Life comes with ups and downs, laughter and sadness. Through it all, there's one song that always lifts my spirits, Louis Armstrong’s “What a Wonderful World.” At times life feels bleak, but that song somehow makes it all seem better. When it plays, the dark moments fade. You can’t help but feel lighter. It’s a song that never gets old. A true classic that people will keep listening to for years to come.

And when Louis gently says, “And I think to myself…” it fills me with warmth. It reminds me of the good times, and I feel grateful.

I met my first wife at the Palais in Nottingham in early 1975. The live group were playing the Bachman Turner Overdrive song "You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet"

There are lots of things you forget in your lifetime, but you never forget a first meeting like that. The song has always been one of my favourites.

Those were very happy memories. Sadly our marriage didn't last, however our legacy together are three wonderful children, & now with three grandchildren.

'Summer of '69' by Canadian singer Bryan Adams brings back happy memories. It’s a lot like ‘Brown Eyed Girl’ by Van Morrison. Both songs tell stories of carefree days, growing up, and dreaming about the future. They also show how life changes over time.

These songs have inspired many people and are known as true rock classics. ‘Summer of '69’ always reminds me of looking forward to turning 18. It makes you think about childhood and how those moments become the warmest memories.

There’s a special feeling that comes with looking back. When you think about the path you took, you realise those choices helped shape the person you are today.

Morning all, the rain has by passed us again, our lawn is looking decidedly yellow but I’m not going to water it as I think it’s a waste of water, when the rain eventually does arrive it will recover.

I was too late waking up to go to the park run so I’ll get on our cross trainer for a bit of exercise and no doubt have a walk with Mrs. T later.

I’ve not seen @super_ram around lately I hope he is well, I’ll send him a message.

Good evening all.

Just a few sunny intervals today, but nice & comfortably warm non the less.

Bought some dwarf sun flowers & some dahlias today from the supermarket. They looked very good as they were new stock so took advantage.

Bought four large pots to transplant them all into. They look good. The Bees love them too.

The Bumblebee nest that I mentioned is in full flow now. The workers are busy getting the nectar from our flowers. They don't bother us. Bees can recognise faces so I suppose they are used to us both by now.

On 05/07/2025 at 09:58, Fan of Big Tone said:

Morning all, the rain has by passed us again, our lawn is looking decidedly yellow but I’m not going to water it as I think it’s a waste of water, when the rain eventually does arrive it will recover.

I was too late waking up to go to the park run so I’ll get on our cross trainer for a bit of exercise and no doubt have a walk with Mrs. T later.

I’ve not seen @super_ram around lately I hope he is well, I’ll send him a message.

I'm back now @Fan of Big Tone .Thanks for your concern(and anyone else who may have missed me)I've been doing my good deeds by helping my old Rams mate Ken's son, Andrew ,look after his widow who fell down her stairs a couple of weeks ago.Ken passed away 7 years ago but I remained in touch with Kath(his wife) and family.We go back to the mid 60's and I used to babysit Andy when he was young(he's 52 now)Kath had an operation to repair ligament damage and rebuild her knee.She had the staples out on Monday but must stay in bed for another 2 weeks.My job done now as extra help for Andy arranged.

Jatta’s a pro. Training with the B team will keep him sharp, and once the suspension is done, he’ll be back and causing problems for defenders. League Two won’t know what’s hit it. We’ve just got to stay positive.

Honestly, this whole situation could've been handled way better. The people in charge of getting those visas out need to step it up and pay more attention. I really believe that Jatta is going to hit the next season with the same fire he had last year. He’s definitely going to keep trying to score goals and stay on top of his game. Even though he's suspended right now, I doubt he’ll think about making any transfer moves. Those games he’s missing could actually help him in the end, especially when the January transfer window rolls around.

i think people are reading more into it because of this.

part of me does wonder if notts did not want to take him jatta now, for whatever reason. i dont think its to sell him but maybe to keep him?

Oldham have signed a couple of good players, but I still don't feel all that threatened by them, and we don't really need wide players. If there were more to cover, with him being lined up to play an attacking midfield role, it could work because he can also play up top, but I don't see it as a missed opportunity myself.

