TheSkipper

The council’s inability to fund a celebratory event due to their financial constraints doesn’t seem to bother Williams. For him, the personal connections and interactions with the fans are far more valuable than any formal celebration. He cherishes the opportunity to connect with the supporters on a personal level and share in their joy.

The homecoming was a nice touch by Notts. I also hope that the club arranges an opening day of sorts for the new campaign to get fans onside.

It was what it was - there’s no use in complaining because it didn’t cost us promotion. I don’t think even John could repeat hitting the crossbar again even if he tried.

Hello, @Fan of Big Tone. Welcome back to the site. Don’t dwell on the past - focus on having fun and joining in with the community. It’s great to see you back on PON.

Welcome, @Bee, The Pride of Nottingham is a great site.

Luke Williams made some great tactical decisions during the game. Bringing on Jodi Jones and switching him to the right gave us more edge going forward. And Aaron Nemane really stepped up and played outstandingly.

It’s so sweet that the children took the time to write a note to their dad. It shows how much they care about you.

The triumph of Notts over Chesterfield in a nail-biting penalty shoot-out to secure promotion at Wembley will forever be etched in our memories. The team should hold their heads high for their incredible achievement in bringing us back to the Football League. Special shout out to Archie Mair, Aaron Nemane and Cedwyn Scott for their outstanding performances. It was a tough match, but the lads showed true grit and determination to come out on top. Congratulations to everyone!

It's always been the plan to bring on Archie Mair if a shoot-out was looming. He had his shirt ready for the Boreham Wood game and was about to come on until Jodi Jones scored. I think Sam Slocombe deserves a lot of credit for where we are this season. It's a shame some fans have already forgotten how he kept us in games during some vital and key matches. He's been at his best this season, despite injury he has always tried his best, and it's natural for people to become nervous. Archie Mair has plenty to learn and needs more experience, but he is exceptional when it comes to penalty saves. It's nice to see a UK keeper adapting to the style of standing behind the line, as a keeper's instinct is to move and this gives them protection from being forced to retake it. It's also in the rules, as some Chesterfield fans have claimed he should've been on the line.

It's always good to see someone taking the time to pay respect to Jason Turner. It's a touch of class and I hope those "Debbie downers" have kept quiet about their thoughts on this. I have no time for people who just want to argue and be unkind, but I have found a new level of respect for Ryan Reynolds and, of course, now Wrexham. I have to admit, I spent most of the season disliking them, but I thought even Paul Mullin showed class yesterday when speaking about Notts during the game and after. It's nice to see someone praise the club for something they deserve and have achieved. If it wasn't warranted, then it would make sense for people to be more sceptical, but this isn't the case. It's genuine.

Notts always perform better once they gain confidence. Arron Nemane was exceptional and in the second half, we controlled the game well. At times, it was unfortunate that some of our plays didn't receive the rewards they deserved. Those who say that Notts didn't play well are missing the point. The players performed well, perhaps not as well as Chesterfield overall, but they dominated in spells. It's frustrating that many fans don't understand why Notts passes back. It's clear that it opens up play and defenders find it difficult to deal with. The faster the passing, the sooner someone gets into a position to score. Changing this would make Notts much less effective. If Notts could learn to be more direct at times, it would silence those who just complain, including when we win in the season but expect 5 goals instead of 2. Or those who feel Notts are too predictable when it's just a difficult game. @4everapie There’s a point to discussions and fans having their say, it’s what makes things interesting. Rather than watching people just complain.

Congratulations @Piethagoram! You truly are the cream of the crop, having been voted as the Pride of Nottingham Member of the Year for 2023! Your tireless efforts and unwavering dedication have not gone unnoticed and we are all so grateful for everything you have done. Thank you for being such an integral part of our community!

The issue with playing Chesterfield is that both teams know exactly how the other plays. Any changes to throw a surprise could make the game’s pace naturally slower. Tactically, I would focus on the high line and make sure that players are instructed to cover when needed. If the middle three at the back do what we saw against Wrexham and in the first half of Boreham Wood, then we would be inviting trouble. Defensively, we still have an issue coping with set pieces, but Sam Slocombe looked better at catching the ball in the air and Aden Baldwin is decent at heading the ball away. Avoiding Chesterfield crowding our box and leading to panic is important as they are rehearsed in this tactic. I think it will be a classic final with a fair few goals or at least I hope so. I would hope that it doesn’t end with a simple narrow 1-0 win but if it was in our favour, of course I would pretend I never said this.

He is similar to Matt Palmer but not as skilled. We do not need him at the moment. I hope he does well and that a League One team will sign him without hesitation. He could even be a reasonable signing for Derby as they need to rebuild. He is a free signing and I imagine his wages are reasonable. The Rams could make a worse decision. I know I said Notts does not need him, but that is only because of Palmer and Bostock. If O’Brien were to retire, we would only need cover since I think Vincent will stay and Francis will likely leave. @super_ram

I doubt any Notts fan would object to the signing of Jodi Jones. It’s important to initiate talks with him, even though he may be drawn to a League One or Two team at present. In my opinion, he’s the kind of player who can make the difference between becoming champions or runners-up. He’s an exceptional player at this level. We should secure his services before it’s too late.

Excellent job on the cover image and display picture. I’m really fond of the new main PON image. It appears very sophisticated and the display picture is outstanding.

