Joe Jones

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. - Talented Coventry City winger Jodi Jones, 20, will miss the rest of the season with a cruciate ligament injury after being taken off on a stretcher in last week's draw with Stevenage. - Cambridge United boss Shaun Derry revealed midfielder Gary Deegan played three matches with a broken foot before finally succumbing to the injury, which is expected to rule him out for several weeks. - Former Crawley Town head coach Dermot Drummy died aged just 56, with his son Joe confirming the tragic news on social media. - Former Chelsea, Coventry City, Queens Park Rangers, Plymouth Argyle and Cambridge United full-back Allan Harris passed away aged 74. - Mansfield Town have begun work on a £2m training facility in Pleasley, which is expected to be completed by the start of next season. - Crawley Town head coach Harry Kewell insists that he 'loves the club and everything about it', a week after an incident in which he appeared to square up to one of his team's fans after an away defeat. - Swindon Town defender Ben Purkiss was elected chairman of the Professional Footballers' Association, taking over over from Sheffield FC player Ritchie Humphreys as the head of the football players' union. - Crewe Alexandra midfielder Ryan Wintle, 20, has signed a new two-and-a-half-year contract with the Cheshire club. He has made 11 appearances for his side this season but is currently out of action with a stress fracture of his tibia. 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.

Kevin Nolan has stated that any player in the Notts County setup who gets too big for their boots will be brought back to earth with “a real big bang” - but knows there will be no need because they won't. The Magpies are currently level on points with Luton Town at the top of League Two, with the two sides meeting next weekend following this Saturday's FA Cup tie with Oxford City. Nolan insists that the Magpies have a “special” team spirit, and is determined to keep it that way in the second half of the season, but does not want anyone to get carried away. “We’ve played against a few good sides and we’ve had a few good hidings along the way. We’ve just got to concentrate on ourselves,” he told the Nottingham Post. “We’ve got a good bunch of lads and I feel if we’re on form we can be a match for anyone on our day. “We can’t look at anyone else, we’ve just got to look at us. It’s about keeping our feet on the ground, because we know how easily it can all change. “The most important thing is that everyone in this club knows how easily it can change. Last year we were doing really well, then went on a run which was the reason why I got this job. “It can quite easily go the other way. We’ve just got to keep doing what we’ve been doing, enjoy it but don’t get carried away. “I’ll be the one bringing them firmly back down to the ground with a real big bang if I do feel they are getting too big for their boots – but they won’t because they’re a good bunch and all really level-headed lads. They all do it themselves, so it makes my job easier.” 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 33 of the Pride of Nottingham PONcast, presented by Chris and JJ. In this week's episode we discuss Notts County's League Two win over Colchester United - were the Magpies worthy of a win? Were the U's right to suggest they outplayed us? And what about the referee performance? We look ahead to the FA Cup second-round clash with Oxford City, with a view to what tactics Kevin Nolan's side should utilise in the game against the non-league side so as to not suffer the same fate as Colchester. We also touch on Alan Hardy's desire to have clappers at that game, contrasted with the Magpie fans voting on his Twitter poll not to invest in them. In addition we discuss which as yet unnamed Premier League side might be coming to Meadow Lane for a pre-season friendly next summer - will it be Newcastle United, what with Nolan's connections, or another team? All this and more only in episode 33 of the Pride of Nottingham PONcast! Share your thoughts about this week's PONcast 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.

Oxford City defender Freddie Grant is relishing the chance to go up against one of his old friends in Jorge Grant when the non-leaguers face Notts County in the FA Cup on Saturday. The National League South outfit overcame Colchester United in round one and will travel to Nottingham this weekend for the second-round tie against the Magpies. “Jorge grew up in Oxford, I’m from Reading and we have a few mutual friends so as soon as the draw was made we were messaging each other,” Freddie told the Post. “We haven’t spoken about football in too much detail, though we’ve talked about it being on television. “It’s going to be a massive game for the both of us and I think he’s been playing on the right so we could come up against each other. “We’ve got the same last name, it’s going to be fun. It’ll be the first time we’ll play with names on the back of our shirts, so it’ll be weird having Grant on the right wing and Grant at left-back, so that’ll be confusing for the commentators! 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.

