Notts County

Notts County FC is the oldest professional club in the world, having formed in 1862. The club initially played at Park Hollow in the grounds of the old Nottingham Castle. In December 1864, the decision was made to play games against outside opposition, and it was decided that the club needed to find a bigger venue. 

After playing at several grounds, The Magpies settled at Trent Bridge Cricket Ground in 1883. When Trent Bridge was required for cricket, the club played matches at the Castle Ground or Nottingham Forest’s Town Ground.

In November 1872 the world’s first ever football international took place at Hamilton Crescent in Glasgow. County’s Ernest Greenhalgh played in the match for England.

County became founder members of the Football League in 1888 finishing in third place in 1890-91. The same season saw the team reach the final of the FA Cup at The Oval where they were defeated 3-1 by Blackburn Rovers.

In 1892-93 County suffered their first of many relegations over the years, but that did not stop them becoming the first ever second tier club to lift the FA Cup in 1994, as Bolton Wanderers were defeated 4-1 at Goodison Park with Jimmy Logan netting a hat trick.

In 1996-97 Notts regained their top flight spot and repeated their best ever league performance in 1900-01. In 1903 Juventus were looking for a durable kit and asked one of their English players, John Savage to sort one out for them. As John was a County fan, the Turin giants adopted the same kit.

Meadow Lane in 1978

The club moved into their new home at Meadow Lane in 1910. After several seasons in Division One, the side were relegated at the end if the 1925-26 campaign despite the heroics of huge goalkeeper, Albert Iremonger who was playing in his final season for the club. Four years later the club were relegated to Division Three South.

County returned to Division Two at the first attempt but went back down to the third tier in 1934-35. After the War, the club shocked the football world by signing centre forward Tommy Lawton from Chelsea for a then world record fee of £20,000. His arrival meant a huge increase in attendances, with fans often locked out of Meadow Lane.

County clinched the Division Three South title in 1950-51 to play in a higher division than rivals Forest. However, as the decade drew to a close it was the club from the City Ground who took over as the major club in the city. County went down to Division Three in 1958, while a year later Forest lifted the FA Cup and Notts went down to Division Four.

County went back up to the third tier at the first attempt, but the club were in a poor financial state which led to relegation in 1963-64. 

A new Chairman; Jack Dunnett arrived in the late 1960’s from Brentford, and appointed Scotsman Jimmy Sirrell as the new team manager in November 1969. This proved to be a wise move as Sirrell took the side to the Division Four title in 1970-71 and win a further promotion back to the second tier in 1973-74.

Sirrel left ‘The Magpies’ in 1975 for a spell at Sheffield United but returned to the Meadow Lane hot seat two years later as he continued to build fine teams on low budgets. In 1980-81 Sirrel and his loyal assistant Jack Wheeler took County back to the top flight after an absence of fifty five years.

For top flight action from the 1982-83 against Tottenham Hotspur, featuring tight shorts and a dilapidated Meadow Lane, click here:

After the first season back at the top Sirrel moved upstairs, while his younger assistant Howard Wilkinson took over as manager. A year later Wilkinson was tempted away to join Sheffield Wednesday. He was replaced by former Forest legend Larry Lloyd.

Lloyd’s side were relegated at the completion of the 1983-84 campaign. He was dismissed the following season, and despite efforts in a short reign from Richie Barker and then Sirrel’s third spell, County suffered successive relegations.

Sirrel retired in 1987 to be replaced by John Barnwell, whose side missed out on promotion after losing to Walsall in the play-off semi-finals. Derek Pavis had taken over as the club by this point and he succeeded in attracting Neil Warnock to County from Scarborough in January 1989.

In his first full season Warnock built an attacking team which reached Wembley for the play-off final, where Tranmere Rovers were beaten 2-0 to secure second tier football. His side made it successive promotions when they returned to Wembley for another play-off final. This time Brighton & Hove Albion were defeated 3-1 to secure top division football.

