Dear Dad ...

[Lullapie]

It is interesting to read the different sentiments on here, some depending on the era that they first went to Notts. My Dad returned from WWII and soon after the Tommy Lawton era began with record crowds and scoring even though we were 3rd Division South. As I recall Notts were perceived as being the bigger side, or at least potentially so. The 49/50 season when we ran away with the title to get promotion saw us get the double over our little neighbours and with our home attendance of 46,000 beating their crowd of 37.903 a couple of months earlier. Optimism of getting into the top tier faded after a few seasons of mediocre performance and the great man leaving but I guess this was the time that as my Dad started to settle with a family and finding a job that he started going to the Lane when he could afford it. We were still above the Reds in 54/55 and again getting the double over them. Shortly afterwards they went into the top tier and shortly after that we went down and then down again to the newly formed 4th division, the basement. Immediate promotion and in the eyes of many at the time the past few years were just a blip. Despite the FA Cup win over the river I don't think we were seen as little brother. With Hateley, Roby, Astle & co we were on the up and I was on the bandwagon. It didn't happen, down we went again after failing to reach the second tier then the financial issues started. Ex-Red players took on the role of managing and saving the club, Burkitt and Billy Gray, and I think this was the time we were seen as little brother being saved by the Reds.

To be back there and struggling again to get out after falling even lower is pretty hard to take. I vividly remember the optimism my Dad and I had in August 1964 when we went to Brentford for the opening game of the season and looking forward to our new star signing, Vic Povey from Wolves, only to see us suffer a 4-1 defeat and relegation. Years of poo again until Sirrel came and got a grip. Some of you have only known those good years and not the heartaches that went on before.

I'll be honest; after dropping out of the top tier in Pavis's era and watching it all happen again I've lost a lot of enthusiasm and commitment. I don't get to many games now and those I've been to (play-offs excepted) have not seen a win at home.

Well done to all of you who have retained your commitment and I hope your patience, and that of our current owners, stands the test of time.

Great post Old Pie.

We plan our trips overseas to tie in with the football season and then when we have time in England, we plan our trip around Notts' games. My wife is used to it now.

We've found that Easter is the best time, because weather permitting, we can get more games.

My 17 year old has unfortunately inherited my love of Notts County and i961 Pie will be happy to know that my son is primarily a Magpie .

It's difficult keeping up with Notts sometimes, because of the time difference and everything over here is EPL or Champions League. However, through coaching football, there's a few lads coming through the ranks now in Cambridge NZ, who have the saying 'if ye dinnae shoot, ye cannae score'.

[Lullapie]

Whilst the FA Cup was the thing to win, maybe it wouldn't have placed as much weight on the scales in their favour if they'd won it 8 years earlier when very few people had a television set. Also 1966/67, their best ever season at the time, coincided with "Match of the Day" being moved to the nationally available BBC1 (it had only had a tiny audience on BBC2), then in the late 1970s with audience figures at levels way above what they are now, they have the most charismatic manager ever to appear in front of a TV camera. So their ascent pretty much dovetails with the golden age of TV. That level of exposure in the 3 channel era probably did as much for them as the trophies did in terms of hoovering up the Nottingham support.

Don't you think our current manager is as charismatic ?

[forwardmagpie]

I agree with your last bit, but as long as I have a pulse I would never want to see Forest do well.

The correct and most sensible attitude

[PedroTheFisherman66]

I can remember back in the school days when we played football at break time, with a tennis ball on the playground.It was always Notts vs forest but because county fans were outnumbered by the reds it was always Notts and other teams fans vs forest..we were still always outnumbered..!!! This was before the european cup wins aswell..Did anybody know they have won the European cup ! Twice apparently....COYP for ever and a day...!

[slack_pie]

I have my dad to "blame" as well, but I wouldn't have it any other way. Forest could go on to win the Champions League while Notts get relegated to the National League North, and I still would be more committed to the club than most of the Forest "fans" I grew up with.