Carlton Cole has named Notts County boss and former teammate Kevin Nolan as one of his role models for making a name for himself in coaching and management. The 34-year-old, who is currently a free agent after a five-month stint at Indonesian club Persib Bandung, played alongside Nolan at West Ham. Cole is not thinking of retirement just yet but, approaching the twilight of his playing career, he has an eye on becoming a manager for when he does hang up his boots. "I want to keep playing but now is the time to really take coaching seriously," Cole told Goal.com. "I am a proud guy. Once my legs go, I don’t want to be overtaken by young kids. I don’t want to be the granddad of football. I want to just look at my other options in the game. I am only 34 years old so I can still play. "John Terry is the same age and playing and coaching on the side. I want to do the same thing. John has played at every level. He was England captain. I have always looked up to him since I was young in the Chelsea youth team. I want to go down the same path but in my own way. "Kevin Nolan is another player that I know. He’s at Notts County and has been very successful. He won Manager of the Month. I look at myself in that sort of ilk and I hope to do that. I have applied for my level two coaching badges. I start that in January. "I'm working at Ask Godders Academy at the moment to help footballers who have dropped out of the game or youngsters who slipped through the net. I will get experience at this academy. It is one of the best academies in London. I have done talks and coaching sessions with them. "It would be a crime to not share my knowledge of what I learned in football with these kids. I want to get involved in football and get as far as I can in coaching." Share your thoughts about this news story on Football Manics by signing up for FREE to the website, visiting the forum and joining the chat with fellow football fans.

Oxford City defender Freddie Grant has expressed his delight at the prospect of playing at Meadow Lane as his side prepares for an FA Cup meeting with Notts County. The non-league side overcame Colchester United in round one and will now travel to Nottingham for the second-round tie against the Magpies. Grant, who is the nephew of former Notts manager Martin Allen and also friends with his namesake Jorge, has described the game as massive and insists his side will not be intimidated by the Kop. “The ground and the crowd are certainly motivating all of our team. Our team gets encouraged by that and we’re not too afraid by that,” Grant told the Nottingham Post. “It’s massive and because I’m only 20 years old, I only had a year in professional football and never played at such an historic ground. “For a 20-year-old or ones coming to the end of their career, every single one of us is going to be buzzing to play at Meadow Lane - the massive Kop behind the goal is something we rarely see. “It’s massive, you’re pinching yourself up until it actually happens.” 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 boss Kevin Nolan has praised the fitness levels of his players, insisting that the last-gasp 2-1 win over Colchester United is testament of that. The Magpies did not let their heads drop after conceding an 89th-minute equaliser to the U's on Saturday and persevered right until the end, when Ryan Yates struck the winner. "I'm delighted with what they're doing at the minute and I'm sure all the fans are going home proud of them for what they have achieved so far," Nolan told the Nottingham Post. "These lads have played three games in a week and you can see how fit they are and how strongly they are finishing games. "Wherever I have been successful in my career we have never given up and we have always run ourselves into the ground - today was another example of that. "It shows the character of the team and that's what has impressed me most again. I witness it day in, day out. "They have shown over the course of the season so far that they have togetherness, a willingness not to be beaten and they don't stop." 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.

