A ROUGH GUIDE TO... BUXTON
With the development squad heading to Ilkeston tomorrow, the first team will be heading north into the peak district to face another Evo-Stik side, Buxton FC. The Magpies haven't travelled to Silverlands for twenty years - on that occasion the hosts running out surprising 2-0 winners in another pre-season friendly. Keith Curle is expected to take a strong side to Silverlands, with the majority of his new summer signings expected to line up for the Magpies alongside the remaining core of the first team squad. NCM will also be covering the match on Twitter - so follow @NottsCountyMad if you can't make it to Silverlands, or even if you are.
HOW MUCH WILL I BE OUT OF POCKET?
Adults - £6
Concessions - £4
Accompanied Under 14's - Nowt
WHAT'S THE WAY TO GET THERE, THEN?
It takes just over an hour to drive to Buxton according to Google Maps, but the route looks easy enough - straight north on the A610 and then A6. Drivers should head out of Nottingham to the north on the A610 before joining the A6 at Ambergate, where they should continue to head into the Peak District. Silverlands is located just off the A6 - fans should turn left onto Dale Road when they've entered Buxton, then right on to Peveril Road - the ground is then to the right.
Buxton does have a train station - but it is only accessible in some sort of absolutely mental way from Nottingham, via Stockport. That leaves the bus as the only really viable public transport option, with Trent Barton's transpeak service departing from Broadmash bus station and taking just over two hours to arrive in Buxton.
WHAT'S BUXTON GOT GOING FOR IT, THEN?
Buxton is, of course, a quaint peak town famous for it's spa water which is bottled and sold at extortionate prices across the country. For fans of geology, Buxton has all sorts of caves and other such natural phenomena to explore, being located right in the centre of the Peak District national park. Buxton claims to be the highest market town in the country - something disputed by Alston in Cumbria, but that apparently lacks a regular market, which counts it out.
The football club are members of the Evo-Stik Premier Division who once reached the third round of the FA Cup - in 1952. Recent years have been reasonably successful, particularly those under the stewardship of Nicky Law, who brought trophies to the club in both the league and the cup. Martin McIntosh is the current first team manager and Notts fans may be familiar with some of his new signings - including former Mansfield, Lincoln and Chester left back Kevin Sandwith and talented ex-Ilkeston winger Sam Duncum.
SILVERLANDS SOUNDS LOVELY, IS IT?
It is, indeed, one of the more picturesque football grounds in the country, with views across the Peak District offering some distraction from any turgid football that may be on offer. Silverlands is also a ground with an interesting history - Buxton FC moved in just seven years after they formed in 1877, making it one of the country's oldest football grounds to still be in use by a club today. It is also the highest senior football ground above sea level in Britain - at 1000ft, almost double that of the highest football league ground, West Brom's Hawthorns.