I know he scored a fair amount of goals in the National League, but we'll see how he does with Oldham now, and I am sure the club will be tracking players who they may have interest in or have lost out on. We have a good squad, yes, we missed out on the automatic places and lost in the playoffs. However, to suggest we are a million miles away from other clubs based on not signing x, y, or z just seems a little vague.

A lot of fans seemed to agree at one point that all we needed was strengthening in crucial areas, with cover for injuries. Every time another club signs a player, we seem to be comparing them and acting like we have the ability to sign them all.

I do agree, @Piethagoram is right that Jack Stevenes could make a good signing, but he would need to be guaranteed a starting place to continue his journey in my opinion, and I fail to see currently where he would fit in to secure that. Nonetheless, he could be a future signing because he is still quite young.

he did very well with solihull moors, i think hes ready to make a step up to league two and i think he could do well for oldham. hes a player i would not have minded in the squad, but i am not worried or dwelling on the fact he signed for a different club. if news came out saying he was on our radar and we missed out on him, i might feel a bit disappointed.

I think Notts should have tried to sign him because it made sense. But that doesn’t mean the club wanted him, and maybe Jack Stevens didn’t want to join Notts either.

Our squad is good. There’s still stuff to work on, but saying we’re weaker feels wrong. We only really lost David McGoldrick, and he might be a very different player next season anyway.

The main worry for me is replacing Alex Bass. That makes the team weaker, but I think Stevens could have helped by scoring goals.

I just don’t agree when people say our team looks weak. Some players might not join because they think they won’t get to play much, or that there’s too much competition.

Nobody knows what’s really going on, so I don’t think people should worry too much or try to make others scared.

Finding information on Google and the astrencin.sk site isn’t easy. The website is hard to use and doesn’t seem well organised. Even Wikipedia still shows the old manager. I wondered if that meant he’s taken on a different job at the club.

To be honest, it’s one of the worst sports websites I’ve come across. I do hope Ricardo Moniz does well. I often wonder if things might have turned out better for him if he’d worked under the Reedtz brothers.

Ricardo Moniz seems like he still has something to prove. Out of all the managers and head coaches we've seen over the years, he stands out as one of the most active and driven. Hopefully, this time things go right for him.

good luck to him, i do have a soft spot for ricardo and just wished he managed to have a longer stay at a club because i think he could build something special in time.

A hosepipe ban has been declared by Yorkshire Water due to the dry spring & summer.The ban will be effective from 11th July. It is very possible that the other Water Companies will follow suit.

You’ll probably notice your neighbours starting to fill up paddling pools, spray down their cars, and give their gardens a good soaking with the hose. It’s typical really – people don’t stop to think about what it means when water levels start to drop.

I’d felt things had been quite pleasant lately, especially after the last spell of intense heat. But if people carry on wasting water without a second thought, things could quickly become much harder to cope with.

It’s not about pointing fingers, but there’s a real need to be considerate. When water’s scarce, using it carelessly makes life tougher for everyone.

its been really nice the past few days, like really enjoyable to go out and have walks without feeling like you cant. its the summer where we have a normal week, rain and then blistering heat. i guess its better than having no sun at all.

@BridgyPie, it great to see you joining in and having your say. I can't encourage you enough to continue, because you should find we can have sensible discussions and so many fantastic posts to read. Welcome to PON!

Your story could make a great piece on the gaffers fan features, he's done a few in the past and yours sounds like one which would be excellent to include.

A very warm and sunny welcome @BridgyPie I hope that you have times a many enjoying and contributing to the site.

@BridgyPie, That’s a brilliant memory to have!

Walking the team out at Wembley must’ve been unreal! The Anglo-Italian Cup had some proper Notts players as well. I totally get stepping away from the usual socials. It’s refreshing to find a place like this with a better vibe and a real sense of community.

Glad to have you here! Hope you’re enjoying things in the Kop with the family.

Welcome to the Pride of Nottingham community and forum, we glad to see you join in @Ash.

Welcome to the community here on PoN @Ash.

Welcome to PON @Ash! Great to have you with us, it's brilliant to see you jumping right in and make yourself at home already.

I didn’t go to the match, but I tried to follow it on X, though in the end I mostly relied on Google alerts. It’s just nice to see the squad back in action. Not letting in any goals and using two full elevens is a real plus. The games in Germany will be more of a challenge, but I hope the players enjoy the experience without putting too much pressure on themselves.

