FORMER Nottingham Forest boss Sean O'Driscoll has been appointed as the new head coach of the England under-19 side.
O'Driscoll hopes to install a 'culture of excellence' into the England stars of the future, after taking up the new position.
His words echo the sentiments he voiced when taking over as manager of Forest in July 2012, following the takeover of the club by the Al Hasawi family.
But the 57-year-old was ultimately not given a huge amount of time to implement his plans at the City Ground, as he was sacked on Boxing Day 2012, just a few hours after beating Leeds United 4-2 at the City Ground.
O'Driscoll subsequently had a frustrating spell in charge of Bristol City, failing to save the club from relegation and then parting company with the Robins in November of last year, after making a stuttering start to life in League One.
But his new role within the England set-up could be the perfect one for the deep thinking boss, who also had successful spells in charge of Doncaster and Bournemouth.
O'Driscoll's first match is on Monday, when the under-19 side face Germany in Dusseldorf.
O'Driscoll won't officially be in charge for the game, with John Peacock overseeing the fixture – but O'Driscoll will take over for the European Championship first qualifying round games in Luxembourg next month.
"I am excited by the approach now being undertaken and the ongoing work to put in place a strong England culture and identity in which both players and coaches can learn, develop and be successful," O'Driscoll told the FA website.
"Britain's most successful sports are those that have invested the time and effort into creating cultures of excellence and supportive yet challenging environments, where success is a result of everybody working towards the same vision.
"The vision is to produce intelligent, committed England teams that entertain, play without fear and are brave with the ball, all with the continuing aim of achieving sustained international success.
"I am delighted to have the opportunity to contribute at this pivotal time for English football."
England under-21 both Garath Southgate believes O'Driscoll is a good appointment, saying: "He is somebody whose values and philosophy match what we are trying to embed.
"He's got great experience in youth development and in the senior game. His teams have always reflected a style of play which is something we would like to implement and he's a developer of players.
"I think the role will really suit him and he is joining us at a time when his ideas will have the chance to impact on, not just the age group he will be working with, but the group of national coaches."
Current Forest first team coach Brian Eastick is himself a former England under-19 coach, while boss Stuart Pearce had a successful spell in charge of the under-21 side.

Freeview is expanding its on-screen programme guide to allow for up to ninety-nine general entertainment channels. 

To make way for more free channels, viewers will need to retune their Freeview TVs and boxes this afternoon. 

News channels 80-85 will be moved to 130-135 and Children's channels will move from 70-76 to 120-126 in the Freeview TV guide. 

Some equipment will automatically retune however others will have be rescanned manually.

While viewers who do not retune will still be able to watch channels at their old numbers, they will not be able to access new services until they have retuned their equipment.

Guy North, Managing Director of Freeview, said: "This update to the TV guide will create the room needed to bring even more great entertainment to Freeview viewers. 

"We are urging viewers to retune to ensure they can still watch their favourite news and children's shows without missing out on exciting new services." 

The update is being co-ordinated by Digital UK and changes are expected to be completed by mid-afternoon. 

On-screen messages will prompt viewers to retune and these will show until October 1.

If you need any additional support you can contact the Freeview advice line on 03456 505050. 

The new channel numbers are as follows:
BBC News Channel 130
BBC Parliament 131
Sky News 132
Al Jazeera English 133
Al Jazeera Arabic 134
Russia Today (RT) 135
CBBC 120
CBeebies 121
CITV 122
CBBC HD 123
CBeebies HD 124
Pop 125
Pop+1 126

How to retune your Freeview TV or box:
1: Press menu on your box or TV remote control
2: Select – Set-up, installation, update (or similar option)
3: If you are asked for a password the default code is 1234 or 0000
4: Select 'first time installation' (sometimes called 'factory reset,' 'full retune' or 'default settings'

Seventy-five years ago Britain joined the Second World War.

This image - from the British Newspaper Archive - shows the front page of the Nottingham Post on the day that Britain declared war on Nazi Germany.

The headline states "Britain at War with Germany" and proceeds to show the country's determination.