Reading about their incredible comeback victory against Boreham Wood in the National League Playoff Semi Final gave me goosebumps. The article perfectly captures the electric atmosphere at Meadow Lane and the rollercoaster of emotions that fans experienced during the match. It's heartening to see how the team fought back against a two-goal deficit to secure a place in the final and a chance at promotion to League Two. It's clear from the article that Notts County fans are some of the most passionate and dedicated in the country. The scenes of joy and celebration after the final whistle were truly heart-warming, and it's easy to see why supporting the Magpies is such an important part of so many people's lives. I can't wait to see how the team performs in the National League Playoff Final against Chesterfield, and I'll be rooting for them every step of the way. Come on you Pies!

As mentioned in the PON article, it’s fantastic that Ryan Reynolds is coming to wish Notts well at Wembley. It’s usual for the owners of the winning team of the National League to attend. Fans are talking about him doing an interview, but that’s not why he’ll be there. I believe it shows something positive for both Notts and Wrexham and may also draw some interest in Notts.

In my opinion, it’s fantastic that Ryan Reynolds is coming to wish Notts well at Wembley. It’s usual for the owners of the winning team of the National League to attend. Fans are talking about him doing an interview, but that’s not why he’ll be there. @super_ram, you’re the only Derby fan that matters to us.

Notts County games are always full of excitement and surprises. I’ve seen some pretty funny and weird things happen during the games. Here are a couple of my favourite moments: A while back, an assistant referee sprinting along the sideline slipped and toppled to the ground. There was an extensive delay as everyone checked to make sure he was okay. Both sets of fans started chanting ‘she fell over’ (I know it’s not very politically correct in this day and age) and making comments about diving. Another memorable moment was when the Dagenham & Redbridge keeper, Elliot Justham, tried to provoke the KOP by making gestures into the crowd. Some fans didn’t take kindly to this and told him exactly what they thought. Justham just continued to slow down his goal kicks, which only made the fans more frustrated. It was amusing to see just how much the officials let him get away with. These are just a couple of examples of the funny and weird things that can happen at Notts County games. What are some of your favourite moments?

Being a Notts County fan in a city dominated by Forest fans can be challenging. Throughout school, most people I knew supported Forest or whichever Premier League club was doing well at the time. Usually, Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal. I can recall wearing my Notts shirts around the city when we were in League One and hardly having any negative experiences. It seemed like a time when Nottingham embraced Notts from a Nottingham Forest perspective. However, when we were relegated to League Two, we became a constant laughingstock and that seemed to break any acceptance by Forest fans. Quickly returned the annoying banter and idiots calling out why a Notts fan would be walking around their own city. Even some glory-hunting Premier League fans at times would say how poor Notts were. It was a truly depressing time, made worse by Alan Hardy and our relegation to the National League. Have you had similar experiences as a Notts County fan in a city dominated by Forest fans? How do you cope with the banter and negative comments? I have attended the pre-season friendly between Forest, and it wasn’t that bad. I think because we are doing okay, their fans can’t think of much to say, especially with their own situation. I also went to the League Cup game, in which we lost on penalties, which was a very joyous occasion. Have you attended any matches between Notts County and Forest? What was your experience like? My advice to fans would be to give as good as you get. If a Forest fan treats you with respect, treat them the same. If they give banter, try to give it back provided they are not thugs! At the end of the day, wear our colours with pride! Do you have any advice for other Notts County fans living in a city dominated by Forest fans?

I have been thoroughly impressed with Luke Williams’ performance as manager this season. In terms of tactics, I believe he has strengthened the squad significantly and instilled a natural desire to succeed. He has also excelled in generating morale and motivation within the team. The players are aware of the standards he has set and strive to meet them. In regard to resource management, I think Luke Williams has brought out the best in the players through his training methods. He doesn’t make rash decisions when signing players and takes time to reflect on the situation before making a move. He also responded well to the team’s first defeat of the season, refocusing and encouraging them to bounce back. Overall, I am overjoyed with Luke Williams at the helm of Notts County. While I may not always understand his approach, I have faith that he always acts in the best interests of the players. What are your thoughts? How would you rate Luke Williams’ performance as manager this season? This topic was inspired by a post I came across on social media, embedded below.

I have always admired Neal Bishop. Although some fans doubted his abilities and wanted him to leave for Blackpool, he proved himself in the Championship and played well in League One and Two. Even those who doubted him may have wanted him back after his release from Mansfield. As previously stated, a committed leader who puts in the work can be more valuable than a show-off player who doesn't try on a challenging night in Morecambe.

In recent years, only Sam Osborne has made it into the Notts squad from their youth players. Despite being one of the better players, his appearances were limited. Managers often use the excuse of players not being ready when they lack faith in them or don’t want to risk their own job. Since 2020, Sam has played for 5 clubs. Even though some of these teams paid a fee for him, it doesn’t help his career to keep moving around. This is a common issue for young players today. If they’re not considered good enough, they won’t play and may end up bouncing around lower-tier teams without building a solid career for themselves.

Hello, @nottsfan81. Welcome to the Pride of Nottingham! Now that you’ve joined and made your first post, we’re excited to hear more of your thoughts on Notts County. Why not introduce yourself to our friendly community? You’ll receive many warm greetings.