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What a summer it's been so far. Not only are England in the quarter-finals of the World Cup after actually winning a penalty shootout, but Notts County have followed up their playoff finish last season with one of the best and most promising transfer windows since the Munto era. With the Alan Hardy era having delivered steady progress since January 2017 and going from strength to strength, it looks as though the Magpies are forging a team of winners as opposed to the perennial losers of yesteryear. And given that Notts are going up in the world, it’s only appropriate that the team’s dedicated fan site is of an equally impressive standing. With this in mind, Pride of Nottingham is proud to unveil the new Notts County Community! PON has undergone a substantial refurbishment to ensure it can be the best online community dedicated to a Notts side which, under the ownership of Hardy, the management of Kevin Nolan and boasting one of its most impressive line-ups in years, is set to impress in 2018-19 and beyond. So what has changed? Well, let’s take a closer look: - PON is no longer a fan site but a community dedicated to Notts County - Our own logo and branding, reflecting our stature as a top-class online community - Redesigns in key areas such as blogs and gallery - Improvements with user engagements (spam prevention, easier login handling, easier way to share content) - Better site moderation - Improved site speed - Better content discovery modes - Improved search functioning (Elasticsearch) - More media embed types (Twitch etc) - A dedicated online magazine, Our Pride - And much more! With so many improvements and changes, Pride of Nottingham is now fully up to speed as an online community worthy of a Notts County side which, now more than ever, is poised for glory! So what are you waiting for? Sign up to the website, register as a member and get involved with the Pride of Nottingham community!

