Since I was about seven. Since then, I think we’ve seen one Wembley play-off trip, one automatic promotion and more than our fair share of relegations. It’s been quite a journey.
Why did you end up supporting County and not Forest?
My dad was always a Notts fan, and you’re – naturally – brought up that way. I think I actually would have been disowned if I’d have ‘crossed over’ to the dark side.
County set off this season as though they would walk this league, are you disappointed it fell away?
Of course, but we knew in our heart-of-hearts, I’m sure, that we could never keep up that pace. The start we made was fantastic and, knowing I won’t be popular amongst ‘your lot’ for saying so, capping it off with a win at your place just really milked it.
In your opinion what was the reason for the free fall?
It’s hard to point your finger towards a definite cause of our demise, but one factor that certainly has contributed is the distinct lack of goal scoring prowess. Aside from the now departed Glynn Hurst, our ‘strikers’ have scored a whopping two goals in the last three-and-a-half months from open play.
Six so-called strikers; twenty-something games and just two goals? I think our concerns there are obvious.
Where do you expect to finish the season?
Having signed two from forty strikers short-listed by Gudjon Thordarson, the signs do not look good. Anywhere above where we currently lie (14th), though, would be a nice little bonus.
With some many players out of contract in the summer, we’re expecting big things from next season with the gaffer now (hopefully) having decided on those he’ll offer new deals to. Watch this space.
Has Gudjon Thordarson changed the squad much since he took over, and what are your thoughts on the players he has brought in?
Seventeen signings certainly suggests so; let alone the steady release of players from the reserve, youth and, more recently, senior set-ups.
What are your views on Thordarson?
He’s been under a lot of pressure of late what with failing to striker and all, but there is no doubting he is a man of some pedigree – easily the most pure-bred manager in this league, going on past achievements, at least. As I’ve said, however, much will swing on his management of the summer situation, with the club expecting to hit the free market hard this year.
With all but one player (for what it’s worth – Kevin Pilkington) out of work in the summer, surely there has never been a Notts manager in a more favourable position to totally change the face of his squad. We’ll see.
Do you view Mansfield Town as the poor man's team in Nottinghamshire?
Once upon a time; yes. Now, just one place separates the pair of us, so probably not so much these days. When you slaughtered us at your place last season, however, there were talks of (and I cringe as I say this) Notts becoming the third best club in Nottinghamshire.
Our incredible turn-around at Field Mill in August silenced any such fears, however, as we nicked (note my choice of words there) the title back.
Is playing us the highlight of your season, or is it just "another game"?
That’s a difficult one to answer. It’s not like a Notts-Forest game where we’d really look forward to the game as we, now, only play them once in a blue moon. In fact, probably less infrequently than that now, thinking about it.
Nonetheless, it’s always nice to put one over on the neighbours and considering the dross we’ve had to put up with this season, a double over the Stags would provide some consolation for another season down in the trenches of the English game.
Any predictions for the match?
A Notts win, of course. With Eugene Dadi bagging a hat-trick. Hey, we can all dream.
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Richard is editor of http://www.nottscounty-mad.co.uk/