Meadow Lane, home of Notts County. Photo © 2005 Ciderspace

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.

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. They're certainly not a club for the faint-hearted - as of 2010's rise into League One, they had managed a total of 13 promotion seasons and 15 relegation seasons during their history. 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 and again in 2009-10.

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. As an established Football League club, you'll find many famous managerial names associated with them - Jimmy Sirrel (whose name you'll find has christened one of the new Meadow Lane stands), Neil Warnock, Howard Kendall, Sam Allardyce, and although not as manager, Sven-Göran Eriksson.

The Jimmy Sirrel Stand - named after a former manager. Photo © 2005 Ciderspace

At the time Yeovil Town first played Notts County in the Football League, they had reached a real low in their history. Relegated in the summer of 2004, the previous season had seen money problems that were so dire that 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 they dropped into League Two, where we rubbed shoulders during the 2004-05 season.

Matters continued to get worse - in the 2005-06 season, they avoided relegation from the Football League on the final day of the season, whilst in 2007-08 they were only saved on the penultimate game. It was only in the summer of 2009 that matters began to turn around, albeit through somewhat artificial means, rather than through organic growth.

At this point, a book could probably be written. In fact it would be surprising if a book isn't eventually written. Exactly why a Middle-Eastern Consortium would want to take over a floundering (no offence intended) League Two side isn't particularly obvious. Known as Munto Finance, and backed by Qadbak Investments, the exact identity of the people who took over Notts County has never been truly explained. The national press went to town, claiming that the Qatari royal family were behind it all; something that was later denied. In came former England boss Sven-Göran Eriksson as a Director of Football, Kasper Schmeichel as a high profile goalkeeper paid a million pounds a year, and in came England centre-back Sol Campbell on a five year contract - which lasted one game. Other players like striker Lee Hughes, more used to plying his trade at Championship and League One level contributed to a clearly oversized wage bill.

Did Munto Finance ever sink any money into Meadow Lane? Highly debatable. Just five months after they had bought the club, and only two months after the Football League had concluded a laborious research into the Fit and Proper status of the club's owners and directors, Munto decided to sod off, as did Sven, as did manager Hans Backe, and the circus was finally at an end.

The Family Stand - unusually for most grounds this one is behind the goal. Photo © 2005 Ciderspace

New owners came in - Notts County Chief Executive Peter Trembling, who had acted as the public front of Munto Finance, did a management buyout for the sum of £1.00, but with the slight snag that he was to inherit £6 million of debts and a nice load of contractual commitments. Trembling lasted two months before the game of pass-the-parcel continued, with former Lincoln City Chairman Ray Trew took over the club, with the task of dealing with HMRC breathing down their necks, and the need to hold their promotion position whilst under a Football League transfer embargo - the League shutting the stable door after the horse had gone. Steve Cotterill managed a three month spell that guided them to the League Two title, albeit with plenty of derision from their rivals, suggesting that County had 'bought' the title. In fairness, whilst the accusation was probably justified, True and Cotterill were the ones who had inherited someone else's mad spendathon.

Onto this season and back in League One, Ray True will hopefully be the football-oriented Chairman that County really needed, rather than a bunch of fantasists claiming that they were going to take them to the Premier League in five seasons. He's appointed former Notts County player Craig Short as the man to replace Cotterill. How well the Magpies do at their new level will depend significantly on whether True is sat on any legacy timebombs. As a club, in normal circumstances they are capable of sustaining a position in the third tier, but its only in the years to come that we'll truly discover what damage Munto's five months has caused.