The relationship between a great player and the football clubs he plays for is one of the most diverse aspects of football. Some players spend most or all of their career at one club - Jamie Carragher, Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville come to mind. Some players will transfer between clubs multiple times, like Zlatan Ibrahimovic or Nicolas Anelka. And some are in between, who have played for just a few clubs but made enough of an impact at each of them to be loved by each set of fans. Michael Johnson is one such player. Born in Nottingham in 1973, Johnson played for the well-known Clifton All-Whites, a regional youth team whose alumni include Jermaine Jenas and Garry Birtles. In 1991, he made his debut for Notts County, away at Arsenal. It proved a baptism of fire for the then 18-year old, as a tough Gunners team containing stars such as Ian Wright and Tony Adams triumphed 2-0. Johnson also played against Coventry, Norwich, Sheffield United and Manchester City that season. Sadly, it was to be his only season with Notts in the top flight, as the Magpies were relegated that year. The 92/93 season, in the newly rebranded Division One, saw Johnson becoming a first-team regular, playing 37 league games as the Magpies finished 17th in a very tight league, just three points above the relegation zone. Despite being only nineteen, Johnson played with maturity and composure beyond his years, and never gave less than 100%. 93/94 saw Notts perform admirably and finish in seventh, just three points shy of the playoffs. Johnson was once again a permanent fixture in defence, playing 33 league games. The Magpies also made it all the way to the final of the Anglo-Italian Cup, where Johnson faced up to the mighty Gheorghe Hagi, the Romanian who would go on to lead his team to the quarter finals of the World Cup just a few months later. Sadly, the 17,185 inside Wembley saw Brescia lift the Cup after outplaying Notts and winning 1-0. 94/95 was a devastating season for Notts, as Mick Walker was sacked early on, and a succession of managers and unsettling off-pitch turmoil led to poor results on the pitch. Johnson played 27 league games but couldn't stop the team finishing rock bottom, though he did at least get his hands on some silverware by helping Notts win the Anglo-Italian Cup against Ascoli in March. The summer saw Johnson move to newly promoted Birmingham City for around £300,000, and his powerful, swift and committed defending saw the Blues consolidate their position in the First Division. From that first season, the team went from strength to strength each year, finishing higher and higher, as Johnson developed more as a player and added goalscoring to his repertoire. By 98/99, he was indispensable, having played in every league game that season and scoring five times as they made the playoffs, where they lost to eventual winners Watford. This year would also see Johnson earn the first of his twelve caps for Jamaica, coming on as a sub against Sweden in a friendly played in Stockholm on the 27th May. Johnson would experience play-off heartache twice more in successive years, before his team finally nailed it at the fourth time of asking by beating Norwich to finally reach the Premier League. Throughout that long, arduous and often deflating journey, Johnson was always a first team regular. Heartache of a different kind came as the second-tier team made it all the way to the League Cup final, playing in Cardiff against Liverpool. They took the Reds, who would finish the season with three trophies, all the way to penalties, where they sadly lost out in the most erratic and agonising of ways. In a bid to survive their first season back in the top flight, a spate of signings were made at Birmingham, which saw Johnson lose his first-team place. After playing just six games all season, he was allowed to leave, and, remaining local, he signed for Derby County. It didn't take long for him to win a place in the Rams' first team and the fans' hearts, as he played 39 games and scored once, helping Derby survive a tumultous season where they narrowly avoided relegation. Unlike his time at Birmingham, where each season was consistently good and saw the team finish in the top six, Derby were challenging for the play-offs one year and fighting relegation the next. Nevertheless, Johnson was consistently solid and reliable, becoming club captain in 2005/06. The following season, under new ownership and under the tutelage of Billy Davies, Derby cemented themselves into the promotion positions, leading for most of the season before a late drop in form saw them fall into the play-off zone. Johnson was in the first-team picture playing 29 times, although injury problems saw him miss the end of the season, including the winning play-off games which confirmed Derby's place into the Premier League. Another promotion, another set of hearts won over. Because of a change of management and new signings being made in the close season, Johnson found himself out of the first team. Anxious to find the right club at this late stage in his career, the then 34-year old opted for Sheffield Wednesday, joining the club on an initial one month loan in September. He instantly made an impact as he helped the Owls pick up the first points of the season against Hull on 22nd September. Such was his professionalism, class and commitment that his stay was extended to three months, the maximum possible term for emergency loans. Back at Derby, Johnson, in a bit of a limbo, nevertheless showed immense professionalism to do his best for the club, and when he came on for the Rams in a cup tie against Sheffield Wednesday, that rarest of occurrences took place: both teams cheered his appearance and were chanting his name and praising him, a testament to a great professional and great man. Sadly, despite improving the squad and winning the fans' hearts in just thirteen games, a permanent contract at Sheffield Wednesday wasn't to be, as the Owls opted to sign a young Mark Beevers instead. The Owls' loss was the Magpies' gain, and on 29th February 2008, Notts saw the prodigal son return to Meadow Lane. Initially on loan, Johnson slotted straight into the back four and played twelve times, scoring the winner against Rochdale and helping the team narrowly avoid relegation. His final season as a player was with his hometown club, as Notts signed the player on a permanent one year deal. Another tricky season for the club saw Johnson play 29 times, his experience helping the club survive another year in the Football League. His final game came against Dagenham and Redbridge on 25th April 2009. Earlier on in the year, he was offered the chance to become youth team manager the following season, which he duly took up. During the enigma that was the 09/10 season, he temporarily took over the first team reins with Dave Kevan, and during his two matches in charge, he won one and drew one. Sadly - and how many times have I found myself saying the word in this article - things didn't work out at Notts, he was dismissed when Paul Ince was relieved of his duties and replaced by Under 12s coach Brett Adams. Not one to be affected by setbacks, Johnson carried on studying for his coaching qualifications, and in June 2012, he qualified for the prestigious UEFA Pro Licence. In October, he rejoined Birmingham, taking charge of the Under-16s squad in the academy. A campaigner for equality in sport, he demonstrated his coaching techniques in a FA-funded scheme aimed at promoting coaches and managers from minority ethnic backgrounds in August 2012, and in November, he spoke to the BBC about the lack of opportunities for black and Asian coaches, drawing from his own experiences in the field. Johnson has also involved himself in several ambassadorial roles, which include Help Harry Help Others, a charity raising awareness of brain cancer, Birmingham Children's Hospital, and Real United Football Club, a Nottingham-based team set up to reduce substance misuse and related criminal activity amongst young people in Nottingham. In the last two years, Johnson has been an ambassador at Derby, where he carries out a wide variety of roles including coaching, mentoring, assisting corporate clients and media for in-house station Rams TV, as well as a board member at the League Managers Association and a founder member of On Board and Sports People's Think Tank, and his latest role - manager of Guyana. A tireless, inspirational man throughout his whole career in every venture he's been involved in, few players are as cherished and revered by so many different clubs, fans and people as Michael Johnson. What did you think of Michael Johnson when he was at Notts? Do you have any stand-out memories of him? Let Pride of Nottingham know by signing up to the website, visiting the forum and joining the conversation. Fancy showcasing your brand or business on Pride of Nottingham? Click here to find out more about sponsorship and advertising opportunities with us.

