Unfinished Business (Notts County away - again…..)
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Unfinished Business (Notts County away - again…..)
Reading this sequel without having read the report of the January trip, when the game was called off, could be about as pointless as going to see Dune II without having seen Dune, so click here if you want a quick refresher:- https://hedgegrower.blogspot.com/2024/02/an-overly-merry-olde-time-notts-county.html
Bizarrely, this was back-to-back away trips to Nottingham for me, as I didn’t attend any of the intervening away games.
And, I knew it was my final away trip of season, County having secured automatic promotion by beating Morecambe at home the previous Saturday, and me not being able to acquire a Wrexham ticket, having only attended 7 away games during the season.
On Sunday afternoon, I cancelled my hotel in Watford. How can one little email confirming a hotel cancellation bring such joy?
My band of Merry Men (and Women) was severely depleted from the original crusade back in January, with only Robin Hood, Little John, Will Scarlett and Maid Marion left standing, although you must concede that what remains, Friar Tuck aside, surely represents all of the main characters.
Actually, as Phil has ducked out yet again, I’m going to take over the role of Friar Tuck, as well as Will Scarlett.
Unfinished business in Nottingham, aside from actually seeing the game played and winning the Title, included the Brew Tavern (a Good Beer Guide pub near the station); the Partizan Tavern (also in the Good Beer Guide); the Magpie Brewery Tap at Meadow Lane, and trying the Indian food at the Newshouse pub.
A lot to cram in, so the plan was to travel down Monday and stay until late Wednesday. Here’s how we got on.
Record Breaking County?
It’s Monday morning, and I’m wearing my white Wembley 1992 t-shirt and the Bobbleless Blue Hat, which now has a record (in the League) of played 22; won 16; drawn 5 and lost 1, plus one postponement of course.
My Stockport County credit card holder is hanging by a thread, so I have to replace it before setting off, with another Stockport County credit card holder.
I’m meeting Little John and Maid Marion at the Station, with Robin Hood joining us tomorrow in Nottingham, on account of the fact he still has a day job.
This is my first away trip since the opening of the new Stockport Interchange. Very smart indeed I have to say, and it even opened ahead of schedule I gather.
I get the lift up to Viaduct Park, which is on the roof of the Bus Station, now the route to the Train Station.
Walking through a severe hailstorm, one of many soakings I’m expecting today given the weather forecast, I’m reminded that I was woken by a thunderstorm last night. Could the game be off again?
Viaduct Park is very nice, aside from the various dog eggs that dog owners have decided not to clear up, many of which are now treading in nicely to the resin-bound pathways, meaning that we will all be able to enjoy an ever-changing pattern beneath our feet as the summer rolls by.
Even the ticket office staff at the station are celebrating promotion.
Travelling with one of the Club’s historians affords me the opportunity to quiz him to see what records may be broken this season.
Most points? Yes, in fact 86 is already a record.
Most goals? No, the record is 112. In fact County have scored over 100 goals in a season on 3 occasions.
Most clean sheets? Probably, but need to check.
Biggest goal difference? Definitely not.
Least number of defeats? No.
Most wins? Maybe, but need to check.
What we do know is that should County win, it would be their 4th ever Football League Title, the only others being in 1922, 1937 and 1967, so this would be the longest that supporters have ever had to wait for a Football League Title.
In fact, County have only ever lifted 7 league titles all told so far. If they win tomorrow, this will be the 3rd I’ve seen in the flesh, the other 2 being the National League North Title away at Nuneaton (Saturday 27th April 2019) and the National League Title, beating Halifax Town at home (Sunday 15th May 2022).
Cabbies and Magpies
The journey is soon over, and we head for the VAT & Fiddle for lunch. The VAT is by no means unfinished business, it’s very much business as usual, this being my third visit this year.
As we’re already up, we can start to look forward to next season, which is already shaping up nicely. My current top 3 targets will be Bristol, Exeter and Sheffield, but some may yet still dodge having to play County.
My first ale of the trip is the Ngaru Iti brewed by Black Iris, which was a rather good 3.4% ABV pale ale. Ngaru Iti means “little wave” in Maori apparently.
