Joe Jones

Notts County delivered arguably the worst performance of the season as they were convincingly beaten 3-1 by Chesterfield in Sunday's televised League Two game at the Proact Stadium. The Spireites, in the bottom two of the Football League, were hosting a side supposedly chasing promotion at the other end of the table, but you could easily have thought the positions were reversed. Although the hosts began brightly, Notts forced a chance when a the ball was sent long into the box by keeper Adam Collin and headed goalwards by Shaun Brisley, though Aaron Ramsdale managed to tip over his bar. It took Jack Lester's side just 16 minutes to break the deadlock, with Andy Kellett's corner bundled into the back of the net through nudges from Drew Talbot and Sid Nelson, a testament to County's shambolic defending. At the other end, Elliott Hewitt spurned a great opportunity to nod Notts level, but Jon Stead's cross to his unmarked teammate was inexplicably put wide. From the restart, Chesterfield headed up the pitch and a litany of errors at the back from Notts saw Zavon Hines claim the ball 12 yards out and rifle home to knock even more stuffing out of the beleaguered visitors. The Derbyshire strugglers continued to dominate in the second half against a zombified Notts, with Hines volleying into the side netting before Alex Whitmore sent a header narrowly wide. There was still a little more fight in Notts and they dragged themselves back to within one goal through a free kick from substitute - and ex-Chesterfield man - Dan Jones, which bounced inside the far post from wide on the right. Nine minutes of stoppage time were then announced, and for a few minutes there was genuine hope that a second wind could see Notts grab an equaliser, or maybe even a Man City - QPR style comeback win. But no. The Black and White Army were soon put out of their misery when another defensive mishap saw Chesterfield burst through, Kellett brought down by Matt Tootle in the box, a penalty awarded, and Kristian Dennis smashing the ball into the back of the net with Collin diving the wrong way. 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.

Former Notts County captain John Thompson has claimed that Notts County looked "a bit devoid of ideas" as they fell to a 3-1 defeat at Chesterfield on Sunday. The Magpies' televised League Two clash at the Proact Stadium was the archetypal "bad day" as they conceded two goals before the break due to dreadful defending. Although Dan Jones halved the deficit late on, the following nine minutes of stoppage time only yielded another goal for the Spireites as Matt Tootle gave away a penalty which Kristian Dennis converted. "There was never really a plan B," Thompson said after the game on BBC Radio Nottingham. "It's a frustrating game all around. This was a very bad 90 minutes. "Today their two centre-halves dominated (against Stead and Ameobi), there was a lack of pace. Chesterfield were constantly running at the Notts defence. "They look a bit devoid of ideas out there today." The result keeps Notts four points adrift of third-placed Wycombe Wanderers, with the five teams below the Magpies all boasting a game in hand. Share your thoughts about this news story on Pride of Nottingham by signing up to the website, visiting the forum and joining in the chat with hundreds of fellow Notts County fans. Fancy showcasing your brand or business on Pride of Nottingham? Click here to find out more about sponsorship and advertising opportunities with us.

Head to head Notts County have played Chesterfield a total of 67 times over the years. The first meeting came on 29 November 1930 in the FA Cup at the Spireites' old ground, Saltergate, and finished 2-1 to the Magpies. The head-to-head record favours Notts, with 28 victories, 20 defeats and 19 draws. The last time the two teams met was earlier this season in League Two on 12 August 2017 at Meadow Lane, Jorge Grant bagging a brace in that game. County's last visit to the Proact Stadium came in September 2014 when strikes from Blair Adams and Georg Margreitter meant the points were shared between the two sides. October 2011 was when County last won away at the Spireites thanks to an own goal from Drew Talbot to go with earlier efforts from Ben Burgess and Alan Judge. Chesterfield have not beaten Notts at home in a league game since August 2009. The Magpies have won four of their last six league matches against the Spireites. County's 2-1 win in their last away at outing at Forest Green was their first in seven in all competitions - they haven't won consecutive matches on the road since September. Kristian Dennis has scored 15 of Chesterfield's 37 goals in League Two this season (40.5%), the highest proportion of any player in the competition. History Nobody knows the date when the first incarnation of Chesterfield Football Club was formed. A Derbyshire Times newspaper report from 2 January 1864 noted a scheduled game between "Chesterfield and Norton football clubs", suggesting that a club in the town was active from at least 1863. By contrast, club historian Stuart Basson had placed a formally constituted Chesterfield FC as being established as an offshoot of Chesterfield Cricket Club in October 1867. The early history of the club is dotted with tumult and instability - the club lost the right to play at Saltergate following worsening relations with Chesterfield Cricket Club, while in 1915 the subsequent incarnation of the club, Chesterfield Town, was put into voluntary liquidation. To fill the footballing gap left in the town, Chesterfield Borough Council reformed the club on 24 April 1919, giving it the name Chesterfield Municipal F.C. After the Football Association and Football League made it clear that they were against a council-run club, the entity became independent, reflected in the name change to Chesterfield F.C. in December 1920. The club have been successful in terms of minor silverware, winning the Fourth Division (and its subsequent reincarnations) a record four times, while also claiming the Anglo-Scottish Cup in 1982 and the Football League Trophy in 2012 (and finishing runners-up in 2014). The 1996–97 season saw Chesterfield beat six clubs including Nottingham Forest to reach the semi-final of the FA Cup for the first time. The semi-final match against Middlesbrough was drawn 3–3 after extra time; Chesterfield lost the replay 3–0. The club's nickname, The Spireites, comes from the Church of St Mary and All Saints in Chesterfield, famous for its crooked spire. Famous Chesterfield players include Ernie Moss, Kevin Davies, Gary Stone, Jason Lee, Walter McMillen, Sam Hardy, Gordon Banks, Herbert Munday, Steve Ogrizovic, Barry Sunday, Freeman Hardy and Willis Edwards. Famous fans include glamour model Jo Guest, presenter Robert Primrose Wilson, and ex-Arsenal goalkeeper John Lukic. Team news Chesterfield will welcome back Louis Reed, who served a two-match ban after picking up 10 yellow cards. Louis Dodds is hoping for a start after coming off the bench at Cheltenham last week following a calf complaint. Ian Evatt (knee), Jordan Sinnott (ankle) and Robbie Weir (knee) remain on the comeback trail. Notts will be without on-loan defender Ben Hall, who is away on international duty with Northern Ireland Under-21s, so Shaun Brisley is likely to come into the side. Midfielder Liam Walker is also absent as he's away with Gibraltar. 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.

