On 16/05/2023 at 22:29, Fan of Big Tone said:

I tend to agree with @super_ram it’s just paper talk (he said with crossed fingers and toes).

There is bound to be the occasional true report and like with Russian roulette we don't know where the bullet is.

If Notts County were considering letting go of their manager to Reading, the only reason I can see would be if the club had their eyes on someone else and wanted to collect a compensation fee. However, it's clear that the board has realised they've found a real gem in their current manager. With a few more years of experience and another promotion under his belt, he could be exactly the type of leader the team has been missing since the 70s and 80s. The hope is that if Notts County can retain him, he can help take the team to a new level and make them a competitive force in the Championship. This is an exciting time for fans of the club, and it will be interesting to see how things develop in the coming months and years.

I am firmly convinced that Luke Williams will not be enticed to leave our team for Reading. In my opinion, it would require a club in a more favourable position to lure him away. Despite Reading's status, I believe that Williams is committed to our club and it would take a truly exceptional offer to cause him to reconsider his future here. His loyalty and dedication to our team's growth are evident, and I have great faith in his continued presence with us.

Welcome to PON, @CountyFan2105. It’s great to see that you’ve made your debut by posting.

It's always nice to see a new member, welcome @CountyFan2105. Don't be shy, come say hello.

Welcome to the site and PON.

Thank you, everyone! It's most kind of you all to wish me a happy birthday.

A very happy belated birthday to you @Chris! It's important to take time to celebrate and treat ourselves, especially on our special day. I hope you were able to have a good day, filled with love, joy and happiness. You deserve nothing less than the best and I wish you all the wonderful things in life. Here's to another year of adventure and growth!

@AmericanPie, thank you! It really does mean a lot.

@heraldmagpie We had fun thank you. Titanic: The musical was on, but we didn't watch it, unfortunately. I lost all the games we played 

Unfortunately, I became unwell with chest pains and was taken back to the hospital where I had been since my last visit until late Saturday. I was told that I need to have a pacemaker put in. I think the decision to take on a home to fix up has been my undoing, but I am still feeling positive. I had no issues while working; I put my feet up and tried to settle down, but I am repeatedly in the hospital. I am not after sympathy; I am in great spirits. Let me tell you, I miss the blooming NHS for sure. The bills for hospitals are enough to give you heart trouble.

4 hours ago, AmericanPie said:

Unfortunately, I became unwell with chest pains and was taken back to the hospital where I had been since my last visit until late Saturday. I was told that I need to have a pacemaker put in. I think the decision to take on a home to fix up has been my undoing, but I am still feeling positive. I had no issues while working; I put my feet up and tried to settle down, but I am repeatedly in the hospital. I am not after sympathy; I am in great spirits. Let me tell you, I miss the blooming NHS for sure. The bills for hospitals are enough to give you heart trouble.

@AmericanPie  I know you said you weren’t after sympathy but I’m really sorry to hear of your health issues, I do hope the heart monitor helps to settle your heart down, my wife had a funny turn whilst we were away, we spent 36 hours in Kings Lynn hospital A&E department, she needs a monitor fitted to check her heart, that was around 6 weeks ago, she’s still waiting, I’m afraid the NHS is not as good as you may remember.

Take it easy my friend.

Believe it, or not - I thought the same thing after commenting. @liampie

Luke Williams is a significant improvement in terms of management. It’s clear that he values building strong relationships with the players, which must help motivate them to go the extra mile to win games. All the players seem to respect him - even John Bostock has praised Williams’ management style, saying it’s the best he’s experienced in his career. That’s high praise! I think Williams has done an excellent job so far, but the real test will be in League Two. The coaching staff needs to keep up their hard work and research the opposition well - it will pay off.

It's quite remarkable to witness how Notts has transformed over the past few seasons, and the credit goes to the hard work and dedication of its management team. Since Neal Ardley put in place strong foundations, Ian Burchnall took it further, and now Luke Williams is doing an excellent job instructing players like Adam Chicksen on how to improve their game.

One of Luke Williams' standout qualities is his relationship with the players, which seems to be second to none. He's an impressive coach who is intelligent, switched on, and thinks about things carefully. Although I can't comment on his in-game management skills, his decision-making in the recent game against Chesterfield was spot-on, and it paid dividends for Notts.

Overall, I think Notts is moving in the right direction, and it's great to see Williams playing such a crucial role in the team's success. With such talent on the coaching staff and players shining on the pitch, I'm confident that Notts will continue to improve and bring home more victories in the seasons to come.