For lunch, I have the VAT & Fiddle Club Sandwich, which is nice, but a lot more fiddle than VAT.
On Saturday prior to the Morecambe game, I started in the Swan With Two Necks with Old Tom (8.6% ABV) at 12:10, so indulging in a 9.1% ABV imperial stout in the VAT & Fiddle at 14:00, seems sensible enough to me. The “Impy” in question is the Pohjala brewed by North Brew.
Can’t move on without trying the Oatmeal Stout brewed just out the back there by Castle Rock, which as usual is excellent, and won’t be the last time I have it this trip I’m sure.
Time to pick off my first bit of unfinished business, i.e. the Brew Tavern, which was closed when we visited back in January, at which point it was called Beer Headz.
This was in this year’s Good Beer Guide. I say was, as I assume that now it’s changed hands it has been excluded. The venue is located in the Edwardian cabbies' locker and rest room adjacent to the main railway entrance. Quirky doesn’t even start to cover it!
5 cask conditioned real ales, plus another 7 keg beers. The Plain Porter brewed by Wylam is very good, and entirely appropriate given the venue.
As we leave, it’s blowing a gale. I escort Little John and Maid Marion to their tram, and arrange to meet up in the Barrel Drop once we’ve all checked into our hotels.
I’d chosen the Barrel Drop as it’s the closest real ale venue to Little John’s hotel. However, upon arrival, I’m reminded that it’s tucked down an alley, not an ideal place to meet visually impaired people.
In addition, the interior has wide curved internal steps without any rails. Good job Little John likes a challenge.
I settle in with a pint of One For Sorrow, an oatmeal stout brewed by Magpie. Considering this is a Magpie Brewery venue, the ale is a little disappointing. If only Two For Joy had been available, if such a beer exists.
Of Mild Interest?
The local CAMRA magazine is publicising a Mild Trail they’re running during the month of May, involving 25 pubs.
Hold on, that reminds me, I never got sent my Stouts & Porters Trail certificate for my efforts in January!
Anyway, once again the “prize” for taking part in the Mild Trail is a PDF certificate which you have to print off yourself.
Compare Nottingham Mild Trail with Stockport CAMRA’s Mild Magic which runs for 5 weeks (about to conclude - https://ssm.camra.org.uk/viewnode.php?id=214089) which is celebrating 30 years, and where the prizes range from free beer at the Stockport Beer Festival - (https://www.stockportfestival.org.uk/), t-shirts, polo-shirts and sweatshirts.
No matter, all credit to Nottingham CAMRA for promoting Mild.
Unsurprisingly, Little John and Maid Marion can’t find the pub, so I have to pop out to fetch them.
I decide to try one of the keg beers, only because it’s one of my favourite ever beers, Broken Dream brewed by Siren. However, it’s served so cold, that I’m forced to warm it up utilising various body parts. But even that serves simply to remind me that to enjoy beer at its best, it really must be cask conditioned and served at the correct temperature.
Staggering
We head to Kean’s Head for tea. I’m on the Staggersaurus brewed by Staggeringly Good. Ok, it’s good, but not staggeringly good.
What is staggeringly good though, is the Steak Biriyani (which I also had back in January), as is the stout from Marble.
Little John and Maid Marion didn’t make it to the Cock & Hoop last trip, so as it’s just around the corner, we pay a visit. You may recall that this pub is part of the Lace Market Hotel where I stayed in January.
I try the Matterhorn, brewed by Beermats (all of their beers have the word mat in them), a white chocolate & raspberry stout, which is quite good. I also try the Rocket Man from Castle Rock, which is better.
The Cross Keys is the logical choice for the next pint, as it’s near to the tram stop. The Preservation from castle Rock is fairly average.
I’m going to check out the nearby Wetherspoons, which is called Lloyds No. 1, but Little John & Maid Marion are bailing out, so off they go.
Getting Down With the Kids
It’s 10:15pm as I find myself a nice quite corner in this typically cavernous Wetherspoons venue, which used to be a bank.
