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Nottingham News, Notts Sport

Carlton Town 0-1 Kidsgrove Athletic
As the new year entered it’s first day it was a second meeting and a chance for the opposition to avenge their early season defeat. Again as before this would turn out to be a close encounter with very little to choose between either side. Kidsgrove were well organised and disciplined and proved very difficult to break down and with the game only seconds away from a no result would break through the Millers stern resolve and score to take all three points leaving the home faithful disappointed.

Sutton Coldfield Town 1-1 Carlton Town
With only a couple of days from the previous fixture the team travelled to the north side of Birmingham and to opposition that they had also beaten earliar in the season. Again the home side would hold their fort afloat for the first forty-five minutes as Carlton failed to capitalise on their good early work. With the game evenly balanced the home side from their first furore of the new half would open the scoring leaving the Millers stunned and shocked from such an early execution.

This only encouraged Carlton forward and they increased their pressure and intensity on the game to take control of affairs putting the opposition on the back foot for most parts. It would take only another fifteen minutes from going behind for the ever industrious Clarke to score at the far post with a bullet header to even things up. The Millers would finish the game the stronger and more inventive with their play but unfortunately would not put any more digits on the scoreline.

Carlton Town 6-4 Wisbech Town
With a visit next from the lowly placed Wisbech and a club with personal connections from the past in the form of my great uncle Sam Jennings their first professional player/coach came a chance to get back to winning ways. This one was an absolute goal fest and started poorly for Carlton as they would find themselves two goals down after only eighteen minutes gone.
But as we have seen over the season so far the team would stick to their plucky resolve and fight back scoring twice within a minute from a Maddison penalty and an Opoku strike right on the stroke of half-time. The team started the second half brightly and it would take only four minutes more for Blake to add to the tally before further goals later on from Maddison and Blake sandwiched by a reply from the Fenman would take the game beyond the visitors. A final flurry at the end of the game would see the ever patient Darryl Thomas come off the bench and put his name on the scoresheet to complete a good afternoon’s work.

Sheffield 0-3 Carlton Town
An away day next to the oldest football club in existence and a performance that ranked up their as one of the best so far. Carlton pressed the opposition right from the first whistle giving the home side no time whatsoever to settle or enact their game plan. TheMillers played with a great determination producing some nice free-flowing football putting the home side on the defensive for a lot of the first half and would be rewarded twice before the break with a brace from the on fire Blake.

The home side came out for the second half the better but were always up against it and were unable to pull anything back into the game before Maddison put this one to bed from the spot with ten minutes to go.

Carlton Town 2-1 Bingham Town (aet)
Up next was a Senior Cup clash and a potential spanner in the works as the opposition on the night were like an infectious itch that just wouldn’t go away.

This would turn into a real hustle bustle affair with the opposition ruggedly fighting their corner throughout and would prove to be a tough night for all involved. Both teams went in at half-time evenly matched and it would be the visitors that would take the advantage midway through the second half before Blake would hit the net with equaliser soon after to take the game to extra-time. Seven minutes into added time Akaunu would give the Millers the edge and the result in a game where the opposition supporters would choose to throw unfounded and ridiculous racist comments at the Carlton players.

We have no place in the game nor the world for people of this nature and i would hope that the personnel within the football club at Bingham Town deal with the offender harshly as we are all equal whatever race creed or colour. It’s an absolute disgrace that we still have people in our society that seem to think they can go about discriminating against people because they don’t like what they see or because as individuals they aren’t capable of reaching the levels of the people they target.

Article by Phil Jennings

WE STAND UNITED !!!!
Forthcoming Fixtures:
5th Feb Loughborough Dynamo(h) 745pm
8th feb Wisbech Town(a)
12th Feb Chasetown(h) 745pm
15th Feb Newcastle town(a)
22nd Feb Stamford(h)
29th Feb Spalding(a)
All 3pm kick-off’s unless otherwise stated.

Nottingham News, Notts Leisure, Notts Sport

Members of a bowls club are celebrating after securing their first qualifications as coaches that will encourage more players to get involved in the sport. Maurice Price, Richard Bailey, Val Finch, Sue Bailey, Meryl Hudson and Richard Teare from Rushcliffe Indoor Bowls Club have all achieved their Level 1 Certificate in Coaching Bowls.

The six members received support from Rushcliffe Borough Council’s Coach Scholarship Scheme last year with 50 per cent support towards the training costs, match funded by the English Indoor Bowling Association.
It will mean they can now offer more coaching sessions and will be running taster sessions at their Rushcliffe Arena base in the coming months to recruit new members.

