The Battle for Survival (again)
Season 2007-8 Concludes...
OK...here's how it is (I mean its not like we haven't done this before is it ?) We're getting towards the 'business end' of the season and Notts are, as usual, in deep do-do. Having just lost to a hopeless bottom of the table Wrexham and seen The Stags win, we face a tough last two games.The last home is Wycombe who, may take it easy with the play-offs coming up (remember Huddersfield ) but, like the final opposition Chesterfield, are a very good side, so there won't be many freebies.Mansfield are playing decent footie at last so our only salvation will be if the Daggers lose their last two also - away at Darlo (who always seem to slip up against lower league sides) then at home to our chief rivals for the grand finale.If they do, we'll get away with it ..again.If we don't then its all gone....the 'Oldest League Club in the World' is Stoke and who knows what else might disappear after a season of Blue Square Premiership-sized crowds.Perhaps we're too big to go down and if we do go, we'll beat all those minnows and come straight back up - like Oxford,York,Halifax,Cambridge,Boston, Torquay,Kidderminster... o dear.Worried yet ? You should be.Lets go and dance with the grim reaper again...
Notts V Wycombe Wanderers
26th April 2008
However many times we do this (Huddersfield,Bury etc) there's nothing ever formulaic about the Pies escape routines other than they'd make Steve McQueen's efforts look a bit half-hearted. So it was that on an unusually warm day in April, we turned out for that regular event of trying to escape the drop into the Blue Square Premiership, or to give it it's proper title, total oblivion. Wycombe, with nothing to play for started off fairly brightly whilst the home side were just a touch nervy and nearly went behind after only a few minutes.They struggled to find their own players as the visitors defied excuses about the unfit pitch and passed the ball around quite freely (I think they call it being a 'footballing side'). Half time, as usual, was a bit of a relief. Fortunately, the club had sensibly allowed the Koppites back to their home and once again, the supporters did the team proud both in number and voice. Their songs drowned out the not inconsiderable away contingent.
Another great crowd on the Kop lifted the team throughout

The Second Half saw Notts getting more of a grip on the match.After the early offensives, Wycombe had lost their edge.Although they still coped with the home sides bumbling attacks, their own impetus was marred by one eye on a possible Wembley play-off fixture.This didn't stop some niggling fouls and, ultimately a sending off for them - evidence enough of how little they wanted to be at the annual Notts Against The Odds Party. In the stand though, the crowd were getting news of The Daggers.At 2-0 down against Darlington, they seemed to be preparing for the drop but amazingly, as the Meadow Lane faithful were calculating that they could be safe,there was news that it was level and then our fellow strugglers had unbelievably taken the lead ! This put Mansfield in poll position for the fall...
One of the pluses at the end of the season  was the return of long-term absentee Myles Weston.Although still short of match fitness, his runs had caused defences problems and had there been anything by way of attackers in forward positions, they would surely have brought a goal or two.In the middle of this stalemate, he again broke forward on the left, jinxing through a couple of challenges and then getting the ball to Jason Lee in an advanced position.So quick was Weston that three Pies were ready to take the shot but fortunately it ended up with Butcher, the teams top scorer. He deposited it very neatly into the bottom corner and Notts were one up.
The favoured result of a team that had only managed two goals once since Christmas (and that was courtesy of a penalty)
Big keeper Russell Hoult is dwarfed with a full Kop behind him
Notts put on Laurie Dudfield instead of the ineffective Danny Crow as the game moved into its last quarter.Midfield free-kick specialist McKenzie came closest though with a belter that  went just over the bar as four thousand Koppites chanted his name...no pressure then ! In the end, the nail-biter went the way part one and part two had - we won it ! The three points assured the Pies of safety as Dagenham's unlikely victory put Notts' neighbours Mansfield in the frame for the drop.
With the promise of a 'Lap of Thanks' from the players, the traditional end of term pitch invasion never happened. The fans were already looking to the next battle - the fight to get the Kop back permanently. If their voices were heard half as loudly as they were on the pitch during the afternoon, they have to be confident of success....
Whatever the questions over McParland's style of play, there were no doubts over his ability to bring in quality loanees to shore up the flailing Magpies in the second half of the season.Fans favourite Michael Johnson returned and was an instant success in defence.Behind him, Stoke keeper Russell Hoult was brilliant in replacing Kevin Pilkington who was injured in training.
The new 'Lap of Thanks' was brought in by the club to prevent fans carrying out the normal tradition of a pitch invasion
The hitherto unseen sight of Notts players saluting their own fans on The Kop. Turning up in their thousands for the last two home games, they created an amazing atmosphere in the stadium.
Great Escape Part 1
Great Escape Part 2
Season 2007
Pick another season
Season 2008