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Harry Kewell believes youth players nowadays have it too easy, citing the methods of Australian rugby league coach Craig Bellamy in helping toughen new recruits up. The former Socceroos midfielder, one of the most heralded players of his nation, is not pleased with the concept of young players having "their kits folded for them" among other things. While Bellamy reportedly used to send young players to building sites to build up character, Kewell thinks this may be a step too far, but is still keen on easing off from having players "already living the life of a top player" and making them graft. "We used to do so many jobs and, for me, that’s what needs to come back,” the Notts County boss told the Nottingham Post. "I see a lot of kids now and they have their kits folded for them, they get this and that. They are already living the life of a top player because everything is laid out. They get breakfast, they get their lunch but they aren’t going to get that at every club. "Nine out of 10 players are not going to make it so they could end up at a club where you have to take your own kit home and wash it. I think clubs should do more to prepare players in that respect. "Back in Australia, one of our greatest coaches in rugby league is Craig Bellamy at Melbourne Storm. There is a story that goes round that when a new player comes in, he first gets them to work on a building site for a couple of weeks. "It’s like that’s real work, but the rugby is the pleasure. We can’t really send footballers to building sites, but there are things we can do to make youngsters a little tougher. "If they do make it then fantastic but it would also give them balance too." Share your thoughts about this news story on Pride of Nottingham by signing up to the website, visiting the forum and joining in the chat with hundreds of fellow Notts County fans. Fancy showcasing your brand or business on Pride of Nottingham? Click here to find out more about sponsorship and advertising opportunities with us.

Kane Hemmings has revealed his optimism regarding Notts County's aspirations this season. Despite a woeful start to their League Two season which saw them rooted to the bottom of the table, the Magpies have since bounced back in style. “It’s only October and there is a long time to go before the season over,” Hemmings told the Nottingham Post. “There’s 30-odd games to go so there’s definitely no reason why we can’t be involved. “If we can go on a decent run of games unbeaten and you’re picking up results, you’ll be right in there. “Obviously our goal at the start of the year was to be challenging for promotion and that’s not changed. “We haven’t got off to an ideal start, but over the last four weeks we’ve shown lots of improvement. “I don’t see why we can’t build on that and put a run together where we do get ourselves up the table.” Share your thoughts about this news story on Pride of Nottingham by signing up to the website, visiting the forum and joining in the chat with hundreds of fellow Notts County fans. Fancy showcasing your brand or business on Pride of Nottingham? Click here to find out more about sponsorship and advertising opportunities with us.

Cedric Evina has had positive words to say about the start of his time at Notts County and is eager to kick on in a "talented squad". The French defender has made the left-back spot his own since joining the Magpies as a free agent in September, having started every game, and has been instrumental in the current five-game unbeaten run. “It’s been amazing,” he told the Nottingham Post. “This is a massive club and I think I have been very solid in my performances. “We’ve been playing well as a team so it’s a bit of a shame that the Oldham game was rescheduled because we wanted to get back out there and keep the momentum. “We’re gelling as a team so I’m looking forward to the next few months as the season progresses. “I can’t rest on my laurels just because we have had a few wins, though. We are doing well as a team but I have to perform individually because we have such a talented squad which creates pressure.” Share your thoughts about this news story on Pride of Nottingham by signing up to the website, visiting the forum and joining in the chat with hundreds of fellow Notts County fans. Fancy showcasing your brand or business on Pride of Nottingham? Click here to find out more about sponsorship and advertising opportunities with us.

Shola Ameobi has spoken in favour of Harry Kewell, claiming the Australian has the "hunger to be great" and hoping Notts County will give him the chance to achieve his goals. The former Magpies striker, who was released in the summer, did his UEFA A coaching license with Kewell, who succeeded Kevin Nolan as manager at the club at the end of August. Followingh a bumpy start, Kewell eventually got Notts up and running, with three wins on the trot and five unbeaten overall. "I did my A license with Harry. He's always had his own mind, been his own man," Ameobi told Sky Sports Soccer Saturday last week. "He's gone into management and he believes in his style of play. He wants his players to believe in that and that is what will come out with Harry. "He doesn't mince his words. He wants his players to live a certain way, act a certain way and play a certain way. "Harry loves it. He says he love it more than playing. He's got the hunger to be great and I hope he gets the chance to do that." Share your thoughts about this news story on Pride of Nottingham by signing up to the website, visiting the forum and joining in the chat with hundreds of fellow Notts County fans. Fancy showcasing your brand or business on Pride of Nottingham? Click here to find out more about sponsorship and advertising opportunities with us.

