The Superior Other - Notts County

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Andy10Cook

10 years ago

02 Apr 2016 14:35:10

Founded 153 years ago in 1862, marking them as the oldest club in the Football League, it's been a very rollercoaster ride for the Magpies. Within the clubs history it has seen promotions to the First Division and relegations to League Two, albeit over the space of over 20 years. County are very much considered the pioneers of English football and are in fact the oldest club playing association football. In 1888 County, along with 11 other clubs were the founding members of the Football League and in the debut season they finished second bottom.

In 1891 the club reached their first FA Cup final, however they ultimately lost 3-1 to Blackburn Rovers at The Oval, this was despite beating them 7-1 a week earlier, though they made up for the defeat three years later at Goodison Park after beating Bolton Wanderers 4-1. This also marked a historic moment as they became the first club to win the competition from outside of the top flight.

Fast forwarding all the way to 1926, Notts County were relegated to the Third Division after spending nearly 40 years in the second division. They remained here until 1949, four years after not playing a single game because of the Second World War as Meadow Lane, the clubs ground was bombed and then flooded by the River Trent. Between 1960 and 1981, the club dropped to as far as the Fourth Division, whilst going through financial troubles throughout the '60's.

However County secured three promotions within 20 years to eventually reach the First Division in 1981. The club survived three years in the top flight before back-to-back relegations saw them drop to the Third Division. Neil Warnock then took over the club in 1988 and in his first full season in the 1988-89 season, the club were promoted to the Second Division and then once again, were promoted to the First Division in 1990, but were relegated with the introduction of the Premier League, to the new Division One.

Throughout these years there had been a large number of club legends, those included Albert Iremonger, Les Bradd and Don Masson but they have also had English legends play among them during their time, Sol Campbell, though he only played one game for the club signed whilst County were managed by ex England boss Sven Goran Eriksson being one.

Since then, County have endured most of their days in League One, but were relegated to League Two last season and with Ricardo Moniz being sacked after failing to keep the club up the hotseat is still available ahead of the season. Notable names have been linked with the job, however no real name has been the favourite ahead of another. The question looms over Nottingham, who will take this historic club forward and attempt to restore their what would have been, Premier League status?

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