I honestly couldn't name the team that I watched on Saturday but I remember that side well. Stevie Carter lived in Stoke Bardolph & I would often meet him in Netherfield, although he & Wee Willie were 2 of my all time favourites the side that slides of my tongue easiest is the same but with these 2 replaced by Probert & Mann. Happy Days. COYP
Regrettably before my time, but going by John Bond's numerous comments in the press at least circa 70-72, Notts were a very nasty piece of work at the back and I would have loved that.
Defenders were allowed to defend in those days and the 1970s was the golden age for that position before the rules were gradually changed, largely under pressure of increased Television coverage in the 1980s that demanded more goals and TV commentators and pundits pressuring officials to do more to protect skilful players - more often than not ex-forwards such as Jimmy Hill, George Best, Ian St John, Trevor Brooking, Brian Clough etc who had been on the receiving end, rather than the type who dished it out. You very rarely got to hear much on TV from the Norman Hunter's and Ron Harris's of this world making the counter argument and highlighting the beauty and skill of a hard firm crunching tackle and the satisfaction of taking out some fancy Dan show off.
Bob did get some stick but I remember he turned the corner and became a cornerstone in that back line.
Not many mentions for big Dave Watson.
Dave Watson left Notts in 1967. He was not a regular in the first team and only made 25 appearances, the majority as a forward.
I started watching Notts in 1956, and after years of mediocrity, the early 1970s were a great time to be a supporter. Although we've had the likes of Pedro Richards, Tommy Johnson, Mark Draper, Lee Hughes etc since, that 1970/71 side remains "my team", with Tony Hateley leading the line.
1959/60 wasn't bad, 107 goals and bounce straight back to third tier. The following season showed promise for a while then I'm not sure what happend but a couple of seasons later our best assets got sold off and another period of rot set in.
We should be experts at getting out of the quagmire but we seem even better at getting into it