Born on 14 April 1972 in Erdington, Birmingham, Paul John Devlin carved out an impressive football career that spanned two decades. 

Known for his versatility as a midfielder and forward, Devlin made over 500 appearances across the Football League, Premier League, and League of Ireland, earning ten caps for the Scotland national team along the way. 

His journey from non-league football to the top tiers of English football is a testament to his determination, skill, and love for the game.

Growing up in the Perry Common area of Birmingham, Devlin was an ardent footballer from a young age, playing for local teams Boldmere St. Michaels, St John's Celtic, and Tamworth. 

After a brief spell at Tamworth, where he made 12 first-team appearances as a teenager, Devlin found himself without a club. However, his persistence paid off when he joined Armitage 90 in the Staffordshire Senior League. 

His performances caught the eye of Stafford Rangers, who secured his services for £2,000 in 1990. During his time at Stafford, Devlin attracted the attention of top-flight clubs, leading to a trial with Liverpool. 

Although a potential move to Anfield fell through, Notts County swooped in with a £60,000 bid in February 1992, marking the start of Devlin's professional career.

Devlin's arrival at Notts in 1992 saw the young midfielder gradually break into the first team. 

Despite the club's relegation to the second tier at the end of his debut season, Devlin established himself as a key player. 

Over the next few seasons, he became a fan favourite, known for his work rate, skill, and knack for scoring crucial goals. 

In the 1993-94 season, he was instrumental in the Magpies' run to the Anglo-Italian Cup final, where they narrowly lost to Brescia. 

The following season, Devlin helped the club win the Anglo-Italian Cup, providing the cross for the winning goal in the final against Ascoli. 

However, after the club's relegation to the third tier in 1995, Devlin sought a new challenge, and in March 1996, he was sold to Birmingham City.

Returning to his hometown, Devlin quickly became a fan favourite at Birmingham. He made an immediate impact, scoring twice in his home debut against Wolverhampton Wanderers. 

His first full season saw him finish as the club's top scorer with 19 goals, earning him the Player of the Season award. However, a fallout with manager Trevor Francis led to Devlin's departure to Sheffield United in 1998.

At United, Devlin continued to impress, becoming the club's Player of the Year for the 1999-2000 season. His combative style and ability to find the back of the net made him a valuable asset. 

However, by 2002, Devlin was yearning for a return to Birmingham, and his wish was granted when he rejoined the club on loan before making the move permanent. 

His return was marked by a pivotal role in Birmingham's promotion to the Premier League, where he scored the club's first-ever Premier League goal at St Andrew's.

As new signings at St Andrew's pushed him down the pecking order, Devlin moved to Watford in 2003, where he played a crucial role during his two-year stint. 

A brief spell at Walsall followed, before Devlin ventured to the League of Ireland with Bohemians, where he played until the manager who signed him was dismissed. 

Devlin then returned to non-league football, turning out for several clubs, including a return to Tamworth and stints with Halesowen Town and Stratford Town, before retiring from the professional game.

Despite being born in England, Devlin qualified to play for Scotland through his father, and he earned his first cap at the age of 30 in 2002. 

Over the next year, he made ten appearances for Scotland, fulfilling a lifelong dream by playing at Hampden Park in front of his family. 

His final appearance for Scotland came in 2003, marking the end of a brief but proud international career.

Paul Devlin's career is a story of grit, determination, and a deep love for football. 

From the non-league pitches of Staffordshire to the bright lights of the Premier League, he remained a player who gave his all for every club he represented. 

For Notts fans, he will always be remembered as a young, tenacious player who played a crucial part in the club's history during the early 1990s. 

His journey through the leagues, coupled with his international exploits, serves as an inspiration to many aspiring footballers. 

As a player, coach, and mentor, Devlin's influence on the game continues to be felt, long after his playing days have ended.

Dive into the Pride of Nottingham alumni article, featuring the legendary Notts County striker, Tom Keetley! Don’t miss out on this piece of football history.

Explore our Alumni Series on Pride of Nottingham, celebrating the greats of Notts County! Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments!

Born on 16 November 1898 in Derby, Tom Keetley was a legendary English footballer who played as a centre forward. He was part of a footballing family, with several of his brothers, including Arthur, Harry, Joe, Frank and Charlie, playing professionally as well.

Keetley started his career with Bradford Park Avenue before joining Doncaster Rovers in 1923. He played for Doncaster for a decade and became their all-time leading goalscorer, scoring 180 goals in 231 appearances. Keetley's impressive performances caught the eye of many clubs, and in 1929, he signed for Notts County for a fee of £750.

Keetley's debut for the Magpies was a memorable one, as he scored a hat-trick against Bristol City in a 3-1 win. The 1930-31 season was one of his best, as he scored a remarkable 39 league goals for Notts, a record that stood for 92 years until it was broken by Macaulay Langstaff in 2023. 

Keetley's goals helped Notts to a third-place finish in the First Division in the 1930-31 season, their highest ever league finish.

Keetley's playing style was that of a traditional centre forward, who was tall, strong and good in the air. He was also known for his ability to score goals with both his feet and head. Keetley's physical attributes and goal-scoring prowess made him a fan favourite at Notts, where he spent most of his career.

His career spanned from 1919 to 1934, during which he scored 284 goals in the Football League.

Despite his success on the pitch, Keetley's personal life was not without its challenges. In an era where footballers were not paid as much as they are today, Keetley struggled financially after retiring from football. He became a publican but was declared bankrupt in 1945. Keetley also suffered from ill health in his later years and died in August 1958, aged 59.

Notts County fans still hold Keetley in high regard, and he is regarded as one of the club's greatest ever players. His record-breaking season in 1930-31 will always be remembered as one of the finest individual performances in the club's history. His legacy at Notts is further cemented by the fact that he is still the club's all-time leading scorer in the top flight of English football, with 64 goals in 108 appearances.

Football has come a long way since Keetley's playing days, with the sport now being the most popular ball game in the world. However, the issue of the welfare of young players in academies and the challenges of life after football still persist. The tragic death of 18-year-old Jeremy Wisten has reignited soul-searching about the role football academies play in developing young players and whether the sheer scale of the operation makes it exploitative.

While Keetley's career may have ended almost 90 years ago, the challenges he faced off the pitch are still relevant today. Footballers at all levels should be aware of the importance of planning for their future after their playing career comes to an end. Keetley's story serves as a reminder that footballing success on the pitch does not always translate to financial stability off the pitch.

Tom Keetley's football career was one of great success, as a dominant centre-forward who played a vital role in Notts County's best-ever league finish. His memory lives on in the hearts of football fans across England.

 Take a walk down memory lane by reading more Notts Alumni articles on the Pride of Nottingham, published every fortnight.

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Born on May 13, 1942, in the small Nottinghamshire mining town of Eastwood, Jeffrey Astle would become one of the most beloved footballers in the history of Notts County and West Bromwich Albion.

Astle grew up in a family of seven, with three brothers and three sisters, and his childhood was far from easy. But from an early age, he showed a talent for football that would eventually lead him to play at the highest levels of the game.

Astle began his career with Notts County, signing his first professional contract with the club in 1960. He quickly established himself as one of the most promising young talents in English football, impressing fans and teammates alike with his pace, power, and finishing ability.

During his time at Meadow Lane, from 1959 to 1964, Astle scored 31 goals in 103 apperances, and had been marked at the age of seventeen as a protege of Tommy Lawton.

After four seasons at Notts, Astle signed for West Brom in 1964, and it was there that he would truly make his mark. Nicknamed "The King" by the club's fans, he played 361 games for the Baggies and scored 137 goals, becoming the fourth highest goal-scorer in the club's history.

Astle was a natural in front of goal, with a ruthless ability to put the ball in the back of the net that made him a fan favorite at The Hawthorns. But he was also a versatile player, able to play as a striker or on the wing, and he was known for his work ethic and team spirit as well as his goal-scoring prowess.

One of Astle's most memorable moments came in the 1966 Football League Cup Final, when he scored the winning goal against West Ham United to secure the trophy for West Brom. It was a moment that cemented his status as a hero among the club's fans, and it remains one of the most iconic moments in the club's history.

But Astle's career was not without its low points. He suffered a number of injuries throughout his career, and these eventually took their toll on his body. In 1974, he left West Brom having scored 137 goals in 292 games, and he later played for a number of other clubs before retiring from the game in 1977.

Sadly, Astle's life was cut short by Alzheimer's Disease, a condition that he was diagnosed with just four years before his death in 2002 at the age of 59. His death was a tragic loss for the footballing world, and it was a stark reminder of the toll that the sport can take on the bodies and minds of its players.

Astle remains a beloved figure among football fans and his legacy lives on. His skill and talent on the pitch have made him a legend at both Notts County and West Bromwich Albion, and his memory is cherished by fans of both clubs to this day.

In recent years, there has been renewed interest in Astle's story, as the footballing community has come to recognize the devastating impact that head injuries can have on players. 

The Jeff Astle Foundation, which was founded by his family after his death, has become a leading voice in the campaign to raise awareness of the dangers of head injuries in football, and to support players and their families who have been affected by these injuries.

Astle was not just a great footballer, he was a man of great character and integrity, and his legacy will continue to inspire and motivate future generations of players and fans alike. 

He will always be remembered as one of the greatest players ever to pull on the shirt of Notts County and West Bromwich Albion, and as a true icon of English football.

Please take a moment to have a look at The Jeff Astle Foundation website. It is enriched with information and ways on how to support brain injuries.

Did you enjoy this alumni article? Feel free to browse all the existing published articles paying respect to the former greats of Notts County Football Club. The next one will be published in two weeks time, as of today.

