Where are they now? 05-06

Last updated : 07 August 2014 By Thomas Pritchard


Season Review
- This team achieved the joint lowest-ever finish in Notts County's history - finishing 21st in League Two and only 3 points off safety. The most memorable point in the season, being the tear-jerking speech given by Jimmy Sirrel prior to the match against Bury on the final day of the season.

 

 

Manager - Gudjon Thordarsson – The ‘Ice Man’ came with a fairly stellar reputation having managed Stoke, Barnsley and the Icelandic national side prior to his arrival at Meadow Lane. However, the players didn’t take to the club’s first non-British manager and the team struggled. We also never signed one of his sons, boo.

Memorable Moment – Sending the players on a horrific run as punishment after losing 3-0 away to Rochdale.  

 

Kevin Pilkington – Having played over 100 games for both Mansfield and Notts County, the former Manchester United goalkeeper left Meadow Lane to play second fiddle at Luton for a couple of years, before stopping off at Mansfield for a season. Pilkington returned to Meadow Lane as a goalkeeping coach and emergency cover in goal – playing in the defeats against Brentford in 2012/13 and Preston last season.

Memorable Moment– During the 2-1 defeat to Rochdale at home in 2007, Pilkington stopped the ball from going behind for a corner before Muirhead nicked the ball from him and tapped into an empty net moments after Rochdale equalised.

 

Kelvin Wilson – Played for Celtic in the Champions League against Messi after playing for Preston and Forest post-Notts - he returned to Forest last year but barely featured due to a back injury.

Memorable Moment – Being the first proper youth teamer I’ve seen come through the squad, play for the first-team before being sold on. 

 

Mike Edwards – Following his 8 year spell with the club, Edwards only featured in 24 games for Carlisle before being released this summer.  Edwards made a return to Notts in a friendly against Carlton Town in a bid to regain some match fitness.

Memorable Moment – Just being Mike at the back. The most loyal player since I started supporting Notts. Can’t see 8 years at the club being achieved again by a player. Also the bicycle-kick in the victory against Darlington which confirmed the title in the 'Munto' season. 95% sure the cameraman missed it. But a fan didn't.

 

Julien Baudet – Left for Crewe before heading to Colorado Rapids where he won the MLS cup and Eastern Conference Championship – managed AC Seyssinet in the 11-12 season before playing for his hometown club Grenoble Foot 38 in the 12-13 season and retired shortly after.

Memorable Moment - The penalty converted against Kasper Schmeichel and Bury which helped Notts keep their place in the football league .

  

Rob Ullathorne – After Ullathorne left Notts he had a spell at Goole Town and signed for Tamworth but left without having played a game a month after joining and according to his LinkedIn account is now a football agent.

Memorable Moment – Wonder goal against Bradford in the League Cup.

 

David Pipe – Having left Notts for Bristol Rovers he made over 80 appearances for Bristol Rovers before being jailed for 38 months for fracturing a male’s skull in an “unprovoked attack” with a wine bottle. He served 15 months before signing for Newport on his release from prison. Pipe reached the F.A trophy final at Wembley with Newport and captained his side in the 2012-13 play-off final against rivals Wrexham, where Newport won promotion with a 2-0 win. He transferred to Forest Green Rovers this summer where he will play alongside fellow Mitchell brother lookalikes and former Notts players Luke Rodgers and Lee Hughes.

Memorable Moment – This wasn’t a single moment, it was a reoccurring moment. The stand would be on their feet after a lung-bursting 30 yard run down the line, only for Pipe to harpoon the ball over everyone’s head with his cross.

 

Stacy Long – Following his release from Notts County, Long made over 100 appearances over 3 seasons for Ebbsfleet  before moving onto Stevenage and helping them secure promotion to the football league under the guidance of Notts ‘favourite’ – Graham Westley. Long stayed at Stevenage for 3 years before leaving and helping Wimbledon maintain their football league status in their first season back in the league after reformation. Long only stayed for one season, before returning to Ebbsfleet last season, where he was loaned out to fellow conference south team Eastbourne Borough. Long is currently unattached following his release this summer.

Memorable Moment – For me, refreshing teletext in a campsite bar in Cornwall to see Long had scored a late winner against Wrexham.

 

Matthew Gill – Those who had seen Matthew Gill play RB against the now defunct Rushden and Diamonds in the 5-1 defeat at Nene Park will still have trouble with the fact that not only did Norwich City sign Gill whilst in League One, they actually played him more than once and let him play in the Championship. He went on to play for Bristol Rovers with loan spells at Walsall and Exeter. He is now player/coach at Tranmere.

Memorable Moment – The crab’s performance against R&D as well as his long throw. Still wasn’t as long as Jude’s.

 

Chris Palmer – One of the few players to have left Notts from this period that forged a moderately successful career – appearing for Wycombe, Walsall, Gillingham and Burton, racking up over 150 appearances for the four clubs over a 7 year spell. Most recently the 30 year old (I know, should be older) was playing for Tamworth. The most interesting part of Chris Palmer’s story comes in March 2013 where he signed for New Zealand outfit Waitakere United and played in the Oceania Champions League scoring a penalty in a 3-1 win against well-known New Caledonia footballing powerhouse Mont-Dore.

Memorable Moment - Free-kick against Mansfield in the 2-2 home draw.

 

Glynn Hurst – Having played alongside some of the greats of Notts County including Gavin Gordon, Matty Williams and Steve Scoffham it’s surprising that Hurst didn’t go on to achieve miraculous things within the game. Always remembered for his unique running style, Hurst must have enjoyed his hat-trick against Bury as after his release from Shrewsbury, bar 5 games for Gainsborough – Hurst toured Lancashire’s non-league clubs striving to hit those heady heights with the likes of Hyde and FC United of Manchester.

Memorable Moment – A brace against Mansfield away from home – Edwards and Hurst scoring a goal apiece in the last 10 minutes to turn the game on its head.

 

Steve Scoffham – Notts splashed out a massive 5k for Steve from Gedling Town, the striker may have never been the most cultured of players, but one accusation you couldn’t level at Steve was his determination - whether this was after getting sent-off against Lincoln City to rapturous applause from his Polish pals in the Pavis who had been declaring “F***ing kick him Shteve” all game or on the Power League pitches (or kitchen) breaking his leg.  He made a couple of appearances for Burton Albion and Alfreton Town before playing amateur for local side Attenborough FC.

Memorable Moment – as mentioned above, I’ll remember his pals more than anything but he also scored the winner away against Bristol Rovers, with Chillingworth getting the other.