A KEYWORTH man who stood on a roundabout wearing a sandwich board asking people to give him a job has now found work.

Martin Bailey, who is working for Asda, has encouraged other job-seekers to be resourceful and take what comes their way.

Mr Bailey, who drew attention in January when he took to the London Road roundabout with a sign reading "Quality Worker Seeks Job; Honk If You Can Help", found work shortly after.

But the job did not come about as a result of the sign.

"No jobs came of it," he said. "I'm working as an Asda delivery man now. It was just a normal application."

Mr Bailey, who also volunteers with a charity each week, said job-seekers shouldn't be picky.

"If you get the chance at a job, take it, even if it's not what you want because it shows you're a worker," he said, adding that volunteering is also a good idea. "You can train up and you get to meet people."

The 51-year-old father-of-two volunteers for the British Red Cross fire and emergency support service. He learned about the group – which goes to scenes of serious house fires with a mobile home and provides a safe environment for people affected by the blaze – from another Asda worker.

After being made redundant from a civil service job, Mr Bailey opened a fancy dress shop in West Bridgford, but he struggled to keep it going and took to the street with his sign shortly after it closed.

He says he is grateful to the supermarket giant for taking him on.

"A lot of places won't look at you if you're over 50, but Asda does," he said.

A spokesperson for Asda said: "At Asda we're very clear that having a diverse workforce isn't a box-ticking exercise – it makes business sense.

"It's been proven that businesses with a diverse pool of talent perform better. We're delighted to have enthusiastic, customer-focused colleagues at any stage of life."

Mr Bailey takes satisfaction from a job that gets him out into the community

He said: "I like the job, meeting people and doing a bit of physical work. I like to chat to the people and be friendly. I believe it helps the brand."

NOTTS County have offered new deals to eight players.

The Magpies' boss Chris Kiwomya has met with all of the out-of-contract players at Meadow Lane today.

And he has revealed that he has offered fresh terms to Alan Sheehan, Jeff Hughes, Yoann Arquin, Joss Labadie as well as youngsters Curtis Thompson, Haydn Hollis, Greg Tempest and Tyrell Waite.

"They have still got to agree to those contract offers," said Kiwomya.

"We might have offered eight, but we might not have eight players there.

"We have got to see what their representatives say and what they think and move on from there.

"If they don't accept we will have to move on and get in other players."

Julian Kelly, Hamza Bencherif, Liam Mitchell and Jake Wholey will all be released when their current contracts end and Kiwomya is set for further talks with Gavin Mahon and Krystian Pearce.

FINAL plans are being made for the 2013 West Bridgford Summer Gathering.

The event, which features a diverse schedule of entertainment and activities, will also include stalls for local independent businesses.

The theme of this year's gathering, on Saturday May 18 in West Bridgford Park, is "West Bridgford in transition".

"It's going to be around a Totally Locally theme," organiser Karina Wells said.

"It's about sustainable and community living. New businesses were set up last year and they're now showcasing what they're building. Mothers and people who've lost jobs and started up new jobs – it's a full-of-hope festival.

"It's wonderful to see people making a new start and getting help from each other."

Totally Locally West Bridgford is NG2's contribution to a national movement to get people to notice local shops and businesses, and to get local businesspeople talking to and networking with each other.

"To have that showcase in the park is really nice," Ms Wells said.

Claudia Cole, who is taking over the organising role from Ms Wells, has organised a networking event for stallholders so they can chat.

It can be difficult on the day since they're behind their stalls and can't meet others.

"There's going to be a little bit of a knees-up to get to know the other businesses because that's what Totally Locally is all about – to put businesses together," Ms Wells said.

Throughout the day there will be a variety of entertainment and activities as well as shopping opportunities.

The fun will kick off with drumming for little ones, called Beat Feet, at 10am followed by maypole dancing from West Bridgford Infant School pupils.

Then there will be some story-telling, a picnic and a Nordic walking demonstration session as well as a zumba class.

Activities will finish around 3pm.

For more information on the event, visit www.wbsummergathering.co.uk.

