DERBY NOTTS COUNTY vs MANSFIELD TOWN

This year the derby Notts County – Mansfield isn’t a very important game only because of the great rivalry between the two clubs, but also because it’s the first game under the new president Alan Hardy and with Kevin Nolan as manager. Therefore there couldn’t be any better occasion for the annual gathering of Juventus fans in Nottingham, organized by the group Italian Magpies.
Londra Bianconera left by train at 8:15 from St Pancras station to meet the group arrived from Italy directly in Nottingham. Once arrived we were welcomed at the station by our friend Andy Black, leading representative of the Notts supporters. With Andy we walked towards the Castle to meet the others. After meeting the Italian Magpies in front of the famous statue of Robin Hood, we all headed off to the stadium. At the gates of Meadow Lane we were welcomed by Les Bradd, the player who scored the most in the history of Notts county, who is now Ambassador of the Club. Bradd took us inside the stadium to meet Alan Hardy, Notts’ new president, who had requested to meet us. Hardy thanked us for having travelled to watch the game, and our Director Antonio handed him a Juventus pennant. From here we were brought through the corridor which takes to the players’ changing room, and through the tunnel directly onto the ground. Our entrance was announced by the speaker to the over 11,000 supporters present. The entire stadium welcomed our entrance with a long applause. From the centre of the field we walked around to reach the Kop. Here we started looking for our seats while the fans shook our hands and hugged us, showing their gratitude for being there in such a difficult moment for Notts. The team in fact came from 10 defeats in a row, thus risking relegation. Although the victory didn’t come, the Magpies finally managed to take a point home. The game against the rivals from the neighbouring Mansfield Town ended with a 0-0. We hope that this may be the start of Notts’ recovery, so that they may leave behind the risk of relegation.