Chris

Wendy Patrick, a dedicated supporter of Notts County, stands at the intersection of passion, philanthropy, and the pulse of Meadow Lane. Her journey into the folds of Nottingham's historic football club commenced unexpectedly, painting a narrative that intertwines her love for the oldest professional football club. Reflecting on her football odyssey, Wendy shares, "I started off life supporting Forest as my parents did, but when I was about 7 or 8, my dad stopped going. I fell in love with Meadow Lane, and I have never ever regretted my choice." This serendipitous shift in allegiance became the cornerstone of a lifelong love affair with Notts County. Wendy's allegiance to the club weathered the storm of secondary school complexities, where she found herself as the sole female Pie. The vibrant football culture of the '70s and '80s, though exhilarating, brought unexpected challenges. "Supporting a football team could be more exciting than you'd bargained for," she reflects, recounting a tense match experience in Cardiff with a Forest-supporting boyfriend, marked by hostility from rival fans. As life unfolded with the responsibilities of motherhood, Wendy's connection to Notts County endured, albeit with occasional breaks. "Having kids made my attendance more sporadic until about the last ten years when I bought a season ticket," she shares. Today, her love for the club spans generations, with her grandchildren now accompanying her to the terraces, creating a familial tradition rooted in the passion for Notts County. Her journey into charity work, influenced by the dynamics of social media, has already yielded tangible results. "So far, I've raised £300 and have about 90 badges left," she chuckles. "But I need more publicity to shift the remainder." Wendy's accidental foray into fundraising showcases the power of a community united by football, transcending the boundaries of the pitch to make a positive impact. Navigating the dual passions of Notts County and the BHF, Wendy acknowledges a somewhat tenuous connection with the latter. "I'm not really involved with the BHF," she clarifies, "although when my granddaughter was a mascot at the Stoke game, they were there, and might well be Notts's charity partner this year." Despite the loose connection, Wendy remains committed to contributing to the BHF's cause, driven by the belief that it is indeed a worthy endeavour. Notts County, with its illustrious history as the oldest professional football club globally, holds a special place in Wendy's heart. "Our history is something to be proud of, especially as we so nearly lost it all four years ago," she reflects. Yet, Wendy is equally animated about the future, attributing the recent progress of the club to the efforts of the Reedtz brothers and Luke Williams. "No one's having to keep quiet about being a County fan any more because it's cool to be a Pie!" she exclaims, capturing the vibrant resurgence of pride in the club's identity. In discussing Notts County's impact on the community, Wendy modestly claims not to be an authority. However, her experiences with the generosity of Notts fans resonate loudly. "Notts fans are incredibly generous," she attests, recalling bucket collections for the Prostate Cancer charity and fundraising for defibrillators. The stark contrast between the warmth experienced at Meadow Lane and the less welcoming atmosphere at the City Ground underlines the unique spirit that Notts County brings to its community. Wendy's story, a tapestry woven with threads of football fervour, community spirit, and charitable commitment, stands as a testament to the enduring power of sports to unite and inspire. In her unexpected foray into the realm of charity, she embodies the unyielding spirit of a football enthusiast. Her passion isn’t just sparked by the thrill of the game. It’s also kindled by a sincere wish to send waves of positivity across the world. Wendy Patrick, a name synonymous with Notts County, embodies the essence of a fan whose love for the club extends far beyond the pitch, leaving an indelible mark on the intersection of football, community, and compassion. Did you enjoy this feature about Notts County fan, Wendy Patrick? Read up about Adam Baker, another magpie fan who has followed Notts no matter what happens. Mark Stallard believes Notts County has 'Lack of Inspiration' amongst other issues away from home. Read up on this story on the Pride of Nottingham.