Born on May 27, 1981 in Birmingham, England, Benjamin James Davies, a Welsh football coach and former professional player, played as a right back and midfielder between 2000 and 2021. 

Davies began his career with the youth system at Stoke City aged 15 before joining Walsall's youth setup in 1999.

He had spells with Kidderminster Harriers and Chester City, where he won a Football Conference championship medal in 2004. 

During his time at Chester, he was made club captain. 

Davies joined Shrewsbury Town two days before turning 25, where he played an instrumental role in the team. 

However, an injury in the play-off semi-final against MK Dons meant that he missed the 2007 Football League Two play-off final. 

He recovered faster than expected from his Achilles tendon injury, returning for the first team in late November. 

Following Stewart Drummond's departure in the January 2008 transfer window, Davies was installed as Shrewsbury's club captain.

Davies underwent a double hernia operation in November 2008, which kept him out for a month. 

Having missed the 2007 final, Davies played in the 2009 League Two play-off final, which Shrewsbury lost.

One of several key players out of contract at the end of the season, Shrewsbury offered Davies a contract extension. 

However, Notts County offered him a deal which he felt gave him a greater chance at achieving his ambition to play at a higher level. 

As a result, Davies left Shrewsbury to join County.

Davies had a successful first season at the then League Two club during their 2009–10 campaign, playing an integral part in them winning the league.

He became the highest-scoring midfielder in a single season in County's history as he scored 16 goals, alongside 20 assists.

Davies won several awards, including Supporters player of the year, club player of the year, and goal of the season, as well as being named in the PFA Team of the year.

Davies' form was such that in August 2010, he was subject to overtures from Championship club Derby County. 

Derby boss Nigel Clough left a 2–1 defeat at Coventry City 5 minutes early to watch the player. 

Davies remained at County, however, and in his first season at League One level hit 5 goals in 22 games, including two strikes in a 3–2 victory at Peterborough United, as well as numerous assists.

The form saw Derby retain their interest in the January 2011 transfer window, lodging several bids which were rejected. 

Davies' desire to play Championship football saw him hand in a transfer request, despite proclaiming "I absolutely love it here, I'm the happiest I have ever been in my career." 

Finally, a bid from Derby in the region of £350k was accepted by County, and the player completed a move on 20 January 2011, signing a 2+1⁄2-year deal to run until July 2013.

Davies made his full Derby County debut on 22 January 2011 in a 1–0 home defeat to fierce rivals Nottingham Forest. 

Joining the club in a run of form which had seen just one win from their previous nine fixtures, Davies had to wait until his seventh appearance before tasting a victory at his new club; a 1–0 victory at relegation rivals Sheffield United.

As the club itself struggled, so did Davies with the step-up, and after starting in a 3–1 home defeat to Doncaster Rovers, Davies was dropped to the bench. 

Davies later admitted that he deserved to be dropped; "I'm not one to hide, and my performances hadn't been good enough. I wasn't playing well, and I was probably lucky to be playing as many games as I did."

Despite this setback, Davies continued to work hard and eventually won back his place in the starting eleven. 

Over the next few seasons, he established himself as a key player for Derby County, making over 75 appearances in all competitions and becoming a firm fan favourite.

He was also named as the club's player of the year for the 2012-13 season, in recognition of his consistent performances.

In April 2013, Davies signed a new contract with Derby, keeping him at the club until the end of the 2013-14 season. 

During his final campaign, Davies found himself being restricted to League Cup appearances, where he made two as a substitute in the opening stages of the season.

After the sacking of Nigel Clough, having spent more than four years at Derby County, Davies left the club on loan in February to link back up with Nigel Clough, as he joined fellow Championship side Sheffield United until the end of the season. 

He went on to make 32 appearances for Sheffield United over the next two seasons, however, by the end of the 2014/15 season he was released after his contract expired.

Davies signed a one-year deal with Portsmouth on August 6, 2015, after a successful pre-season trial. 

He scored his first goal for Portsmouth in a 6-0 win over York City on November 24, 2015, and went on to have a consistent season, leading to Davies being awarded six different player-of-the-season trophies from supporter groups.

Although he finished runner-up to Michael Doyle for The News/Sports Mail Player of the Season award, Davies' performances were crucial to the team's success. 

However, Davies left Portsmouth at the end of the 2015-16 season as both parties failed to agree terms. Davies was keen for a two-year contract and an increase in salary.

Following his departure from Portsmouth, Davies signed a one-year contract with newly promoted League Two club Grimsby Town on a free transfer on June 29, 2016.

He made an impressive start by scoring on his debut against Morecambe F.C. Grimsby won 2-0 on August 6, 2016 with a free-kick.

Unfortunately, Davies picked up a calf injury on October 8, 2016, in a 0-0 draw at Exeter City, which led to a two-month spell on the sidelines.

After making 25 league appearances and scoring one goal during the 2016-17 season, Davies agreed to a new one-year contract with Grimsby. 

Despite turning down offers from other clubs down south, Davies was released by Grimsby at the end of the 2017-18 season.

Davies then signed for Boston United on August 24, 2018 and spent the season with the National League North club, before making his final career move to Cleethorpes Town on July 20, 2019. 

He went on to announce his retirement from professional football in May 2020 at the age of 38.

Since retiring, Davies has become a coach, joining the coaching staff at Grimsby Town on November 18, 2019, where he assisted Anthony Limbrick and Darren Moore.

Davies had already worked as an academy coach, whilst playing for Cleethorpes Town. 

He would make a switch back to Grimsby as the First Team coach and U23's manager under Ian Holloway.

When Ian Holloway resigned from his position on December 23, 2020, Davies was assigned as the temporary manager of the Mariners. 

In his first match as a manager, Grimsby suffered a 3-1 defeat against Morecambe on December 23, 2020. 

He then led the team to a 0-0 draw against Oldham Athletic on December 29, 2020, in his second and final game as a caretaker manager. 

The day after the match, Grimsby appointed Paul Hurst as the new first-team manager, and Davies returned to his previous coaching role.

Despite his subsequent move to Derby County, Davies will always be held in high regard by Notts County fans, who appreciated his passion, his dedication, and his ability to deliver when it mattered most. 

His success at Meadow Lane was a testament to his talent and his hard work, and he will always be remembered as one of the club's greatest ever players.

Ben Davies is a true footballing legend, whose contributions to the game have been significant and lasting. 

Whether as a player or a coach, he has always shown himself to be a consummate professional, and a true inspiration to all those around him. 

We wish him all the best in his future endeavours, and look forward to seeing what he achieves next.

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Born on October 22, 1970, in Barking, England, Ian Richardson was a former professional footballer and caretaker manager. 

He played as a midfielder or centre-half in 260 games in the Football League for Birmingham City and Notts County, where he spent most of his professional career.

Before embarking on his football career, Richardson worked as a meat-porter at Smithfield Market in London, where he learned to work hard and work well with others. 
He played football part-time, showcasing his skills with Dagenham & Redbridge in the Conference, which earned him a £60,000 move to Birmingham City in the 1995 close season.

Dagenham teammate Jason Broom described Richardson as "never the most gifted player in the world but was a ferocious tackler. He used to get from box to box and scored lots of goals mainly through his excellence in the air."

He made his Football League debut on 8 October 1995, as a substitute replacing Jonathan Hunt in a 2–0 win at home to Southend United. However, after just three months, he joined Notts County on loan. 

He returned to Birmingham and made three more first-team appearances, including in the second leg of the League Cup semi-final against Leeds United. B

Richardson went on to join Notts County on a permanent basis in March 1996 for a fee of £150,000.

In the 1997–98 season, Richardson was part of Sam Allardyce's Notts County team that won the Division Three title by a record margin and at a record early date. 

A £350,000 move to Wimbledon fell through on a failed medical, which pleased County's manager Jocky Scott. 

With the club in financial difficulties, Richardson took a pay cut to remain at County because his family was settled in the area.

Richardson's contract expired at the end of the 2002–03 season, and the club was in administration and subject to a transfer embargo. 

It wasn't until August 2003 that the Football League gave them permission to offer Richardson monthly terms. 

The problems never influenced the players on the pitch – only during every other moment when they weren't playing. 

Despite his limited playing appearances in the 2004–05 season, Richardson was voted County's Player of the Year for the second consecutive year, and was selected as League Two's "Unsung Hero" in BBC Sport's alternative awards list.

In November 2004, Richardson was appointed caretaker player-manager after the departure of Gary Mills.

He said: "I'm delighted to have landed the job full-time. The effort and desire to improve has been fantastic from everyone at the club, and hopefully we can build on what we have already achieved".

Although his injured knee restricted him to a mostly managerial role, h4 successfully led the team away from relegation and to the Third Round of the FA Cup.

Richardson was replaced as manager by Gudjon Thordarson at the end of the season.

After his playing contract expired in June 2005, he was given a monthly contract to allow him time to prove his fitness. 

Despite playing in two reserve games, the club's view was "the knee has not made a sufficient recovery for the acquired level of professional football," and Richardson was released. 

The player took legal advice and consulted the Professional Footballers' Association. 
Still, after trials with Peterborough United and Burton Albion, he decided to retire as a player and accept the offer of a testimonial match and a coaching role with the club's Football in the Community programme.

In 2010, Richardson was working as Activity Manager for Notts County's Football in the Community programme. 

It won the League Two Best Community Initiative Award at the 2008 Football League Awards ceremony for a project designed to use football to approach the improvement of self-esteem and life skills of adult males with mental health issues.

