Stickied League 2 Away Support Thread 2024/25

[Son of Cod]

Genuinely the best thing about being in the Vanarama was that no one gave a shit about away followings (apart from Grimsby when they were there for a bit).

Completely understandable when we were putting the rest of the division to shame.

 

[AdamStag]

Stockport brought a very disappointing 900 odd last season so I doubt they will sell out Saturday, Bradford the week after I’m sure will be the first to pack the North Stand.

the trains were on strike last season, as they are this weekend too.

Trust me, i’m aware of it too.

 

[northstandexile]

Bradford?

Think we could have a fair few this season, realistically stockport, bradford and doncaster are the 3 likely to sell out.

Though as i’ll experience this weekend stockport might be reduced slightly as train strikes.

Bradford was only 1416, as game moved to Tuesday night in November after original Saturday sell out was moved due to Queen’s funeral.

 

[Optipez]

Good numbers from Notts, often get a bit of shit for poor following so credit where it's due there.

There's a togetherness about Notts that's got more to it than just winning. Luke Williams and the team are very heart on sleeve, honest and always give their best.
First time since Neil Warnock in the early 90's that I've felt such sustained optimism at the club. We've also somehow gained a younger fan base.

 

[Conker]

There's a togetherness about Notts that's got more to it than just winning. Luke Williams and the team are very heart on sleeve, honest and always give their best.
First time since Neil Warnock in the early 90's that I've felt such sustained optimism at the club. We've also somehow gained a younger fan base.

Sounds like a proper dream factory that.

 

[jacobncfc]

There's a togetherness about Notts that's got more to it than just winning. Luke Williams and the team are very heart on sleeve, honest and always give their best.
First time since Neil Warnock in the early 90's that I've felt such sustained optimism at the club. We've also somehow gained a younger fan base.

Counterintuitive, but Forest going up to the Prem has been great for us. Ticket prices gone up loads there but still selling out to people with disposable income who want to see the big boys, more local families and kids coming down to Notts as we did well to time our best season for a generation at the same time and it’s way more affordable.

 

[Optipez]

Sounds like a proper dream factory that.

You can take the piss all you like but it's great being a Notts fan at the moment.

 

[The_Viking_Magpie]

We had an away game at Wembley just back in May, we took over 22,500. We also take a lot to Meadow Lane not matter who the opponent.

The attendances pre Williams were very impressive in the National League, the attractive style of play and number of wins each season clearly helping. Then the Non League Pep comes in with no fanfare and we have a ridiculously good, entertaining and ultimately successful season on absolute every metric. This combined with an absolute top quality media team who's output has increased fan engagement and helped lower the average age of the fanbase from Walking Dead to OAP to now probably the same as most clubs.

As Optipez says the togetherness at the club is huge and very evident from the fanbase to the playing squad to the non-playing staff. The main single reason for the striking U-turn are the owners. So far different gravy.

 

[jacobncfc]

You can take the piss all you like but it's great being a Notts fan at the moment.

It’s funny that we went into our four year exile when Stags were spending loads of money, flattering to deceive and either bottling the play-offs or missing them entirely in division four every year. Had a bit of fun, won some games, sorted ourselves out and we’re back with them still spending loads of money, flattering to deceive and, let’s have a look, missing the play-offs in division four entirely.

 

[The_Viking_Magpie]

You can take the piss all you like but it's great being a Notts fan at the moment.

Sounds like a proper dream factory that.

But that's the thing, he really can't. No matter what the size of the North stand (?) is and how full clubs fill it.

 

[Conker]

It’s funny that we went into our four year exile when Stags were spending loads of money, flattering to deceive and either bottling the play-offs or missing them entirely in division four every year. Had a bit of fun, won some games, sorted ourselves out and we’re back with them still spending loads of money, flattering to deceive and, let’s have a look, missing the play-offs in division four entirely.

Wow was not expecting such defensive response to that hahaha!

We are no longer spending the sort of money that we were when you wasted half a million alone on transfer fees only to get relegated and your chairman getting his meat and two veg out on twitter. Yes that one you all defended to the hilt because he did cheap ticket prices, remember?

The rest I’m not particularly against mind, losing out on the play-offs by one goal after losing sixteen million players to injury was quite the achievement last season.

 

[jacobncfc]

Wow was not expecting such defensive response to that hahaha!

We are no longer spending the sort of money that we were when you wasted half a million alone on transfer fees only to get relegated and your chairman getting his meat and two veg out on twitter. Yes that one you all defended to the hilt because he did cheap ticket prices, remember?

The rest I’m not particularly against mind, losing out on the play-offs by one goal after losing sixteen million players to injury was quite the achievement last season.

If you’re gonna spend loads of money and fail, might as well do it spectacularly.

