New stand ready for test match

Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club are delighted to announce that the new stand at Trent Bridge has received a safety certificate from Nottinghamshire County Council after building work was completed ahead of schedule.

The stand will be officially opened by His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh on Thursday June 5, the first day of the third npower Test against New Zealand, but it was used for the first time for the Friends Provident Trophy clash against Ireland on Sunday.

Sue Storey, Chair of the Nottinghamshire County Council Safety Advisory Group responsible for issuing the safety certificate said: “We are delighted to announce that the new stand at Trent Bridge is safe and ready to be used by Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club."

“Throughout the redevelopment project, Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club have been very keen to work with us to ensure that all possible safety features were included in the new stand."

“The new stand and other redevelopment work has greatly enhanced the safety at the venue.”

Derek Brewer, Chief Executive at Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club, said: “We are absolutely delighted that the redevelopment has come to fruition and look forward to welcoming England and New Zealand for the deciding game in an intriguing series.

“We are determined to continue to enhance Trent Bridge in order to continue to attract major matches to the venue and look forward to welcoming supporters to our new facilities.”

Toneys becomes latest import

GMB Nottingham Panthers ice hockey team are today pleased to announce their latest “import” recruit in the shape of six feet two inch American defenceman Nick Toneys.
And Nick will be heading to the University of Derby to study a masters degree in business thanks to the new deal announced just last week between the university and the club.
Coach Corey Neilson said today : “We can’t underline the importance of deals like the one with the University of Derby enough. I said last week when we revealed the new partnership that it would make my life easier when it came to recruitment, there are a lot of players who have turned professional after going through the high class American and Canadian college systems who will jump at the chance to go ‘back to school’ while continuing to play, and so it has proven to be.
“Nick Toneys is a stay-at-home six feet plus defenceman who clears the crease well and is perfect for the job we have in mind for him. He doesn’t take too many penalties, and as a graduate from Michigan Tech and St Norbert’s College, his experience of the college system will make it an easy transition to our systems of play. This is another good signing for the GMB Panthers.”
Nick Toneys, 25, played at Augusta and Phoenix in the East Coast Hockey League last season and the year before he was at Kalamazoo in the United Hockey League.
And the blueline core has been completed with the full-time addition of hot prospect Joe Graham who dressed for the club nearly thirty times last season, after a couple of years in the EPL at Solihull. The teenager will be eighteen next month and was named man of the match in the annual England-Scotland junior international at the play-off weekend last season. Joe will wear the number 29 jersey, as worn by his father Davie who backstopped the Panthers when the club won the Wembley play-off crown twenty years ago this season.

The battle of Nottingham

A pre-season friendly it might be, but Colin Calderwood and Charlie McParland will dearly want to get one over the other in the battle of Nottingham.

Notts and Forest meet at Meadow Lane on August 2, a week before their respective curtain raisers in the league.

And it is the first chance the managers have met in football since their acrimonious split 12 months ago.

Because as much as the relationship between the pair has remained civil since, the departure of long standing coach McParland from the City Ground twelve months ago ultimately left a bitter taste in the mouth.

Shortly after the 2006/7 season finished, McParland was told he was no longer part of the back room staff-a decision believed to have been made after disagreements over tactics and team selection that ultimately saw Forest bomb out of the play-offs to Yeovil.

McParland had indicated he thought the squad was more than capable of promotion and it was easy to see Calderwood’s somewhat negative decisions and man management at the time frustrated him.

But the decision to let him go was rough justice for a man who did a magnificent job in a number of roles for over a decade for The Reds.

He had been a major factor in the success of the conveyor belt of talent that emerged form the youth and reserve teams for several years and that allowed Forest to remain financially afloat after the sales of Jermaine Jenas, Michael Dawson and Andy Reid.

An official statement was made several weeks after McParland had left- adding more flames to the fire about the way in which the club had kept the worst kept secret in the city.

That may well all be forgotten by the time the two meet, as the task of bedding in new faces in both sides with just a week left before the new season will be of top priority.

But you can’t help but feel even with two divisions separating the two sides, local and personal pride will still be just as fierce to grab a result.