Chairman Pavis went about transforming Meadow Lane into a modern all seated stadium over the next three years, while on the pitch a team featuring stars such as Tommy Johnson, Craig Short and Mark Draper.

Their spell in the top flight lasted just one season, with Warnock being replaced by Mick Walker in January 1993. His side just missed out on the play-offs and ended as runners-up to Brecia in the Anglo-Italian Cup.

That particular trophy was lifted in 1995 following victory over Ascoli at Wembley, but by then Walker had been dismissed. Russell Slade, Howard Kendall Steve Nicol and Colin Murphy all had spells in charge of the team as the side were relegated back to the third tier.

In 1995-96 County lost the play-off final at Wembley to Bradford City. The following season saw Notts relegated to the League basement. It would take the appointment of Sam Allardyce in January 1997 to change the club fortunes.

Allardyce led the side to the Division Three fourth tier title by a record seventeen points, before he departed to Bolton Wanderers the following October. County went through several managers; Gary Brazil, Jocky Scott, Billy Dearden and then Gary Mills as the side went back down to the bottom division, which had been rebranded League Two in 2004.

The club were extremely close to facing closure in 2003 owing to financial troubles, until they were bought by a group of local businessmen. The revolving managerial door continued to hire and fire as Gudjon Thordarson, Steve Thompson and former playing hero Ian McParland tried to revive playing fortunes.

In June 2009 the club were taken over by a Middle Eastern based consortium; Munto Finance, who remarkably installed Sven Goran Eriksson as the Director of Football. A new club crest was unveiled at the same time while the new owners stated their intention to utilise Meadow Lane and build a new training academy.

The short lived crest brought in by the Munto Finance consortium

The takeover was under scrutiny by the Football League, who eventually allowed Munto to take over. However, after further investigation the club was sold for a nominal amount to Peter Trembling in November 2009.

Eriksson’s former Manchester City assistant Hans Backe was appointed as the new manager, but lasted just nine games. Lincoln based businessman Ray Trew bought the club in February 2010 and appointed Steve Cotterill as manager while fighting battles in court with the HM Revenue & Customs over unpaid bills. The new manager led the side to the League Two title and promotion.

However, Cotterill departed to be replaced by Craig Short, but his appointment didn’t work out. Paul Ince came in and failed to invigorate the side. It was left to the next manager, Martin Allen to save the club from relegation.

In February 2012 Allen was replaced by Keith Curle who lasted a year in charge before being replaced by Chris Kiwomya after a short spell as caretaker. In November 2013 Kiyomya was dismissed with former player Shaun Derry taking over.

In April 2015 Ricardo Moniz took over from the sacked Derry. The team was relegated at the end of the 2014-15 season. Trew continued to appoint new managers at will with Moniz being replaced by Jamie Fullarton and then Mark Cooper.

John Sheridan was appointed as the new manager in May 2016 as he arrived from Oldham Athletic. He was sacked for gross misconduct in abusing an official during a game in January 2017. The desperately unpopular Ray Trew sold the club to Alan Hardy a few days later. 

The new owner appointed Kevin Nolan as the new manager following a short interim spell at the helm from Alan Smith. He was replaced by Harry Kewell in August 2018 who lasted just a few months until the appointment of Neil Ardley.

County were bottom of the Football League when Hardy put the club up for sale prior to Notts being relegated at the end of the 2018-19 campaign. New owners arrived as Danish businessmen Alexander and Christoffer Reedtz purchased the club. 

The team regrouped to reach the National League playoffs in 2019-20 where they defeated Barnet before going down 3-1 behind closed doors at Wembley in the final to Harrogate Town prior to Ian Burchnall replacing Ardley in March 2021.

He took the team into the playoffs where they lost in the semifinals to Torquay United after defeating Chesterfield in a season in which Kyle Wootton top scored. The goals of Rúben Rodrigues took the Pies into the 2021-22 playoffs, which ended in defeat at the first stage to Grimsby Town.

