FLW examines some of the top athletes to have worn the renowned black and white strip in the previous ten years.
- The best players in recent times include Sam Slocombe, Matt Tootle, and Jim O’Brien, who have showcased their talents for the Magpies.
- Macaulay Langstaff’s incredible goal-scoring record and Jon Stead’s consistency make them standout performers for Notts County.
When Notts County returns to the Football League this season, they appear to be headed for an unusual result after finishing mid-table last season.
Following Luke Williams’ January departure for Swansea City, the Magpies had made a great start to life back in League Two and appeared to be contenders for back-to-back promotions. However, recent results have seen them slip further behind the top seven.
While their success in their first season back in the Football League is something to build on for the upcoming season, they have some of the best players to have played for the club in recent years in their ranks, so there are some “what ifs” after their stellar start to the season.
In light of this, over the past ten years, a lot of outstanding players have appeared in the well-known black and white strip, but who has been the greatest? Football League World examines the top players who have represented the Magpies in the previous ten years.
The best Notts County XI since 2014
We have chosen a 4-2-2-2 formation, which is not the Magpies’ typical formation, in order to accommodate the players in this squad. Five members of the current Notts squad are included in the team of the decade.
Sam Slocombe – GK
Sam Slocombe is the first player on the list and a current member of the team. The 35-year-old, who signed with the Magpies in 2019, has established himself as the team’s top player in the past few seasons despite facing competition in nearly every campaign.
In terms of statistics, he has been Meadow Lane’s best keeper this decade; his career-high stats for clean sheets came from the National League championship game last season, matching his total from the 2020–21 campaign with 15.
Despite the fact that the team signed both Aidan Stone and Luca Ashby-Hammond this season, Slocombe greatly improved his ball distribution under Luke Williams and has recently found his way back into the squad. He recently put on one of his best performances in a Notts shirt in their recent loss to Crawley Town.
Matt Tootle – RB
Although he is most remembered for his infamous slug celebration from his time at Meadow Lane, Matt Tootle was a reliable player as well.
After playing more than 200 games for Shrewsbury Town and Crewe Alexandra, the right-back signed a two-year contract at Meadow Lane in 2016. He would turn out to be crucial to County’s success in the Alan Hardy era.
During the 2017–18 season, he made 36 appearances as the team finished fifth in League Two. However, the club lost to Coventry City in the semi-finals, and he ended his Meadow Lane career with 106 appearances, eight assists, and four goals. a good choice to play at right back.
Mike Edwards – CB
Former Meadow Lane defender Mike Edwards has more appearances than anyone else on this list. Edwards played for Meadow Lane for two spells. After being named captain and winning the club’s Player of the Season award in 2006–07, Edwards left the team in 2012 and would return to Nottingham in 2014.
Edwards was a vital member of the Magpies defence, despite his second stint not being as memorable as his first. He showed his versatility by playing in central midfield and dominating aerially at the back.
He will always be remembered as one of the best defenders to play for Notts, having been released by the club at the end of the 2017–18 campaign and retiring not long after.
Shaun Brisley – CB
Shaun Brisley, a local player for Alfreton Town in the National League North, plays alongside Edwards at the centre of defence. Brisley rejoined former Leyton Orient manager Kevin Nolan when he inked a two-year contract with League Two team Notts County.
With Richard Duffy at centre back, he quickly found success. In the 2017–18 season, he made 46 appearances and helped Notts advance to the play-offs, where they were defeated by Coventry City in the semifinals.
In October 2018, Harry Kewell, the new manager, used him as a holding midfielder. Under Neal Ardley, he would lose favour. Having said that, Brisley is a reliable center-back partner for Edwards and was a strong defender on his day.
Jodi Jones – LB
The second player in the current lineup, despite playing a little out of position, is newcomer Jodi Jones, who has been playing exceptionally well since returning to Notts in the summer following a fruitful loan stint during the Magpies’ promotion from the National League.
This season, he has been a player reborn, smashing the League Two assist record in February with 20 assists overall, including four in a single game during Jim O’Brien’s only game in charge of a 5-5 draw against Grimsby.
Jones, who plays wing-back now, has demonstrated his defensive prowess and would provide this team speed, strength, and accuracy from the left side.
Matty Palmer – CM
Oh, how the Magpies have missed this man since his injury back in November that ended the season. Former manager Luke Williams once called Matty Palmer a “tennis ball machine,” and to be honest, he wasn’t wrong.
The midfielder’s variety of passes and his capacity to set the pace of games have been essential to Notts’ style of play over the previous three seasons, and his absence from the squad may have played a part in the team’s recent decline in the standings.
In the past ten years, a number of outstanding midfielders have worn the black and white shirt, but none appear to be as significant as the Magpies’ current number 18.
Jim O’Brien – CM
Mr. County Notts in person. Jim O’Brien would be hard to leave off this squad because he offers that biting midfield bite and the potential for a goal or hat-trick—his time at Meadow Lane has shown that there is no middle ground.
O’Brien, who joined from Bradford City in 2019, was a member of the team that saw the Magpies relegated to the Football League, and he is now on a mission to bring them back. In their first season in the National League, he was one of four current Notts players to taste defeat against Harrogate Town in the play-off final.
And he made his dream come true last season by being a key player in Notts’ promotion-winning campaign. He enjoys a great deal of respect within the team and was even given managerial duties after Luke Williams left for Swansea City. His only game as manager resulted in a 5–5 draw away to Grimsby Town. a participant who gives it their all on the pitch.
Jorge Grant – CAM
Midfielder Jorge Grant made his first professional loan move from Nottingham Forest, where he was loudly criticised, to move across the River Trent to Meadow Lane for the first of two stints.
The midfielder helped the Magpies avoid relegation from League Two in his first season with Notts, scoring in his second game in the 93rd minute against Exeter City. He would go on to finish the season with six goals in 17 games, earning himself a new three-year contract at the City Ground.
The next season, Grant would make a comeback and maintain his incredible scoring ways, scoring 19 goals in 56 games across all competitions to help Notts advance to the play-off semifinals before falling to Coventry City. A class act who has since lost the ability to score goals.
Ruben Rodrigues – CAM
Midfielder Ruben Rodrigues, who joined from Dutch team Den Bosch in 2020, has emerged as one of the most gifted players to don the black and white shirt in recent memory. However, supporters will have to wait a year to witness their “Portuguese magnifico” in person.
After spectators could feast their eyes in the Meadow Lane stands, Rodrigues quickly emerged as a fan favourite thanks to his powerful yet deft performances, which occasionally included a dash of nutmeg for good measure.
His final contribution for the Magpies saw him tie the score at Wembley in the National League play-off final. The supporters felt his departure for Oxford United was a chance his skills deserved.
Macaulay Langstaff – ST
Leaving out the Magpies’ top scorer from their National League championship win the previous season would be tough. Since arriving at Meadow Lane, the striker has been nothing short of amazing, with goal-scoring records collapsing in front of his gifted feet.
41 goals in 45 games in the fifth division; in his first season in the Football League, he has already eclipsed the 20-goal threshold. Does this need to be explained any further?
He’s emerged as one of the most productive strikers Notts supporters have seen recently, and many are hoping to watch his antics for years to come.
Jon Stead – ST
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