As I sit there enjoying Dark Arts, brewed by Peerless, which is very good, I find myself facing the massed ranks of the bottles that serve Wetherspoons, all of which have been stood down for the night.
Row after row of mayo, tomato sauce, English mustard, French mustard, hot sauce and vinegar, all standing at ease. Guarding the bottles are huge dishes overflowing with single servings of salt, pepper, mustard, mayo and brown sauce.
Twenty youngsters pile in. Good to see pubs busy on a Monday night, and what’s more, not a bouncer in sight.
It quickly becomes apparent that this is a party of students, none of whom appear to be any the worse for wear. How times have changed?
I thought I was tucked out of harm’s way. However, slowly but surely the students start to invade my domain. My army seem unable to repel the invasion.
Tables and chairs are being strategically moved to create one huge table so that they can all sit together.
Pizzas, nachos, dippers, pancakes, ice cream and brownies aplenty are ordered. I notice that there seem to be very few mobile devices. Multiple discussions are all intertwining, with some of the girls somehow managing to take part in several conversations at once.
However, they are all so polite and constantly checking that I’m not getting blocked in. Although there is a lot of energy and excitement, I never feel the need to move. The group were a real credit to Nottingham. No wonder there are no bouncers.
There I was, looking for a nice quite end to the day, and I end up in the middle of a students’ party. Then it dawns on me that these guys are just getting started. Before I leave, I have a count up, 28 in all, students that is, not units of alcohol.
Behold Wetherspoons in all its glory!
Back at the hotel, the Ibis is nice enough. Very basic, but all I need. No real ale available, so off to bed.
Matchday
Breakfast at 09.15. Black coffee from the machine, topped up with expresso as room in the cup becomes available. No black pudding, no bubble & squeak, no haggis. No matter, fruit, bacon, sausage, scrambled eggs, hash browns, mushrooms and beans. Plates are cold, so multiple trips are required, causing lots of washing up.
Cold ham, cheeses, toast with peanut butter, toast with Nutella, flapjack bites, mini blueberry muffin and Danish pastry. Safe to say I got my monies worth. There is a big difference between all you can eat and all I can eat, I can assure you.
Breakfast is cleared away 10am prompt, so good job I didn’t come down any later. I suspect I may well be banned tomorrow anyway.
According to teletext, the game is still on. The local news is all about Mansfield who could achieve automatic promotion if they beat Accrington tonight. No mention of the Champions-elect!
As its forecast to be cold tonight (not as cold as January mind), I’m wearing my 1999 tour of the Isle of Man sweatshirt.
I’m perusing the league tables on teletext, mainly to check that I’m not dreaming that County could be crowned champions tonight. We’re already up of course, so I can indulge in speculating about potential stay-overs next season.
Sheffield, Birmingham, QPR, Plymouth, Peterborough, Lincoln, Exeter, Bristol, Shrewsbury, Reading. My priorities will likely be Bristol, Lincoln and Exeter.
The church bells ring 12 times, off we go.
The Heat is On
Little John and Maid Marion are doing their own thing this afternoon, so I’m entirely unsupervised - not good.
First stop the Angel Microbrewery. The Milk Worm from Three Blind Mice is excellent. Unfortunately it’s 5.3% ABV, but I just can’t turn down a milk stout.
What am I doing? I don’t want to peak too early.
Ooooo, this is nice I think to myself, “yes it is isn’t it?” replies the barmaid. Oh dear, looks like I said that out loud, never mind, could have been worse.
I assuming that it’s perfectly normal to say things out loud that you thought you’d only thunk, and to only think things that you thought you’d said out loud?
I’ve acquired a copy of the Nottingham Post, but there is nothing about tonight’s game, aside from Notts winger Jodi Jones being awarded League 2 Player of the Season.
Time for my next “unfinished business” target, the Partizan Tavern, which appears in the Good Beer Guide. According to the opening hours posted in the window, it doesn’t open until 4pm, which agrees with the notes on my map, so why didn’t I check beforehand? There is no way I can come back later, as I’m meeting Little John for a pre-match meal at the Embankment, and that’s the other side of town.