Deputy Leader Cllr Debbie Mason met the group to congratulate them on their first step of the coaching ladder. The club’s Publicity Officer Irene Herod was delighted the players have now achieved the qualification.
She said: “This will really help more potential players of all ages to get involved and come and have a go at the sport. Well done to the coaches, they can’t wait to get going and welcome more new players to the club.

“We offer friendly and league matches, internal competitions and social bowling sessions as well as coaching and a dedicated junior section.
“Anyone wishing to join us to have a taster session or to play in our local leagues should email irene.herod@btconnect.com or call 0115 933 5202.”
The news follows investment from Rushcliffe Borough Council last year that saw a new laser levelled floor and carpet to make games faster and fairer at the Arena facility.

Nottingham News, Notts Sport

Nottingham Forest produced a solid start to the new season under Sabri Lamouchi, prompting a lot of love for the Frenchman from the club’s supporters. When the head coach was officially unveiled, just 19 minutes after the departure of Martin O’Neill, many fans, including myself, uttered the words “who’s he?”

Social media endured its usual meltdown as the ITK’s (In the know) frantically scrambled to google the relatively unknown 47-year-old. His playing career was impressive to say the least, having starred for the likes of Monaco, Inter Milan, Marseille and Parma. However, regarding the coaching side of things, Lamouchi has limited experience.

Since landing the Forest job in late June he’s had a baptism of fire as far as fixtures are concerned. The likes of West Bromwich Albion, Fulham and Leeds United are all well fancied to feature within the Championship’s top six come season’s end. Not only that, the enormity of the squad was enough to boggle the mind of a veteran, never mind a guy that’s only been around for eight weeks.

But Sabri Lamouchi has wasted no time in enforcing his system of choice and his players of preference to facilitate it going forward. His decision play with a solitary holding midfielder as opposed to a pairing, favoured by previous managers at the club, is already paying dividends further up the field of play.

The fact that Forest have scored eight league goals in five matches would suggest that Sabri is not content to negate and stifle the opposition in the pursuit of safety. Fear not, before I get carried away and announce imminent promotion to the Premier League, it’s a good time to remind one’s self that Stuart Pearce had the Reds top of the Championship approaching October of 2014. In my opinion, it’s better to be in the hunt and have something to aim for at such an early juncture in the season. When you’re at the top there’s only one way to go!

Luck has played a part in the achievement of the impressive results thus far it must be said, even the most biased Forest fan will admit that we could and should have been three goals down before snatching a point at Leeds. And Charlton too, at times it looked like a training exercise of defence versus attack. But, to Lamouchi’s credit he addressed the situation in both of those matches by utilising his subs bench and tweaking the formation. The man clearly has a plan B. As for luck, every successful team in history has received it on the route to glory. Cast your minds back to the European Cup semi final of 1979, had Cologne’s Roger Van Gool scored and not hit the post when his side were already two nil to the good at the City Ground, the Forest badge may never have sported a solitary star, let alone two.

Going forward, I’ve seen enough to suggest that the former Rennes coach has enough about him to keep Nottingham Forest in the promotion hunt, and perhaps more importantly, to still be in charge by the end of the season. There is plenty of work to do and his preferred starting eleven is not yet nailed down, but the framework looks good. For the first time in years the team have a bit of midfield muscle in the form of Bostock, Semedo and Samba Sow; finally casting off the tag as Championship lightweights.
Throw into the mix a certain Joao Carvalho and you can certainly see room for improvement. Even the record signing now has competition for his place in the form of Tiago Silva which indicates another facet that has eluded the club in recent years, strength in depth.

All over the park, except for strikers, Nottingham Forest have two decent players fighting for just the one shirt. This will be key to the long season ahead in league and cup competitions.

I’ve often said that winning over the Forest fans is one of the toughest gigs in football, but it seems as though they’ve really taken to Lamouchi. In reference to the idiosyncratic chant of “What is love? Sabri Lamouchi, j’adore,” bellowing from the terraces, it couldn’t be more apt at this moment in time. (written prior to the NFFC v PNE game)

Nottingham News, Notts Sport

Carlton Town 4-0 Belper United
The final warm-up game for the team would see Belper United travel to Stoke lane as late replacements for Gresley who had to pull out of the fixture due to their season having to commence only a few days later. The Millers again would show that they were organised and disciplined with their work on the pitch and end their pre-season with a convincing four-nil victory in this one.