It’s better to be late than never. However, it does raise the question of why we have to wait when Forest receives their share much quicker. This is especially puzzling considering that Forest would likely require more funding due to their larger fanbase and greater propensity for causing trouble.

Sam Pearson looks like a solid player. I’ve seen some fans on social media complaining that he doesn’t have many goals to his name, but that could change at Notts! Even if he’s more of a playmaker, I still think he would be a good signing. It might not happen, so complaining about his lack of goals seems silly to me.

Although I am not familiar with Sam Pearson, after reading through the comments, it seems like he could be a promising player. With the level of recruitment that has taken place, I feel satisfied just reading through all the comments on player acquisitions. After watching the video, the young lad does remind me of Sam Osborne. It's exhilarating to know that the team has not only been active in the transfer market, but they are working hard to bring in young, talented players who can take the team to the next level.

Well done to Ryan Reynolds for not being put off by silly fans. What he’s doing is a nice gesture and deserves to be respected. Does anyone know if their stands will be built in time for next season?

In today’s world, I’d rather be happy that a chairman of a different team wished us well than feeling disgruntled or like we have to be at war just because of the rivalry. I don’t know much about Ryan Reynolds, but if he takes the time to wish my team well, he has my respect.

Ryan Reynolds, the Hollywood actor from the States, has been garnering a lot of attention recently for his kind and generous nature. His deeds have made their way across the Atlantic to the UK and particularly in Nottinghamshire. The news of his benevolence has even reached the footballing world and is helping to put Notts on the map for many. In fact, it has been reported that a couple of neighbours have been converted from their allegiance to Spurs and Palace and now follow the beloved Notts team. It is clear that Ryan Reynolds is a fan of Notts in secret and who could blame him? With so much passion and support, it's hard not to fall in love with the team. Additionally, with the upcoming season, fans are excited, and the opportunity to get a Notts shirt with Ryan Reynold's name on the back is thrilling. I am one of the many fans who will be purchasing eight shirts, and with so many possible choices for names, it’s going to be tough!

@super_ram will do pal

It's something to keep hold of for sure. 

4 hours ago, KB1862 said:

@super_ram will do pal

It's something to keep hold of for sure. 

Brilliant.Thank you.

@KB1862, these notes from your children are absolutely heartwarming. You have clearly raised very caring children who adore their father. It's wonderful to see such a strong bond between parent and child, and these notes are something truly special. They should be cherished and kept safe for the future, as a reminder of the love and appreciation your children have for you. Thank you for sharing this beautiful moment with us - it's one of the nicest things I've seen.

10 minutes ago, liampie said:

@Fan of Big Tone it could be you next season.  i do think next year it will be harder to choose though. lets keep going!

its really nice to have you back.

Thanks @liampie I think there’ll be a lot more members more deserving than me but it’s good to be back.  

@Fan of Big Tone you have made a great return, so where knows!  

Congratulations @Piethagoram, you fully deserve it! The amount of content you start and the thoughtful contributions you make to discussions make you one of the best on the site. I want to thank you for all your effort and dedication in creating engaging conversations and helping to build a supportive community. This recognition is well deserved, and I hope it encourages you to keep up the great work. Cheers to you, and here's to many more insightful conversations in the future!

Roberto Carlos vs. France, 1997 or David Beckham vs. Greece, 2001.

The John Bostock free kick against Wrexham! Have we ever scored such a perfectly well-placed free kick against a good keeper? Jokingly, I would say David Beckham versus Greece.

In terms of notable free kicks, I can only recall those involving Notts or goals scored against the club, which have already been mentioned.

Welcome back @Canadian. I hope to see you post more and get to know you better.

Welcome back, @Canadian. It’s good to have you back. See you around the site! I will look out for what you have to say. It’s nice to have an original member back.

Welcome back Canadian I’ve only just returned to the fold, seems to be a bit of a trend, that’s what promotion does I suppose. 

On 19/05/2023 at 17:12, Chris said:

The Magpie Circle is great; Paul Mace is fantastic in front of the camera. I have been hoping to see him in person, just to say hello and let him know my thoughts in person. I don't really listen to podcasts as much these days; it seems something every man and their dog has.

I do watch a lot of YouTube with @CutiePie.

I'm proud to say I have watched these two channels from the grand up and before they had many followers. Ava, also can recall any episode you mention and state facts about them. Its quite unreal!

https://www.youtube.com/c/PleasantGreen

https://www.youtube.com/@TheWhyFiles

The last book I read was about a Derby fan and his father, Joe Jones lent me the book. It's a very good read.

