52 minutes ago, super_ram said:

brings back so many memories,too.

Yes music can be very powerful and take you back in time to memories that can be good but also can be unhappy memories.

Upon moving to America, I neglected to bring any records or music collection with me. Having had a significant assortment, some of which I inherited from my father, I now wish I had held onto them. Lacking any dedicated entertainment system for music, I never saw a need for one. Currently, the only items in my home that possess speakers are my laptop, phone, and radio.

I possess a micro hi-fi system that includes a tape deck (which I've never utilised), a CD player, DAB, FM, and AM (though I wonder if AM is still prevalent). Predominantly, I listen to the radio. I have around 30 CD albums which I've converted into MP3 formats and now keep on my mobile and laptop. Although I once had a Spotify subscription and could afford it, I don't see the necessity as YouTube Music fulfils the same function.

I take pleasure in seeing us compete against Forest. The friendly rivalry between our teams always leads to some great banter and gives us the opportunity to boast about our success. Nevertheless, I recognise that both clubs can coexist without any significant issue. Moving forward, if Notts County are to progress, we must endeavour to establish our team as a top-tier organisation. This is the only way for us to move forward and achieve what we're capable of.

Notts vs Forest is a decent pre-season game, but I would prefer it to be at Meadow Lane. I just hope they do not cause damage to the Jimmy Sirrel stand like they did in the past, as this is simply wrong.

In anticipation of the forthcoming Forest match, it appears likely that it will be played in honour of the esteemed Jason Turner. However, one does hope that the Trophy for Derek Pavis is not utilised on this occasion. The encounter will certainly serve as a commendable showcase of Nottingham's footballing prowess, and it would be rather astonishing if a robust starting line-up were not fielded. Nevertheless, while a fair number of experienced players will undoubtedly feature in the squad, one can expect a significant proportion of fresh, youthful talent to be on display as well.

I wish Truro all the best. They may face challenges finding good players due to their location, but players sign for clubs for more than just that. Players join for various reasons: a good upcoming club, staff, manager, fans, stadium, league level etc. All they have to do is fight hard on the pitch and get to the National League.

Looking towards Truro, it will be intriguing to see how they fare this season. It is important to remember that success is not just about winning games but also about passion and desire. It is clear that the owners of Truro have this in spades, and this should be commended rather than mocked. Passion and determination are essential to all football clubs, and it will be interesting to see how Truro's drive and enthusiasm translate onto the pitch.

Best of luck to Truro. It's not in my nature to shatter their aspirations or ridicule them; despite the challenges, their determination to prevail and accomplish their objectives is commendable. In fact, I would prefer to have them on my side rather than Salford City!

I didn’t expect Joel Taylor to join Chester, but it seems like he made the move to get more game time. I respect that he doesn’t want to sit on the bench collecting a wage; he’d rather play and earn his money.

I wish Joel Taylor all the best as he begins a new campaign with Chester. At this stage in his career, it would be best for him to try to settle down and play as much as possible.

Joel Taylor is our loss but Chester’s gain. It still pains me that we signed him for a fee but let him go for nothing. It’s not good business, and I feel we should have tried to keep him.

It’s interesting to see where Notts’ income comes from. Does anyone know if Notts might receive money from Sky for their TV coverage or are we just a BT Sports team now?

18 hours ago, thommo said:

or are we just a BT Sports team now?

We won’t be on BT Sports this season as they televise the National league and a few Premiership games.

BT Sports does show some League Two games, but they’re mostly the less glamorous fixtures.

It's good to see you have returned, @Nocturnal-Magpie.

Welcome back to the Pride of Nottingham, @Nocturnal-Magpie.

Welcome back, @Nocturnal-Magpie. I missed you the first time around but don't worry if life gets in the way provided you make your way back.

Hello and welcome to the PON forum, @BlackandWhitePie. It's great to see that you have 7 posts as of this already.

@NCRichie and @BESTpie, thank you!

Hello, welcome to the Pride of Nottingham. I hope you continue to find the site useful and have fun discussing Notts, @BlackandWhitePie.

The open letter written by a father to Andy Holt is wonderful. Even after all these years, it still holds a special place in my heart. The letter perfectly sums up why supporting lower league football is more worthwhile than supporting teams in the top two tiers.

The letter shared by the Accrington Stanley supporter is brilliant. More and more fans are realizing that supporting a club is about more than just winning the Premier League.

Yes, this didn't just go viral across social media.

It was picked up by the National and Local News, although I'm not sure why East Midlands would take time to focus on it. I think it does summarise all the reasons why fans should consider their loyalty. There's been times I wondered if it was worth being a Notts fan, not because of results on the pitch or people behind the scenes but due to how much time it takes.

The commitment most fans make to their clubs, it's something they have to respect.

