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Search forGrecians can look forward to playing the world's oldest club
Monday, July 21, 2008, 06:00
The Nottingham side are the oldest professional league side on the planet, owing to their 1862 formation date — a year before Stoke and a full three years before arch-rivals Nottingham Forest were born.
The Grecians will not necessarily be overawed by County's recent record, but they may show the club some deference for its remarkably long history.
But the Meadow Lane club came close to seeing their long tradition come to an abrupt end in September 2003.
Years of mismanagement had crippled the club, just a few seasons after Sam Allardyce's talented squad had been on the verge of making it to Division One (now the Championship).
Having slipped into administration in 2002, the Magpies remained in financial trouble for the next 18 months.
City fans would be forgiven for not registering the club's near demise in more detail — in summer 2003 most Grecians were concentrating on the almost identical turmoil unfurling at St James's Park.
County were saved by the actions of their supporters' trust and a group of businessmen known as the Blenheim Consortium after it had looked all but over for the club at one stage.
Unfortunately, though survival off the pitch was the main concern of most of the fans, survival from relegation on the pitch was unavoidable in the 2003/04 season.
And so, despite a history which boasts an FA Cup win and considerable periods of time spent in the top-flight, County have remained in the Football League's basement division for the past four seasons.
Nor have they looked like troubling the top teams in the section since they have been in League Two, finishing 19th, 21st, 13th and 21st again in the last four season.
But with Ian McParland — a former Magpies player and fans' favourite — taking over as manager last year, there is a positive feeling at the club again.
Added to McParland's popular appointment was the re-signing — initially on loan but made permanent this summer — of central defender Michael Johnson from Derby.
The Jamaican international had begun his career at Meadow Lane, before playing at the highest level of English football for first Birmingham and then the Rams.
The 35-year-old showed his commitment to the Notts County cause, dropping down three divisions to pull on a black and white shirt again after he was released by Derby at the end of last season.
And Johnson won't be the only vastly experienced player in the Magpies' squad this season, with the likes of goalkeepers Kevin Pilkington and Russell Hoult, new signing Jamie Forrester and Gordon Strachan's central midfielder son Gavin all vying for places in the starting line-up.
Notts County's Meadow Lane stadium — home to the world's oldest professional football club
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