The front page also quotes the then Prime Minister, Neville Chamberlain: "Everything that I have worked for, everything that I have hoped for, everything that I believed in during my public life has crashed into ruins this morning. 

"There is only one thing left for me, and that is to devote what strength and powers I have to forwarding the victory of the course for which we have to sacrifice ourselves. 

"I cannot tell what part I may be allowed to play myself. I trust I may live to see the day when Hitlerism has been destroyed and a restored and liberated Europe has been re-established."

Britain became involved in the Second World War at 11am on September 3, 1939.

Berlin ignored Neville Chamberlain's ultimatum which said that a state of war would exist unless it agreed to remove its forces from Poland.

The image of the front page has been provided by the British Newspaper Archive.

@NottinghamPost Your front page 75 years ago today, the day Britain joined WW2 - http://t.co/ouklp9N4Ghpic.twitter.com/9UTehU5Dud

— The BNA (@BNArchive) September 3, 2014

Poets are needed to raise money for dementia sufferers and hospices for people with life-limiting illnesses.

A Sneinton publishing firm has launched a poetry competition, with the £3 entry fee being split three ways.

One-third will go to Dementia UK, with the same amount going to Myton Hospice.

The remainder will go towards a prize fund for the best poems.

Reg Davey, editor-in-chief at Dagda Publishing, was inspired to set up the competition by his friend Karl Tessier-Ashpool.

Mr Davey said: "Karl is a science teacher at a school in Coventry and is arranging for a group of his students to climb Mount Kilimanjaro for charity."

That group will be raising money for Myton House and Dementia UK, which cares for people with the condition.

Mr Davey decided he wanted to help and added: "Being a publisher I thought it provided a great opportunity for a competition.

"We're looking forward to receiving entries and judging what we believe are the best.

"It is also nice to know that what we are doing is raising money for people who are less fortunate. We are raising money for two very worthy causes."

Two entries have already been sent in to the competition, though the firm is unable to show them until after the deadline of October 20.

Entries must be based around the theme 'overcoming obstacles'.

Seventy-five per cent of the prize fund will go to the first place, with the remainder going to the runner-up. Both poems, along with one judged in third place, will be published on Dagda's website.

Mr Davey and other literary experts will be on the judging panel.

He added: "It is open to anyone in the UK. We are hoping to get plenty of entries."

Among the ways that Dementia UK uses donations is to pay for its Admiral Nurses scheme to provide care for sufferers.

One carer for a dementia sufferer, who did not want to be named, said: "When the going got tough there was always one person who had followed me through the uplifting, tortuous, happy and stressful journey of caring - the Admiral Nurse."

Myton House has three centres in Warwickshire where staff care for people with terminal illnesses.

Poems must be e-mailed to info@dagdapublishing.co.uk while the fee must be made via PayPal to dagdapublishing@hotmail.co.uk, including the reference 'poetry competition entry fee' and entrant details.

Staff at a city centre sandwich shop have vowed to continue making improvements as their food hygiene rating is boosted from zero to three.

Peckish, next to the Royal Centre tram stop in Wollaton Street, was given the "urgent improvement necessary" rating by Nottingham City Council earlier this year. The best score that can be awarded on is a five.

But owner Michael Pate blasted the rating unfair, saying that the rating was due to an electrical fault, which left the premises with no hot water in the downstairs toilet. He said an electrician was called out straight away and the problem was sorted the same day.

Now staff are breathing a sigh of relief after the shop was given a rating of three at a reinspection - but say they won't stop there and are aiming for a five in the future.

Manager Lynnette Guy said: "Getting a zero was a bit embarrassing because it wasn't anything to do with the food. We had customers coming in saying they couldn't believe the rating. We had a lot of support.

"It is much better now. We feel happy with it, and relieved. We are constantly trying to improve the rating and the aim is to get a five, but we have to work our way up."

Emma Rogerson, of Mapperley, visits Peckish for lunch at least once a month.

The 30-year-old said: "I normally get a jacket potato, sandwich or salad and I have never had any no problems with the food. It was a little bit concerning when I heard they got a zero rating but it didn't really stop me from going there. I think it is better the rating has gone back up."

