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Joe Jones

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  1. Luton Town boss Nathan Jones has praised Kevin Nolan for doing a "fantastic job" in transforming Notts County's fortunes ahead of their League Two meeting tomorrow. The Magpies sit second in the table, level on points with the top-placed Hatters, going into Saturday's crunch clash at Kenilworth Road. A year ago, Notts were in the middle of a barren losing run which saw them tumble all the way to the bottom reaches of the table, until Alan Hardy's takeover and appointment of Nolan steered the ship. Jones, voted November's L2 Manager of the Month, told the official Luton site: "The worst that can happen to us is we end up in second place after the game and they end up top. "It's not the worst thing in the world, but it's a big game and we want to win those games. "We want to win and they will want to win. Both teams I would imagine would be going out to do that. I don't think it sets a marker down, it's just a big, big game you want to win." "With the two sides in terms of points and league status, it's two of the best in the league and there's very little to separate us, only our goals scored separates the two teams. "Kev's done a fantastic job there. He's got a real good team together, he's recruited well. "I know what type of character he is and he's instilled that in the players. So it will be a fabulous game and I hope we play the way we have in these big games lately. "It's two sides going head to head and I imagine both sides will try and win the game as they've got such a good record as well, so we're looking forward to it. "A draw might be a good result for them, or for us. In terms of what they have done lately, they're in excellent form, we're on the same points. They've showed they can win away from home as well as at home." 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.
  2. Kevin Nolan has remained tight-lipped about how to line up his Notts County side to face Luton Town in Saturday's big League Two clash at Kenilworth Road. The Magpies sit second in the table, level with points with the Hatters, who boast an impressive goal difference to sit top. Much has been made of Luton's powerful attack and free-scoring, and Nolan insisted that his side is relishing the encounter, which will give the winner a psychological boost heading into the festive period. “I am not going to say how we are going to go about it, because Nathan Jones (Luton’s manager) will know what I am going to do,” Nolan told the Nottingham Post. “They have played some lovely free-flowing football this year and you have to give them massive respect in terms of how they have gone about it. “But with the players they have I am sure that is what he (Jones) expected so it’s about us trying to exploit their weaknesses. “They may think they don’t have any, but we’ve seen some that we think they have. “If we can exploit them then we will give them a run for their money. “But we have to be respectful of what they do at home because they’ve hit a team for eight and two others for seven. “They’ve done that three times and they are a good side with some quality players, who they have paid lots and lots of money for. “But like I say when we do what we do then we give ourselves a fantastic opportunity of winning. “It’s going to be a tough ask, but it’s one we are all relishing and looking forward to.” 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.
  3. Hello and welcome to episode 34 of the Pride of Nottingham PONcast, presented by Chris and JJ. In this week's episode we discuss Notts County's FA Cup second-round win over Oxford City, looking at how we performed and whether we were worthy of a win. We then move on to the third-round draw, which gave us a tie away at Brentford, and determine just how good a tie it is from both a glamour perspective and how winnable the game is. We also preview the Magpies' upcoming League Two clash with table-topping Luton Town at Kenilworth Road, an encounter which could go a long way in determining who's going to get their hands on the title. In addition we discuss Alan Hardy's revelation that Notts are losing £40,000 per month in win bonuses for players and coaches. All this and more only in episode 34 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.
  4. 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. - Morecambe defender Sam Lavelle will serve a two-match ban for 'deceiving a match official' in earning a penalty in Saturday's 1-1 draw against Carlisle United, the Shrimps unsuccessfully appealing the suspension. - Exeter City re-signed centre-back Danny Seaborne, who began his career with the Grecians and helped the club win promotion from the National League to League One between 2007 and 2009, as cover for Troy Brown and Luke Croll. Seaborne had been without a club since leaving Hamilton Academical in the summer. - Yeovil Town signed free agent Oscar Gobern - who left Scottish club Ross County in the summer and has played for Southampton, Huddersfield Town, Queens Park Rangers and Mansfield Town - on non-contract terms until the end of the season. - Cambridge United changed the name of their ground back to the Abbey Stadium after eight years. They initially sold naming rights in 2009 and the ground had been known as the Cambs Glass Stadium since 2015 but the company has allowed the club to return to its traditional stadium name. - Newport County manager Mike Flynn claimed that he would rather spend any FA Cup prize money on a new training ground than new players for his squad in January - and with the Exiles having drawn Championship side Leeds United in the third round, more funds will be coming their way. - Notts County are being "challenged financially" because of their success this season, says owner Alan Hardy, with over £40,000 a month being paid out to players and management on win bonuses. - Carlisle United defender Clint Hill has revealed that he could play on towards his 40th birthday if his side mount a play-off challenge this season, saying: "I'm pushing 40 next year - maybe it'd be time to hang up my boots, but it depends how the next 20-odd games go." - Forest Green Rovers have signed midfielder Dayle Grubb from non-league side Weston-super-Mare for an undisclosed fee, the 26-year-old having scored 29 times so far in the 2017 calendar year, and will join Forest Green on 1 January, leaving his job as a sports teacher in the process. - More criticism came the way of the EFL/Checkatrade Trophy after Leicester City fielded an Under-21 side with six over-age players, three internationals and transfer fees worth around £45m in their 2-1 second-round win at Scunthorpe United, while Michy Batshuayi played for Chelsea in the competition a day after turning out against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League. - Chesterfield have signed Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper Cameron Dawson on an emergency loan deal until January as cover for first choice Joe Anyon, who broke his arm in the EFL Trophy defeat at Fleetwood Town. Share your thoughts about this news roundup 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.