Former Notts County Ladies forward Kirsty Linnett and her partner, Burnley and New Zealand striker Chris Wood, have spoken of the struggles faced when the Lady Pies folded last year. In April 2017, the controversial decision to liquidate Notts Ladies was taken by club owner Alan Hardy, who had purchased the club just months earlier. Hardy justified his decision as absolutely necessary from a business perspective, one taken with a heavy heart, and has since gone on to set up new female teams within the club which are run more organically and sustainably. Nonetheless, the closure of Notts Ladies remains a contentious point among many fans and followers of the women's game, and in an interview with the Guardian, Linnett and Wood spoke of the experience, which came just weeks after they had bought their first home. “Kirsty came home and said: ‘Our club is no more,’” said Wood. “I said: ‘That can’t be possible. Notts County has folded?’ And she said: ‘No, just our side of it.’” Linnett elaborated: “I don’t know how you can liquidate one side of a club and not the other. No one got a penny after that day but the PFA were really helpful. We had just got a house together and a puppy, and within two months I had to move to Reading and straight into a club house with four other girls. "I can see the business side of it, our debt was half a million, but a lot of men’s teams are losing millions at every level of the game so that wasn’t a valid excuse to me. There are girls I know from that team who had no family support in the area and never found a team again.” The liquidation of Notts Ladies “would never happen in the men’s game”, claims Wood. “Things happen in the women’s game that should not happen.” Linnett now plays for Liverpool Women and has now set up home in the North-West alongside Wood. Share your thoughts about this news story on Pride of Nottingham by signing up to the website, visiting the forum and joining in the chat with hundreds of fellow Notts County fans. Fancy showcasing your brand or business on Pride of Nottingham? Click here to find out more about sponsorship and advertising opportunities with us.

Harry Kewell has stated that the Notts County players who put in a poor display against Newcastle United Under-21s in the EFL Trophy are not in a "good position". However, the Australian has refused to close the door on them outright and will give them the chance to redeem themselves by working harder in training. Kewell made 10 changes to his side as he gave the likes of Andy Kellett, David Vaughan, Noor Husin, Dan Jones and Kristian Dennis some much-needed minutes after not figuring for his first team in recent weeks. However, Notts fell to a meek 2-0 defeat, leading many fans thinking that some of the players involved could well be jettisoned in January, “People are happy enough to keep coming in and ask questions,” Kewell told the Nottingham Post. “All I ask for is hard work every single day and when it comes to the games you should be happy because it’s not training. “But the best thing about the game like that is you record it and if anyone has a complaint then I will watch it and I am open to suggestions. “They have to prepare themselves for a tough battle now. It’s not a good position, but all the doors are still open. They just need to work harder.” Share your thoughts about this news story on Pride of Nottingham by signing up to the website, visiting the forum and joining in the chat with hundreds of fellow Notts County fans. Fancy showcasing your brand or business on Pride of Nottingham? Click here to find out more about sponsorship and advertising opportunities with us.

Notts County manager Harry Kewell has claimed that only Sam Osborne and Tyreece Kennedy-Williams impressed in their 2-0 defeat to Newcastle United Under-21s on Tuesday night. The other Magpies claimed a straightforward victory at Meadow Lane as a penalty from Callum Roberts and a strike from Elias Sorensen left Notts at the bottom of the EFL Trophy Group G. “I am disappointed,” Kewell told the Nottingham Post following the game, in which he made widescale changes. “You get asked a lot of questions by players when you have a big squad and the only thing you say to them is work hard and when you get your opportunity make sure you shine. “We all know match fitness and touch may be a little bit off, but that is when you work extra. “But I didn’t see anything really. Sam Osborne was excellent and Tyreece (Kennedy-Williams) was good at right-back even though he is a left footer. But other than that I was disappointed.” Share your thoughts about this news story on Pride of Nottingham by signing up to the website, visiting the forum and joining in the chat with hundreds of fellow Notts County fans. Fancy showcasing your brand or business on Pride of Nottingham? Click here to find out more about sponsorship and advertising opportunities with us.