Officials at Meadow Lane will hope however the battle doesn’t spill into the stands after the pure embarrassment of last season’s pitch invasion after Forest’s 3-1 win in a similar pre-season tie.

Fans of both clubs shamed themselves that night with violence that took the game’s profile in the city back a step to something out of football’s dark days in the 1980’s.

Needless to say precautions and policing will be far stricter this time around. Fortunately the only place passions may get a little heated is between the technical areas.

Swann wants Twenty20 crown

Graeme Swann is determined Notts will go the extra step and lift the Twenty20 crown this season.

The England international may only have limited time to feature for Notts if, as expected, he is picked as part of the one day series squad to face New Zealand in June.

But he feels the club should have won the competition last season as they went out to Kent in a re-arranged quarter-final at Trent Bridge.

He said: “Everyone around the club knows we should have won it last year and we messed up in that one quarter final where it all started so well and just went to pot inside half an hour.”

“We’ve still a got strong side and can beat anyone on the day.”

And he admitted he savours the increased popularity of the shorter form of the game.

He added: “It’s great to walk out on Trent Bridge and have 15,000 people cheering you on. I don’t enjoy the longer form of the one day game half as much as Twenty20.”

“It’s adrenaline packed and it’s exciting and you come off more tired from a Twenty20 game than you do a 50 over match.”

“You throw yourself around and you get swept up in the emotion of the crowd, it’s brilliant and you get to stay in bed longer in the morning so it’s a winner all round!”

Earlybird offer extended

Nottingham Rugby has had a fantastic response to its season ticket offer and would like to thank all existing and new season ticket holders for their wonderful support.

In recognition of this support we would like to extend our Early Bird offer until the 31st May 2008.

Our early bird discount offers even greater value, so join today and be part of the team! A Season Ticket is a great value way to enjoy watching Nottingham Rugby at every home league match.
Being a Season Ticket holder at Nottingham guarantees you the following: Guaranteed entry into 15 National Division One Home League matches;
Two ‘Bring a friend for free’ vouchers;
Fixture Card;
20% discount voucher on one shop purchase in the Nottingham Rugby shop;
Season Ticket Holder Prize Draw;
Right to apply for the ballot for England International Tickets; Fantastic offers from our partners.

Here to stay?

HAVING passed through an era when sacking football mangers was second nature to club chairmen, Colin Calderwood may just be pleased to hear his current employers have seemingly finished with the habit themselves.

The Reds manager was believed to be all but sacked had he failed to drag Forest back into the Championship this season.

But from a position in April when defeat at Doncaster Rovers looked to have consigned the club to a play-off place, Calderwood has emerged out of the mist and fury to leave himself his most challenging task to date in the Championship. But he has arguably never been in a stronger position. That’s if the club’s hierarchy is to be believed.

Mark Arthur revealed after Forest’s final day promotion to the Championship that Colin Calderwood would have kept his job regardless of Forest’s fate again this season.

He indicated he attended a fans event in the final weeks of the season confirming the Scotsman’s position regardless of where the club finished.

He said: “I told them (the supporters) that Colin would be the manager of Nottingham Forest next season regardless of what happened.”

“We have always believed it to be important to build a little stability and continuity at the club and we felt that, however the season turned out, we had a bright future with the group of players we had put together.”

That was u-turn on what he indicated earlier in the season when Forest’s poor away form had already seen them drift alarmingly away from the top two. Calderwood at that point was seemingly finished if promotion wasn’t secured.

But chairman Nigel Doughty and Arthur appear to have learnt their lessons. As much as Paul Hart, Joe Kinnear and Gary Megson were all on undoubted downward spirals at the time of their departures, you can’t help but feel in Hart's case particularly that he deserved his own leap of faithfrom the chairmen when results didn't come up to scratch.


But now with continuity and stability the buzz words, they will be keen to stick with a manager who through unprecedented pressure has done what he was employed to do.

The next hurdle of the Championship will be an interesting test of Calderwood’s credentials but he may now go about his work safe in the knowledge the axe may not be ready to swing if results don’t arrive immediately.

Club needs work

CHARLIE McPARLAND has re-iterated just how much work must take place with the club’s infrastructure for it to move forward.