Colchester United wing-back Ryan Jackson has claimed that his side "outplayed" and "outbattled" Notts County on Saturday, despite leaving Meadow Lane with nothing to show for it. Shola Ameobi's penalty had given the Magpies the lead but substitute Sanmi Odelusi looked to have salvaged a point for the U's with his 89th-minute strike. However, there was time for more drama as Ryan Yates glanced home a header to claim all three points for Notts for a 2-1 win and keep them level on points with top-placed League Two side Luton Town. Jackson told the Daily Gazette: “We deserved a lot more from the game than we got. We worked very hard and played very good football. “But it was just one of those games where if chances had gone our way, we could have come out winning the game. But sometimes that’s just football and you don’t get what you deserve. “We outplayed them and we out-battled them and I think we had way too much for them but we didn’t turn those goals into a win. “We worked our socks off to try and get a goal and when we did, we felt like we were going to get at least a point from the match. “Credit to Sanmi – he’s worked very hard and that’s when you’ve got to see the game out but it just wasn’t meant to be. "It was one of those where there was a lapse in concentration. Someone has obviously left their runner and they’ve punished us. We’ve been defending so well and it was just one dip in concentration that led to the goal.” 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 "buzzing" Ryan Yates hailed Notts County's last-gasp 2-1 win over Colchester United on Saturday and believes the team's strength in attack and mentality was crucial in the final stages of the game to forge more chances. Shola Ameobi gave the Magpies the lead in the second half via a penalty before Ross Fitzsimons kept out a U's spot kick of their own, but the visitors struck in the 89th minute to seemingly give them a share of the points. Yates, however, rattled home a header in the 94th minute to claim victory and keep Notts hot on the heels of Luton Town, both teams on the same amount of points but the Hatters' goal difference keeping them top. "I'm absolutely buzzing," Yates told the Nottingham Post. "We dominated the second half and got sucker-punched on the counter for their goal. But to come back and win shows the spirit of the team. "They were a good side. They did both sides of the game really well. They were winning more second balls, putting it in behind us and making things difficult. "We came in disappointed at half-time but had some firm words from the gaffer and put in a better performance in the second half. "I know the quality in the squad - our attacking players are unbelievable - so there was always going to be another chance. It fell for me and thankfully I've put it in. "All credit has to go to the boys. Lewis Alessandra has flicked it on and I was in the right place at the right time. "Seven points from nine is a good return from the week. With the mentality we have, we're gutted not to have the full nine." 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 dramatic late winner from Ryan Yates kept Notts County level on points with Luton Town at the top of League Two thanks to a 2-1 win over Colchester United at Meadow Lane. The hosts had gone in front in the 68th minute when Shola Ameobi clinically converted a penalty kick after Mikael Mandron was adjudged to have pulled back Yates inside the area. Mandron had the chance to make amends for his earlier mistake when Ryan Jackson was fouled by Jorge Grant, but saw his penalty superbly saved by Magpies goalkeeper Ross Fitzsimons. However, the U's did manage to draw level in the 89th minute when Mandron picked out the run of Sanmi Odelusi who kept his composure to slot into the bottom corner of the net. Notts did not let their heads drop and were rewarded in added time when Yates headed in at the back post from Grant's corner to send Meadow Lane barmy. Pride of Nottingham has shared the official match highlights off the Notts YouTube channel so you can relive the key moments from the last-gasp win! 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.

Notts County claimed three points the hard way on Saturday after requiring a 94th-minute winner to see off Colchester United at Meadow Lane. Shola Ameobi's second-half penalty had given the Magpies the lead but substitute Sanmi Odelusi looked to have salvaged a point for the U's with his 89th-minute strike. However, there was time for more drama as Ryan Yates glanced home a header to seal victory for Notts in a last-ditch 2-1 win which sent Meadow Lane barmy. The result keeps Kevin Nolan's level on points with League Two leaders Luton Town and five points above the playoff places, a great position to be in ahead of a busy festive period in December and early January. How have the Notts County fans, players and manager reacted to the win? Here's a collection of the best responses. Kevin Nolan "It's a fantastic win. Colchester are a good outfit, they've asked us a lot of questions and taken us all the way to the wire. "We had to be on our mettle on both sides of the ball. They caused us a few problems but I feel we contained them quite well. "In the first half they played us really well and we didn't get any momentum or creativity going but in the second half, we dominated and looked more likely to win the game." Ryan Yates "I'm absolutely buzzing. We dominated the second half and got sucker-punched on the counter for their goal. But to come back and win shows the spirit of the team. "They were a good side. They did both sides of the game really well. They were winning more second balls, putting it in behind us and making things difficult. "We came in disappointed at half-time but had some firm words from the gaffer and put in a better performance in the second half." The players on social media The Black and White Army Who r ya?? You Pies: 3 very good points against a good side who caused us problems, and what were those offials doing some strange decisions to say the least, but the lads kept going to the wire and got a deserved win, well done from me, COYP Chris: First half was very daunting to watch, I didn't feel very comfortable and I felt it was a matter of time before they scored. However, they didn't quite have that threat on goal. I do feel they was unlucky, as Duffy elbowed and force one of the Colchester players down onto the ground (penalty any day for me). Thankfully it wasn't given, but I felt the first half was extremely poor. Second half, brilliant - things really clicked and I honestly felt we pressured them very well. We was unlucky at times as our build-up play was amazing and just the finishing which lacked, yet things can't be faulted. I felt the whole squad really put a solid performance and worked well. We deserved the points but what a fantastic save by Fitzsimons! Elite_pie: A difficult game to sum up, I can understand why the Colchester fans would go home disappointed, but after a poor first half I think we just about did enough in the second to earn the 3 points. This is just the sort of game we would have gained a point at best over the last few seasons, but Nolan seems to have instilled the 'never say die' attitude he always showed as a player into a fairly limited squad. It counts for a lot in this division, I've lost count of the number of points we've dropped at Meadow Lane simply because the away side were organised, worked hard, and wanted it more. To be sitting where we are on 41 points after just 20 games is way beyond my expectations, long may it continue. Liampie: i am pleased as i thought it was going to end up a draw before the game. even at times during the match i thought it was and it probably should have been with their penalty but i do also feel we was good enough to win. luton is shaping up to be the exeter kind of game now. TheSkipper: Yesterday is the type of game last season we would have lost and I thought Notts did a great job at pulling ahead once they had scored. I did not see the penalty, so I can't call it but the referee did seem keen to award something in their favour. Thought Notts played solid in midfield but we do need to be more organised at the back as I am concerned about these daft penalties. BromPie: I thought the referee was terrible, he killed the flow at times and tended to favour Colchester United. The result is just wanted we needed, so for that reason I am delighted. Notts never gave up and ended up getting what they deserved. What a result! 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.