  5. Alan Hardy has recently described what he is doing - and continuing to do - at Notts County as a "revolution". Given how the last 11 months or so have panned out, you wouldn't argue against it. This time last year, Notts were in the middle of a truly horrendous losing run which would go on to span 10 matches, and the atmosphere at Meadow Lane was understandably so toxic that Chernobyl would have felt like a spa weekend in comparison. And indeed, Hardy has done the conventional things right - he's invested shrewdly in the club from top to bottom, appointing a dynamic young manager in Kevin Nolan, investing in the player facilities, enabling the fostering of great team spirit and winning the vast majority of the fanbase back after several years of animosity with open communication and numerous incentives. But aside from that, Notts have also undergone a process of overhauling their image and getting the club in the headlines for the right reasons. As a club in the fourth tier of English football, opportunities to get the club promoted in the press are generally few and far between, but over the last few months, the likes of Hardy, Nolan, Jon Stead and Shola Ameobi have featured on the likes of Sky Sports and in the Daily Mail, the Guardian and BBC Sport to name a few. Things like the rotating monthly shirt sponsorship, which in hindsight is such a simple and effective premise that it's amazing nobody else has thought of it before. The interest in Nolan, Stead, Ameobi, Alan Smith and other Notts men as Premier League household names. The top-notch changing rooms. All these and more have made the nationals and helped reshape the Magpies as an exciting, dynamic, innovative and simply "cool" club. In particular I would like to focus on the sponsorship deal with Jake Bugg. An absolute stroke of genius. We all know how football and music have enjoyed a symbiotic relationship for a long time - Oasis and Manchester City, the Stone Roses and Man United. And now, Notts and Jake Bugg. His name on our shirts gets him a lot of exposure (plus brownie points by virtue of having his name associated with the beautiful game) while at the same time giving the Notts brand brownie points for being associated with a young, talented and internationally famous musician. All this might seem like tittle tattle but this PR "charm offensive" is crucial considering how our children, as it was in the past but with the advent of social media, more than ever, could find themselves turned away from their local clubs and towards the likes of Man United, Man City, Chelsea, Barcelona, Real Madrid and so on - and for Nottingham kids specifically, turning away from Notts and onto Nottingham Forest, which would be the ultimate humiliation for a Magpie parent or guardian. This is why Hardy's "revolution" isn't just about the present - it's about ensuring that Notts is seen as the kind of club that local youngsters want to be associated with and, as a result, don't get swayed towards teams hundreds of miles away. Or worse yet, Forest! 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.
  6. Jorge Grant has reiterated how much he is enjoying his time at Notts County after parent club Nottingham Forest confirmed they would not be recalling him in January. The 23-year-old, who played a big part in the Magpies surviving in League Two last season, has picked up where he left off in 2017-18, his 14 goals so far helping the club to the upper spots in the table and to the third round of the FA Cup. There had been concern over whether Grant's superb form would prompt Forest to recall him in January and make use of him to help the club up the Championship table, but manager Mark Warburton insisted he would not demand for him or Ryan Yates to return to the City Ground until the end of the season. Grant told the Nottingham Post after the FA Cup second-round win over Oxford City that he was looking forward to remaining at the club, as well as giving his thoughts on the 3-2 win over the non-league side. “I am just happy to be here,” he said. “I am relishing being on the pitch and I am enjoying my football. “We showed our character in the end against Oxford. The boys are really together and we do things outside of football and on the training pitch. We work hard and we are all together as a team. “From a personal perspective, the game was frustrating because we wanted to win and it wasn’t really going our way. “Then during the game I was trying to concentrate on not missing the target from two yards. “After there was just relief in that all of the hard work we put into the game both in the 90 minutes and the training pitch paid off. “They (Oxford) were always going to give 100 percent no matter what. It was never going to be an easy test and I thought they handled themselves well.” 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.