Harry Kewell has revealed that Kristian Dennis and Andy Kellett are among the Notts County players who will be given a start against Newcastle United's Under-21s in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday night. The Magpies will be contesting their fourth match in 10 days and the Australian boss admits he will seek to use a "completely different" starting XI to the one that has often been selected in the league. “Kristian, Andy, Noor Husin, David Vaughan and Nathan Thomas will all start,” Kewell told the official website. “It’s going to be a completely different XI so a lot of them will get 90 minutes in the tank and it's a good chance for them to impress me. “We are taking the game seriously and will be putting out a strong team because they are all working hard and want to force their way into a line-up that is picking itself at the moment. “Unfortunately they have to be patient and wait for their opportunity so Tuesday is their chance to show me what they can do and give me some food for thought.” Share your thoughts about this news story on Pride of Nottingham by signing up to the website, visiting the forum and joining in the chat with hundreds of fellow Notts County fans.

Notts County's dreadful start to the season now feels an age away. Three wins in a row and five games unbeaten now has the Magpies up in 17th place in the League Two table, four points clear of the bottom two, a superb turnaround given they were bottom of the table on just one point a month ago. The latest victory is also County's first win away from home this season as Macclesfield Town, themselves still struggling and currently at the foot of the league, were beaten 1-0 at Moss Rose. The first half of the encounter saw little in terms of eventful occurrences, though the Silkmen had the better of the game up until the half-time whistle, with more possession and efforts on goal. Ross Fitzsimons had to be alert to save from Nathan Blissett early on before Kane Hemmings prodded straight at goalkeeper Kieran O’Hara on the stroke of half time. The stalemate continued into the second half, though Enzio Boldewijn and Stead had claims for a penalty waved away, before Nathan Blissett headed just wide of the post from a free kick. Just as it looked like a draw was on the cards, centre-back Fiacre Kelleher gifted possession to Boldewijn, who bore down on goal, and O'Hara brought the Dutchman down for a penalty. Stead stepped up and sent O'Hara the wrong way eight minutes from time to give Notts a late lead and, eventually, all three points. Share your thoughts about the match on Pride of Nottingham by signing up to the website, visiting the forum and joining in the chat with hundreds of fellow Notts County fans. Fancy showcasing your brand or business on Pride of Nottingham? Click here to find out more about sponsorship and advertising opportunities with us.

Harry Kewell has claimed that Notts County seem to finally be moving in the right direction although "time, blood, sweat and tears" will continue to be needed in pursuit of the upper reaches of the League Two table. The Magpies have now won their last two league games and are unbeaten in four, a stark turnaround from earlier in the season when they looked unfit for purpose in the fourth tier. “It’s looking good especially in the opposition half,” Kewell told the Nottingham Post after the 3-1 home win over Crawley Town in midweek. “We had a spell of about seven minutes on Tuesday when we dominated possession and created about three or four chances. “We kept on moving, kept on switching it, got crosses into the box and I think Matt Tootle missed a simple header which he had to get on target. “I am happy that we are creating chances and happy we are heading in the right direction. “It’s exciting, but it’s not just down to me. I have got a great staff, the owner is very comfortable and very supportive. “We had a great turnout from the fans which was excellent and we all want this club to get it to where it should be. “It’s going to take time and blood, sweat and tears. That’s what we’ve got to work to.” Share your thoughts about this news story on Pride of Nottingham by signing up to the website, visiting the forum and joining in the chat with hundreds of fellow Notts County fans. Fancy showcasing your brand or business on Pride of Nottingham? Click here to find out more about sponsorship and advertising opportunities with us.

