Issue 3

BLACK & WHITE #3 - DEC ‘12 - £1

a Notts County fanzine

GARY LIDDLE KEITH CURLE LEE HUGHES

Centre-back wants full time gig

His season so far

Time to say goodbye

ALSO BURCH AWAY DAYS NOTTS MAD THE 150th Year WESTWELL &

MORE

INTRODUCTION

Issue three. We got here eventually! Such was the lateness in getting to print that we missed the opportunity to make more fuss about Lee Hughes leaving the club like he did last week.

Depending on where you stand, his departure is either a massive loss, or an even greater relief.

The sideshow that comes with him may have gone, but just perhaps with it have gone our chances of promotion chances?

Whether Keith Curle is still here by the time this lands in your hands is another question altogether as well. Hopefully Jacob and mine’s pieces on the centre pages do each situation justice. I’m more than aware there are plenty of people that want Curle out - if he hasn’t by now, feel free to come forward with your thoughts as to why. There’s a page waiting for you. Similarly, if you’re pleased Hughes has gone, get in touch.

It was sad as well in the last few weeks to hear of the retirement of Rob Burch due to injury.

His interview with us in this issue proved to be more interesting than I’d have initially expected

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On the field, there’s little to get excited about really right now. An undefeated November has been followed up by a winless December - KC’s first stumbling block since coming in.

The season’s not over yet and promotion is still achieveable. But only just.

We’re three issues into Black & White’s lifespan and think things are going well enough now for us to go monthly from next season. We’ll continue using this season as our guinea pig, ironing out teething problems but we’ve enough writers putting work together us that we can make the transition easily enough.

Get in touch via stu@BOTNpublishing.co.uk if you want to contribute for our next issue - with Ray Trew’s comments on the Mad board, Lee Hughes and Keith Curle, it’s not as if we’re short of things to be talking about!

Stu

Pre-order Black &

the White

next issue of at the website!

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CONTENTS

WITH THANKS As usual I’ll start with thank yous to the people we’ve been fortunate enough to interview. Cheers to Dan Westwell for being so helpful, had a lot of fun putting his highlights onto these pages and hopefully they’ll bring back some great memories for people.

Cheers to Gary Liddle for taking time out to speak with Paul Smith for this issue’s interview.

And to Rob Burch for doing an email interview with us.

Sadly he wasn’t going into too much detail, but he still left us plenty to of interesting answers I thought, This issue’s fantastic contributions come courtesy of (in order of appearance) Helen Faccio, Andrew Dennis, Alan Combes, Ian Marsden, Jacob Daniel, Luke Williamson, Richard Ogando, Paul Smith, Graham Farquharson, Dave Fells and as ever Michael Johnson.

And to Lee Hughes for all his efforts whilst wearing a Notts County shirt. A player responsible for too many great memories to remember, we’ll be trying our hardest to get an interview with him in time for the next issue! Get in touch if you’ve any stories you want to share as well!

DISCLAIMER

as well.

The Season So Far ............................. 03 What Happened To Our Big Year? ......... 07 The Pie Man’s Season So Far .............. 08 Gary Liddle interview ............................ 10 A Notts Fan? You Must Be Mad! ........... 12 30 Years Of Hurt ................................ 13 Rob Burch interview .......................... 14 Graham Westley Versus The World .... 15 Curle Out? ......................................... 16 Hughes Out? ..................................... 17 ........................................................ 18 Star Soccer ...................................... 19 Away Days ......................................... 20 The A-Z Of Tom Williams ................. 21 Dan Westwell’s Top Notts Shots ......... 22 Who Nearly Ate All The Pies? ............... 24 Word Search & Mixed Up Notts ........... 25 Ligue 1, Or League 1? ....................... 27 The Jimmy Logan Story ..................... 28 We’ve Got Jonno At The Back!

.... 30

Black & White is an independent release produced by fans and as such has no official affiliation with Notts County Football Club. The views in each publication reflect those of the individual contributors themselves.

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2012/13 - THE STORY SO FAR PART TWO

By the end of issue two, Notts were hitting a rough patch. Without a defeat in the last three games at Meadow Lane and with an FA Cup First Round tie on the horizon, Keith Curle’s squad were already struggling with a number of injuries and suspensions throughout the first XI. OCTOBER 27TH, 2012

NOTTS 0, DONNY 2 Having seen great signs of improvement the Tuesday previously in the home fixture with Eddie Howe’s Bournemouth, going into the home game with Doncaster Rovers there was a sense that Notts’ home form would be steered back on track.

It wasn’t to be though. A rather sterile encounter instead was settled by two goals in as many second half minutes around the hour mark. The performances at home were only looking worse, the 2-2 draw with Bournemouth had been all but forgotten with this result.

NOVEMBER 3RD, 2012

POMPEY 0, NOTTS 2

Lane back in September.

As is the case when it’s County on the road though, we had little to fear. Goals either side of half-time, firstly from Francois Zoko and later Yoann Arquin helped secure a glamourous second round tie in New York.

No sorry, AT the New York Stadium, home of Rotherham United.

The tie was soured by a red card late in the game for the home side’s Scott Allen for an absurd swipe at Andre Boucaud. Not the best of weekends for Allen the West Brom loanee – the night previously he had been involved in a car accident which had left a man fighting for his life in hospital. It’s difficult to see how his state of mind was right mind to even be selected!

NOVEMBER 6TH, 2012

COLCHESTER 0, NOTTS 2 The next stop in the league was another hefty roadtrip, this time in midweek to Colchester United – a team drubbed not so long ago at Meadow Lane on the final day of last season.

First half goals from Neal Bishop (who by now it appeared scored when he wants) and Alan Judge saw the game out of sight even before half-time.

The result lifted County to within four points of Stevenage and Sheffield United who both sat in second place at the time.

NOVEMBER 10TH, 2012

NOTTS 1, CRAWLEY 1 With things ticking over so well away from home, we all ended up back at Meadow Lane pracically begging for a home win when Crawley Town came to visit.

A week later, the FA Cup was to offer the club some respite with a trip south to Portsmouth in the first round. A tricky tie, given the resurgent (at the time at least) form of Pompey in the League since they were soundly beaten 3-0 at Meadow

The game started brilliantly enough with some of the best football that Keith Curle’s side

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would be far more profitable for him though as he twice levelled things up to secure a valuable point on the road - keeping the unbeaten record away from home in-tact in the process. By the full time whistle, there was only one side that was going to win the game. Sadly, we couldn’t.

have played this season. The old richly-deserved lead came courtesy of now ace marksman Bishop who finished coolly after neat work in midfield from Jamal Campbell-Ryce. For the sake of confidence though, getting to half-time with a lead in-tact would be crucial.

The defence when called upon had looked unsurprisingly edgy from the offset so it was hardly the greatest shock in the world when the visitors equalised – sadly through Johnny Forte who had wound up at Town in his latest quest to find first team football.

Forte would be replaced in the second half, receiving a rousing applause from Meadow Lane in light of not being able to give him the send-off he so earned last year during his most recent loan spell. Post-match he spoke to the local press how much he would love to return given the chance. The feeling is very much mutual.

But he wasn’t the only person on the field that day to receive a standing ovation. Match official Andy Haines arguably produced the most inept refereeing performance to disgrace Meadow Lane possibly ever. The ironic cheer is now common place when referees don’t give things your way – the ironic standing ovation given to a match official who only awarded Notts two free-kicks in the whole game was a sight to behold.

The game would finish 1-1

despite County’s second half dominance – with both Arquin and Lee Hughes (more on him shortly...and later as it happens!) responsible for some glaring misses across the course of the afternoon. Disappointing – but you couldn’t argue that decent strides had been made since the flaccid display against Donny.

NOVEMBER 17TH, 2012

SCUNNY 2, NOTTS 2 When Notts made their late charge for the play-offs last season, you look back at the displays which cost the side most. The 4-2 home defeat to Bury springs to mind for most, but a 0-0 draw away Scunthorpe United was equally as costly considering it was only via goal-difference that we missed out on a shot at promotion.

That day, Lee Hughes crashed a header against the crossbar from six yards out. Easily the kind of chance that the Hughesy of old would’ve gobbled up. This year’s visit to Glanford Park

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The old Hughesy was back in more ways than one. Cited for an off the ball elbow by retrospective action, he was ruled out for three games.

NOVEMBER 20TH, 2012

PRESTON 0, NOTTS 0 The away run would continue further in a game memorable sadly for the wrong reasons.

A physical encounter at Deepdale saw Preston North End defender Scott Laird hospitalised with a broken leg in a challenge by Jamal CampbellRyce. JCR was rightly sent off – the aftermath of the incident was something altogether quite appalling as the club was verbally assaulted by all manner of wild accusations from the delightful North End public. Retribution is apparently on their agenda come our March rematch.

The game would finish 0-0.

Well of course it did, we’ll park where we want (see page 15).

Notts weathered a pretty decent storm on this occasion, and were most certainly grateful for goal-line clearances from (spectacularly) Gary Liddle and Carl Regan.

NOVEMBER 24TH, 2012

NOTTS 1, SWINDON 0 Games at home weren’t getting any easier. Following on from unbeaten Stevenage, tabletopping Tranmere Rovers, a reborn Bournemouth, and fellow play-off rivals Donny Rovers and Crawley, the hellatious run would next take in Paolo Di Canio’s Swindon Town.

With Chris Iwelumo signing the day before, he was put straight into the starting eleven with Lee Hughes serving a suspension.

Notts were in the lead at halftime thanks to a trademark Alan Judge rocket after having collected the ball from Ewel...

Iwom... let’s just call him Elmo.

An even first half was complimented by a second in which the visitors mostly dominated the proceedings.

Notts were indebted to the oustanding form of Bartosz Bialkowski in goal - this was the easiest Man Of The Match decision that man (or woman?) has ever had to make - his duel over the course of the afternoon with Matt Ritchie was only going to have one winner.

The three points had County back in the play-off spots, and confirmed that the club had gone unbeaten over six goals for the whole month of November. The stealthy manner in which it was achieved makes it likely some people still don’t realise it!

DECEMBER 1ST, 2012

DECEMBER 8TH, 2012

ROVRUM 1, NOTTS 1

YEOVIL 0, NOTTS 0

The FA Cup Second Round was next in the diary for the club and a trip to the brand new (and actually rather impressive) New York Stadium to play Rotherham. Having just seen the back of Graham Westley and Paolo Di Canio in recent games, Steve Evans’ eyeliner sadly wasn’t to run by the end of this fixture.

21 games unbeaten away was the main headline after a scrappy encounter on a Huish Park surface suffering from more bobblbes than a Claire’s Accessories half-term sale. Or so I’m told.

County dominated the opening stages yet took their foot well and truly off the gas once Yoann Arquin had spectacularly given them the lead on the volley.

The lead would last only ten minutes when Ben Pringle took advantage of Notts losing possession in midfield.

It would take a cynical man to say Notts were playing for more money in the bank a replay back at Meadow Lane but they barely broke sweat for the rest of the game with Bialkowski only being threatened seriously on the one occasion late on.

It was Bialkowski for the second league game in a row who take top honours for Notts, responsible single-handedly for keeping his side in the game after a handful of saves - one in particular a special Gordon Banks-esque scooping of the ball off his goal line.

Yeovil boss and perpetual moaner Gary Johnson claimed it crossed the line from his vantage pointage on the halfway line and through a crowded penalty area but nevermind.

In the closing stages Judge pulled a shot across the goalline which Chris Iwelumo only just failed to reach.

DECEMBER 15TH, 2012

NOTTS 1, BRENTFORD 2 Another depressing home defeat brought to an end a six week run in which Notts hadn’t lost a game. Most disappointingly, was that it was a fixture in which County had again taken the lead - yet sat back allowing their opponents back into this game, ending in a last minute winner for Clayton

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Donaldson. In fact it was even the visitors who gifted us a lead through an own goal with 20 minutes played - 20 of the better minutes we’ll see at home all season in fact. By and large that was all we mustered all afternoon.

First, a quite possibly offside run from Forshaw saw him race into the box to slot past Bialkowski, and then ex-Notts traget Donaldson scored his second goal at Meadow Lane in consecutive games - bundling in a goal-line clearance from Damion Stewart that spun up into the air.

One of the bigger headlines of the day didn’t even come on the field though, with the news prematch that Lee Hughes (now available serving a three game suspension) had handed in a sick note which would take him into January and his transfer out of Nottingham.

DECEMBER 18TH, 2012

NOTTS 0, ROVRUM 3 There’s no point going into detail about this game being postponed a week previously, or taking customary potshots at the portly United manager at Steve Evans. Quite simply there were far more concerning events to focus on.

Having suffered a first defeat in six weeks the Saturday before, Keith Curle was perhaps under more pressure than was necessary. By the end of the

evening that saw his Notts side obliterated 3-0 at home to a side from a division below in this FA Cup replay the pressure had only intensified.

Liam Mitchell’s first team debut was nothing short of a disaster, Damion Stewart might have prematurely ended his Meadow Lane career with a first half red card, and it’s a struggle to say if any others on the field fared any better.

Gone was the £27k prize money. Gone was the third round tie at Aldershot and the pot that comes with that. As were the potential riches of an FA Cup fourth round tie. And all in front of just over 2,100 Notts fans as well.

Even the most optimistic of us could find little sunshine in this night. And it’s not as if the team had the chance to put things right the weekend after - a late postponement for the home game with Leyton Orient saw to that.