Barton United 3-2 Carlton Town
A week later and after an unbeaten pre-season the team would travel north to Hull and Barton United in an F.A. Cup fixture. The game would prove to be a tight encounter with both teams applying themselves vigorously to progress to the next round. It was always going to be a close affair with Carlton finding the home side very difficult to break down for many periods of the game. The Millers were always chasing the game and weren’t allowed to be as fluent as they had been in pre-season and would eventually succumb to a disappointing defeat in a game where the home side were always ahead with the scoring.

Lincoln United 0-2 Carlton Town
With players returning from injury Carlton would travel the following week to Lincoln United for their first league fixture of the newly sponsored Betvictor Northern Premier League. Wanting to put behind them the disappointing result from the previous week The Millers were looking to start off the new campaign as we mean to finish it, and thus we did. For the first thirty minutes the game was tight with very few opportunities for either side until Opoku would open the scoring for Carlton. Not long after this Elliott was dismissed very harshly as The Millers continued to press the home side and try to increase their lead. We would play nearly sixty minutes of the game with only ten men on the field and Lincoln would be kept mainly to long distance efforts on goal as they tried in vain to take advantage of their extra player. The Millers would increase their lead just before the hour mark with Ollie Clarke scoring a far post header to send The millers home with all three points.

Carlton Town 1-0 Sutton Coldfield Town
Four days on and we are now ready for the next task with Sutton Coldfield being the next visitors to Stoke Lane. Another hard-working performance from the team against a very capable and tough opposition would see this one concluded by Tom Maddison from the penalty spot ten minutes into the second half. It was again another game where The millers had to dig deep and show character to obtain the result and continue the good work that has prevailed from the summer.

Kidsgrove 0-1 Carlton Town
Up next would be a trip westward and across to Kidsgrove near Stoke and opposition that we had not encountered in over a year due to last season’s restructuring of the leagues. Again this fixture was to be a close knit affair and again it would take another penalty from Maddo to conclude this one in the dying embers of a game where both teams had many opportunites in a game that was well worthy of the entrance fee.

So, with three games in and plenty more to happen the season is well and truly under way. A promising start from a new group of players and staff has increased the hope for the remainder of the season and with more people showing interest in the club the expectancy also. Obviously there is a still a long way to go and a lot of hard work to be put in, but with everyone’s commitment and endeavour the rewards will be very fulfilling in ensuring this great club’s future success. Tom Maddison scoring from the spot at Kidsgrove.

Forthcoming Fixtures
Tues 10th Sept Stamford (a) 745pm
Sat 14th Sept Newcastle Town (h)
Sat 21st Sept Leek Town (a)
Wed 25th Sept Spalding Utd (h) 745pm
Sat 28th Sept St Neots Town (h) FA Trophy
All fixtures kick-off at 3pm unless stated.

Nottingham News, Notts Sport

Nottingham boxer Leigh Wood produced a stunning performance at The Motorpoint Arena earlier this month and in doing so put his home city well and truly back on the map.

The Commonwealth Featherweight champion successfully defended his title against Ryan Doyle on Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom show. Remarkably, it was almost six years since Nottingham hosted such an event. SKY TV provided exclusive coverage of the JD Sports NXTGEN extravaganza and it proved to be a big hit in more ways than one.

Following the retirement of Carl Froch, the locals have been starved of such nights at the home of the Nottingham Panthers, but thanks to the ability, professionalism and showmanship of Wood, we can expect more of the same sooner than later.

Leigh Wood – image courtesy of DKO Imagery

It’s almost a second coming for Leigh, who’s now being managed by Dave Coldwell and reunited with former trainer Ian Grant. After a frustrating period under his former management he’s not only injury free but is earning the calibre of fights that his talent has warranted.

On Friday 10th May I arrived at the arena early to take advantage of the decent undercard, what struck me straight away was the wave of anticipation and excitement among the ever-swelling crowd. It was akin to the mind of a young child on Christmas eve, but one that hadn’t received a present since 2012.

Wood entered the ring to the poignancy of Dirty Money’s “I’m coming home” soundtrack, a more fitting tune you could not wish to hear on such a special night.

As the bell sounded for round one the hometown boy looked a little tentative, but despite Doyle taking centre of the ring for most of the opening three minutes Wood landed more shots and edged ahead early doors. For those who weren’t in attendance, that was the closest that the challenger would get to the Nottingham man all evening. The next nine rounds can only be described as dominant and comprehensive in favour of the reigning champion.

