SPOTLIGHT ON : NOTTS COUNTY FAN - JO COTTEE

Each home game, we shine a spotlight on a female fan from the visiting team, giving them a chance to share their story and love for the game.

This week, we caught up with Jo, a proud Notts County fan, whose story perfectly captures the heart and dedication of following your club through every high and low. Here’s what she had to say.

🔵 Name:

Jo Cottee

🟠 Club:

Notts County

📍 Hometown:

Dorchester, Dorset

🗣️ Q&A

Tell us an interesting or unusual fact about your hometown or city.

Unusual fact about Nottingham: Nottingham is home to the oldest pub in England, Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem, opened in 1186. Nottingham is not just home to the oldest pub, but also the oldest football club in the league: Notts County! Founded in 1862.

What got you into football – and do you remember your first match?

The 1998 World Cup! I collected stickers of all the players. Then I joined a girls’ football club at my school. When I watched Bend it Like Beckham, It felt more accepted to play football as a girl, cool even! I joined Dorchester Girls Under 14s. I remember that we competed in the Dorset and Wiltshire Games. We didn’t win a single match, but we won the fair play award!

Why did you choose to support your club?

My Dad supports Notts so I have always been interested, but I started following them more when I was at University in Exeter. I lived in a house of friends who were studying sports science, so the football scored were ALWAYS on. So naturally I started following Notts. Then Notts came to play Exeter so I went to watch. Tickets were £10 including a pie and a pint - student deal!

Who was your footballing hero growing up?

Probably some of the 1998 world cup team – Micheal Owen and of course David Beckham! I had the bobble heads of them!

What's your favourite football memory as a fan (or player)?

It has to be winning promotion from the National League at Wembley in the 22/23 season. We had a season long battle with Wrexham. Then secured promotion through the gruelling plays offs, winning on penalties against Chesterfield. You can only imagine the tension, but worth all the stress!

“After promotion at Wembley”

Do you travel to away games often? What’s been your favourite league 2 ground to visit – apart from Boundary Park!

Being fan who lives away from Nottingham, we go to away days more than home. We mainly go to matches in the South and in London, of which there aren’t many in League 2 – another reason to get promoted! My favourite ground so far has been Barnet, friendly fans, good bar and good view from the away stand.

What’s the best chant or song your fans sing?

The Wheelbarrow song! ‘We had a wheelbarrow, the wheel fell off…’ People say that it was first sung in a game against Shrewsbury in 1991, basically meaning ‘things were going well, and now they’re not!’

Have you noticed attitudes toward female fans or the women’s game changing?

Since I’ve been attending matches, I’ve definitely noticed an increase of female fans and girls coming along to matches, particularly home matches. However I notice that other football fans will automatically talk to my Dad rather than both of us. I think that more could be done to increase women’s voices and perspectives in men’s football, such as in media, clubs structures and podcasts, which is why this blog is so great! That way women’s voices in football become more normalised.

The change in Women’s football has been exponential! I think if I was growing up now, I might have stuck with playing football for longer as it’s so much more normalised. I remember watching Bend it like Beckham when it first came out. It was so ahead of it’s time and has been a backdrop for the change that was needed over the last 20 years. What will things be like in another 20 years?!

Matchday traditions – any lucky charms or rituals?

When we’re at a home match, go to Vat and Fiddle, go The Nest (fanzone) and a trip to the club shop!

If your club were a film or song, what would it be and why?

Song - ‘I get knocked down, but I get up again..!’

How do you feel Notts County are doing this season?

We had a new manager and lots of new additions to the squad in the summer which took a few weeks to adjust. But we had a great run after that, before another dip around Christmas. Overall, I think we’re doing ok, but need to improve in the second half of the season.

Any particular player for us to watch out for?

Tom Lorpenda

Score predictions this afternoon?

3-1 to Notts. I have to be optimistic, but I’m sure we’ll concede too.

Where do you think you will finish in the league?

We have to be aiming for play offs. I think this is realistic.

Favourite result or most memorable game between the two sides?

Have there been any? Maybe this match will be the one!

How confident are Notts County fans going into this fixture after your 3-1 win on the 4th October 2025?

It depends when the match has been re-scheduled to. At the time of writing this (just found out it has been postponed), not that confident! But I think postponing it could work in our favour. We have a lot on injuries who will hopefully be back soon.

So let’s ask this again 🤣 How confident are you?

As a Notts fan, I'm never confident but our recent form has been good so I would hope we can win. We need to if we want to keep our automatics promotion hopes alive!

⚡ Quick Fire Round

🏟️ Favourite stadium (besides your own)?

Emirates

🥧 Top matchday snack?

burger and pint

🚌 Home or away days?

Home – it’s like making a pilgrimage! But I love an away day.

📺 VAR – yes or no?

NO! I’m old school

👕 Dream player to sign for your club?

to re-sign Macaulay Langstaff – He’s a club hero!

💬 Final thoughts

"Thank you to the HGT Oldham team for giving the platform for women to share their experiences of football, this is exactly what Her Game too is all about! Her Game Too is the first experience I’ve had of connecting with other female fans, who are passionate about making football more inclusive. Keep up the great work!"

A huge thank you to Jo for sharing her story and giving us a glimpse into life as a devoted Notts County supporter. We wish all travelling fans a safe journey ahead of tonight’s big game.