Ian, continued the role for Notts County FC Football in the Community, where he decided to embark on a charity run that took him through the club's past and present homes. The run took place on the final home game of the 2013.14 season.

He said: "I love my job, helping people achieve things in life gives me a lot of joy. So many children have few opportunities, especially during this recession, so I’d like to help them get back into education or employment." Ian Richardson managed to raise almost £1,300 from his charity run.

Ian Richardson was an exceptional football player who exemplified unwavering loyalty, determination, and leadership skills. He always gave his best and showed immense dedication to his team's success. 

Ian's fighting spirit was an inspiration to his teammates, and his calm and collected approach to the game helped him make wise decisions and steer his team towards victory.

Ian's versatility as a player was another of his outstanding qualities. He could adapt to any situation and play different roles in the team, always demonstrating his exceptional talent and commitment to the game. 

Ian Richardson was a true asset to his team and will be remembered as a role model for future generations of football players.

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Born on 23rd May 1954 in Boston, England, Mick Vinter began his footballing career at local club Boston United before joining Notts County's youth setup. 

He made his professional debut for the Magpies in 1970 and went on to become a key player for the club.

In his first four seasons, Vinter only made 50 senior appearances, debuting in a goalless draw against Shrewsbury Town in the 1972-73 season. 

However, in 1976-77 he became a more regular scorer, netting 12 goals in 36 appearances. 

The following season was his best with Notts, scoring an impressive 19 goals in 39 appearances and winning the Player of the Year award for 1978 from Notts supporters.

Despite being the Magpies' leading scorer with 12 goals in 41 appearances the next term, Vinter wasn't as prolific. 

During his time at Notts, Vinter made around 186 appearances and scored 54 goals for the club. 

He played alongside other notable players such as Don Masson and Les Bradd, and helped Notts win the Fourth Division title in the 1970-71 season.

He left the Magpies in the summer of 1979 for £150,000 to play for other league clubs, but never replicated his success at Meadow Lane. 

Vinter's performances in the famous black and white stripes caught the attention of other clubs.

He he went on to play for Wrexham, Oxford United, Mansfield Town, Newport County, Gainsborough Trinity, Matlock Town, Oakham United, and Hucknall Town throughout his career.

Following his retirement from playing, Vinter remained in Nottingham as a coach in the mid-1980s and went on to work as a football coach. He has coached at a number of clubs in the Nottingham area, including Dunkirk FC and Beeston FC.

In addition to his coaching work, Vinter has been involved in a number of charitable endeavors. 

He has raised thousands of pounds for various causes over the years, including the Nottingham Hospitals Charity and the British Heart Foundation.

On January 21, 2020, Notts County announced his passing, with tributes pouring in from fans and former teammates. 

Malcolm Shotton, who captained the side when Vinter was at Oxford United, spoke of his former teammate's importance to the squad.

"Mick was an important part of the jigsaw for us," he said. "Jim brought in four or five really good experienced players, and the likes of Mick, Steve Biggins, and Neil Whatmore gave us a bit of know-how up front."

Despite his impressive career as a footballer and coach, Vinter is perhaps best remembered by Notts fans for his contributions to the club during his playing days. 

His skill and determination on the pitch helped to establish Notts as a force to be reckoned with in English football. 

Vinter remained a lifelong fan of the club, and his dedication and commitment to the Magpies were praised by the club and its supporters.

The club released a statement expressing their sadness and offering condolences to Vinter's family and friends. 

Many supporters also paid tribute to Vinter on social media, highlighting his contributions to the club and his love for Notts.

Vinter's passing was a significant loss to the club and its community, but his legacy and memory will continue to live on.

Mick Vinter was a traditional center-forward who depended on his physical attributes and goal-scoring instincts to influence the game. He was a classic target man known for his physical strength, aerial ability, and hold-up play, which made him an imposing presence in the penalty area. His team often used him as a focal point for attacking play, and he was skilled at bringing others into play. Additionally, Vinter was a clinical finisher with a powerful shot and excellent positioning in front of goal.

We’re thrilled that Aaron Nemane has extended his stay at Meadow Lane! Share your joy and thoughts with us in the comments below.

Rumour has it that Tiernan Brooks may be on the move to Cork City. What are your thoughts on this potential transfer?

Born on July 25, 1986 in Sheffield, England, Jonathan Forte is a former professional footballer who played for several notable clubs during his career, including Notts County. 

Forte began his football journey as a schoolboy at Rotherham United's Academy, but later joined the Sheffield United Academy, where he played alongside Billy Sharp. 

During his youth career, he also featured for England at youth level.

He made his professional debut for Sheffield United in 2005, playing in the Championship against Plymouth Argyle. 

He went on to play for various clubs, including Doncaster Rovers, Rotherham United Scunthorpe United, Notts County, Southampton, Preston North End, Oldham Athletic, and Exeter City.

Forte's career saw him play for several clubs on loan, including Rotherham United and Doncaster Rovers. 

He later signed for Scunthorpe United in 2007, where he spent three years, scoring nine goals in ninety-eight appearances. 

In 2008, he joined Notts County on his first loan spell at the club, initially for a month.

Forte scored a hat-trick on his debut against Barnet and his short spell at Meadow Lane ended with four goals in four appearances.

The striker later re-joined Notts after renewing his loan in 2009, where he scored a further 4 goals in 14 appearances. 

Forte then signed for Southampton, but he only played 11 times in three years, scoring just two goals.

In 2011, he had a short loan with Preston North End, where he struggled to score and only made three appearances before securing a loan back to Notts in 2012. 

Forte found his earlier form with the Magpies, netting five goals in ten appearances. 

In the same year, he was also loaned out to Crawley Town, scoring three times in twelve appearances.

He would rejoin hometown team Sheffield United on loan in 2013. 

Before leaving Southampton in 2014, after playing as a trialist for Oldham Athletic against Australian outfit Melbourne City, Forte signed permanently for the Latics.

He went on to score a career record amount of 18 goals from 60 appearances.

In 2016, Forte and Notts had another reunion, joining the Magpies for an undisclosed fee. 

During his time at Meadow Lane, Forte became a fan favourite, scoring some crucial goals that helped the club avoid relegation. 

In the 2017-2018 season, he scored a crucial goal against Coventry City in the playoffs at the Ricoh Arena. 

In the home tie at Meadow Lane, he wrongly had a goal ruled out for offside which would have put Notts level at 2-2.

Forte then joined League Two club Exeter City, where he played for two seasons, scoring five goals in 27 appearances. 

He left the club in 2019 and unfortunately had retired from professional football at the age of 33 due to injury. 

During his 15-year career, Forte played for ten different clubs and scored 80 goals in 412 league games. 

Throughout his career, Forte was known for his speed, dribbling ability, and clinical finishing. 

He was also capable of playing in a variety of attacking positions, including as a central striker, on the wings, and as an attacking midfielder. 

His versatility and work rate made him a valuable asset to his teams and helped him establish himself as a regular player throughout his career.

Since his retirement, Forte has become involved in coaching and mentoring young footballers. 

He has set up his own academy, the Jonathan Forte Football Academy, which provides coaching and training to young footballers in Nottingham. 

Coaching and mentoring can positively impact the workplace in various ways such as building stronger teams, supporting talented employees, aligning the organization's culture and ethos with employees, creating a more inclusive culture, improving employee satisfaction scores, and staff retention.

Jonathan Forte was a versatile and skilled footballer who played for several notable clubs during his career, including Notts County. He established himself as a regular player through his speed, dribbling ability, and clinical finishing, which enabled him to play in a variety of attacking positions. Despite retiring in 2019, he will be remembered as a hardworking and valuable asset to the teams he played for throughout his career.

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Born in Hayle, Cornwall, on 8 July 1896, Donald Cock learned the footballing ropes with youth club Camborne Boys Brigade and then played for the football team of Gwynne's Foundry, a London engineering business.

The centre-forward hailed from a footballing family, being the younger brother of England international Jack Cock, while his other brother Herbert was also a footballer.

As a man born in the late 1800s, Cock was unfortunate to come of age when the Great War broke out, and so his footballing career - which began at Brentford - also saw him called up for duty.

According to Ancestry, Cock was a Sergeant in the 2nd Battalion Middlesex Regiment, no. 13804.

The document reads: "He joined in August 1914, served on the Western Front at Arras, Neuve Chapelle, the Somme, Givenchy, Amiens, Armentieres, Ypres and Bullecourt, and was wounded three times. He was demobilised in 1919, and holds the 1914-15 Star, General Service and Victory Medals".

In 1919, Cock moved to Fulham and, in three seasons with the Second Division club, he averaged a goal every other game, and was the club's leading goalscorer in 1919–20 and 1920–21.

Cock then joined Notts County in October 1922 and played nearly 100 games in three seasons at Meadow Lane. Although he is seldom mentioned in the club's annals, he was the club's top scorer in 1922–23 and 1923–24, and helped the Magpies win the Second Division title in the former.

Cock's exploits with Notts - 32 goals in 85 games - saw Arsenal express an interest in the played, and he was signed by Leslie Knighton in March 1925, making his debut for the Gunners against Bolton Wanderers on 7 March 1925.

Unfortunately, in his next match, ironically against Notts County at Meadow Lane, his leg was broken by a strong tackle. He was out of action for five months and could not find favour under new manager Herbert Chapman.

Cock played just one more game for Arsenal before being sold to Clapton Orient for £1,500 in October 1925.

Cock regained his form at Orient, becoming top scorer for the Second Division side in 1925–26 and 1926–27 before finishing his career with brief stints at Wolves and Newport County in 1927.