Those early facets of pressure and expectancy of performing in front of his home crowd quickly dissipated as Wood cast off the shackles and worked his way through the gears with real quality. Round by round the Gedling boxer landed some heavy shots on his opponent.

The crowd were loving every moment of it too, at times it felt like the City Ground as a catalogue of Nottingham Forest chants reverberated throughout the arena. This was music to the ears of Leigh Wood, himself a genuine Reds supporter and a man who proudly displays the club’s crest on his shorts whenever he goes into battle. Such is Leigh’s affinity with his football club, the Nottingham Forest chairman Nicholas Randall QC was ringside to reciprocate the support.

Leigh Wood bodyshoot v Ryan Doyle – image courtesy of DKO Imagery

In round five Wood really turned the screw and asserted himself upon Doyle, who looked physically hurt in the process, suffering a bloodied nose for his troubles. Wood successfully switched between orthodox and southpaw with absolute cohesion as he landed a volley of shots at the ropes before finishing with big left hand at the bell.

The question on the lips of the thousands inside the Motorpoint Arena was not if, but when would the champion would knock out his challenger. Ryan Doyle suffered more injuries, this time to his left eye. However, to his credit, the Manchester fighter stood tall and refused to go quietly. In stark contrast, Leigh Wood looked virtually unscathed, the absence of injury to his body made it look like he’d been jogging through Gedling country park as opposed to the latter rounds of a Commonwealth title fight.

Leigh Wood victorious over Ryan Doyle – image courtesy of DKO Imagery

Then came the perfect ending as Wood produced a stunning knock out in round ten. Despite taking his foot off the gas in the previous round it only led Doyle into a false sense of security, and what a finish it was. Wood threw a right to knock his opponent off balance, followed up with some quick-fire shots against the ropes before unleashing a beautiful left hook to end the contest in style.

Eddie Hearn was full of praise and hinted at a return to the arena with Leigh Wood at the top of the bill, “we’ve been waiting six years to come back to Nottingham, this City’s got a fighter who can headline major shows” said Hearn.

And, who wouldn’t have been impressed by the Gedling man in his first defence of the Commonwealth belt? Wood not only showed the nation’s viewers that he’s an outstanding boxer but also that he has the skill set to compete at european and possibly world title level in the future.

Hearn also went on to say, “boxing has a big future in Nottingham again and it’s all because of Leigh Wood!” Solid proof that the 30-year-old, with those lightning fast hands, has brought back that loving feeling to the City he loves so much.

Written by Steve Corry

Nottingham News, Notts Sport

In the days that preceded Forest’s tinderbox fixture with Derby County, there wasn’t a doubt in my mind that it would produce anything but a home win. In recent years I’ve approached the game with a glass half empty mindset, which is understandable considering that our last victory was in 2015 courtesy of Nelson Oliveira’s solitary strike at the Bridgford End.
But there was an undercurrent of supreme confidence in the River Trent and for once I was grateful to have been swept away by it.

It wasn’t down to the fact that the Rams had embarrassed themselves in their previous home game against Millwall but owing more to the tactics of Martin O’Neill of late. The Irishman has not only instilled a real confidence and belief amongst his players but has shown that each opponent warrants a different approach to the game; as I wrote at the beginning of his tenure at Forest, horses for courses.

The usual moans and groans emanated on social media when the current Forest side was announced on Monday, with two players being the specific target of disgruntlement, Ben Watson and Daryl Murphy. Personally, such is my confidence in the management team of late that I didn’t care who started the game, I just knew we’d be victorious. As for the aforementioned, they were instrumental in the game itself. Watson marshalled the space in front of the back four and Murphy held the ball up well before running the channels intelligently. Collectively, it was great team performance which again shows the confidence in the management by the players.

You’ve all heard reference to the twelfth man before but a minute prior to kick off the Reds unveiled a seventeenth. Another breathtaking display by the Forza Garibaldi supporters lit the touch paper for this fixture and in my opinion was the catalyst for the early goal. Six huge banners bisected by a centrepiece which read “The Rebel City” were draped down from the upper tier of the Trent End. Each one bearing a stunning picture of men and women who dared to make a difference. Those iconic images of Eric Irons, Helen Watts, Alan Sillitoe, DH Lawrence, Brian Clough and Ned Ludd were a fitting prelude to such a contest. Indelible proof that plastic flags and clappers have no place in the City of Legends!

And, as I mentioned previously, the rebel ghosts were the inspiration for Yohan Benalouane’s opening goal after just 77 seconds. The man in the mask wrote himself into Forest folklore as he slid home from close range to send the crowd into raptures.