Athena Fish Bar, in Nottingham Road, New Basford, is also celebrating good news after receiving a rating of five just three months after opening.

Owner Harbinder Singh, 49, said: "I think it is amazing, I am quite proud of it actually. I think it we got a five because of how we keep the shop clean and follow the catering and hygiene standards required. We will not let our standards slip."

Paul Dales, food and health and safety manager at Nottingham City Council, said: "Three is a satisfactory rating so they have certainly demonstrated to the officers that they have done something better and that they are handling and preparing food that generally meets the requirements of the law.

"Places that consistently score zero will be revisited and if there aren't improvements it can lead to an escalation of enforcement such as service improvement notices or prosecution."

What do you think? Tell us below 

POLICE are searching for a man after he failed to appear at court. 

Michael Zibigniew Kozlowski ,of no fixed address, was due to appear at Nottingham Magistrates' Court May 15.

He was charged with burglary at Boots the Chemist in Sherwood on February 20, 2014.

Police asked anyone with information to call on 101.

Below is a Polish translation if the appeal: 

Michaeł Zbigniew Kozłowski (na zdjęciu) jest poszukiwany za nie stawienie się w sądzie.

31-letni mężczyzna, nie posiadający adresu zamieszkania, nie stawił się w Nottingham Magistrates Court w dniu 15 maja, po tym, jak został skazany za włamanie do sklepu Boots w Sherwood 20 lutego 2014 roku.

Ktokolwiek widział, lub wie, gdzie przebywa poszukiwany, proszony jest o kontakt z policją pod numerem telefonu 101. 

THE female victim of a car crash in Sutton-in-Ashfield has died in hospital.

Lisa Wykes passed away on Tuesday night following a collision on Mansfield Road last Thursday(28 August).

The 45-year-old was in a white Nissan Micra when it was involved in a collision with a silver Peugeot

Ryan Clinton, 21, of Gladstone Street, Mansfield, is charged in connection with the incident.

He has been remanded in custody until his appearance at Nottingham Crown Court on Monday, September 15.

A 24-year-old man arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender remains on bail pending further enquiries.

Former RAF medic Vicky Hallam has won her appeal – after was she was threatened with a fine for boarding a tram in Nottingham without a ticket.

New green and silver-coloured "buy-before-you-board" ticket machines have caused much controversy after they arrived outside tram stops across the city in May.

Commuters are obliged to pay before they ride – or face a £50 fine.

Miss Hallam is claiming a small victory – amidst the storm of protest from some passengers over the fare change – following her successful appeal over her £50 fine.

In a letter from a penalty fare administrator at Nottingham Express Transit, it revealed the tram stop Miss Hallam mentioned had been identified for "possible signage" improvement.

"All our tram stops have 'conditions of carriage' notices to help passengers," the letter read.

"The onus is on the passenger to read these and abide with the 'Rules of Travel'.

"It is clear a genuine mistake was made, and I hope this will not discourage you from using Nottingham Trams in the future."

Miss Hallam, 31, who lives in Wootton Bassett, was staying in Nottingham to celebrate her mother's birthday, and caught the tram from Hucknall.

She claimed she had the money in her hand ready to pay, and then the conductor told her she had to get off the tram and pay a fine.

She stressed she was unaware of the new pay-by-machine policy, replacing the old system of paying on board.

A spokesperson for NET said: "The signage guideline requirements have been met at all stops since before the new ticketing arrangements were introduced and additional signs, banners and notices have been displayed on and around the network for several months.

"As part of our ongoing communications, we have updated some of this signage in response to public concerns. We will continue to review all signage at tram stops to further assist customers and to ensure they receive the most up to date information."

NOTTINGHAMSHIRE'S title dream could have been undone by an unknown Irishman who was only registered as a Durham player two weeks ago.

Twenty-year-old Peter Chase took five for 64 to help bowl Notts out for 320 and earn a 54-run win for his new employers.