I've been a Notts fan for about 35 years, and there have been maybe five or so enjoyable seasons among a load of absolute dross. But it's my club, and I'm not in it for the glory. I've always felt Notts fans are a special breed - probably the most inherently negative group. We always seems to expect the worst, and are very often proven right. Contrast that with Forest fans, who cannot ever admit they are anything but amazing. **** them.

[i961pie]

Great post Old Pie.

We plan our trips overseas to tie in with the football season and then when we have time in England, we plan our trip around Notts' games. My wife is used to it now.

We've found that Easter is the best time, because weather permitting, we can get more games.

My 17 year old has unfortunately inherited my love of Notts County and i961 Pie will be happy to know that my son is primarily a Magpie .

It's difficult keeping up with Notts sometimes, because of the time difference and everything over here is EPL or Champions League. However, through coaching football, there's a few lads coming through the ranks now in Cambridge NZ, who have the saying 'if ye dinnae shoot, ye cannae score'.

Well I certainly cocked up this year I bought my season ticket knowing full well I would be going to NZ for almost 3 months but I don't begrudge the club my money. I will be back at Easter to see the last 2 games and to see us get promotion. (Hopefully) 😋.

[kill_the_drum]

Also my dad?s fault.
I was originally a Forest fan in the late 80?s. My uncle had taken me to a few games and I was a junior Red.
My dad, a Notts fan, then started taking me to Notts. It was the FA Cup run that saw us lose to Spurs. We beat Oldham in the earlier rounds and I remember turning to my dad and telling him I want to support Notts.
Ive never once regretted it. In my earlier years a Notts result would dictate my mood and I hated Forest with a passion. I would defend Notts against any red dog. I still have that passion to defend Notts but the sad thing is it?s normally against other Notts fans these days!
I now have no feelings towards Forest, but I like to see them doing well for friends and family. Plus it?s good for the city that has had to endure Leicester and Derby in the top flight.
I?m mid 40?s now and this is the most I?ve ever enjoyed watching us play. My daughters come to the games and I wake up excited on a matchday, regardless of who we?re playing. My kids going has also mellowed me. I?m still desperate for us to win and go through every emotion throughout a game, but if we lose I?m fine by the time we get home.

[irishpete]

Dad's fault as well, & his dad😂😂 in the mid 70s
Like most have said other family members were red neck. Hated them with a passion as soon as I knew who dad supported.
At school I can only remember 2 of us in infants & 3 in comp year supporting Notts.As Pedro says, you stood out like a sore thumb at breaks playing footy. Looking back at least it was that & not Chesea, Man City etc Despite my lad growing up here & a Liverpool fan, he follows Notts very closely & watches the games in Oz.
Despite being over here 26yrs never lost the passion for Notts & like a bear with a sore head when we lose.🤣🤣

[ancientpie]

As a nipper Everton were my team (probably because they lived in Liverpools shadow) but the 1st game I attended was in 68 when a mate talked me into going to the temple of sin & standing in the Trentend, I absolutely hated it & took an instant dislike to their fans who were very loud & aggressive. The next live game I saw was in 1970 when my dad took me to a Notts game, we sat in the old Lane End for a 0-0 draw ( v Stags I think) & it could not have been more different, everyone was so friendly sweets were passed around & probably because the fans were older there was absolutely no aggression just genuine passionate support, I was always a bit of a rebel so shortly after I found a few schoolmates who didn't mind going against the flow & we started our lifelong love of the Pies, at least another 2 of our group still attend & we have never regretted a second. COYP

[upthemaggies]

I've always felt Notts fans are a special breed - probably the most inherently negative group. .

I think that's half of the problem that drags us down, the other half are positive but positive about accepting Notts as a lower league club and just "enjoying the ride" no matter what level we sink. I don't see any real demand nor belief among the fan base that we can do better and that must be unusual for a football club. Normally you would have either one or the other to encourage or help the club to push forward.

It wouldn't have always been like this I'm sure, the late 1950s would have been the point it began to take root, then cemented by the Clough effect, and it's going to take something or someone very special to break that spell. I thought we had it with Munto but that turned out only to make things worse in the long run.