An early goal can be blessing or a curse in such a fixture, but Forest were keen to build upon it. O’Neill’s men played with real intensity and should have scored twice more through Murphy and Yates. In contrast, Derby were limited to just a single opportunity in that first half. Waghorn’s superbly timed run wasn’t to be matched by his finish and you got the sense that the Rams would offer little more. It was always going to be a big Ask to replicate the energy levels and chances created in the second half, but Forest never looked in trouble. Yes, Derby had the lions share of possession in the second period but could find no way through a well organised Forest defence. Alex Milosevic and Yohan Benalouane looked impenetrable at times, Milosevic never seems to be dragged out of position and closes the spaces in the most unassuming of manners.

It would be remiss not to mention the contribution of my two candidates for player of the season thus far Joe Lolley and Jack Colback, both were brilliant as per usual. As the final whistle blew, I looked around our famous old ground to see red scarfs being waved in all four stands. I thanked my lucky stars (both of them) that this was our home and not some flat pack stadium subjected to more name changes than Prince.

As for the outcome of the game itself; it was never in doubt!

Nottingham News, Notts Sport

The cold weather at the beginning of February would see the first weekend of the month hit with many postponements and Carlton Town were no exception. Due to the adverse weather conditions they were left with a free weekend as for the first time all season a frozen pitch at Sheffield would prevent this fixture from going ahead.

Belper Town 2 – 1 Carlton Town
So, a week on and with fresher legs the team would travel up into Derbyshire for a fixture that over recent seasons has always produced tight encounters and with the odd goal either way producing a winner. This one was to be no different than any other game from recent times with the home side having the better of the play for the majority of the first half and deservedly leading at the interval. The Millers would rally in the second half and improve on their first half performance but would still struggle to break down the home team. It was only during the final ten minutes when Carlton really pressed and dominated that they would get some reward from the game. A goal by Opoku via a sublime pass from Stovell just before injury time was just reward for the millers persistent in the latter stages of the game after having been two-nil down at the break. A rousing finish to the game would see the home side cling on and Carlton again would return home disappointed at not having got anything from the game.

Carlton Town 2 – 2 Solihull Moors
With players returning from injury and suspensions a mid-week fixture was arranged to give some of the squad an opportunity for game time and match fitness for the next league encounter in three days time. Solihull Moors, a conference league club, whom the previous evening had won and gone top of their division would bring a squad of players for a work-out at stoke lane which in the end would prove to be a good advert for the game. Here was an opportunity for both teams to see what options some of their fringe players would offer them for the remainder of the season and i’m sure that at the conclusion of the game both managers were left with food for thought as they say. It was a pretty even game throughout with both sides at times producing some good combinations and free-flowing football. Solihull were to open the scoring and take the lead into half-time, but the millers would start the second half the better team and be rewarded with an equaliser from the returning centre-half Eddie Clarke. With the game now going from end-to-end and both sides level-pegging the Moors would press on again and ten minutes on from the equaliser regain their lead. However, Carlton’s fighting spirit would continue and with twenty minutes left on the clock see Stovell hit a thunderous shot into the top of the net to bring the teams level. Bartram would hit a post late on in what was a positive work-out and one that should encourage the players to produce a performance on Saturday.

Carlton Town 1 – 2 Spalding United
Three days on from a good and productive performance would see a team that the millers had over-run earliar in the season come to town. Spalding were lying in a similar position in the league as Carlton and this was definitely billed as a six-pointer. The millers never really got out of the dressing room in this one and showed too much respect and time to their opponents. The away side would lead at the interval by a single goal and with not much dividing the two sides ability wise would have more endeavour to go two-up with nine minutes to play. A consolation goal for Motshweni in injury time would reduce the deficit in what quite frankly was an average display from the home team.

Carlton Town 2 – 0 AFC Mansfield
The senior cup was next on the agenda for the millers and a quarter-final against opposition whom had beaten them in the boxing day league fixture see an opportunity to gain revenge. The home side would not disappoint in this one ,but would start slowly and at times struggle to break down the opposition. Stovell, who was a constant threat with his pace and guile would cause the opposition a lot of problems in the first forty-five minutes but the game would stiil be a stalemate at half-time with neither side being able to break the deadlock. Five minutes into the second half would see Keiran Walker finally open the scoring and this now encouraged the home side to keep pressing the opposition. A late goal from Ollie Clark was to confirm the result and put the millers into the semi-finals for the second year in succession. The game would end bitterly though when Broadhead for the visitors would see red by kicking out at goalkeeper Steggles when he had the ball firmly clutched in his hands. A good performance all in all and with an added boost for the team with Ben Hutchinson getting some game time after recovering from a fractured sinus bone suffered in the victory over Pickering Town at the beginning of January.