The Magpies boss has helped oversee plans for a new centre of excellence next season but remains realistic about whether he will still be in charge to see the fruits of its introduction.

He said: “This club needs to be built from bottom to top for it to become the Notts County of old. Whether I see that out or not I don’t know because I live in the real world and managers life spans are quite short.”
“I hope you’ll have an under 18 youth team in a year, the year after hopefully field a reserve team and then the next year have one or two in your first team.”

Commons released

Nottingham Forest have confirmed that Kris Commons is to be released.

The 24 year old midfielder has not been offered a new contract after he told manager Colin Calderwood he would not be staying at The City Ground.

Calderwood explained: “We offered Kris a new contract last summer but he decided instead to sign a one-year extension to his existing agreement.

“We had hoped to sit down with him and his agent again at the end of the season to talk about his future at The City Ground.

“But he told me shortly after we had secured promotion that he had already decided to leave.”

Alan Power and Felix Bastians have also been released, while Forest have offered new contracts to six players.

Sammy Clingan, Dale Roberts, Paddy Gamble, Shane Redmond, Hamza Bencherif and Joe Heath are considering contract offers from The Reds.

Youngsters Mark Byrne, who made his first-team debut last month as a substitute against Cheltenham, and Tom Sharpe have signed new one-year deals.

Shreck signs new two year deal

Nottinghamshire bowler Charlie Shreck has signed a two year contract extension, keeping him at the club until the end of the 2010 season.

A consistent performer since his arrival at Trent Bridge in 2003, Shreck, 30, has already made a big contribution to Notts’ LV County Championship campaign and will face a heavy workload during the absence of Ryan Sidebottom and Stuart Broad who will spend the summer on England duty.

“Charlie has been the mainstay of our bowling attack for five years and I am delighted that he has chosen to commit his future to the club,” said Notts Director of Cricket Mick Newell.

“I know that his inclusion in the England squad has been discussed very seriously and the opportunity may come his way but his priority is to do well for Notts.

“Charlie has performed well for England Lions and he can play his way into contention for the national side.

“His contract was due to expire at the end of the season but both parties were keen to agree a new deal as early as possible and I am pleased that it has been concluded.”

Shreck missed the 2005 campaign after suffering a stress fracture of his back but found good form in 2006, taking 50 wickets for the first time, including two ten-wicket hauls and a hat-trick against Middlesex at Lord’s.

He made his Notts debut in 2003 having arrived on the first-class scene following several years on the Minor Counties circuit with Cornwall and spent the winter in New Zealand where he played for Wellington.

“I was very keen to extend my contract and there is nowhere else that I would rather play than Trent Bridge,” said Shreck.

“Looking around on a match day, it’s clear to see that the club is taking massive steps forwards with the ground developments and the playing squad and management are first class.

“Ryan Sidebottom had three consecutive 50 wicket seasons at Notts before he got back into the England side and the key for me is to stay fit and take wickets consistently.”

Shares for sale

Nottingham, this season’s surprise package in First Division Rugby, believes it has all the credentials to mount a serious push for promotion to the Guinness Premiership for the upcoming season – 2008/09.

Having finished joint second to Northampton Saints last year - and the only team to take two bonus points off them in the process - the club is confident that with the right level of investment to improve the talented (and young) squad coached by Director of Rugby Glenn Delaney, the sky is the limit!

Having split into amateur and professional sections to create Nottingham Rugby Ltd, the club is embarking on controlled fundraising including a limited sale of shares and presents a great opportunity for entrepreneurs who have a love of the game and who would relish the opportunity of becoming actively involved in a go ahead and vibrant company with genuine aspirations to join the elite clubs in the Premiership.

"The directors believe the club is valued at £4m and is debt free, and whilst we have had a good initial response locally we recognise the opportunity may be attractive to other potential investors from further afield," said Chief Executive Ken Grundy.

"The working capital we secure will be spent on strengthening our squad to put us in a position to really challenge for promotion and to invest in a marketing campaign focusing on increasing match day attendances at Meadow Lane which is a fantastic venue for rugby."