The book you refer to is called   "Son Of My Father",Me,My Dad and Derby County FC  by Craig Trembirth. This covers seasons1979-2004 and is a brilliant read from  when the son attends his first Derby Count match with his dad..It takes in much more than football and any fan could relate to the ups and downs and social changes experienced. 

@Chris you lent me this book several years ago and I got about halfway through it but it was hidden away one of the times Mum was in hospital.I rediscovered it while I've been tidying up.I really must finish it and return it to you so you can return it to JJ

1 hour ago, super_ram said:

@Chris you lent me this book several years ago and I got about halfway through it but it was hidden away one of the times Mum was in hospital.I rediscovered it while I've been tidying up.I really must finish it and return it to you so you can return it to JJ

Joe originally lent it to me, then he said I could have it to give to you. He didn't want it back, it was one of those books he bought because people told him it was interesting, he read it and then offered to borrow it me. I read some of it, forgot about it until he said to give it you.

I’m reading a book called 11.22.63 by Stephen King at the moment it’s a time travel story about the Kennedy assassination, it’s very good.

I don’t listen to podcasts but I have watched the Magpie Circle videos occasionally which are very good.

Drinking can help at times. I don’t have many drinks, but there have been times when I needed a swift one just to get by. The highs are easier because you just ride the wave until it crashes. The lows are harder because you never know what to expect with this club.

Being a Notts County fan is a roller coaster ride. We’ve seen it all: glory and pain, trophies and scandals, promotions and relegations. But we never give up on our club. We always support them, with humour and patience, through thick and thin.

We celebrate the wins by singing and dancing and cheering. We enjoy every moment of success, because they are rare and precious. We deal with the losses by shrugging and smiling and moving on. We don’t let them ruin our mood or our day, because they are part of the game. That’s how I cope.

As a long-time Notts fan, I’ve grown accustomed to the lows. They just become normal after a while. I don’t get upset about results that don’t go our way because we’ve had more seasons like this than I care to remember. The highs, on the other hand, are something to embrace. Those are the moments you want to remember and they don’t come around that often for us. Right now, we’re in a sort of golden age for the club. We need to buckle up and go with the flow, enjoying it while we can.

I watched on telly at home on my own but with @GrannyPie's photo near me.I must admit I felt a bit emotional and phoned @Chris at Wembley because I had to share the moment with someone.I hope I can enjoy a promotion for my first team soon but I'd prefer a bit less drama.

I was sitting in the yellow Notts County fan zone. It was lively and everyone around me was in good spirits. The atmosphere was tense, but we celebrated each goal as if we had won. The Chesterfield fans did well - I thought they sang more than we did. Thankfully, we won. There were many fist bumps in the air and lots of jumping around. On my way home, I couldn’t stop singing Notts chants!

All the coaching staff deserve credit, with Luke Williams at the forefront. I think people forget about the assistant head coach and the coaching team that works with the players leading up to kick-off.

It has vastly improved under the Reedtz brothers. When was the last time we had a full team? Other than that, I think Aden Baldwin, Matt Palmer, and Cedwyn Scott are all unsung heroes.

6 hours ago, Chris said:

As for players, I think each one of them is starting to be acknowledged for what they bring at an individual level.

In my eyes, there's no one more of an underdog or unsung hero than Matt Palmer (perhaps Sam Slocombe).

Sam Slocombe seems to receive some harsh criticism that previous keepers managed to avoid. I don’t understand how it’s easy to defend Ross Fitzsimons while blaming Slocombe when he works his gloves off to keep us in games.

Notts County is full of unsung heroes, both on and off the pitch. On the pitch, Connell Rawlinson is a rock at the back, making vital tackles and headers to keep us in the promotion race. Off the pitch, Luke Williams and Ryan Harley are masterminds of tactics and motivation, while Lewis Saleem keeps us looking sharp and fresh in our kits. They all deserve a round of applause and a pint.

the players are incredible, i try not to bother them. i have reached out to a couple like kyle cameron and jim o brien. i hoped they would get in touch with @Chris when he was having a bad time. i had emailed the club many times, nobody replied which i thought was poor. i know they get busy but it made me feel like the clubs stance on mental health was nothing more than a front to look good.

jim put me in contact with a staff member called charlie, i think hes great.

as i say, i have never asked for a photo or signature. i have a few signed prints that chris has done. i love them! i need to get a few more for my house tbh. i sing and clap, try to encourage the players.

i think tom weal is brilliant, as is luke williams and ryan the assistant.

