ASHLEY Eastham has already seen Meadow Lane rocking to Queen's 'We are the Champions!" – but he did not enjoy it one bit.
The defender was 19 and on loan at Cheltenham Town in 2010 when Notts County thrashed them 5-0 on home soil on the day they were crowned League Two champions.
And as the likes of Lee Hughes, Neal Bishop and Ben Davies cracked open the champagne and Magpies' skipper John Thompson lifted the title trophy out on the pitch, Eastham and his Robins' team-mates were quietly slipping out of Meadow Lane with their tails between their legs.
Two years later, the centre-back is back at Notts, this time on loan with the Magpies from Blackpool, and would love to help them win promotion into the Championship to set up another promotion party at this end of the season.
Eastham, now 21, has joined Notts on a one-month loan deal, but that will be extended if he does well in black-and-white stripes.
He only joined the Magpies a day before their 1-0 home defeat against League One leaders Tranmere Rovers last Saturday so was named on the subs' bench.
But he could make his debut at Carlisle United tomorrow, which would be fitting because he spent six weeks on loan at Brunton Park in 2010/11 and played with Francois Zoko, who is now at Notts, in an FA Cup win.
"I'm really pleased to be here and fingers crossed I'll be pushing for a start straightaway," said Eastham.
"I don't think it would have been fair on me or the team if I had been chucked in against Tranmere because I only joined up with the lads the day before.
"But it was good to sit on the bench and watch the game to see our style of play and I'll have a good week's training under my belt and hopefully be in contention for Carlisle."
Eastham already has a lot of experience in League One, having played 25 league games on loan at Bury last season, scoring two goals.
He has also been on loan at League Two Fleetwood this season so feels ready to make an immediate impact at Notts.
But he knows he might have a big job on his hands forcing his way into the heart of the Notts back-four because new-signings Dean Leacock and Gary Liddle have quickly formed a formidable partnership.
"I'd like to think I'm an out-and-out centre-half," he added. "I like to think I'm decent with the ball at my feet, but you're not going to see any Ronaldo tricks from me that's for sure!
"My starting point is to defend well, by winning my tackles and headers, and let the boys in front of me do the business in front of goal."
The only way Eastham will be thrust straight into action is if boss Keith Curle switches to playing three centre-backs or moves Liddle forward into midfield, which is more likely because the Magpies look to have lost Joss Labadie to a knee injury.
"The gaffer has told me they (Leacock and Liddle) have been pretty solid this season and that he wanted somebody to come in and push them for their places," said Eastham.
"I know it's not a given that I'm going to start week in, week out, so I've got to try to impress in training to hopefully get my chance.
"It's the kind of challenge I like.
"No player should ever go anywhere on loan and think they are going to be automatically in the team.
"The lads have done fantastically so far this season.
"There has been a bit of a blip in the last couple of games, but they're not playing badly.
"Fingers crossed we can kick on and if I get my chance I will be ready and raring to go.
"League One was a bit of the unknown when I went to Bury last season, but I like to think I put in a good shift in the majority of games.
"I'd never played at this level before and it was about testing myself and seeing if I was capable of doing it.
"I played around 30 games and loved every minute of it and I'm looking to kick on at a really established club now.
"It's taken me by surprise a little bit because one minute I was in the Blackpool squad and the next I got a call and was told to get myself here to Nottingham.
"Hopefully I can show the fans here what I can do.
"Notts is a proper club with a lot of tradition and I'm looking forward to being part of it."