Thankfully, this Ex Manchester City fan has found that local work by a smaller club is something which warrants his time.

@liampie The Reform Bill riots were a significant event in Nottingham’s history. In 1831, the House of Lords rejected the Reform Bill, which aimed to make parliamentary representation more equitable. This sparked widespread protests and riots across the country, including in Nottingham. The rioters targeted the homes of prominent politicians and public buildings, including Nottingham Castle, which was burned down.

this is what i muddled up with the pentrich rebellion @CliftonMagpie.

A few years ago, I spoke to a Nottingham-based historian who told me a lot about this. He mentioned a lot of the people who were found guilty of the trouble, were just simple poor people who were unconnected to the whole event. During our conversation, he revealed to me that many commonly accepted historical accounts are actually inaccurate. I distinctly remember him mentioning that the fire at Nottingham castle was ignited by a group of mistreated servants who worked for the castle's owners.

Allegedly, it wasn't the same people rioting and causing the damage as people are told.

But the common workers who had discussed how they wanted to be treated better, so each of these groups formed a mob that caused damage.

I visited the Galleries of Justice and received an informative tour of their latest exhibit from a knowledgeable staff member. The exhibit centred around several individuals who were unjustly accused of rioting. The exhibit was a fascinating deep dive into their stories.

Their hard work and determination throughout the season have paid off, and it is always exciting to see a team move up to a higher league. We wish Sheffield Wednesday, Derby County, and Carlisle all the best in their future endeavors, and we look forward to seeing their success in the upcoming seasons. Lastly, we would also like to commend all the teams that participated in the previous season for their dedication and commitment to their sport, even in challenging times.

Carlisle United did well to achieve promotion. They’ve had seasons where they deserved to reach League One but didn’t quite make it. I’m happy for them.

Congratulations to Carlisle on their success. I feel sorry for Stockport County, who must have been dreaming of back-to-back promotions. However, credit must go to Carlisle, who have returned to playing good attacking football.

Welcome, @two for joy. I find PON to be a very good community, I hope to see you be a part of it.

Hello, @two for joy. We are happy to have you here, I don't always post a lot but it's good to see fans opinions. I hope you join in too.

Hello, @two for joy. Welcome to the site and PON, I hope you like it.

Welcome to PON @LesBradd4England.

Hello, @LesBradd4England. As a casual poster myself, I don't think your time would be wasted in you were to post your thoughts as much or as often as you would like, You would be surprised by the level of good interactions. For now, welcome to PON.

Hello, @LesBradd4England. Welcome to the site and PON, I hope you like it.

if it saves the environment and proves to be cost effective, yes but the main concern i have is the condition and how clean the reusable cups would be. i assume they are cups you take with you and clean yourself?

In my opinion, although the concept of reusable cups aims to address significant environmental concerns, it appears that implementing such an initiative at Notts would not be a viable option. The current operations are frequently fraught with delays and inefficiencies; thus, adding this extra element could further exacerbate wait times and impede customer service. It is crucial to acknowledge the need for environmental responsibility, yet striking a balance between sustainability and practicality is essential. Perhaps a more suitable alternative could be explored, one which complements the operational flow at Notts, whilst minimising our ecological impact.

I can't see it catching on very easily, even within cricket. People will still go in with their own drinks, inside bags and leave the rubbish behind. A reusable cup isn't going to solve much in my opinion.

It's a nice idea but it will prove to be flawed.

Welcome, @Magpie Bill. It's nice to be welcoming you to PON.

Hello, @Magpie Bill. I am pleased to be welcoming you to the Pride of Nottingham site.  

Hello, @Magpie Bill. We are happy to have you here, I don't always post a lot but it's good to see fans opinions. I hope you join in too.

Hello, @Zski. I hope you join in and find the PON community to be a fun place to talk Notts.

A warm and friendly, hello @Zski. I hope you join in and have fun on PON.

Hello, @Zski. We are happy to have you here, I don't always post a lot but it's good to see fans opinions. I hope you join in too.

10 hours ago, allardyces tash said:

Interesting historical tidbit about Nottingham’s history, @Piethagoram.

Very close to home for me.Descendants of those involved were schoolmates

@liampie The Pentrich rebellion was an armed uprising that took place in 1817. It was led by workers from the village of Pentrich in Derbyshire, who were protesting against poor working conditions and low wages. The rebellion was ultimately unsuccessful and several of its leaders were executed for treason. Despite its failure, the rebellion is remembered as an important moment in the history of the labour movement.

thanks, i muddled the event up with the reform act. thanks for telling me @super_ram and @CliftonMagpie.