He retired from professional football, aged 31, soon after, and died in 1974, aged 78, in Wolverhampton.

Cock's exploits with Notts County during the 1920s, top-scoring two seasons in a row and helping the Maggies to promotion, earn him a place in Pride of Nottingham's Notts Alumni hall of fame.

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Born in Sheffield on 12 February 1962, Phil Turner began his career at Lincoln City, making his first-team debut for the Imps in 1979.

A combative central midfielder, Turner won promotion to the Third Division in 1981 under Colin Murphy, and formed midfield partnerships with Glenn Cockerill and then Neil Redfearn during his time at the club.

In May 1985, Turner was in the Lincoln team that faced Bradford City in a Third Division clash at Valley Parade and witnessed the horrendous events of the stadium fire which tragically claimed 56 lives.

In 1986, his spell at Sincil Bank would come to an end as he joined Grimsby Town, for whom he would make 62 appearances, but he left in 1988 for Leicester City, and then only spent one season at Filbert Street.

Turner's subsequent move was the one that would yield the most glory as, in March 1989, he moved up the East Midlands to Notts County in a £125,000 deal which also saw Gary Mills move the other way.

The then 26-year-old hit the ground running as he made 16 appearances for the Magpies as they finished ninth in Division Three under Neil Warnock, who had taken over earlier in the year.

It wouldn't be long before Warnock gave Turner the captain's armband and, under his leadership, Notts would embark on a magical rise up the leagues.

In 1989-90, Turner made 47 appearances as the Magpies finished third in the table and subsequently navigated the playoffs, captaining the side in their Wembley final win over Tranmere Rovers, and Turner was awarded Player of the Season for his contributions.

And the heroics from both player and club continued the following season as Notts cruised to a fourth-placed finish in Division Two and subsequently did it again in the playoffs, beating Brighton & Hove Albion in the final to reach the hallowed top flight - Turner did his bit with the opening goal in the semi-final first leg against Middlesbrough.

Turner had two more Wembley captaincies in him as he twice skippered Notts in two consecutive Anglo-Italian Cup finals, and by the time he departed Meadow Lane in 1996, he had made 284 appearances for the Magpies, scoring 29 goals, and was POTY once again, in 1994.

County was the last club that Turner turned out for, subsequently taking on the job of assistant manager at Grantham Town, and according to The League Paper, he also worked in community care in Derbyshire.

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Born in Kilmarnock on 28 December 1954, Iain McCulloch began his footballing journey by coming through the ranks at local club Hurlford United.

He impressed with the Ford and in 1973 was scouted and signed by the big club in the region, Kilmarnock FC, where he spent five years. A versatile player who could play on the wing and up front, he made 115 appearances and scored 14 goals for Killie.

In April 1978, McCulloch became Notts County's then record signing when the Magpies parted ways with £80,000 for his services.

McCulloch's debut came against West Ham on August 19 that year and he made an immediate impact with two goals, though he couldn't prevent Notts from losing 5-2 at Upton Park.

It wasn't a one-off - he would score 18 goals in his first two seasons with the club in the old Division Two and ended the 1979-80 campaign as the Magpies' top goalscorer.

McCulloch formed a formidable partnership with Trevor Christie and together they fired Notts into Division One, Christie scoring 14 goals and McCulloch 11 goals.

In their first game in Division One, Notts faced English champions Aston Villa at Villa Park.

Despite the magnitude of the task, which included the Villans parading the trophy before the game, the Magpies went on to stun the champions in front of 30,097 fans, McCulloch scoring a superb goal in a 1-0 win.

The Scot ended up scoring 16 goals from 40 appearances, including a hat-trick away at West Bromwich Albion on March 24, as Notts finished 15th in the standings.

Notts continued their impressive spell in the top flight the following season with another 15th-placed finish, McCulloch scoring 10 goals from 34 appearances.

The following season, however, proved to be McCulloch's last when he suffered a badly broken leg in a collision with Manchester United goalkeeper Gary Bailey, which sadly proved to be the end of his professional career.

McCulloch was given a testimonial by Notts on October 23, 1985 and was presented with the Former Players’ Association Achievement Award at their 16th Annual Dinner in 2014.

In total, McCulloch made a total of 215 league appearances for Notts, scoring a total of 51 goals, a superb tally both in terms of service to the club and goal return, for which we are proud to have him as one of Pride of Nottingham's Notts Alumni!

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Pedro Richards was born on 11 November 1956 in Edmonton, London, to a British father and a Spanish mother.

When he was young, he was taken with his mother to live in the northern Spanish town of Laguardia until the age of 11, when they moved to Nottingham.

Richards's footballing skills were noticed by the Notts County scouts and he was duly taken on as an apprentice by the club before signing professional papers in November 1974.

His debut for the then-Second Division side came shortly after his birthday, on Saturday 23 November, under the tutelage of the great Jimmy Sirrel, though it proved a baptism of fire as Notts lost 3-0 away at Sunderland on that day.

In total, Richards's first season saw him used sparingly, making seven appearances as the Magpies finished 14th in the second tier that season.

The following season, Notts finished fifth in the table and also made it to the fifth round of the League Cup, with Richards now very much a first-team player with 32 league appearances under his belt, though the rise up the leagues would be put on hiatus following Sirrel's departure to Sheffield United.

Richard continued to be utilised by the following man in the dugout, Ron Fenton, and the defender made 41 appearances in the league as the Magpies finished eighth in 76/77.

Notts began the 77/78 season badly and Fenton was sacked in early October, while Sirrel hadn't had the best time at Bramall Lane, which led to the two reuniting and then, as we all know, the rest is history.

Richards continued to star in the County backline in the ensuing years and, in 80/81, was a crucial component of the team that was promoted to the top flight, making 40 appearances in the league that season.

Despite the leap to the top division of English football, Richards continued to impress for Notts as they enjoyed a three-year stint in the big time.

Sadly things would not turn out well for Notts as they suffered back to back relegations and were back in the third tier for the 1985/86 season, Richards's last one at Meadow Lane.

Richards made just 20 appearances in the league that season and was given a free transfer in December, although he was also granted a testimonal at Meadow Lane.

Afterwards, he turned out for the likes of Boston United, Arnold Town, Oakham United, Rolls Royce Celtic and Corby Town on a semi-professional basis.

All in all Richards made 485 appearances for Notts, his sole Football League club, in an illustrious career.

Tragically, Richards died of a rare strain of pneumonia in 2001, just two days before Christmas, aged 45. Hundreds of mourners attended his funeral in The Meadows on New Year's Eve.

Pedro Richards ticks all the boxes - he came through the ranks at Notts County, he spent his entire professional career with them, he helped them into the top flight and kept them there, he played against some of the best teams in the world, and he was a seriously nice person.

Therefore Pride of Nottingham is delighted to honour him among our Notts Alumni.

Rest in Peace Pedro.

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The word "legend" is bandied around all too lightly nowadays. But if you ask any Notts County fan to name one individual and one individual only who deserves the tag of "legend", chances are they will name Jimmy Sirrel.

Born on 2 February 1922 in Glasgow, James Sirrel's professional football journey began when he was 24, when he joined Celtic in 1946.

He made just 13 appearances in three years before joining Bradford Park Avenue in 1949, where again he found game time limited, playing just 12 matches.

In 1951 Sirrel joined Brighton & Hove Albion, where he made 55 appearances before signing for Aldershot in 1954, and he retired from playing in 1957.

Modest a footballing career as it may have been, Sirrel's coaching career would be anything but, as he moved to Brentford as trainer in 1965 before becoming caretaker manager in February 1967.

After being appointed to the role full-time, Sirrel spent two full seasons at the helm of Brentford, but soon enough, he would up sticks to Nottingham, where his career would go to dizzying new heights.

On 19 November 1969, Sirrel entered the Meadow Lane gates for the first time as he would become the manager of Notts County, a team struggling in the Fourth Division.

From previous managers Jack Wheeler - who would serve as his assistant - and Billy Gray, Sirrel had inherited a team including Don Masson, David Needham, Bob Worthington and Les Bradd, and he set about reinvigorating the players and the team.

Sirrel's first season in charge of the Magpies ended with a respectable seventh-placed finish, but this was only a precursor to what was to come as, the following season, the team stormed to the Fourth Division Championship.

Notts boasted a mean defence which would concede just 36 goals that season, while up top, the front line scored an average of 2.47 goals per game.

By no means had Notts reached their limit - the following season, promotion to the Second Division was missed by just three points, and even though 1972-73 began slowly for the Magpies, sititng 16th by the end of the year, they would lose just twice more en route to second place and a spot in the Second Division.

Already Sirrel had transformed Notts from fourth-division strugglers to a side punching their weight in the second tier, and when he decided to try his luck at top-tier Sheffield United in 1975, his place as a Magpies legend was already assured.

Unfortunately for Sirrel, the Blades role would not go to plan as they were relegated that season and, with little money to spend, was unable to stop the side mounting a promotion challenge - but he still made his mark by designing the United badge that's currently being used today.

Eventually, Sirrel opted to return to Notts - who were struggling to avoid relegation back into Division Three - in 1977, and breathed new life into the club by saving them from the drop.

It took a while to get Notts back up to scratch, but the crowning moment came in 1980-81 when a 2-0 win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge gave the Magpies top-flight football for the first time since 1926.

Finishing 15th in his first season, Sirrel inspired his team to emphatic wins over Aston Villa, Arsenal, Nottingham Forest and Leeds United.

In 1982, Sirrel became general manager, with Wilkinson taking over as boss, but he was back in the dugout in 1985 with Notts on the brink of back-to-back relegations under Larry Lloyd.

