2016/17 Prediction League; Game 7 v Notts County (away)

Div3North · 08-09-2016, 23:46

Notts County

V

Accrington Stanley

2016/17 Prediction League; Game 7 v Notts Co (away)

Welcome to the oldest football team in the world at professional level; no, them, not us!

They were formed on 28th November 1862, they’re just over 100 games shy of 5,000 matches played in the Football League; they most recently played in the top division – then called “Division One” – in 1991/92 (25 years ago), and at one time they were managed by the current England Manager, Big Sam (so called to distinguish him, presumably, from Small Sam) ..............originally, it is recorded, they played their games in the grounds of Nottingham Castle (with the Sherriff of Nottingham in goal and Robin Hood at “left outside”).................. in 1888 they were founder members of the Football League, finishing 11th of 12 (Stoke came bottom); two seasons later they finished third, the best they’ve ever managed, and in 1893/94 they won the FA Cup, beating Bolton 4-1 at Goodison Park – the first side from outside the top division to win it (they were actually third in Division Two) .........They aren’t the oldest English football team still playing; that honour goes to Sheffield FC (who exited this season’s FA Cup at the First Qualifying Round this week, losing 3-0 at home to Farsley Celtic – but you knew that, didn’t you?)

Manager, if you’ve forgotten, is ex-Oldham Boss John Sheridan; over the summer they shipped out 14 of the previous squad – most of them to Nowhere United, but FB Blair Adams (wasn’t he Prime Minister recently?) went to Cambridge (still propping up the League, with no wins and three points from 6 games so far); CB Scot Bennett (that’s his name, not his nationality) joined Newport (have you SEEN their pitch?); MF Jason Banton (Plymouth, Wycombe and loads of loans) went to Crawley; Liam Noble joined Forest Green; Ronan Murray also left, presumably because Boyzone were reforming or something; and Roy Carroll, who makes Methuselah look like a stripling (ok, 39 this month) moved yet again – in 21 years he’s gone from Hull to Linfield via Wigan, Man U, the Hammers, Rangers, Derby, Odense (Denmark), OFI Crete, Olympiacos of Greece (modestly titled “The Legend”) and The Magpies (Chimer!)

They signed GK Adam Collin (who spent most of his career at Workington and Carlisle) from the Millers, back four players Carl Dickinson from the Valiants, Matt Tootle from the Shrews and 37 times Welsh international Richard Duffy (who fetched a fee of £300k when Pompey (then of the Premier League) signed him from Swansea) from Eastleigh – whom he’d only joined four weeks earlier: MF Michael O’Connor came in (also from Port Vale); and finally Sheridan signed two left wingers – like you do – they being Oldham’s Jonathan Forte and Newport’s Alex Rodman .... Three on loan as well – striker Vadaine Oliver (24) from York, def Lewis Laing from Motherwell, and Wolves young striker Aaron Collins complete the new squad.

After three games they had one point, having lost to Yeovil and Plymouth and drawn with Stevenage; in their last three they’ve taken 7 points – wins by 2-1 at Hartlepool and 3-1 at Crawley, and most recently a home Desmond against Grimsby, secured with two in the last 13 minutes ............... They lie 12th – P6 W2 D2 L2 GF9 GA9 Pts 8; we were joint top after one game, and now we’re 21st – two points in five games (only Yeovil – one in five games – have done worse, and they’re 23rd!) We last met in February, winning 3-2 from 3-0 up, the goals coming from Billy Whizz on 14 and Rommy on 21 and 51 ........and they’re out of the EFL Cup 2-0 at SunnyScunny while we get to play in the Olympics ........ well, the left-over Stadium at least ...............

In 2004 they were relegated from Division Two to League Two (which is a clever trick!): over the years they’ve been promoted 13 times and relegated 17 times – more than anyone else; so far in 2016 they’ve had five different managers (caretakers Mick Halsall and Richard Dryden; Jamie Fullarton (69 days); Mark Cooper (48 days) and Richard Brinsley – sorry, John Sheridan (3 months and 11 days and counting ...............So much for job security!); managers include Russell Slade, Howard Kendall, Gary Brazil, and the oft-lamented Paul Ince (not by me he wasn’t, but that’s a different story!) Record League win – Newport again – was 11-1 back in nineteen hundred and frozen to death; one name did stand out in the “Most Appearances” list; who remembers Scotsman Don Masson (and his Frantic Five – oh no, that was someone entirely else)?, and two in the Greatest Goal Scorers; Tony Hateley, and Tommy Lawton .........some history there!

Deadline for entries is, as always, scheduled kick-off time, which is 3.00pm on Saturday 10th September ..............What We Wants Is Pointz! All this blether about how we’re coming together, nearly there, going to finish above Morecambe (!) and so on is all very interesting, but fine words butter no parsnips when the fans are starving .............. if you follow my meaning! Three points in the Hand is worth a Smack in the Bush, and so forth................... Nurse!

Good luck to everyone! ................ Keep the Faith! ............ And thanks for playing!