Source: Northern_Echo
Glastonbury just the job for Nolan’s Premier return
IT might not have seemed like it at the time, but Kevin Nolan feels he had the perfect closeseason preparation for a return to the big-time during the summer by going camping in Somerset.[LNB] Nolan and his family partied with Dizzee Rascal, Florence and the Machine, Pet Shop Boys and Kelis at Glastonbury in June, where he wound down and relaxed ahead of a return to pre-season training just days later.[LNB] He might not have had to endure quite what some of the campers had to during his stay, but the 28-year-old thinks the trip to the music festival was exactly what was required.[LNB] I went to Glastonbury in the summer and have to admit I had one of the best times of my life. It was my first time,[LNB] said Nolan. We stayed at an already set up camp site which was fantastic. We were just overlooking the whole site, which was incredible.[LNB] I have wanted to go to stuff like Glastonbury before but have thought it could be difficult to do what with the camping and everything. But after hearing about the campsite we were on it was fine. The wife wouldn't want to go without a shower for four days but as there was all that stuff there it was fine.[LNB] You see some real sights there that's for sure but it's all part of the fun. You just get in to it. We bumped into Jonny Evans from Man U and Joey (Barton) was there, so we met up with him too.[LNB] You don't get recognised with a hat and sunglasses on and I had them on until 3am every day. You really can get away with anything, it doesn't matter.[LNB] Unlike previous years the weather was kind to Nolan and the rest of the Glastonbury revelers, which made the whole experience nicer for the Newcastle midfielder.[LNB] And, when he returns to his Merseyside roots today to face Everton, he is hoping he receives a similar stroke of luck, even though he grew up a Liverpool supporter and watched the Champions League success in 2005.[LNB] I always wanted Everton to do well too, said Nolan.[LNB] Their fans have always been great with me and that is the main thing for me when I go back home. When I am playing, that's different but on the whole they are great. Off the field they are fantastic.[LNB] My granddad is the only Evertonian in my family but I have got loads of pals who follow Everton and I have already been getting loads of stick this week, saying how they are going to do worse than what Blackpool did last weekend.[LNB] There will be plenty of Nolan's friends and family at Goodison Park this afternoon, with the majority of them looking for him to end up on the winning team except for his mother-in-law who is a strong Evertonian.[LNB] Newcastle head to Everton on the back of an indifferent start to life back in the Premier League, having followed up the 6-0 win over Aston Villa by drawing at Wolves and losing to Blackpool.[LNB] The Newcastle squad have to accept they will not be able to win week in, week out like they did regularly on their way to the Championship title when they went the whole campaign without losing at home.[LNB] Last year there was always a game coming up when you could change it pretty quickly,[LNB] said Nolan. You were always playing Tuesday, Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday so we always knew there was a chance to put things right.[LNB] We are all in this together and must make sure we stick together. We have got that. There is a great set of lads here.[LNB] There are a lot of people here who want to prove that they are good enough to be in this league because we have not done it yet. We all had the plaudits after the Villa game and to a certain extent after Wolves.[LNB] People were saying we could do this or that and then we have been hit by a bang, a kick up the backside. So we just have to stick to the basic game plan and the season plan If we continue to work the way we are, we will be OK.[LNB]
