What really grates with County fans is that for most of their history they have played second fiddle to those newcomers on the block, Nottingham Forest, not formed until 1865. Notts County have been up and down, more down than up in truth, the Divisions. They fell out of Division One for the last time pre-World War II in 1926, and by 1959 had reached the low point of Division Four. The Sixties and early Seventies saw them bouncing around the lower two divisions until two spells under Jimmy Sirrel had them claw their way back up to Division One, where they briefly survived from 1981-84. They then suffered back-to-back relegations. As famous and less famous name managers came and went County have settled into a mostly Division Two (League One) team in the last decade, with a couple of relegations to Division Three (League Two) thrown in. Their money problems became so dire that last season there was serious concern that the World's Oldest League Club mantle would pass onto new shoulders. New owners kept them afloat financially, just, but couldn't keep them up.

Notts County have won the F.A. Cup - in 1894. More recent silverware came through the Anglo-Italian Cup in 1995 and the Division Three Championship 1997-98.

Only older Yeovil fans will recall the trip to Meadow Lane in 1961 (a 4-2 loss), and they'll not recognise the place at all. The stadium was completely rebuilt in the 1990's and comprises four single tier stands. Away fans get the huge Kop End which can accommodate 5,400 supporters.

Ins and outs :

players signed
Mathew Gill - two year contract from Peterborough United on 21st May 2004
Chris Palmer - two year contract from Derby County on 1st July 2004
Mike Whitlow - two year contract from Sheffield United on 1st July 2004
Julien Baudet - two year contract from Rotherham United on 1st July 2004
Mike Edwards - two year contract from Grimsby Town on 1st July 2004
Glynn Hurst - two year contract from Chesterfield on 1st July 2004
Gavin Gordon - two year contract from Cardiff City on 1st July 2004
Robert Ullathorne - two year contract from Northampton Town on 1st July 2004

signed professional terms
Kelvin Wilson - signed a two year contract in July 2004

signed new contracts
Tony Scully - signed a new two year contract in May 2004

released
Frazer McHugh, Mark Briggs, Jonathan Bewers, Nick Fenton, Ian Baraclough, Kevin Nicholson, Stuart Garden, Simon Baldry and Paul Riley

sold
Paul Heffernan - rejected offer of a new contract and signed for Bristol City; fee of £125,000 with £25,000 on appearances plus a sell-on.

contracts terminated
Tony Hackworth - contract cancelled by mutual consent on 4th June 2004

backroom changes
arriving - Darron Gee, Assistant Manager; Steve Spooner, Centre of Excellence Manager; Neville Hamilton - Youth Team Manager
change of role - John Gaunt to First Team Coach.
departing - Gary Brazil, Centre of Excellence Manager; Trevor Powell, Youth Development Officer: Alan Travis - COE Physio

Prediction corner:
Of all the clubs in League Two we have less experience of Notts County than any other, except perhaps Grimsby - and in their case at least we are familiar with the manager from his Scarborough days. However a prediction has to made, and Ciderspace's opinion is that Notts County will make the most impact of any of the six new entrants into the division. In fact we're going to stick our necks out and forecast immediate success, with automatic promotion in 3rd place.

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RECENT RESULTS

06/10/2009

Bradford City

Away

JPT2

D

2-2

3701

Westcarr 10, Facey 85

FORTHCOMING FIXTURES

CLUB GOALSCORERS

Name	LGE	FAC	FAT	LGC	CC	Total
Delroy Facey	0	0	0	1	0	1
Craig Westcarr	0	0	0	1	0	1

ATTENDANCE STATISTICS

Highest League Attendance: 0, vs ,
Lowest League Attendance: 999999, vs ,
Average League Attendance: Not Applicable

CURRENT LEAGUE SEQUENCE STATISTICS

Games Without A Win:	0		Games Without A Home Win:	0
Games Without An Away Win:	0		Games Without Defeat:	0
Games Without A Home Defeat:	0		Games Without An Away Defeat:	0
Games Without A Draw:	0		Games Without A Score Draw:	0
Games Without A No-Score Draw:	0		Games Without Scoring:	0
Games Without Conceding:	0		Home Results Sequence:
Away Results Sequence:			Overall Results Sequence:

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follow the signs for Nottingham on the A453. Continue through Clifton, passing the Trent University on your left hand side. At the next set of traffic lights continue straight over and follow the signs for West Bridgeford (B679). Continue for two miles and at the junction turn left onto the A60. Continue over Trent Bridge and take the first right at the lights into Cattle Market Road. Meadow Lane is on your right hand side.