There were lots of good things to take from the game. It helped Paterson see what still needs work and how to get the team playing the way he wants.

I really liked what he said after the match. He answered the questions clearly and didn’t make any excuses.

I think a couple of trialists were identified by those at the match. One was Ben Stevenson, a midfielder formerly of Forest Green, Portsmouth and Cambridge. Matt Hall a younger keeper who came through Southampton’s Academy and then joined Bristol Rovers (but only played in the Trophy). And the last one could’ve been Romaine Sawyers, not 100% sure though. No idea if they’ll be travelling to Germany with the team.

There could have been something to this; we won't know unless someone asks the club during a media scrum. However, he signed 2 days ago for Železničar Pančevo.

Gazette

It seemed like a signing that could’ve happened, and something I’d expect Notts to go for. If there was any contact, we’d likely never hear about it. Best of luck to Jasper in the next step of his career, he might’ve been a really handy player for us.

Just because Notts are rumoured to be interested doesn’t mean it’s true, and even if they were, there’s no guarantee the player would pick us over other clubs. Some of the reaction online has been a bit much, with people tweeting the club after he’d already moved. We can’t expect to match every offer, and even if the league he’s gone to isn’t the strongest, we’re still four divisions below the top. It’s a good move for Sylvester Jasper. He seemed like a decent player, but some people were going on about stats from Wikipedia, forgetting he didn’t exactly shine at Colchester and has been playing abroad, like that proves anything.

Such awful news. My thoughts are with those who have passed.

May they both rest in peace.

6 hours ago, Ash said:

I saw it online and had to make sure it was real. At first, it felt like one of those made-up stories someone posts as a bad joke. I was shocked when I found out it was true. It’s really sad news. Diogo Jota was a really good player, and it feels so unfair.

He will be missed a lot, and hearing about this just makes everything feel even sadder.

I heard some teachers talking about it too, and like you, my first thought was the same. It’s really upsetting.

Sadly, you do come across false stories now and again, so it’s important to stay careful. As soon as I saw it confirmed on the BBC Sport site, I had to pause for a moment. It’s such a sad situation.

It's awful news; he had been growing in his role at Anfield, and for the past two seasons he has been among their best players. It's very sad to learn that he died in a car, which was engulfed in flames. To die alongside his younger brother, after having a medical procedure that prevented him from flying and not long after getting married, just adds to the sadness. May they both rest in peace.

I always thought Kasper came in on a free transfer. I remember reading that he signed for a million, but over time I started to think that might’ve been a lie from Munto. Back then, clubs could probably get away with saying they paid a fee without much proof. @TheSkipper, if you ever feel like looking into it, I think it’d be a good read. I understand why you might want to steer clear of Munto stuff though, it has been covered a lot.

The Munto era was wild. It brought loads of attention to Notts and even helped bring some fans back. But over time, a few of those fans drifted away, either because of how the club spoke to supporters or because of the drop to the National League. I sometimes wonder what might have happened if the takeover never went ahead. In another universe, maybe Notts could’ve been the ones replacing Bournemouth or Brentford.

1 hour ago, CliftonMagpie said:

I always thought Kasper came in on a free transfer. I remember reading that he signed for a million, but over time I started to think that might’ve been a lie from Munto. Back then, clubs could probably get away with saying they paid a fee without much proof. @TheSkipper, if you ever feel like looking into it, I think it’d be a good read. I understand why you might want to steer clear of Munto stuff though, it has been covered a lot.

I pitched it earlier today; my editor is thinking it over. Even if he doesn't like it, I might persist in my personal time. It would be a lot easier to use my media credentials. At least from the investigative angle. I might reach out to Peter Trembling, but he may want to distance himself from it now. He clearly was the pawn behind it all and probably was clueless as to Russell King's lies.

It's interesting, as I remember reading about it on the official site and a different post other than the one headlined "Pre-season update ℹ️" of Nick Tsaroulla training. So, did I dream this, or has the club actually removed updates??? I can't say I am overly bothered, but it wouldn't be the first time the club has had a knee-jerk reaction to negative updates and the loss of a player, resulting in a media PR tidy up.

i dont care, it could be either but you just hope whatever it was it was not out of spite or pettiness. as professional clubs that is not the way to be acting and it would be disappointing from either perspective. if it was cancelled because the date no longer worked, i would hope it was something more like that but honestly it changes nothing. i am more interested about this mystery game we have behind closed doors. it makes me wonder if we actually do have a game.

club wants to be private, no time, no location. that is the real mystery!