Unfortunately, he was unable to prevent the drop, but did manage to halt the free-fall that County were in by consolidating in the Third Division for two more seasons, before retiring at the end of the 1986-87 season, eighteen years after he arrived at the club, his name in the club's annals assured.

Sirrel was a regular spectator at Meadow Lane beyond his retirement and had the County Road Stand named after him, which he described as "a bloody honour" upon receiving the call from Derek Pavis.

He was even called back into the dressing room and onto the pitch to boost spirits when Notts nearly slipped out of the Football League in 2005, such was his esteem at the club.

On 25 September 2008, Sirrel sadly passed away aged 86, which led to an outpouring of grief from the Notts community and beyond. His funeral, on 7 October, was attended by fans and fellow peers from the world of football, who turned out to pay their respects.

Jimmy Sirrel is the epitome of a Notts County legend, and his name continues to be chanted by the Black and White Army today, testament to just how revered he is at NG2.

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Born in Stockton-on-Tees, Neal Bishop's journey in football began with Middlesbrough, though he was released by the Teessiders as a teenager.

From there, he joined Northern League club Billingham Town and had two spells there either side of a short tenure at Gateshead FC.

While in his first spell at Billingham, Bishop once played in a game alongside his brother Craig and father Rob due to a run of eight matches in 15 days towards the end of the 2000-01 season.

Bishop continued to ply his trade in the non-league but worked his way up the food chain as he earned the captain's armband at Scarborough, before joining York City and helping them to the Conference playoffs in 2007.

In a show of ambition, he rejected a new deal at York and went on to fulfil a lifelong ambition of playing in the Football League by joining Barnet on a free transfer that year.

Bishop didn't exactly make the best start at Underhill, being sent off for violent conduct in just his second match at the club, against Norwich City in the League Cup, but went on to make 47 appearances in the 2007-08 season.

The following season, he initially handed a transfer request but went on to withdraw it and ended up becoming club captain after Ismail Yakubu was handed the role.

In December, Bishop suffered a fractured jaw after being kicked in the face by Ricky Ravenhill, then of Darlington - fate would reunite the two players at Notts County later on in their careers.

In May 2009, Bishop's Magpies journey began when he signed a pre-contract agreement to join the club, which was to undergo an adventure of its own in the shape of the Munto "takeover".

On the pitch, Notts were a force to be reckoned with as they cruised to the League Two title, with Bishop's tenacious, never-give-up style and strong engine a crucial part of the setup as he made 43 league appearances that season.

Despite the off-the-field uncertainty as Munto ended up being a con, the midfielder never let said issues bother him and, as matters were settled at boardroom level in the summer, he signed a two-year contract extension that would keep him at the club until 2012.

In League One, Bishop continued to go from strength to strength as he helped Notts consolidate their place in the third tier, being rewarded with the captain's armband by Paul Ince and finishing the campaign with 51 appearances, two goals, the Player of the Year award, and a new two-year deal at the Lane.

Bishop's finest display for Notts came in the fourth round of the 2010-11 FA Cup as the Magpies welcomed Manchester City to Meadow Lane.

Just before the hour, he headed home the opener against the Citizens from Alan Gow's corner kick, and for a while, Notts fans were dreaming of a huge upset.

Sadly, the match ended up as a 1-1 draw when Edin Dzeko struck a late equaliser, which meant a replay at the City of Manchester Stadium where the hosts upped their game and claimed a 5-0 win.

Given that Man City's eventual FA Cup win marked their first trophy in 35 years and was followed up with a Premier League title win the following season, one can't help but wonder how the trajectory of English football may have differed had Bishop's goal been the winner.

There was yet more time for a grandiose contribution from Bishop - he was County's captain when the team took on Juventus in their new stadium inauguration in September 2011, a season where the Magpies came within a whisker of making the League One playofs.

The 2012-13 campaign would prove to be Bishop's most fruitful one from a scoring perspective, bagging seven goals, but sadly it would also be his final one at the Lane.

In an interview with the official Notts site ahead of his departure by mutual consent in June 2013, he said: “It’s an emotional day.

"This club has been a major part of my life for four years and I can honestly say I wouldn’t change a thing about my time here. It’s been the best part of my career.

“The club are heading in a different direction and there are a number of changes this summer and it just seemed the right time.

“I’ve had meetings with the Manager and the board and I’ve given my reasons and I’m really grateful to Jim Rodwell and the Trews who have been very understanding and helped me.

“It’s been fantastic. From the rollercoaster of the first season, the cup runs, captaining the club at Juventus and leading the lads out everytime, representing the club was a massive honour. It’s probably my proudest moment in my life.

“The fans have been absolutely fantastic with me. I’d like to wish them all the best and thank them. I can’t speak highly enough of them.”

Bishop subsequently joined Blackpool, then in the Championship, in August of that year, penning a five-month contract that was extended to take him until the end of the 2013-14 season.

Following his spell at Bloomfield Road, he joined newly promoted League One side Scunthorpe United in June 2014, where he continues to ply his trade today.

We at PON are delighted to have had the privilege of seeing Neal Bishop in Notts colours at the peak of his powers and contributed countless quality moments to the team, which is why we are delighted to include him in our Notts Alumni list of illustrious Magpies of years gone by.

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As Notts County alumni go, David "Dave" Watson has to go down as one of the most well-travelled players with one of the most comprehensive careers to have donned the black and white stripes.

Born in Stapleford on 5 October 1946, Watson worked as an electrician before getting his footballing break with the Magpies in 1966.

Watson made 26 appearances for Notts over two seasons before being signed by Rotherham United, then under the management of future Scotland and Manchester United manager Tommy Docherty, in a player exchange deal which saw Keith Pring and £1,000 going from Millmoor to Meadow Lane.

Watson was thrust into a relegation battle with the Millers in 1967–68 which was unsuccessful, and as Docherty left and Jim McAnearney came in, the then-22-year-old was made club captain and used both up front and in defence.

After four seasons at Millmoor, making 141 appearances and scoring 21 goals, Watson caught the attention of Sunderland manager Alan Brown who paid £100,000 for his services in December 1970.

Watson was initially used up front, but when Bob Stokoe took over in November 1972, the player was deployed at centre-back, a position which he would dominate throughout the remainder of his career.

Sunderland ended up reaching the 1973 FA Cup final where they pulled off one of the biggest shocks of all time, beating First Division giants Leeds United - then one of the big English clubs - 1-0, and Watson was singled out for praise by Stokoe for his subduing of strike duo Allan Clarke and Mick Jones.

Watson's performances for Sunderland saw him called up to the England team less than a year after the FA Cup win, making his debut in a friendly against Portugal in Lisbon at age 27.

In the summer of 1975, Watson joined First Division side Manchester City for a fee of £175,000 in a deal which saw Jeff Clarke move the other way.

The Citizens won the League Cup in 1976 beating Newcastle United 2–1, the defender playing on with blood pouring from a head wound and being interviewed in the dressing room afterwards while receiving stitches.

All in all Watson spent four seasons at Maine Road, which saw Man City miss out on the title in 1976–77 by one point - his performances saw him voted player of the year that season.

In 1979, Watson decided to have a go in a foreign league, joining Bundesliga side Werder Bremen, but his time at the German club was short due to incurring an eight-week ban for pushing an opposition player in just his second game.

He was fined by his club and refused to travel to an away match against Schalke 04 because of an injury before turning up to play for England and, unsurprisingly, he returned to these shores by October, with Southampton signing him for £200,000.

Watson played 31 games in 1979–80 and 44 games in 1980–81 as the Saints finished 8th and 6th respectively, and he lined up alongside five previous or future England captains - Mick Channon, Alan Ball, Kevin Keegan, Mick Mills, and Peter Shilton.

In 1982, Watson moved to Stoke City, where he set a record of becoming the first man to make England international appearances while in the books of five different clubs.

Up next were two spells in the United States with Vancouver Whitecaps, being voted into the NASL All Stat team of 83, and Fort Lauderdale Sun, who ended up as USL champions, either side of a season at Derby County.

And eventually, Watson's career came full circle as, in 1984, he rejoined hometown club Notts County as a player/coach, 16 years after first departing Meadow Lane, and making 25 appearances for the Magpies in his second spell.

That wasn't the end of his career just yet though - Watson made 14 appearances for Kettering Town in 85-86 before finally hanging up his boots.

Alongside his club career, Watson was also a rock for England, making 65 appearances for the Three Lions and scoring 4 goals.

In a cruel twist of fate, however, his England career coincided with one of the nation's most barren spells at international level - following the 1970 World Cup, the Three Lions did not reach another tournament until Euro 1980.

Though Watson did at least get to represent his country in "Europa 80" in Italy - an eight-team tournament with two groups where the winner of each would be catapulted into the final - he missed out on the 1982 World Cup, with manager Ron Greenwood selecting only three specialist central defenders, Phil Thompson, Terry Butcher and Steve Foster.

To this day, Watson remains the most-capped England player never to play in a World Cup finals match.

After his footballing career, Watson started a marketing business in Nottingham, where he lives with his wife Penny, while their son Roger (aka Dj Hal) is a successful DJ, musician, and producer.

A prodigal son of Nottingham and one of the best English defenders of his day, Dave Watson is one of the most distinguished Notts County alumni of all time.

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Born in the Maryhill area of Glasgow on 24 September 1970, Gary McSwegan came through the ranks at Rangers, one of the city's - and indeed the country's - top clubs, joining as a child and becoming a professional in 1986, aged just 16.