Carl Dickinson has defended Notts County's style of play and is adamant that winning promotion from League Two would be great for "shutting a few people up". The Magpies have received criticism this season over how they play, which has seen plenty of moments in games where the ball is lumped up top. Dickinson, however, thinks accusations of being a long-ball side are wide of the mark and says their play is "effective" as they aim to make it five games unbeaten at Chesterfield on Sunday. “We know what we are good at, and we are never going to be the prettiest team on the eye,” the left-back told the Nottingham Post. “People don't think we play good football, but we do at times and they don't realise that. “They say Notts County are this long ball team, but it’s not. It’s effective football and I think maybe it (good football) goes a bit unnoticed but let them think that. “We'll just keep plugging away and hopefully prove a lot of people wrong. “It doesn’t bother the players because come the end of the season, if we do win promotion, then we can shut a few people up. “Everyone's entitled to their own opinion that's why football is so great. But like I said, we know what we're about and we know what we need to do. “We plan on taking that forward and trying to finish this season as strongly as possible.” 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.

Shola Ameobi has stressed that he and other senior members of the Notts County contingent must "set the tone" for the rest of the squad. The veteran striker has experience playing at the top level for Newcastle United and at international level for Nigeria. Ameobi is one of several such players and coaches at Meadow Lane, with Kevin Nolan, Mark Crossley, Jon Stead and Alan Smith also enjoying playing careers at the top level. All must play their part in helping the rest of the Magpies squad handle the pressure of the League Two promotion battle, says Ameobi. “We have players and staff who have played in big games during their career under huge pressure and I think that’s a big positive for us,” he told The Mag. “Hopefully we can use that experience to help the rest of the lads. It is important the senior players set the tone for the team especially the younger players. “The manager will do that anyway, but the likes of Steady, Smudge, Duffer and myself have a big role to play in ensuring the team is prepared mentally. “We have nothing to lose going into the eight games but we will take each one as it comes. “It is important to look back at where we have come from since this time last year because we can take a lot of pride from that and use it as momentum going into the final stretch. “We know if we can manage to put a run together we could end up winning promotion. We have to deal with that pressure and expectation but we are confident within the dressing room.” Share your thoughts about this news story on Pride of Nottingham by signing up to the website, visiting the forum and joining in the chat with hundreds of fellow Notts County fans. Fancy showcasing your brand or business on Pride of Nottingham? Click here to find out more about sponsorship and advertising opportunities with us.

Kevin Nolan has stressed that Notts County will show Chesterfield "ultimate respect" when they lock horns in League Two on Sunday. The Magpies remain in the promotion hunt and will travel to the Proact Stadium for a second game against local rivals in quick succession following the Mansfield Town home draw. Unlike the Stags, though, the Spireites are six points adrift of safety in the bottom two of the table, but Nolan is not taking their lowlier league position for granted. “It’s another local derby and you've got to earn the right to play,” he told the Nottingham Post. “It might not be as intense as the derby against Mansfield but there are still bragging rights at stake. “For me, we will show them ultimate respect because they've got some good individuals and Jack (Lester)'s team play some really good football. “But you know I'm confident if we continue to play the way we have been over the last few weeks we've got a good chance of coming away with the points. “But this and the next five weeks are not going to be easy. What we've got to do is just make sure we tick the games off one by one and hopefully when we're putting a "W" next to them. If that's the case we will all be having a good time on May 5.” 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.