DECEMBER 26TH, 2012

SHREWS 2, NOTTS 2 Close but no cigar is the best way of describing a fifth consecutive away draw in all competitions.

With the pressure mounting on Keith Curle over his team and formation selection, there were signs in both areas that he was willing to change things up when he felt it necessary.

That, or he was leaned on by

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someone upstairs?

Former ‘pie Luke Rodgers in his third game against Notts already this season opened the scoring for the Shrews. Lee Hughes, previously thought to have been missing until January after Sicknotegate would get an equaliser minutes later before Campbell-Ryce would give Notts the lead right on half-time.

Sadly, it would be the previously much-reliable Bartosz Bialkowski who would be adjudged to have bundled the ball into his own net and with only ten minutes to spare.

Desperately unfortunate, but indicative of the sort of luck Notts had been having of late.

The last game of the calendar year would be rained off at Stevenage on December 29th.

It at least ensured that Notts would stumble over the line into the new year still undefeated away from home under Keith Curle - yet without a win in the previous five games.

Whilst it’s Keith Curle who is public enemy number one for the ineptitude at home this season, it’s as much down to the players surely?

You can’t question we have the starting XI good enough to compete in the division, but we’re going to need to see more from the backup players if we’re to get out of League One this year.

WHAT HAPPENED TO OUR BIG YEAR?

As 2012 draws to a close, so to does a momentous year in the history of Notts County Football Club. Our 150th anniversary year is nearly over and we are set to leave Stoke City to enjoy the same prestigious occasion in 2013. But the question that many fans may have been asking looking back over the last 12 months is - has our special anniversary been special enough? the hugely successful staging of ‘Diary of a Football Nobody’ at the Nottingham Playhouse, as well as the production of a commemorative set of Royal Mail stamps. But there has been little coverage of any of this outside of Nottingham and you get the impression that nobody else really knows that this is supposed to have been such an important year for us. Compare this situation When non-league Sheffield FC to the media coverage we had when celebrated their 150th anniversary Munto ‘took over’. There is little to in 2007, they organised a host compare. of prestigious events.

FIFA congratulated them in person and But it is the lack of a centrepiece awarded the club the Order of Merit, match that really seems to have Brazilian legend Pele paid a visit to upset fans. Take a look at the the Steel City and they played a threads on the topic of the 150th friendly against Inter Milan, followed anniversary on the Notts County Mad by another game against Dutch forum and you begin to get a taste of giants Ajax. Though they were, and the disappointment and anger that still are, a small club that many supporters are feeling, especially people had probably never heard those who remember the occasion of of, they attracted a lot of media the 100th anniversary back in 1962, attention and good publicity, locally, when Notts faced an England XI at Meadow Lane. They were looking nationally and internationally. forward to something even bigger Surely then it should follow suit that and better – and so was everyone Notts County, the oldest Football else to be honest.

League Club in the world, could achieve a similar outcome and As one poster said: “I was at the similar recognition in their 150th centenary game back in ‘62 against year? It could have done, it should an England XI so for the 150th I have done but it has not worked was anticipating at least the visit out that way. The reasons for this of a team worthy of celebrating the seem to be many and varied, but birthday in style.” Others referred to culminate in the fact that despite the the absence of a prestigious friendly efforts of the club, no centrepiece as ‘embarrassing’ and many have commented on how it has been match has been held. a missed opportunity to increase That is not to say that Notts have the club’s profile. One described let the occasion go by completely the 150th celebrations as ‘insipid’, unmarked - they have not. A long having ‘barely created a ripple of list of events have taken place excitement in Nottingham let alone throughout the year, including a civic raising the profile of the club at reception, a race day and a Gala a time of huge achievement and event that did see Sepp Blatter pass prestige’. on his congratulations via a video message. On top of this there have The club was quick to respond to the been souvenir items released, a criticism and head of media Jamie special beer brewed and of course, Dixon went on the messageboard to The build-up to this year promised much. A special website was launched, a logo designed and we were tantalised with hints of big events to come, the biggest of all being a centrepiece match against opposition which we were led to believe could be Juventus. But things do not seem to have gone according to plan.

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inform fans that the fact that Notts had failed to secure a game against Juventus or an England XI was not due to a lack of trying.

The problem encountered when trying to arrange a match with Juventus was their busy schedule, which was even busier than usual after they won Serie A and had to play the Italian version of the Charity Shield in China. A game versus an England XI apparently looked set to come to fruition when circumstances at the FA suddenly changed and they were unable to send a team.

Whatever the reason, the result was the same – no big match for Notts, but as Jamie Dixon told fans: “It was ultimately taken out of our hands.”

Not wanting to let the year pass without some kind of actual football match at Meadow Lane, a Legends Day was held last month, and by all accounts it was an enjoyable occasion with a good turnout of past players. It’s just that it didn’t capture the imagination of everybody like a friendly against a European giant would have done. Even coupled with the screening of Notts County: The Movie, it could not attract the numbers of people that a game against Juve would have done.

So that leaves us approaching our 151st year with many fans feeling that they have not yet marked the 150th – and dreading that those clubs following us in reaching the milestone will make much more of it than we have and steal the spotlight we were so craving. Though it won’t be the same, I still hope that a belated birthday present can be arranged for next summer and that we will get to see the big match we have all been waiting for.

Helen Faccio @HelenBeighton

THE PIE MAN’S REALITYBACK CHECK FOR MORE!

You may recall that in the first edition of Black & White, I wrote a piece setting out my expectations for 2012-13 and what I thought Notts were missing in terms of personnel. I said back then that Notts needed a goalscorer.

Unfortunately, this requirement hasn’t changed (shock!) and in fact the situation has now worsened with want-away striker Lee Hughes handing in a sick note which rules him out until January, where I expect Keith Curle to make swift use of the sales. I want anyone reading this article to bear in mind that this was written after the debacle against Rotherham at home on 18/12/12, so feelings are running quite high.

Looking at the season as a whole, Notts are just about meeting my expectations if I’m being kind, with the Magpies sitting 8th at time of writing, though current results are hardly stunning.

Defeat on the 15th December against Brentford, then 3 days later versus Rotherham means we’ve lost 7 times at home so far- it’s fair to say that Meadow Lane resembles a fun fair rather than a fortress. Defeat in the FA Cup however is a major cause for concern, and the lost money from a potential cup run must surely be ringing some alarm bells in the Chairman’s office.

Why are we not doing better, I ask myself? Keith Curle and his tactic of one up front has got to be a major reason. Putting the ball on the head of either Chr Iwelumo or Enoch Showunmi is one tactic that just isn’t working. Iwelumo is past it, whereas I’d argue that Enoch, bless him, probably never had it. To think that we wanted to pay a fee for him! Tranmere would’ve been laughing all the way to the bank, and noone wants that. Revenge for Burgess? Probably, but at least the Burgervan had the good grace to retire. We’re stuck with Enoch.

It’s stereotypically British, but I like 4-4-2 at home. ‘Attack,

Attack, Attack’ is an oft used chant, and Notts must follow it through with a more positive approach. Get down the wings with Jamal Campbell Ryce and if we HAVE to play one of the big men, put the ball in the six yard box and cause defenders some problems! Surely it’s not rocket science? League One is not strong this year - everyone is much of a much-ness, and away teams stifle their opposition and attack on the break, usually pinching a win by the odd goal. We’ve seen that Notts are brilliant at the tactic, but it’s not the way to go at home. More positivity please, Mr Curle. If current form and “entertainment” continues, we’ll lose more fans and Curle will more than likely lose his job – Mr Trew’s trigger finger is getting itchy already, I’ll wager.

Notts need a goalscoring striker like humans need food and drink. In my opinion, someone to put the ball in the old onion bag is absolutely essential.

I’ve been saying it for years, yet a consistent procession of Notts managers have failed to address this deficiency. We have had one man worthy of that name in the past decade, and he’s on the way out, both of the club, and probably out of football! He needs replacing!

Why haven’t the management team appreciated this?

I have no doubt that we’d be higher with the Lee Hughes of 09/10, but we can’t turn back time and instead we’ve acquired the temperamental and inconsistent Yoann Arquin, Enoch ‘lead boots’ Showunmi and a desperately off colour Francois Zoko, who would struggle to show you where Tesco is at the moment, let alone the goal, and don’t get me started on Chris “I used to be an international” Iwelumo.

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We need the striker, and we need him now. I don’t get how we get him, but we simply have to bring this mystery man to Meadow Lane. Someone.

Anyone. As long as he scores goals and stop Curle pursuing this ridiculous one up front tactic.

Possibly the biggest reason for Notts’ struggle is a lack of quality throughout the squad. We have a good enough first eleven to prosper, but if any injuries and suspensions hit, we’re stuffed.

Looking at the squad in detail - in goal, Bartosz Bialkowski has proved a stellar signing, having made the number one jersey very much his own with a string of tremendous displays, culminating in a Gordon Banksesque save against Yeovil, where he kept the Glovers out on his own, securing Notts a valuable point. No complaints there, especially with Fabian Speiss and Liam Mitchell waiting patiently in the wings.

Mitchell surely can’t be blamed for last night – if your centre half decides to get himself sent off after half an hour and the rest of your teammates decide not to turn off, you’re in for a hiding, which is what we got.

In theory, the defence doesn’t look too bad either. Julian Kelly has returned from injury (thankfully banishing Carl Regan to the bench and Tom Williams to the nightclub) and adds a welcome attacking threat down the right. Alan Sheehan, since his moment of madness against Stevenage, has collapsed somewhat, and Jordan Stewart has disappeared, so a new left back could be on Keith Curle’s shopping list, though with attendances low, this might be a step too far for Mr Trew.

Dean Leacock looks strong and powerful at the back. At

present, he is partnered by Gary Liddle, yet he will surely migrate to his favoured central midfield when Manny Smith returns in the next few weeks.

Notts fans have seen very little of Smith, so it really will be like having a new player, and we really do need him!! The Magpies would be wise to look at another central defender, because, with Damien Stewart as back up and Krystian Pearce and Hayden Hollis out of favour, we look light on quality and quantity. Hamza Bencherif will surely go in January, and if Curle isn’t looking to get rid, he should be!

In terms of midfield, we look good, quite frankly, but it looks likely that Alan Judge will be on his way out the club this January, which obviously is a worry. He makes us tick in midfield and provides an outlet that others simply can’t. If he does go, Notts simply must cash in and buy someone who can provide the thrust forward that he does. It must not be another Ben Davies situation, after

whose sale the season promptly fell apart. Jamal Campbell Ryce continues to impress down the right, and excites the fans purely by getting the ball.

Another signing like him would be nice – Lloyd Sam, anyone?

Please, Santa?

Neal Bishop, to the surprise of everyone, including himself no doubt, has worked out where the goal is, and is now contributing goals in combination with his no nonsense, energetic performances in the middle of the park, and is therefore a guaranteed starter. Jeff Hughes, on the other hand, isn’t living up to last season’s performances, and needs goals and confidence, fast. Francois Zoko remains desperately out of form at present, but he has proven quality at this level, and is surely only a goal or two away from the form he showed earlier in the season. I hope.

So, there you have it. On paper, the first eleven isn’t that bad.

Change the formation at home and add to the squad, and we

should be in line to make the playoffs. We certainly should be, given this is the weakest League One in years. However, things simply cannot be left as they are. Negative tactics and poor results at home won’t attract fans. Less fans = less money = poor quality squad + Keith Curle at the job centre.

One way or the other, things are going to have to change!

Regarding the squad, the key point is this. If we miss a defender on matchdays, we get Bencherif. If a midfielder is missing, we get the ageing Gavin Mahon, and as for any absent striker, we get Showunmi, which tells its own story. I know Notts are run on a shoestring, but the squad remains distinctly threadbare, especially up front. Change the tactics and get your phonebook out, Mr Curle, or the 150th Birthday promotion dream will slip away, so will the fans and so will your job!

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Andrew Dennis @DrewNotts

GARY LIDDLE

One of the Summer’s most impressive signings, Gary Liddle’s partnership at the centre of defence with Dean Leacock has been one of the success stoires of the season. Paul Smith caught up with Lids the day before the postponed game with Leyton Orient - just three days after the Rovrum demolition.

Going back to the summer, how did your move to Notts come about?

It came a bit out of the blue really.

I knew Colin West (Notts coach) from being at Hartlepool and he was a coach there. He got news of me leaving Hartlepool and a move to Notts was something that interested me straight away. I came to Nottingham and met Colin and Keith Curle at a local hotel.

Firstly they just wanted to meet me and see what my personality was like and then the move actually got drawn out a little bit because I went on holiday for two weeks. So it could have been done a bit quicker but as soon as I got back I went straight to Nottingham to sign.

What were the biggest factors in deciding to sign for Notts?

From that meeting with the manager it was his plans for the club and the ambition. They said they wanted to get promotion and for it to happen as quickly as possible and I want to try and test myself at a higher level.

Given how many new signings were made in the summer, was it easy or difficult to settle in?

There were a lot of new faces but I think that made it easier. The biggest thing for me was that I’d been in Middlesbrough for 25 years so it was the move that was the test. When we went on the pre-

season trip to Marbella that really helped everyone get to know each other and we came back from that with a really good knowledge of each other.

Having left Hartlepool, how does it feel to see them struggling at the bottom of the division and can they get out of trouble?