As the old saying goes, whatever will be, will be. It’s not a big deal in the grand scheme of things. Still, I find it odd that a club would want to keep a friendly game private. It’s only a kickabout, not a top-secret mission. Who do they think they are, MI5 or the Met Police FC?

i hope he gets a chance to restart, i dont doubt that hes a good coach but professional football is hard and even harsher when you arrive at a club who cant maintain the togetherness that could have made the difference. i think had not more fans turned, he might have been given longer and i think that a lot after afc wimbledon beat us at their ground was vocal on the clubs socials it made it hard. he deserves another go, i hope he finds a national league team that he can rebuild and maybe earn promotion with. the main things is to learn about his management in games. the statement from him is nothing i would not expect from a level headed person.

I’ve always respected Stuart Maynard. Even when things were a bit iffy, I never doubted his dedication to Notts. It was good to hear his words again. He might feel a bit hard done by, and I wouldn’t blame him. But the way he focused on the positives shows real class. I wish him all the best in his management journey. I actually thought he might’ve gone back to Wealdstone.

Stuart Maynard’s farewell was well done. It’s a good way to leave, especially at a club where some fans never gave him a real chance. I hope he gets another shot and proves himself in the EFL one day. What he did at Notts might not be seen as a failure by other teams, even with the big hopes we had.

None of these leagues last forever. If anything, they end up doing more harm than good to football. It feels like a fantasy league, with no real heart or passion behind it. Just big money and flashy names. There’s always some country that spends too much for a while, but it never really helps the game in the long run. The only good thing is that it pulls big names from the Premier League. That gives other players a chance to step up.

It’s a bit embarrassing for Man City, but we’ve seen before that they’re not unbeatable. Teams managed it last season, so it’s not a complete shock. It’s a big moment for the Saudi side, though I do wonder how much effort City really put in. Pre-season games can be a bit odd like that.

its a good job its man city, because united would not have scored i bet. 🤣

It’s a shame that some fans can’t seem to understand this is what progress looks like for a successful club. When you’re moving forward, tough decisions have to be made. Until we reach the level of clubs higher up the ladder, we’re going to lose players in this way. Yet no one seems to mind when we’re signing players from teams on our level or below.

Alex Bass has moved on. He’s left a thoughtful farewell message, and the club has made back more than what we paid to bring him in. Of course, it’s disappointing to lose someone of his ability. But once the initial emotion fades, you realise it’s just part of the game.

It was a good message from Alex Bass. Waiting a bit before sharing it was a smart move with how some fans have been feeling.

I really hope no one’s giving him a hard time. This is a great move for him, and the truth is not every player will stay longer than a season, no matter how much we wish they would.

He left in the right way. Players come and go, it’s just how football works.

Thanks for everything, Alex.

i am glad that alex bass put out the message, i know its a small thing and some fans will be salty but there is no need to be bitter. he deserved the move, even after just a single season and the cash could be reinvested in gaining us promotion. i wish him well at peterborough, it would be nice to see them gain promotion to the championshop and have him as their number one.

7 hours ago, Pies79 said:

Maybe we should have kept Tyler Miller? Or maybe he didn't really impress on thetraining field.

I hope some signings are coming soon, as the squad feels quite thin again and if we have injuries like last season we may be in trouble.

supposedly he would have signed if we gain promotion but he did not want to be stuck in league two. its quite the drop, but had we known alex bass was on the radar of peterborough united we might have been able to tempt him. then again, he might not have liked not getting the chance to start, with the game bass missed and sam slocombe started it might have made him wonder why he signed.

At this moment in time I’m thinking we haven’t got a cat in hells chance of achieving promotion BUT thinks can change very quickly whos to say there aren’t some stellar signing waiting to put pen to paper tomorrow. I really hope so.

Far too soon to be making predictions.I expect some signings before the weekend.If I'm wrong I will begin to get concerned for both my teams.

To be fair, it does help us see how our thoughts change over time. It’s like a test to see what we think now compared to later. I get why some people think it’s too soon. Things are still starting up, and we don’t know everything yet. Right now, I don’t think we’ve got enough new stuff or got much better than last season. It still feels the same.