Former Notts County captain Neal Bishop has revealed how he was happy to just play "pub football" up until his mid-twenties but is glad to have taken the risk to go professional. The 36-year-old has enjoyed a fruitful career in the Football League, playing for the likes of County, Blackpool and Scunthorpe United, where he remains today. Bishop is loved by the Black and White Army for his four years of service at Meadow Lane, making close to 200 appearances between 2009 and 2013. However, it could have been so different had he not decided to take the plunge and, given he was happy working a more conventional job, it may well have beem but for his "big decision". “I didn’t play my first professional game until I was 24, 25," Bishop told Notts TV. "When I was younger, I probably doubted myself a bit too much. I was at Middlesbrough academy when I was a kid and it didn’t work out – I don’t know whether I’d become a bit disillusioned or what. "I was playing pub football at 22, 23; I would play on a Saturday, non-league, few quid cash in hand, then go out Saturday night – I’m a Middlesbrough lad, a Teeside lad and that’s how we do it. "I would then play on a Sunday morning with my mates and go to the social club in the afternoon then work Monday morning! "I used to be a window fitter and I was happy in that life, I was with a girl and it was a big decision to eventually go pro. "I was not a kid anymore and went to Scarborough who were professional in the Conference at the time. "It was a bit like, what do I do because I had a good job, picking up good money playing part time so it was a bit of a risk. But when I got into it I thought, if I’m going to give it a go I might as well go all in. "It was a very unusual way to get into the game – you usually get the ones that come out the academies, who go out on loan and are then released. "At 20, 21, they find out they aren’t good enough for their chosen clubs and filter down through the leagues whereas coming up through them is different. "The ones who have been at the top like Jamie Vardy and Charlie Austin are such good stories and everyone knows about them because there are so few of them. "Personally, I got to the Championship with Blackpool and don’t have the ability to play in the Premier League so I have ultimately made the most of my ability so late on. "I made my debut in the Championship when I was 32 which is ridiculous and I think I appreciated it more because of the way I’d come through. "Once you come up that way, and spend most of your life doing that, you don’t come away from it." Share your thoughts about this news story on Pride of Nottingham by signing up to the website, visiting the forum and joining in the chat with hundreds of fellow Notts County fans. Fancy showcasing your brand or business on Pride of Nottingham? Click here to find out more about sponsorship and advertising opportunities with us.

Notts County defenders Richard Duffy and Carl Dickinson visited Robin Hood Primary School in Nottingham as part of the Football In The Community-led +Sport Move and Learn Project. The programme, delivered in partnership with The English Football League Trust and Ferrero, is a free school-based educational programme for primary school children. It seeks to encourage physical activity, promote nutritional education and build awareness of the importance of a healthy diet and active lifestyle among youngsters. In a Q&A session, the school children asked the two players about their favourite foods, drinks and other eating habits,and also got a chance to test the players’ physical skills in a game of dodgeball. “It’s really enjoyable, it’s nice to see the kids with smiles on their faces and enjoying their day," Duffy told the FITC website. “We both have kids the same age so we know what to expect and some of the trickier questions didn’t come as a surprise”. Dickinson added: “Most of these kids like football, so it’s nice that we can get involved and go into schools and talk about our experiences. “Anything that children can learn about earlier is a good thing, this particular project obviously focuses on nutrition, which is great. “In terms of other projects that FITC do, I think people often try to stay away from a lot of touchy subjects like mental health and cancer rehabilitation but the more people talk and know about it, and know what they can do to help, then it’s all for the better." If you would like to find out more about +Sport Move and Learn, contact Zara at FITC on [email protected] or alternatively call 0115 905 5896. 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 issued a rallying battle cry to all of the Notts County contingent as the League Two season enters its final stages. The Magpies have just eight games left and they currently sit fourth in the table, still with a great chance of an automatic promotion spot and likely to at least finish in the top seven. Up next is Sunday's trip to Chesterfield, which will be shown on Sky Sports, and Nolan wants everybody to unite for the remainder of the season to help pull off something which seemed a million miles away just a year ago. “It's about us all sticking together,” he told the Nottingham Post. “We have given ourselves an unbelievable opportunity to try to get into League One, so let's enjoy it. “You couldn't have dreamt of this when we arrived in the middle of January last year. “It's there and within our grasp so let's stick together - the players, staff, fans - and let's have a really good go at it. If we do that I think we'll give ourselves an absolutely fantastic chance. “I'm sure with us all together, the way we have been for the majority of the season, we will be celebrating come May. We've got a dream now and let's make that dream a reality.” 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.