I keep in touch with a couple of the lads there and it is sad to see them where they are. They have recently changed their manager and speaking to a couple of the lads there they are enjoying the way they are playing football. Hopefully they can pick up a few results and have a go at getting safe. Everyone in this league can beat each other and it is like us if we string a few wins together you can get yourself up the table.

Last season Notts captain Neal Bishop gave you an accidental boot in the face during the game against Hartlepool. After that, what did you say to him when you met in the Notts changing room this summer?

I remember it happening. It was the last minute and I went up for a header and I got a boot in the face. With us being 3-0 down and it being the last minute I probably shouldn’t have done it! With him being from the same area I saw him in the summer and when I signed for Notts he was one of the first people I spoke to. Straight away the

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lads in the dressing room made it very obvious they found the whole thing very funny.

How would you sum up the first half of the season from the team’s point of view?

Well recent results haven’t been great but we are looking back at the season and trying to turn the negatives into positives. Going into the Orient game we were six points off the top of the league and it is us as players who have done that so we must be doing something right.

The away form has been fantastic and is an achievement we are all proud of and we just have to get the monkey off our back of the home form. We have dropped seven to 10 points at home we could have got and if we did have them we would be top of the table. If we can quickly change the home form and keep the away run going we will be right up there.

And how about from a personal point of view?

I am very proud that I have played every single minute of every league game. Starting the season at centre-back and being able to hold down that position is something I feel proud of.

I want to continue in the same vein over the second half of the season and hopefully end it as a fixture in a promoted team.

Given the recent dip in form, how far do you think the team can go this season?

Everyone can beat everyone in this division so it is about finding some consistency. We need to get that home form sorted and if we do that, and we get some consistency, then we can be in the promotion mix.

Because results haven’t been great towards the end of the year, some have claimed the manager may have lost the dressing room. How do you respond to that?

That is absolute rubbish. The lads are all together. We were meant to have the day off on the Wednesday after we lost to Rotherham in the cup but we didn’t, we came in and looked at the video of the game.

We knew it wasn’t good enough and we knew what we had done wrong. But I can honestly say that is absolute rubbish. The lads love playing for the manager and the two Colins (West and Lee). He gives us a freedom to go and do what we want on the football pitch.

Many have said you are an early Player of the Year candidate and that you have been one of Keith Curle’s best signings. How does it make you feel when you hear that kind of praise?

It is fantastic. I am on the social networking sites and the fans have been great with what they have been saying. I am happy with my form. It would be better if we could string a couple more victories together and push up the league.

If you were voting for Player’s Player of the Year right now,

who would you go for?

I would give it to Dean Leacock.

He has been a tremendous signing and has helped me as a midfielder playing at centre back which is what I was at the start of the season. I needed somebody beside me who could give me their good experience and along with that he is a top player who has been a fantastic signing for the football club.

You mentioned changing positions. If you picked the team, what position would you put yourself in?

Right now I would put myself at centre back. I am enjoying it and I feel as if I have had a half-decent first half of the season. We have plenty of quality in this team and in the midfield I don’t think we would gain a lot more by putting me in there because Andre (Boucaud) Bish and Jeff Hughes are doing a fantastic job so far.

I am happy where I am and I am enjoying my football which is something I haven’t done for the last couple of years being in relegation scraps at Hartlepool now we are challenging at the top end of the league.

The Bradford Capital One Cup game apart, you have played in every single game so far this season. Are you not knackered?

I feel alright! The coaches look after us in terms of our recovery days and rest days and I am naturally a fit person anyway.

The Christmas and new year period is obviously very hectic but I don’t wasn’t to miss any game and always want to be available.

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Given the choice, what area of the squad would you look to strengthen in January?

I’m not sure. The manager obviously brought in big Chris (Iwelumo) so maybe he is looking at the strikers department. Whether he signs Chris permanently or extends the loan, I don’t know. That will be one to watch out for.

I’m not sure what things are like in terms of the money available but I think we have a strong enough squad anyway but no doubt the manager would like to strengthen still.

Everyone knows you and Bishop are big Middlesbrough fans.

But who would you say is the biggest?

I would definitely say me. I had a season ticket for 13 years and I have been to a couple of games this season. I know the kit man there because he is the old Hartlepool kit man and I try and make it if we don’t have a game ourselves.

Having watched Boro for so long then, who is your all-time favourite player there?

I had the pleasure growing up of playing for Middlesbrough’s youth team and in the reserves and training with a lot of top class international players with the likes of Juninho. My favourite was probably Gareth Southgate and the way he conducted himself as captain. He always had time not just for first team players but all the squad and the youngsters as well.

He was top man.

Paul Smith @psmithyjourno

ARE YOU A NOTTS FAN? YOU MUST BE MAD!

It is well-researched and documented that supporting the world’s oldest club has turned us into the most frustrated fans of any club in the football league, (measured by our numerous flirtations with relegation and promotion). God knows, we need somewhere we can go to find a sympathetic ear and where we can chew off somebody’s ear.

Notts County Mad is the website most used by our fans. Click on ‘interactive’ and you will be delivered to one of English football’s most successful and active messageboards. Although most posts are about matters related to the club, it is quite an order to post on any topic so long as you precede your strapline with OT (Other Topic). The favourite other topic for Notts fans would appear to be politics. There is a great divide between the left and the right which surfaces immediately anything to do with economics, government or immigration appears.

I think it is fair to say that the quality of some threads (or freds as they are referred to online) is up there with comment in the broadsheets or the punchier of the red tops. We have, without question, some erudite and educated fans who misguidedly in their past threw in their lot with a permanently struggling football team with far more idiosyncrasies than most clubs.

Is the board read by players and the management team? Of course, they will pretend not and say it is of little consequence and full of tittle tattle.

But what do you think? If you knew there was an 24/7 online community making comments about you and your livelihood, would you not be tempted to have a peek? This is why I am guarded whenever I make a comment about a player. I want all Notts’ staff to give of their best and being slagged off by those who pay money to watch them will not

misguidedly follow football. I have it on good authority that the guy Usually there are far more watchers tried to fix up a team of Notts fans than users when one pays a visit to go on Eggheads but withdrew the to the messageboard. From the venture because of a Port overdose. sheepish attitude of many first time posters it is clear that some fans are There are those treasured posters intimidated by the prospect of putting who are with us no more in the their thoughts on public display. You virtual sense. POM was an energetic have to get past that and stick up a poster who succumbed to serious metaphorical finger at some of the illness and a surfeit of nasty replies.

This latter problem afflicted Tammy hardliners that greet you.

VIP, a lovely girl who just got fed up The board is full of characters, of being labelled as a clique-ist with none of whom are going by their attendant derogatory comments. real names. Talk about ‘one man’s And whatever happened to jlj and meat is another man’s poison’, some dohpie? Quality posters who seem posters who are revered by many to have called time on the board and do nothing for me, but that’s life. maybe on Notts too.

Top poster is Soccerman166 in the sense that he has easily posted most Although sexism does rear its ugly often over the years. What you need head on MAD, we have a bevy of to know about this guy is that he’s decent ladies who can give as well to the right of Ghengis Khan, loves as they get. Anonypie (who is closely Maggie Thatcher, tells you ‘we are related to ‘Itsjoshmeowd’) is a keen Notts County, we go on’ innumerable and knowledgeable poster who plays times and prides himself on getting an active role in the chatroom. I up other posters’ noses. But he wouldn’t like to cross Thordaughter is Notts through and through and either and thelanelady is moving up it should not be forgotten that he on the outside. dipped his hand in his pocket and gave generously at a time of need in A final word on etiquette. As a teacher I learned that you damn the deed our recent past. not the doer. Because a poster says When it comes to football, my something you disagree with, there’s favourite poster is Pies4U. This guy no need to rubbish him as a person. really knows his stuff and whenever Character assassination happens on he gives player ratings I give it this board and it is not nice. Show first read.

However, whenever respect at all times because there he expresses himself on worldly are young kids reading the board matters, he doesn’t so much hold (even if they can swear better than an opinion as flaunt it. We agree to you can). It’s always good to temper any negative comments with a bit of disagree! humour too.

Our board is at its best when wit abounds: Countygump, Bushwacka, Soccerman likes to point out that we Lunaspie are famous for it, but there are all family at this club and although was some hilarious stuff during that might be a bit far-fetched, (as Munto when we all agreed to take Eddie Izzard once said ‘What the the monorail seriously. One character f*** goes on in this family?’), it is on the board is Magwales, a Pies a fact that we need to remember at fan who is exiled in Welsh Wales. all times that the one thing we have He purports to be a corrupt and in common is our support for Notts debauched member of the gentry County FC. Alan Combes who looks down on we plebs who improve anybody’s performance.

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LEE HUGHES: NOTTS LEGEND?

I knew this moment was coming, no matter how long I’d put it off in the back of my mind, this day was coming sooner rather than later, I just hoped that he would retire here, that he would finish his career here, but the way this season was panning out, it was obvious that Hughesy was on his way.

Seems daft now but I didn’t want him here when he signed, and yet here I am, a mere 3 and a half years later, wondering why he’s going and how will we do without him.

He has become a favourite for his goals, workrate,and passion. The fact he looked like he loved playing for this club won all of those sceptics over. How we defended him from the abuse dished out by thousands of holier than thou away supporters, how fans travelled to Meadow Lane to shout 90 minutes of abuse to Hughesy rather than support their own team (Rotherham were a prime example, and their support were summed up when that fat bloke fell over the hoardings trying to get at him) and telling my 9 year old step daughter who has only got into football through me, that her favourite player has left the club was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do, I wasn’t ready for the tears.

He signed in July 2009, the day Sven was unveiled and he made his debut in the friendly against the red dogs, and their support that day gave us a warning over what to expect over the next few years. So he did what he does best, and got on the end of a superb cross from Craig Westcarr, then proceeded to do his dance in front of them!

As i said, I wasn’t too happy he had signed for us given his past, but he now played for my club, so I supported him to the hilt. To win over any doubters, he went and scored a hat trick on his full league debut against the massive Bradford City in a 5-0 victory that still lives happily in the memory bank. During that rollercoaster of a season, he went on to score 33 goals in total, becoming the first Notts striker since Tommy Lawton to score over 30 league goals in a single season.

So many memories of his goals that year but a couple will stand out more than others. Most obviously, the goal in front of the Kop that beat Rochdale 1-0 - an absolutely stunning strike that beat Keith Hill and his holier than thou football club and virtually won us the title that night. The sight of a full to bursting Kop all ‘doing the Hughesy’ is a sight I’ll never forget. One goal that stood out for me personally was away at Grimsby, in a rough game where the home team kicked anything that moved and tried to rough us up to get the points they needed. From an awesome through-ball from Kasper, Hughesy turned his defender inside out and zoomed the ball in giving the keeper no chance at all. Not the greatest goal, but for me it summed up how Hughes took all the flak from fans and opponents but give him a chance and it was in, full stop. One other memory was his hat trick away at Burton, sharp class finishing and an absolute nuisance to the Burton defenders and crowd, that day he showed me what I had missed watching Notts since Mark Stallard was in a Notts shirt - instinctive finishing of the highest order.

He went and scored 16 goals the following year in League One, in a struggling team that was not a bad return and the goal away at Swindon was brilliant and excellently timed as we sent them down and gave us a chance of staying up ourselves. After the debacle of Short, Ince and Heggs, Martin Allen came in and seemed to breathe new life into the team and Hughesy played his part, especially on the last day when he forced Gordon Greer to put in his own net to equalise and get the point that we needed to stay up.

There seemed a new spirit around the club and we all looked forward to the following year.

My best and most favourite Hughesy moment came in the second game of that season, the League Cup draw had paired us with ‘them’ over the river, trepidation and excitement all rolled into one, but Allen had said Hughesy

wasn’t playing, which dulled it but arriving at the ground.

The excitement grew when we heard that Allen tried to pull a fast one and Hughesy was playing after all! We will always remember that night, one of the best Nottingham Derby games ever and Hughesy played his full part, and my favourite ever Hughesy moment? That goal that put us 3-2 up in extra time! An exquisite pass from Hawley put him through and after steadying himself, curled it around the red dog keeper and in off the post! I don’t think I’ve celebrated a goal as much as I did that one. And all 6,000 of us doing the Hughesy after that goal must have made those red dogs sick to the stomach!

He had scored 12 goals by the time Martin Allen had been relieved of his duties, but he didn’t score another one all season. Something wasn’t right. Rumours persisted all summer about him leaving, he even had the number 9 shirt taken off him. When you look at it now and who replaced him in that shirt, it beggars belief somehow but he was still here and although playing a part time role it seemed, he still had the vast majority of the fan’s support and he had scored 6 goals in just 8 starts before January 7th 2013 - the day he left Notts County by mutual consent.

His record before joining Notts was 141 goals in 344 appearances, which works out at a goal every 2 and a half games (ish!) and his record at Notts was 66 goals in 128 appearances, which is actually better than a goal every 2 games (dodgy maths but it’s around 1 in 1.8 games!). And he is only 13 goals behind the top 10 goalscorers of all time at our club. Gary Lund got 79 goals in 8 years, so hughesy would have passed that mark in no time, no doubt about that at all.

The term legend is used far too easily these days, but in my eyes, he will always be a Notts legend for scoring that amount of goals in such a short space of time, for playing for the shirt and for having the passion to play for us. To make us become a bit insular how we defended him against the world and Rotherham, for those goals against the red dogs and Rochdale plus the 64 others. Some on Twitter and Facebook have said that others deserve the tag legend more than Hughes, without really giving a reason.