Pedro Richards was born on 11 November 1956 in Edmonton, London, to a British father and a Spanish mother. When he was young, he was taken with his mother to live in the northern Spanish town of Laguardia until the age of 11, when they moved to Nottingham. Richards's footballing skills were noticed by the Notts County scouts and he was duly taken on as an apprentice by the club before signing professional papers in November 1974. His debut for the then-Second Division side came shortly after his birthday, on Saturday 23 November, under the tutelage of the great Jimmy Sirrel, though it proved a baptism of fire as Notts lost 3-0 away at Sunderland on that day. In total, Richards's first season saw him used sparingly, making seven appearances as the Magpies finished 14th in the second tier that season. The following season, Notts finished fifth in the table and also made it to the fifth round of the League Cup, with Richards now very much a first-team player with 32 league appearances under his belt, though the rise up the leagues would be put on hiatus following Sirrel's departure to Sheffield United. Richard continued to be utilised by the following man in the dugout, Ron Fenton, and the defender made 41 appearances in the league as the Magpies finished eighth in 76/77. Notts began the 77/78 season badly and Fenton was sacked in early October, while Sirrel hadn't had the best time at Bramall Lane, which led to the two reuniting and then, as we all know, the rest is history. Richards continued to star in the County backline in the ensuing years and, in 80/81, was a crucial component of the team that was promoted to the top flight, making 40 appearances in the league that season. Despite the leap to the top division of English football, Richards continued to impress for Notts as they enjoyed a three-year stint in the big time. Sadly things would not turn out well for Notts as they suffered back to back relegations and were back in the third tier for the 1985/86 season, Richards's last one at Meadow Lane. Richards made just 20 appearances in the league that season and was given a free transfer in December, although he was also granted a testimonal at Meadow Lane. Afterwards, he turned out for the likes of Boston United, Arnold Town, Oakham United, Rolls Royce Celtic and Corby Town on a semi-professional basis. All in all Richards made 485 appearances for Notts, his sole Football League club, in an illustrious career. Tragically, Richards died of a rare strain of pneumonia in 2001, just two days before Christmas, aged 45. Hundreds of mourners attended his funeral in The Meadows on New Year's Eve. Pedro Richards ticks all the boxes - he came through the ranks at Notts County, he spent his entire professional career with them, he helped them into the top flight and kept them there, he played against some of the best teams in the world, and he was a seriously nice person. Therefore Pride of Nottingham is delighted to honour him among our Notts Alumni. Rest in Peace Pedro. Share your memories of Pedro Richards 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.