Defeat means Yorkshire extended the gap at the top of Division One by 20 points to 26 after they won their Roses match against Lancashire by an innings and 18 runs.

Second placed Notts, who picked up three points, know they must beat Yorkshire at Trent Bridge next week to have any chance of winning the Championship for the second time in four years.

Victory over Durham meant scoring 375 - what would have been a record chase at the Riverside.

Their total was the third highest batting last at the ground, but a noble effort will come as no consolation.

Not least to Riki Wessels, who batted magnificently for 90 before holing out.

James Franklin scored a steady 39 before going in the morning and skipper Chris Read was the last to fall for 47 in the final over before lunch, but the damage, on the day at least, was done when Notts lost four for 21 after Wessels went, ending a stand of 99 with Franklin.

The day had started positively with Notts sensibly batting conservatively against leading bowlers Chris Rushworth and John Hastings in order to get to the supposed weaker pair of Paul Coughlin and Chase.

Sound strategy, but it arguably proved to be their undoing.

Wessels decided to go after Chase, however, he proceeded to pull him straight to Gordon Muchall at deep square leg.

It was the third time he had been out in the 90s this season and the 11th time a Notts batsman has fallen so close to a Championship ton.

Notts were 220 for five and as is so often happens, one brought two, or in this case, one brought four in reasonably quick time.

Franklin was aggrieved to be out lbw to Coughlin for 39 as the ball cut back in but looked high.

Chase was soon on an unlikely hat-trick as Ajmal Shahzad got a fine delivery that nipped back, drew the inside edge and saw him caught behind for six.

Luke Fletcher made the long walk to the middle but was turning around straight away as Chase continued to tap his rich vein of form, another good ball earning an lbw to make it 241 for seven.

Read survived the hat-trick ball and proceeded to put on 43 with Jake Ball.

Ball made a determined 20 before Chase secured his five for.

He clipped the shoulder of the Notts seamer's bat and the ball looped up to Muchall at third slip.

Read and Gary Keedy dug in, bringing the 300 as the extra half hour was taken before lunch with nine down.

It was just the sixth time a team has reached 300 batting fourth at the Riverside.

Durham thought it was over as Read looked to have nicked the ball behind in their eyes, but the umpire probably felt the ball clipped the pads.

It certainly should have been over with the score on 304. Keedy got a thick edge and the ball flew to Paul Collingwood at first slip.

Normally a reliable fielder, he let it slip through his fingers and Notts edged on.

Keedy had his heart in his mouth on 15 when, with six men round the bat, he looped a shot back over Hastings that landed safe.

Nerves must have been starting to fray among the Durham players who are hardly used to winning.

Notts moved to within 55 of victory but then Hastings yorked Read and Durham were able to celebrate.

The body of a woman has been found in Newark.

Nottinghamshire Police confirmed they were called to Mill Gate at around 3.30pm on Tuesday.

Officers said the woman was in her 30s, but did not know where she was from.

Her death is not being treated as suspicious. 

A file is being prepared for the coroner.

CITY school pupils have notched up their best Sats test results for more than 15 years – with more 11-year-olds reaching the national benchmark in reading, writing and maths.

Results released by the Department for Education show that there has been a substantial improvement since Nottingham City Council took control of education in 1998, when a little over half of children were reaching the Government.

However, despite the progress, Nottingham primaries still have some way to go to catch up with the national average performance, with more than one in four children not up to scratch in these core subjects.

Councillor Sam Webster, executive assistant for schools at the city council, said: "We are delighted with the results this year and congratulate all the pupils and teachers at our schools for their hard work and dedication."

Schools are generally judged on how many of their children achieve level four in writing and reading tests and in maths.

More than 2,000 in Nottingham – 73 per cent – did reach this level but the remainder moved to secondary school without doing so. This is below the national average of 79 per cent.

This year also saw boys catching up – with 70 per cent of them getting level four compared with 77 per cent of the girls. Mr Webster added: "Closing the gap between boys and girls is a national concern and we have been putting extra effort into ensuring that both achieve the very best that they can."

In Nottinghamshire, 6,000 children – 78 per cent – reached the national benchmark for reading, writing and maths.

