Ahead of the Spireites’ return to the Football League and League Two, we are taking a look at all 23 other teams that make up the division.
We are continuing with Notts County:
FACT FILE
Team Name: Notts County Football Club
Nickname: The Magpies
Year Founded: 1862
Stadium: Meadow Lane
Capacity: 19,841
2023/24 SEASON
Notts County’s start to their first season back in the EFL began in good fashion; two defeats in their opening 12 league fixtures had the club in the automatic promotion race. Their form started to turn after a heavy defeat to rivals Mansfield Town – with only six wins in their next 14. In early January, with the club sat in fifth, head coach Luke Williams left Notts to join Championship side Swansea City. Stuart Maynard was soon announced as his replacement, but the form failed to improve. County could only manage another five wins from the start of January with the club falling a long way off the promotion race – Maynard’s side finished in 14th place.
MANAGER
Following the end of his playing career in 2012, Stuart Maynard became assistant manager to Dean Brennan at Hemel Hempstead Town. This created an almost decade-long partnership that saw stints at Billericay Town, Kingstonian and Wealdstone. Upon Brennan’s departure from Wealdstone in March 2021, Maynard was appointed as manager. The former midfielder spent almost three years at Grosvenor Vale, helping the Stones become an established National League side. Maynard was appointed as head coach at Notts County in February 2024 after Luke Williams’ departure.
KEY PLAYER
Alongside Macaulay Langstaff, Jodi Jones was a standout for Notts County in their first season back in the Football League. The wing-back’s creative output was unmatched in the EFL as he got the most assists.
Last season in numbers:
Appearances – 46
Goals – 5
Assists – 23
Yellow Cards – 8
Red Cards – 0
Minutes Played – 3,628
PLAYED FOR BOTH
In July 2015, Scott Loach joined Notts County after leaving Rotherham United. He battled it out with fellow goalkeeper Roy Carroll, making 14 appearances in his first season. The shot-stopper only played three times for the Magpies in the campaign after – being loaned to York City in March 2017. Loach left the club at the end of the 2016/17 season before joining Hartlepool United.
Chesterfield signed Loach in the summer of 2021 after he left Barnet. The veteran goalkeeper immediately took the number one spot and didn’t let go. He played 48 times throughout the one season he spent at the SMH Group Stadium. Loach left for Derbyshire neighbours Derby County in July 2022.
HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORD
P 79 W 24 D 21 L 34
Chesterfield and Notts County have always provided fixtures with passion and determination. Throughout the years, the Nottinghamshire side have had the better of the head-to-head meetings.
PREVIOUS GAME
The two sides last met at Wembley Stadium in the National League play-off final. Andrew Dallas gave the Spireites the lead after just five minutes as he slotted his penalty past Sam Slocombe. With the clock ticking towards second half added time, John Bostock squeezed a free-kick past Ross Fitzsimons to take the game to extra-time. Armando Dobra brilliantly curled Chesterfield back in front before Reuben Rodrigues’ half-volley bounced into the goal. In the penalty shoot-out, Cedwyn Scott scored the winning penalty to give Notts County a 4-3 win in the shoot-out.
*Photos of Meadow Lane, Stuart Maynard & Jodi Jones courtesy of Notts County FC.