  7. Kevin Nolan has provided an update on Shola Ameobi, revealing that the Notts County striker is touch and go in terms of his availability ahead of Saturday's League Two meeting with Luton Town. The veteran marksman sat out Saturday’s 3-2 win over Oxford City in the second round of the FA Cup with a suspected groin injury. Nolan insists that Ameobi is doing well but, due to having potentially aggravated a previous injury, the club's medical team are being cautious with him as they don't want to lose him for a long time. “Shola’s okay, but we have to wrap him up in cotton wool,” the County boss told the Nottingham post. “He tweaked a bit of a previous injury so we are just being careful and cautious. “We don’t want to lose him for more than one game. If it’s one then we will have to deal with that, but we don’t want him missing four, five or six weeks. “He is a massive part of what we are doing going forwards.” 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.
  8. Notts County owner Alan Hardy has admitted that Brentford away was not an FA Cup third-round draw that he had hoped for. The Magpies beat League One side Bristol Rovers and non-league Oxford City in the opening two rounds of the competition to go in the hat for the hallowed third round. However, the hope of getting a bumper tie against a Premier League giant was shattered with the pairing of Notts and the Championship high-flyers in Monday night's draw. There is nonetheless a belief in the County camp of being able to pull off an upset against the Bees at Griffin Park. “We were hoping for a Premier League club, but we’re looking forward to it,” Hardy told the Nottingham Post. “They are a good side, but we will go into it with belief and confidence. “And we will go there well prepared because the management team will do a very thorough job of looking at their strengths and weaknesses. “It’s a good opportunity for us to progress to the fourth round.” 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.
  9. Notts County boss Kevin Nolan has been nominated for November's League Two manager of the Month award. The 35-year-old, who won the award in September, is in the running again after an impressive month in which the Magpies remained unbeaten in the league and took eight points from 12. Wins over Cheltenham Town and Colchester United kept County's unbeaten home record intact so far this season, while on the road, they claimed draws against Yeovil Town and Stevenage. Steve Evans of Mansfield Town is also in the running for the gong after leading the Stags to an unbeaten month, taking 10 points from a possible 12. And in a nomination hat-trick for the East Midlands, Chesterfield's manager has also been named among the candidates, Jack Lester taking eight points from four games to help his side get within touching distance of safety. The fourth manager in the running is Nathan Jones of Luton Town for having claimed 10 points from the month's four league games and seen his side score 14 goals in the process. 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.
  10. Awful tie. An away day against an unfashionable side with a lower-league profile, poor support and a tiny stadium but who are doing very well in the Championship and are going to give us a very tough game. And what makes it worse is that them over the bridge have Arsenal at the City Ground.
  11. Notts County have been drawn away at Brentford in the third round of the FA Cup. The draw was made on Monday evening, with Magpies fans hoping to get a plum tie against a Premier League giant. Instead, Notts will be heading to Griffin Park to face the Bees, who currently sit 11th in the Championship table. There is a possibility that Kevin Nolan's side could come up against former Notts man Alan Judge, although he has been sidelined since last year and, although he is stepping up his rehabilitation from a broken leg, there is no timeframe on his return yet. The Magpies overcame League One side Bristol Rovers and National League South outfit Oxford City to make it this far. Ties will take place between 5 and 7 January 2018. Third-round draw in full Ipswich Town v Sheffield United Watford v Bristol City Birmingham City v Burton Albion Liverpool v Everton Brighton & Hove Albion v Crystal Palace Aston Villa v Woking or Peterborough United Bournemouth v AFC Fylde or Wigan Coventry City v Stoke City Newport County v Leeds United Bolton Wanderers v Huddersfield Town Port Vale v Bradford City Nottingham Forest v Arsenal Brentford v Notts County Queens Park Rangers v MK Dons Manchester United v Derby County Forest Green Rovers or Exeter City v West Bromwich Albion Doncaster Rovers v Slough Town or Rochdale Tottenham Hotspur v AFC Wimbledon Middlesbrough v Sunderland Fleetwood or Hereford v Leicester City Blackburn Rovers or Crewe Alexandra v Hull City Cardiff City v Mansfield Town Manchester City v Burnley Shrewsbury Town v West Ham United Wolverhampton Wanderers v Swansea City Stevenage v Reading Newcastle United v Luton Town Millwall v Barnsley Fulham v Southampton Wycombe Wanderers v Preston North End Norwich City v Chelsea Gillingham or Carlisle United v Sheffield Wednesday 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.