Born on May 27, 1981 in Birmingham, England, Benjamin James Davies, a Welsh football coach and former professional player, played as a right back and midfielder between 2000 and 2021. Davies began his career with the youth system at Stoke City aged 15 before joining Walsall's youth setup in 1999. He had spells with Kidderminster Harriers and Chester City, where he won a Football Conference championship medal in 2004. During his time at Chester, he was made club captain. Davies joined Shrewsbury Town two days before turning 25, where he played an instrumental role in the team. However, an injury in the play-off semi-final against MK Dons meant that he missed the 2007 Football League Two play-off final. He recovered faster than expected from his Achilles tendon injury, returning for the first team in late November. Following Stewart Drummond's departure in the January 2008 transfer window, Davies was installed as Shrewsbury's club captain. Davies underwent a double hernia operation in November 2008, which kept him out for a month. Having missed the 2007 final, Davies played in the 2009 League Two play-off final, which Shrewsbury lost. One of several key players out of contract at the end of the season, Shrewsbury offered Davies a contract extension. However, Notts County offered him a deal which he felt gave him a greater chance at achieving his ambition to play at a higher level. As a result, Davies left Shrewsbury to join County. Davies had a successful first season at the then League Two club during their 2009–10 campaign, playing an integral part in them winning the league. He became the highest-scoring midfielder in a single season in County's history as he scored 16 goals, alongside 20 assists. Davies won several awards, including Supporters player of the year, club player of the year, and goal of the season, as well as being named in the PFA Team of the year. Davies' form was such that in August 2010, he was subject to overtures from Championship club Derby County. Derby boss Nigel Clough left a 2–1 defeat at Coventry City 5 minutes early to watch the player. Davies remained at County, however, and in his first season at League One level hit 5 goals in 22 games, including two strikes in a 3–2 victory at Peterborough United, as well as numerous assists. The form saw Derby retain their interest in the January 2011 transfer window, lodging several bids which were rejected. Davies' desire to play Championship football saw him hand in a transfer request, despite proclaiming "I absolutely love it here, I'm the happiest I have ever been in my career." Finally, a bid from Derby in the region of £350k was accepted by County, and the player completed a move on 20 January 2011, signing a 2+1⁄2-year deal to run until July 2013. Davies made his full Derby County debut on 22 January 2011 in a 1–0 home defeat to fierce rivals Nottingham Forest. Joining the club in a run of form which had seen just one win from their previous nine fixtures, Davies had to wait until his seventh appearance before tasting a victory at his new club; a 1–0 victory at relegation rivals Sheffield United. As the club itself struggled, so did Davies with the step-up, and after starting in a 3–1 home defeat to Doncaster Rovers, Davies was dropped to the bench. Davies later admitted that he deserved to be dropped; "I'm not one to hide, and my performances hadn't been good enough. I wasn't playing well, and I was probably lucky to be playing as many games as I did." Despite this setback, Davies continued to work hard and eventually won back his place in the starting eleven. Over the next few seasons, he established himself as a key player for Derby County, making over 75 appearances in all competitions and becoming a firm fan favourite. He was also named as the club's player of the year for the 2012-13 season, in recognition of his consistent performances. In April 2013, Davies signed a new contract with Derby, keeping him at the club until the end of the 2013-14 season. During his final campaign, Davies found himself being restricted to League Cup appearances, where he made two as a substitute in the opening stages of the season. After the sacking of Nigel Clough, having spent more than four years at Derby County, Davies left the club on loan in February to link back up with Nigel Clough, as he joined fellow Championship side Sheffield United until the end of the season. He went on to make 32 appearances for Sheffield United over the next two seasons, however, by the end of the 2014/15 season he was released after his contract expired. Davies signed a one-year deal with Portsmouth on August 6, 2015, after a successful pre-season trial. He scored his first goal for Portsmouth in a 6-0 win over York City on November 24, 2015, and went on to have a consistent season, leading to Davies being awarded six different player-of-the-season trophies from supporter groups. Although he finished runner-up to Michael Doyle for The News/Sports Mail Player of the Season award, Davies' performances were crucial to the team's success. However, Davies left Portsmouth at the end of the 2015-16 season as both parties failed to agree terms. Davies was keen for a two-year contract and an increase in salary. Following his departure from Portsmouth, Davies signed a one-year contract with newly promoted League Two club Grimsby Town on a free transfer on June 29, 2016. He made an impressive start by scoring on his debut against Morecambe F.C. Grimsby won 2-0 on August 6, 2016 with a