A FAMILY has spoken of its shock after a man who "had no illnesses" died suddenly in his sleep.

Jamie Beekman was found dead at home in St Ann's, aged 36.

His family say the cause of death has been given as Sudden Adult Death Syndrome.

Now, they are planning a fund-raiser in his memory, on what would have been his 37th birthday.

Mr Beekman's sister, Zoe McCarten, said: "He just went in his sleep. He had no illnesses or anything, that's why it's such a massive shock. We were all devastated,"

Mr Beekman had been living with his parents, Maureen and Raymond, both 62, when he died on February 28.

The father-of-one is survived by 11-year-old son Kyle.

He had last worked for Nottingham City Council's cleansing team, tidying city streets and gardens. He had also worked as a postman in St Ann's and Bakersfield.

Mrs McCarten, 39, of Arnold, said: "Jamie was always the one who had a smile on his face and put one on other people's faces. He had 350 people at his funeral, that's how well he was thought of and respected."

Mr Beekman was born and raised in St Ann's and went to Morley Junior School and Frank Wheldon School.

About £670 was collected in Mr Beekman's memory at his funeral at St Ann's with Emmanuel Church and at a wake at Greyfriars Social Club, Gordon Road.

His family is planning a gathering at the club on Friday, May 17, to mark Mr Beekman's birthday and raise more money for charity.

Proceeds will be donated to the E38 children's cancer ward at the Queen's Medical Centre.

Mrs McCarten thanked everyone for their support. She said: "Mum and dad decided at his funeral that we would rather people give a donation than flowers.

"We were overwhelmed with the donations and mum said we want to now aim for £1,000, if not more.

"The way mum looks at it, something tragic has happened but some good is coming out of it.

The fundraiser starts at 7.30pm and will include a disco and auction. To make a donation, e-mail zoemccarten@sky.com.

DICK Lambert was the man who started the ball rolling at Clifton All Whites – who celebrate their 50th anniversary this year – in more ways than one.

Lambert, who lived on Thistledown Road, wanted to start an U12 football team for his two sons and their mates.

He called the team Thistledown Rovers and they kicked a ball around on a piece of waste ground.

Lambert, now 82, still remembers those early days with affection.

"You could not hire a pitch off the council in those days," said Lambert.

"There was very little organised youth football and the YEL only had three teams. So formed another one and we were up and running."

Lambert managed to get the use of a pitch at the old Clifton Colliery for two years.

Audrey, his wife for the last 60 years, made the first kit out of white sheets and the All Whites were born.

In 1965 they formed the first committee. Lambert was first chairman, Harry Cousins was vice-chairman and John Raynor was the secretary.

The rest of the committee was Bill Norwell, Walter Smedley, Ivor Eckram, Jack Cuthbert and Geoff Parker.

"These men were pioneers and they put so much hard work into the club. I can't praise them enough," said Lambert.

"We used to get changed in an old beer off.

"Eventually, I went cap in hand to the council to try and get some land of our own. They offered me the choice of Green Lane or a space near Clifton Bridge, which is now a car park.

"I went for Green Lane, because it was closer to the pub," joked Lambert. "It was a marshy waste land, but we all chipped in and tipped fly ash on it, which got us into trouble at the time because we didn't know we needed permission."

As the youth team started to grow, old boy Mick Walker came in as the first proper manager.

Club stalwarts like Norman Archer and Keith Elliott got involved and looked after the junior sides.

Lambert left in 1981 when work took him to Essex. But he came back to his roots in 1995.

"It was a wrench to leave, but I had given the club 21 years," said Lambert.

"They were happy days and we got a lot of help from people like Ken Wheldon, who used to give us £200 a month, which was a lot of money in those days.

"A Meadows lad, he was chairman of Walsall Football Club and then Birmingham City and he used to park his Rolls Royce on my drive at Clifton Grove. But he never forgot his roots."

Lambert had several run-ins with legendary Forest boss Brian Clough over the years.

"He wanted to use Green Lane as a training ground for Forest," said Lambert.

"I turned him down and he got a bit upset with me, to put it mildly. Some stinking letters were exchanged over the next few weeks.

