Notts County Prepares for New Season at Home

As Notts County gets ready for their first home game of the 2024-25 League Two season, head coach Stuart Maynard is buzzing with excitement. He knows how important it is to create a tough home atmosphere at Meadow Lane.

The team has worked hard on the pitch lately, putting in a whole new surface that didn’t allow for any pre-season friendly matches at home. Now that everything is in place, Maynard and the squad can’t wait to impress their fans.

Having played their first two games away, the new pitch has had the time it needs to settle. Maynard believes the new surface will be essential for how the team plays this season.

He shared, “I’m not a specialist in growing grass, but when you’re on it, it’s clear the grass coverage is amazing. The ball moves super fast, which is great for our style of play.” For Maynard, speed on the pitch is vital for outsmarting opponents and creating chances.

Notts County’s style relies on quick ball movement and precise passing, and the new pitch should support that. Maynard is making sure that the team adjusts quickly to the pitch’s dimensions, which he says are larger this season than last.

“We’ve ensured our training pitch matches the new dimensions,” he said. “It truly impacts where players receive the ball and how much space they have.”

With over 6,000 season ticket holders, Notts County is one of the best-supported clubs in League Two. Maynard is committed to using that support to gain a significant home advantage. “We’re a big club within this division,” he mentioned. “Having 6,000 season tickets is incredible. We need to turn our home into a fortress and make it tough for opponents.”

Maynard is also aware that Sunday’s opponent, Fleetwood Town, poses a serious challenge. Recently relegated from League One, they are eager to make an immediate comeback. “They’ll be strong contenders, particularly with a front two that stands out in the division,” he said. “We know they’re a threat, but we need to focus on our game too.”

The scheduling for the match was affected by Nottingham Forest’s home game the day before, meaning Notts County now plays on Sunday. While it’s not the ideal scenario for Maynard, he is staying positive. “We’d prefer Saturday, but we’ll prepare as best as we can for Sunday,” he added.

Moreover, Notts County’s partnership with a local university has significantly improved their training facilities. They now have access to top-notch equipment that helps players recover and avoid injuries. “We’re very fortunate to have this partnership,” Maynard said. “The type of equipment we have wouldn’t normally be feasible for a club our size.”

As the season unfolds, Stuart Maynard aims to build on last summer’s strong foundation, make Meadow Lane a tough place for opponents, and help Notts County succeed in League Two.