Notts fans "We want the Kop"

The rebuilding of Meadow Lane in 1992 provoked simultaneously delight and dismay amongst Notts fans. Delight at having one of the best stadiums outside the Premiership and dismay at the complete lack of foresight that went into accommodating home and away supporters. As the ground was almost completely rebuilt, it was a golden opportunity to design the stadium in such a way so as to maximise home advantage and minimise the contribution made by away fans.

That this was not done was a travesty. To realise that the reverse has happened is nothing short of an outrageous scandal. It is a scandal that has lingered for a decade and one that the new owner needs to address in the favour of Notts County supporters.

Mr Scardino I am sure, is an honourable man, and after investing so much of his own money into the club he must at times be at his wits end wondering why he has so many doubters, so many critics and what he has done to deserve so much opprobrium from the fans.


But in one simple demonstrative gesture, Mr Scardino has it in his power to win over the hearts and minds of every Notts County supporter, to prove beyond doubt that he has the best interests of the club at heart. Indeed if he did nothing else this could be his legacy to the world's oldest league club. He can, IF he wants to, and he must, return the Kop to the fans of Notts County football club.


For a decade now we have all witnessed how two to three hundred away supporters sound as though they are two to three thousand. We have all suffered the ignominy of the "you're supposed to be at home" chants. As galling as their vocality is, is their visibility, we can all see that there are only two to three hundred supporters. When indeed there are three thousand plus on the Kop the absurdity of the situation is magnified.


For a home team this state of affairs is manifestly wrong. It is giving the away team such an advantage that stretches Notts' famed hospitality into incredulity. It must stop now.

I would suggest that the two ends are immediately swapped. You could due to the size of the Family Stand transpose it onto the Kop seat for seat. I would hope that the famed Jimmy Sirrel Stand Z Blockers would move en masse to the centre of the Kop, and there is every indication they would. This would create an excellent atmosphere and their fantastic vocal support would be greatly amplified by it emanating from one end of the ground as opposed to from the wings.

The players would also be lifted more by running out to, and having a pre match warm up infront of a bank of black and white.

The children in the lower part of the Kop would have a greater sense of belonging and involvement. They are after all the future of our club. The noise generated would be truly tremendous.

The away fans that attend Meadow Lane could on almost every occasion be accommodated in the Family Stand. When there is an overspill this could be absorbed by the Jimmy Sirrel Stand. I believe that any costs involved in putting these ideas into practice, when compared to the undoubted rewards that would be reaped would be minimal. If any sort of building work is required, I for one would gladly volunteer to assist in any labouring work free of charge. There must be other like minded Notts supporters. We have a commercial department, we have a marketing department, let them scour the Yellow Pages to see which building firms are owned by Notts supporters in return for free advertising or other incentives.

I refuse to believe that it is beyond the wit of a person whose forefathers pioneered the West, who built up America into such a great economic power and who comes from a country that has put a man on the moon to organise this.
It has been claimed in the past by the Notts management that they are only complying with police guidelines by having the away supporters in the Kop. Of course it is only right that we try and co-operate with the police.

Mr Scardino, this is your club, you, not the police own it.

GUIDELINES ARE GUIDELINES.........THEY ARE NOT TRAMLINES.
YOU MUST RETURN THE KOP TO THE SUPPORTERS OF NOTTS COUNTY FC.......NOW!

The old Kop