 

[Son of Cod]

What did you average last season at ML? Could be wrong but I don't think you got anywhere near 10000 home fans regularly (or at all?) before in L2 even in those heady Munto days when you were walloping all and sundry? Impressive home attendance against us for sure, the place was louder and buzzier than I ever remember it. Notts is traditionally one of those grounds you go to (perhaps the Stags, Chesterfield, maybe even Donny and Bradford lot will agree here) and you know that you can outnoise the home fans but for the first time I've ever been there it felt like this wasn't the case and you lot silenced us by the end of the match.

 

[Conker]

If you’re gonna spend loads of money and fail, might as well do it spectacularly.

Just to add, you may not know this being down in the depths at the time but the last two seasons for Mansfield have seen a Wembley trip, league top goalscorers and despite the ultimate disappointment at the end some of the best entertainment for a long time following the Stags, hence the record breaking season ticket sales

 

[jacobncfc]

What did you average last season at ML? Could be wrong but I don't think you got anywhere near 10000 home fans regularly (or at all?) before in L2 even in those heady Munto days when you were walloping all and sundry? Impressive home attendance against us for sure, the place was louder and buzzier than I ever remember it. Notts is traditionally one of those grounds you go to (perhaps the Stags, Chesterfield, maybe even Donny and Bradford lot will agree here) and you know that you can outnoise the home fans but for the first time I've ever been there it felt like this wasn't the case and you lot silenced us by the end of the match.

Just over 8,000 I think, but that’s obviously with most away followings not being much more than 100. Wouldn’t be surprised if we pushed a five figure average this season with bigger away crowds.

The numbers have been growing for a while, but the atmosphere is unrecognisable even from 21/22. I don’t really know how Williams has done it. It’s maybe a bit like Cowley at Lincoln for a bit when he was walking on water and it all transformed there, I don’t know, but he just found a switch somewhere to get the place going. It’s weird because very few people were impressed by his appointment or anything he did at first, but he’s just worked the club out like no other manager we’ve had in my lifetime.

Sutton a couple of weeks ago was probably the most surprising example. Notts away ends in the past would’ve turned big time at that, first day or not, but they pretty much got a heroes reception at full time, couldn’t believe it.

 

[The_Viking_Magpie]

"The rest I’m not particularly against mind, losing out on the play-offs by one goal after losing sixteen million players to injury was quite the achievement last season."

Nothing sums up a Mansfield fan better than that. Quite the achievement.

 

[AdamStag]

Wow was not expecting such defensive response to that hahaha!

We are no longer spending the sort of money that we were when you wasted half a million alone on transfer fees only to get relegated and your chairman getting his meat and two veg out on twitter. Yes that one you all defended to the hilt because he did cheap ticket prices, remember?

The rest I’m not particularly against mind, losing out on the play-offs by one goal after losing sixteen million players to injury was quite the achievement last season.

bloody hell, that was a chomp and a half!

 

[jacobncfc]

bloody hell, that was a chomp and a half!

Come onnnnn it was a long set up for a ‘you always finish eighth’ joke.

 

[The_Viking_Magpie]

What did you average last season at ML? Could be wrong but I don't think you got anywhere near 10000 home fans regularly (or at all?) before in L2 even in those heady Munto days when you were walloping all and sundry? Impressive home attendance against us for sure, the place was louder and buzzier than I ever remember it. Notts is traditionally one of those grounds you go to (perhaps the Stags, Chesterfield, maybe even Donny and Bradford lot will agree here) and you know that you can outnoise the home fans but for the first time I've ever been there it felt like this wasn't the case and you lot silenced us by the end of the match.

8,608. A sensational average in the 5th tier. I don't know the average away following we took, but I'm sure someone definitely does.

 

[The_Viking_Magpie]

bloody hell, that was a chomp and a half!

The other option of course is to go quiet and ignore, that's the option you (correctly) choose Adam.

 

[GTFCfish]

Come onnnnn it was a long set up for a ‘you always finish eighth’ joke.

It’s their inability to beat teams like Grimsby that end up costing them every year.

 

[AdamStag]

If you’re gonna spend loads of money and fail, might as well do it spectacularly.

Haha.

Being serious as i’ve said before, normally clubs go down when sadly it’s out of their control when they’ve never experienced it before.

Mansfield under dark days of a previous chairman who went out of his way to suck the club dry as opposed to a notts chairman who genuinely meant the best but sadly didn’t quite execute it as he meant to (i think he tried and failed to take the radfords on and failed) - goes to show how it can happen in different ways.

I think if you look at where either club is to where they were then both would be very happy. Despite our “failure” to go up we’ve not been in better place in my memory, it’s remarkable how we’ve came on as a club in basically everything, to have 5,300 season ticket holders is something i’d never thought i’d see.

Fact is i’d have much more respect for someone in nottingham (or chesterfield) following either club than soullessly following a PL club.

 

[jacobncfc]

Haha.