The quality players who usually turn up on trial often have injury problems, discipline issues, or something else that’s held them back.

Nathan Tyson had a trial with us before signing, and that was mostly because of concerns over his fitness and injury record. But for the level we were at, he was always going to be a good addition given the limited choices we had up front.

I don’t think there’s anything wrong with trialists. It gives lesser-known players a chance to be judged on how they play and what they can do, rather than just their background or past clubs.

Mark Fotheringham.



No? 🤣

Trying out players on trial can help the head coach or manager see where they might fit in. It’s a good way to spot what a player offers and whether they bring something different to the group. People often get caught up in finding like-for-like replacements. But sometimes, a player with different qualities can change how the team plays for the better.

We are going to be signing three goalkeepers, maybe I’m in the minority here but I’d have thought the youth-team keeper could be used as the emergency and then you’d have a first choice with a back-up who can potentially push him. I'm just thinking about maximising that wage budget, a third keeper seems a luxury to me.

No idea about Harry, whether he’s the back-up or back-up to the back up, hope he can eventually make an appearance at some point. I guess we’ll find out how likely that will be come August when first subs bench is announced.

Welcome to Meadow Lane Harry. COYP

I’m not sure where Harry Griffiths fits into the team right now. He looks like he needs a loan to get some proper game time and experience. The problem is, our level might not be quite right for his development. At 20, he really should be playing regularly or at least starting to.

Maybe Notts are thinking about sending him out to an Irish club. That could give him the minutes he needs without dropping too far in quality.

Lunch is taken, Somerset 112 for 3 trail by 18.

Tea has been taken. Somerset are 197 for 4. They lead by 67 runs. Looks like this game is heading for a draw.

The Captains have shook hands & the game ends in a draw. There was no chance of either team winning. Somerset finish on 238 for 4 Dec a lead of 208 runs. Notts take 12 points from the game.

A good first day at Wimbledon for the Brits.

British Tennis players scheduled to play today.

A total of 10 British players make the 2nd round of Wimbledon

3 hours ago, piedestrian said:

Not too sure I agree with you. We replaced Langstaff with Jatta who was already here and being bedded in for the transition as we knew we'd probs lose Langstaff. It worked in our favour as well at the beginning of the season, it was just the second half where Jatta wasn't performing due to whatever went on behind the scenes with the Saunders and Maynard.

By choosing to only have Alassana Jatta and David McGoldrick as our attacking options, and allowing Junior Morias to go out on loan, we did remarkably well not to burn out sooner. If we think of Jatta as the new guy replacing Macaulay Langstaff, we’re still pretty short in the spot that really matters on the field.

The way we play, we know we can create chances, but I still think Langstaff should have been replaced with someone similar. Even Cedwyn Scott couldn't get much of a chance in his natural position because the club wanted to focus on two strikers. Jatta was always going to lose his form; maintaining it through the season would have been a miracle, but I don't blame him. I don't blame the club as such; I just think we needed to add a finisher.

4 hours ago, piedestrian said:

The main thing that many people are alluding to is asset stripping the club, which is scandalous (not saying you are @TheSkipper ) but I think the money in which we've made from on Burchnall, Williams, Langstaff, Crowley, Bass, Nemane is being invested into "the club". Training grounds cost a fortune and so does the uptake and upkeep of a stadium and it's facilities - including the wages of the senior technical board. This doesn't mean, however, we're not willing to spend on players. I imagine majority of the profit is ringfenced for certain players when their stats or themselves become available - like Jatta and Traore. I'm glad we don't just buy frivolously like the Trew/Hardy days.

It's not that bad; we have to accept bids, but that reinvestment needs to be made on the pitch just as much as off it. We can't do it halfway, or gamble on signings hoping that they will come good. We have to invest in certain areas, and I think those crucial areas are up front and in goal. The Reedtz are doing well to improve the infrastructure and to look at other revenue streams. Yes, money from the players needs to be balanced out.

Any fan questioning the brothers is living in a cloud, but what I think most people would agree with is that if we lose one player, make sure to sign a solid replacement.

Not every time a player leaves this will happen, but we are attracting bids for our better players, and we aren't always replacing them as wisely as we could.