For those coming from the North exit at Junction 26 of the M1:

take the A610 to Nottingham. If you know where you are going there is a shorter route but it's probably simpler to join the Ring Road once reached and follow the signs for 'Football Traffic'. You'll eventually pass the City Ground on your left. Cross over Lady Bay Bridge and turn left at the bottom onto Meadow Lane. Carry straight on and the ground is in front of you.

There is plenty of parking around the area. The Cattle Market (£2.50 last year) is the most convenient for away fans, and there's the club car park off Meadow Lane (£3.00 last year). The mean cost conscious can track down off-street parking, but will probably have to walk that bit further.

By Rail

Nottingham is served by three train companies : Midland Mainline, Central Trains and Virgin Trains. London trains for Nottingham leave from St. Pancras. There are a couple of direct trains an hour, with a journey time of about an hour and three-quarters. Alternatively there are services with a change at Leicester. Journey time from Birmingham New Street is about one hour fifteen minutes.
Meadow Lane is around a ten minute walk from Nottingham station. Come out of the station entrance, turn left and left again. Follow the road down to the dual carriageway and then turn right, cross the road and keep walking until you see County's ground on your left, over the Trent Bridge.

By Air

If anyone fancies flying East Midland Airport is fourteen miles from Meadow Lane.

By Bus

Routes 6, 10 and 11 from the city centre go past Meadow Lane. Services are every ten minutes. Not quite the great days I recall when travel in Nottingham was a flat rate 10p for the day, but the bus service is still excellent and cheap. Adult single fares are 60p, 80p and £1.10 but a City Rider is probably best value, allowing all day travel for £2.20. Nottingham also has a tram line but it doesn't run by the stadium.

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There are a host of fast food outlets all along the Radcliffe Road in the vicinity of the football and cricket grounds.

For those wanting to stay the weekend that King of Nightlife Will Ranner suggests: the bars down by the canal (near the station) are the best for a night out; or the bars and clubs around the new(ish) cinema complex in town.

Club Bar :

The Supporters' Club does not admit away fans. Inside the ground there are alcohol outlets on the concourses and food huts at either end of the Kop Stand with the usual range of football ground snacks for sale.

Local Pubs :

Down on the river bank © Hugh Gleave Casa Bar & Restaurant: Rather bland middle-of-the-road outlet that does most things you could want, and does them moderately well. Nice location on the embankment down by the Trent, with a large patio for good weather. The YTISA crew that descended there on the County trip seemed to like it. About five or so minutes walk to the away ends of both grounds. Casa Bar & Restaurant, Arkwright Street, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, NG2 2GS. Tel: 0115 9852287. Map: Click Here.

Closest pub to the away end - the Meadow Lane away end. © Hugh Gleave Cattle Market Tavern: One of the closest pubs to Meadow Lane, just a few yards to the North, off the A6011, which is convenient for the away end. However so near to the ground it's crowded with home fans on matchdays, as well as people at the market. Might be useful if you are using that car park on a trip to the City Ground, as Notts County will by definition be away and it'll be quieter. Right in the middle of the former Cattle Market, which is now a general market, work shops and pay & display car park all thrown together. Cheery chaos sums the whole mixture up. Cattle Market Tavern, Cattle Market Road, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, NG2 3GY. Tel: 0115 9862679. Map: Click Here.

Home fan orientated © Hugh Gleave Globe: A few minutes walk from either ground, between the canal and the river. Completely refurbished in 2001; originally called The Greyhound, and briefly DC's Bar. Opening was 11-11, with reasonably priced food served from 12.00 - 8.00 p.m. Five or six real ales are usually available, with a concentration on local breweries. Also stocked a cider when visited last. Has a TV and big screen. 'Strictly No Children' notice on the door when we called in. Own parking. A couple of passing locals opined that as away fans we should steer clear; however although the bunting was hardly put out it didn't feel hostile either when we ignored the warning and ventured in. Globe, 152, London Road, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, NG2 3BQ. Tel: 0115 9866881. Map: Click Here.