Born in Kilmarnock on 28 December 1954, Iain McCulloch began his footballing journey by coming through the ranks at local club Hurlford United. He impressed with the Ford and in 1973 was scouted and signed by the big club in the region, Kilmarnock FC, where he spent five years. A versatile player who could play on the wing and up front, he made 115 appearances and scored 14 goals for Killie. In April 1978, McCulloch became Notts County's then record signing when the Magpies parted ways with £80,000 for his services. McCulloch's debut came against West Ham on August 19 that year and he made an immediate impact with two goals, though he couldn't prevent Notts from losing 5-2 at Upton Park. It wasn't a one-off - he would score 18 goals in his first two seasons with the club in the old Division Two and ended the 1979-80 campaign as the Magpies' top goalscorer. McCulloch formed a formidable partnership with Trevor Christie and together they fired Notts into Division One, Christie scoring 14 goals and McCulloch 11 goals. In their first game in Division One, Notts faced English champions Aston Villa at Villa Park. Despite the magnitude of the task, which included the Villans parading the trophy before the game, the Magpies went on to stun the champions in front of 30,097 fans, McCulloch scoring a superb goal in a 1-0 win. The Scot ended up scoring 16 goals from 40 appearances, including a hat-trick away at West Bromwich Albion on March 24, as Notts finished 15th in the standings. Notts continued their impressive spell in the top flight the following season with another 15th-placed finish, McCulloch scoring 10 goals from 34 appearances. The following season, however, proved to be McCulloch's last when he suffered a badly broken leg in a collision with Manchester United goalkeeper Gary Bailey, which sadly proved to be the end of his professional career. McCulloch was given a testimonial by Notts on October 23, 1985 and was presented with the Former Players’ Association Achievement Award at their 16th Annual Dinner in 2014. In total, McCulloch made a total of 215 league appearances for Notts, scoring a total of 51 goals, a superb tally both in terms of service to the club and goal return, for which we are proud to have him as one of Pride of Nottingham's Notts Alumni! Share your thoughts about this Notts Alumni legends piece on Pride of Nottingham by signing up to the website, visiting the forum and joining in the chat with hundreds of fellow Notts County fans. Fancy showcasing your brand or business on Pride of Nottingham? Click here to find out more about sponsorship and advertising opportunities with us.