  12. Oxford City manager Mark Jones has spoken of his players' heartbreak in losing late on to Notts County in Saturday's FA Cup second-round encounter. The National League South strugglers were seconds away from reaching the third round draw for the first time, having pegged the hosts back twice at Meadow Lane. Deep into injury time, however, Jorge Grant scored on the rebound with virtually the last kick of the match to clinch a 3-2 victory and put Notts in the hat for round three. Jones told the Oxford Mail: “It was heartbreaking, there were a few tears in the dressing room. “The boys gave everything and we were obviously seconds away from a great result and getting them back to our place. “We thought we were going to be in the hat for the third round. It was so so close, and sometimes football and life can be cruel. “When we first started on this road away to Whitehawk in September we could never have imagined experiencing this. “I just wish we could have held on, because it would have been a fantastic achievement to be in the hat for the third round, but it was not meant to be. “We’ve got to get over it. We’re in a poor position in the league. We showed we’ve got more than enough quality about us not to be down there, but we’ll pick the lads up and stick together.” 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.
  13. Kevin Nolan has reiterated that Jorge Grant is a special talent as he continues to conjure up the magic for Notts County. The 23-year-old loanee registered his 14th goal of the campaign on Saturday as he helped the Magpies into the third round of the FA Cup. In the second-round meeting with Oxford City, Grant was perfectly placed in the box to smash home a rebounded shot in the 94th minute for a 3-2 win. “We speak to Jorge about it, it just comes to him in the box. It’s not him being lucky, it’s having a nous to be able to do that,” Nolan told the Nottingham Post. “For me, that’s what he is. He’s a special kind of player because even if he’s not having a major impact on the game, he can pop up with something. “He’s the furthest one out of the box and he’s the one who ends up scoring a goal and it’s a testament to what he does and the work he does on the training ground and he’s getting better and better. 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.
  14. Notts County have won a place in the hat for the third round of the FA Cup after a last-ditch 3-2 win over Oxford City in Saturday's second-round clash at Meadow Lane. The Magpies took the lead in the first half when Carl Dickinson's cross was headed across the face of goal by Shaun Brisley and, with Oxford failing to clear their lines, Richard Duffy bundled home from point-blank range. Early in the second half, the non-league side struck an equaliser as Zac McEachran’s cross found Rob Sinclair on the edge of the box, who fired low into the corner of the Notts net. However, they were not level for long as, just three minutes later, Freddie Grant scythed down Terry Hawkridge in the box to give away a penalty, Jon Stead stepping up and confidently rifling low into the bottom corner. Notts were then pegged back again on 73 minutes when McEachran sent a low cross the way of Matt Paterson, who curled a neat effort into the top corner beyond Ross Fitzsimons. In the fourth minute of injury time, substitute Jonathan Forte's header was parried by Stevens into the path of Jorge Grant, who slotted home on the rebound to put Notts in the third round of the competition. How did the Notts fans, players and manager react to the win and the place in round three? Here's a compilation of post-match reaction from Pride of Nottingham. Kevin Nolan "I'm very relieved and rightly so because weren't up to scratch today. Oxford City came with a great gameplan and stuck to it, which knocked us out of our stride a bit. "But the resilience, togetherness and camaraderie the lads showed to score a last-minute winner again is absolutely fantastic and great testament to how far they have come in a short space of time. "We weren't at our normal levels today but we found a way to win, which is always a great trait to have as a team. "Oxford City were first-class and are very unlucky to be on the losing side. They played us really well and probably deserved more, but that's the drama of the FA Cup." Jorge Grant "Oxford City were very good. They were always going to come here and give it 100%. They shouldn't be as low as they are in their league; they played some good football and gave us a difficult test. "The gaffer told us to relax at half-time. They got under our skin a little in the first half; we were slashing at things and doing things we wouldn't normally do, so we had to keep our composure." Players on social media The Black and White Army on PON Ell100t: Don't think we played bad, Oxford City just gave it everything - it's the FA Cup. Into the next round importantly, no reply even better! Would love a prem team at Meadow Lane or an away tie at Tottenham (just to do a Wembley trip without the ballache of a cup run/ nerves of a playoff). On a side note, the thought of ever having to let go of Jorge Grant is getting more and more difficult. Jon Coleman: We weren’t brilliant and Oxford played well to the end lucky win but that’s the FA cup looking forward to the next round COYP Sandra Bryan: Don't give a **** how lucky we were we are in the next round we scored a winner in injury time and iam happy with that hard luck Oxford but that's Peter Walker: Weren't great or not very good!! Understatement we were dogs**t! Unlucky Oxford City but the dramas of the FA Cup!! James Spring: Right team won. We were far from our best and made a lot of silly errors. City had two efforts which both deflected in. They played well but we had enough chances to finish it at 2-1. As said above though, dont care how we won, we won and thats the only thing that matters Brian Barry: We weren’t great but in fairness to Oxford they battled hard. A win is a win. Into the next round. Need a massive game against Luton. Jasmine Victoira Cupit: The game play was not worth a win!! It was an embarasment. Oxford played that game amazing and they didn't deserve to lose!! Alan Longstaff: Very lucky to win today, Oxford played the better football Ian Ale Goode: We were not very good but we won so onwards and upwards Cecil Richardson: Just papering over the cracks Paul Ambrose: More jam than Hartley's xx Jo Warsop: Oh my word!!!!! Lucky pies!!!!!! Xxx 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.