Lots of waitresses with their assets up front © Hugh Gleave Hooters: Just off the A60 between the station and the grounds. A bar/restaurant with er, special attractions in the waitress service......... the clue is in the name. Of course the product may not be exactly as portrayed on the label the day you visit, but life's a bitch. Don't expect a family atmosphere though. Food and drink is in the American style. Five minutes or so walk from the Meadow Lane, ten or so from the City Ground. Opening was 12.00 - 12.00 Mondays - Thursdays, and 11.30 a.m. - 2.00 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays - no idea if that still holds as their website concentrates on other er, points rather than possibly useful bits of info like opening times. Moved to the new building shown - just across the road from the previous site if you went pre-2006 Hooters, Hicking Building, Great Northern Close, London Road, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, NG2 3AS. Tel: 0115 9588111. Website: Click Here. Map: Click Here.

Lloyds No. 1 Bar: In the heart of the city, converted from a bank of the same name. Opening is 11.00 a.m - midnight. The beer is cheap, with an ever changing selection, and food is served all day. Up to 9.00 p.m. families with children are welcome; thereafter the music is turned up and it gets packed with the younger (or as Mr Ranner less politely puts it chavscum townies) drinking element. Lloyds No. 1 Bar, 1, Carlton Street, Hockley, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, NG1 1NL. Tel: 0115 9881660. Map: Click Here.

Lord Nelson: One mile from the railway station, and one mile from the ground. Two cottages knocked into a pub, this outlet looks like a rural inn dropped into the city. There are four rooms, and the beers are from the Hardys & Hansons range - bitter, mild, Olde Trip and seasonals. There is a nice garden, which is pleasant on fine days early or late in the season. Food is served at lunchtimes, when some smoking restrictions apply. Opening is 11.00 a.m. - 3.00 p.m. and 5.00 p.m. - 11.00 p.m. weekdays, and 11.00 a.m. - 4.00 p.m. and 5.30 p.m. - 11.00 p.m. on Saturdays. Will Ranner's local knowledge puts a health warning on this pub, though it may well have changed since last he was there. Lord Nelson, 11, Thurgarton Street, Sneinton, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, NG2 4AJ. Tel: 0115 9110069. Map: Click Here.

Magpies: 1950's pub relatively convenient for all the major sporting venues in Nottingham - about 15 minutes walk from Meadow Lane stadium. Named after Notts County (they are of course The Magpies) there's a bar with pool and Sky TV, and a lounge. Has its own badged house beer, Magpie Bitter, brewed by Brewster's near Melton Mowbray. Other beers are Adnams Broadside, Brewster's Meek & Mild and guests. Food is served lunchtimes and weekday evenings. Opening is 11 a.m. - 3.00 p.m. and 5.00 p.m. - 11.00 p.m. Monday - Thursday, and 11.00 a.m. - 11.00 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Own parking. Magpies, Meadow Lane, Daleside Road, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, NG2 3GG. Tel: 0115 9118877. Map: Click Here.

Southbank Bar: Less than half a mile from Meadow Lane, but across the river. Good venue if you want to take in an inspection of the other football stadium and the cricket ground, as it's right outside Trent Bridge. Sister pub to the Globe (above). Three real ales are on offer, including one from the Mallard microbrewery in Nottingham. The outlet does good food and has plenty of sports coverage on numerous televisions. For some reason whilst a review guide for Notts County recommends it as fine for away supporters, one in the same publication for Notts Forest says away fans should avoid it. Southbank Bar, 1, Bridgford House, Bridgford Road, West Bridgford, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, NG2 6AN. Tel: 0115 9455541. Map: Click Here.

Trent Bridge Inn: A shortish - five or so minute - walk along the A60 across the other side of the river from Meadow Lane. Was recommended by Will Ranner (ex-Nottingham Uni) but no longer, as he walked in.......and straight out again. Trent Bridge Inn, 2, Radcliffe Road West, Bridgford, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, NG2 6AA. Tel: 0115 9822786. Map: Click Here.