Kevin Nolan has hailed Notts County's "fantastic win" against Colchester United and said his players are showing the right character to be towards the top of the league. Shola Ameobi's penalty had given the Magpies the lead but substitute Sanmi Odelusi looked to have salvaged a point for the U's with his 89th-minute strike. However, there was time for more drama as Ryan Yates glanced home a header to claim all three points for Notts for a 2-1 win and keep them level on points with top-placed League Two side Luton Town. “This is a fantastic win for us because Colchester are a good outfit,” Nolan told the official Notts site. “It’s a seven-point week for us and I am absolutely delighted with it. “They played us really well in the first half and we couldn’t get any momentum or creativity going. “But I thought we dominated the second and I thought we had some really good chances. “I thought we were well worthy of the win, but it just shows you the character that we kept going after conceding such a late equaliser. “I’ve spoken about this team’s character and what they have showed me is they have it in abundance and togetherness. “They have a willingness not to get beat and you have seen that consistently throughout the season. “They are embracing being at the top end of the league. They are sticking together when we are not playing so well and that is a great trait to have as a team.” Share your thoughts about this news story on Football Manics by signing up for FREE to the website, visiting the forum and joining the chat with fellow football fans.

Notts County remain level on points with League Two leaders Luton Town and sit five points above the playoff places thanks to a last-gasp 2-1 win over Colchester United. Neither side was able to open the scoring by the break, although the U's were the better side in the opening stages, but Kevin Nolan's charges soon got into gear and weighed in with several dangerous chances. In the second half, however, the Magpies stepped up a gear and should have had a penalty on the hour mark. Matt Tootle's pass found its way to Lewis Alessandra and the winger fired an effort towards goal, only for Frankie Kent to block the shot with his hand, but nothing was given by the referee. Notts came close again two minutes later when goalkeeper Sam Walker made a smart low save to keep Carl Dickinson’s drive after Jorge Grant’s effort was blocked. Colchester's resistance was finally broken midway through the second half when Ryan Yates was hacked down by Mikael Mandron in the area for a penalty which Shola Ameobi rattled home. The U's were then given a golden opportunity to equalise from the spot themselves ten minutes later when Ryan Jackson was fouled in the area by Grant, but Ross Fitzsimons pulled off a great save down low to deny Mandron. It looked as though the points would be shared when Terry Hawkridge gave the ball away in a dangerous position and the visitors got forward, with Sanmi Odelusi clinically slotting past the Notts keeper in the 89th minute. However, the hosts found a winner four minutes into injury time as Yates headed in at the back post after Grant's corner was flicked on to send Meadow Lane barmy. Share your thoughts about the match 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 urged "everyone" - Notts County fans, both committed and lapsed, Nottingham Forest fans, and whoever else - to get down to Meadow Lane today and take advantage of the £10 tickets for the Colchester United game. The Magpies remain within touching distance of top spot in League Two and, should they win against the U's and better Luton Town's result, they will go back to the summit. In his weekly Nottingham Post column, Hardy wrote: "We come into the fixture joint-top on points, with only goal difference separating us and Luton Town. We also have a proud home record to protect, having tasted defeat at the Lane only once in the league since Kevin Nolan and I arrived in January. "There is a real sense that something special is brewing at Notts County and, by lowering ticket prices this weekend, I urge everyone to come along and see the brilliant work that’s going on at the world’s oldest Football League club. "For Forest fans, it’s another opportunity to track the amazing progress of Ryan Yates and Jorge Grant, and for those with a general passion for football it’s a chance to watch a side who have chalked up 11 goals in their last three home matches. "But my loudest call is to our lapsed supporters – those who perhaps felt disengaged during previous regimes but whose interest has been reignited by our recent form and good work off the field. "I accept we’re still at the beginning of a long journey as a club but now is the time to get behind the team to help them keep up the amazing form which has seen us go from flirting with relegation to dreaming of promotion in only a matter of months. "Our collective disappointment at Tuesday night’s draw at Yeovil Town shows just how far this club has come in such a short space of time. Twelve months ago we’d have been delighted with a point, but now we have come to expect more. "This is a new, ambitious Notts County. Why wait until after Christmas to see if we’re still up there? We need your support now to keep the momentum going." 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 met Colchester United 43 times over the years, all league encounters except for one Sherpa Vans Trophy tie in 1988. The Magpies are in front when it comes to head-to-head, having won 21 games to Colchester's 15, with seven draws. The first fixture between Notts and Colchester took place on 23 February 1959 at Layer Road, a Division Three clash which finished 4-1 to the U's. The last fixture was last season on 1 April, the Magpies winning 3-1 at Meadow Lane. All league encounters between the two have never taken place higher than the third tier. History Colchester United Football Club is a baby in English football club terms, having been born in 1937. However, Colchester Town Football Club, the club's predecessor, was around since 1873. Despite dwindling crowds in the mid-1930s, though, they refused to follow its neighbours Ipswich Town in turning professional, much to the disapproval of its fans and players. As a result, Colchester United was formed, with the intention of playing professionally, and went on from strength to strength while its stubborn neighbour fell into decline and eventually folded. Colchester United are responsible for one of the FA Cup's greatest ever upsets, when, in February 1971, they defeated the infamous Don Revie's Leeds United, an established top flight side who would finish second that season, by three goals to two. The U's were in the fourth division at the time. The U's won the Football League Trophy (now the Johnstone's Paint Trophy) in 1996-97. and also compete in a competition called the Essex Senior Cup, a tournament contested by mostly non-league clubs within the region (Colchester usually field a youth/reserve team for this), winning this trophy back in 2009-10. Micky Cook holds the all time club record for appearances with Colchester, having played nearly 700 games between 1969 and 1984. Notable former players include Titus Bramble, Alec Chamberlain, Mark Kinsella, Kevin Lisbie and Newcastle cult hero Lomana LuaLua. The town of Colchester is said to be the oldest recorded town in Britain on the grounds that it was mentioned by Pliny the Elder, who died in AD 79. It was for a time the capital of Roman Britain, and is a member of the Most Ancient European Towns Network. Since 2006, Colchester has been one of 12 places in the UK where Royal Salutes are fired to mark Royal anniversaries and visits by foreign heads of state. Team news Notts County are assessing Jon Stead ahead of Saturday's game after suffering a dead leg in the draw with Yeovil in midweek. Magpies manager Kevin Nolan fears that the game at Meadow Lane could come too quickly for the veteran striker to be involved. Jonathan Forte, who replaced Stead at Huish Park and scored the opening goal, took a hit to the face at Huish Park but he is expected to be alright to play. Shola Ameobi was rested against Yeovil but he will return to contention for the weekend when Notts look to protect their unbeaten league record at Meadow Lane this season. In-form Colchester will check on the fitness of winger Doug Loft ahead of the trip to Meadow Lane. Loft was recalled to the side for the midweek win over Lincoln but was forced off late in the first half because of a shoulder problem. Midfielder Sean Murray is stepping up his recovery following knee surgery along with forward Kurtis Guthrie, who has been sidelined by long-term ankle trouble. Winger Brennan Dickenson, club captain Luke Prosser and midfielder Courtney Senior are all working their way back from respective knee problems. Share your thoughts about this Stat Attack 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.