Notts County have claimed another vital three points in their quest to secure automatic promotion from League Two thanks to a 2-1 win over Forest Green Rovers at the New Lawn. Former FGR captain Liam Noble, not very well liked at Nailsworth following his defection back to Meadow Lane last year, was true to the match script as he haunted his former club with the opening goal for the visitors. The Magpies began brightly against a sloppy FGR backline, with Elliott Hewitt coming close early on when he saw his shot deflect across goal and just wide of the post. Adam Collin then had to be alert to keep out a Reuben Reid effort on 20 minutes but the hosts' risky defensive ploy of passing the ball out from the back ended up costing them on 34 minutes. Stead dispossed a defender on the edge of FGR's area and the ball made its way via Jorge Grant to Lewis Alessandra, who was brought down by goalkeeper Brad Collins. As the ball broke free, the referee opted to play the advantage and it proved to be the right call as Noble was on hand to seize the loose ball and tap into the empty net. The Magpies continued to launch attacks as Alessandra found the side-netting with a shot from a narrow angle and Stead curled a left-footed effort wide, but 1-0 is how it stayed at the break. Mark Cooper's side was more with it after the restart as Chris Clements forced Collin into tipping a shot around the post before Gavin Gunning nodded over the subsequent corner. Tahvon Campbell's introduction then helped Forest Green draw level as he was put through in the Magpies area and kept his composure as he fired into the roof of the net from a narrow angle. Notts set about trying to get ahead again and duly found the winner when Alessandra played in Matt Tootle, who rifled the ball through a crowd of bodies and into the far corner before unleashing the famous "slug" celebration. Matty Virtue then had a glorious chance to add a third for Notts after being put through by Grant but the Liverpool Under-23 captain's sidefooted effort could not beat Collins in the opposition net. 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.

Hello and welcome to episode 41 of the Pride of Nottingham PONcast, presented as always by Chris and JJ. In this week's episode we discuss Notts County's League Two win over Carlisle United, with a look at both the tactics used in the game and the significance of bouncing back from the previous week's defeats. We then move on to the hammering at Swansea City in the FA Cup and the loss at League Two bottom side Barnet, looking at where the Magpies went wrong. In addition we discuss Kevin Nolan's post-match interview after the Bees clash and whether it was justified and indeed yielded rewards in the following game, or whether he just lost his cool. All this and more only in episode 41 of the Pride of Nottingham PONcast! Remember - you can subscribe to our PONcast! You can do so by using iTunes for IOS devices, downloading any of the main podcast apps from the Google Play Store or even listen to the show using the TuneIn Radio app. As always, let us know your thoughts on this week’s PONcast on the forum or on the Facebook page, and once again, thank you for joining us! YOU PIES!! Share your thoughts about this PONcast episode on Pride of Nottingham by signing up to the website, visiting the forum and joining in the chat with hundreds of fellow Notts County fans. Fancy showcasing your brand or business on Pride of Nottingham? Click here to find out more about sponsorship and advertising opportunities with us.

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. Coventry City defender Tom Davies faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines after breaking his collarbone in Saturday's 2-1 defeat at Forest Green. Newport County midfielder Sean Rigg left the club by mutual consent and plans to pursue a career as a tattoo artist while playing part time for Bath City. Cheltenham Town defender Matt Bower has signed a new contract with the Robins until at least the end of the 2018-19 season. Cambridge United have extended striker Barry Corr's stay until the end of the season, having made three substitute appearances for the U's since joining on a three-week non-contract basis last month. Lincoln City will be playing at Wembley for the first time in their 133-year history after beating Chelsea's Under-21 side in the semi-finals of the EFL Trophy to contest the final against either Yeovil Town or Shrewsbury Town. Mike Flynn will stay on as Newport County manager until June 2020 after signing a contract extension on enhanced wages. Morecambe put out a statement saying the club has not been issued with a winding up order, stating: "The club would like to stress to fans that it is up to date with all payments in relation to HMRC and no action has been taken against the club." Grimsby Town confirmed that striker Akwasi Asant left the club by mutual consent. EFL chief Shaun Harvey stated that the Football League will not be pursuing the option of a winter break like the Premier League is planning to do. Share your thoughts about this news round-up on Pride of Nottingham by signing up to the website, visiting the forum and joining in the chat with hundreds of fellow Notts County fans. Fancy showcasing your brand or business on Pride of Nottingham? Click here to find out more about sponsorship and advertising opportunities with us.