So I end up in the King William IV, also in the Good Beer Guide, drinking the McConnell’s brewed by Thornbridge, which is fairly ordinary for a vanilla stout.
No sign of the Blue Army as yet.
The Prime Porter brewed by Hawkshead, which I’m drinking in the Fox & Grapes, is pretty good, and at 4.9% ABV, the weakest ale I’ve had so far this afternoon!
The evidence is growing that I should get myself back to the hotel before any further damage is done.
The weather is pretty awful, warm and sunny, way too hot for a sweatshirt.
I decide that I will pop back into the hotel, not to have a rest, oh no, to get more beer mats!
The Norwich Massive
I arrive at the Newshouse, another piece of unfinished business, 14 minutes before they’re due to open, but they open early just for me, as the guy behind the bar recognises me from the Beer Tavern yesterday.
One of my favourite ales, Candlewick from Torrside is a very welcome sight, not least as it’s a very sensible 4.0% ABV, and very good it is too. Last time I supped this was at the Torrside Brewery itself up in New Mills, well worth a visit, particularly at this time of year.
A session stout is a rare animal, and this is the best there is.
I have a nice chat with the barman, who advises me that the Indian food I was hoping to try isn’t available, as the chef hasn’t turned up.
Also in the Newshouse are County Supporters Graham & Jim from Norwich, who are also staying over, before heading to Edgeley Park on Saturday …. Via Norwich.
There are also some Notts fans in, bemoaning their team’s defending capabilities, so I invite them to the Stockport Beer & Cider Festival, explaining how easy it is to get to Stockport from Nottingham, and anyway, why not stay over?
I arrive at the Embankment slightly late, to find that I’m not allowed in as the venue has been designated as a home pub. I’m told to go to the Brewhouse & Kitchen just across the road.
I explain that they’ve already let in Little John, and that I’m his designated companion, so unless they fancy escorting him to the game, etc. and so on….
In I go. The place is more or less empty.
The Pass the Porter from Lenton Lane is good.
Although the kitchen is open, Little John has intel that Robin Hood is already holed up in the Trent Navigation at Meadow Lane, and that there is food there, so we opt to get out of the way and head over.
Robin Hood has saved us a table, which is a good job, as the place is hammered. The Guerrilla (stout) from Blue Monkey is fairly average.
Apparently the food is by way of a barbeque, and pies are available. How do you barbeque a pie?
Whilst waiting for my barbequed pie, I gather a few photos of the Blue Army.
Upon visiting the toilet, I find that I can see through to the Magpie Brewery Tap Room, which seems to be sharing an outside drinking area with the Trent Navigation. What a sensible arrangement. This means, I’ll be able to pick off another piece of unfinished business.
After eating, I pop outside to get a photo. Upon trying to get back in, I’m denied entry. Once again I have to rely on stick-power, when I eventually persuade the bouncer to look around the corner inside, where he will see Little John pining for his carer companion. In I go.
We decide to pop next door into Magpie Brewery Tap Room before heading to the game. I’ve already established that there is a single real ale on. This is a really boisterous venue, with a nice mix of fans from both counties.
Whilst ordering the beer at the bar, I notice that the ale is New Dawn brewed by Navigation. Why aren’t Magpie selling their own beers at their brewery tap?
Then it dawns on me, we’re not in the Magpie Brewery, we’re just in the beer garden of the Trent Navigation.
So,
to this day, the Magpie Brewery Tap Room remains unfinished business in
Nottingham. A familiar face outside heading to the ground.
Pie Record Broken
We get into the ground easily enough, but the seats we should be using are already taken, and those sat in our seats seats’ have also been taken etc. i.e. no-one is sat where they should be, so we just sit where we can find 3 seats together.
The Blue Army are in great voice “Up Yours Wrexham we’re gonna win the league (clean version)” etc. etc.
Shortly after the first goal, Robin Hood disappears in order to acquire pies, returning in double quick time.
As he hands me my pie, County are awarded a penalty. This is a disaster for me, as in over 30 years, County have never ever scored a goal whilst I’ve been eating a pie, so I now have to wait for fear that Madden will miss the spot-kick.
