Ah the good old days of football and common sense when Notts and Fword were at home on alternate Saturdays and it was possible to watch Notts Reserves at 3 pm on a Saturday.
Notts in the early 60's were in the Football Combination and played the likes of Arsenal, Spuds, West Ham, Chelsea , Fulham, Leicester ,QPR , Leyton Orient,Cardiff City; etc and our noisy Nottinghamshire neighbours .
A fair sprinkling of internationals appearing in these games and great for autograph hunters at Nottm Midland and Nottm Victoria stations as these teams frequently travelled by train. I recall 15 y.o.Mick Channon appearing at ML for Southampton Reserves.
The demise of regular Saturday afternoon reserve team football was attributed to cutting costs and reduced full time professional squads, resulting in midweek games with teams bolstered by junior professionals, apprentices and YTS players
Lincoln City, Grimsby and S****horpe Reserves used to play in the old Midland League against the likes of Arnold , Ilkeston, Heanor, Alfreton, Long Eaton Utd etc. Kevin Keegan recalling his dislike of playing for Scunny Reserves and being launched over the pitch barrier by hairy a*d miners in those teams lol.
The three clubs,Notts , Stags, Chesterfield, morphed with several Yorkshire Clubs forming The North Midlands FL for reserve teams of professional FL clubs.
Notts then joined the Central League and under Mick Walker and Warnock's reign, more than held their own against the big Northern Clubs
Always remember the game at ML v Fword Reserves when Anthony Thompson's robust challenge saw Lee Glover carried off with a fractured leg. Archie Gemmill was their coach and had a right strop.
The next time Thompson got the ball Brett Williams tried to smash Tommo who neatly side stepped the challenge and Williams ended up in the dug out !
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