All Notts players deserve plaudits, for making the right choice in coming to Meadow Lane, and no disrespect to anyone mentioned, but someone said that Danny Allsopp deserves the term legend more than Hughesy.......no, no, no no and no. Super Dan was a good goalscorer, but to put him ahead of Hughesy as a legend is wrong on so many levels. For a start Hughesy scored more goals than him, and his general all round play was miles better than Allsopp.

Hughes united the fanbase in a way not many have ever done, and like I described earlier, the buzz it created when we knew he was playing against the red dogs, not many players can create that kind of buzz.

Allsopp couldn’t, but Hughesy could. He scored more than McSwegan did by a country mile but Gary Mac is seen more of a legend by some than Hughesy. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion so I hope those people respect mine when I say that Lee Hughes is a true Notts County legend and he will be remembered forever more for all the good times he gave us and for being one of the most natural goalscorers that I have ever seen at Meadow Lane.

I for one would just have loved the chance of saying a proper goodbye to him, to give him a proper send off, and I hope that when he comes back, we can show the world, and them across the river, how true football fans receive their former players when they come back, and one last chance of doing the Hughesy.

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Ian Marsden @IanMarsden76

ROB BURCH INTERVIEW

By his own admission, Rob Burch didn’t have the most illustrious Notts career. But having recently announced his retirement, he still has some interesting things to say about his time at Meadow Lane.

Before you signed for Notts, most people would’ve known you from the performance you put in against us whilst playing for Lincoln which is when the rumours started up about you joining. Was that the moment the ball got rolling for you coming to Meadow Lane?

To be honest the Notts move came up quite late in the summer. I had a good season for Lincoln and was gaining a bit of interest elsewhere, nothing came of that and then ended with a phone call from Notts which at the time I felt would be a good opportunity to test myself at a higher level and thought it would be a good place to do that.

You picked up an injury early in 2011 when the team was picking up some pretty decent momentum. What did it feel like seeing the form dip so badly just a few games later and not being able to help out?

I pulled my calf against Hartlepool which was nothing to do with my knee, I had been playing through pain with my knee for a while, I was only out 2 weeks with my calf but Paul Ince decided not to put me back in and the rest is history as they say!

seconds, thinking that sums up my Notts county move in fiveseconds of football!! So near yet so far!!!

What were the biggest highs and lows you felt during your time at Meadow Lane?

Not many highs to be honest, and far far too many lows to mention. I think going there fit and healthy having not missing a game for Lincoln for two years then two seasons later having to retire from the game I love says it all!

Any managers you didn’t enjoy being around? You did survive what must’ve felt like about two dozen!

Managers I never really had any problems with, other people at the club maybe different - but again not my style to get into!

But I must say what a good management team they have now - not just the manager but the work that goes on behind the scenes. Pilks is excellent, one of the best goalkeeping coaches in that league - I wish I was able to work with him for longer but I think you are seeing his work coming out in Bart!

What was injury that finished your career in the It was a bad time to get injured as it was the first and end? How did it happen? only time I began to feel comfortable at the club as my performances were getting better and was starting to Cartilage problem in my knee, that I believe could have been resolved but again it’s something that obviously settle in. angers me and don’t need to say anything more!! I would There are worse ways to go out of professional love to go into what went on when I was out injured but football than a game at the Juventus Arena, what that’s not the way I am, let’s just say if what happened to me happens to Lee Hughes a lot more questions are are your memories of the night? asked!

To be honest I don’t have the best memories from the Juventus game but for reasons I don’t need to go into. You only just recently announced your retirement It was an amazing game to be part of and I’m obviously – was there a feeling of inevitability about And very proud to play against one of the best goalkeepers what’re your options now? Does the extent of the injury rule out moving into coaching? in the world.

Obviously I really enjoyed the penalty save but them Football is all I know and has been my job since I was 16 so was hardest thing to be told it’s prob the best to end scoring the rebound does take the edge off! your career, but that’s life and I have moved on and am To be honest I remember making the save, them coaching at the moment which I’m loving, so all good for scoring the rebound and laying on the floor for a few the timebeing!

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GRAHAM WESTLEY VERSUS THE WORLD

By now, we’ve all seen that tackle. It’s late, very rash and almost certainly indefensible. It is in every sense deserving of the red card which it received.

From herein let’s just make it crystal clear – there is no justifying, nor will there be any defence of Jamal Campbell-Ryce – just my thoughts on an unfortunate accident blown well out of proportion.

their way in fixture, whilst he it is often claimed lacks any figment of class or moral fibre.

Other people’s takes on him mattered little to me. Though I can’t say I didn’t find his post-match comments both hilarious, and in-keeping with the character painted by fans of clubs who have crossed Westley’s path in the past.

Obviously incensed by the challenge, deeming it an attempt to “put someone else in danger”, he the proceeded to talk up his own injustices - a world where referees apparently “know what they’re like” - referring to match officials apparent awareness of the Preston gamesmanship. Better yet, he actually claimed people were jealous of both his and Preston’s successes. A quite His claims before the game that County would come to remarkable claim from a man who’s won nothing about “park the bus” were as inaccurate as they were laughable. League Two level and at a club who even Notts enjoyed a It went without saying, we had the best away record in the more recent top flight stay. division, by which point not a single side in League One had scored more goals than us. Is that is parking the bus, His comments are dangerous though, and acted to inspire we’ll be needing a new term for the tactics employed by the North End further - taking to social media networks to threaten all manner of revenge when the clubs play Westley on his side’s last visit to Meadow Lane. eachother again next March. The hive mentality which Upon hearing this, Dean Leacock took to Twitter to call came after suggests the North End have been taken in by Westley a “funny guy”, and said he’d evidently not seen it all. The tackle is a bad one certainly - but when words County play. Inadertedly or not, North End’s manager had like “assault” are being thrown around it’s time to step set the mood for the evening. As it happened that night back from the situation. though, Notts essentially had parked the bus en route to 0-0. It’d be quite the laughable turn of events were it Keith Curle perhaps unwisely suggested having seen not for the sour note the night ended on. The post-match the challenge that whilst late, Laird had only connected highlights would paint an accurate depiction of the game – Campbell-Ryce’s outstretched leg on his follow through Notts hammered for 90 minutes and thankful for goal line - a stance the below picture would appear to back up.

Yet Notts chose wisely not to appeal the decision. Preston clearances from Gary Liddle and Carl Regan. meanwhile insist the challenge was two footed, waist high The tackle came in the fourth minute of added time, and and that the ball was long gone. A bizarre way to view left PNE defender Scott Laird requiring seven minutes of it - but what’s not to say we wouldn’t be crying similarly treatment on the field before being stretchered off. Jamal foul if it were one of our key players on the receiving end? saw red instantly A baying Preston mob screamed “You don’t know what you’re doing” at the match official Tony One rational-minded Preston fan put it perfectly though.

Harrington if you needed further evidence of the frenzy As angered by the challenge as he was himself - he could also accept that this was an attempt to divert people from the home faithful had been stirred into. the real issue. Graham Westley’s side had failed to break Now i take managers as I find them. My only first hand down a side they had dominated on their own pitch. experience of Westley sides was his Stevenage side which possessed all the finesse of Ben Burgess in tap shoes, Certainly an issue Notts have been able to relate to at and the aforementioned Preston side which took a 0-0 times this season!

Stu against Martin Allen last season. He does have the quite @BlackWhiteZine the reputation though doesn’t he? His sides in the past have been accused of all manners of gamesmanship to get Yet the near literal shit storm it brought down upon Notts County Football Club is quite unbelievable. You’re likely reading this at the very start of a new calendar year yet the chances are there’ll be someone somewhere still bringing it up. Thanks in no small part to Preston North End’s gracious manager, Graham Westley.

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CURLE OUT?

Find a Notts County supporter, and ask them what their opinion of Keith Curle’s appointment was. If they tell you they approved – what you have in front of you is a liar. Sure. There are plenty of us who faced up to the new manager with a sense of “We’ll give him our support”, but that was it.

Approval for Curle to come in alongside a four man coaching team was rock bottom when it happened just days after the sacking of fan’s favourite (and fan of pulling wool over eyes) Martin Allen. This sadly makes it no great surprise that the knives are being sharpened at an alarming rate for a manager who’s signings, tactics and personality have all come into question off the back of what’s considered to be an alarming dip in form.

world alight, but the steady progress at least had us occupying a play-off spot. Even in defeat we only sit six points off the the very top of the table.

I say alarming in regards to the form - I’m actually writing this off the back of just one league defeat in the past six weeks. Granted you have to slip in an atrocity of an FA Cup exit at home to Rotherham as well from which the financial implications will hamper whoever the manager is come January.

But do we sack the manager? The very question is just as absurd as it gets - yet it still wouldn’t exactly come as the biggest surprise in the world now would it? Our owner’s penchant for letting his trigger finger get the better of him is well documented already. You could even argue that he has sacked for less.

The build up to those games was far from ideal for any manager. First was the sicknote handed in by Lee Hughes ruling him out we were told until January– about as unprofessional a gesture as you can imagine, but since it’s Lee Hughes (and it’s to the detriment of Keith Curle) it’s apparently acceptable. Having missed the previous three games through self-inflicted suspension, people say Hughes should be played more in-spite of Curle selecting him for the two games prior. It’s a very sorry affair for all involved, one which dates back to the pretty silly decision of Curle to take Hughes’ number nine shirt from him in the Summer.

No manager should face the sacking for as much (or as little) as one bad turn of form - but this is the climate of modern football that we live in, one which Notts administrations both past and present have played their part in. We’re used to throwing another manager in the bin when things take a turn for the worst, we then revel in the honeymoon period of our latest appointment for a few months before inevitably repeating the process all over again.

Granted, he’s signed some donkeys. We’ve certainly had worse players than Tom Williams - but the attitude he puts across on Twitter certainly makes him amongst the most repugnant. Enoch Showunmi has been shown up royally by his team mates with an insistence to smash it long and in the air to him - you only need to read Sam Robinson’s introduction to Enoch in issue one of B&W to see that’s asking for trouble. Meanwhile Chris Iwelumo’s stock has dropped rapidly following a most impressive debut outing in the home win against Swindon.

Should Curle not be given the chance to put things right it would be a staggeringly poor decision by all involved.

People are quick to sound the Lost The Changing Room klaxon at the first sign of unrest, yet Dean Leacock took to Twitter after the Rotherham game to calm any fears the supporters had – perhaps more alarmingly was his insistence that the system was working and didn’t need to change, a point few that have seen Notts at home would agree with. But in Deano’s words: “As players, Keith Curle is the man”.

Curle continues to insist that we’re the only side not to have put a run of four or five wins together and that we’re more than capable of doing just that. Even a staunch supporter of his such as myself has difficulty in believing that. An unbeaten run certainly, winning more For too many, being right all along about Keith Curle than a handful of consecutive fixtures? Highly doubtful on the past two month’s efforts I’d say. trumps the desire for the off the field stability.

If the criteria for any Notts County manager is to never hit a dip in form then we might as well all go home now because we’re living in a dreamland. But it’s the baggage Giving it to Showunmi was only further salt in the wound! that comes with such a period that perhaps would prove But there are ways you go about expressing displeasure most costly to “those upstairs”. properly – sadly Hughesy has chosen to go the opposite direction and has only further piled the pressure on Keith It is by virtue of the superb away from that Notts find themselves handsomely placed in the table. If forms Curle. But I’m sure that was never his intention… could be reversed, there’d be little to complain about.

I won’t even go into the chatter that Yoann Arquin had We’d be a side unbeaten at home but questionable away from home. That’s the ideal world scenario anyway – but stormed out of the ground - it simply wasn’t true. because we’re so poor at home, that’s what the vast Up until recently, the Curle era has been a revelation. majority of supporters get to see. That is what impacts The much heralded away record is indeed something we on finances perhaps more than anything because other all need to be proud of, the charge at the end of last than season ticket holders – no one will want to pay to season was only just short of being on a par with what see what are perceived as negative tactics - as evidenced we saw under Steve Cotterill, and he’s drafted in some by the FA Cup attendance weighing in at only just over of the most dynamic players to wear the black and white 2,100 County fans. Admittedly, three home games in eight days will have played it’s part also. stripes in recent memory.

We might feel different from our positions in the stands, but it’s the players who’s opinions on Keith Curle matter the most if Notts are to get back on track on the field.

It’s just the way things are though that the board’s opinion is in the grand scheme of things the only one which matters.

Stu That six week spell without defeat was what in golf you @BlackWhiteZine would consider a par score. We were hardly setting the I exclude Carl Regan for good reason. Not the most spectacular - but I give him his dues in that he’s most certainly served a purpose at times. The over-reaction when he signs a contract extension I fully expect to be offered him will be all fun and games I’m sure.

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HUGHES OUT?

Bury, Bournemouth, Burton, Grimsby, Dagenham, Accrington, Carlisle, Walsall, Sheffield. It may read like the itinerary for the worst series of Coach Trip ever, but these are in fact all places where Lee Hughes has found the net for Notts County.

Besides being some of humanity’s most disappointing achievements, one thing that a lot of these places have in common is that, when Hughes struck, they were lowly League Two sides who found themselves in the path of Hughes when he was in rampant form during the 09/10 season.

inviting pressure back onto the side and certainly not allowing the midfield to get forward in support of him.