"He accused us of taking talent away from Nottingham. But it was just the opposite really.

"Just look how many of our lads went on to join League clubs. There were well over 40.

"We had all the Benjamins, Bert Bowery, Keith Alexander, Garry Birtles, Pedro Richards, Ian Andrews....the list is endless.

"Forest took several players, like Peter Wells and Steve Burke, off us.

"They also took another very good keeper, Michael Dilnot. But they ruined him. They frightened him to death and he packed in football in the end."

Club president Elliott has had a long association with Clifton All Whites and still attends matches.

And he has savoured every minute of it. Well almost!

Elliott, who played for Eastwood Town and Gedling in his youth, joined the club in 1967 – almost by accident.

"I took my son down to the local rec and bumped into Norman Archer," he recalled. "He was coaching about 30 kids and said he would give my lad a game if I helped out with the kids for an hour. They became Clifton Imps. Norman was a terrific motivator, just like Dick Lambert and the current chairman."

Keith says the best team he managed was the one that included Steve Burke and hot-shot Geoff Hunt.

"They were cracking lads," he said. "Geoff was so good that Brian Clough wanted to sign him, but he wouldn't go.

"When the lads got to 17 they went into senior football and we went through the divisions in the Notts Combination.

"One day I got a call from Ernie Rudd, at the Notts Alliance, asking if we wanted to join as Grove Celtic had pulled out. We got fined by the Combination for leaving six weeks before the start of the season, but we went on to win the league."

The family spirit that exists at Clifton is epitomised by the fact that they have only had six chairmen over the years – Dick Lambert, Brian James, Pat Brodie, Tony Boam, John Taylor and Mark Woodford.

"There is a great team spirit," emphasised Elliott, who was team manager for 12 years and secretary for 30. "We were one big happy family. The secret of our success was the loyal officials and the hard-working mums and dads. The ground is named after one of them, Norman Archer, who gave so much for the club."

It was Elliott who started the boys club at Green Lane, but it wasn't all plain sailing for Clifton.

"The club ran into a bit of trouble," he recalled. "Dick Lambert left the area; John Raynor went to Long Eaton and a few of the lads, who lived that way like Garry Birtles and Steve Holder, went with him.

"We were skint, but we kept the club going, raising money through the Tote.

"Then someone came up with the magic words Car Boot. They were the saviour of the club.

"Who would have thought, back then, that we would be sitting here talking about the club 50 years later?"

NOTTINGHAM is hitting all the right notes as residents lap up local talent like Jake Bugg and Dog is Dead.

Music website Spotify says the city is second only to London when it comes to streaming music, beating cities like Birmingham and Edinburgh.

Spotify studied the average number of minutes of music listened to per day by each Spotify user in each major city.

Will Hope, of Spotify, said: "It's interesting to see that the UK's second biggest community of music fans are in Nottingham, pushing the more famously 'musical' cities of Manchester and Liverpool down the list."

To celebrate Spotify has created a Nottingham playlist featuring Jake Bugg, Editors – as one of the members went to Toot Hill School in Bingham – and Stereo MC's.

Lee Durbin, 28, of Sherwood, said: "These days I use Spotify exclusively for access to music. I don't buy CDs anymore as I don't see the benefit in spending a tenner on a physical product which only differs from its digital equivalent in terms of the artwork."

Post reviewer Mike Atkinson said: "It's a weird one. Either we are music-mad, or we're just a city of cheapskates."

To listen to the playlist visit thisisnottingham. co.uk

The list: Jake Bugg – Trouble Town; Editors – Munich; Stereo MC's – Connected; Little Barrie – Surf Hell; Scout Niblett – Kiss; Spotlight Kid – Budge Up; Tindersticks – Tiny Tears; Crazy P – Heartbreaker; Pitchshifter – Genius; Ten Years After – I'm Going Home (Live at Woodstock)

AMID the fierce, powder keg atmosphere of a local derby, Nottingham Forest fans were always going to have a big role to play this weekend.

And their positive backing can be a huge factor at the City Ground on Saturday afternoon.