As the world’s oldest Football League club, Notts County Football Club really do have an unrivalled history. It’s a fascinating story of great names and good times, dark days and disappointments – and it deserves to be told to and by more people of all ages. This is why Notts County Football in the Community have launched the Heritage Project. Supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund, this important scoping project will develop recommendations to secure the heritage of Notts County for the enjoyment and education of present and future generations. As the oldest football league club in the world, founded in 1862, the club has a rich history, and recent induction into the National Football Museum Hall of Fame further cemented the importance of the club in the history of world football. At present, however, there is no formal programme to manage the physical and other heritage assets connected to Notts, and much of this heritage is not owned or managed by the club, but is in the care of many organisations and individuals that have an interest in the Magpies. The project seeks to answer several important questions: - What historic material does the club own? - What heritage items related to the club do other people and organisations have? - How could the club's heritage be better protected and shared, so more people can enjoy it? To go a long way towards answering these questions, FITC wants YOUR help! FITC is keen to hear from you about: - Your Notts County collection: For example, you might have a collection of match programmes, replica kit, fanzines, scrapbooks, t-shirts, former players’ shirts or boots .... in fact, anything to do with Notts County! And if you’re interested, FITC will happy to give you some free, expert advice about how you might keep your collection so that it lasts as long as possible – and/or put you in touch with other collectors of Notts County heritage items. - Your ideas about how the history of Notts County could be told and shared: For instance, would you like more information and displays around the ground, more on the club website, or events for collectors of NCFC memorabilia? Any ideas are welcome – particularly those that involve supporters and give them the chance to share their stories and memories. Here is how to get in touch: - Start the conversation by sending an email to [email protected]. - If you put ‘Notts County collection’ in the subject line, FITC will send you a simple form that you can use to tell them more about what you have, and what help you might need. - Use this email address to send FITC any suggestions about how the history of Notts County could be shared and told. All ideas are welcome, and they will be happy to discuss them with you. - If you would like to receive an occasional e-newsletter about this project, just send FITC an email with ‘Heritage Newsletter’ in the subject line and your name in the message area. Let's all join in and make Notts County Football Club stand out further in the annals of football history - after all, are we not the Pride of Nottingham? The Heritage Project is in partnership with Nottingham City Council, the EFL Trust, the Professional Footballers' Association, the Premier League and MacMillan Cancer Support. Share your thoughts about the Heritage Project 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. - Swindon Town signed free agent Ryan McGivern on a short-term deal until the end of the season. The Northern Ireland defender, 28, was released by Northampton Town in January. - Grimsby Town signed forward Gary McSheffrey on a deal until the end of the season. The 35-year-old was a free agent after leaving National League side Eastleigh in November. - Former Notts County striker Lee Hughes, who joined non-league Halesowen Town earlier in the month, was declared bankrupt. - Stevenage announced the appointment of former Boro player Dino Maamria as their new manager following the sacking of Darren Sarll on Sunday. - Barnet sacked Graham Westley and appointed Martin Allen - who previously managed Notts - as their new boss for his fifth spell in charge, and one of his first actions was to cut his squad down to just 20 players. - Cheltenham Town announced that a group of young supporters were turned away from entering Saturday's home match against Chesterfield having previously been warned they wouldn't be let in following the Notts fixture. 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.

Alan Hardy has claimed that he "never, ever expected" Notts County to be gunning for promotion from League Two in his first full season as chairman. The Magpies are currently fourth in the table with just eight games remaining, a remarkable turnaround from the battle to remain in the Football League this time last year. Hardy, who took over at Meadow Lane in January 2017, says a stable season of consolidation was the original aim for this campaign and seeing Notts in the upper tiers of the table has been a surprise. “It’s been incredible really because we never, ever, expected to be in this position and it certainly wasn’t in our plan for this year,” he told the Nottingham Post. “After securing safety last season, we sat down and said that consolidation was the aim in order that we could lay foundations for a promotion push next season. “But all of a sudden here we are, third in the table, with just eight games to go, and we could be heading for a place in League One ahead of schedule. “It’s been remarkable to witness and it’s a testament to Kevin Nolan, his staff and the players for how they have performed this season. “They have engineered themselves into a fantastic position and whatever fate has in store for us, I am just going to enjoy the ride. “It would be utterly magical if we could pull it off and there are not many teams who go from fighting relegation one season, then pushing for promotion the next.” 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.