  15. Alan Hardy has revealed that Notts County are paying over £40,000 a month in win bonuses to manager Kevin Nolan and the club's players. Hardy took over the Magpies from Ray Trew in January with the club facing a winding-up petition brought by HM Revenue & Customs and has done a fine job of repairing the club from top to bottom. County are currently second in the League Two table and beat Oxford City 3-2 on Saturday to reach the FA Cup third round, which brings the prospect of a bumper tie against a Premier League giant. Hardy told BBC Radio Nottingham: "It's going the wrong way [financially] due to the fact the players are doing so well on the pitch. "Each month we're paying out over £40,000 in bonuses to players and management because they are on great win bonuses. That's how you motivate people, by putting it out there. "You get bonuses for being top of the league, bonuses for [being in the] top three, and that's why players are scoring in the 96th minute, because it all goes towards motivation." Hardy also admitted that, if the upward trend on the pitch were to continue in the long term, he might have to seek outside investment or step aside. "I can sustain it up until we get to the Championship and then I think it's a different model and I don't think it's a model that I can personally sustain," he said. "Whether that's foreign investment and they bring in their own management team, or they want me to stay on. "We're a few years away from that, but I think I've got to be realistic in the fact I won't be taking this club to the Premier League because I haven't got the means." 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.
  16. Jorge Grant has described his last-gasp winning goal in the 3-2 FA Cup win over Oxford City as "one of the best feelings" he has experienced in football. The Nottingham Forest loanee struck deep into stoppage time with the scores level and the prospect of a second-round replay looming to put Notts into the third round for the first time in six seasons. Grant, who has been a sensation for the Magpies this season and last, scored his 14th goal of the campaign and was understandably delighted after the game. "I played the ball out wide to Terry Hawkridge and thought I had to get in the box to the back post," Grant told the official Notts site. "Luckily enough the goalkeeper parried the ball straight to me so I concentrated on not missing the target from two yards out! "The way the game was going was frustrating for us but afterwards was just relief for all the hard work we have put in through the week and the 90 minutes. It's one of the best feelings I have had." Speaking about Saturday's opponents, Grant added: "Oxford City were very good. They were always going to come here and give it 100%. "They shouldn't be as low as they are in their league; they played some good football and gave us a difficult test. "The gaffer told us to relax at half-time. They got under our skin a little in the first half; we were slashing at things and doing things we wouldn't normally do, so we had to keep our composure." 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.
  17. Kevin Nolan has paid tribute both to his Notts County players and FA Cup second-round opponents Oxford City after Saturday's encounter at Meadow Lane ended in a 3-2 win for the home side. The Magpies led on 31 minutes when Oxford failed to clear Carl Dickinson's cross into the box, allowing Richard Duffy to hook home from close range, but Rob Sinclair then levelled for the visitors on 53 minutes. Within two minutes, Notts were back in front, Stead scoring from the penalty spot after Freddie Grant had brought down Terry Hawkridge, but Matt Paterson fired home in from close range to leave the visitors on the verge of a replay. However, with the last play of the game, Jonathan Forte's header from Hawkridge's cross was saved, and Notts top scorer Jorge Grant finished from close range at the far post. "I'm very relieved and rightly so because weren't up to scratch today," Nolan told the official Notts site. "Oxford City came with a great gameplan and stuck to it, which knocked us out of our stride a bit. "But the resilience, togetherness and camaraderie the lads showed to score a last-minute winner again is absolutely fantastic and great testament to how far they have come in a short space of time. "We weren't at our normal levels today but we found a way to win, which is always a great trait to have as a team. "Oxford City were first-class and are very unlucky to be on the losing side. They played us really well and probably deserved more, but that's the drama of the FA Cup." 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.
