Williams tells Magpies players to help make it home, sweet home
BOSS WANTS TO GIVE FANS SOMETHING TO SHOUT ABOUT
NOTTS County boss Luke Williams believes the Meadow Lane atmosphere could be a key factor for his side’s success this season.
And he adds that his players can help ramp up the volume.
The Magpies have enjoyed a successful pre-season ahead of their National League opener with Maidenhead United on Saturday, remaining undefeated across their five games, including wins against Leicester City, Alfreton Town and York City.
But arguably their most impressive performance came in their 2-2 draw against Premier League new boys Nottingham Forest at Meadow Lane, with 14,041 supporters crammed inside Meadow Lane.
While 5,929 of those were supporting Steve Cooper’s side, Magpies boss Williams believes the atmosphere created inside the ground that night can be beneficial to his side throughout the National League season.
And Williams says his players must do their bit to make Meadow Lane one of the most feared grounds in the league this season.
“It was a brilliant atmosphere and that game in particular did not feel like a pre-season friendly,” said Williams. “But, it’s a two-way thing, we need to give them something to shout about.
“The bare minimum is that the supporters see the players really trying to win the ball back and putting their body on the line, they need to see that level of intensity without the ball.
“They will love the players for that commitment to the cause but we need to give them opportunities to cheer and to get excited when we are in and around the box as well and that can help us during the National League season.”
When looking at the average attendances during the 2021-22 National League season, the Magpies had the third-best at home, only beaten by Wrexham and Stockport County, the latter gaining promotion to League Two.
Over the course of the season, Notts’ average attendance stood at 6,800, a capacity of 31.8% inside Meadow Lane’s 21,388 seater stadium.
The Magpies’ 2-0 victory over Solihull Moors on November 15 last season was watched by 12,843 fans inside Meadow Lane, smashing the record at this level which was held previously by Bristol Rovers, who had 11,085 watching them in 2015.
The Magpies picked up 50 of their overall tally of 82 points at home last season, with 15 of their 24 wins coming in front of their own fans.
There were only two home defeats, against Woking and Grimsby Town, with the Mariners also beating the Magpies at Meadow Lane in the play-offs to condemn them to a third season outside the English Football League.