However, Hughes is also now incapable of fulfilling the other option for the lone striker - a runner of channels, offering the pass in behind and stretching the opposition.

Put simply, Hughes is now at a stage of his career where he can no longer make up for his lack of pace with intelligent movement - on occasions this season, particularly at home against Crawley, he has been played clear and looked favourite to latch onto a through ball only to be beaten by the opposition goalkeeper.

Since that year, however, Hughes’ form and fitness has declined, with just six goals in the last twelve months.

This, coupled with a lack of compatibility with Keith Curle’s preferred one-upfront system, means that us Notts fans have to begin moving on and contemplating life with a new man leading our line. Don’t worry though, It is also unrealistic to expect a 36 year-old to spend I’m not going to suggest Enoch. entire games chasing the ball into channels, much of the With Notts’ home form having hovered somewhere time purely to open up space elsewhere on the pitch between disastrous and appalling this season, it has rather than to chase a goal for himself. This particular become somewhat in vogue to blame Curle’s reluctance role is one that Notts are yet to fill this season, something to start Hughes and decision to persevere with one man that is both perplexing and frustrating consider the level upfront, but I think this view has become too simplistic of success Jonathan Forte had playing it last season. and whimsical, trading on the unstoppable Hughes of Curle’s thinking in bringing in Showunmi then Iwelumo three years ago. is clear - to play the holding up, bringing-the-midfieldI don’t think that starting Hughes regularly would make into-the-game role that Dele Adebola played last season, Notts a better side, perhaps even the opposite, and although personally I think that this side would be with the man himself having made his desire for regular more effective with a Forte-type player, working on the starts clear, I don’t think Notts have been left with much shoulder of the defence and looking to create space. choice but to allow Hughes to move on this January.

The fact remains, however, that Lee Hughes is neither of That isn’t to say that our other options upfront are ideal these things. For him to be effective at League One now - Showunmi has been nothing short of a disaster, Arquin would require a very specific sort of team - a team that is only sporadically brilliant, Iwelumo hasn’t offered is the complete antithesis of the one that Keith Curle has enough to suggest that he is the answer and Waite is built. He would certainly require a strike partner - he just a kid who needs to keep learning his trade at places struggled as a lone forward under Craig Short when two years younger and quicker, compromising the midfield like Nuneaton. that Curle has built around the attacking midfield Hughes, however, is almost certain to be the highest paid strengths of certain players. of these options and, by moving him on, Curle should have some room to bring in a replacement in January, It would need to be a new partner, too, as both Yoann Arquin and Francois Zoko would be wasted playing the who we all feel comfortable with leading the line. sort of selfless, high energy style that brings the best out Trying to fit Hughes into this current Notts side on a of Hughes and was epitomised by Luke Rodgers. regular basis would be a little bit like trying to force the triangle through the square on one of those kids’ games That Curle has chosen not to give in to Hughes’ demands to help them learn shapes. You might get it through for a starting a place week in, week out is the right eventually, but what you’d be left with would barely be decision by the manager. Were Hughes ten years younger then there would be a debate to be had, but worth keeping.

Notts have to look to the future, not base their whole One of our biggest issues this season has been keeping system around trying to get the best out of a player with the ball in advanced areas - allowing the likes of Judge, very little left in the tank.

Zoko and Campbell-Ryce to get beyond the forward and in behind to utilise their undoubted pace. Lee The answer to the problem of who Notts can rely on as Hughes’ strength has never been in holding the ball up their centre forward isn’t currently on the books - that is or bringing others into play, something that Keith Curle for Keith Curle to sort out in January. Having seen Forte, seems to see as a central responsibility of a forward in the perfect fit for the role, playing against us earlier in the season, he knows what he’s aiming for. his 4-2-3-1 formation.

I think this is where the logic behind bringing in Iwelumo lies, albeit logic that has turned out to be somewhat flawed when it comes to the big Scot. Iwelumo seems to offer absolutely no goal threat and his lack of mobility is hampering the team’s attempts at a fluid style, but Hughes’ lack of ability to make the ball stick has been evident on numerous occasions this season.

Often utilised as a late subsitute in games where Notts have then found themselves holding onto a result, Hughes has struggled to keep the ball under control,

Hughes’ time, though, has passed, and it is for the past that he is able to leave without any more of the histrionics and undignified posturing that we’ve seen through his demands to start every game and subsequent sick note after the move to Port Vale fell through. Curle has got things wrong in the past and will continue to do so, but on Lee Hughes he is absolutely right, its time for Notts fans to start moving on.

BLACK & WHITE PAGE 17

Jacob Daniel @NottsCountyMad

If some fans could have their way, we’d be stealing that crown straight back off that lot over the river for being known as the club that most like to yield the axe.

Maybe it is something in those murky waters that stem from the banks of the Trent that cause it to be so prevalent around these parts or maybe it is just anxiety that sets in when we threaten to have a period of stability? Either way, some fans are ready to see yet another era come to a premature end with Keith Curle no longer holding the faith of the absolute majority.

If the defeat at home to Rotherham in the FA Cup wasn’t painful enough for those that attended, the postponed game on the road (currently our most likely source of points) followed by defeat at home to MK Dons ensured it was both a miserable end to 2012 as well as a somewhat flat start to 2013.

Add to the mix the Lee Hughes situation which has split large sections of supporters, along with those frustrated at the very existence of some players that have spent the last six months picking up a wage from the club and you can begin to see why some fans are feeling a little angry of late.

That said, I am confident that now is not the time to panic. Since taking over from Martin Allen, Curle has enjoyed relative success. The very fact that he managed to help us push on and nearly qualify for the Play Off’s last season, coupled with the long-standing, unbeaten away record is enough to suggest his updated CV should make for better reading than the version prior to his arrival.

Yes, the form at home has been below par and had we been able to turn some of those draws into wins on the road, then we’d be in a very strong position but regardless of all that, the situation is not too bad at present.

The squad that we possess is much stronger than anything we had under Short, Ince or Allen whilst those that compare teams or players to that which we had during our League Two

PATIENCE

title winning season would do well to possession at the back and adopts a remember that the gulf between the patient approach as opposed to an allrespective divisions is abundantly clear. out-attack.

It’d be foolish to speculate too much into supposed budgets for wages and potential transfer funds although it is fair to say we aren’t ever going to be in the top five or six spenders.

Surely it isn’t so difficult to understand that by keeping the ball, first and foremost, you opponents can’t score.

In addition, you can stretch the visitors, drag them out of position, tire them out and wait for an opening. However, as soon as the moans reach pitch level, you can guarantee that some players will start to play with nerves and feel a pressure to appease the fans who are annoyed at Curle’s keep-ball approach.

We continue to struggle to pull more than 6,000 through the gates and ultimately, it is this source of revenue which can help aid a clubs promotion push when the January transfer window opens and some targets set their stall When I watch a Notts side put out out in terms of demands.

by Keith Curle, I see a side that is So perhaps at present, we are just trying to play the game in the right about where we deserve, both from manner. Undoubtedly this won’t please performances and in terms of what everyone, perhaps the board included, we’ve probably spent, as opposed to as the game is results driven. But I under achieving? Curle set himself high don’t see us being too far off a side that standards at the back end of 2011- can get the ball down and play football 12 by putting us within a few goals of as getting the points we require along Stevenage on the last day. But rather the way to progress and mount serious than taking a backwards step this term, promotion pushes, whether it be this there is just a single point between season or next. ourselves and Boro whilst fellow rivals for that final Play Off spot last season, But can anyone really tell me that sacking a manager that has brought Carlisle, are flagging in comparison. stability in the short term is the best For those that like a stat, last season way forward from here on in? And if so, we averaged 1.58 points per game how long do we give the most suited compared to 1.50 so far from our first candidate to replace him once he steps 24 games suggesting the margins for into the dugout? Just enough games success are so small yet ultimately to lay down his own marker before vital. That said, should Curle be able panicking when we have a bad run of to conjure a similar run of results from games? All sides experience a bad run February onwards this time around then at times. We are nothing unique. the likelihood of a top six finish would be I am not saying Curle should be immune very high indeed. to criticism or that his methods work I am amazed when some fans point sufficiently enough for us to have no towards a supposed lack of tactical nous need to question them. But now is the with Curle. I heard it at first hand from time to keep calm as the slogans tell many people over the festive period us and just learn to have a little more and it never ceases to amaze me when patience when we sit watching a Notts fans charge those in the game with side that are trying to approach games such a claim. If football was as simple in the right way or a Notts side that as sticking two men up front or getting have gone a few games without a win. the ball forward quicker don’t you think Give the team and Curle time and I am that anyone could, with a stroke of luck, sure we will be on a much quicker path to success than if we get someone else guide a side to success? in charge.

Such comments are similar to the Luke Williamson moans and groans that emanate from @LukeWilliamson the stands when the side tries to keep

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BLACK & WHITE PAGE 18

Let me take you back, right back actually to Saturday 17th January 1981. It’s about 9.40am and like most teenagers I’m having a problem dragging my wiry little carcass out of bed!

I pop my head out from under the bed sheets, reach out and pull aside my bedroom curtains to get a glimpse of what it’s doing outside. It looks like another cold one, a thin layer of ice appears to have set on the outside of the window and small pools of condensation have started to settle on the window sill. Like most folk on our road double glazing was yet to grace the façade of our humble abode.

I lay back in my bed and my left hand fumbles around on the floor finally coming into contact with my radio. I turn it on and gaze at the obligatory poster covered wall opposite. Paul Weller stares back at me with an assured aloofness as John Lennon’s ‘Woman’ resonates across a medium wave frequency.

It’s probably worth noting that this is Lennon’s third re-released song on the bounce to make the number one spot in the charts following his shooting on 8th November 1980.

However he didn’t actually take the Christmas No.1 spot, this accolade went to no other than St Winifred’s School Choir! Odd that?

I continue to peruse the wall and my eyes are drawn to an old newspaper cutting showing a picture of an odd looking chap with a big nose and wonky teeth with the headline “Sirrel, Success on a Shoestring,” this reminds me it’s Saturday, match day, and Notts County have a home game.

This buoys my mood and I’m up out of bed with a renewed vigour.

STAR SOCCER

we always stand right at the front of the Meadow Lane End just to the side of the keeper’s right hand post. From this position every time there is any goalmouth action and assuming the cameras are there we always get to see ourselves on the ‘box’. Somewhat immaturely we take every opportunity to shout obscenity’s at the opposing keeper in the hope that our street credibility will increase amongst our peers at school if we’re seen doing this on television.

It’s now about 1.45pm so we make our way down London Road, full of anticipation and excitement for the coming match. Today we are playing West Ham, a team running away with Division 2, a team who soundly trounced us 4 – 0 at Upton Park just four games into the season. Trevor Brooking is the star attraction but this is a team full of quality with household names such as Phil Parkes in goal, Paul Goddard and top scorer David Cross, not to mention their captain Billy Bonds.

But we remain confident, currently lying third in the table and three games into what will become a nine match unbeaten run we have some quality of our own. Don Masson, Ray O’Brien and Iain McCulloch to name but a few.

As we near the ground our excitement is tinged slightly when we begin to hear rumours of a pitch inspection due to the ground frost. We needn’t have worried as the game is allowed to go ahead. Apparently upon arriving in Nottingham the whole West Ham team popped into a local sportswear shop to buy trainers that would be suitable to use on an icy pitch, imagine that!

Having purchased a match day programme we continue along Iremonger Road and I can’t even begin to describe the emotions I’m experiencing. These are the same emotions felt by thousands of football fans up and down the length of the country on a Saturday afternoon.

The cries of the programme seller, the smell of the burger stand and the click, click, click of the turnstiles as fans filter into the ground. A swarm of butterflies are unleashed The sun is shining but low in the in my stomach as I step through the sky. It’s still very cold and although turnstile and the adrenaline kicks in. it’s nearly mid day the ground frost doesn’t appear to be going anywhere We take up our usual position in the soon. I meet up with the usual stand. The pitch looks rock hard and suspects and we settle outside a tv funnily enough both sets of players rentals shop in Broad Marsh to watch appear to be wearing trainers and not all the football highlights from last boots. I look around the ground trying week on Grandstand. This is great fun to calculate the size of the crowd, because when we go to watch Notts as always I over estimate and claim Having washed and finishing off copious quantities of toast and coffee leaving very little for my younger brother and sister I head for the number 5 bus into town adorning Adidas trainers, drainpipe jeans and fish tail parker with Notts scarf clearly visible around my neck. A couple of years ago I would have had a silk scarf tied to my wrist, but that’s so 1970’s!

BLACK & WHITE PAGE 19

it must be at least 16,000! This was maybe a little over exuberant as our highest gate of the season was 16,500 against local rivals Derby County.

The match kicks off and we’re in luck, ATV is there with their cameras to show the game on Star Soccer that evening. Needless to say we did everything we could to get ourselves noticed.

As expected the contest didn’t disappoint. It was a very tight but enjoyable game and having gone in at the break 0 – 1 down to a Paul Holland goal Notts rallied in the second half and managed to secure a deserved point with a Paul Hooks equaliser.

As the players left the field and the crowd began to exit the ground we made our way to the back of the main stand and the players entrance. There we stood patiently waiting for the players to emerge so that we could get autographs. And we did.

Its 10pm and cue Star Soccer.

Notts County v West Ham United is the featured match with extended highlights. I sit on the sofa, reliving the pre-match emotions of earlier in the day as Gary Newbon introduces commentator Hugh Johns who provides us with the usual stats and facts about the players and teams.