When you consider that whilst in football grounds I spend most of my time eating pies, you’ll understand that this has cost County dear over the decades. In fact, they’d probably be in The Premiership by now were I not addicted to pies.
Anyway, Paddy slots home for 2 nil, so I can safely tuck into my pie.
Then, the unbelievable happens, Stockport score a third whilst I am still eating my pie. For the first time in the history of the Club, they’ve scored a goal whilst Man-in-a-Hat was eating a pie.
Believe it or not, prior to this evening, County had scored more goals whilst I was sat on the toilet in the Cheadle End than when I was eating a pie!
DC sending the players out early for the second half. Perhaps he wasn’t happy with being just 3 nil up?
We score a 4th shortly after the restart, but to the credit of the Notts fans, there is no sneaking out, they’ve seen all this before this season. Although Notts get a couple back, there was never any danger of County losing the game.
After running out 5-2 winners, there are great scenes of joy (and some relief). County have won only their 4th ever Football League Title, their first for 57 years.
The Blue Army of almost two thousand supporters have been magnificent all night. The players and staff come over so that we can all celebrate together.
Promoted with 3 games to spare, Champions will 2 games to spare. Blimey!
Celebrations Underway
As Robin Hood isn’t staying overnight, he drops Little John back at his hotel and then dumps me in the middle of Nottingham, after neither of us can work out where the hell we are.
Eventually, a spot a familiar pub, the Salutation, so I order the Raspberry Pale from Titanic, which is ok, and sit down to consult my map and plot a route back to my hotel.
Given the time, the only thing to do is to head to the Roebuck (Wetherspoons). I have the Devine brewed by Bishop Nick, and jolly good it is too.
I encounter Froggy, Fletch and Johnno, engaging in a very enjoyable conversation about the evening and the season that preceded it.
We’re last to leave (00:30). I don’t think I’ve ever been last out of a Wetherspoons.
Back at the hotel, there is no mention of County’s exploits on the news, so I’m soon asleep, dreaming of all the trips to come next season in League One.
The Long Road Home
Did I dream it all? Did County win their 4th League Title last night?
The local news station give the news that Mansfield were promoted, but no mention of the game at Notts County. I am in Nottingham aren’t I?
Teletext confirms the scores and the league table, so all is well. A 14 minute hat-trick for Paddy, one for Sarcevic and a first ever goal for Pye.
The tables reveal potential away trips to Bristol, Exeter, Lincoln, Shrewsbury, Blackpool and Reading.
Breakfast at 09.15 again. Exactly the same as yesterday, plus a couple of boiled eggs. The breakfast room is a lot busier this morning, but yet again I’m the last to leave. Providing hot plates would save a lot of time, not to mention a lot of washing up.
Today, I’m wearing my Wembley 2008 polo-shirt.
After checking out, I head for Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem, where I have the Rock Mild (3.8% ABV) from Nottingham Brewery, which is very good and a far more sensible start to the day than yesterday, or it would be if it wasn’t only ten past eleven.
No sign of Carl, who kindly opened up The Trip early for us on the original Matchday back in January.
The headline on the back of the Nottingham Post is “Magpies Suffer as Hatters Take Title”. According to the report, that was Madden’s 4th hat-trick of the season. I wonder if that is a new record.
I’d forgotten that we also hit the woodwork twice and missed a penalty. Never a dull moment at Meadow Lane. Following last night, there have been 92 goals (50 for, 42 against) at the ground in just 22 games, i.e. over 4 goals a game.
At the Crafty Crow, I’m on the Castle Rock Oatmeal Stout, which is always very good, and so it proves. One of the bar staff asks me if Robin Hood has finished his meat & cheese platter yet, i.e. the one he couldn’t finish back in January and took home with him.
The Bell Inn next, where I enjoy the excellent EPA from Nottingham Brewing. What a lovely boozer this is. Grade II listed, again, with a large bar and 2 smaller rooms, both with their own bars.
