NCM tribute to David Pipe

Tommy Lawton in the 50s, Tony Hateley in the 60s, Les Bradd in the 70s, Don Masson in the 80s and Tommy Johnson in the 90s. All have lit up Meadow Lane with superlative displays to help the club to numerous successful seasons.

Pipe sporting strange cut as Notts are relegated during his loan spell in 2004.

But what about the 2000s? A decade of great struggle so far with Notts having dropped down to the basement Football League division, and for the first decade out of four, haven't been promoted even once.

The sombre mood that has encompassed the fans since the turn of the Millennium has hardly been helped by the lack of outstanding individuals or seasons - arguably the best campaign being when Notts miraculously pulled off the Great Escape in 2002/03.

But amidst all the doom one player has stood above all with his loyalty, grit and determination earmarking him, along with the likes of Mark Stallard and Ian Richardson, as being the icon of the decade.

Pipe has provided a leading light in more ways than one to epitomise the Notts passion of old.

Not blessed with the goalscoring power of Lawton, Hateley, Bradd or Johnson, or the gifted ability of Masson, but Pipe makes up for that with several attributes that stands out above most making him one of the players with which the 2000's will be remembered much more fondly than it would have done without his influence.

Starting out at Coventry

As he prepares to embark on a move up to League One, Notts will be losing their current longest serving player, the one man who has always came out fighting in all the adversity of the past seasons.

Pipe arrived at the club as one of Gary Mills' first signings from Coventry City where he had served his apprenticeship with 25 first team appearances, scoring twice.

A versatile squad member for the Sky Blues, Mills first employed him as a 20-year-old right back in a crucial 1-0 win at Wrexham for his debut on loan, as the Magpies battled against the dreaded drop.

Pipe was named man of the match after a courageous display that belied his inexperience.

He continued in that vein to have his loan extended to the end of the season, but with such an impressive showing it was deemed unlikely that Notts would be able to sign him permanently, particularly having been relegated to what is now League Two.

By now other sides were alerted to his talents, while Coventry were still keen to keep him in their ranks.

But Mills pulled off a genuine coup in bringing the already capped Welsh international to the club on a free.

Wales under-21 honours as captain

He was by now the Wales under-21 captain and beginning to be a leading light for club and country.

As Notts staggered to a mid-table finish in the 2003-04 season, Pipe amazingly caught the brunt of Mills' inadequacies as he was slapped onto the transfer list despite continually being one of the few squad members to perform to a required standard.

Fans were outraged, and he was quickly taken back off when just a fortnight later Mills was axed and Ian Richardson installed as player/boss.

Ever since Pipe has almost been a one man team at times installing himself as a firm fans favourite as he marauds down the wing or dives into a challenge which he usually wins.

His character off the field and obvious likeable charm further endears him to supporters - particularly it would seem the females.

Typically combative against West Ham in League Cup 2004/05

But above all Pipe has shown great loyalty in testing times with no one able to forget his best season - 2005/06 - as Notts survived the dreaded drop to the Conference on the very last day of the campaign.

Despite a poor season for the club as a whole, the Welshman performed like a soldier week in, week out, carrying his under performing team mates with his desire, speed and power seeing through testing times and inspiring his downtrodden team-mates.

With his contract over in the summer and Notts facing an uncertain future, it

Exhausting himself to keep Notts up against Bury in 2006

was thought Pipe would move onto pastures new - and deservedly so considering his efforts that eased him to all the player of the season awards.

But on that very last day of the season at home to Bury, with Notts' league status still unsure, Pipe signed a new two-year deal that lifted the crowd just as much as legendary manager Jimmy Sirrell's pre-game speech.

Notts got the point to keep them up but Pipe's sacrifice summed up the man.

Although he wasn't at his best last term, he still showed his obvious talents and improved with the side of the game people often criticise - his crossing.

A little known fact is that Pipe was the player with the most assists for Notts last season.

One problem has been his goalscoring, Pipe didn't find the net at all last season, while netting just four times in his Notts career that has spanned an impressive 154 appearances, 151 as a starter.

Pipe has been a guiding light for the Magpies and will be sorely missed should his expected transfer go through.

Every Notts fan should acknowledge his desire that overcame games in which other players with a black and white shirt didn't seem to care.

A great man for the club, and a decade legend in his own right.

Here is hoping that he remains with the club, but whatever he decides, he will get NCM's very best luck.

Thanks Pipey!