Being serious as i’ve said before, normally clubs go down when sadly it’s out of their control when they’ve never experienced it before.

Mansfield under dark days of a previous chairman who went out of his way to suck the club dry as opposed to a notts chairman who genuinely meant the best but sadly didn’t quite execute it as he meant to (i think he tried and failed to take the radfords on and failed) - goes to show how it can happen in different ways.

I think if you look at where either club is to where they were then both would be very happy. Despite our “failure” to go up we’ve not been in better place in my memory, it’s remarkable how we’ve came on as a club in basically everything, to have 5,300 season ticket holders is something i’d never thought i’d see.

Fact is i’d have much more respect for someone in nottingham (or chesterfield) following either club than soullessly following a PL club.

It’s great, so many of the traditional clubs seem to be booming crowds wise and just generally at the minute. Just in the East Midlands we’re basically all in a good place (yes even Ches), when was the last time that happened!?

Our games should be a lot of fun this year, it’s not often we play without either club in a state of complete turmoil.

 

[AdamStag]

It’s great, so many of the traditional clubs seem to be booming crowds wise and just generally at the minute. Just in the East Midlands we’re basically all in a good place (yes even Ches), when was the last time that happened!?

Our games should be a lot of fun this year, it’s not often we play without either club in a state of complete turmoil.

Very much so, i know a few fans and i actually think the “derby” means more now to county fans - the younger ones than it does to mansfield - clearly we’ve got that lot across the road and it’ll never change, despite their long journey down in the bananarama.

I’m curious as to what a younger county fan would see as their main rivals, clearly it’s never going to be forest, or at least a shared rivalry as forest clearly wouldn’t even think of it.

 

[Conker]

It’s great, so many of the traditional clubs seem to be booming crowds wise and just generally at the minute. Just in the East Midlands we’re basically all in a good place (yes even Ches), when was the last time that happened!?

Our games should be a lot of fun this year, it’s not often we play without either club in a state of complete turmoil.

Completely agree with this, except the bit about our non-league friends across the M1 for obvious reasons. Good reason I was a Notts County fan for an entire day not long back….

It’s not just ST sales either our end that’s changed since you were last in the EFL, academy is starting to produce, training facility is already top notch and continuing to get investment it’s all a bit weird how good it’s going.

Looking forward to the Nottinghamshire Derby this season for sure, it’s nice to have it back.

Anyway back to away followings

 

[jacobncfc]

Very much so, i know a few fans and i actually think the “derby” means more now to county fans - the younger ones than it does to mansfield - clearly we’ve got that lot across the road and it’ll never change, despite their long journey down in the bananarama.

I’m curious as to what a younger county fan would see as their main rivals, clearly it’s never going to be forest, or at least a shared rivalry as forest clearly wouldn’t even think of it.

You, but we don’t have a ‘proper’ rival in the way you and Chesterfield are, it kind of changes based more on whatever competitive stuff that’s going on at the time. Ches/Notts has been a much bigger game and fiercer rivalry over the last three years or so, for example, than it ever was when we met in the league, because it mattered hugely every time in terms of what was going on in the league and became one of those fixtures you get every so often that was always a mad game with loads of goals, cards etc.

 

[AdamStag]

Completely agree with this, except the bit about our non-league friends across the M1 for obvious reasons. Good reason I was a Notts County fan for an entire day not long back….

It’s not just ST sales either our end that’s changed since you were last in the EFL, academy is starting to produce, training facility is already top notch and continuing to get investment it’s all a bit weird how good it’s going.

Looking forward to the Nottinghamshire Derby this season for sure, it’s nice to have it back.

Anyway back to away followings

I think the reason the “big day out” came about is whereas notts will never mean anything close to what chesterfield is, it’s a cracking chance to take a decent following away without any of the shit which comes with it, there isn’t a rivalry so beers and good times can be had and happy days.

 

[The_Viking_Magpie]

Always best when there isn't too much riding on it. A Derby fan I know hates matches against F*rest for that reason. It means too much, the stakes are too high and their is an underbelly of inherent nastiness and unpleasantness for those two fixtures.

The strength of a derby depends primarily on history, location and equal footing (aka in the same division a lot) so you place each other lots. So in L2 terms you just need to someone historically and equally shit as you and bingo you have a great Derby match, bitter rivalry which means the world to take two small clubs and next to f**k all to everyone else.

 

[The_Viking_Magpie]

I think the reason the “big day out” came about is whereas notts will never mean anything close to what chesterfield is, it’s a cracking chance to take a decent following away without any of the shit which comes with it, there isn’t a rivalry so beers and good times can be had and happy days.

That's definitely one of the reasons but certainly not the main one

 

[PuB]

Mansfield fans are THAT arrogant they’ve repainted the promotion parade bus and bought a new hat for that old ladies dog (against his will)