Former Notts County loanee and Aston Villa star Jack Grealish has spoken of how playing under so many managers has impacted on his development and feels that only three managers have trusted him. The 22-year-old burst onto the scene on loan at Meadow Lane during the 2013-14 season, his performances in tandem with fellow loanee Callum McGregor delighting the Black and White Army during an otherwise poor campaign. Grealish then returned to Villa and took his form from his Notts loan spell into the then Premier League club's first team, but injuries, lack of form, minor off-field issues blown out of proportion by the gutter press, upheaval in the dugout and all-round malaise at the club, which culminated in relegation, set the talented youngster back. A freak kidney injury ahead of the 2017-18 season then risked compromising Grealish's career but he has bounced back in true style, establishing himself as one of Villa's standout performers under Steve Bruce and helping the club to the upper spots in the Championship table. During an interview with the Telegraph, Grealish said: “I feel I’m definitely in the best form of my career. I’ll be honest, in my career I feel like I haven’t been given enough runs of games. I’d play one decent game and then chucked out the team. “I’ve also had eight managers in four years, if you include [England under-21s head coach] Aidy Boothroyd and Shaun Derry during my loan at Notts County. That’s ridiculous really. It’s not an excuse but it does affect you. “I think only three managers have trusted me, [Tim] Sherwood, [Roberto] Di Matteo and Bruce. “It’s been my best season and I’ve been the most consistent. People think I’m a No.10 but my favourite position is playing on the left of a three.” Bruce recently compared Grealish to Paul Gascoigne and labelled the Solihull-born winger ‘the best player in the Championship’. “That was great to hear but I didn’t feel any pressure with it at all,” added Grealish. “It gives me a lift and I know the manager is a truthful guy and wouldn’t have just said it. To be mentioned in the same sentence as Gazza was unbelievable in itself, though I know I’m nowhere near that level yet. “The gaffer said in pre-season he wanted to build the team around me and that’s what you like to hear. To have that belief and trust is massive. I want to repay him by getting Villa promoted.” 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.

Noor Husin has stated that Kevin Nolan was instrumental in his decision to join Notts County and feels he can progress as a player under the former Premier League stalwart. The 21-year-old was on the books of Crystal Palace but opportunities were few and far between for him at Selhurst Park, especially once Sam Allardyce was named as their new manager. Husin caught Nolan's eye when he scored against them whilst on loan at Accrington Stanley and, when Palace made him available for transfer in January, the Magpies duly snapped him up. "It wasn't really a tough decision to leave Palace," Husin told Sky Sports. "Kevin gave me a bit of banter about scoring against us, but he is one of the reasons I came here. He has played at the top level and my aim is to get there. I thought I could progress under him and take my game forward. "He has definitely helped me so far. I am playing regularly and he can see the game through my eyes because of the position he played. I am happy taking tips off him and understanding different things I can improve on. "Notts County is a massive club in League Two as well. I just thought it was the right time to go down a few levels and build my way back up." 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 defender Matt Tootle has admitted the illness he had in January knocked a lot out of him but feels he is slowly building his form back up. The 27-year-old was sidelined for almost almost a month at the start of the year due to a virus that caused him to lose a lot of weight. However, Tootle was able to return to action in February and has been returning to form, putting in impressive performances at the back. “The illness really knocked me and I perhaps didn’t realise how much it had taken out of me,” he told the Nottingham Post. “I came back into a different team and it was difficult because we were struggling a little bit. “We had the Barnet game and I said that when I first came that I want to be a 7/10 every week. “I want to make sure I give 100 percent and I think I have done that. “In the last three or four games I’ve felt a lot better. Hopefully, I am slowly building my form up at the perfect time.” 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.

Terry Hawkridge has reassured Notts County fans by stressing that the players will not struggle to get over their last-ditch 1-1 draw to Mansfield Town last weekend. The Magpies were on the verge of recording a first league win over the Stags since 2005 in front of a bumper crowd that braved the snowy conditions at Meadow Lane. Kevin Nolan's boys took the lead in the first half through Hawkridge, but the Stags were given the chance to equalise eight minutes into the seven minutes of added time at the end of the game. Lewis Alessandra's arm was in the box and made contact with the ball, prompting referee Andy Woolmer to point to the spot, and Kane Hemmings made no mistake from 12 yards. Nolan was furious with the ref's decision, but Hawkridge says the Magpies have no time to dwell on it ahead of their League Two game at Chesterfield on Sunday. “It won’t be really tough to get over because it’s not the first time it’s not gone our way,” he told the Nottingham Post. “We just have to keep our head down, keep working and just concentrate on us. “I am sure it will kick us on because I thought we played really well and we were the better team. “We just got to concentrate on Chesterfield now. We are building some momentum and we just have to aim to pick up 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.