Although McSwegan struggled for game time at Ibrox, he nonetheless helped the club to one of its standout results of its history, scoring against Marseille - one of the marquee European clubs at the time - in the 1992-93 Champions League, a trophy which the French side went on to win.

In Rangers book "A Season to be Cheerful: Glasgow Rangers 1992-93", McSwegan - who was also involved in the build-up to the equaliser in the 2-2 draw, scored by none other than Mark Hateley - said: "My head is still spinning from the match against Marseille, probably because I've waited such a long time for it. I've always dreamed of scoring for Rangers and I've been here more than 11 years, so it's one I'll never forget."

Despite his hero's moment against Marseille, McSwegan sadly never did establish himself at Rangers, so in 1993, he upped sticks and joined Notts County in the pre-season of 1993-94 for a fee of £400,000.

The prior season, Notts had struggled in the second tier following relegation from the old First Division, but with McSwegan in the ranks to complement Gary Lund, it proved a much better time for the Magpies, as the Scot scored 15 league goals, including a hat-trick against Derby County in September.

Arguably his most crucial contribution that season came on 12 February, when he opened the scoring against Nottingham Forest and, even though David Phillips drew level for the Reds, Charlie Palmer popped up and did the rest.

In addition, McSwegan claimed a further two goals in the cups - the consolation in an FA Cup thrashing at the hands of Newcastle United, and the winner in the first round of the Anglo-Italian Cup against Ancona.

As all Notts fans will remember, the 94-95 season ended up being incredibly bittersweet, with a trophy in the cabinet in the shape of the Anglo-Italian Cup but a dismal bottom-placing league campaign.

No Notts players that season were particularly impressive, but McSwegan nonetheless managed to get nine goals in all competitions, including two in the result of the season, a 3-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur in the third round of the League Cup.

The following season, with Notts in the third tier, McSwegan - like many other players - moved on, with Dundee United snapping him up for £375,000 - only marginally cheaper than what the Magpies signed him for.

McSwegan spent the remainder of his career on the books of Scottish clubs Dundee United, Hearts, Kilmarnock, Ross County, Inverness and Clyde, alongside two loan spells south of the border at Barnsley and Luton Town.

He also won two caps for the Scotland national team - his first was on 5 October 1999, coming on as a late substitute in a Euro 2000 qualifier against Bosnia and Herzegovina, which Scotland won 1-0.

His second and final cap came four days later, against Lithuania, in which he started the game, and scored Scotland's second goal in a 3-0 victory.

McSwegan eventually hung up his boots in 2010 aged 40, and following on from retirement he worked as a scout for St Johnstone and Rangers, before setting up his own agency, Maxima Sports Management, where he continues to work today.

A true professional with a distinguished career, Gary McSwegan remains a well-loved player at all the clubs he has played for.

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A key member of the Notts County side that enjoyed a swift climb to the top flight of English football, Gary Lund was born on 13 September 1964 in Cleethorpes.

He began his career at local club Grimsby Town and made his debut in September 1983, shortly after his 19th birthday, against Barnsley.

Reminiscing about his debut, the forward  told independent GTFC site The Fishy: "I replaced the injured Kevin Drinkell (I think) and came close to scoring when I hit the bar. I was substituted with about 20 mins to go. I suppose it was an average success!"

Lund made 60 appearances in total for the Mariners, with a good return rate of 24 goals in that time, including two hat-tricks, against Sheffield United and, ironically, Notts.

In 1986, after three years in the Grimsby senior setup, he upped sticks and moved to Lincoln City, where he spent one season, playing 44 games and scoring 13 goals.

Then came his stint at Meadow Lane, joining in the pre-season of 1987-88, one of many changes at the club with Derek Pavis coming on board and John Barnwell taking over the first-team reins from the retired Jimmy Sirrel.

In his first season at Notts, he scored 20 goals in Division Three, plus one in the Associate Members' Cup, as the Magpies finished fourth and secured a playoff place, only to succumb in the semi-finals to Walsall.

The 1988-89 season was less remarkable for both Notts and Lund, who scored just eight goals all season as the Magpies finished ninth in the division, but with Neil Warnock taking over in January, things were about to get very exciting for the club.

Lund broke into double figures again as Notts finished third in the third division, before navigating the playoffs and securing a place in the second tier.

The following season, Lund became more of a rotational player as Dave Regis joined in September, making 16 appearances and only scored five goals all season, though one of these was the 89th-minute winner against Manchester City in the fifth round of the FA Cup.

That year, Notts secured back-to-back promotions after finishing fourth and once again enjoying a successful stab at the playoffs.

With Notts now a top-flight side, Lund found himself on the fringes of the first team, making just 13 appearances (10 starts, 3 subs) as the strike force was repeatedly chopped and changed, sadly to no avail as the Magpies slipped back into the second tier.

Lund made more appearances in 1992-93 as Notts struggled to re-adapt to life in the new Division One, finishing 17th, and also had a loan stint at Hull City.

When Warnock was sacked and Mick Walker was brought in, Lund eventually found himself back in top form, with 1993-94 yielding 12 goals in the league and a further seven in cup competitions, of which five came in the Anglo-Italian Cup on the way to the final.

When asked about the best manager he worked under, Lund told The Fishy: "Mick Walker at Notts. He was only manager for a short time but we played some wonderful football in his time and only just missed out on the first division playoffs."

The following season proved very bittersweet for Notts as they won the Anglo-Italian Cup but were relegated from Division One. It proved to be Lund's last season at Notts as he then joined Chesterfield, where he remained until 1997, when he hung up his boots.

A loyal servant at Notts who made close to 250 appearances, Gary Lund will always be remembered fondly by the Black and White Army.

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The one-club man. Uncommon even in the olden days, such an entity is now rarer than a unicorn. Though there have been some in recent years - Jamie Carragher, Francesco Totti - they are a dying breed, although you do get some who spend 99 percent of their pro career at one club and then have one final payday elsewhere - nobody could begrudge Steven Gerrard his swansong at LA Galaxy, for example.

One example of a fully-fledged bona fide one-club man at Notts County is Brian Stubbs. Born on 8 February 1950 in Keyworth, he is a prodigal son of Nottingham who, despite his impressive performances and illustrious career, was never swayed by a move away from Meadow Lane.

Stubbs was a student at the illustrious sporting institution of Loughborough University in the late 60s and was impressing for their football team when, during the 1967/68 season he was offered a trial by Nottingham Forest.

However, this was not to be his step into the professional game - he waited one more year before penning a deal with Notts County, under the then manager Billy Gray - who departed soon after to be replaced by caretaker manager Jack Wheeler.

Stubbs made his debut at inside-right for the Magpies, who were toiling in the Fourth Division at the time, but given his power, toughness and determination, he was soon converted to a central defender, which as the years went on, turned out to be a stroke of genius.

He made just two appearances in 1968/69 as Notts finished 19th in the table, just three points clear of the bottom four, but there was a storm - of a good kind - brewing at the club, because as we all know, the 1969/70 season would herald the arrival of a certain Scottish manager by the name of Jimmy Sirrel.

As the Swinging Sixties rolled to an end, Stubbs revelled in his new role in defence and, with the Glaswegian taking the helm in November 1969, the 19-year-old made 35 appearances as Notts entered the summer of 1970 with a much-improved seventh-placed finish in the fourth tier.

Sirrel's impressive work truly came to fruition the following season, when the Magpies became champions of the Fourth division, finishing nine points clear of runners-up Bournemouth, and Stubbs had by this point developed into such a quality defender that he was voted Player of the Year.

Stubbs had developed an impressive centre-back partnership with David Needham, who was at the club between 1965 and 1977, and despite other clubs sniffing around Stubbsy, he was never persuaded to leave Meadow Lane, as third division status became second division status and, following eight years in the second tier, the dream had finally been accomplished - Notts became a top tier club in 1981.

Sadly, it would seem that Stubbs never did get the chance to turn out in the First Division - According to David McVay in Steak Diana Ross II, "he was denied his moment of glory and an appearance in the top flight by the management duo who refused to pick him despite his outstanding service."

Stubbs made 426 league appearances in total for Notts, scoring 21 goals and played for eleven years at the club, his entire professional career, and to this day he is still welcomed back with open arms at Meadow Lane.

According to The League Paper, Stubbs still lives in his native Keyworth and "worked in the building industry and before becoming a painter and decorator until his ­retirement", and, back to McVay's book, "still socialises and throws the odd dart in public houses south of the River Trent".

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Football, as we all know, is the global game. From the beaches of Tahiti to the tundras of the Arctic circle, the language of football is understood everywhere.

As a result, the number of air miles involved in the game is staggering, as players, teams and fans travel all around the world for the sake of football.

A study by online moving platform Movinga ranked the footballers who have clocked up the most air miles in terms of transfers (and therefore, relocations), and a very familiar name for Notts County fans makes the top 10.

Danny Allsopp, one of the Magpies' top strikers of the 21st century, is number six on the list, having registered a staggering 46,777 miles throughout his career.

Born on 10 August 1978 in Melbourne, Allsopp began his journey (in more ways than one) in football with provincial club Monbulk Rangers in 1994 as a 16-year-old, competing in the Victorian Provisional League Division 1.

He worked up the ranks of Australian football/soccer as he joined Croydon City Arrows in the Victorian State League Division 1 before joining then-NSL club South Melbourne in 1995.

After two seasons there, Allsopp made the move across town to Carlton SC for the 1997 NSL season, before spending the 1998 Victorian Premier League season with Port Melbourne Sharks

And then, his globetrotting began, as he travelled halfway round the world to England, for a trial with Manchester City. A long way just for a try-out, but he proved his quality to the Citizens, scoring in a pre-season friendly against Newquay and some reserve matches, and was duly snapped up for the 1998-99 season.