free-kick. Unfortunately, Davies picked up a calf injury on October 8, 2016, in a 0-0 draw at Exeter City, which led to a two-month spell on the sidelines. After making 25 league appearances and scoring one goal during the 2016-17 season, Davies agreed to a new one-year contract with Grimsby. Despite turning down offers from other clubs down south, Davies was released by Grimsby at the end of the 2017-18 season. Davies then signed for Boston United on August 24, 2018 and spent the season with the National League North club, before making his final career move to Cleethorpes Town on July 20, 2019. He went on to announce his retirement from professional football in May 2020 at the age of 38. Since retiring, Davies has become a coach, joining the coaching staff at Grimsby Town on November 18, 2019, where he assisted Anthony Limbrick and Darren Moore. Davies had already worked as an academy coach, whilst playing for Cleethorpes Town. He would make a switch back to Grimsby as the First Team coach and U23's manager under Ian Holloway. When Ian Holloway resigned from his position on December 23, 2020, Davies was assigned as the temporary manager of the Mariners. In his first match as a manager, Grimsby suffered a 3-1 defeat against Morecambe on December 23, 2020. He then led the team to a 0-0 draw against Oldham Athletic on December 29, 2020, in his second and final game as a caretaker manager. The day after the match, Grimsby appointed Paul Hurst as the new first-team manager, and Davies returned to his previous coaching role. Despite his subsequent move to Derby County, Davies will always be held in high regard by Notts County fans, who appreciated his passion, his dedication, and his ability to deliver when it mattered most. His success at Meadow Lane was a testament to his talent and his hard work, and he will always be remembered as one of the club's greatest ever players. Ben Davies is a true footballing legend, whose contributions to the game have been significant and lasting. Whether as a player or a coach, he has always shown himself to be a consummate professional, and a true inspiration to all those around him. We wish him all the best in his future endeavours, and look forward to seeing what he achieves next. If you are in a position and enjoy the Pride of Nottingham, why not help contribute to the site's upkeep by making a donation? All contributions help keep things ticking over, and we are very thankful for everyone's support. Alternatively, check out the Pride of Nottingham web store where our merch and prints would make excellent gifts this Christmas. Just take a moment to browse our online store.

For over 30 years, Adam Baker has been a dedicated supporter of Notts County. He has shared his experiences and memories as a fan of the club, from his earliest memories of supporting the team to the changes he has seen in the club over the years. Adam's love for Notts County began in the early 90s when the team was promoted to the old first division under Neil Warnock. “Being from the south not knowing your geography much at 9 years old I picked a top flight team like kids always seem to do and here we are today…” Adam recalls. As a child, Adam's favourite players were Mark Draper and Tommy Johnson. "I think it was these players in that iconic home bitter shirt I really remember as a child," he says. Over the years, Adam has seen many changes in Notts County, both on and off the field. "Where do I start with this question… in the 30 years I’ve supported them it was unfortunately changing for the worse, dropping divisions, flop players on big expectations, and the club wasn’t run very well” he says. However, more recently, Adam has seen a positive change in the club under its current owners. "The change has been phenomenal… crowds larger in non league than league 1, quality of football and the players we recruit now is so much better and thought through” he says. Adam's happiest moments as a Notts County fan include attending both Anglo Italian cup finals at Wembley as a child and going to his first ever game at Meadow Lane vs Burnley as my dad was a Burnley fan. Little things like just going to my team's home ground as a child was up there for me," he says. One of the most joyful moments we experienced earlier this year was undoubtedly the thrilling promotion party. "So many fans crying with joy in the stands! Proper happy moment that," Adam recalls. On the other hand, Adam's saddest moment as a Notts County fan was being at Swindon watching the team drop to non-league for the first time in their long history. "I held my coat over my head for about 10 minutes at full time in that away end," he says. On a typical match day, Adam sets off on a Friday morning after rush hour and stays at a friend's house in Nottingham for the weekend. He enjoys early beers in the Navi and soaking up the great atmosphere. After watching the game, he heads home on Sunday back down the M1 with a sore head. Adam stays connected with the club and its community through social media groups and official club websites. As I’m a long way from the club. In addition to following the team's progress on social media and official club websites, Adam also enjoys connecting with other fans and sharing his experiences as a Notts County supporter. He has made many new friends through his love for the club and enjoys spending time with them on match days. Being a Notts fan has without doubt impacted Adam's life with a lot of natural highlights over recent years supporting