Luke Williams arrived as manager in June 2022 and remodelled the team, which played excellent attractive football finishing as league runners-up as Macaulay Langstaff top scored. Victories over Boreham Wood and Chesterfield on penalties saw the club return to the Football League.

Williams headed to Swansea City in January 2024 to be replaced by Stuart Maynard as the side consolidated their position.

Notts County FC will play in EFL League Two in the 2024-25 season.

My visits

Notts County 6 Scarborough 1 (FA Cup Round One) Sunday 17th November 1985 (att: 5,621)

I travelled to Nottingham the day after going to London for the Charlton v Hull City match in a car with Chris Bemrose from Bridlington and some other of the lads. We got there in time to go into the Trent Bridge Inn for a couple of drinks before going onto the open away section.

The old Main Stand at Meadow Lane

We were in the corner section of The Kop which was a big open terrace divided up by ugly high wire fences. To the right was the old Main Stand which had a terraced paddock at the front and at each end with seats behind. 

The far end was the Meadow Lane End which had previously been a an open terrace with a small seated stand at the rear but was now the ugly sight of a huge sports hall wall with corporate boxes at the top. 

There was some flat standing at the front with the players emerging from behind this goal. Down the near side was the County Road Stand which was an open terrace with the stand at the back mainly containing seating. It is fair to say that the ground was not the best.

Boro were absolutely hammered in front of an away following numbering around 500. Algerian Rachid Harcouk helped himself to four goals. The Boro fans supported the team to the end and were rewarded by a late Marshall Burke penalty.

The old Kop at Meadow Lane

May 1990 and 1991

For two consecutive seasons County reached the play off final at Wembley two seasons running beating Bristol Rovers and Brighton & Hove Albion. A Scarborough businessman, Mike Kelly, knew Neil Warnock so he ran executive coaches to both games. 

On the way home we called in at Meadow Lane where we were allowed in the players lounge which was good but a bit embarrassing as many loyal Magpies could get nowhere near. I recall goalkeeper Steve Cherry being an absolute gent when chatting.

Notts County 1 Scarborough 0 (League Division Three) Saturday 21st February 1998 (att: 5,645)

I was working part time at Greaves Printers in Scarborough and they were running a coach to the game. Plenty of my drinking mates got aboard and to our joy we found a pub off the A1 for a few pints much to the surprise of the startled staff. We got to a much changed Meadow Lane in time for a couple of beers, which was good as they were selling cans of beer which they poured into plastic glasses.

We went upstairs to what was now the Kop Stand. This was a massive bank of covered seats built over the old terracing. To the right was the Derek Pavis Stand which was another large all seated construction containing superb facilities and the changing rooms. 

The far end Meadow Lane Stand now had a seating tier built in front of the sports hall. Finally the County Road Stand was also an all seated banking with a tastefully built new roof in the design of the old one with a gable in the centre.

County were top of the league where they were to remain for the rest of the season while Boro were chasing a promotion spot they eventually just missed out on. 

County were big and physical in a fashion of many Sam Allardyce sides of the future without playing much football. However, they got the only goal in the first half and offered Boro precious little opportunities, much to the dismay of the estimated 600 away fans.

We were treated to a stop off in Tadcaster on the way home for refreshments. It was a long day!

Thursday June 5th 2008

Awaiting the arrival of Crusher, Karl of Phil in Nottingham for us to go to the first day of the Test Match between England and New Zealand, I had a bit of spare time on my hands, so I wandered down to the ground in the hope of getting inside and taking some photos. 

I circumnavigated the ground with little success until I got to the final main corner, where an attendant was letting cars park for the cricket. He let me inside the open gates and was most cheerful once I told him all about my club, Scarborough Athletic.