But it is the mood of the Bolton fans that Forest's players need to influence the most.

In a world where text messaging, the internet and old fashioned radio provide a constant source of information, the Reds actually can, to some degree, have an impact what happens at the Reebok Stadium – and at Selhurst Park.

When Greg Halford headed home at Millwall, it was the first time Forest have scored inside 15 minutes in the Championship all season.

Never has their ability to repeat that feat been more important than now.

Because, if they can score an early goal against Leicester, news will filter through in a matter of seconds.

Within moments, somebody at the Reebok will hear the news – and the reaction of the Bolton fans will ensure that the players on the pitch know exactly what has happened too.

It will be the same story in London, where Palace still need to win to be absolutely certain of securing their own play-off place.

As high pressure situations go, the difference between the atmosphere at the Reebok, Selhurst Park and the City Ground will be negligible.

Bolton are in the driving seat. With a goal difference that is three goals superior to Forest's, they hold a significant advantage. They know that, if they win by a couple of goals, they are more or less in the play-offs.

But it is not an insurmountable gap for Forest.

And, if Bolton suddenly start to hear whispers that Forest have taken an early lead 90 miles or so to the south, it will only add to the pressure they are feeling. It will also set nerves jangling in south London.

Following 45 matches of the season, the balance of power in the play-off race will change on a minute-by-minute basis on Saturday afternoon.

It is about mental strength, it is about belief and focus.

But, what happens at the other ends of the motorway is not out of Forest's hands, because they can influence the mood in the north and south.

They genuinely can ensure that the sense of nervousness and trepidation is cranked right up in the Bolton and Palace camps.

Obviously the opposite is also true. Forest won't want to hear that Bolton have taken the advantage over Blackpool either, or that Palace are doing their job and putting Peterborough's Championship future in peril.

But we all want to see Forest get over the finishing line, following what has been a remarkable season.

And, while it may be too greedy of me, it would be fantastic to see Forest score a couple of early goals, to really make the panic set in among Dougie Freedman's side; to make Ian Holloway's stuttering Palace start to fear that they could go from automatic promotion contenders to missing out on the top six completely.

I am not saying Forest should be all gung ho about things; that they should tear onto Leicester with all guns blazing.

Billy Davies is a better manager than that. His sides have organisation and hard work at the core of their being and Saturday will be no different.

But, if Forest versus Leicester was a boxing match, I would expect it to be one fought out in the centre of the ring, with two big hitters going toe-to-toe.

There will be no dancing around, no trying to frustrate the opponent – because both sides need to win; Leicester need to land a knock-out blow every bit as much as Forest do.

Because don't forget, if Bolton do slip-up and lose to Blackpool, Leicester can still gate crash the party.

Their recent form under Nigel Pearson would suggest that is unlikely. Leicester have only won twice in their last 17 games. They are hardly in flying form, in terms of results.

But their performances have been better than their recent slide out of the top six might suggest.

They got a 1-1 draw at Brighton, were unlucky to draw 2-2 at home to Birmingham – when they played very well – beat Bolton 3-2, drew 2-2 at Palace and lost narrowly 2-1 at home to a quality Watford side.

The Foxes have played most of the big hitters in the division in the last few weeks and, while they have not picked up the wins they would have liked, nor have they been outclassed.

Far from it, in fact.

Forest must not underestimate the Foxes, even if it seems like they are the least likely of the contenders to sneak into the top six.

Nigel Pearson will not be allowing his players to view things that way.

And even if they do not make the top six themselves, they would enjoy nothing more than denying Forest their opportunity.

It is not intended as a criticism when I repeat my view that now would be the time for the Forest strikers to end their famine in front of goal.

That is obvious. It would be fantastic to see Simon Cox hammer home a hat-trick, because he deserves it following all the hard work and industry he has supplied over the last few months.

But that is not really what matters now. What will count is that, when those chances come Forest's way, they make the most of them.

Whether it is a defender, a midfielder or a striker, if Forest do carve out an opportunity, they have to make it count.

This is the time for the team to find their cutting edge and their ruthlessness.