  18. Notts County have won a place in the hat for the third round of the FA Cup after a last-ditch 3-2 win over Oxford City in Saturday's second-round clash at Meadow Lane. The Magpies fielded a full-strength side to face the struggling National League South outfit, who came to Nottingham hoping for another major upset after seeing off Colchester United in round one. Kevin Nolan made one change from the team which started last weekend's 2-1 win over, incidentally, the U's, with Jon Stead back from a leg injury to take the place of Shola Ameobi, who is nursing a groin injury. The game began with Notts predictably controlling possession and playing a high-tempo game but they posed little threat as their play was largely sloppy and rushed. Indeed, the visitors almost nudged themselves ahead as Matt Paterson, who scored the crucial winner for City against the U's, headed just wide of goal under pressure from Richard Duffy. Oxford were giving a good account of themselves, pressing together as a team and getting men behind the ball when out of possession, with the home fans getting increasingly nervous and frustrated as the game went on. Notts, however, were always going to create chances and Jon Stead’s acrobatic effort from a Terry Hawkridge cross forced goalkeeper Jack Stevens into a fine save on the half-hour mark. And the resulting corner led to the deadlock being broken as Carl Dickinson's cross was headed across the face of goal by Shaun Brisley and, with Oxford failing to clear their lines, Duffy bundled home from point-blank range for his second goal of the season. The second half began with the visitors showing more intent but Notts came close to doubling their tally in the 51st minute when Stead cut in from the left and his effort deflected off Joe Oastler before rebounding off the post. From the ensuing counter-attack, the non-league side struck an equaliser as Zac McEachran’s cross found Rob Sinclair on the edge of the box, who fired low into the corner of the Notts net. However, they were not level for long as, just three minutes later, Freddie Grant scythed down Terry Hawkridge in the box to give away a penalty, Stead stepping up and confidently rifling low into the bottom corner. Notts pushed men forward in search of a killer third but were instead pegged back again on 73 minutes when Zac McEachran sent a low cross the way of Paterson, who curled a neat effort into the top corner beyond Fitzsimons. With the game seemingly going to a replay, the hosts did not let their heads drop and, in the fourth minute of injury time, substitute Jonathan Forte's header was parried by Stevens into the path of Jorge Grant, who slotted home on the rebound to put Notts in the third round of the competition. 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.
  19. Alan Hardy has thanked the Notts County fanbase for their role in the club's "revolution" over the past year and has challenged them to make Meadow Lane "the busiest it has been for 25 years". This time last year, the Magpies were in the middle of a horrid losing run but now sit in the top places of League Two and have a chance of reaching the third round of the FA Cup. In his weekly Nottingham Post column, Hardy wrote: "I would like to thank our supporters for making Notts County the fastest growing football club in the East Midlands, and challenge them to make Meadow Lane the busiest it has been for 25 years. "I am an impatient man when it comes to wanting success, but, taking stock of what has been achieved this year, I realise how much the fans are buying into our Magpies revolution. "When I arrived at the club, our average attendance had slumped to 4,353 and was projected to dip below 4,000 as a result of three home victories in the calendar year 2016. "Now, though, our average attendance after 10 home league matches – and eight wins – so far this season is 7,186 – a 65 percent increase. "For us to be successful we must continue to sustain growth in our fanbase year-on-year. "So, I challenge Notts fans to deliver the highest average crowd at Meadow Lane for a quarter of a century. "We have not had an average attendance of over 10,000 since 1992, when Derek Pavis and Neil Warnock had us in the top flight. "The best since then was 8,314 in 1993-94 and we’re not too far behind that tally so the challenge between now and the end of the season is for us to better that because the manager and players deserve it. "My commitment to supporters is to fund and create an environment in which this club can challenge for promotion, deliver improvements to the infrastructure and facilities on and off the pitch and give them a club they can be proud of. "I have another challenge for the fans - sell out Meadow Lane for at least one game before the end of the season. I'll do my bit to make it affordable for 19,500 fans to come - make sure you do yours. "This season has the potential to be a special one for the club. Make sure you play your part, starting when we welcome Oxford City for an exciting Emirates FA Cup tie on Saturday. Your support will be more important than ever - so see you down at the Lane!" 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.