But the importance of the Sats tests has been called into question.

Ivan Wels, of the National Union of Teachers' Notts branch, said he was pleased children had performed well but added: "The tests are unfair on them. Primary education shouldn't be about testing children in this way. It should be more about preparing children for life."

HERE'S how Nottingham compares to other areas in the East Midlands with its Sats results:

Nottingham: 73%

Notts: 78%

Derby: 75%

Derbyshire: 80%

Leicester: 73%

Leicestershire: 78%

Lincolnshire: 76%

England: 79%

(The above figures are the percentage of 11-year-old children who achieved level four - the expected level - or above in reading and maths tests and written teacher assessments combined in summer 2014)

And here's how Nottingham's and Nottinghamshire's figures compare over the past five years:

2014

Nottingham: 73%

Notts: 78%

2013

Nottingham: 72%

Notts: 77%

2012

Nottingham: 69%

Notts: 77%

2011

Nottingham: 71%

Notts: 77%

2010

Nottingham: 56% *

Notts: 62% *

(* indicates that the figures were from a year when there was a huge boycott of Sats exams).

A plane made an emergency landing at East Midlands Airport on Wednesday night after an electrical fault led to smoke in the cabin.

The Jet2 passenger plane came in from Ibiza. The problem happened on the runway, according to the aviation website AirLiveNet.com. 

The website added that all traffic was stopped at the airport and three flights were diverted. Passengers reportedly left the plane by the emergency exits.

A spokesman for Jet2 said: "Following a safe arrival at East Midlands Airport we decided to disembark passengers as quickly as possible as a precautionary safety measure because a minor electrical problem led to some smoke in the cabin. 

"All passengers were looked after by our airport team and a full investigation is now underway. The safety of our passengers is of paramount importance."

Were you on board the plane? Let us know if you were affected...

FORMER RAF medic Vicky Hallam has won her appeal – after was she was threatened with a fine for boarding a tram without a ticket.

New green and silver-coloured buy-before-you-board ticket machines have caused much controversy after they appeared outside tram stops across the city in May.

Commuters are obliged to pay before they ride – or face a £50 fine.

Miss Hallam said what happened had made her feel like a criminal.

"I have updated my Facebook status as 'victorious'. I hope other people will appeal as well. In the second letter of appeal I wrote, I told NET I had contacted the Nottingham Post."

A letter from a penalty fare administrator at Nottingham Express Transit revealed that the tram stop Miss Hallam mentioned had been identified for "possible signage" improvement.

"All our tram stops have 'conditions of carriage' notices to help passengers," the letter read.

"The onus is on the passenger to read these and abide with the 'rules of travel'.

"It is clear a genuine mistake was made, and I hope this will not discourage you from using Nottingham Trams in the future."

Miss Hallam, 31, who lives in Wootton Bassett, was staying in Nottingham to celebrate her mother's birthday, and caught the tram from Hucknall.

She said she had the money in her hand ready to pay, and then the conductor told her she had to get off the tram and pay a fine.

She stressed she was unaware that the new pay-by-machine policy had replaced the old system of paying on board.

A spokesman for NET said: "The signage guideline requirements have been met at all stops since before the new ticketing arrangements were introduced and additional signs, banners and notices have been displayed for several months.

"We have updated some of this signage in response to public concerns. We will continue to review all signage at tram stops to further assist customers."

The new FIFA 15 game will be playable from next week.

EA have announced that a demo of the game will be released on September 9.

The full version of the game will be released on September 26 for PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One and Windows PC users.

The EA Sports title has improved the features for the new edition.

Players can now show emotion depending on what is happening in the game, all twenty stadiums in the Barclays Premier League are featured, and players can use tactics such as time wasting.

Peter Moore, chief operating officer at EA, said: "We're extremely pleased to announce the extension of our partnership with the Premier League, the most played league in EA SPORTS FIFA.

"It brings our award-winning game to new levels of authenticity and realism, and enables fans to immerse themselves in the drama and emotion of the league."

The full game is available for pre-order now at www.origin.com.