them. "But, wouldn’t change it, we always do things the notts way… prime example is the playoffs this year 120 min win vs Boreham Wood, then to take us fans to penalties at Wembley and win just grips me and that’s why you can’t beat supporting this superb football club! Not sure what I’d do without them? COYP!," he says. Notts has also had a major positive impact on Adam's life during difficult times. "I lost my dad in October 2019 to a brain tumour that affected me massively, also an awkward break-up from my daughters mother after 7 years in terms of emotionally and financially after dad's death. So getting up to Nottingham and watching my team is almost a relief from getting away from the norm even if it was for a weekend now and then!" he says. Adam's love for Notts County, despite the highs and lows of supporting a football club, fuels his enduring dedication. He steadfastly stands by them through every trial and triumph, eagerly anticipating the creation of countless cherished memories as a devoted magpies fan. If you enjoyed reading about Adam Baker’s story, why not read up about lifelong Notts County fan and Pride of Nottingham member MagpieJue? Click here to read Julie’s story! Take a moment to browse the Pride of Nottingham dashboard and join in by sharing thoughts on our articles, blogs, forum discussions and much, much more.

The pre-season is a crucial time for any football team, and for Notts County, it was no different. With a line-up of challenging games against teams like Stoke City and Nottingham Forest, manager Luke Williams had his work cut out for him. But with each game, he gained valuable insights into his squad and their capabilities. One of the key takeaways from the pre-season was how well new recruits Dan Crowley and David McGoldrick fit into Williams' system. The squad showed their adaptability by playing in different positions, and McGoldrick's advanced role proved to be a real threat on goal. Williams also experimented with different formations, switching between a 3-4-2-1 and a 4-2-3-1/5-2-2-1 hybrid to see how the squad would adapt. These tactical changes proved effective, particularly against Nottingham Forest, where the strengthened defence reduced mistakes and allowed Notts to build from the back. After the game against Nuneaton Borough, Williams praised the performance of his young players: "When you are a young guy, and you come in, and you’re on the same pitch with a guy who was a top goalscorer last season, there is pressure and some nerves there, but they handled that brilliantly." He also noted that he didn't want to "completely rip up everything that we did last season" but that there would be "some changes during pre-season for us to look at different options." The results and performance may not have been the most important thing, but the assessment of each game allowed Williams to better understand his squad. Each game presented its own challenges, from handling a dominant Stoke City to embedding youngsters into the squad. But with each test, Notts adapted well and showed some good performances. Standout moments included the establishing link between John Bostock, Matt Palmer, David McGoldrick, Macaulay Langstaff, and Cedwyn Scott working well with Jodi Jones. After the game against Stoke City, Williams commented on the team's defensive performance: "I'm looking for the mental strength and concentration and the defensive duties to be on display." He also noted that it was a "brilliant test" for Notts. The pre-season games also helped build team chemistry and cohesion. The focus on training and match preparations, as well as post-game drills, assisted with team bonding. Williams played a crucial role in overseeing tactical decisions and supporting players who may have struggled, including youngsters like Madou Cisse and Luther Munakandafa who impressed with their performances. After the game against Nottingham Forest, Williams said: "I thought they equipped themselves really well, the guys, looked like the same team in a very different formation." He also noted that some players were still "getting up to speed with the work and conditioning required for the team's style of play." The pre-season games helped prepare the team for the upcoming season by showing them where they were at and how they could cope with different situations. The focus remained on playing swift, flowing attacking football. And with an established squad where the core of players has been around each other for a decent amount of time, things look promising for Notts County going into the season. There are high hopes for the club to challenge for promotion, with the benefits of having depth throughout the squad and new recruits fitting in instantly. The loan signing of Ollie Tipton has strengthened the defence, and with the midfield playing a more crucial role in supporting them, things should naturally improve over time. If Notts can maintain an undefeated run within the first five games and reach between 11–13 points, it would be a decent start to the League Two season. The pre-season has given Notts County manager Luke Williams a good amount of insight into his squad and their capabilities. With each game presenting its own challenges and opportunities for growth, things look promising for Notts County going into the season. Show your support for the Pride of Nottingham by browsing our online store for merch! Join in the conversation on our website by posting to our forum content – it would be great to have you on board!

