Nottingham County, or Notts County as they are generally known, have the distinction of being recognised as the oldest football club in the world. Older than the FA, Coronation Street, me, you and even older than one of Arthur Smith’s newest jokes.
Notts County formed in 1862 as a gentlemen-only club and played their first games at Park Hollow, a private park next to Nottingham Castle, and very grand and gentlemanly it sounds too. In fact the name County signified their genteel bent as it were. For a couple of years, the gentlemen of the club only played games among themselves until December 1864 when they played another club in a 20-a-side game on the Meadows Cricket Ground. The Meadows ground became a regular home for County until 1877, although they would play their bigger games at a hired-out Trent Bridge Cricket Ground. I’m not sure if bigger games mean more than 20-a-side or bigger crowds, anyway in order to keep their gentlemanly appearance in 1877 County moved to the Gentleman of Nottingham Cricket Club, Beeston. They would still hire out Trent Bridge for their bigger matches.
County turned professional in 1885 and fittingly became founder members of the Football League in 1888. During this period County never had a permanent home as such, and used various cricket grounds or played where Notts Forest played. In 1910 County found a home at Meadow Lane and became council tenants on an open piece of land next to a cattle market. After moving in, the contractors had a pitch sorted, erected steelwork, put on a roof and called it the Main Stand all within nine days! The ground opened in 1910 and 28,000 watched the first game against Forest in a First Division match. Over 110 years later they still play there. Today Meadow Lane holds 18,816 after being completely rebuilt in the 1990s.
I’d like to thank Craig Mankelow, for replying to my request for information on the club’s badge. I only got the basics from Craig, but the badge itself is self-explanatory and is made up of bits of previous badges. (PIC1) It is shield-shaped with the name of the club at the top of the shield and the all-important formation date in the centre. In the centre of the shield is a football, so that you don’t get fooled into what they are playing some Saturdays. Atop the ball are perched two magpies and I believe it’s two for joy in the song. I remember that from my youth and the programme Magpie, which for younger readers was a poor mans, Blue Peter, on ITV. “The Magpies” is the club nickname, and comes from the black and white strip they play in. This is alluded to under the formation date in the lower part of the shield by the black and white stripes. A previous badge is simple, yet beautiful, with just the basic information: The Magpies, a football and the club strip. (PIC 2) I don’t know why but the formation date is missing and I would have thought that it would also be an ever-present feature as the oldest club in the country. Another badge has the same basic design, but has it on a yellow shield, along with of course the year the oldest football club in the world were formed. (PIC 3) The last badge I am going to feature has everything but the club’s black and white stripes. (PIC 4) I think they have found the perfect badge in their present offering and should stick with that, because if it’s not broken, why try to fix it? Unless, that is, changing it will somehow make you millions of pounds.
My friend Anthony Wedge informs me that I should mention that out of respect for the world’s oldest club, Italian giants Juventus also choose to play in black and white stripes. This can be verified by the supporters who after spending the pre-match hours in the pub sing: “It’s just like watching the Juve”, OK, I can see that. Local rivals are Forest of course, along with Mansfield Town and Derby County. For the origin of the name Nottingham go to the Forest page and for more on Notts County, go One for sorrow, two for joy, three for a girl and four for a boy. Five for silver, six for gold, seven for a secret never to be told. Eight for a wish, nine for a kiss, ten for a bird you must not miss. Maaaaaagpie! Then www.nottscountyfc.co.uk