If you are interested in learning more about this unique opportunity, please contact Ken Grundy on (07887) 757722 or Geoff Huckstep, Chairman, on (07802) 956065

Maintaining the harmony

COLIN Calderwood has re-iterated Nottingham Forest’s transfer policy this summer will not upset the current

harmony of the squad’s team spirit.

The Reds manager feels a lot of the momentum of the impressive final run into promotion was down to a young and upbeat dressing room that became stronger over the course of the season.

But four first team players’ futures are set to be decided in the weeks ahead with Kris Commons and Sammy Clingan set to negotiate new deals and Paul Smith and Matt Lockwood potentially exiting the club as new players sign.

Goalkeeping and forward cover has been particularly identified as areas for change but Calderwood confirmed new blood will be looked for without dismantling the foundations of the side.

He said: “We need someone to put Paul under a little bit more pressure. He’s very calm and done his job exceedingly well but starting from next season we would be looking to start with a goalkeeper on the bench.”

“We’ve built a foundation here. The players look like they’ve got potential because of their age. The next question is how good are we as a group in the Championship.”

“If the going gets tough we’ll stick together and that only comes from having good times because if you only have bad times the doubts and negatives feelings then it becomes it’s very easy to become splintered and selfish and more of an in individual.”

“And I think what the team showed was that individual performances dropped and team performances grew.”

“Team knowledge has developed, we’ve always had quite good spirit and feeling about the players I think we’ve just developed emotionally. What some of those players have gone through from Yeovil one season to the Yeovil the next are probably the two extremes in football.”

The Scotsman also highlighted experienced players will be sought over the next couple of months but not necessarily from the higher divisions.

He added: “I wouldn’t put a number on the signings but they’ll all be important additions.”

“We’ve been viewing at all levels who we might bring to the club, and I think it’s important that we don’t just focus on big signings and the I think the supporters should have faith in our scouting process because I think it’s proved very very fruitful.”

“In a perfect world there will be a bit of experience added to the team because we can’t be all the time as young as we are.”

“The experience of Ian Breckin was there for all to see towards the end of the season and Matty Lockwood. They came into games and easily coped and had big input into the games.”

Settling in just nicely

DARREN Pattinson has already shown it has taken little time for him to settle in at Trent Bridge.

The Aussie paceman was brought in for cover for Ryan Sidebottom and Stuart Broad after the pair were tied to central contracts by the ECB in April.

And the 29-year-old has already re-paid the faith shown in him with a fantastic five wicket haul at Kent in the LV County Championship opener and a critical 4 for 35 in the FPT win over Leicestershire-keeping Notts in prime position to compete in both competitions.

Notts’ Director of Cricket Mick Newell hailed his impact and identified the key role he will now play in the coming months.

He said: “He’s already proved he’s going to be a really important player for us after the wickets he’s picked up for in both formats of the game.”

“He’s come and done an excellent job for us and will play a vital role with Ryan and Stuart away for most of the summer.”

“We met him originally after he came down with David Hussey to a nets session and we’ve kept in contact with him since. Also with him being English born we were aware about the possibilities of bringing him in an not affecting the overseas restrictions.”

“We’ve got the chance to bring in Darren and Luke Fletcher and now and to be honest it can only be of benefit to the side to bring in faces like them who we know can give us real options in our attack.”

But the coach was reserved as to the fact the side can challenge for silverware in the LV County Championship despite topping the table going into a heavy run of fixtures.

He added: “We’ve started off quite well, it was just disappointing more than anything the way we played against Kent up here.”

“We went down there in the first game and played well and came way with the result we wanted.”
“I don’t think we want to look too far ahead, we just want to be competitive. I wouldn’t want us shouting out that we’re going to do this or that like some people do, we’re just looking to compete.”

Come and join us for another fantastic season!

