Why ‘grump’ Paterson is treating Brackley like Arsenal

Martin Paterson claims that he is wearing a “grumpy” T-shirt at home for a reason.

The Notts County head coach is doing it for the same reason as if they were Arsenal, the Premier League-leading team, in preparation for Saturday’s FA Cup game against non-league Brackley Town.

The 38-year-old acknowledges that he has an “intense” character and that the club’s cup is his most prized piece of silverware.

He told BBC Sport, “My wife informed me that some people were talking about getting me a grumpy T-shirt, and I thought that was a little unfair because I already have one.”

My daughter enjoys wearing a Snow White ” Grumpy ” shirt at night.

I’m intense when I’m with you, and that’s because I want to help the group work harder to improve.

And that is from a head coach who, according to him, was “hellbent” on winning the FA Cup when he first started his career at Stoke City under Tony Pulis.

The former striker says he values a cup run for a club because of Pulis’ approach and playing under Eddie Howe, the current Newcastle boss, who Paterson played for at Burnley.

According to Paterson, “I believe it’s the best domestic competition there is, and it’s an opportunity for the lads to try to score a tie against people they might never get a chance to play against.”

It’s also a chance to demonstrate some humility by demonstrating that Brackley will be a very difficult game when you travel there.

You should approach this game the same way you would play Manchester United or Arsenal; it gives you an opportunity to advance to the next round.

Paterson’s first managerial position in the FA Cup will be against a team that is 36 places below the Magpies in the English football pyramid.

When League One side Huddersfield Town were eliminated from the competition by National League outfit Tamworth last year, he served as Michael Duff’s assistant.

As a 131-year-old winner of the cup in 1894, Paterson is aware that Notts is regarded as a significant scalp at this point in the game.

He said, “We obviously have history, we won it a long time ago, and it’s a proud memory of the club.”

“I think everyone sees Notts County as a really good club, especially at League Two, and it’s traditionally the oldest professional football team, so I suppose it looks like we’re a target for other people,” he said.

“But I got that ready. I can’t help but feel like a target. We don’t do anything differently because it’s ultimately a game of football.

I simply want my players to keep competing and improving, just like they have been doing for the past month.

Notts moved up to fifth place in League Two and just two points clear of the leader after winning three games in a four-game unbeaten league run in October.

As the head coach of Notts County, Paterson said, “I’m proud to be here, and I know the responsibility I carries with it.”

“And that’s why people still see me as this fierce, grumpy person, despite winning.”