What you have done @liampie is incredibly kind, I don't wish for things and I just want to promote the club the healthy way that I have been doing for 13 years now. It doesn't take anything anyway and is a grand gesture by you to try. I didn't know until I received an e-mail that you had spoken to the club. ❤

I want to put on record again my thanks to all the players, they've always been most kind when it comes to signing things.

I try not to bother any of them, but you can get wind swept especially when you have seasons like this. I have looked up to Jim O'Brien since I first met him. He's always taken the time to speak, and I remember one time he walked past me, whilst I tried to hide behind @callum2569 and @super_pie, then waved and said hello. Last season I unexpectedly got asked if I could get him a t-shirt I had designed featuring him. He wanted it for his dad, I felt incredibly proud, and I never knew what the outcome was with that. I hope his dad likes the t-shirt. It's one of those incredible things you wouldn't dream of happening.

This season we thought it would be nice to include another print of him for his son, a gesture I thought would be nice for his lad.

Likewise, Kyle Cameron has been amazing. He's such a nice guy. I kept shaking when he signed this season's prints, and he told me it was okay, he would wait. I don't think we could get that respect from players higher up.

As I say, I try not to bother them. I've always tried to keep back, though I had pictures in the past with the players. Starting the Pride of Nottingham has been an amazing journey. I'm grateful for the positive things that have come from it. As I said, I never thought about any of this. I just wanted to showcase my love for the club. I hoped others would too.

i think the style of football notts plays would adapt well to league two. i know people say that the national league is a division where you cant play pretty football but notts has proven this is wrong. provided that we keep the main players like ruben rodrigues, kyle cameron and aarone nemane we should still be very much focused on attacking.

the main issue i see is from a defensive point of few, will we be able to cut out the set pieces, slowness to start games and cut out the switching off when the game is hard or we are doing well.

I believe the club will have been preparing for our return the moment the Reedtz brothers took over. We have been building and adding to the squad; each season since our relegation to the National League the team has improved. Luke Williams will evaluate our team's needs to determine where we need more support and where we can add some luxury players like Jodi Jones who can change games.

He will carefully examine every aspect and provide valuable insight to help us optimise our team's performance. After analysing our options, he will make strategic decisions to bolster our squad and improve our chances of winning. With his keen eye for talent and understanding of the game, we can trust his judgment and expertise in shaping our team's future. I think we just need to avoid becoming complacent and retain the hard-working approach that Williams' has installed.

With the club's return to the Football League, they can explore new methods to generate revenue. Additionally, we will receive financial support from the higher-ups.In addition, we should still continue to pick up televised games. Yet this time with Sky Sports.

I believe we have a good enough squad as things stand to have a proper go at League Two.

Ok so I'm a forest fan. But I cant be more delighted to see Notts back in the football league.

For Notts to finish on 107 points and not get promoted would of been a travesty.

Overall the 2 best teams in the league got promoted. 

Promotion is more important than performance, but Notts didn’t put in a terrible display.

A lot of it can be attributed to nerves and not adjusting quickly enough to Chesterfield’s fast attacks. They pushed Notts and the defenders couldn’t find much space. Good teams in League Two will find ways to close us down, so it’s clear that we need to focus on this area.

I thought Archie Mair’s saves were superb for a young keeper. He kept his cool and did remarkably well.

Seeing the celebrations unfold on the pitch brought back happy memories of the 90s. It was great to see the players finally relax and laugh it off.

I went to the semi final at Meadow Lane with my family, that game was so nerve racking but thoroughly enjoyable. I really wanted to go to Wembley but my son and family were away on holiday so I had no one to go with (Billy no mates) which is a shame because being realistic it’s possibly the last time I’ll get the chance at my age. However I watched on the telly with Mrs. Fan of Big Tone, what a match it was and it was fantastic to see our fans celebrating at the end I was so jealous. The result brought me to tears I was so emotional to see us return to the league. 
 

What a master stroke by Luke Williams to bring on young Archie Mair, those penalty saves were tremendous. 

I can’t wait until next season.

The story of Sam Slocombe and Archie Mair is one worth telling. Both goalkeepers played their part in our success and deserve recognition for their contributions. While we should praise Mair for his excellent penalty saves, we must also acknowledge the important role that Slocombe has played for the club

I hope Tiernan Brooks gets more playing time next season. He seems like a talented goalkeeper. If Sam Slocombe gets released due to his hip issues, I think it would be best to prioritize experience when looking for a replacement.

