Ben Davies / Ben Davies / 29 January 2010 / 1 Comments " class="free-bet-btn" rel="external" onclick="javascript: pageTracker._trackPageview('/G4/inline-freebet');" target="_blank">Free Bet View Market

Notts County midfielder Ben Davies tells us about a super week on the pitch, holidays in the Maldives and getting hit in the pocket.

"When Sol Campbell first signed for us he was not aware of the rules we have within our dressing room. He was sat in the corner on his phone and got given a five pound fine. The lads thought it was hilarious that one of the top earners in British football had been handed this five pound fine."

Hello to you all again and welcome to my Betfair column. The last week has probably been one of my best since arriving at Notts County. It started with a terrific performance and a draw in the F.A Cup against a Premiership side in the form of Wigan Athletic, a match in which I scored. The club managed to secure some new investors on Tuesday to ease their financial worries and after a meeting with Sven Goran Eriksson to tell us all the good news, we beat Dagenham and Redbridge three nil and I scored again.We're at home to Barnet this weekend and it looks like I'm not the only one who's confident about another win for us.

We were very disappointed not to hold to our lead and beat Wigan at the weekend after taking a two goal lead. We put in a very strong performance and had the chances to see them off before they equalised just before the end. Bar a string of fine saves from their keeper, we would have been in the next round. The atmosphere at the game was brilliant and we are all looking forward to the replay. The F.A Cup is a special competition and we are enjoying every minute of it.

Having lived in Nottingham now for several months I am starting to settle in and find out about the City. I love living here and there is always something going on. I live just outside the centre, about a fifteen minute drive to Meadow Lane which is perfect as I hate sitting in the car for too long before training and matches. With it being the winter and getting dark early my wife and I have been going to the Theatre and the cinema a lot and are due to go and watch the X-Factor Tour in the next month at the Trent Arena. Her idea, not mine! With us missing so many games recently I've had lots of time to relax and plenty of "me" time. Most of my spare time is spent walking my Labradoodle dog, Alfie. When away from football it is important to switch off and take your mind off it for a while and recharge your batteries.

Recharging the batteries is specially crucial for all footballers during the summer. This is the only chance we get to have a bit of time for the body to totally shut down, as we are always playing and training for the other eleven months of the year. I will fit in a two week holiday as well as a few days break somewhere in this time with my wife. The Caribbean is our favourite place but we've also been to Dubai a couple of times and are fond of it. We went to the Maldives for our honeymoon in the summer and it was the most relaxing holiday I had ever been on. It was just what I needed after a hectic summer of being involved in the play-off final, moving house and getting married in the space of a week. I literally did not move off my sun lounger. The Maldives was a stunning holiday destination and certainly the most amazing place I have ever been.
Back to the football though and I have surprised myself this season in only being booked twice. I don't consider myself a dirty player in the slightest but I am amazed that with football the way it is now and referees so keen to get their cards out that I have managed this. I used to regularly get booked and consequently get fined before I arrived here. One year I remember getting booked for taking my shirt off after a goal and getting hit with a five hundred pound fine by the manager! Needless to say, I have not done that celebration ever again. Most clubs vary on their discipline procedures but being sent off for most things other than a foul or tackle (as long as it not a neck-high two-footer!), will more than likely see you get hit hard in the pocket.

There are also the fine lists that the lads draft up. These will be things such as wearing no flip flops or being late. When Sol Campbell first signed for us he was not aware of the rules we have within our dressing room. He was sat in the corner on his phone and got given a five pound fine. The lads thought it was hilarious that one of the top earners in British football had been handed this five pound fine.

This week I am going to go abroad for my bet and take a punt on the A.C Milan v Livorno game. I think A.C Milan will win at [1.3] and there will be under 2.5 goals at [2.2]. It is good to see David Beckham getting a game out there and doing so well. For me Becks is a certainty to be on the plane to South Africa and still has a big role to play for England. He's still super fit and for my money has the best delivery in world football. His quality is fantastic and he has an important role to play for England at the World Cup.

Tags: Ben Davies, football bets, football tips, Notts County, Sol Campbell