Yesterday (19 March) Pride of Nottingham spoke about Notts County's 1994-95 Anglo-Italian Cup win over Ascoli at Wembley, which had taken place 23 years prior. Today (20 March) is the 24-year anniversary of their first Anglo-Italian Cup final appearance at England's national stadium, which unfortunately did not go the Magpies' way. The Magpies had reached the final by overcoming Derby County and beating Nottingham Forest in the preliminary round before beating Ascoli, Pisa and Ancona in the first round, though the 3-1 loss to Brescia would be the first of two defeats to the Serie B side. Then came victory against Southend United over two legs, though the game had to go on penalties as both legs finished 1-0 to each side, and so Notts went to Wembley to face the Lombardy side for the second time in the competition. Only 17,185 made it to Wembley, under half the crowd who came to see Derby's meek 3-1 defeat by Cremonese the previous year, a fact that was picked up by much of the press when it came to the lack of people coming to the showpiece stadium. The encounter itself - settled in the Italian side's favour by Gabriele Ambrosetti's well worked goal just after the hour - was given credit by the press, however. The Independent described it as thus: At least County made more of a match of it than Derby had, and they put together a thrilling fight in the closing minutes. This hearty, last-ditch charge served to reinforce the national stereotypes that had been on show all afternoon: the clenched-fist effort and aggression of the English Endsleigh League side almost matching the skill and flair of the Italian Serie B representatives, whose composure was as evident as their willingness to go down in the tackle. Here is a not particularly flattering match report in an unspecified national newspaper, as quoted by the Up The Maggies site. Wembley's twin towers glistened in the pale spring sunshine and the jobsworths on gate duty looked as inscrutable as ever. But this was the final of the Anglo-Italian Cup, football's response to Frank Bruno's midweek heavyweight bout with Jesse Ferguson. There was once a quiz question which few people ask these days: which league club used Wembley as their home ground. Answer: Clapton Orient, before the war, when their own ground was not available. It is difficult to find anyone who watched Clapton Orient play at Wembley in the Thirties but the atmosphere must have been a little like yesterday's. The Anglo-Italian Cup is a sham. Many of the fixtures have been accompanied by awful violence, though not so much of late, a happy by-product of the fierce apathy which currently surrounds the competition. There were 17,000 at Wembley yesterday. Perhaps some of them watched Dame Bruno against Big Jesse in Birmingham last Wednesday. The ticket tout on Wembley Way was surely planted by the match organisers to lend some authenticity to the proceedings. The afternoon built towards its crescendo. There was a penalty shoot-out, sponsored by the Nottingham Evening Post, a six-a-side match between the veterans of Notts County and Nottingham Forest and a section of music by the band of the Welsh Guards. Then some Italian restaurant proprietor called Paulo Rossi put in an appearance. The trophy is played for between clubs from the English First Division and the Italian Serie B. The First Division clubs are divided into eight groups of three (there is talk of doing away with the group system) and County ultimately won through by beating off the challenge of Southend United in the English semi-final. Brescia - and if you know where that is you deserve an Anglo-Italian Cup all in yourself - triumphed over Pescara. Notts County finished second yesterday, and deserved to, but at least the contest was not as one-sided as last season when Derby County were totally out-manoeuvred by Cremonese, who now play in Serie A. The goal, in the 66th minute, was scored by Gabriele Ambrosetti after a delightful chip from Domini and a blocked shot from Sabau. County put the Italian club under sustained pressure in the final 20 minutes and Palmer had a shot cleared off the line in injury time. Brescia, under the guidance of Romania's former manager Mircea Lucescu, played some fine football in fitful patches and in the delightful Gheorghe Hagi, also of Romania, we at least had the pleasure of watching one of the finest footballers in Europe. It was not enough though. And here is YouTube footage of the highlights. Share your memories of 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.

Matt Tootle has praised the Notts County fanbase and believes he has a special bond with the supporters. The full-back is one of the team's most liked players due to his impressive performances - complete with the odd goal - and his eccentric, likeable nature, which includes the 'slug' goal celebration. Tootle says he is relishing the relationship with the fans and hopes he can reward their backing by helping Notts to promotion. “I think that they think I am one of them,” he told the Nottingham Post. “They can see that I like having a laugh and I bring that onto the pitch a little bit. “Hopefully they like me because I am a good player and they see how much I try, which is the most important thing. “I enjoy the relationship I have with them and they said to me when I took a throw in at the Forest Green game that they wanted to see the slug, so I gave it to them. That’s a good relationship isn’t it? “I do sense a bond with them. At Crewe I had a good relationship with the fans there too. At Shrewsbury I didn’t ever feel that I had any bond and it didn’t feel like it was going to start no matter what I did. “I am just glad they have taken to me here and hopefully I can repay them on the pitch.” 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.

Former Notts County youth player Jamie Parkes is pleased to have found his vocation as a jockey and is hoping to embark on a long and successful career in the horse riding world. The 18-year-old admitted he was "heartbroken" when, as a 15-year-old with a height of 4 foot 11, he was released from Notts County for being too small. Mick Leonard, his coach at the time, had to break the bad news to Parkes - now 5 foot 8, a similar height to Lionel Messi and taller than Diego Maradona and Alexis Sanchez - but suggested that he try horse racing instead. Parkes was not interested at first, given his disappointment at failing to make the grade at Notts. However, he soon warmed to the idea and began learning the ropes, enrolling at the Northern Racing College near Doncaster. After graduating from the college, Parkes spent time with Mick Appleby prior to joining Martyn Meade’s Newmarket stable. Last Wednesday, his journey took the next step up when he raced in the 20:45 at Wolverhampton, partnering Sociologist for Meade in a 1m1f handicap, and came third in the race. "It was unbelievable," Ravenshead native Parkes told the Hucknall Dispatch. "The best feeling I have ever experienced. He ran really well and gave me the perfect first ride. "The build-up made me nervous, but as soon as I put my silks on and got on the horse, I felt all right. "With him being 12/1, there wasn’t too much pressure. But about a furlong out, I thought I might win. I was only beaten a neck and a neck. It was really good." "I’ve really knuckled down, and this is what I want to do now, for sure. Every young rider wants to be champion jockey. "But my first aim is to ride as many winners as possible, get some good contacts and get a good reputation." Share your thoughts about this news story on Pride of Nottingham by signing up to the website, visiting the forum and joining in the chat with hundreds of fellow Notts County fans. Fancy showcasing your brand or business on Pride of Nottingham? Click here to find out more about sponsorship and advertising opportunities with us.