By Luke Sherriff
NOTTINGHAM Rugby Club would like to thank all of its fans for their support during the National League One campaign this season and we are pleased to launch our season tickets for 2008/9. This season, Nottingham Rugby Season Ticket Holders have enjoyed some of the most exciting and memorable games in the clubs history. So make sure you don’t miss out by signing up for your 2008/9 Nottingham Rugby Season Ticket and be part of the team! A Season Ticket is a great value way to enjoy watching Nottingham Rugby at every home league match. Being a Season Ticket holder at Nottingham guarantees you the following:
Guaranteed entry into 15 National Division One Home League matches Two, ‘Bring a friend for free’ vouchers, a fixture card and 20% discount voucher on one shop purchase in the Nottingham Rugby shop.
A Season Ticket Holder Prize Draw, the riight to apply for the ballot for England International Tickets and fantastic offers from our partners are also on offer.
All existing season ticket holders will receive their season ticket packs through the post in the next week. However if you can’t wait, please download from www.nottinghamrugby.co.uk and fill in the application form and send it to: Nottingham Rugby, 1 Holme Road, West Bridgford, Nottingham, NG2 5AA.
For more information, please call (0115) 907 0070 or pop in to Lady Bay during office hours.
For full season ticket prices see http://www.nottinghamrugby.co.uk/
If you pay in full before 22nd May 2008, you will receive £15 discount on the above prices. This offer is not available on Junior rate.
We look forward to seeing you all down at Meadow Lane next season and help in our push for promotion.

A model pro

CHARLIE McParland has hailed Jason Lee’s time at Notts County-despite letting the player leave the club in the end of season clearout at Meadow Lane.

The 36-year-old managed just a solitary goal in an injury hit season and despite not being offered a new deal by the Magpies, the boss couldn’t speak highly enough of the professional way he handled himself since coming in last October.

He said: “Jason has been a terrific professional-he looks after himself, looks after his body and he trains like an 18-year-old trying to get in the first team. When he plays he gives it his all and that’s why he’s stayed in the game until he’s 36.”
“Some younger players in the game should have a look at how Jason conducts himself.”

The only way is up!

FOR Charlie McParland and Notts County there is simply only one direction to go-up.

The Magpies signed off their fraught season with a 1-1 draw at Chesterfield on the final day but even in this end of season meaningless encounter, Notts’ problems on the field were only all too evident.

The manager admitted some players already looked like they were on their holidays. It spoke of an attitude that fits only too well with some of the individual abject performances that have blighted the club’s season and left them embarrassingly close to non-league football.

And limited, if any, blame can be attributed to the Scotsman. Inheriting a squad with so little self belief and motivation, the number of loan players he felt the need to bring in highlighted the attitude of several players letting themselves and the club down.

But now a new leaf can be turned at Meadow Lane-and the club can look to get back on the road to recovery.

There can not be enough praise bestowed on the move to already sign one of the key components for Notts relegation escape- in the form of Michael Johnson.

As much as Johnson may have signed for the club regardless if it is to be his last year in the game, McParland’s attitude and treatment of such a respected pro is a good indicator of the respect he commands. It can only be hoped he can pull off one or two other such significant signings.

The exits of Jason Lee and Laurie Dudfield highlights the experience the squad is set to lose but is was required given the unaccepetable response in the final third this season.

Continuity and stability is key to any club’s progression. But in Notts’ current case as much major surgery as possible on the squad was the only way to go forward.

A main priority also remains with the capture of a striker who can net at least 10 to 15 goals next season. The Magpies finished bottom of total goals scored chart this year-even below relegated Mansfield and Wrexham.

Play-offs and possible promotion out of League Two are at the moment a distant dream. An injection of goals from one forward next season and a more settled and experienced back four should mean the club can begin to look forward again-rather than over their shoulder.

McGugan bid war

Nottingham Forest are expecting to fight off bids for Lewis McGugan this summer after a sterling run of form from the midfielder in the promotion run-in.

The 19-year-old scored three times in the last five games, including two stunning free-kicks against Bristol Rovers and Yeovil to cap off the critical 20-yard strike at Hartlepool.

Already being watched by England under-21 manager Stuart Pearce, a host of Championship clubs are looking to line up a £3m bid-with Crystal place boss Neil Warnock leading the chase of admirers. Wolves and Birmingham have also monitored the youngster.

Notts set early pace

Adam Voges hit 42 as Notts continued to set the pace in the Midlands Division of the Friends Provident Trophy with a comfortable win over Northants Steelbacks.

