Stadium: Meadow Lane, Nottingham, NG2 3HJ
Telephone: 0115 952 9000
Club Colours: Black & White
Nickname: The Magpies

Official Club Website: www.nottscountyfc.premiumtv.co.uk
Key Personnel: Manager Ian McParland

Brief Directions By Road:
These directions are courtesy of Notts County FC - Leave the M1 at Junction 24 and exit onto the A453 towards Nottingham. After passing through Clifton and past the Trent University go straight on at the traffic lights and head onto the B679 towards West Bridgeford (8 miles after leaving the Motorway). After just over a mile turn left onto the A60 and head over Trent Bridge. Take the first right turn (at the traffic lights) onto Cattle Market Road and the ground is on the right.

Car Parking:
Car parking in the immediate vicinity of the ground is restricted so the best bets are the pay and display about 5 minutes walk from the ground. They are clearly signposted if you follow the above route.

Directions By Train:
A train from London St Pancras should take around two hours with a possible change at Grantham. The ground is a very short walk from Nottingham Midland station.Turn left out of the main exit and then left again. Then right onto the London Road. Turn left into County Road where you will see the ground. Bus services passing the ground from the town centre are routes 6, 10 and 11.

Supporters Coaches
Coach travel to away fixtures this season is being organised by the Barnet Football Club Supporters Association. For further details about Supporters coach travel and how to book check out the BFCSA website at www.bfcsa.co.uk.

Eating And Drinking Locally:
The club fanzine recommends The Globe, which is short stroll over the Canal Bridge from the ground. It serves reasonably priced meals too and real ales. Back over the Trent Bridge you will find the South Bank. For the perfect pre match pint look no further than the Trent Bridge Inn which is adjacent to Trent Bridge Cricket Ground - it is only a 15/20 minute walk from Meadow Lane and a visit will give you the opportunity to gave a gander at Nottingham Forest's stadium and the fast developing cricket ground stands.

The Social Clubs:
The Meadow Club is open to away fans before the game and bar snacks are available alongside a decent selection of beers. The club say that Lawton's Bar behind the main stand is restricted before the game but open to all at full time although I recall being refused entry the last time I visited.

Ground Description:
One of my literary heroes, Simon Inglis once said "Despite its name Meadow Lane is as about as rural as the Boleyn Ground is Tudor" How things have even changed since then but I was lucky enough to visit the lovely old ground in the 1980's before its remodernisation. Gone has the charming old County Stand which was supported by stilts over wooden terracing and the tall uncovered Spion Kop terrace and the wonderful barrelled roof main stand first built in 1910. Progress has given Country a 20,000 plus all seater stadium with great views but with far less warmth. The Derek Pavis or Main Stand was built in 1994 and holds 7,000 while opposite is The Jimmy Sirrell Stand where the most vocal of Magpie fans congregate - nice traditional touch is the centre roof gable. The Family Stand is to the left and boasts some wonderful facilities for the young, with a crèche and tuck shop, and for the not so young with executive boxes and a bar built into the roof.The away area is the massive Kop Stand which can hold up to 5,500 although only part of the lower tier is used on most matchdays. The view from the top (if you can get there) is superb.

Rivals:
Obviously that team that can be seen on the other side of the river and has a silly red tree as its emblem, plus Mansfield Town and Chesterfield.

Admission Prices:
Admission will be £16 for adults, £10 for senior citizens, students & young adults (11-18). £5.00 for Juniors under 11. Proof of ID will be requested for seniors (60 and Over), students (NUS Card) and Under 18's. Important: Students & young adults must purchase their tickets from the Ticket Office on Meadow Lane because these concession rates are not available at the turnstile. However seniors and adults can pay on the door. Disabled supporters £16,00 Concession £9.00 with carers admitted free but Notts County have are asking to be contacted in advance if possible if disabled places are required.

Our Last Meeting& Memories:
For out last visit to Meadow Lane Nicky Bailey was on target in a 1-1 draw in January 2007. We met Notts Country twice during our previous Football League campaign loosing both times but the away fixture in Div 3 in April 1998, where we were beaten 2-0 in front of over 6,000 fans, was one of those really memorable weekends for me personally. Why? Because the infamous Curry Club spent the weekend in a guest house owned by ex-QPR and Scotland midfielder Don Masson.I can't remember much about the whole weekend except seeing two Lee Harrison's during the game in the Barnet goal and visiting a impressive restaurant and sampling Indian Tandoori Chicken smothered with goats cheese, absolutely superb.

Overnight Stay Factor:
Nottingham is a city that comes alive at night and has some outstanding Asian restaurants and wicked night-clubs. So a stop over would is a must so a mark of 8/10 is awarded.

Celebrity Watch:
For those of you with culture in mind, the novelist DH Lawrence was born in these parts in 1885 as was William Booth founder of the Salvation Army and 19th century poet Lord Byron. For those of you without, why not pop down and see Torvill and Dean at the ice rink, Dale Winton at the supermarket, Leslie Crowther at the £1 shop, Su Pollard at the holiday camp or Richard Beckingsale in E wing.

Interesting And Not So Interesting Information:
I am sure you aware that Notts County Football Club is the oldest football club in the world. It was formed in 1862. Robin Hood is the worlds best loved outlaw and his legend lives on in the City. There is still a Sheriff of Nottingham but he is more likely to be seen opening supermarkets than collecting taxes with menace these days. Did you know that the first recorded Earthquake in England was recorded in Nottinghamin 1180?