I was thrilled to hear that Jim O’Brien has extended his stay at the club. Since arriving in 2019, O’Brien has been an influential player both on and off the pitch. With his Scottish determination and uncanny toughness, he has made a significant impact on the club. O’Brien joined Notts County at a low point in the club’s history, but his arrival gave us fans hope that things would improve. And improve they did - under the guidance of Luke Williams and the ownership of the Reedtz brothers, the Magpies have risen from the National League. In his time at the club, O’Brien has featured 106 times and scored 9 goals, including two hat-tricks. He consistently delivers steady performances and has produced some very good football. His natural aggression and determination make him a formidable opponent on the pitch. O’Brien’s versatility is also an asset to the team. He can play both attacking and defensive roles in midfield and is able to adapt to different positions on the pitch. Last season, he silenced his critics with an important hat-trick against Maidstone United. As Notts County return to League Two action, I believe that O’Brien’s experience and style will be key. Whether he starts or comes off the bench, he always makes a positive impact. His ability to outwit younger and less experienced players gives Notts County an edge over their opponents. In a 2022 interview, O’Brien addressed his leadership role at Notts County and made a vow to the club: “I’m maybe getting a little bit softer as I’m getting older and working on the coaching side of things. I think a couple of years ago I’d be a bit more harsh, but I just think when you work with the boys more regularly, and you know what they’re about, and you know they want to work hard, they want to get better.” He continued: “Technical mistakes you can work on but as long as they’re seeing the right things, or they’re trying to do the right things you can hold your hand up and say we can work on the technical side. At least the lads have seen the pass, or they’ve maybe not played it properly.” O’Brien also made a vow to Notts County: “I said that [retiring at Notts]. I don’t want to jinx myself either, but I don’t want to keep going down the levels and going part-time.” This shows his commitment to the club and his desire to continue playing at a high level. Notts County fans are thrilled that O’Brien has extended his stay at the club. Thomas Rose describes O’Brien as “the heart and soul of Notts County” and praises his leadership both on and off the pitch. Lynn Collins is also happy with the news, saying that O’Brien “will boost confidence on and off the field.” Daphne Mounteney simply calls it “great news,” while TheSkipper praises O’Brien’s footballing intelligence: “His football mind is always switched on, and it’s incredible to see him think ahead of much younger players.” Countyman agrees that O’Brien’s presence in the squad is a “blessing,” while AmericanPie calls it “fantastic news” and hopes that other key players will also extend their stays at Notts County. Luke Williams, Notts County’s manager, has high praise for O’Brien: “As he demonstrated last season and in previous campaigns, he has so much to offer with his quality, mentality and tenacity. Having made nearly 550 career appearances, he also has vast experience to share with the group – a role we know he embraces. Importantly, he has an incredible connection with our supporters as well. He’s been with them all the way through our relegation, the National League years and our eventual promotion. It’s going to be wonderful to see him represent us in the EFL once again.” In my opinion, Jim O’Brien’s extended stay at Notts County is certainly great news for the club and its fans. With his talent and experience, he will undoubtedly continue to be a key player for the Magpies. As Notts County fans, all we have ever wanted is players who are determined to leave everything on the pitch - players who connect with the club and proudly wear the famous black and white shirt with pride. These are all things which Jim O’Brien demonstrates. I would encourage all fans to back him and his teammates ahead of our League Two campaign. Check out all the latest articles published by the Pride of Nottingham and join in to share your thoughts! What are your thoughts on Jim O’Brien’s one-year-deal? Let PON know!