WHAT’S NOTT TO LIKE FOR NAILERS?
GRANT BLACK reckons the FA Cup could turn the town of Belper into a ghost town on Saturday.
The Nailers will be competing at this stage of the competition for the first time in 137 years and have been rewarded with, arguably, the most glamorous tie they could have wished for.
Black’s side make the short 19-mile trip up the A610 to Nottingham to face a Notts County side who won the FA Cup in 1894 but find themselves playing at this stage in the competition for the first time in their history following relegation from League Two last season
The tie itself represents something of a fairytale rise for the Derbyshire club, who are currently one of NonLeague football’s most in-form teams, protecting a 17-match unbeaten run stretching way back to March 16.
And with over 1,000 tickets printed and ready to be snapped up by the Northern Premier League South East club, Black believes the inleague terest in this match from the Amber Valley surpasses that of any other.
“We couldn’t have wished for a better draw to be honest,” said the former Ossett Town boss in his second season at Christchurch Meadows.
Lovely touch
“Loyalties in Belper are generally split between Derby and the Nottingham clubs so to get drawn against a club the size of Notts County, at their big stadium and large fan base, is a dream for a club like Belper.
“Tickets went on sale this week and I know Belper are expecting to sell out their initial 1,000 allocation very quickly, there’s a massive buzz about the place. I’m not sure there’ll be many people left in the town on Saturday afternoon.”
Black also revealed that Notts County themselves are playing their part in adding to the pre-match buzz in the East Midlands – and have been more than welcoming to their lower-ranked neighbours on their scouting mission.
“I contacted Notts County to ask them for a couple of tickets for their game against Dagenham on Tuesday night,” the 35-year-old boss added. “They gave me five to watch in the comfort of the directors’ box and gave us a nice meal too. It was a lovely touch.”
Achievement
Although Black’s side will naturally start as rank outsiders, their form will not have gone unnoticed by Neal Ardley’s County, who themselves are beginning to find their feet in the National League.
Indeed, such has been the Nailers’ impressive start to the season, they have only managed to play six games so far this season – winning five and drawing the other – half as many as some of their league rivals.
Black, though, insists he doesn’t envisage a problem with fixture congestion when it comes to the latter stages of the season.
“We have a decent size squad,” added Black, the former Harrogate, Stalybridge Celtic, Bradford PA and North Ferriby favourite. “We’ll be looking to rotate the team and I’m confident the 18 men we have can last the course.
“To go 17 games unbeaten for a club like ours is an outstanding achievement but the lads know that they haven’t won anything yet.
“We’ve got a nice blend of youth and experience with young players champing at the bit and others who have played in big stadiums in front of big crowds, who won’t be overawed.
“I don’t think the chairman [Ian Woodward] had ever envisaged us getting this far and drawing out a club like Notts County. It’s a dream come true but we don’t want it to end here.”