  20. Oxford City play in the National League South division and sit 19th in the standings, above the bottom three on goal difference and with just four wins in their opening 18 league games. They played their first recorded match in December 1883 and soon became the leading club in Oxfordshire, winning the FA Amateur Cup in 1906, before joining the Isthmian League the following year. In the latter half of the 20th century, the club went into decline and soon fell behind Headington United after that club turned professional in 1949. An attempt was made to return the club to success in 1979 when it became a limited company and later when England World Cup winner Bobby Moore was appointed manager with his former West Ham teammate Harry Redknapp as his assistant. The club reached its lowest point in 1988 when they were evicted from their White House Ground by their landlords Brasenose College, who sold it off for housing. Forced to resign from the Isthmian League, the club did not reform and return to senior football until 1990 when, based at Cutteslowe Park, they entered the South Midlands League Division One, winning promotion in their first season. City returned to the Isthmian League in 1993 when they also moved to their current ground, which preceded an upturn in form up the divisions of that league as well as an FA Vase final appearance in which they lost 2-1 to Arlesley Town. Highlights of the next decade included two years in the Isthmian League Premier Division and an epic FA Cup run in 1999–2000 which culminated in a three-game battle against Wycombe Wanderers in the First Round proper, eventually being edged out 1–0 at Oxford United's Manor Ground. The first replay had been abandoned due to a fire alarm just as the penalty shootout was about to start; this remains the only FA Cup tie to go to a second replay since the FA ruled that all ties should be settled after a maximum of two games. City are an FA Charter Standard Community Club and field more than 37 teams, with sides for men, women, boys and girls. Defender Freddie Grant is the nephew of former Notts boss Martin Allen and trained with the Magpies at the age of just 15, as well as being a friend of Jorge Grant (but no relation despite the same surname). Saturday's game will be the first time that Oxford will have had names on the back of their shirts. While not a requirement at their current league level, it is in the second round of the competition which will be broadcast live on BT Sport. Team news Jon Stead and Shola Ameobi are doubtful for the game with leg and groin injuries respectively, while Callum Saunders has been suffering with flu in the build-up. Adam Collin and Michael O'Connor remain sidelined by long-term injuries but manager Kevin Nolan has an otherwise fully-fit squad to choose from. Oxford City captain Lee Henderson has not played since hobbling off with a dead calf during the victory over Chelmsford City in Vanarama National League South three weeks ago and is a doubt for the game. Share your thoughts about this preview 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.
  21. Kevin Nolan has revealed he is trying to keep pre-match preparations as normal as possible for Notts County amid the increased media interest ahead of their televised FA Cup second-round meeting with Oxford City. The game has been moved to a 12:30pm kickoff and will be broadcast on BT Sport as the high-flying Magpies take on the National League South side, who beat Colchester United in the first round of the competition. Nolan is well aware that the disparity in league positions between the two teams has led to people "expecting us to win" but is also aware that complacency will lead to "one big bite on the bum". “It’s another game, it’s the next one that’s on the fixture list," Nolan told the Nottingham Post. "We’re on BT, so that’s a bit of difference – shall we say the glamour that brings, a lot more media stuff to do and lots more things to be involved in. “We’re trying to keep it as normal as possible for the lads and keep everything the same so they know how important this is moving forward, making sure that we apply ourselves in the right manner to get through to the next round. “If we don’t, and these have already beaten a good side in Colchester, who we all saw last week and are more than capable, and are going to be good in this division taking us right to the wire. For them to have that scalp already – they’ll coming here with no fear, to enjoy the experience. “A lot of it is going to be a lot different to what it normally is on a match day. What my lads can’t do is be distracted by that, or get taken away from the actual thing which is the football game and that’s what everyone is here for – for the football game. “We’ve got to make sure that we remain focused on solely that. Enjoy all the rest of it, but at the front of your mind is what goes on, on Saturday afternoon at 12:30pm. It’s about making sure what we do and if we do that, I’m very confident we can be in the next round. “Everyone’s expecting us to win, I know that’s not the reality. If we apply ourselves, if we play to the best of our abilities and the way we have then it gives us a fantastic opportunity of getting through to the next round. If we don’t, we’ll be in for one big bite on the bum. Every one of them will be on the top of their game, they’ll be raring to go.” 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.