The Notts County revival is well and truly on. After a shocking start to the season where the Magpies looked unfit for purpose in League Two, Harry Kewell's last four games have now yielded eight points in the shape of two wins and two draws. Following the 2-1 win over Crewe Alexandra at the weekend, Notts followed it up with an even more impressive 3-1 win over Kewell's former employers Crawley Town, a feat made more remarkable by the fact they finished the game with 10 men. After just nine minutes played at Meadow Lane, the hosts took the lead with their first serious attack, as Lewis Alessandra beat keeper Glenn Morris to Jon Stead's pass and laid the ball off to Kane Hemmings, who duly slotted home into an empty net. The goal arguably came against the run of play and Crawley enjoyed a bright spell after the restart, but they were once again caught out by Notts as Stead latched on to Elliott Hewitt's header over the top to drive a shot into the bottom corner and double their lead just after the half-hour mark. Crawley came close to halving the deficit late on in the first half as Jack Payne saw a long-range shot cannon off the woodwork with stopper Ross Fitzsimons rooted to the spot, but come the half-time whistle County continued to boast a healthy advantage. On the hour mark, Jack Payne was lucky not to see red for blatantly pulling back Alessandra on the edge of the box, while five minutes later, Rob Milsom was sent off for a heavy lunge on Joe Maguire that the Crawley loanee could have few complaints about. Despite the beginnings of some nerves showing, Notts settled them in style as substitute Nathan Thomas curled a 20-yard free-kick over the wall and into the lower reaches of the net for an unassailable three-goal advantage, though Dominic Poleon did grab a consolation in the 90th to deprive the hosts of a clean sheet. Share your thoughts about the match on Pride of Nottingham by signing up to the website, visiting the forum and joining in the chat with hundreds of fellow Notts County fans. Fancy showcasing your brand or business on Pride of Nottingham? Click here to find out more about sponsorship and advertising opportunities with us.

Hello and welcome to episode 44 of the Pride of Nottingham PONcast. In this week's episode, Chris and Sam discuss and analyse Notts County's first League Two win of the 2018/19 season. Not that you need reminding, but the Magpies are up and running after running out 2-1 winners over Crewe Alexandra at Meadow Lane on Saturday - we look at how the club can kick on from here. We also talk about the loyalty in the modern game - is there such a thing these days? In addition, we will preview Tuesday night's game against Crawley Town and also round-up the past weekend's fixtures in League Two. All this and more only in episode 44 of the Pride of Nottingham PONcast! Share your thoughts about this midweek PONcast episode on Pride of Nottingham by signing up to the website, visiting the forum and joining in the chat with hundreds of fellow Notts County fans. Fancy showcasing your brand or business on Pride of Nottingham? Click here to find out more about sponsorship and advertising opportunities with us.

Former Notts County striker Shola Ameobi has revealed that he has not retired and is biding his time ahead of a move to the right club potentially closer to home. The Newcastle United legend has been without a club since being released by the Magpies over the summer, but is yet to officially declare that his playing career is over. Ameobi scored 79 goals in 397 appearances for boyhood club Newcastle during a 14-year spell in the Tynesiders’ first team before leaving St James’ Park in 2014. Since then, the former Nigeria international has played for Turkish outfit Gaziantep, Crystal Palace, Bolton Wanderers, Fleetwood Town and Notts. “I’m doing bits and bobs,” Ameobi told Soccer AM when asked about what he has been doing since leaving County. “I made a decision with the family that I wanted to be closer to Newcastle, which obviously limits the clubs you can look for. “I’ve kept myself fit and I haven’t retired officially. It would have to be the right club [for me to sign]. “It’s not something I’m actively pursuing but, if something came up, I’d definitely be ready." He also added: “I’ve had to think about the future. I’ve done all of my coaching badges and A Licence. “I’ve been coaching with the academy for years now since I was at Newcastle. I enjoy passing on what I learnt because I grew up in that academy and have a lot of experiences.” Share your thoughts about this news story on Pride of Nottingham by signing up to the website, visiting the forum and joining in the chat with hundreds of fellow Notts County fans. Fancy showcasing your brand or business on Pride of Nottingham? Click here to find out more about sponsorship and advertising opportunities with us.

Notts County finally claimed their first win of the 2018-19 campaign, with Crewe Alexandra beaten 2-1 at Meadow Lane. It's been an anxious start to the season for the Magpies, who looked well out of sorts for much of their early games and found themselves at the bottom of the League Two table not long ago. But with Harry Kewell at the helm after Kevin Nolan's departure, two consecutive draws have been followed up by the first three-point haul of the campaign. The Magpies began brightly against the Railwaymen and went ahead after five minutes when Rob Milsom stabbed home after good work by Jon Stead and Kane Hemmings. Crewe fought back to equalise with their first meaningful attack as a cross from Corey Whelan was not dealt with by Jamie Turley, allowing Jordan Bowery to slot into the bottom corner beyond Ross Fitzsimons. Elliott Hewitt eventually came up trumps when he headed home Cedric Evina's inch-perfect cross, leaving opposition goalkeeper Ben Garratt helpless. Pride of Nottingham was at the San Sirrel to watch Notts claim their first win of the new term, chatting to fans and taking photos. See if you've made it into our latest instalment of the Faces of PON! Share your thoughts about this gallery on Pride of Nottingham by signing up to the website, visiting the forum and joining in the chat with hundreds of fellow Notts County fans. Fancy showcasing your brand or business on Pride of Nottingham? Click here to find out more about sponsorship and advertising opportunities with us.