Notts County 3 Leyton Orient 1 (Saturday 24th September 2016) League Two

The cricket season had come to an end the previous day at Lord’s, as Middlesex claimed the County Championship in an amazing game with Yorkshire. It had been a magnificent four days among wonderful people, enjoying friendships, beer and marvellous cricket.

During the week I’d been lined up to take the place of an injured O’s fan for the journey to Nottingham. Fortunately I had a steady night after the cricket at the Hampstead CC Awards Dinner, where I deliberately limited myself booze wise.

Steve Barnes was on hand at St Pancras the next morning to introduce me to my fellow travellers. We were still missing Steve Speller however. My phone call to him quickly revealed that he’d enjoyed a heavy night of celebration in the Lord’s Tavern and he would be missing the trip!

As it turned out, my pals sleep in saved me an issue on the train. The spare ticket was valid on a Young Person’s Railcard. I was prepared to blag it, but when the guard hammered someone with such a ticket but without the accompanying card, I thanked my lucky stars. Steve’s ticket saved me!

We arrived just before 11am at our destination ready to venture around the pubs of the fine city of Nottingham. I was travelling with real connoisseurs in the area of pubs and beers. Although I’d been to Nottingham for beers after cricket in the past, I was no expert. I was about to have a fantastic day out.

We kicked off at Canalhouse to try local Castle Rock beers before taking a cab up the hill to Canning Circus. I’d heard all about this area from the lads who’d been the previous season. I was not disappointed.

We enjoyed Blue Monkey Ales in the Organ Grinder, a fantastic choice in the Falcon Inn free house and then beer from the Lincoln Green Brewery in the aesthetic Sir John Borlase Warren. Mr Barnes had earmarked a small brew pub walking back down the hill into town. A Room With A Brew ticket all boxes.

I had been wavering about going to the match with the other lads. I had my eye half on FA Vase matches at Dunkirk and Greenwood Meadows, but the company was really good so I went with the flow and jumped in one of the cabs heading to Meadow Lane.

We were located in the stand down the side in The County Road Stand, with the ticket costing £22. Optimism was not particularly high among the travelling support. Owner Francesco Becchetti was rapidly dividing the fan base and manager Andy Hessenthaler’s tactics were very unpopular. Add in that several of the players were reportedly on ridiculously high wages, and you had a growing toxic outfit.

That said, Orient’s away form had been excellent, going into the game unbeaten on the road. The highlight of the first half was the pie and Bovril. The football was poor. I bagged by brace of pastry at half time.

The game came to life eight minutes after the break when a cross found unmarked Notts striker Jonathan Forte, whose header crept over the line despite the best efforts of O’s keeper Alex Cisak.

It was 2-0 within a couple of minutes as veteran striker Jon Stead cut in from the left and fired in a twenty yard shot into the bottom corner. It’s fair to say that the visiting fans were not best pleased.

Their side received a boost when Notts defender Louis Laing was given his marching orders for a second yellow card. Paul McCallum gave them hope as a halved the deficit with four minutes left on the clock. However, the game was quickly put to bed as County made it 3-1 as Aaron Collins forced his way through the gaps to fire home during stoppage time, to kick off a mass departure in the away end.

We walked back into town in search of more quality beers as our train back wasn’t until after 9pm. The Newshouse, opposite the old local paper offices was first up for Castle Rock Ales. We walked into the old town centre near to the castle and to the trendy Crafty Crow.

The city was naturally lively on a pleasant early Saturday night. We managed to get seats in the recently opened Barrel Drop in Hurts Yard before a large crowd and queue formed. The drinking in the city was completed at the fantastic Vat & Fiddle; the brewery tap for Castle Rock.

The journey back was in a carriage full of genuinely decent people and loyal football fans who were desperately concerned about the welfare of their beloved club. Steve and I finished the evening in the Wetherspoon’s in Kingsbury.

It had been a great day out in fantastic company, spoiled by ninety minutes football. I wish I had a fiver for every time that had happened to me!

The photos of the old Meadow Lane have been taken via Google Images.