At the time, Man City were not the force they are today - in fact, they had slipped to the Second Division, but Allsopp played a bit-part role in helping them claw themselves back up to the first, with four goals in 25 games.

Ultimately, he struggled to find a regular place in the team during the 1999–2000 season, and was loaned out to Notts County.

His first spell at Meadow Lane was short, scoring once in three appearances, and also spent time on loan at Wrexham and Bristol Rovers, but in 2000, another loan spell - this time more fruitful with four goals in three matches - saw him eventually snapped up for £300,000.

During the 2000/01 season, Allsopp formed a formidable strike partnership with Mark Stallard, the former scoring 13 goals to complement the latter's 17 in the league (23 in all competitions) as the Magpies finished eighth in Division Two.

The following season proved more of a struggle for Notts, finishing 19th in the league, just six points clear of relegation, but Allsopp once again impressed in front of goal, banging in 19 goals in the league and a further nine in cup competitions - most notably a hat-trick against Mansfield Town and a penalty against former club Man City - dethroning Stallard as top scorer for the club.

In 2002/03, Allsopp did not quite reach the heights of the previous campaign, but still broke into double figures as the club finished 15th in the third tier. Sadly, that was to be the end of the road at Notts - in financial dire straits at that time - for Allsopp, as he upped sticks for a stint at fourth-tier Hull City.

As it would turn out, the two clubs would switch places at the end of the 2003/04 season, Allsopp's 15 league goals (second top goalscorer behind future Notts alumni Ben Burgess, with 18)  seeing the Tigers finish second in Division Three, while over in the Midlands, things unravelled as the Magpies finished 23rd in Division Two.

In 2005, Allsopp would opt for a return to his hometown, penning a deal with Melbourne Victory and beginning a relationship with the A-League club that would see him become a cult hero at the Melbourne Rectangular Stadium (and sometimes the Docklands/Etihad Stadium).

Though he struggled in his first season back Down Under, managing just three goals in 20 starts during the 2005/06 season, he got back into his stride the following year, finishing the season as the A-League's Golden Boot winner as Victory won the championship.

His first stint at Victory would last until 2009, when he tried his luck in Qatar with Al-Rayyan and in the United States with Major League Soccer side DC United.

However, Allsopp soon returned to the lure of home and signed again for Victory in 2010 after mutually agreeing to terminate his contract with DC, where he signed until 2013, but he shocked his teammates on 18 October 2012 when, after a training session, announced his retirement from professional football.

Over the next few years, Allsopp would continue to play in the Australian lower leagues, with boyhood club Croydon City Arrows and two games as a guest player with Tasmanian side Launceston City.

Since retirement, Allsopp has gone from the pitch to the office, his LinkedIn page listing him as working as a sales representative for Hospeco, a global leader in hygiene and commercial cleaning products, but continues to be involved in football from time to time.

For his exploits both in England and in Australia, Danny Allsopp will always be fondly remembered as a quality striker - and let's hope he made use of an Air Miles card throughout his career!

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Every remarkable Notts County team over the years has comprised of quality players in every position of the pitch, and as arguably the most important one in any squad, the goalkeeper slot has also been filled by some great names at Meadow Lane.

From Albert Iremonger in the early 20th century to the likes of Kasper Schmeichel and Bartosz Bialkowski in the 2010s, via Jimmy Sirrel's protege Raddy Avramovic in the early 80s, every generation of Notts fans will fondly remember at least one quality name in between the sticks.

The man who occupied this role during County's last truly stellar period, in which they last graced the top flight, is Steve Cherry, a player and individual who remains loved by everyone involved with the Black and White Army.

Born on 5 August 1960 in Nottingham, Cherry started his career across the A52 at Derby County, signing schoolboy forms as a 15-year-old. Three years later he put pen to paper on a professional contract and made 77 appearances for the Rams between 1978 and 1984, also spending a short time on loan at Port Vale between 1980 and 1981. While at the Baseball Ground, he was voted the club's player of the year in 1983.

Cherry then enjoyed a two-year spell at Walsall, where he made 71 appearances, and Plymouth Argyle, where he played 73 times - and picked up the second player of the year award of his career, in 1988 - and while on the Pilgrims' books he also had a short stint on loan at Chesterfield.

In January 1989, a little-known manager by the name of Neil Warnock joined Notts County, and one month into his tenure, his new side lost 3-0 at Chesterfield, who had Cherry in goal. Just a week later, the Nottingham-born goalkeeper's registration was sold from Plymouth to Notts, whose goalkeeper at the time, Mick Leonard, went to Saltergate.

The fee to sign Cherry was £70,000, but Notts more than got their money's worth as the goalkeeper made the number 1 shirt his own, and his time at the club coincided with a meteoric rise through the leagues.

County narrowly missed out on the Third Division playoffs that year, but put it right the following season, finishing third and going all the way to the final, where Cherry kept a clean sheet in a 2-0 victory over Tranmere Rovers at Wembley which took them into the second tier.

The following year they repeated the feat, finishing fourth in the Second Division to qualify for the playoffs, and Cherry was once again impervious in goal as they saw off Brighton & Hove Albion 3-1 in their second trip to Wembley in just as many years.

1991 also saw arguably Cherry's greatest ever game, putting in what was deemed a "heroic performance in a 1-0 win over top-flight Manchester City in the fifth round of the FA Cup, a series of outstanding saves keeping the Citizens out as Gary Lund struck a winner for Notts late on.

Despite the 1991-92 season not going according to plan for Notts, with relegation back to the second tier after just one year in the First Division, Cherry nonetheless impressed in between the sticks, and was named as the club's player of the year that season for his efforts - the third of his career.

All in all, Cherry made 266 appearances for the Magpies - including two more games at Wembley, in the 1994 and 1995 Anglo-Italian Cup finals - by the time of his departure to Glenn Roeder's Watford in July 1995, where he made just four appearances as deputy to Kevin Miller before linking up with former club Plymouth, reuniting him with Warnock once again.

That season, Cherry helped the Pilgrims reach the Third Division playoffs, and much like his time at Notts, he would once again find himself on the winning side at Wembley as the Devon club won promotion with a 1-0 win over Darlington, Cherry keeping another clean sheet at England's national stadium.

The twilight of Cherry's professional career saw him turn out for Rotherham United and Rushden & Diamonds, before several brief non-contract spells at Mansfield Town, Stalybridge Celtic (on loan), Oldham Athletic, and Lincoln City.

He then made several appearances for a number of non-league sides - Kettering, Stalybridge Celtic, Kidsgrove Athletic and Belper Town - before officially hanging up his boots (and gloves).

Cherry went on to work for Lincoln and Macclesfield Town in a coaching capacity, but left the latter in May 2010 to undergo heart surgery, from which he thankfully recovered.

A man whose contributions for Notts County are worthy of a place in the club's hall of fame, Steve Cherry is a true Magpie legend.

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Much is being made recently of the Jamie Vardy phenomenon, that is looking at the non-league for players who are late bloomers and may just have what it takes to flourish at the top, but really it's something that has been going on for years and years.

Take Andy Legg, for example. Born in Neath on 28 July 1966, he did not join the professional ranks until 1988, at the age of 22.

As a teenager, Legg attended Glan Afan Comprehensive School in Port Talbot. After he left, he worked for the Forestry Commission and later took on a job as a supervisor in a shelving systems factory.

Rather than go through the academy system, Legg played football for local youth side Baglan Boys Club, where his father was manager. He then joined Welsh League side Briton Ferry Athletic, where he attracted attention from several Football League clubs.

Legg first joined Middlesbrough on trial, playing up front alongside Bernie Slaven for the club's reserve side. However, manager Bruce Rioch was unhappy with Legg's hair, describing him as "too scruffy", and told him to cut his hair or to not come back. He chose the latter.

He was instead offered a trial at Manchester City and played for the reserve side, again as a forward, before being asked to return at the start of the following season for pre-season training in order for manager Mel Machin to assess him.

After returning from Manchester, Legg was offered a trial with hometown club Swansea City, playing in a reserve fixture against Cardiff City and, in August 1988, was offered a professional contract by manager Terry Yorath.

A stress fracture of his leg meant he was forced to wait for his professional debut, eventually making his first appearance in a 2–0 defeat to Bristol City.

Legg went on to make 163 appearances for the Swans and helped the club win the Welsh Cup in 1989 and 1991 as well as featuring in the team's European Cup Winners' Cup campaigns, playing against Panathinaikos and AS Monaco.

In July 1993, he was sold to Notts County for a fee of £275,000, and he soon became a fan favourite at Meadow Lane.

Legg was very hard working, pacey and gifted with good acceleration, as well as being very skillful, with a good set piece and eye for goal.He was versatile in the way he played, being able to pick up the ball and direct the tempo.

What really made Legg world-famous (literally) was his long throw, which made Rory Delap's missiles seem wimpy in comparison. He could regularly throw the ball over 30m and once held the world record with a distance of 44.6m!

He was at Meadow Lane until 1996, during which he helped the club win the Anglo-Italian Cup, in 1994-95, and made 89 appearances in total, scoring nine goals.

Along with Paul Devlin, Legg was sold to Birmingham City in February 1996, remaining there until 1998, and during this time he won the first of six caps for Wales, on 24 April 1996 in a defeat to Switzerland.

A short spell at Reading followed, before he found the club where he would tally up the most appearances, Cardiff City. He joined in 1998 and stayed there until 2003, making 175 appearances and scoring 12 times.

