On The Road
HOW THE LEAGUE’S OLDEST CLUB HAVE BEEN REVIVED BY KEVIN NOLAN
KEVIN NOLAN stands in the players’ tunnel at Meadow Lane with his 10-year-old daughter clutching his hand. She is asked for a mark out of 10 for how well her dad is performing as manager of notts County: ‘150 out of 10,’ replies Jasmine.
very few notts fans would disagree with her enthusiastic assessment. Just 10 minutes earlier, the Magpies soared to the top of League two.
to give nolan’s success some context, when he arrived in January they had lost 10 matches on the spin and the Football League’s oldest club were heading towards the fifth tier for the first time in their history.
the club were also under a transfer embargo and had no training ground. new owner alan Hardy — who took over at the same time — called it ‘intensive care’.
today, they are looking up, not down. Why? ask Hardy, players, fans or club staff — and, of course, the manager’s daughter — and they’ll give you the same answer: nolan.
Jorge Grant scored twice in this victory over newport County, who had Dan Butler sent off in the first half for a stray elbow. Grant — a 22-yearold midfielder — has a theory on the gaffer’s popularity.
‘ He’s honest,’ says the nottingham Forest loanee, who was outstanding here and hit the bar with a free-kick when in search of his hat-trick. ‘He tells you if you’ve had a bad game, he doesn’t confuse you. He also loves a hug, he’s very caring, that’s a nice thing for a player.’ nolan does love a hug. Each of the three players he substitutes is met with a warm embrace on the touchline. there is no room for prima donnas, no scope for huffs or tantrums — nolan is the boss.
Just yards from the main entrance to the ground is his parking bay. Earlier, an overzealous steward had helped members of nolan’s family reverse the manager’s car into the spot. His enthusiasm — it was as if he was bringing in an aeroplane — amused the car’s occupants. But the message is clear: there is respect for the man at the top.
yes, his playing career alone owes him that after 401 Premier League appearances and 111 career goals, but good players can make bad managers.
‘there is just this presence about him, he’ll manage in the Premier League one day, no doubt,’ a club employee says.
nolan laughs when reminded of the top-flight vacancy back on his native Merseyside.
‘Listen, I’m loving it here,’ says the 35-year- old. ‘Why wouldn’t you when you have a good group of lads who are doing so well and buying into you?
‘I came here at the same time as the owner and we have each other’s back. We’ve got a threeto- five year plan of getting promotion. there is a lot of work to be done. But who knows? the dream might happen quicker.’
It takes just five minutes to walk between Meadow Lane and nottingham Forest’s City Ground. there is, however, more than the river trent between these neighbours. Indeed, it is 23 years since they played in the same league.
Hardy, though, wants to take the club back into the Championship. that is a division which nolan won with newcastle in 2010, alongside Shola ameobi and alan Smith, a pair now under his charge at County. ameobi emerges from the dressing room beaming. He is smiling some more when we put it to him that, at 36, it looks like he’s still improving. the striker was unplayable here, scoring a fine goal and dribbling at will. at full-time he was dancing with fans. ‘Shola came here with a determination to prove a thing or two to those who thought he was past his best,’ says nolan. ‘today showed how hard he has been working, not just this season, but all through the summer. He is making our team better for it.’
It is not just nolan scoring top marks this season. and that is why notts County are top of the class right now.