Hello and welcome to episode 40 of the Pride of Nottingham PONcast, presented as always by Chris and JJ. In this week's episode we discuss Notts County's superb win over Crewe Alexandra as well as the record crowd at Meadow Lane that watched the game, going into detail about tactics, standout players, and the superb achievement of having the biggest crowd at the Lane this century. We also preview the Magpies' upcoming FA Cup fourth-round tie at Swansea City and determine whether the visitors will be able to spring a shock against the Premier League side, who have enjoyed a revival in recent weeks but remain in danger, and have also suffered the double blow of losing Leroy Fer and Wilfried Bony for the rest of the season. In addition we discuss County's deadline day signings, Brighton & Hove Albion Under-23 captain and defender Ben Hall and Derby County forward Mason Bennett, and discuss which one will have the bigger impact at the Lane. All this and more only in episode 40 of the Pride of Nottingham PONcast! Remember - you can subscribe to our PONcast! You can do so by using iTunes for IOS devices, downloading any of the main podcast apps from the Google Play Store or even listen to the show using the TuneIn Radio app. As always, let us know your thoughts on this week’s PONcast on the forum or on the Facebook page, and once again, thank you for joining us! YOU PIES!! Share your thoughts about this PONcast episode on Pride of Nottingham by signing up to the website, visiting the forum and joining in the chat with hundreds of fellow Notts County fans. Fancy showcasing your brand or business on Pride of Nottingham? Click here to find out more about sponsorship and advertising opportunities with us.

Hello and welcome to episode 39 of the Pride of Nottingham PONcast, presented as always by your favourite hosts Chris and JJ. In this week's episode we discuss Notts County's 1-1 draw against Swansea City in the FA Cup fourth round and preview the replay at the Liberty Stadium - can the Magpies pull off a mighty upset against the resurgent Premier League side, which has managed to beat Liverpool and Arsenal in recent weeks? We also talk about the fifth-round draw, which will pit the winner of the tie against Championship side Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough - with the Owls being below Brentford in the league, is it an opportunity ripe for the taking in beating Swansea and potentially overcoming Wednesday to make it into the quarter-finals? In addition we discuss the Magpies' transfer window business ahead of transfer deadline day and rate whether the club has done well in terms of incomings and outgoings. We touch upon the departure of Ryan Yates and also discuss the addition of midfielders Noor Husin and Matty Virtue. All this and more in episode 39 of the Pride of Nottingham PONcast! Remember - you can subscribe to our PONcast! You can do so by using iTunes for IOS devices, downloading any of the main podcast apps from the Google Play Store or even listen to the show using the TuneIn Radio app. As always, let us know your thoughts on this week’s PONcast on the forum or on the Facebook page, and once again, thank you for joining us! YOU PIES!! Share your thoughts about this PONcast episode on Pride of Nottingham by signing up to the website, visiting the forum and joining in the chat with hundreds of fellow Notts County fans. Fancy showcasing your brand or business on Pride of Nottingham? Click here to find out more about sponsorship and advertising opportunities with us.

Hello and welcome to episode 38 of the Pride of Nottingham PONcast, presented as always by the inimitable Chris and JJ. In this week's episode we discuss Notts County's League Two defeats by Exeter City and Crawley Town, looking at what went wrong and if there is serious cause for concern in terms of our automatic promotion hopes or whether we should just keep calm and carry on. We also look ahead to the FA Cup fourth-round meeting with Swansea City this weekend and see whether the Magpies have a good chance of progressing, given their upturn in form which included a shock win over Liverpool in the Premier League. In addition we discuss Ross Fitzsimons' red card in the Crawley game, addressing whether he can be forgiven for his actions or whether he should be taken out of the first team for good, as well as looking at what further reinforcements should be made this month. All this and more only in episode 38 of the Pride of Nottingham PONcast! Share your thoughts about this PONcast episode on Pride of Nottingham by signing up to the website, visiting the forum and joining in the chat with hundreds of fellow Notts County fans. Fancy showcasing your brand or business on Pride of Nottingham? Click here to find out more about sponsorship and advertising opportunities with us.