Home end pub © Hugh Gleave Trent Navigation Inn: Pretty rough and tatty looking pub on the canal at the home end of Meadow Lane. Open but up for sale in 2004-05. Trent Navigation Inn, 17, Meadow Lane, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, NG2 3HS. Tel: 0115 9868122. Map: Click Here.

One of our favourite pubs on the L1 circuit - great beer © Hugh Gleave Vat & Fiddle: A couple of hundred yards from the railway station, and 0.8 of a mile from Meadow Lane, and something over the mile to the City Ground. Next door to Tynemill's Castle Rock Brewery, it serves their ales, and guests, and German and Belgian beers - anything up to ten different ones in total at a time. A cider or two also usually available. There are seventy malt whiskies stocked. Food was very basic the four times we've been: chilli on one occasion, and a range of filled rolls on the other three. Food was billed as 12.00 noon - 3.00 p.m., but they may or may not do something in the evening too - depends if the staff turn up. Pub opening is 11.00 a.m. - 11.00 p.m. (and midnight on Friday and Saturday). The beer was absolutely top notch - kept and served perfectly. Seems to quietly allow children, certainly at lunchtime, though this does run counter to pretty much all the other Tynemill pubs we've come across previously, which have had a 'no children' policy. Has TV. The building work scheduled in 2006 was over by our last visit. Completely unpretentious and not much to look at outside or in, but if you like good beer this is the pub to head for. Vat & Fiddle, 12-14, Queen's Bridge Road, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, NG2 1NB. Tel: 0115 9850611. Fax: 985 1615. Map: Click Here.

Oldest pub in England - it claims © Hugh Gleave Ye Olde Trip To Jerusalem: Although a good walk from the stadiums - just under and just over the mile and a half - this has to get a mention. It is claimed as the oldest continuously used site for an inn in England, dating from 1189. The pub is a warren of small rooms, with the oldest parts cut into the rock beneath the castle. The current building itself dates from 1660. Local brewers Hardys & Hansons own the inn and so dominate its selection of beers, with their Kimberley Bitter, Kimberley Mild and Olde Trip as regulars. They do a wide selection of seasonal ale. A special brew, William Clarke Strong Ale, is sold only here and in one other pub in the country. The menu is fairly extensive, but rather what one expects of pubs of this ilk these days - Nachos, Cajun, Lasagne, Chicken Tikka Masala, Gammon, Steak, BBQ Chicken, various Burgers etc. - i.e. plenty of choice, but all rather unadventurous pub cuisine. There are children's options, and they are welcome up to early evening (6.00 p.m.) whilst food is still being served. Opening is 10.30 a.m. - 11.00 p.m. Monday - Wednesday, 10.30 a.m. - 12.00 midnight Thursday - Saturday, 11.00 a.m. - 11.00 p.m. Sunday. Only around five minutes walk from Nottingham Railway Station for those arriving by train. Attractive courtyard to sit in in good weather. Very touristy, as one would expect. Ye Olde Trip To Jerusalem, 1, Brewhouse Yard, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, NG1 6AD. Tel: 0115 9473171. Website: Click Here. Map: Click Here.

Likelihood the Natives Will Understand You :

Pretty cosmopolitan place, Nottingham, providing you stick to the city. Venture into Sherwood at your peril though.

Top-Tip :

Robin Hood, Robin Hood,
Riding through the glen,
Robin Hood, Robin Hood,
With his band of men,
Feared by the bad, loved by the good,
Robin Hood! Robin Hood! Robin Hood!

He called the greatest archers
To a tavern on the green,
They vowed to help the people of the king,
They handled all the trouble
On the English country scene,
And still found plenty of time to sing.

Robin Hood, Robin Hood,
Riding through the glen,
Robin Hood, Robin Hood,
With his band of men,
Feared by the bad, loved by the good,
Robin Hood! Robin Hood! Robin Hood!

Go on, sing it at the pub. You know you want to!

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[No responsibilty is taken for any inaccuracies. This page is entirely the product of bias and prejudice.]

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