I end up chatting to a Forest season-ticket holder about the joys of playing in the Premiership. Doesn’t sound like he’s enjoying it much.
Snaking Along
As I enter the Malt Cross, the python is slithering all over the floor of the pub. This doesn’t look good. As a volunteer at CAMRA beer festivals, I know what a python is, i.e. the creature that transports the ale from the casks to the taps.
There is no cask ale available as all of the lines are being changed, i.e. a new python is being installed. I’m encouraged to come back later, and plan to do so, as I note that there will be a stout on from Kernel.
You may recall that in January, we were treated to an impromptu tour of the caves underneath the Malt Cross.
A short walk up the hill is Hop Merchants, where I find the Original from Shipstone’s to be rather underwhelming. The toilets are up 2 flights of stairs. Sod that, Lillie Langtry’s is next door, I’ll go in there.
The Aurora brewed by Pheasantry is pleasant enough.
Now, where’s the toilet?
The toilets are out of order, with customers being advised to use the ones next door, i.e. at the Hop Merchants!
In the meantime, it’s absolutely chucking it down outside, but I can’t wait, knowing full well the toilets are effectively in the loft. Never mind, nothing wrong with a good soaking.
Then, back to the Malt Cross, where cask ale has been restored, and the Dry Stout (Cashmere) from Kernel is every bit as good as I had hoped it would be.
I think this is my favourite pub in Nottingham, certainly as a venue. You’ll recall that it’s a Grade II listed former Victorian Music Hall, but what I didn’t realise is that it’s run specifically to fund the work of the Malt Cross Trust, the Notting Street Pastors, and the Notts YMCA.
Anyway, need to get moving if I’m to try the Indian food at the Newshouse, not to mention drink some more Torrside Candlewick Stout. I pick up my bag from the hotel on the way.
Disaster! The chef hasn’t shown up - again!. Plan B required.
There is a Bar Billiards Table in the Newshouse. I think the last time I saw one of those was in the sadly lamented Portwood Railway, which is now just a pile of rubble following its closure 30th January 2022, and demolition July 2022.
One of Stockport’s best ever pubs lost, all to make way for whatever, which is still yet the reveal itself some 2 and a half years later. Scandalous!
Plan B is the Canalhouse, which will definitely have food on. It’s very busy, and the only table I can find overlooks the narrowboat which is moored up inside the pub.
The trip concludes with Venison and Red Wine pie, washed down with the Castle Rock Oatmeal Stout, both of which are very good.
Just about time to pop into the Beer Tavern on my way to getting the train home. My final beer, ever probably, is the Puca Oatmeal Stout brewed by Tartarus. Excellent.
For some reason I nearly miss the train. Thankfully Little John and Maid Marion have saved me a seat.
The Truth of Last Night Emerges
During our journey home, I learn that we managed to drop Little John off at the wrong hotel last night! No wonder he’s been avoiding me today.
The weird thing is though, that we didn’t just drop him, I went in with him and he directed me to where he wanted to sit. I know a lot of hotels all look the same these days, but this is ridiculous.
The error only came to light when Maid Marion couldn’t find Little John in the hotel lobby, on account of him being in the wrong hotel lobby!
EP is soon in sight. Marvel at those floodlight pylons while you can. My guess is that advances in lighting technology will soon make these redundant. Perhaps they should be left up as a monument in any event?
Upon arrival back in Stockport, the sensible thing to do would be to go home, so I head to Ye Olde Vic. The XL Mild from Burton Bridge is rather good. The Mild Magic Challenge is in full swing.
I sit there quietly contemplating the season. Blimey, League One next season, County’s first League Title for 57 years, and I was there!
Footnotes (Records)
The record for the Bobbleless Blue Hat at end of season was played 24; won 18; drawn 5 and lost 1, an average of 2.46 points a game, Championship form if ever there was.
The 17 clean sheets County managed last season was not a record, as 23 clean sheets were achieved during the 1921/1922 season.
27 wins in the League was also not a record, as County managed 28 wins 1928/1929 and again the following season 1929/1930. What a time to be a County Supporter that must have been.
Man-in-a-Hat
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