The Derek Pavis Stand - one of the side stands. Photo © 2005 Ciderspace

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RECENT RESULTS

07/08/2010	Huddersfield Town	Home	NPL1	L	0-3	10342
07/08/2010	Huddersfield Town	Home	NPL1	L	0-3	10342
14/08/2010	Oldham Athletic	Away	NPL1	L	0-3	5037
21/08/2010	Dagenham and Redbridge	Home	NPL1	W	1-0	5210		Westcarr 53
28/08/2010	AFC Bournemouth	Away	NPL1	D	3-3	6447		Burgess 30, Westcarr 90, Smith 90

FORTHCOMING FIXTURES

CLUB GOALSCORERS

Name	LGE	FAC	FAT	LGC	CC	Total
Craig Westcarr	2	0	0	0	0	2
Kevin Smith	1	0	0	0	0	1
Ben Burgess	1	0	0	0	0	1

ATTENDANCE STATISTICS

Highest League Attendance: 10342, vs Huddersfield Town, 07/08/2010
Lowest League Attendance: 5210, vs Dagenham and Redbridge, 21/08/2010
Average League Attendance: 7776

CURRENT LEAGUE SEQUENCE STATISTICS

Games Without A Win:	1		Games Without A Home Win:	0
Games Without An Away Win:	2		Games Without Defeat:	2
Games Without A Home Defeat:	1		Games Without An Away Defeat:	1
Games Without A Draw:	0		Games Without A Score Draw:	0
Games Without A No-Score Draw:	4		Games Without Scoring:	0
Games Without Conceding:	0		Home Results Sequence:	LW
Away Results Sequence:	LD		Overall Results Sequence:	LLWD

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Helpful sign in case you end up at the 'other' Nottingham ground. Photo © 2005 Ciderspace
Address : Meadow Lane Stadium Meadow Lane Nottingham NG2 3HJ (click for map) Telephone Number : 0115 9529000 Fax : 0115 9553994 Email: office@nottscountyfc.co.uk Chairman : Ray Trew Press Officer : Ralph Shepherd Fixtures Secretary : Tony Cuthbert Manager : Craig Short Capacity : 20,300 Seated : all seater stadium Terrace : n/a Record Attendance : 47,310 v York City, F.A. Cup Sixth Round, 12th March 1955 Nickname : The Magpies Colours : shirts - black and white stripes; shorts - black; socks - black	Ticket Prices : When we last visited Meadow Lane, in the 2004-05 season, it was £16.00 (adult) for visiting fans to sit in the rather nice new Kop End. Since then County have made a few er, headlines: spent masses of money they didn't have; signed heaps of players, and a Director of Football, they couldn't afford; targetted being in the Premier League in four years; and generally made arses of themselves. Now reality has returned, but the new regime has to get the club back on an even keel somehow and yes, gentle reader, you've guessed it, amongst those paying for the previous shambles is the lucky away fan. Shoved into a corner of the Jimmy Sirrel Stand, with a far poorer view, we can now pay an eye-watering £23.00 for that privilege. Whoo hoo! There are 2,024 seats allocated to away fans - we think that ought to be enough. It is all pay-on-the-day for visiting supporters, no advance sales: adult £23.00 (up £7.00); over-65 and student £14.00 (concession was over-60, and is up £4.00); under-16 £6.00 (up £2.00). Disabled Info : Disabled supporters will be admitted with a 25 percent reduction on the above set of prices, with an assistant admitted free of charge. County say that "tickets for personal assistants will only be provided when the Ticket Office is presented with proof of their role". Note that although there are a total of 75 wheelchair spaces in the stadium, including in the Jimmy Sirrel Stand, Notts County appear to house wheelchair disabled supporters in the Haydn Green Family Stand only - at the opposite end of the ground for visiting fans. There are 30 spaces available at this end. For Ambulant Disabled supporters there are 56 dedicated spaces available in the Jimmy Sirrel Stand. Only six parking spaces are reserved on site, shared between both home and away fans. Wheelchair users get priority. Toilets adapted for the disabled are located in the Derek Pavis Stand, Jimmy Sirrel Stand and Family Stand. Catering outlets are found in the concourses. The counters are not dedicated - steward assistance on request. Disabled supporters are requested by Notts County to contact the club in advance to make arrangements on 0115 9557 204 or via e-mail at office@nottscountyfc.co.uk.
The Kop End - away fans used to have this, but now it's for home fans only. Photo © 2005 Ciderspace

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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 is the most convenient for away fans and is slightly cheaper than the club car park off Meadow Lane. Six years ago you were talking around £2.50-£3.00 to park there, so factor in a bit of inflation for both. The mean cost conscious can track down off-street parking, but will probably have to walk that bit further.