I'm impressed with the strides the club has taken in recent years. Achieving promotion to the Championship would be a significant milestone for the team, and it would be a clear indication of how far we've come. I have faith that our squad will continue to adapt and improve as we strive for success at the highest level. It's important that we maintain a strong sense of identity as a club and remain organic and different from others. By doing so, we can continue to move forward and progress towards our goals. I appreciate that our level may not remain the same in 5 or 19 years' time, but I'm hopeful that we'll have made more significant progress by then. Ultimately, I believe that if we continue to focus on developing our team and building on our strengths, we'll achieve great things and make our mark on British football.

Teams can improve rapidly, and it’s uncertain who will successfully make the step-up. In 2–3 years, we could see a player like Connell Rawlinson, who some have dismissed, performing at his very best. The point is, we don’t know what will happen. Let’s focus on becoming a strong club at the League Two level before aiming for promotion and repeating the process in League One.

If Notts County is promoted to the Championship, we will have to step up our game to meet the level of competition. We should already be in a good place to compete with the best of the best by then.

It would be foolish if we didn't adapt, so there's no worry about this squad we have now and that which might play in the Championship. Our style of play would befit the league, though, with our defence. Would be the main area which would need a bit of focus. By this stage we would no doubt have a new number one. Ideally, someone young and with plenty of room to further improve.

15 hours ago, TheSkipper said:

I’m not a fan of Dortmund or Bayern, but I prefer Dortmund to win the German league. Many German clubs have tried to make the league more competitive, but it’s hard when those two clubs snap up any good young players.

It's not really a Real/Barca situation. Before Klopp turned up, BVB were fighting relegation, and they've only won the Bundesliga five times in total (twice under Klopp). One issue is that most of the clubs that traditionally chase Bayern along with them have fallen by the wayside. How competitive would the Premier League be if it were just Man City and Spurs and Brentford fighting for the title, with Man United, Liverpool and Chelsea in the Championship? The Bundesliga is a bit like that right now.

Dortmund tend to buy in young players, but there are plenty of other clubs renowned for their youth work. One is Freiburg, who finished fifth in the Bundesliga and whose under 23s just finished second in the third division (a league higher than Bayern's, and as high as B teams are allowed to go). But they're a small club who will never realistically compete for the title. 

@DangerousSausage I tend to think this is the case with German football. It's almost as if these clubs who can't compete with Bayern get the best out of youth players. Develop them and then once they're at a certain level, if none other European team comes in for them, Bayern snap them up and it's nothing of a special price. 

It's a situation why people enjoy watching lower league football. The championship is an incredibly competitive league. The amount of times that it comes to the final day and anyone from 12th upwards can claim a play off spot. 

The Premier League has its competitiveness throughout the season but ultimately ends in the same fashion of the same teams getting top with the occasional lesser team managing to get a European place which is a big achievement. 

It's a shame that clubs fall off as much as they do when they were once competing for the title. 

I also appreciate Dortmund's approach to recruitment and player development. Their focus on young, talented players has worked well for them in the past, and it is great to see a club actively investing in youth development. As for German football, I find it incredibly thrilling and impressive. The high tempo and intensity of the matches, combined with tactical prowess, make for a fantastic watching experience.

Connell Rawlinson is a good guy who doesn’t deserve some of the criticism he receives. All players make mistakes from time to time. Personally, I would rather have Rawlinson on my team than Harry Maguire, who seems to make mistakes virtually every game!

The news that Connell Rawlinson has signed a two-year deal is fantastic for the club. It provides much-needed stability in defence and having players who are familiar with each other is a huge positive. Connell always puts in maximum effort and was more consistent when he was a regular starter than when he was filling in as needed. I have full confidence in his ability.

Rawlinson has undoubtedly added strength to the defence, and this will no doubt pay dividends as the season progresses. As many have noted, maintaining a solid backline is key to success, and Rawlinson's experience and ability will certainly help in achieving this. It is also encouraging to see support for Connell, who undoubtedly needs additional support to thrive on the pitch. It is crucial to remember that football is a team sport, and individual players can only do so much without the backing of their teammates.

PSG is an awful club. Their honeymoon period seems to be over, but they’re just a nothing club that has become what it is solely due to the money their owners have put in. They have toxic players with sulky attitudes when they lose. I’ve seen quite a few of their games and they’re poor losers; it’s no surprise they’re having further issues.

While it is undoubtedly exciting to see star players join a team, it is not without its potential downsides. One of these is the possibility of egos clashing, particularly when different players have their own ideas about how the team should play and who should be taking the lead. This is a risk that all clubs must manage carefully when bringing in high-profile names, and it requires a strong leadership structure and clear communication among all team members. It's also important that players are able to put their egos aside for the greater good of the team, especially when it comes to the crucial moments in any given match. While clashes between star players are always a risk, it's ultimately up to the club and the players themselves to work together to build a strong and cohesive team that can compete at the highest levels of the game.