  22. Nottingham Forest manager Mark Warburton has confirmed that he has no plans to recall Jorge Grant from his loan spell at Notts County in January. The 22-year-old has been a revelation at Meadow Lane both last season, helping the Magpies survive in League Two, and this season, scoring 13 goals to help the club towards the top of the table. Warburton believes that Grant is in the best place to continue his development, as he is playing regular football in a side flying high, and admits that "all parties are benefitting from the agreement". “I have been asked by fans and I see comments on websites about it all the time,” Warburton told the Nottingham Post. “The first thing to say is that Jorge is benefitting from the loan and Notts County are benefitting from the loan and from his performances. That is the first point. “Secondly, he would have to come back here and be better than Daryl Murphy, better than Tyler Walker, better than Ben Brereton, Jamie Ward, Apostolos Vellios, Barrie McKay and all the other players in the squad. “And we do have good options; we have quality attacking options. So do you bring a player back to sit on the bench or just to be in the squad, or do you let him play and develop? “It is a big jump in level as well, have no doubt about that. All thought is always given to what we can do with loan players, but it has to be appropriate and it is all about the player’s development. “It is absolutely the right place for him to stay. He is playing, he is getting pitch time - he has gone out of the club to get that time. He is doing very well for Notts County and they are looking after him exceptionally well. “At the moment all parties are benefitting. He is doing well. Right now he is doing really well, he is scoring goals for them, they are top of the division and he is working hard. “Notts County are doing very well, they have a great set-up and all parties are benefitting from the agreement.” 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.
  23. Notts County legend and all-time top goalscorer Les Bradd will be discussing his illustrious career at a fundraising event hosted by Football In The Community. The event is on Thursday 7 December at the Poppy and Pint bar in West Bridgford, with its doors opening at 7:30pm for an 8pm start. For £9.90, you will be given a complimentary drink on arrival, with Bradd reminiscing about his career ifrom the beginning all the way to his current role as a club and charity ambassador in a fun and informal evening. There will be an opportunity to get your hands on a signed copy of Bradd's new book, Far Post - A Striker’s Tale of Scoring Goals and Breaking Records, as well as an open Q&A session for all fans to ask him any questions regarding his career, his current roles or perhaps even his starring appearance in a popular CBBC television programme! There will be also be raffle prizes to win on the night. All funds raised will go directly to the FITC charity to help support the many projects, for some of the most disadvantaged and vulnerable people, that are run throughout Nottinghamshire. To book your tickets, click here to go to the dedicated booking page on the Gigantic site. 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.
  24. Kevin Nolan has revealed that strike pair Shola Ameobi and Jon Stead face a race against time to be involved in Notts County's FA Cup second-round tie against Oxford City this Saturday. Stead limped out of the 1-1 draw at Yeovil Town earlier in the month with a leg injury, while Ameobi has only recently returned from a knock himself. In addition to the veteran front pairing, Callum Saunders is also recovering from a bout of flu. "Steady is recovering slowly but surely," Nolan told the official Notts site. "We'll see in the next 24-48 hours whether or not he'll have a chance to be available. "Shola is the same, he's been carrying a groin injury, so both of them will be assessed late on, but it's very doubtful. "Apart from that we have a clean bill of health, which I'm very pleased about going into this stage of the season. "To only have one player with a slight strain and another with a contact injury, which can't be helped, is an absolute testament to the work all the staff behind the scenes have been doing." 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.
  25. Former Notts County defender Michael Johnson has stated that a Rooney Rule in football will allow black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) coaches to showcase their talent. Despite BAME footballers constituting almost 30 per cent of players, the percentage of BAME senior coaches at professional football clubs currently stands at 4.6 per cent. At present, there are five BAME managers in the top four divisions - Keith Curle, Chris Hughton, Nuno Espirito Santo, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Jack Lester. Named after former Pittsburgh Steelers owner Dan Rooney and introduced in 2003, the rule states that at least one ethnic minority candidate must be interviewed for each senior coaching position. Johnson praised the Football League for the Rooney Rule scheme it piloted last season, which he said has resulted in an "uplift" in the number of BAME coaches recruited for academy coaching roles. But the under-representation of BAME coaches in first-team managerial positions remains an issue, and Johnson believes the implementation of the rule would help address the disparity. "We're not saying anybody because you're black or because you're Asian should get a job," Johnson told Sky Sports News. "No, absolutely not. "What we are saying is that it would be great just to get an opportunity to be in the interview room and just be part of that interview process. Just let somebody look at you and see what you're all about. "At the minute, there are not enough black or Asian coaches getting through the door to be allowed to showcase their skills. The Rooney Rule would be a remedy." 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.

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Pride of Nottingham

Pride of Nottingham is an independent fansite devoted to Notts County, the world’s oldest professional football club. Created in 2013, it has served as a source of Magpie news, features, match previews, reports, analysis and interviews for more than three years.

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