Kevin Nolan is optimistic that Notts County duo Adam Collin and Michael O'Connor will come back to the “top of their game” after providing an update on their return from long-term injuries. O’Connor has been sidelined since April because of a serious knee injury, while Collin has been absent after suffering a knee injury of his own in last month’s win over Barnet. "Michael has been on an anti-gravity treadmill which has allowed him to run in straight lines," Nolan told the Nottingham Post. "Losing him was a massive blow to us and having him in the squad this year would have put us on another level because of his quality and what he brings to the team. "Adam's swelling has gone down and he's meeting with the specialist so we will have more news soon. “We're hopeful he will come out of the brace so he can start getting back to work sooner rather than later. "He has been fantastic since I walked through the door and he has taken his performances to another level this season after finishing last season strongly. "The most important thing is we get them back at the top of their game and we are not putting them under any stress to ensure there is no recurrence of their injuries. "They're two massive characters but it's brilliant to see how well the lads have coped without 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.

Kevin Nolan has expressed his wholehearted support for Richard Duffy after the Notts County captain conceded a penalty at Yeovil Town on Tuesday night. The Magpies had edged ahead through Jonathan Forte at Huish Park but were pegged back after Duffy brought down Francois Zoko in the area and the ex-Notts forward converted from the spot for a 1-1 final result. Nolan admits that the Welshman was upset with himself over the decision, but said such slip-ups happen and insisted that the defender's positive contributions over the course of the season have been plentiful. “Richard was disappointed because he gave the penalty away, but it happens,” the manager told the Nottingham Post. “He has kept us in games and has been fantastic this year. He is our skipper and we are all in it together. We all win together, we all lose together, we all draw together. “But, at the end of the day, I am at that happy medium again where I am not going to get too disheartened about Tuesday. “I was just disappointed for the lads because I felt they had done enough to come away with three points.” 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.