It took a while but it's finally come, Notts County's first win of the season, a 2-1 triumph over Crewe Alexandra at Meadow Lane. Harry Kewell's appointment as Kevin Nolan's successor raised some eyebrows initially but the Australian now has five points from his last three games, with draws against Stevenage and Northampton Town giving Notts a solid platform to build on. On Saturday, County continued their renaissance as they played overall much better football in their home meeting with Crewe and, even though there were still some defensive issues - as seen by Jamie Turley's mistake for their equaliser - there was still enough to earn victory and a first three-point haul of the campaign. Notts were bright from the off and only needed five minutes to open the scoring, Rob Milsom getting on the end of a delivery from Kane Hemmings and helped on by Jon Stead to rifle into the back of the net beyond keeper Ben Garratt. However, the issue of defensive mishaps reared its ugly head again when, on the quarter-hour mark, a cross from Corey Whelan was poorly cleared by Turley, and Jordan Bowery seized on the opportunity to slot the loose ball home. Both sides looked to find a winner in the second half, with Lewis Alessandra seeing a shot blocked and Elliott Hewitt heading the rebound wide of the target. However, the winner came courtesy of the hosts when Cedric Evina's inch-perfect cross was met by Hewitt, whose header had too much power for Garratt and yielded the decisive goal of the game. Share your thoughts about this match on Pride of Nottingham by signing up to the website, visiting the forum and joining in the chat with hundreds of fellow Notts County fans. Fancy showcasing your brand or business on Pride of Nottingham? Click here to find out more about sponsorship and advertising opportunities with us.

Harry Kewell has revealed that four of his Notts County players need “four or five games in their system” before they can be considered back to full match fitness. Late arrivals Cedric Evina, Elliot Ward and Jamie Turley are still working on their match fitness, alongside Matt Tootle, who has been recovering from injury. “Cedric, Wardy and Turley didn’t have a great pre-season,” Kewell told the Nottingham Post. “Toots has been out as well. “You are not going to see the best of them until they get four or five games into their system. “They’ve been in and out of clubs. I had Turley for a couple of weeks at Crawley, so I know he had a base. “Again, you can’t buy match fitness. If you could, everybody would be happy. “It’s going to take time, but we are going to have to work hard and do the ugly things in football.” Share your thoughts about this news story on Pride of Nottingham by signing up to the website, visiting the forum and joining in the chat with hundreds of fellow Notts County fans. Fancy showcasing your brand or business on Pride of Nottingham? Click here to find out more about sponsorship and advertising opportunities with us.

Nathan Thomas has claimed that Notts County are beginning to find their feet and thinks some teams will find themselves on the receiving end of a "good hiding". The Magpies are yet to win a game this season but have drawn their last two games - 3-3 with Stevenage and 0-0 against Northampton Town - which has helped lift them off the bottom of the League Two table. Thomas, who scored in the reserves’ 3-2 win over Peterborough United on Monday, feels the squad will soon start to fire up the league table. “We’ve shored it up at the back and Saturday at Northampton showed that,” he told the Nottingham Post. “Now it’s all about getting the full performances from front to back. And when it does click some teams are going to be in for a good hiding. “You can see the team is not far away from clicking. There are too many good players and footballers here for us not to be up the league. “I’ve been relegated before from this league, but the team had nowhere near the level of quality what this side has. We should be fighting for the top three, not the bottom.” Share your thoughts about this news story on Pride of Nottingham by signing up to the website, visiting the forum and joining in the chat with hundreds of fellow Notts County fans. Fancy showcasing your brand or business on Pride of Nottingham? Click here to find out more about sponsorship and advertising opportunities with us.