As the highlights play out I stand shouting “look mum, there I am just behind the goal”, as I point frustratingly at the screen.

“Oh yes” she replies, “I can see you now, who’s that one in the green kit?”

“That’s Phil Parkes, the West Ham Goalie. Look he’s right near me when he comes to get the ball.”

“Oh ok, he looks quite nice . . .”

I screw up my face wondering what on earth she means then it hits me! She turns imposingly towards me, takes the slipper from her foot and shouts! “. . . so why have you just shouted at him to ‘eff off?!” Ah, fame at last!

Notts County 1 – 1 West Ham United Hooks Holland Notts County Avramovic, Benjamin, O’Brien, Kelly, Kilcline, Richards, McCulloch, Masson, Christie, Hunt, Hooks.

West Ham Parkes, Stewart, Brush, Bonds, Martin, Devonshire, Holland, Goddard, Cross, Trevor Brooking, Geoff Pike.

Att 13,745 Richard Ogando @ncfcog

AWAY DAYS

It was a little while ago now but I have to tell the tale of my away trip to Colchester - a 2-0 victory courtesy of Neal Bishop and Alan Judge goals made it a then 16 unbeaten away from home, in what was an uninspiring but professional performance played in quiet surroundings.

train. It said Colchester on the departure board but it was instead headed for Bishops Stortford. What was worse is that by the time I realised this, I was on a delayed and ridiculously slow train, meaning by the time I rectified my mistake and got to Liverpool Street I was down to 90 minutes before kick-off. Then I did it again, I got on the slow train to Colchester as opposed to the quick one, It was not an away day of the sort you enjoy reminiscing meaning I’d get there with five minutes to play - the about - they are usually saved for Saturdays with your Football Ground Guide told me it was 10 minutes by bus mates, a bit of a pre-match pub crawl, a good away to the ground and I still didn’t have my ticket. following from Nottingham and of course three points.

I am one of those fans who likes to be at the ground in This was set up to be a complete contrast, but for me good time, I like to soak up the atmosphere. it was bloody eventful. Work commitments mean my Notts games are sadly limited at present, although Naturally, despite leaving on time, this slow train to despite being contracted to work most Saturdays during Colchester delayed en route - by 15 minutes - and it the season owing to the nature of my job as a sports wasn’t until after kick-off I jumped into a taxi demanding journalist, I think I have done okay so far this campaign. the driver speed off in the direction of Colchester United.

Money-wise it was hurting too, the free buses to the I pick and choose the more desirable Saturday fixtures ground had of course left, and he stung me for £7 despite and take them off as holiday, while Tuesday matches the journey, luckily, being just five minutes. have become my saving grace. And being based in Phone battery low, I hadn’t a clue what I’d missed from London is actually most helpful with this - you can get to the first 10 minutes of the match, especially with no and from places by train much easier – or so I thought. scoreboard.

So it was that I decided to embark on my first trip to Colchester and their Western Homes Community Stadium. With a random half-day holiday remaining to be taken pre-Christmas, I thought it a good opportunity to finish in good time, get to Colchester early and take in some pre-match amenities before kick-off.

The plan was to finish work at 2pm, constituting a half day, and leave my Wimbledon base a little after that.

This is the point where I should have predicted what was to come. I don’t have the best of luck with trains, being a commuter and living so far away from Meadow Lane means I am a regular user of National Rail and anyone who follows me on Twitter will appreciate the disdain I have for that particular organisation.

But I arrived in time to see Jamal Campbell-Ryce fall rather softly in front of us to win a free-kick which Judge whipped in for Bishop to meet with a fine half-volley. And at the moment all seemed worthwhile.

The match could have ended there and then, and those two minutes I’d seen would be worth the somewhat tortuous journey. But it got better. Judge turned from provider to goal-getter pouncing on a flick-on and beating the keeper to the ball to slide it past him. He mimicked Bishop’s sliding knees celebration in front of the travelling army.

Half-time came and went, I managed to grab a programme, and Notts saw out the victory. A peculiar away day if ever there was one, not helped from my It was part of the reason I wanted to make off from work perspective by not having anyone to share my misfortune early, to ensure nothing was left to chance and I’d be in with. my seat for way before 7.45pm.

Unfortunately I was working on an important project and On a night so cold that your half-time piss steams into the nature of my work is that the bosses expect you to your nostrils and the warm pies just don’t satisfy the remain until all is done, the fact you may have requested insides as quite they should, there was a further journey time off becomes irrelevant. I had waited all morning home fraught with misery. for one of my rugby video projects to be signed off by a client so that I could begin sending it to various sources, I got to London Euston in good time, slipping straight out but by 2pm this still hadn’t arrived. Trouble is it was time of the ground - and not with 85 minutes on the clock like some travellers (er, don’t worry lads there isn’t a rush to sensitive and had to be distributed pretty swiftly. get on the motorway there’s only a couple of thousand Eventually, shortly after 3pm, my boss relented and I was here and we are in the middle of nowhere). But my allowed leave after giving my word I’d find an internet final commute out of London back to my then home in connection somewhere to send if required. Lo and behold Hertfordshire was delayed, then cancelled, then the next literally as soon as I walked out the office my boss text train cancelled, and then delayed. I’m not kidding either. to say approval was granted. I had to send. This set me back a good hour. But still, despite my annoyance, there All I can say is @nationalrail are very fortunate my was plenty of time to get myself to Colchester station - battery had died otherwise they’d have got the brunt. an hour from Liverpool Street in London, or 55 minutes Usually though it would cause me much anger, especially from Stratford. I could get to Stratford swiftly from given my working day began with a 6:30am alarm and it was now coming up to 1pm.

Wimbledon and so I did.

I then delayed myself, something I’d come to regret.

Hunger got the better of me and I chose to bide my time and grab some fast food before getting the train to Colchester. There was still well over two hours until kick-off and I had all the train times scribed in my head.

Then came a mistake - I stupidly boarded the wrong

Instead I was rather relaxed. Because all had been worth it. I sat on that train, when it eventually moved, and had the sliding knee image of Bishop and Judge ingrained on my brain… you can’t beat an away day.

BLACK & WHITE PAGE 20

Paul Smith @psmithyjourno

THE A-Z OF TOM WILLIAMS

Tom Williams wrote on Twitter that he was blocking a number of Notts fans, so that they would find time to “get a job”. Later that day Notts binned him! Enjoy this A-Z and relive the painful few months in which we needed to endure the man who branded his own club’s supporters ”muggy c***s”.

A

is for Abject - or abysmal!

Whichever word you want to use to describe his display against Bradford in the League Cup first round game. Adjectives could become a common theme in this piece.

B

is for Babysitter because judging by how many times he and his missus appear in the celebrity magazines and third-rate websites at z-list celebrity parties, theirs must be pretty minted!

C is for Crewe - where his injury after ten minutes and Gary Liddle replacing him in the middle of defence has so far set us up quite nicely at centreback!

D is for Dusk Til Dawn the Nottingham casino that is quite likely to take a massive his in profits based on the amount of times he’s been sighted there.

E

is for eight - likely the percentage of completed passes in 120 minutes of football against Bradford City.

F

is for F*****G HELL - the go to response for most people when the

name Tom Williams comes up on Saturday at 2pm.

G

is for Guy Branston the illustrious company that Williams has already come to find himself mentioned with.

H is for “Hello love!” - for the day he waved to his missus in the stands whilst in the middle of a game for Preston North End! No really!!

I

is for Inspiration Williams is proof to footballers anywhere that you can be woeful in your field and still make it.

J

is for #JusticeForChed - the hashtag his quite vile missus is happy to spread the word for.

It’s for convicted rapist Ched Evans if you were wondering

K is for Kettering Town - a

club who couldn’t stop at humiliating us in the FA Cup just a few seasons back - they then sent Tom Williams our way last Summer.

L is for Left Back - Where on a matchday you’re supposed to find Tom Williams...

M

is for the Middle Of

Nowhere - Where you’ll ACTUALLY find Tom Williams.

N is for Non-League - one of the more reasonabie options for the next stop of his career.

O

is for One - For that one, solitary international cap he has for the mighty Cyprus.

P

is for Photographs representing the pretty incriminating evidence he must be in possession of to continue finding work as a professional footballer.

Q

is for Quota - every manager signs the odd duff player, but Williams’ ineptitude nearly filled up Keith Curle’s quota singlehandedly!

R

is for Regan - another questionable signing in the Summer but at least he’s served a purpose at times!

S is for Sushi - apparently

now part of a steady diet (alongside Hooters’ chicken wings) for footballers who openly admit to their Twitter followers that they’re “rusty”.

T

he

is for Twitter - where would rather than

acknowledge his team’s results, continue to bleat about the latest reality TV show - or tell his own club’s fans “I don’t care”.

Was also a popular choice for the trending topic #myclubsworstsigning.

U is for Useless - I actually made it this far without resorting to the aforementioned adjectives so give me a break! This is desperation.

V is for Vacation - Because he’s about to take a pretty lengthy one if there’s any justice in the world!

W is for Wages - though this could easily have gone under T for Theft. Please let his contract have been on a pay as you play basis.

X

is for Xenopus - an African clawed frog! No I don’t know either...

Y is for Y Keith, Y? Z is for Zero credibility referring to his claims of being an entrepreneur.

If drawing the ire of the supporters of near enough every side you’ve played for in recent history is considered entrepreneurial - then he has the market covered!

THE NOTTS COUNTY MUG COLLECTION

old boots out now

150 year crest out now

BLACK & WHITE PAGE 21

crest

out now

tom williams

released january 4th!!!

DAN WESTWELL’S TOP NOTTS SHOTS

By now, it’s safe to assume that most of the travelling Notts army are more than aware of who Dan Westwell is. For the uninitiated though, he’s the club’s official away photographer - often caught snapping pre-match photos of our ugly mugs in whichever garden shed we’ve been stuck in on any given week. Here, he shares with us his favourite photos from his vast archives!

Introduce yourself! Name, where you come from, and how you got into photography?

Dan Westwell, born in Peterborough, moved up here when I was eleven. A firm believer in supporting my local team (watched Posh aged four) I decided I would be going to watch Mansfailed as they were only nine miles away. I started taking photos of the stands at different away grounds around 1988ish when the fences were still up at every ground. At Crewe a steward said I could go through a gate pitch side to get better pics of Gresty Road. Something happened that day that made being pitch side somewhere I really wanted to be.

I’d been writing to clubs asking if I could go pitch side to take photos of the stands (not the game) and in April 1993 an actual photographers pass came through from Brighton & Hove Albion for me to sit pitch side during a game. It was a complete disaster, a Wednesday night in Brighton, I didn’t have a clue what I was doing (night photography is so different), Stags got hammered 3-1 and I don’t think any of the photos came out, but more importantly I’d got the bug and there was no stopping me. In October 1993 I’d got my first photo published from Bury 2v2 Stags and away I went.

First Notts game you ever took pictures at? Any memories from that day?

First Notts game at Meadow Lane would’ve been the Coca-Cola League Cup game in October 1994 in which Notts thrashed Spurs 3-0. In the Spurs team that day were the likes of Sol Campbell, Jurgen Klinsmann & Teddy Sheringham. I think that was my first visit to the ‘new’ ML too (I’d stood on the old terraced away end with Stags before). The Modern All Seated Attendance Record was set that night too, 16,952 cramming into the ground.

Schmeichel was consistently brilliant at this level. Oh and of course, Delroy Facey!

I suppose having been to Morecambe in the Munto year it would have to be Sol Campbell (to be pedantic) but obviously he wasn’t at his best IN a Notts shirt.

Who has been the best Notts player to photograph?

Maybe not the most talented footballer, but who always came out well in photographs?

I suppose Kasper Schmeichel again was always a favourite for that, being a keeper myself too! Also you don’t really see any keeper photos, but I did manage to get a couple of good ones of him at Hereford when he came out and conceded a penalty & then promptly saved it. Also when he did a scissor kick in the last minute at Morecambe, I got a couple of photos of that which I love.

Out of the current crop, Judgey is perfect to photograph.

What have been your favourite, most memorable Notts matches?

All the ones against Stags. One of my favourites was when we scored late in the game at ML to make it 2-2. Iyseden Christie was miles offside but it had been headed on by a Notts player and he put it away and celebrated right in front of me and 4,000+ Stags fans in the kop. I don’t know how I kept my composure! That photo made it onto the front cover of a book about Stags Since officially doing photos for Notts I would say Kasper which made me very proud. As a Notts photographer The best player you’ve seen in a Notts shirt?

I would have seen players that Notts fans would rate highly but I wouldn’t realise it having only seen them odd times. I did go to Wembley to see Notts in the play off final v Brighton & also went to the FA Cup game at White Hart Lane, so I’m sure there were players in those teams who could be Notts legends.

BLACK & WHITE PAGE 22

though, the games away at Charlton & Wycombe last season & Carlisle this season will be very hard to beat as well as Darlington in the title winning season when I got Mike Edwards scoring an overhead kick and also the celebrations on the pitch and in the dressing room after the game was memorable.

What’s been your proudest achievement in photography since starting out?

I suppose it would have been my very first published photo, but I do feel quite proud when I get something used in the national press because there’s so much competition and most of the nationals pay up front for their photo usage to the big agencies. So if I’m at a game with those big agencies and The Sun or Mirror choose to use mine, it’s a massive thing because they’ve effectively turned down free photos to actually use mine which they would then have to pay me for. I can’t describe the buzz I get when I see that happen, it just doesn’t happen enough! I also feel proud when I see people using my photos as their profile pics on Facebook and Twitter.