Two tickets for Notts County's League Two encounter against Crawley Town are up for grabs as part of a fundraising drive for St John's Ambulance. Simon Murray was given two tickets for the fixture, scheduled for 6 January at Meadow Lane, by the club with the aim of raising money for the cause. He got in touch via Pride of Nottingham to promote a charity raffle, which can be entered with a donation of just £3. Simon, an Everton fan living in Nottingham, wrote on the PON forum: "Your club have been kind enough to donate two home match tickets for your match against Crawley Town to me, as I'm raising funds for St John's Ambulance. "I am hoping to get enough interest to raffle the tickets off via your forum. All 'sales' will essentially be a donation directly to my JustGiving page. "I've used my extremely limited knowledge of your current squad (gathered from a combination of seeing you dispatch a young Everton side in the EFL trophy, sitting through a 1-0 win over Swindon in the pouring rain, and a bunch of Channel 5 highlights), and thrown in a few apparent club legends (based solely on Wikipedia), to gather a list of 20 names. "The idea is that you donate £3 to the page, and pick a player from the list. Once all names have gone, I'll add them all to the following website, and generate a winner. "I've got a voucher from the club at the moment. I can contact them and leave the contact details of the winner for collection (I will send the covering letter and voucher in the post as well), or can arrange to collect the tickets myself and post them out. I've attached a picture of the letter received, just to give peace of mind. "All help and support is very much appreciated. I'll be sure to check back regularly and mark what names have gone. The closing date for entry is 17th December 2017, and I will draw from whatever names have been sold on this date." To see the names that are still available, and for more information, here is the link for the original post on the PON forum. Speaking to Simon, he told PON of his decision to share his fundraising on this site: "I had a look over a couple of forums, but this one seemed like an active and friendly bunch. Reminds me of the old days of a since disbanded Everton forum ran on the Bluekipper fan site. Despite Kieran Dowell's efforts for Forest I think County have definitely become my adopted team of the area after the generosity of the club and yourselves!" With the Magpies continuing to go from strength to strength under Kevin Nolan and boasting impressive home form, the opportunity to win two tickets for just £3 is one not to be missed! But don't forget - the closing date is Sunday 17 December so get in there quick! Chris and JJ have already made donations, and with all the great work St John's Ambulance does, it's a very noble cause that deserves all our support! 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.

Shaun Brisley has admitted that he is thoroughly enjoying his time at Notts County and believes his decision to leave Carlisle United has been justified. The 27-year-old left Brunton Park in the summer to join Kevin Nolan - with whom he worked at Leyton Orient - at Meadow Lane. Brisley has established himself as a mainstay of the Notts defence, putting in impressive performances week in, week out and helping the Magpies to the upper echelons of League Two. "It wasn't going to be an easy choice to leave Carlisle, who made the play-offs last season," Brisley told the official Notts website. "But I had to come to a team who I thought would be pushing for promotion. Notts County was that team. "I'm enjoying my football, which helps massively. I feel as though I have come in and done well but there is still plenty of room for improvement. I'm still working on my weaknesses to ensure I keep getting better. "Richard (Duffy) and I have been playing to the best of our ability for most of the season so long may that continue. "Part of the understanding we have between each other comes naturally and some of it comes from work on the training ground. "We complement each other well. We both have different strengths and weaknesses, which even themselves out." 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.