Notts County manager Kevin Nolan has claimed that the weekend 1-1 draw with Mansfield Town felt like a defeat to his players. Terry Hawkridge gave the Magpies the lead in Saturday's League Two derby, played in front of a bumper crowd at Meadow Lane and in wintry conditions. However, referee Andy Woolmer played beyond the seven minutes of stoppage time and, when Alessandra handballed with his arm in the area, he awarded Mansfield a penalty. Kane Hemmings then slotted home from 12 yards out to give David Flitcroft's side a share of the spoils, leaving Nolan bemoaning a “poor” decision and hoping it won't have repercussions later in the season. “It’s not that it plays on your mind, it’s what it does to you at the end of the season,” he told the Nottingham Post. “If we miss out on a playoff place by two points what are we going to look back at? “They (referees) can’t keep getting things wrong and my lads deserved more. “They managed everything exceptionally well and they should have come off that pitch looking forward to a couple of days off with their friends and families. “They should have been happy, but they were not because of another poor decision. It felt like a defeat to them because they were robbed of 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.

On this day 23 years ago, Notts County found themselves playing at Wembley for the second season in a row and the fourth time in the decade when they took on Ascoli in the Anglo-Italian Cup final. Having enjoyed Wembley glory in 1990 and 1991, winning the Third Division playoff final and then its Second Division counterpart, the Magpies then fell flat in 1994 when they fell to a 1-0 loss to a Georghe Hagi-inspired Brescia. However, they would be back once again just a year later against Ascoli, who boasted Germany star Oliver Bierhoff in their ranks. In the 1995 showpiece, Notts manager Howard Kendall allowed assistant Russell Slade to lead the team out, whilst recent signings gave way to younger players, long serving players or those who hadn't previously played at Wembley. One sour note is that only 11,704 spectators turned up, around 5,500 less than for the previous season's final, perhaps due to the team's poor league form - which would ultimately culminate in relegation from the second tier - making the occasional a little too bittersweet. Notts took the lead on 12 minutes as a long throw by Andy Legg deceived the Ascoli keeper and went into the back of the net, but Tony Agana was judged to have got a faint touch on the ball and so he was credited for the goal. Ascoli, also fighting against relegation domestically and third bottom of Serie B, equalised on 32 minutes when Shaun Murphy's attempted clearance cannoned off Michael Johnson and fell to Walter Mirabelli, who had the easy task of finishing off. However, Kendall's side retook the lead and, as it turned out, scored the winner just before the break when transfer-listed forward Devon White headed home from Paul Devlin's cross. Despite the glory of winning the trophy, the celebrations were muted because Notts were back in training the very next day to prepare for a midweek league clash against fellow strugglers Bristol City, which would yield a 1-1 draw. One more Anglo-Italian Cup competition would be contested before being discontinued due to fixture congestion, with Port Vale losing to Genoa in the 1996 final. The Valiants' defeat meant that Notts were the only English team to win the trophy the four seasons that the modern version was contested, having previously been contested in on and off during the 1960s until the 1980s. Bierhoff went on to score both goals in the Euro 96 final, with Germany beating the Czech Republic 2-1, and would go on to have fruitful spells at Udinese and AC Milan before winding his career down at Monaco and Chievo Verona. Share your memories of this day 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.

Former Notts County defender Sol Campbell has suggested that he didn't get the Grimsby Town job due to a lack of experience. The 43-year-old has been linked with a number of managerial roles but is yet to secure his first coaching job since he retired from football in 2011. Campbell, once a star for Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal and England was believed to be in talks to take the reins at Oxford United in February but nothing came of it. This led to the one-time Magpie appearance holder to bemoan the fact that "one of the greatest minds in football" was being overlooked for jobs. Campbell was then was invited for an interview with the Mariners, who eventually appointed former Burnley Under-23s coach Michael Jolley. "I went to Grimsby for an interview," Campbell told Sky Sports at the weekend. "I didn't have much time to prepare. "It could be experience, knowing that division, I totally understand and I think it's fair. But you can get people around you who do. I understand there's always a plus and minus in everything you do, but there's experience in knowing the league. "I'm prepared. If I need to get my hands dirty, I'll get my hands dirty. If I need to get someone around me who knows the league, I'll do that. That's all part of building a team together. You need your mini-team around you to help you." 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.