Outside the main stand at Meadow Lane. Photo © 2005 Ciderspace

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 canal 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 £1.60 but a day ticket is probably best value, allowing all day travel for £3.20. If you're buying your rail ticket at an outlet that recognises the 'PlusBus' scheme, you can knock this down to £2.70 if you buy both at the same time. 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 Kop Stand there were alcohol outlets on the concourses but we are not sure if these are inside the Jimmy Sirrel Stand in the away section now we've been moved there.

The Meadow Lane social club - no away fans allowed in. Photo © 2005 Ciderspace

Local Pubs :

Canal House: Castle Rock beers. A listed three storey pub that used to be a canal warehouse. The canal actually runs through the inside of the pub, making this one of the more unusual pubs in the city and worth it just to see the location. You'll find some of the narrow boats moored up inside the pub. Situated just north of the station, walking away from the grounds. Food served daily. Large covered beer garden. Canal House, 48-52 Canal Street, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, NG1 7EH. Tel: 0115 9555060. Map: Click Here.

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.

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. Fax: 0115 9418560. Email: info@hooters-uk.com. 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 500 year old 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. More recent reports suggest that Greene King have taken over this pub and are sadly putting their beer and influence into the place. There is a nice garden, which is pleasant on fine days early or late in the season. A covered shelter serves the smokers in more inclement weather. Food is served at lunchtimes. 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. - midnight on Saturdays, with 11.00a.m. - 11.00 p.m. on Sundays. Lord Nelson, 11, Thurgarton Street, Sneinton, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, NG2 4AJ. Tel: 0115 9110069. Map: Click Here.

News House: Situated in the same road as the Canal House, a little further east. Castle Rock beers. A two roomed pub that includes pub games such as darts and bar billiards. Only does food on Tues-Fri lunchtimes though. Worth it if you're in that part of town, but probably not the most essential of Nottingham's pubs. News House, 123 Canal Street, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, NG1 7HB. Tel: 0115 950 2419. Map: Click Here.

Salutation Inn: North of the railway station and therefore moving away from the two grounds, but a little different to some of the other pubs. A pub for the discerning rocker, you can even get Heavy Metal Karaoke if you're staying there on a Friday night. Late night licence as well. Along with a rotating range of beers, they also do a wide range of 60 different ciders. Food served all day. If you're there on the Saturday night, the pub is also the starting point for the Nottingham Ghost Walk, which leaves at 6.55p.m. - the pub is situated above Nottingham's labyrinth of caves, which forms the end part of the walk. Opening hours: Sunday to Thursday 12.00 till Midnight. Friday & Saturday 12.00 till 02.00 am. Salutation Inn, Houndsgate, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, NG1 7AA. Tel: 0115 988 1948. Website: Click Here. 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). Four real ales are on offer, including one from the Mallard microbrewery in Nottingham. Their website keeps a running list of what they've got on at any given time. 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. Fax: 0115 9144209. Website: Click Here. 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: Back in 2004, this pub was rough and tatty looking and was up for sale, and its only redeeming feature was that it was very close to the ground. More recent reports suggest that it got a major refurbishment in 2009, which their website's pictures back up, and we're now talking eight rotating real ales, and plans to hold their own ale festivals. They are also the only pub that permanently serves beer from the local Magpie Brewery. Four big screen TVs show Sky Sports. The only snag is that with it being in Meadow Lane itself, we're talking a pub full to the rafters with home fans on match days. Trent Navigation Inn, 17, Meadow Lane, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, NG2 3HS. Tel: 0115 9868122. Email: info@trentnavigation.co.uk. Website: Click Here. 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 six times we've been: chilli on a couple of occasions, and a range of filled rolls on the others. 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 has always been 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 brewery's Harvest Pale is the Supreme Champion Beer of Britain 2010. Completely unpretentious and not much to look at outside or in, but if you like good beer this is the pub in Nottingham 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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