We're 19 games into the season and top spot in League Two keeps changing hands more often than a game of "pass the parcel". Notts County were top of the table until Tuesday night, when a 1-1 draw at Yeovil Town saw Luton Town return to the top on goal difference (and theirs is pretty darn high). But this weekend we go again and the team standing between the Magpies and three points is Colchester United, who currently sit in a very healthy ninth place in the standings. Pride of Nottingham spoke to U's fan John to get an insight on the opposition as well as what it's like supporting the club. About John: I'm 26, my dad used to take me to games since I was a kid but I've been properly supporting the U's since I was 14, and my favourite player of all time is Karl Duguid. How did it feel to win the "Pride of Anglia" title for the first time in the club's history when you finished above Norwich and Ipswich in 2007? It was great, that season was amazing, 10th in the Championship was our highest ever finish and it was funny to upstage those two teams, even if neither are our greatest rivals - Wycombe hold that distinction. You famously beat Norwich 7-1 away on the opening day of the 2009-10 League One season but then Paul Lambert defected to them and led them to the title - what are your thoughts on that whole debacle? Let's just say he's not remembered very fondly here. He did a good job with us, there's no denying that, and beating Norwich 7-1 away was an incredible occasion, but to leave right at the start of the season shows what kind of snake he is. There's nothing wrong with personal ambition but to leave us in the manner and timing that he did left a bitter taste. You lost to Oxford City in the first round of the FA Cup and we'll be facing them in round two - any tips on how to approach the game? No disrespect to City but we really weren't at the races that day, we really should have beaten them, but all credit to them, they played well. Their striker (Matt Paterson) was dangerous, he scored with a well-taken header, hit the bar from a free kick and had several other chances, so he'll be one to watch, while their wingers were also a handful, so my advice would be not to take the game lightly and to keep their attacking players at bay. Who are your team's danger men? Mikael Mandron has got a decent enough goal tally with six in 18 and is quite skilful, but his goals have mostly been simple tap-ins - he's not the kind that will weave into the box and pull off some magic. Sammie Szmodics has seven in 16 (all competitions) and is back from injury - he's a tenacious attacking midfielder and has a great eye for goal so he's probably the one you should watch out for (though I hope you won't!). Score and scorer prediction? 2-0 to the U's, Szmodics and Mandron with our goals. 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.

Kevin Nolan has reiterated that Notts County want Jorge Grant to remain at Meadow Lane until the end of the season but insists that he doesn't "have to convince anyone to stay". The Nottingham Forest midfielder's deal with the Magpies runs until the end of the campaign but the Reds have an option to recall him in January. Grant has developed immensely as a footballer at Notts since his first loan spell last season and currently tops the League Two scoring charts with 13 goals, and Nolan believes that the youngster knows he's come a long way over the Trent. “I don’t have to convince anyone to stay,” Nolan told the Nottingham Post. “If Jorge wants to stay he stays, if he doesn’t, he doesn’t. “We want him here, he knows that. Jorge is enjoying his time here and knows that he is loved by everybody at the club. “He is thriving in this environment so why would you want to take yourself out of it? “If he goes anywhere else he has to make sure he is the number one man there or he is one of their top, top, players. “He’s got an environment that will help him develop as a player on and off the field. “I can only advise Jorge what I feel would be the best for him. I speak to him and his dad about that and I wouldn’t stand in his way if he had that offer if it was somebody who would help him get to that next level. “But at this minute in time, the best thing for Jorge is to be here. The more he stays with us, the more he will keep thriving.” 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.

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. - Sky Bet and EFL signed a new five-year headline sponsorship deal, which runs through to the 2023/24 season - it will see a 20 per cent year-on-year increase from 2019/20 on the current deal and will see the partnership extended to 11 years. - Coventry City midfielder Jordan Shipley won the Sky Bet League Two Goal of the Month award for October, receiving 47 per cent of the public vote for his free kick against Luton Town. - Crawley Town manager Harry Kewell was involved in a confrontation with one of his team's fans following the 4-0 defeat at Wycombe Wanderers, having to be pulled back by players and stewards, and went on to issue an apology "for any misunderstanding". - The EFL has confirmed that Checkatrade Trophy matches up to the quarter-finals of this season's competition will be streamed live online on iFollow, starting with the 16 second-round ties in December. The semi-finals and final will be shown on Sky Sports. - Grimsby Town issued a statement insisting that Curtis Woodhouse was not being given the first-team job at the club and was merely attending a first-team training session. Taking aim at Matt Dean of Radio Humberside, the statement claimed that had they "taken the time to properly research and report on this, they would have realised that this speculation is unfounded and undermines the current management staff at the club." - Former Wales international Christian Ribeiro, who has played for a number of lower-league clubs including Exeter City and enjoyed loan spells at the likes of Colchester United and Carlisle United, has retired aged just 27 due to a knee injury. All news stories sourced from BBC Sport and Sky Sports. 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.