Former Notts County manager Martin Allen has just begun his fifth spell in charge of Barnet. The 50-year-old, who had a spell at Meadow Lane between 2011 and 2012, remains well liked at Meadow Lane. But much like one of those annoying on-off relationships between Z-list celebrities that are constantly plastered all over the news, Allen and Barnet find themselves together once again. Allen, whose love story with the Bees began in 2003, saw his fourth spell in charge end in 2016 when he left to take over at National League side Eastleigh but lasted just 14 games in the role. As for Barnet, they parted ways with Graham Westley just over two months in the role to make room for Barnet's return. Allen returns with Barnet seven points from safety, at the foot of League Two, with eight matches remaining this season. “Everyone at The Hive London would like to wish Martin the best of luck as he joins our fight to keep Barnet in the Football League,” the Bees said in a statement. “The club would like to encourage every Bees fan out there to get behind Martin and the team for our crucial eight-game run-in and for us all to pull together as we look to maintain our league status. “Barnet Football Club can also confirm the departure of head coach Graham Westley and head of technical Mark McGhee with immediate effect.” We at Pride of Nottingham wish Mad Dog Allen and Barnet all the best - we're sure this time it will last forever and ever. Share your thoughts about this news story on Pride of Nottingham by signing up to the website, visiting the forum and joining in the chat with hundreds of fellow Notts County fans. Fancy showcasing your brand or business on Pride of Nottingham? Click here to find out more about sponsorship and advertising opportunities with us.

Notts County were pegged back eight minutes into injury time as Mansfield Town's late, late penalty saw them leave Meadow Lane with a point in a 1-1 draw. The Magpies were on the verge of recording a first league win over the Stags since 2005 in front of a bumper crowd that braved the snowy, cold, treacherous conditions at the San Sirrel. Kevin Nolan's boys took the lead in the first half through Terry Hawkridge bundling home, but the Stags were given the chance to equalise eight minutes into the seven minutes of added time at the end of the game. Alex MacDonald headed into the box in the last minute of injury time with the ball hitting Lewis Alessandra on the arm, prompting referee Andy Woolmer to point to the spot. Kane Hemmings made no mistake from 12 yards, and so the hoodoo against the bitter rivals continues. How did the Notts contingent (Kevin Nolan, players and fans) react to the result? Here is Pride of Nottingham's post-match reaction compilation. Kevin Nolan (official site) "I don't think I've ever been involved in a game with weather conditions like that. "I'm delighted with the lads for the way they went about it in really difficult conditions. "We shaded it, had chances and limited them to very few until the last minute, when they are going to throw everything at you. "The way we handled everything - the occasion, the atmosphere and the conditions - was absolutely spot on. "They deserved to win after the performance they put in." Kevin Nolan (Nottingham Post) “My lads have been robbed of two points. We played really well and they got the goal they deserved. They limited Mansfield to very few chances. “The first chance they had in which the keeper had to make a save was in the 97th minute. “I am flabbergasted and I don’t know how we have come off the pitch having drawn the game. “The referee cost us two points with a horrendous, terrible, decision. It was outside the box and the referee has no excuses. “It’s so bad because my lads had to earn the right to get a goal and to try for a clean sheet. “We did enough to win the game, but the referee has given them a penalty out of nothing. “This is third v fifth. It’s so disappointing and it is happening week in and week out. But I am so proud of my lads.” Terry Hawkridge (OS) "I thought we played really well today. It was tough but I thought we dug in well, were the better side on the day and did enough to win the game but some decisions go your way and some don't. "The lads are disappointed because it was a late goal and we thought we could hold on but we have to carry on and concentrate on the next game. This could prove to be a good point in the end." The Black and White Army (PON social media) Lee Atkins: 7 mins stoppage time so he gives a penalty in 7 mins 30 seconds!!! Mmmmmmm. Derek Gill: Too many points dropped after 90 mins, will cost promotion this year. Magpie Moomin: The only person who saw a pen was the ref where the F**K did he find 7 mins??? Richard Wood: It was a definite penalty. We asked for trouble tbf. Dave Woolley: If we had a striker a last minute penalty wouldn’t have mattered. Same old same old. Geoff King: They could come with us... Getting very interesting.. The top 7 could all look very different on Easter Tuesday. Ian Rogers: Robbed by a Referee who somehow managed to pluck 7 minutes of added time from thin air, and then play 10 - W ! ! Alan Turner: No wonder managers get in to trouble, for speaking their mind. When the FA keep protecting these idiots, and put them in a glass cage. They should be made to be held for their mistakes, and explain them. Not whitewashed over. A lot is riding on games these days. Not only money but people's livelihood. Rant over. 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.