At the end of the day, a 1-0 win with a goal scored off somebody's backside in the final minute may well prove to be enough to get them over the finishing line.

But, on a day where pressure, mental strength and confidence could be the decisive factor, if Forest can get an early goal, it could genuinely be a decisive moment in their season.

Hopefully, at sometime before 1pm on Saturday, news will filter through at the Reebok and at Selhurst Park that Forest are taking the first step towards a big win.

And at the same time, they can deal a hammer blow to Bolton's confidence and make Palace take an even more nervous look over their shoulders.

Over to you, Forest. Good luck.

CHRIS Kiwomya believes he can turn Yoann Arquin into a tour de force for Notts County.

The French striker is one of eight players to be offered a new deal with the Magpies.

It is a bit of a surprise because Arquin only scored two goals in the last five months of the season.

He ended the campaign as the club's leading scorer with nine goals, but a lot of fans still expected him to be saying au revoir to Meadow Lane.

But Kiwomya thinks he can get the best out of the 25-year-old if he stays.

"Yoann's difficult because sometimes he is absolutely magnificent, but then others you're not quite sure what he's going to do," he said.

"But he's had an impact when he's come on in games and he's scored some important goals since I've been here.

"I think he's one player you want to see if he can keep on improving because he is a handful."

Alan Sheehan, Jeff Hughes and Joss Labadie, as well as youngsters Curtis Thompson, Haydn Hollis, Greg Tempest and Tyrell Waite have also been offered new contracts after meetings with Kiwomya at Meadow Lane yesterday.

And the Magpies' boss hopes they all put pen to paper.

"They know where I want to try and go," he said.

"We'll see where it goes, but there will be a deadline and we'll move on if they're not signing for the club.

"Players have got to want to play for this club.

"If they want to sit on it for too long, we'll leave it, move on and get in other players."

Kiwomya says both midfielder Gavin Mahon and defender Krystian Pearce could also have a future at Meadow Lane and he is set for further contract talks with them in the near future.

Mahon is 36 and ended the season out on loan at Stevenage so it is a big surprise he could now stay at the club next season.

"He's at an age where I don't know what he really wants to do," said Kiwomya.

"We've had a quick chat and he's going to have a little think about it.

"There might be something there or their might not be, we'll find out very shortly."

Meanwhile, Julian Kelly, Hamza Bencherif, Liam Mitchell and Jake Wholey will all be released by the club when their current contracts with the Magpies end this summer.

AFTER one home league win all season and with relegation on the cards, you'd think Eastwood Town FC have little to cheer.

But one teenage fan has other ideas.

Zander Shayler, 13, has raised nearly £300 for the club by running a tuck shop behind the dugouts at Eastwood's Coronation Park ground this season.

He wants it to pay for an end-of-season night out for staff and players.

Zander, of Bishop Street, Eastwood, said: "I love watching Eastwood. They have worked very hard this season so they deserve this money.

"Making money for the club and keeping it alive is all I'm really bothered about."

Eastwood Comprehensive School pupil Zander first came up with the idea of running the tuck shop when he was 11.

He began operating it last year, and made around £30 for the club.

The teenage businessman opened his tuck shop for business at Coronation Park for a 28th and final time this season during the Notts Senior Cup final between Carlton Town and Sutton Town on Tuesday.

His biggest-selling week saw Zander make £37 when 607 people watched Eastwood draw 2-2 with FC United of Manchester on April 13.

Eastwood played their last home game of the season at Coronation Park last Saturday against Blyth Spartans, losing 1-4.

The Badgers are due to finish bottom of the Evo-Stik League Northern Premier Division, and be relegated after their final league match of the season at Chorley on Saturday.

But Zander says he hopes to continue selling confectionery.

He said: "There used to be sweets sold when I first started going about four or five years ago.

"When the opportunity came along again I thought I'd take it. I buy the stock myself and I have some regulars who always like a Kit Kat.

"I hope to do it again next season and raise as much money as I can."

Zander, who is due to have trials with the club's under-15s side in June, added: "I would love to play for Eastwood one day."

His mum Karen, 47, a steward at the club, said: "He's a massive fan even though we've been relegated. Through the rain and snow and all the bad weather, he's never missed a match."