Hello and welcome to episode 37 of the Pride of Nottingham PONcast, presented by dynamic duo Chris and JJ. The PONcast is back after a brief break over the festive period - we hope you have all had a great Christmas and a happy New Year! In this week's episode we recap Notts County's festive fixtures and assess each of the performances in the games against Cambridge United, Morecambe, Swindon Town and Port Vale. We also talk about the Magpies' superb 1-0 win over Brentford in the third round of the FA Cup and discuss the fourth-round draw. In addition, we look at who Notts should look to sign in the January transfer window as well as who Kevin Nolan should let go, either on loan or permanently. All this and more only in episode 37 of the Pride of Nottingham PONcast! Share your thoughts about this PONcast episode on Pride of Nottingham by signing up to the website, visiting the forum and joining in the chat with hundreds of fellow Notts County fans. Fancy showcasing your brand or business on Pride of Nottingham? Click here to find out more about sponsorship and advertising opportunities with us.

Well, what a superb year 2017 has been. From a one-way ticket to relegation from the Football League and on the verge of liquidation, Notts County have enjoyed the greatest resurrection since Lazarus over the past 12 months. Since Alan Hardy took over the club and installed Kevin Nolan as manager, things have been steadily on the up. League Two survival was guaranteed with several games to spare and, as of the New Year, the Magpies sit in the automatic promotion places. We at Pride of Nottingham are over the moon to see our beloved Notts doing so well, especially given the preceding few years, and we're enjoying every second of the New Era! As we all know, however, football doesn't operate on calendar years - there's still just under half a season to go, and we're hopeful that Notts will get the job done! Because of this, we have created a special offer for you to get your 2018 off to a great start while making the most of the current campaign - 18 for 2018! For the remainder of January, you can become a Pride of Nottingham sponsor for the remainder of the 2017-18 season AND the entirety of the 2018-19 season for just £300! As the biggest and best Notts County fan site on the internet, PON's site and social media pages are seen by thousands of people each day - this would enable your brand to be given exposure across not only the county, but the whole nation! Here is how PON can promote your business: - Putting up a universal banner link promoting your company just above the site's footer (visible across the website) - Adding your company to our partners page with details about the business, your logo and a clickable link to your website in addition to a 'find out more' link (if services warrant such page) to a dedicated page which talks about the company in further detail and provides contact/location information - Including your company logo in video content published on PON’s YouTube channel named as sponsor/partner (Meet the Fans, Opposition View, Aftermath, Match Preview, Tactics and Specials) - Mentioning your company within the PONcast upon rotation - Publishing an exclusive article on the PON website about your company/services, along with video and potential interview for our site - Including you in our newsletters as a sponsor/partner - Two exclusive promotional adverts placed across our popular social media channels (we will also share news/offers for free from our own personal accounts, and may share additional information across PON) BettaBytz Computers and Notts Driving School are already part of the Pride of Nottingham family - take advantage of this great offer and you can join us in supporting the Magpies for the rest of this season and the next! But this offer only lasts until the end of January, so don't hesitate to get in touch today! COME ON BOARD YOU PIES!!! For more information, check out our designated advertising page, contact [email protected] or drop us a message on the site or on social media today!

Hello and welcome to episode 36 of the Pride of Nottingham PONcast, presented by Chris and JJ. In this week's episode we discuss Notts County's League Two draw with Grimsby Town - why couldn't the Magpies break down their opponents? We also look ahead to the weekend meeting against Cambridge United, the 23rd game of the season and an encounter against ex-Magpies boss Shaun Derry's current side. We then talk about Derry's time at Meadow Lane and whether things would have been different had he been given the resources that Kevin Nolan has at present. In addition we review the season so far, including what we deem to have been the standout match and who we think has been the best player, and discuss the club's FA Cup shirt sponsorship with William Hill. All this and more only in episode 36 of the Pride of Nottingham PONcast! Share your thoughts about this PONcast episode on Pride of Nottingham by signing up to the website, visiting the forum and joining in the chat with hundreds of fellow Notts County fans. Fancy showcasing your brand or business on Pride of Nottingham? Click here to find out more about sponsorship and advertising opportunities with us.

