Open Day proves a roaring success

For the second year running, the Open Day was extremely well-attended despite heavy rain-fall, coming mainly in the second half of the event.

The event was tremendously well-organised by the Trust board, with events taking place almost everywhere you looked.

Fans' of all ages were given the chance to meet various members of the current playing squad, with Gudjon Thordarson's team all conducting themselves superbly, mingling with supporters and making a particular effort with the young Magpies.

Thordarson himself couldn't attend the event due to a family bereavement, though his assistant Ross MacLaren - not to mention first-team coach Steve Spooner and physio John Haselden - were also on hand to meet and greet the club's supporters.

The Magpies' followers were also granted unprecedented access behind-the-scenes, gaining a tour that included areas of Meadow Lane such as the dressing rooms, referee's room, match-day tunnel and the dug-outs (guarded by the doorman-like pairing of Julien Baudet and Andy White).

For the kids there was a bouncy castle, a fire display unit and numerous games. Football in the Community also arrived with their inflattables, which proved a massive hit (this writer's shot measured at a dreadfully mediocre 53mph).

For the adults, an array of memorabilia was laid on in the County Suite, with newspaper reports, video footage and programmes from different eras of County's 143 year history proving popular.

There was also an oppurtunity to meet 'the voice of Notts County' Colin Slater, plus sidekick and former Magpies' defender Dean Yates in their usual position up in the press box in the Main Stand.

Highlight of the day, ofcourse, though was the stall represented by Sporting Wheelbarrow FC - the supporters team formed on the Notts County Mad messageboard!

Fans - particularly of the female gender - were ecstatic at being given the chance to meet NCM co-editor Richard Brown, whose personal fanbase continues to develop nicely.

Brown manfully waded through a stack of autographs, whilst the Wheelbarrow managed to raise a tidy sum to help continue their develop. NCM would like to thank the club and the Supporters Trust for making this possible.

In all, the day proved a smash hit. The organisers can feel very proud for ensuring such a big event went without so much as a hitch.

It's events such as these that serve as a sign to the club's continued progress off-the-field. This time two years ago, remember, the future didn't look so bright.

NCM would like to once again congratulate all of those involved.

To visit the Notts County Supporters Trust's website, click here.