What is your all time favourite photo you’ve taken watching Notts?

There’s not a single one that stands out. Judge at Wycombe & Kelly at Meadow Lane v Scunny both scoring late winners when they celebrated by waving their shirts around their heads were nice. The one of Bish celebrating by clasping his arse when the ball had gone in off it in the win over Charlton. I also got a photo of Kasper Schmeichel when he went up front in the last minute at Morecambe to try and equalise and he tried a scissor kick, I love those ones. Also again, one of Eddie when he did an overhead kick at Darlo when Notts won promotion that night. And being let in to the dressing room after the game and getting the Notts players celebrating promotion by doing the Hughesy was pretty special too.

A few months back at Oldham, you were seen getting into a bit of a row with a steward - we even sang your name! What was going on there?!

Ah me and stewards, we’re like Notts & F*rest, City & United, Rangers & Celtic! There was a few issues but basically I wanted to sit the other side of the gate as I couldn’t see the pitch because I was in a ‘pit’ and the advertising board and ballboy in front of me were blocking my view.

I was told I couldn’t yet there were three other photographers at the other end of the ground sat pitch side blocking advertising boards (which it tells you not to do on their official rules!). Also two of them didn’t even have a bib on (I’d had to pay a £10 deposit for mine & wasn’t allowed to use my own) and there was another photographer who was wearing his own bib. I pointed out that I was being discriminated against due to being an ‘away photographer’ and even showed them their own paperwork that we are given on arrival at Boundary Park, which states we can sit pitch side but they just told me to ‘take it up with the club’.

I wrote to Oldham to complain about this and also the treatment Notts fans got after the goals when they were manhandled by the stewards and I heard them congratulating each other after the game about how many they’d ‘had’. I got a reply which said they had changed the wording of the paperwork, advised the stewards to make sure photographers wore bibs and not block advertising boards (which three were doing) and also not to be violent to away fans when ‘ushering’ them back to the stand after a goal celebration. I hope they go down (or Notts go up) so I never have to go there again.

What are the odds Notts get them in the FA Cup now!

The one at Charlton last year of Forte & Freeman rolling on the floor celebrating got quite a lot of good comments and it was my first Sunday photo I’d had used in the new Sun on Sunday.

Hopefully I can get the winning Notts goal at Wembley in May as Notts celebrate promotion to the Championship!

COMPETITION To enter a draw to win a signed copy of Dan’s shot of Judgey’s last minute winner at Wycombe, just answer the following question: What was the score in Dan’s first ever game at Meadow Lane?

Email your answer to stu@botnpublishing.co.uk Winner in the next issue!

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WHO NEARLY ATE ALL THE PIES?

‘It was the best of times, it was the worst of times’ is not only the way in which Charles Dickens’ Tale of Two Cities opens, it describes perfectly the eight months in the history of Notts County FC which ran from July 2009 until February 2010.

What first alerted me to ‘something in would take the legendary Sol five turned it down. Probably his biggest the air’back in those days was a post weeks to get match fitness (even mistake, but proof for Pies fans the on MAD which declared that some though he claimed he had been world over (if proof was needed) that Middle Eastern gentlemen had landed training throughout the close season), the man was approaching sainthood and would definitely get us to the at Castle Donnington and had climbed but what a signing.

Premier League, but it might take a aboard a taxi bound for Meadow Lane and therefore Munto Finance was a His Notts’ career started and ended season longer than the five projected. inauspiciously at, of all places, When he signed up Hans Backe as reality.

Morecambe. Those present detected new manager on a three-year deal How we all wanted to believe that. a certain je ne sais quoi in his I was sufficiently motivated to rip How good it would have been if the performance as Notts slumped to up my commitments and drive over tumultuous times we had been living a 1-2 defeat when a cricket score to Rochdale for an evening game through since the Trust took charge in our favour had been anticipated. that would prove we were officially were about to end in triumph, with the Four days later Sol walked and MAD awesome. Of course, we lost. club being sold on the back of its one was awash with filth about his lack enduring claim to fame: its longevity? of commitment, that he was a posh On November 16th 2009, the club Ever since father first took me down Premier boy with dodgy sexuality. put out a statement confessing to a the lane, the fact that we are the It was proof, if proof were needed, number of financial irregularities with world’s oldest surviving professional that football fans turn on a sixpence. the takeover. Shaky went on a search football club has been emblazoned on On a personal note, some reporter for investment that he would surely my psyche. As cheekier pupils were mates told me that Sol’s lawyer had find in Taiwan. He didn’t. Sven made wont to ask me in my early teaching dismissed his first pay cheque as it public that he was on the point of days in Mansfield: “Many of the obviously counterfeit and advised him walking out on the club. Christmas was looking likely to be a festering original players still in the team, sir?” to do one. rather than a festive season. Players’ But that’s Mansfield for you.

In the same week that Sol walked, bonuses were now in question.

Football League admitted The Notts MAD board was as the vibrant as at any time in its history. investigating County’s takeover. Two I was working at Barnsley FC on Any poster daring to question the days later HMRC issued their first the day that Shaky bought the club for a £1 at an on-pitch ceremony on authenticity of Munto could expect a winding-up order.

December 12th. Reporters working verbal guillotining and poor old Matt Scott of the Guardian, who expressed I started to hear rumours of one with me, who knew of my attachment incredulity at the takeover from Day Russell King behind it all. Someone to Notts, chortled loud and long at One, was kicked worse than a collier’s told me he was a convicted fraudster what had become a public farce. and had a reputation for signing dog. documents as L Vordemort. Oh dear! Do I blame it all on Armstrong The eponymous Peter ‘Shaky’ Couldn’t JK Rowling be persuaded to GoHome selling out the trust so Trembling was appointed as Chief have an interest and indemnify the cheaply? Did Trembling know all along what a dodgy project that he Executive and the fact that he was club? was fronting or was he taken in, (as Nottingham-based and not some airy fairy southern banker or international Notts countered with Shaky releasing indeed the Football League was)? jet-setter lent the whole project a statement revealing that two high- Was Sven really that gullible when powered families, the Shafis and his main man, Sol Campbell, had credibility.

Hyats, owned the club. Just two days seen through the scam? Is it true that Then the master stroke, though later Anwar Shafi scuppered Notts’ Russell Fink, the arch villain of all this no one was really sure who the claims by denying any connection is house-bound on the orders of the Bahraini government and that is why recruiting sergeant was. On July with Notts County FC. he can’t be brought to justice?

22nd Sven Goran Erikkson was appointed Director of Football on a There was only one thing to do when five year contract with Tord Grip as a the going gets tough. It’s what Notts What matters is that Shaky did the general adviser. If the former England always do: they sacked the manager decent thing in the end and found manager was running the show then and with the club fifth in the league a credible alternative in Ray Trew.

Charlie McParland collected his cards. Although our club was very nearly clearly everything must be kosher.

At this point North Korea offered liquidated by a concoction of First On the basis of that appointment, a Sven a consultancy role in preparing London, Swiss Commodity Holdings, whole house of cards was erected. them for the 2010 World Cup. MAD Qadbak Investments, Belgravia Group Kasper Schmeichel joined the fold. spluttered into life with various and Munto Finance, we have lived Soon followed Sol Campbell. The factions stating either that he was to tell the tale. In truth, the whole Premiership in five years seemed not needed full time at Meadow Lane or adventure probably gave us sufficient such a crazy projection. Sol was to that we might recruit young talent thrust to leap the gap between be on £40,000 a week. Swallow that from the world’s most secretive leagues two and one. one, detractors from over the river. state if he took it. No wonder people Consider your crown under serious believed that a monorail running from There is no point living in denial of our the city centre to Notts’ ground was history. It all helped make us what we threat. are today. Like I said: it was the best a reality; anything seemed possible. of times, it was the worst of times.

The tee-shirt printing press started hammering out the Campbell Instead Sven was offered the job of Alan Combes monicker on club shirts. Okay, it Swedish national coach and promptly

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NOTTS 150 WORD SEARCH

MIXED UP NOTTS

Just as a way of mixing things up in this issue, we thought we’d throw a couple of puzzles out there. There are 29 Notts legends hidden below for starters! Answers for puzzlers are at the foot of the page.

We’re used to one foot not knowing what the other is doing at Notts but talk about mixed up!

The team given below could never have played together because they weren’t contemporaneous.

However, test your love of Notts and unscramble the anagrams to give a fascinating team from yesteryear.

Your only clue is that the side is set out in a genuine 4-4-2 formation.

Odd loganberrry Rant unharm seller erupts headman dived bare irony nomad’s son carry verger oily wren word I’ll snog I recover thirst My lawn motto

MIXED UP Gordon Bradley; Arthur Mann, Peter Russell, David Needham, Ray O’Brien; Don Masson, Gerry Carver, Ron Wylie, Gordon Wills; Trevor Christie, Tommy Lawton.

WORDSEARCH Darren WARD, Ian MCPARLAND, Leon LEUTY, Gary LUND, Jimmy LOGAN, Lee HUGHES, Dean YATES, Phil TURNER Jackie SEWELL, Les BRADD, Tommy LAWTON, Albert IREMONGER, Mike EDWARDS, Ian RICHARDSON, Gary MCSWEGAN Mark DRAPER, Gordon MAIR, Brian STUBBS, Tony HATELY, Mark STALLARD, Craig SHORT, Jimmy SIRREL, Tom KEETLEY Gary JONES, Don MASSON, Tommy JOHNSON, Neil WARNOCK, Steve CHERRY, Kasper SCHMEICHEL

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Wishing both Notts County FC and Black & White all the best and hoping both the fanzine and Keith Curle’s Notts take us all the way to extra time and penalties this year!

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LIGUE 1, OR LEAGUE 1?

Back in the summer, I hit upon the idea of heading to Europe to catch some of games of football. The first challenge was where to go. I searched the web for French, Dutch, Belgian and German fixtures.

My preference was to get the Eurostar as it would likely be cheaper and I prefer getting the train rather than flying. Keeping travel to a minimum, I didn’t want to be more than 3 hours from London.

Realistically, this knocked the Bundesliga out so I started looking into going to Holland. The fixtures gave me the opportunity to go to Sparta Rotterdam and PSV Eindhoven.

I’ve always wanted to go to Rotterdam - water and regenerated dock areas are personal favourites of mine - so this looked a winner. However, whilst the Sparta tickets could be easily bought for around €13, PSV wanted about €60 which they dressed us as being superb value as you got a €25 voucher for their club shop. Good value for them but not for me so thanks but no thanks.

So, it was time to look at France and Belgium.

In both countries, the second tier games are played on Fridays with the top-flight games on Saturdays, which was ideal. I’ve been to Brussels and Antwerp before but never northern France so when I saw that there were games in Lens (on Friday) and Lille (Saturday), I thought this is it, and plumped for this trip. The new UEFA 5 star rated stadium in Lille also gave me a reason to go there.

So, onto the web I went and bought my tickets to Lille. Neither game was a particularly big one with Lille playing Brestois. I found a great French website that did tickets ticketnet.fr - so you can imagine my disappointment when I went on there a couple of weeks before the Lens game to buy a ticket to discover that the game had been moved to the Monday for TV reasons! There was nothing I could do about my train tickets so that was it, I would just be going to watch Lille - not the end of the world but when pundits line up to kick the English game for bowing at the altar of TV often, I now can say that it happens in France too! Regardless, I hopped onto the Lille website and bought a €15 ticket for the match. €15 struck me as a bargain considering I pay twice as much to watch County.

Lille play at the Grand Stade Metropole which is about 15 minutes from the centre of Lille by Metro.

Once I got off the metro I was greeted by a line of non-smiling local transport staff and security guards.

This was all completely unnecessary considering the mix of people there.

The word overkill sprang to mind.

Despite feeling guilty by default,

I left the station and followed the Debuchy - who pushed forward often and was very effective but the lack of crowd to the stadium. a decent striker prevented Lille from The Stade is very much a stadium. taking advantage of their possession.

It’s grey in colour although the outer Whilst Lille pushed forward, Brestois skin of the building is made up of played with 10 men behind the ball fluorescent light tubes (although with the experienced Bernard Mendy these weren’t in use today) with one at centre back. Bernard took no end having a skin of LEDS. Combine prisoners and was unsurprisingly the grey skin of the building with booked in the first half. The standard the grey skies and it was a slightly of refereeing is certainly no better in disappointing sight visually. There Ligue 1 than in England. Lille were was also hardly anything proclaiming denied two clear penalties, one for the stadium as the home of Lille. an assault on their midfield enforcer The ground is a municipal ground in the first half and one for a foul on but some LOSC branding would an onrushing forward in the second. have livened things up. Pre match, I nipped into a hotel outside the As the game progressed Lille’s ground for a couple of Jupilers at €5 stranglehold on the game remained but this did not dim the enthusiasm a pop. of the 100 or so Brestois fans who Before the game, I was unsure over had made the trip along with their whether to take my camera to the excitable drummer. One note, why ground. As it is not professional do away fans like taking their tops quality I did not expect any problems off and twirling them above their but when I entered the stadium, I heads?? Lille took the lead near the was promptly pulled over by security. end of the first half after some neat They then began talking to me which play down the left found Kalou eight was pointless as my French isn’t very yards from goal from where he neatly good so when I uttered the words “je slotted the ball in the far corner suis anglais” they looked annoyed thereby wrong footing the keeper. and went off to find someone who could speak English. This took three Half time soon came so I went in attempts but the young woman who search of a beer to drink during the did speak to me made a laugh of it all second half. Unfortunately, this was and told me where to collect my stuff not possible as I did not have a Lille card! Lille operate a cashless paying post match. system at the ground so you have So, without camera, off I went to my to buy a Lille card pre game to be seat. It was a good view, top tier, able to buy snacks. As these cost near the back and right behind the a minimum of €10, I didn’t think it goal (akin to the top of the Kop). worth getting one.

