A look back...the final day

Last updated : 30 April 2008 By Gary Moss
2006/07 - 1-1 D v Macclesfield Town (a)

A point at Moss Rose last season was enough to confirm the Silkmen's status in the Football League for another season, after a second half campaign 'great escape' engineered by Paul Ince.

John Miles gave the Macc an early lead before Andy Parkinson levelled with his most recent strike for the club.

In a fitting end to the game, manager Ince made his maiden run-out for the
Baudet celebrates late leveller against Bury
club with some neat passes and one shot over the bar, plus a booking. It was his final ever competitive match after an illustrious career.

2005/06 - 2-2 D v Bury (h)

Notts pulled off a 'great escape' of their own as they sunk there closest rivals having fallen to the bottom of the Football League tree.

The Magpies needed a result to avoid the dreaded drop to the Conference and duly obliged coming from two goals down to snatch a point in a dramatic ending.

Under the stewardship of Gudjon Thordarson, a Dan Martin header and cool Julien Baudet spot kick secured County's fate sending the Meadow Lane faithful into raptures. The black and whites ended the term on 51 points level with another four sides fighting against relegation. Oxford United were the unlucky losers.

2004/05 - 0-0 D v Cambridge United (a)

It was a dull end to an uninspiring season in 2005 at the Abbey Ground.

County failed to bounce straight back up into the third tier, ending a poor
Defender Barras popped up with rare goal
campaign 13 points above the drop. U's' custodian John Ruddy denied Notts a last day win with a blinding performance, but in all honesty it made very little difference.

2003/04 - 1-1 D v Oldham Athletic (h)

Already resigned to relegation to the Old Third Division, a last minute equaliser from centre-back Tony Barras proved no release on a damp season for Notts.

It was late fireworks for sure as County gracefully battled on against the mid-table Latics, but all fans were still left agonised in defeat.

2002/03 - 1-0 W v Cheltenham Town (h)

Little did Notts know it would be themselves dropping out of the Second Division the following year, as they condemned Cheltenham to relegation this time around.

Danny Allsopp was the scorer that day much to his dleight ending a 3 month goal drought.

2001/02 - 2-1 W v Huddersfield Town (h)

Perhaps Notts fans' fondest final day memories come here as the County men defied all the odds to beat the drop with an incredible last 11 games
Notts pulled off one of the finest escapes, here celebrating against Huddersfield
where they collected 23 points from a possible 33 - with this game the grand finale.

17,000 fans flooded into an electric Meadow Lane to see the finest escape in the clubs history finished off.

Danny Allsopp was the man of the hour opening the scoring to make it 11 goals in as many games. Kevin Nicholson added the Magpies second to deny what could have been relegation by goal difference if the game was lost.

Town fielded an under-strength side with a play-off spot already wrapped up.

2000/01 - 2-1 W v Oxford United (h)

David Joseph and Mark Stallard were on the goal trail in this last game contest, to secure Notts a very respectable second successive 8th spot.

1999/00 - 2-2 D v Bury (h)

Stallard usually ended season well
Alex Dyer and Stallard this time the scorers with the play-offs too far of a bridge for the Magpies.

1998/99 - 1-0 L v Gillingham (h)

Very little at stake yet again, but the defeat saw County slip a bit closer to the wrong end of the league ladder.

County ended the campaign seven points above the drop.


1997/98 - 5-2 W v Rotherham United (h)

A true signing off of champions with a five-goal thriller the perfect end to the perfect title-winning season.

Gary Jones hit a double to spearhead the rout as the Millers were served a hammering.

The championship was already easily secured but the confirmation made the sweet season even better.

Notts' record on the last day in the last decade:
Drew 5
Won 4
Lost 1