PSG isn’t very appealing. They may play good football, but as others have mentioned, their squad is full of egos. Their manager is prone to throwing tantrums over minor issues. They have also shown disrespect towards smaller French teams. It’s difficult to support a team like that. Hopefully, the trouble they’re facing is serious enough to prompt a change in the club’s approach.

On 28/05/2023 at 22:14, Fan of Big Tone said:

Today I went for a walk with Mrs. Fan of Big Tone along the canal, we saw a lot of people on a bridge with cameras waiting for the Lancaster Bomber to fly over, we waited a while but wasn’t sure how long it would be so we carried on but we’re lucky enough to see it as it flew right over our heads really low.

After seeing the Lancaster bomber on Sunday, we sat in our garden yesterday and saw a Spitfire going over to the same Bank Holiday event. 

What next a German Panzer tank rumbling down the street? Have I slipped into a time warp. 

I spent the weekend writing. I had to bring home someone else’s work and focus on improving it in time for today, so it could go to the publishers. Although it wasn't the perfect situation, I demonstrated my willingness to work collaboratively as part of a team. I know the editor appreciated it; two other writers said they had plans. So yeah… Saturday and Sunday, I spent writing by the side of my apartment overlooking Manchester residents and visitors having a good time.

@Fan of Big Tone I can certainly relate to your feelings as an English native when it comes to writing with American spelling. It can be challenging to maintain the correct spelling format in certain situations, especially as we are exposed to so much American English in the media. However, I agree that it's essential to maintain the proper UK English spellings, not only on social media but also in real-life situations, where they are considered the standard.

Macaulay Langstaff was never going to sign for Wrexham; the club wouldn’t sell him to a rival. No matter how much money was offered, it would kill the buzz generated from gaining promotion and send things back into complaining. We don’t need to sell Langstaff right now; if he’s happy we can tell teams to come back later. His value will still be high even if he has only one year left on his deal.

If there are quotes from managers, players, agents etc., then I’m inclined to pay more attention to rumours. But my rule of thumb is that everyone fights for clicks/reads at this stage and when this occurs, people are likely to bend the truth. I take what most of these sites say or report with a pinch of salt, as I have zero confidence or faith that what is being said is or will be true.

A few things will be sorted in the next couple of weeks after players return from their holidays.Some contracts expire on 30th June,so expect further activity by the end of June and plenty more  media and fan speculation. Pre season fixtures start in July by which time most new contracts SHOULD be sorted.

Well someone on Derby's forum says it's 90% done deal, which probably means in reality there's a 10% chance of it happening!

Also someone on there wasn't too keen and called him "a stone overweight"  Don't go Ruben, they'll be no body shaming from any of us!

Ruben enjoyed the homecoming and was in high spirits. Once you experience promotion with a special group of players, you want to do it again. I don’t think he will leave this season. He will probably wait to see if Notts can reach League One.

On 26/05/2023 at 21:00, menzinho said:

Well someone on Derby's forum says it's 90% done deal, which probably means in reality there's a 10% chance of it happening!

Also someone on there wasn't too keen and called him "a stone overweight"  Don't go Ruben, they'll be no body shaming from any of us!

@menzinho some of the 'fans' who comment on these forums(any team ,anywhere,any sport)have either only been let out for the day,haven't taken their medication or have been allowed to stay up way past their bedtime.

Dover made a fortunate decision when they backed out of fulfilling their National League matches. The situation was regrettable.

I wish Hednesford Town all the best, I hope they managed to resolve their issues and find investment to continue their journey. Less local people are buying into clubs, most are fans, and we know how that works out usually.

It's absolutely disheartening to witness the current predicament of the club, which has long been an integral part of our community. The unfortunate financial situation and the quest for a capable new owner have undoubtedly cast a cloud of uncertainty over the future of this beloved institution. In the run-up to the next season, I fervently hope that they are able to secure the necessary resources and identify a dedicated and passionate owner who can effectively steer them through this challenging period. The loyalty and resilience of the fans will certainly provide the bedrock of support that is essential to overcome such trials and guide the club towards past glories. Wishing them all the best!

Hednesford Town needs a lifeline to survive. It’s hard to see how they’ll attract an owner with the money to do anything more than keep them afloat. That owner will need fairly deep pockets just to do that.

Welcome to PoN  @Bee.I presume you support Barnet and not Brentford. Don't be afraid to put me in my place if I'm wrong. You will be accepted with open arms wherever your allegiance lies, as proven by all the above welcomes .

Welcome @Bee I hope you don’t buzz off again. Why not tell us a bit about yourself.

Welcome @Bee, hope you enjoy your time on PON.