It did have the feel of being on top of the action which took a while to Having drawn a blank on the food get used to when the action was and drink front, I went back to happening below me. I also noticed my seat for the second half. This that the retractable roof was closed continued in the same vein as the and this made watching the game first with Lille putting pressure on feel a bit like watching a game in Brestois yet failing to create much in a car park. The reason for closing the way of chances. Aside from the the roof became clear after the aforementioned penalty claim, the game when it was chucking it down score line looked set to remain the outside. The pitch was in a bad same at 1-0. Midway through the enough state before the game kicked half, Brestois had a rare chance which off and with a rugby game at the provoked an excellent safe from the stadium the next day – just like Notts Lille keeper – Landreau - but from - it was clear that more rain would do there on in the game petered out so as it entered injury time. the pitch no good at all.

Lille began the match kicking towards me. Their best known player is Salomon Kalou who played just off the front man with the rest of the team playing a typical modern day 4-4-1-1 formation. They had a very good overlapping right back –

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In so many ways, the experience was just like watching County but I can thoroughly recommend it to anyone else who fancies a trip abroad to see a game.

Graham Farquharson @gfarquharson

JIMMY LOGAN’S STORY

In Notts County FC’s 150th celebration year it is fitting to remember the man who played an important part in bringing the club’s only major trophy to the club in that long history – the 1894 FA Cup. In the cup final at Goodison Park the hero on that day was Notts County’s centre-forward Jimmy Logan who grabbed a hat-trick in their 4-1 win.

But what do we know about Jimmy? In Logan’s era there was negligible media coverage other than the basic match reports in the newspapers so information is thin on the ground and the ‘stars’ of that time were relatively unknown outside of the area they played. Within their locality they would of course be well known but they would still be the guys who worked next to you in the local mine and drank with you in the local pub – a far cry from the highly elevated status and huge bank balances of today’s stars.

members of the Scottish League until 1897. So on March 21st 1891, he played at centre-forward for Scotland in a 4-3 win against Wales at Wrexham scoring one of the goals, while on the same afternoon his club Ayr F.C. were defeating the Deaf and Dumb English International team 11-3 at Somerset Park.

Logan’s international career was brief.

Sunderland renewed their interest and this time he accepted their offer and signed for them in May 1891. With the Scottish F.A. still upholding amateurism he rendered himself ineligible for future selection for Scotland. Although professionalism was accepted in Scotland only one year later the decision to pick players with English clubs for international matches was not taken until February 1896.

Jimmy Logan was born in Troon, Ayrshire to parents James, a seaman, and mother Elizabeth on June 24th 1870. By 1881 the family had moved the few miles up the road to Ayr and as he developed into a young man he was able to harness his blossoming football skills by joining his local team at Somerset Park - Ayr FC. Ayr FC and Ayr Parkhouse FC would later join forces to form Ayr Nonetheless the move to Sunderland was a good one.

1891-92 was the first time they had ever won the United in 1910. league Championship and Logan helped to contribute The Ayrshire Cup campaign of season 1890-91 was towards that success – albeit he made only two league to prove significant – but not for the results. Ayr F.C. appearances. His career took another twist when ill eliminated Newmilns and Skares before losing 5-3 to health prompted him to return to Scotland and after Hurlford at Somerset Park in the third round. In the recovering he resumed playing at centre-forward for Ayr Hurlford tie, in the absence of regular centre-forward F.C. Jimmy was known to have suspect health and he Ross, Jimmy Logan was moved into that position rather had the reputation of poor stamina and never being able than his normal ‘half-back’ place.

The effect was to maintain his high standard in a fast game. Jimmy’s astonishing, causing a local journalist to write, “Up front, trade was as a confectioner and the working conditions, Logan was the Lion of the team. He is the best centre if as part of a dusty bakery as was often the case, may not have helped his condition.

Ayr have had for many a day.”

Two months later, in February 1891, a journal called ‘Sport’ observed that Logan deserved a place in the forthcoming international trials and further recognition came from a Sunderland agent who was unsuccessful in tempting him to move south. The Football League had started in the 1888-89 season whereas the Scottish League did not commence until a couple of years later so English clubs were keen to take advantage of the situation and lure south the outstanding Scottish players with the promise of good wages.

We can only speculate that these days Jimmy may have been diagnosed as asthmatic – but we will never know that for sure. Jimmy was in fact a journeyman confectioner which meant he would work as and when he could rather than being attached to one place with fixed hours which allowed him to play football when required.

While at home in Scotland Jimmy married his girlfriend Mary Munro in her home town of Glasgow and in the summer of 1892 his son James was born. His return spell at Somerset Park did not last. In October 1892 he left Ayr F.C. for Aston Villa. The transfer fee for Logan was £30 and the money was paid to Sunderland since he was still under contract to them. In his first season at Villa (1892/93) he made ten appearances and scored seven goals helping the team to a fourth place finish.

He followed that up by playing the first four games of the following season, scoring one goal, before moving on to sample life in the Second Division with Notts County while Aston Villa finished the season as League Champions.

As well as the prospect of good wages clubs sometimes organised jobs for their players in their own trade. For example, in 1890 Wilson, a keeper with Vale of Leven was offered £3.10/- (£3.50) per week for playing and £1 a week to work as a dyer by Blackburn. James Oswald, a striker with Third Lanark was offered a tobacconist’s shop with £500 of stock and two guaranteed seasons for £160 each season if he signed for Notts County. That compared with 36/- (£1.80) wage packet for a 54 hour week for a Glasgow fitter - no wonder many Scottish Two good seasons followed for Notts County. 1893/94 footballers were happy to move south. saw Notts finish third with Logan playing 21 games and Logan was duly selected for the international trials and scoring 21 goals. The following season Notts finished he played in these at Hampden and in Edinburgh on second with Logan playing 20 games and scoring 10 consecutive Saturdays. His chances of being picked goals. Notts lost in the end of season play-offs and so were high since the selectors had the task of choosing failed to gain promotion in both seasons. 1894 also saw three totally different teams to face England, Wales and the birth of his second son William.

Ireland in the British Championship. 1890-91 was the inaugural season of the Scottish League and they took In Logan’s first season a brilliant F.A. Cup run saw them the astonishing decision to ban six players who played eliminate three First Division teams on the way to the in the Edinburgh trial for the remainder of the season. final, including the red team from Nottingham in the The view was taken that they should have been playing quarter finals. Then on March 31st, 1894, 37,000 saw for their league clubs instead. This was not an issue Notts County beat Bolton Wanderers 4-1 at Goodison for Jimmy Logan as his club Ayr F.C. did not become Park to become the first Second Division club to win

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Back (l-r) Charlie Bramley, Theo Harper, Davey Calderhead (c), George Toone, Jack Hendry, Alf Shelton, Goode (trainer) Front (l-r) Arthur Watson, Sam Donnelly, Jimmy Logan, Dan Bruce, Harry Daft (inset - the original FA Cup trophy) the F.A. Cup. Logan was in superb form and scored a hat-trick. Only William Townley, (for Blackburn Rovers in 1890), had achieved that feat before and Stan Mortensen, (for Blackpool in 1953), is the only player to have achieved an F.A. Cup Final hat-trick since. A report of that 1894 final described Logan as “a clipper in full sail all through.”

their 2-0 defeat, some of the Loughborough players returned home still wearing the attire they had played in and Logan caught a chill causing him to miss the next three games. However, he staged a partial recovery and returned for the final game of the season on April 18th. In that fixture he scored in a 4-1 win over Crewe Alexandra.

In 1895 Jimmy Logan returned to play for Ayr F.C. - but only for one match. By this time he was a Dundee player and guested in an end of season friendly with Preston North End at Somerset Park. Logan seemed to have a nomadic instinct and he was soon on the move again.

This time, in June 1895, he was transferred from Dundee to Newcastle United making seven appearances and scoring five goals in a fifth place finish.

It was his final game and his final goal. He had a relapse and died of pneumonia on Monday May 25th 1896 with his father present. Tragically, Jimmy was still a month short of his 26th birthday. It is doubtful whether the entire history of football can record a stranger fatality.

The loss of the team kit had probably brought about the death of Jimmy Logan. The tragedy was deepened by the fact that, in his last days money was short and he had few close friends apart from John Berry with whom he lodged while playing for Loughborough, a full-back whom Loughborough Town had brought in from Burton Swifts. Berry’s house in which Jimmy died was number 108 in Loughborough’s Leopold Street and still stands to this day.

In February 1896 a further transfer saw him depart to Second Division Loughborough Town.

The Loughborough owners had just held a crisis meeting to discuss the serious plight of the club. After collecting only three points between October and February the club was bottom of the league and deep in debt mainly due to the fact that they had been paying the players more than they could afford and the high wages were crippling the club (sound familiar?). It was decided at the meeting that the only answer was to allow some of the high earning players to leave the club, which they did. This allowed Loughborough one last ‘throw of the dice’ and used some of the freed up wages to bring in Jimmy Logan. It was an inspired signing. Jimmy scored on his debut and scored a further four goals in ten games but more importantly inspired the team to seven wins in the period from February to the end of April lifting them from bottom (16th) to 12th in the table. But, during those final months of the season a tragic sequence of events unfolded.

The funeral took place on the Thursday afternoon and although a large number of people attended only John Berry of the Loughborough first team attended as the rest had already left town and returned to their homes for the summer break. Also in attendance were Jimmy’s widow Mary, his father James and the wife of his ex team mate and captain at Notts County David Calderhead.

On May 30th 1896 a romanticised obituary appeared in the Loughborough Monitor. It was written by someone who used the pen name ‘The Bohemian’ and included the following: “Logan’s death on Monday came as a surprise to many of us. It was an early ending to what promised to be a brilliant career. Poor fellow, he was far away from his native land where ‘Ayr gurgling kissed his pebbled On Good Friday, April 3rd, Loughborough played away shore.’ Logan was a most unassuming man, and seldom, at Crewe winning 2-1. The game was actually played if ever, was heard using unpleasant expressions.” at Sandbach after the Crewe ground had been closed due to the ‘misconduct of the Crewe people.’ The next Jimmy now lies in an unmarked grave in Loughborough day, Loughborough travelled to fulfil a Second Division cemetery. A sad ending for our hero, who, little more fixture with Newton Heath, (later to become Manchester than two years before his death the same Logan had United). Unfortunately the team kit failed to arrive from been the subject of toasts from the mayor and aldermen the Crewe game and after a delay of 30 minutes the of Nottingham.

4,000 spectators saw Loughborough take to the field Dave Fells with some players in borrowed plumes and others in @MagpieDave their ordinary clothes. Even though it rained during

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WE’VE GOT JONNO AT THE BACK!

I had some great times playing under some great Hotspur out of the League Cup at Meadow Lane when managers - Howard Kendall , Neil Warnock and they had all their stars playing for them including a certain Jürgen Klinsman! Some real great times.

Russell Slade to name just three.

I also worked with some great people as a coach, like Who can forget our win over our neighbours Nottingham Sven Goran-Erikson, Hans Backe and Paul Ince - really Forest when a certain Sir Charles Palmer popped up with the winner either? good people.

Neil was brilliant though, he managed to squeeze every It was a great time to be a Notts player but yet again little bit out of you and made you want to run through I was to be disappointed as they both left and in came Steve Thompson and Colin Murphy. brick walls for the club.

He would use times like when the snow fell for team spirit. We would think what are we doing out here playing football on inches of snow when it would always end up in a snow fight.

I knew from the moment they came through the door that I wasn’t going to get on with this management team. After my first conversation I instructed my agent to look for a club as the signs weren’t good at all.

Little did we realise he was developing a string team Wimbledon, Crystal Palace all expressed a desire to spirit, so when he left I was gutted. This was the man take me but at 20 years of age I didn’t fancy the bright lights of the capital. that gave me my break after all.

In came my youth team managers who for obvious reasons I knew and respected so much. I remember us getting to Wembley twice in the Anglo Italian Cup. The first year we lost, the second we won - it was such a great experience to travel back and forth to Italy to play European football.

That same week at 2am one morning i took a call from a Barry Fry who was manager for Birmingham City.

I went there later that same morning and signed a 4 year deal. I couldn’t believe my playing career for Notts had ended - all my friends, the fans that was it.

But little did I know I would return later as a player All the lads loved it, playing the likes of Tomáš Skuhravý then a coach and also briefly as a manager for Notts and Gheorghe Hagi who were house hold names at the County! time!

Michael Johnson | michaeljohnsonfootball.com Also under Russell Slade we knocked Tottenham

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CHAIRMAN Malcolm Voce

SECRETARY Alan Malloy

TREASURER Andy Bryan

Alan: 07909 752 772 Malc: 07980 284 331 golf@nottscountygolfsociety.co.uk

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