It's been an incredible season, where two keepers filled in without any disappointment. As for the playoff final, Archie Mair has placed his name into the history books, and we have him to thank for promotion. Without his saves, it would've been a lot more stressful.

The tale of two keepers at Wembley was a genius idea by Luke Williams. If it hadn’t paid off, I believe most fans would agree that it made sense to bring on Archie Mair given his previous saves for Notts from the spot.

its just a message to manage their fans disappointment but they should be happy with the performance, they did well. it just was not their day when it cames to the pens.

It is said that their manager now has a bigger budget to advance from the National League. This league appears to be more average since us and Wrexham are no longer part of it. I think they will have plenty of regrets, they played well in the first half and should've sealed their chances then. They pushed us back in the second half, but failed to hold onto the lead for a second time.

I think in this situation, having lost on penalties Notts would have regrets.

It's just something you say to the media to mask your upset, as a means to avoid causing negativity within the fanbase ahead of a new season.

Chesterfield will be gutted - they won’t be happy about losing the game. Anything like this is just PR management by their media team.

its a good article, i am not used to people posting all this good stuff on our club.

the picture they used looks like archie mair is about the score an own goal by bicycle kicking it into his own net.

Good article, promotion does help to move forward.

I hope that next season, if we aren't doing as well as most fans would like, that people reflect on this and where we have come from in such a short amount of time. Not that I think we will, but there's always the chance of something unknowingly occurring to change our fortunes. I know I have spoken about the chance of us being in the running for back to back promotions. I would be happy with a mid-table finish.

Mostly for the reason that it's sometimes hard for teams to adopt back to the Football League.

We may play silky and stylish football, which looks like Championship quality at its best, but there's no guarantee of winning. I am very optimistic, but at the same time I am mindful and cautious not to overdo my expectations.

incredible, i never thought that i would get so emotional about a football game. i have fallen in love with this club and i felt that @GrannyPie, jason turner and colin slater were all present in spirit. seeing the players lift the trophy and winning on pens., it was hard not to get emotional. what a club we have! 

I absolutely adored witnessing the jubilant festivities surrounding the National League trophy. One snapshot in particular stood out to me, like a scene from a child's dream of winning the celebrated FA Cup. It showed Kyle Cameron delicately embracing the shiny trophy, as though he had spent the entire night snuggled up with it. Simply heart-warming!

A quick search, I couldn't locate that image, but I did come across this which I thought was funny.

It had my girls in stitches when they watched, I am told.

it is an incredible to see how quickly the reedtz brothers put foundations, i thought luke williams showed class by giving credit to neal ardley and ian burchnall.

I truly regret not having the opportunity to print out and deliver this comment to certain Notts fans present at Wembley. Frankly, I was deeply disappointed by a multitude of nonsensical remarks that were voiced. Yes, it's football, but these clueless people really need to take things into perspective. I thought Notts would've given Chesterfield a better start, but whining about it and shouting nonsense just adds to the tension.

From almost not having a club, to four years later celebrating being promoted at Wembley to the Football League.

With the squad that we have, it's hard not to get optimistic about the club's future.

archie mair's saves proved vital, i am pleased that he managed to get onto the pitch and experience the promoton. he ended up playing a far bigger role than he probably thought he would. as for cedwyn scott is was an incredible moment when he scored. he sealed the game and after he missed the wrexham game i feel he has every right to forget about that miss. i never personally blamed him.

Both speak so well, I think the emotions bring it home, and it's nice that many of the players had their chance to give their own interviews. I know it's always going to be the case when a team is promoted, yet Wrexham only had a handful of players talk on camera. Somehow, BT Sports, the Wembley host and the Notts media team managed to cover pretty much everyone who played a part in the massive victory.

Archie Mair, what a penalty saver! I am also pleased for Cedwyn Scott who put his Wrexham miss behind him.

just class his comments, as i said elsewhere giving credit to neal ardley and ian burchnall says what a manager we have. he takes nothing for granted, keeps calm and understand what impacts a successful club. retaining him here will be massive, i hope he commits because we could progress further as a club together. i would hate to see him leave for reading and for him to end up like ian burchnall, i think hes more switched on and a lot more loyal than burchnall.

Luke Williams is a tactical genius and a manager who leads by example. His connection to the squad is very uplifting. His interviews are usually always on point, focused and full of praise for people other than himself. Such a decent person, who smiles and brings delight.

I would encourage all who comment to this, to take a look at @TheSkipper's discussion: Let's give Luke the praise he deserves!