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

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

Hello and welcome to episode 34 of the Pride of Nottingham PONcast, presented by Chris and JJ. In this week's episode we discuss Notts County's FA Cup second-round win over Oxford City, looking at how we performed and whether we were worthy of a win. We then move on to the third-round draw, which gave us a tie away at Brentford, and determine just how good a tie it is from both a glamour perspective and how winnable the game is. We also preview the Magpies' upcoming League Two clash with table-topping Luton Town at Kenilworth Road, an encounter which could go a long way in determining who's going to get their hands on the title. In addition we discuss Alan Hardy's revelation that Notts are losing £40,000 per month in win bonuses for players and coaches. All this and more only in episode 34 of the Pride of Nottingham PONcast! Share your thoughts about this PONcast episode on Pride of Nottingham by signing up to the website, visiting the forum and joining in the chat with hundreds of fellow Notts County fans. Fancy showcasing your brand or business on Pride of Nottingham? Click here to find out more about sponsorship and advertising opportunities with us.

Notts County's League Two campaign gets put on hold for a week as they host National League South side Oxford City in the second round of the FA Cup. With the game on BT Sport, the stage is set for the Magpies to try and reach the hallowed third round of the competition, but City have made it through four stages to get here, including a win over Colchester United. How should Notts play? What can they expect from their non-league opponents? Pride of Nottingham finds out with Chris's Scouting Report. Run-down of their last six features Saturday 7th October – Oxford City 2 Poole Town 3 Saturday 21st October – Hemel Hempstead 2 Oxford City 0 Saturday 28th October – Oxford City 1 Concord Rangers 1 Saturday 11th November – Chelmsford City 1 Oxford City 2 Saturday 18th November – Oxford City 3 Wealdstone 2 Tuesday 21st November – Bognor Regis Town 0 Oxford City 0 The Players – Fact Sheet Highest Goal Scorers: Matthew Paterson 9, Reece Fleet 4, Zac McEachran 4 and David Pearce 3. Persistent Foulers: N/A no stats available. The Key Players Looking at Oxford City’s squad, it’s clear that their main threat is that of Matthew Paterson, he likes to get into the opposition's penalty area and generally causes trouble within the lower levels but tends to miss more chances than he takes. Christian Oxlade-Chamberlain, the brother of Liverpool and England midfielder Alex, is a pacey winger who can score from the flank when presented a chance. He likes to run directly down the wing, whilst on occasions he does attack more towards goal itself. Reece Fleet is their creative player, often carving out chances with his passing ability but he is also comfortable in front of goal and has a decent strike on him. Style of Play, Strengths, and Weaknesses Form in previous games, especially games within the league, really does go out of the window here but the style in which they play does take some bearing on the tactics in FA Cup games. In the first round cup, City set themselves up defensively but with the mind set to counter when the chance presented itself – they attacked well at times and deserved their victory, because as a unit they put in a solid performance. Whilst in the league it’s the typical any team can win, when sides work harder or appear more confident on the ball, City really do struggle. Several players tend to go missing and their play takes a major hit due to this. On the ball they can build nicely, either by running directly into space (commonly the flanks) or by playing simple neat one-twos as a way to gain ground. If allowed to play this way, they do it well, and this is where Colchester United failed by never attacking wisely. In games where sides do allow them to play, City tend to assert control from midfield and work the ball around the oppositions penalty box showing no fear of shooting early. If Notts mark tightly, draw them further up the field, this should make it fairly difficult for City. Defensively they don’t like being hit with pace or when multiple players make good movement, this tends to cause confusion and their inability to pick up dangerous runs can be highly effective for opposition teams. From distance set pieces will be a natural way to get around any issue caused by Oxford playing a deep defensive line. Whilst the use of our quicker players who can draw players onto them, will release our strikers. Notts must match their work-rate and work as a team during this clash, as any individual errors are likely to lead only to problems. Share your thoughts about this scouting report on Pride of Nottingham by signing up to the website, visiting the forum and joining in the chat with hundreds of fellow Notts County fans. Fancy showcasing your brand or business on Pride of Nottingham? Click here to find out more about sponsorship and advertising opportunities with us.