Samit Patel hit a huge six to the second tier of the Radcliffe Road Stand before being caught by David Sales and opener Will Jefferson weighed in with 36.

“We were looking forward to coming back to Trent Bridge because it felt like we had been away for such a long time and it’s great to kick-off with a home win,” said Notts Coach Wayne Noon.

“The bookies wrote us off at the start of the season but there is a quiet confidence in the squad and we believe that we can get the results."

“We fielded exceptionally well and it is really encouraging that squad players are stepping up to the plate and delivering performances."

“Mark Ealham has shown that he is still a quality player, Adam Voges saw us home, Darren Pattinson played well having had a week off and Graeme Swann is in great form."

“There is a lot of experience in the dressing room and it is a great environment to bring someone in like Luke Fletcher and let them bowl in tandem with Ealham.”

Northants opener Steven Peters hit 90 to help his side set a target of 189 before rain at the interval left Notts chasing a revised total of 143 from 30 overs. Mark Ealham dismissed Peters having already seen off Rob White to record figures of 2-25 from 10 overs and Darren Pattinson continued his impressive start to the season with 3-39.

Mark Wagh was relieved to see fielder David Lucas miss the stumps as he ran a quick single on his first ball. Monty Panesar dived in vein as Wagh found his rhythm with a four but he was caught lbw playing a sweep having scored 26.

Meadow Lane stay confirmed

Ambitious Nottingham Rugby have agreed a new rolling one-year deal with Notts County to continue playing their matches at Meadow Lane.

And delighted Chairman Geoff Huckstep believes it will be the start of an exciting new partnership which will benefit not only both clubs but also Nottingham sport in general.

He explained: "It is key to our ambitions that we have a base capable of staging top flight rugby and our players have consistently shown with this season's performances what they think about playing at Meadow Lane.

"Since we've been there our average crowds have increased by 500 and all our marketing and community activities this summer will be geared towards attracting even bigger crowds next season.

"My negotiations with County Chairman John Armstrong-Holmes have been straight-talking but cordial and a key component of the talks has been how the two clubs can work together for our mutual benefit.

"I'm confident that the new deal will form the basis of arrangements long after the 2008-09 season."

Nottingham turned Meadow Lane into something of a fortress last season and although they eventually had to settle for third place in National League 1, they are determined to mount an even stronger promotion challenge next time.

Added Huckstep: "I'm sure that our players, supporters and sponsors will be delighted to know that we will be playing at such a great venue again next season."

The effects of dual-purpose use on the Meadow Lane pitch has been a major topic of discussion for County but Armstrong-Holmes said: "We are about to carry out major works on the pitch and I'm sure it won't be such a big issue next season.

"We were very unlucky last year because we renovated the pitch during the wettest summer on record. The roots didn't settle, due to the surface water, and that set back the whole growth programme.

"In the long-term we need to look at laying a completely new pitch which is especially designed for high usage, but that requires significant investment and will need to be planned months in advance.

"It's something to think about for 12 months time, but there are other systems that can be introduced straight away that will improve the pitch, and our ground manager Greg Smith is currently investigating them.

"The new deal with the rugby club, which will be continually reviewed in the interests of both parties, is on much more favourable terms from our point of view. It was important to achieve that but we do think it will genuinely benefit both sides.

"We have a 20,000-seater stadium which sits doing nothing most of the time and it needs to be used.
"We are determined that we will move our club forward, so are the rugby club and it's exciting to think that we might work closely together in certain areas to help each other achieve our ambitions."

Magpies release eight

Notts County Manager Ian McParland has today announced his retained list, confirming that eight players will be leaving the Club in the summer.

Heading the list of those departing are strikers Lawrie Dudfield and Jason Lee, defender Lee Canoville and midfielders Matt Somner, Andy Parkinson and Gary Silk.

Also moving is youngster Rob Austin, while Austin McCann is also leaving the Club having signed a pre-contract agreement with Dunfermline Athletic earlier in the year.

New contract offers have been made to goalkeeper Kevin Pilkington and defender Mike Edwards to join the ten players already under contract for next season.

Young winger Stef Frost has been offered an extension to his contract in order to regain fitness after suffering a broken leg in March whilst on loan at Matlock Town.