Legg's time at Ninian Park saw him initially hated by fans, due to his previous spell at Swansea, but he soon won them over, winning the club's player of the season award in 1999/00 and 2000/01.

During this time, in 1999, his wife Lucy noticed a lump on his neck which was later diagnosed as a non-malignant tumour, which he had removed at the end of the season.

Later on in Legg's life, the health issue arose again when at Peterborough United, a second lump appearing in his throat in 2005.

This time, it was more serious, and though he initially decided to wait again until the end of the season, he was hit in the neck by an elbow from Neil Kilkenny and it began causing him pain for the first time, so he booked himself in for the operation in April 2005.

The operation to remove it was successful, although he was forced to undergo a 28-session course of radiation therapy, and Legg was able to return to football, despite having believed that he would be forced to retire.

Since then, Legg plied his trade in Wales as player, manager, or both - save for a season at Hucknall Town in 2006/07 - until 2012, when he hung up his boots and worked exclusively as a manager, though he has often returned to Nottingham to play in charity games.

The next stage of Legg's career began on 6 July 2017, when he rejoined Cardiff City as part of their Under-23s lead coaching staff.

A legend for two rival clubs and in the English Midlands, Andy Legg will always be welcome back at Meadow Lane.

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When it comes to what makes a certain player a club legend, there can be several reasons.

You get those players who give years and years of service to a club, you get those who have elevated the club to dizzying heights in terms of success and silverware, and then you get those who are responsible for moments of magic which become immortalised within the club culture.

"Sir" Charlie Palmer is arguably the latter. Although the defender enjoyed a fairly long stint at Notts County, turning out between 1989 and 1994, clocking up 182 appearances and helping the club enjoy one of the finest times in recent history, it is one particularly goal and the ensuing entry in the history books which have earned him a Magpie knighthood.

Born in Aylesbury on 10 July 1963, Palmer came through the ranks at Watford, joining the Hertfordshire club as an apprentice at a time when Graham Taylor was manager there. He made his first-team debut in 1981 and played 18 matches in total for the Hornets, including four in the UEFA Cup.

In 1984, he upped sticks and moved to Derby County and, under the tutelage of Arthur Cox, was part of the team for just under three years, helping them win the Second Division in 1986/87.

Before the end of that season, however, he moved on again, this time to Hull City, for a transfer fee of £30,000, and remained there for two years before he was snapped up in February 1988 by a young manager called Neil Warnock to play for Notts County.

It was here where Palmer would enjoy the finest moments of his career. He played 11 times as the Magpies secured a ninth-placed finish in Division Three, and he remained firmly in first-team contention the following season, playing 39 league games as Notts finished third and then navigated the playoffs up into Division Two.

In 1990/91, Palmer went from strength to strength, making 42 league appearances as Notts finished fourth, and once again they had a chance to earn playoff promotion - which as we all know, took it with both hands to make the Magpies a top-flight club.

Although County's First Division dream wouldn't last long, there would still be more opportunities for Palmer to etch his name into Notts folklore, and it came on 12 February 1994, when the Magpies hosted Nottingham Forest.

A crowd of 18,655 crowd watched as Gary McSwegan put the Magpies ahead just before the hour, but it looked like it would end all square when Dave Phillips equalised in the 85th minute.

But fortune would favour Notts that day as, just a minute later, Notts won a free-kick on the left which the referee ordered to be re-taken, Mark Draper swung it towards the back post, and Palmer leapt above Stuart Pearce to nod home.

It was his first goal for two seasons and his first League strike since 1990, but undeniably his best known and most celebrated strike - especially given how it remains the last time Notts beat Forest in the league.

Palmer would go on to leave Meadow Lane at the end of the season, but there was still time for one more Wembley appearance, taking on a Georghe Hagi-inspired Brescia in the final of the Anglo-Italian Cup.

The latter years of his career would see him enjoy a two-year stint at Walsall before playing in the non-leagues with Burton Albion, Moor Green and Hinckley United.

When Palmer retired from playing football, he became a social worker, but before long was back in the game, coaching at Mickleover Sports, where he was caretaker-boss for a while, and enjoying managerial stints at Long Eaton United and Belper Town.

But no matter what club he is at, he will forever be remembered for his dramatic goal against the Reds and for his solid service at Meadow Lane - so arise "Sir" Charlie Palmer!

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Over the years, Notts County have had some fantastic forwards on their books. From Tom Keetley in the early 30s to Mark Stallard in the 2000s via the likes of Jackie Sewell, Tommy Lawton, Tony Hateley and Les Bradd, every Notts fan you speak to will always have that one standout striker they remember bagging the goals for the Magpies.

Without a doubt, the last of the great Notts strikers - as of 2017 - is Lee Hughes. In his four years at Meadow Lane, he elevated himself to cult status with an impressive goal return and also a trophy, a rarity in recent years for the club.

Born on 22 May 1976 in Smethwick, West Midlands, Hughes was snapped up by West Bromwich Albion as a schoolboy from ages 11 to 15, although he was not offered a youth contract by the club.

Despite suffering the disappointment of not being taken on, he did not give up on his dream - he was taken on by semi-professional outfit Kidderminster Harriers, who were playing in the Conference at the time.

Nowadays, many clubs in the non-league are professional, but 20 years ago it was a rarity, so Hughes also held down a part-time job as a roofer as he juggled his ultimate goal with the need to pay the bills.

As it turned out, Hughes was a sensation in the non-league, scoring 34 goals in the 1996/97 season and bagging 70 in 139 games overall for the Harriers.

This led to West Brom, the club that had released him, eagerly taking him on board again, paying the Aggborough outfit an initial £200,000 - which rose to £380,000 after incentives - for his services.

Hughes, a lifelong Albion fan, set about repaying the Baggies for taking another chance on him, and between 1997 and 2001, he scored 79 goals in 156 appearances, with the 1998/99 season yielding 32 goals which made him the country's top scorer and the 2000/01 season seeing his strike partnership with Jason Roberts fore the club to the Championship playoffs.

In August 2001 Hughes was sold to Coventry City for a then club record transfer fee of £5,000,001 and he carried on his rich vein of form with 14 goals in 40 games, including a hat-trick in a 6-1 win over Crewe Alexandra.

However, in the season that he was away, West Brom won promotion to the Premier League, and the lure of his beloved club saw him return to the Hawthorns once again for £2.5m, giving him the chance to prove himself in the top flight.

Hughes's third stint at West Brom proved mixed as he failed to score a single Premier League goal that season, the club tumbling back into the First Division, and he was also criticised by teammates who claimed he was not pulling his weight - he responded by scoring 12 goals in 36 games the following season to send the Baggies up again into the top flight.

During the 2003/04 season, Hughes fell afoul of the law after he lost control of his car on 23 November and collided with another vehicle, leading to one death and two injured. Hughes and his passenger left the scene and turned themselves in to the police 36 hours later.

On 9 August the following year, Hughes was found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving, and was sentenced to six years' imprisonment. His West Brom contract was immediately terminated, and Hughes would go on to serve three years of his sentence before being released.

Upon leaving prison on 20 August 2007, Hughes issued a public apology, in which he said he made "dreadful mistakes and decisions that will live with me for the rest of my life."

Hughes signed for League One club Oldham Athletic as he set about rebuilding his career, and during that time he scored 25 goals in 55 games, while he spent time on loan at Blackpool in 2009.

At the end of the 2008/09 season he was released by the Latics, and his status as a free agent coincided with a remarkable turn of events at Notts, who snapped him up on a two-year contract on the same day that Sven-Goran Eriksson arrived at the club as director of football.

Hughes's career at Meadow Lane got off to a flying start as he scored a hat-trick on his debut in a 5-0 win over Bradford City on the opening day of the season, and claimed two more three-goal hauls against Northampton Town in September and against Burton Albion in December.

As the season went on, the initial euphoria at the club then turned to turmoil as the Munto takeover turned out not to be the incredible benefaction it purported to be.

Hughes, however, kept his head down and ultimately saw Notts over the finishing line as League Two champions, his 30 league goals making him the first Magpies player to achieve that amount since Tommy Lawton 60 years prior.

By the time the 2010/11 season began, Notts had a new owner and, with things seemingly more stable, Hughes signed a one-year extension to his contract that would see him at Meadow Lane until the summer of 2012.

The Magpies successfully staved off relegation in 10/11, with Hughes contributing 16 goals in 37 appearances.

Notts being Notts, there was to be another sterling moment coming up, as Juventus invited them to take part in a friendly to inaugurate their new stadium in September 2011, and became the first opposition player to score there as he grabbed County's goal in a 1-1 draw watched by the whole world.

Sadly Hughes's time at Notts would come to an acrimonious end as then-manager Keith Curle opted not to keep him as first-choice, with Yoann Arquin preferred in the role instead.

This meant that Hughes decided to up sticks in search of first-team football, and on 7 January 2013, his contract was terminated by mutual consent.

Port Vale was his next port of call, signing a contract until the end of the season, and his goals helped the Valiants to promotion into League One, ensuring his deal would be extended until 2014.

Hughes's later years as a professional footballer saw him also turn out for Forest Green Rovers, Ilkeston, Worcester City, AFC Telford United and former club Kidderminster.

In 2017, he rocked up at Worcester as both player and joint-manager alongside John Snape, but at present he is back to just playing and the lucky club to have his services is Halesowen Town, having joined in March 2018.

Notts County fans have not had much to smile about this century, it has to be said, but for one season, the Magpies were utterly sensational, and for that campaign, Lee Hughes was at the centre of it, which is why he is so highly revered by the Black and White Army.

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