4 hours ago, piedestrian said:

I'll make my judgements at the end of the window as I'm disappointed at where we currently are, I ackowledge we're a transitional club in League 2.

This is the thing: it's disappointing to lose good players, and as fans we might overvalue their price or worth. I am sure the club is working hard to bring in players, and we might not always be in a position to strengthen, but the only way the club can improve the morale of the fan base is to keep focused on the need for quality additions.

34 minutes ago, gtownjohnno said:

With all those £s coming in over the last year or so is a loan move for Macca completely out of the question????....it would certainly bring us fans back from the brink!!!!

I don't think the club sees using money in the short term benefits us in the longer term.

It would be nice to have Langstaff back even as a loan, but his wages might be the stumbling point. If Millwall were happy to loan him out and contribute to his wages, for him to do well with us and later be sold. It could work, though Millwall look like they want to get a fee now.

With the pre season looming (4 days away) are we prepared? No replacement goalkeeper, and only a week back on the training ground. Let's see what happens over the next week or two 🤔 These men and boys who make up our squad do not and will not go out onto the pitch, whoever they play, to fail. Our support from this time on all the way to the end of the season is paramount as WE ARE THE 12th MAN. So let's all stay positive and get behind our beloved team COYP. ❤️

9 hours ago, allardyces tash said:

Notts took a risk by making Aidan Stone the first-choice keeper, then pulled off a masterstroke by bringing in Alex Bass. The two are miles apart in quality, which just goes to show how vital the role is.

I'm hoping we've learnt our lesson after the Stone transfer, where I think we over-prioritised the ability to play out from the back. I've gone back to the announcement (🤓) when we signed Stone and before even mentioning things like shot-stopping, clean sheets, high claims etc, the board said “It’s crucial that the player is comfortable on the ball and able to distribute well with both feet, while they must also be adept at playing high up the pitch and defending the space behind our back line".

I'm hoping we can get someone who is very similar to Bass, he really did improve us defensively. And he was fine playing out from the back, he just sometimes struggled kicking it under pressure. But that was probably his only real weakness, everything else about him was really good.

Now there's a forgotten ex-player; if I remember rightly, Blackburn Rovers signed Keith Andrews. Which elevated him as a player, though with their decline, I never really kept track of him. My brother has always had a soft spot for Rovers, so there was a period when I did keep an interest in them. Andrews has long fallen off my radar, but I think he could be good if given the chance. (get through tough times, get the chance to learn, and get better).

It’s mad how quickly some ex-footballers age once they hang up their boots. Keith Andrews now looks like he's seen the script for every episode of Dallas, and played a part in most of them too. Still, fair play to him landing a job at Brentford. They're one of the few clubs that seem to be reading football’s modern playbook instead of clinging to the past.

Players come & players go. It has always been the case in the modern era. I'm sad to see players go. We've seen two big influential players leave, Didzy & Alex in the last few weeks.

But we have to believe in the system & the way the Reedtz brothers are running the club. They, more than anyone else, will be aware which type of players the club needs at this time.

I think we just need to have a little patience & let the powers that be at Notts do their job. I'm sure they are working tirelessly to improve the squad before the start of the season.

Let's just see what transpires over the next four weeks & see who arrives at the Lane. There is still plenty of time for the owners & the management team to put things right.

We aren't promotion contenders as it stands. We have lost key players in key positions. The club has a big month ahead. We need quality. Full stop.

I hope you're proven right @Robbie and we can have a good laugh at this thread once the season's over!

Selling players on for a profit can be a risky strategy as it puts pressure on the club to recruit equally high-quality replacements for less money. I hope we've got some good irons in the fire.

It's a good draw; personally, I am not the biggest fan of how Wigan Athletic have conducted themselves since their Premier League days, but they are a big club. It's going to be a challenge; I just hope they don't play us off the park like Peterborough United did last season and that we can finish the game somewhat respectfully. Whilst there's every chance we could progress, I think it's unlikely at the moment.

This and the FA Cup can be a welcome distraction from the league in terms of the stress and grind of promotion.

Winning games, especially forming a cup run, can really be a positive thing for a team at our level.

That’s a good draw. Wigan Athletic could be beatable if we can bring in a few more players, especially with the problems they’ve had at the club.

i am aiming to go, its a ground i have not been to before and i am looking forward to it. it should be a good game in the league cup.