And so March is upon us and possibly the most important month of the season regarding gaining results. The squad will need to be strong and pull in the same direction even more as the games will come thick and fast ,and with a lot of points to be won at stake, a good run of results with consistency and hard work is now required as we enter the penultimate month of the campaign.

Upcoming Fixtures
2nd March Lincoln United (h)
9th March Sheffield (a)
16th March Pontefract Collieries (h)
23rd March Cleethorpes Town (a)
30th March Morpeth Town (h)

Nottingham News, Notts Sport

Rushcliffe Borough Council has welcomed Nottingham Forest Football Club’s ambitions and plans to develop part of its City Ground stadium that could form part of a wider economic regeneration bringing housing and jobs to the site of its home in West Bridgford. Leader of the Council Cllr Simon Robinson said the club’s plans announced today could play a significant role in boosting the longer term housing options and employment opportunities in Rushcliffe’s Trent Bridge and neighbouring wards.

He said:
“This is a wonderful opportunity for the club and partners in the public and private sector to assist the creation of the largest sports stadium in the East Midlands and regenerate the area for the benefit of the community, city and region. “Forest play such an integral part of life here in Rushcliffe and the plans highlight a chance to bring new jobs and employment to the area that could only enhance our strapline of Rushcliffe as ‘Great Place, Great Lifestyle, Great Sport’.

“We look forward to working with the club to realise their ambitions and see where we can advise to assist creation of facilities that could complement the world class offering at neighbouring Trent Bridge cricket ground.” Rushcliffe Borough Council Chief Executive Allen Graham said:
“This major economic development project could be a great boost for this part of Rushcliffe and our staff teams will wish to work closely with Nottingham Forest officials to advise on planning, economic growth and any other matters.

“Any plans will of course be subject to an independent planning process once any applications are received.”

Nottingham News, Notts Sport

Nottingham Forest have confirmed after extensive negotiations that an agreement with the City Council for an extended lease on The City Ground has been completed.

This extended lease means the club are now able to proceed with plans to redevelop The City Ground and surrounding area. Central to this redevelopment will be the creation of a new, world-class Peter Taylor Stand and improvements to the Trentside area, Brian Clough and Bridgford Stands.

The new Peter Taylor Stand will see the introduction of world-class facilities including a museum, a new club shop, range of hospitality lounge options and restaurants and executive boxes. In addition to this there will be new spacious concourses for general-admission supporters as well as improved facilities for supporters with disabilities and a substantial increase in wheelchair spaces.

The club will now enter a period of consultation and engagement with the relevant supporter groups before making the necessary planning application.

Subject to the relevant consents the club are hopeful that building work will commence at the end of the 2019-20 season. The new, modern, state-of-the-art structure will see The City Ground’s capacity become the highest in the East Midlands, reaching 38,000 after completion.

Not since 1994 has The City Ground undergone any major development work. Even the previous redevelopment projects are dwarfed by the scale of the investment proposed in the new plans. The proposals illustrate the long-term strategy and commitment of the owner, Mr Evangelos Marinakis, to fully rebuild the football club.

Working with globally recognised architects Benoy, the project is ‘born in Nottingham, designed in Nottingham, built in Nottingham, from and for the people of Nottingham’.

Nottingham News, Notts Sport

Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club has announced the second-highest annual surplus in its history for the year ending September 2018.

The £908,260 profit comes on the back of a record-breaking year of attendances for domestic cricket, together with a sell-out programme of international fixtures and success across the commercial functions of the Club.

The result, which comes on the back of a £279,000 profit the previous year, was driven by a £2.3 million increase in annual turnover from £10.8 to £13.1 million.

The average T20 Vitality Blast attendance of 11,377 represented 11% year-on-year growth in 2018 – and the Club’s Membership figure of 8,234 was the highest for a non-Ashes year.

“These results no doubt emphasise the importance of international cricket to our ongoing sustainability,” said Chief Executive Lisa Pursehouse.

“However, I’m delighted that maintaining consistent growth in attendances for membership and domestic cricket at Trent Bridge has also contributed to the bottom line.”

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T20 Vitality Blast tickets go on general sale on Monday 4 March. Be among the first to snap up your seats by registering your interest to access a priority booking window here…