingham? Click here to find out more about sponsorship and advertising opportunities with us.

Head to head Notts County and Luton Town have faced off 70 times in their history. The first meeting came in January 1912 when the Magpies secured a 4-2 away win in the FA Cup. Luton dominate the head-to-head with 35 wins over Notts, 20 draws and 15 defeats. Out of the 11 matches between the two that have taken place since the turn of the century, Notts have won four, drawn four and lost four. The Hatters have won just one of their last four League Two matches against Notts (D1 L2), failing to score in two of the previous three matches between the two sides. The Magpies have lost two of their last eight matches against Luton at Kenilworth Road in the Football League (W3 D3). Stats Luton have scored 20 goals in their last five league matches at Kenilworth Road (W4 L1), conceding five - no side has won more home matches than Luton in League Two this season (8 - also Notts County). Notts County have gone five away matches without a victory in League Two (D3 L2), having won four on the bounce prior to this run; The Magpies last went longer without an away victory in February last season (a run of seven consecutive away defeats). No League Two side has scored more goals in the last 15 minutes of matches than Luton (13 - four more than the next best side - 9, Notts County). History Luton Town Football Club was formed on 11 April 1885, the product of a merger of the two leading local teams, Luton Town Wanderers and Excelsior. The club was the first in southern England to turn professional, making payments to players as early as 1890 and turning fully professional a year later. It joined the Football League before the 1897–98 season, left in 1900 because of financial problems, and rejoined in 1920. Luton reached the First Division in 1955–56 and contested a major final for the first time when playing Nottingham Forest in the 1959 FA Cup Final. The team was then relegated from the top division in 1959–60, and demoted twice more in the following five years, playing in the Fourth Division from the 1965–66 season. However, it was promoted back to the top level by 1974–75. Luton Town's most recent successful period began in 1981–82, when the club won the Second Division and gained promotion to the First. Luton defeated Arsenal 3–2 in the 1988 Football League Cup Final and remained in the First Division until relegation at the end of the 1991–92 season. Between 2007 and 2009, financial difficulties caused the club to fall from the second tier of English football to the fifth in successive seasons. The last of these relegations came during the 2008–09 season, when 30 points were docked from Luton's tally for various financial irregularities. Luton then spent five seasons in non-League football before winning the Conference Premier in 2013–14, securing promotion back into the Football League. The club's nickname, "the Hatters", reflects Luton's historical connection with the hat making trade, which has been prominent there since the 1600s. The nickname was originally a variant on the now rarely seen straw-plaiters. Supporters of the club are also called Hatters. Luton is associated with two very different colour schemes - white and black (first permanently adopted in 1920), and orange, navy and white (first used in 1973, and worn by the team as of the 2015–16 season). Team News James Collins could return for Luton in the top-of-the-table clash against Notts.The eight-goal striker has missed the last five games with a leg injury but has this week resumed training. Harry Cornick is also close to returning after a hamstring problem. Scott Cuthbert and Alan McCormack, however, remain on the sidelines for the Hatters. Notts striker Shola Ameobi is a doubt for the trip to Kenilworth Road as he has been nursing a groin problem in recent weeks. If Ameobi is fit he will play up front alongside Jon Stead, replacing Lewis Alessandra. Few other changes are expected, though a possible change in midfield could see Robert Milsom come in for Elliott Hewitt. Share your thoughts about this Stat Attack on Pride of Nottingham by signing up to the website, visiting the forum and joining in the chat with hundreds of fellow Notts County fans. Fancy showcasing your brand or business on Pride of Nottingham? Click here to find out more about sponsorship and advertising opportunities with us.

Kevin Nolan has provided an update on Michael O'Connor's rehabilitation, saying the Notts County club captain is doing really well and is on the right track. The 30-year-old needed surgery to repair his cruciate ligaments and on his meniscus, an injury picked up against Portsmouth in April last season. Nolan says he is delighted with the progress made so far by the midfielder and hasn’t ruled out a return by the end of the season. “Occy’s professionalism has shown right through this process,” Nolan told the Nottingham Post. “He’s had a few minor setbacks, but the way he’s gone about it, the way he’s attacked this injury – he’s doing really well. “He had a lot of problems in that knee but it’s a testament to him, Tom Hallas and the people working behind him. “He’s done fantastically well and he’s got to continue working hard. We’ve just got to keep the reins on him and let him not go too fast too soon. “We want him back as quickly as possible, but as I always say, the health of the player is the most important thing. “We want him back when he’s right. He’s in a good place and I am absolutely delighted. “What a result it would be to have him back for the final few weeks of the season. “He has experience, intelligence and being your skipper, it would be a massive boost for everyone around the club.” Share your thoughts about this news story on Pride of Nottingham by signing up to the website, visiting the forum and joining in the chat with hundreds of fellow Notts County fans. Fancy showcasing your brand or business on Pride of Nottingham? Click here to find out more about sponsorship and advertising opportunities with us.