Austin McCann provides us with his latest Blog entry as we build up to the new season, with plenty more revelations from the Magpies left-back - including his annual 'Lawrie Watch' as he dishes the dirt on his good friend Lawrie Dudfield, who else has been 'Somnered', and plenty more!

Welcome to my latest Blog. Well, where shall I start? Firstly, we'll talk about the Forest game, the big home-game of pre-season - and my last outing as I missed the Tamworth match.

It was a great game for the fans; they got right behind us even though we had a really bad start to the game. We got ourselves back in the game and we were grateful they stuck with us, and in the second half we were the much better side. It was great to see such a turn-out from our fans and I am sure we will have a big following on Saturday when we start the season at Grimsby.

Last year at Lincoln when I made my debut there were about 2,000 Notts fans there, and all game they out-sang the Lincoln fans and believe me it was a massive boost to all the players. They were a credit to the Club and I am sure they will all be out in force at Grimsby, and it would be fantastic to see about the same number so please get to Blundell Park if you can! It would be great to get a win too, and go one better than last year when we drew at Sincil Bank.

I should also mention the pitch, and give the Groundsman a mention and his team. The pitch, compared to how it was at the end of last season, was fantastic so there's a big pat on the back to the Groundstaff. No doubt the hard work will start when the Rugby boys are sticking their six-inch studs into it in the next couple of months!

Catalogue wise, I am sure you have all seen my mug on the front cover of the new Club Catalogue. As I've mentioned before I was second-choice to Mike Edwards, and once he broke his leg I had the honours. I modelled the home kit and I'm on the cover, so things can't get better than that can they?! I've been told I looked miserable on the cover, but they wanted a moody look and as a Scotsman it wasn't too difficult! It was my natural look some people would say, and tight-fisted as well!

On 'Lawrie Watch' he has been sulking as usual because he didn't get the call for the Catalogue, but if you compare our two faces there's only one winner. I'm still getting my 45 calls a day from him so we all know what he has been doing, but I' sure I'll be seeing more of him in the next week or two as my Wife and his girlfriend are going on holiday together. No doubt we will see each other a bit, so hopefully by the next Blog I'll have some shenanigans to report. I won't be risking my life and trying his cooking though, I'll stick to my own.

As the season is getting closer and closer the training has stepped up a fair bit with more and more contact, and I think as a result a few of the new boys have found out what Matt Somner is all about. Neil MacKenzie took a whack within five minutes and was struggling for a while, and Adam Tann got 'Somnered' as we are calling it now as well last week. We're all staying well out of Matty's way now in training and fearing our lives to be honest.

With some more gossip, I've got to tell you about the new-boy Tim Sandercombe's dress-sense shocker. Last week for the Forest game the Gaffer told us all to turn up in our Suits & Ties, and being a long way from home it would seem Tim didn't bring any shoes with him. Instead of being fined for turning up with the Club Tracksuit on, he decided to come in with his Shirt & Tie, Suit Jacket and….a pair of Adidas 'Superstar' White Trainers! All he needed was a white string-vest and he would have been Rab C Nesbit. He shown he is tight-fisted now though, because he could have bought some new shoes but instead he's had to pay a fine AND buy some new shoes! He did not look good at all.

To be fair I am missing a bit of gossip because from after the Forest game I was ill until last Friday. I got home and for some reason I started shaking and felt really ill. I saw the Doctor the next day and I had some Virus so I had to stay away from the boys. It has been weird how many injuries we've had, but most of them have been niggles and I can assure the fans there's nothing to worry about. With Eddy's long-term injury I think it has put a dampener on anyone getting an injury, but these ones are all little niggles and I'm sure we will have a really strong squad for the Grimsby game.

Speaking of Eddy, it was good to see him down for the Team Photo last week. I've spoken to him a few times and he seems really upbeat. I think he has a few weeks to go before the cast comes off, but it has been great to see him a few times down at the Club. I told him the other day when I took him home after he came in for the Team Photo, standing in again - this time for Tom, I would pick him up and drop him back any time because it gives us all such a massive lift to see him around the place with a smile on his face. To say it has taken part of his season out, the boy is in a great frame of mind and he is determined to help us even when he isn't playing. To see him like he is and willing to do anything he can to help us gives us all a lift and makes us all thankful we are fit and ready to start the season.

So, the build-up begins now and that's it from me for another week or two depending on when Tom summons me in again for my next instalment. I'm looking forward to seeing you all at Grimsby, so get behind us and we'll do our very best to make sure you all go home with a smile on your faces.

Take Care,

Oz