She and her partner, Stephen Walton, 56, a club supervisor on match days, gave Zander £10 to start his business.

"He's got a stock chart on his computer and also charts sales as well," she said. "When he comes to tell us how much he's made each match he'll say 'is that enough?' It doesn't matter if he's only made 5p, he's doing it off his own back. We're really proud of him."

Zander plans to present Eastwood Town with the proceeds at Coronation Park on May 18.

Club manager Chris Shaw said: "What Zander has done is a great honour and it shows just what people are willing to do for the club. With a few more people like Zander, and the continued support of our fans, we hope we will soon be back to where we want to be."

A BUILDER'S leg was nearly ripped off when the garage he was demolishing collapsed on top of him.

Former paratrooper Jake Weir had to dig himself out of a huge pile of bricks and concrete after the accident, in which his severed leg was left hanging from his body by only a strand of skin. Days after the accident medics told the 33-year-old he would have to have his leg amputated and Mr Weir braced himself for a lifetime in a wheelchair.

But he was saved by a team of surgeons at the Queen's Medical Centre in Nottingham.

Mr Weir said: "I've had flashbacks of that moment, it still haunts me. Honestly, I thought I was gone, I thought that was it."

The exact moment the father-of-one got crushed was caught on video by the man who had commissioned Mr Weir to demolish his garage.

"When I first saw the video it was very difficult to watch," said Mr Weir. "I can't get over what's happened. I've gone from thinking I'm going to lose everything to making a full recovery."

Professor Chris Moran performed a six-hour reconstruction operation on Mr Weir at the QMC. "When I first saw him, his type of injury was as severe as it could be, without having to be amputated," he said.

NOTTINGHAM Forest's play-off hopes will be boosted – by Paul Ince's fierce will to win.

The Reds desperately need Ince's Blackpool side to do them a favour by beating play-off rivals Bolton on Saturday – or for Peterborough to win at Crystal Palace.

And, while the Tangerines are now safe from the threat of relegation in the Championship, Garry Birtles believes Forest can rely on them to give their all – because of the man at the helm.

Forest legend Birtles is convinced the former England captain will have his players fired up for what is a local derby.

And he says Forest must merely focus on completing their side of the bargain – by coming out on top when they face their own East Midlands rivals Leicester City.

Then they can worry about whether Peterborough or Blackpool have done them a favour.

"Billy does not need to pick up the phone and talk to Paul Ince to ask him to make sure his lads are up for it, that would be a wasted phone call," said Birtles. "But Billy would know that.

"He would know that Ince is the sort of character who would be upset if anyone felt the need to call him and ask him to be professional – because that is his basic driving force.

"Ince has always been a man who likes to win. If there are any of his players who are already on holiday, mentally speaking, I am sure they will not be in his side on Saturday afternoon.

"It is a local derby and there is pride at stake. Blackpool may be safe, but there are numerous reasons why they should want to win, beyond even pride."

Birtles believes many of Blackpool's squad will still be playing to secure their own futures at the club.

While he is also encouraged by the fact that Peterborough still need to win if they are to avoid the drop into League One.

"Ince himself is still getting his feet under the table, he has not been at the club for a huge amount of time," he said.

"He is also still trying to win over a few fans who might have been sceptical about his appointment in the first place.

"And, from a player's point of view, they need to be motivated as well – because Ince will be making some big decisions about his squad over the summer.

"If he sees anyone slacking off now, or not giving their all in the final game of the season, it might mean they do not get a new contract or that they are slapped on the transfer list."

Birtles hopes Forest can complete their part of the bargain by beating Leicester – while relying on Blackpool to dent Bolton's hopes or Peterborough to claim three points at Selhurst Park.

"Forest need Blackpool to do them a favour. But that will not be their motivation," he said.

"We all hope that Blackpool can pull off what would be a surprise win; we are all keeping our fingers crossed that it happens.

"While Peterborough need to win if they are to avoid relegation, so they are not going to be needing any kind of pep talk. Forest just need to focus on doing what they need to do."