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.

Hello and welcome to episode 31 of the Pride of Nottingham PONcast, presented by Chris and JJ. In this week's episode we discuss Notts County's superb win over Bristol Rovers in the first round of the FA Cup, and look ahead to the second-round tie with non-league side Oxford City. We also assess the Magpies' exit from the EFL Trophy at the hands of Lincoln City and ask whether being knocked out of the competition is in fact a good thing, or whether Notts should have taken it more seriously. Other topics covered include the upcoming League Two clash with Stevenage and whether Kevin Nolan - who recently said he would not be looking to play for Notts - should take to the pitch for his club at any point this season. All this and much more in episode 31 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.

Hello and welcome to episode 30 of the Pride of Nottingham PONcast, presented by Chris and JJ. In this week's episode we assess Notts County's 1-1 draw at Carlisle United from last weekend, with an in-depth focus on performance and tactics. We then look ahead to the Newport County clash this Saturday at Meadow Lane, looking at how the Magpies should approach the game based on their opponents' form and style of play. We also discuss whether Ross Fitzsimons should remain in goal for the Magpies after Adam Collin recovers from his injury. Other topics covered include the significance of the EFL Trophy, Kevin Nolan's recent criticism of social media, and plenty more. All this and more only in episode 30 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.

Kevin Nolan has launched an astonishing tirade against the Notts County online community and social media, calling on "some people" to "have a reality check". Speaking at his pre-match press conference ahead of the Magpies' trip to Carlisle United on Saturday, the manager aired his grievances about what he felt were knee-jerk reactions from fans. “There’s a lot said about us that is very untrue,” Nolan is quoted by the Nottingham Post as saying. “But I only hear it because I am not on these sites. I only hear it from my staff or the players. “If they don’t want to see winning football, then don’t come to Notts County because that’s what we are trying to do. “For people to be complaining how we play given the club has lost one home game in a calendar year, then there’s not much you can do. “We only won three games in the previous calendar year compared to what we’ve done now so some people have got to have a reality check and look at themselves in the mirror if they are criticising.” Last week, Pride of Nottingham published photos which were sent in by a fan which appeared to show Liam Noble in training at Basford - Notts subsequently announced that the midfielder had rejoined the club. Despite the training sessions being open and accessible to supporters, Nolan continued his tirade, criticising the individual who took the photos. “Let’s take last week for instance,” Nolan said. “Liam Noble comes and trains with us for the first day and somebody turns up, and the next minute the pictures are on the internet within an hour or two. “That would never have happened a few years ago. But they didn’t know what was going on yet still wanted to put something out there. “I couldn’t believe it when I saw it. That person, because we know who it is, will come back to training ground and then want us to respect him and not tell him to go away. “When he asks the players for selfies what does he expect them to say? “There has got to be respect for us as much as we have got to have respect for them. “They will all expect us to say ‘yeah, no problem you can have your photograph’. “And that’s my biggest issue with social media. People will come and ask for your picture, then they will sit there on Twitter or whatever, type something, and have a rant. “You only have to look at Arsenal Fan TV to see how it gets millions and millions of viewers. “It’s crazy. It makes headlines in the papers and it’s just taken over. It’s something as a manager I have to deal with and all I can ask of the fans is to be respectful. “A lot of my family are on social media so how is it going to feel for them to see something written about me. It’s hurtful for them and that’s what people have got to realise.” 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.