November 19, 1969 was the start of something special for Notts County Football Club, something very special indeed.
On this date a wiry Scotsman strolled calmly through the Meadow Lane gates with his sights set on impeding the doom and gloom that had settled at the club. 
County were down in the dumps, painfully slugging it out in the basement division of the football league.
Three consecutive bottom-half finishes of 20th, 17th and 19th, had been followed by a distinctly average opening to the 1969/70 campaign.
Notts were no doubt underachieving, especially when the squad contained the likes of Don Masson, Brian Stubbs, Les Bradd, Bob Worthington and David Needham.
They were lacking the belief, the passion and the hunger, but the former Brentford boss had these in abundance and wasted no time instilling them into his players - turning them into winners.
Don Masson's tribute emphasises this impact, with the former play-maker stating: "I owe everything in my football career to Jimmy - he was fantastic."
No more struggling, no more worries, no more woes. The one and only Jimmy Sirrel had Notts on the up.
Workington, Scunthorpe United and Chester City were all beaten convincingly in his first three games, and fans could sense that this was the turning point; this was the time for the Magpies to fly.
Vastly improving on the past three years, Sirrel guided Notts to a comfortable seventh placed finish.
This was just the warm up, as County topped the table on 69 points the year after - nine points clear of second placed Bournemouth - to claim the Division Four championship without losing once on home soil.
A meagre three points denied Sirrel repeating this success in the Third Division, narrowly missing out on back-to-back promotions.
There would be no tears the year after though, because Notts finished runners-up to Bolton Wanderers, and thanks to a 4-1 thumping of Tranmere
Rovers, the second promotion in three years was secured.
Two mid-table placements later, Sirrel announced that he was leaving to join Sheffield United's bid to avoid the drop from the First Division. The saviour was gone… for now.
Return of the King
Unfortunately for the fiery Scot, his only accomplishment at the Blades was in designing their new badge, because he was unable to steer them clear of relegation.
Another struggle the season after paved his way back to Nottingham, where he returned to his throne as 'Lord of the 'Pies'.
Helping County fend off fears of a return to the Third Division, Sirrel led his team to 15th position and avoided the drop-zone comfortably by 11 points.
It was three more years in the second tier before the former Aldershot coach completed the set, attaining his third promotion by securing the runners-up spot in 1981 to ensure that Notts returned to the top flight for the first time in 55 years.
Finishing 15th in his first season, he inspired his team to emphatic wins over Aston Villa, Arsenal, Nottingham Forest and Leeds United.
Howard Wilkinson was brought in as Head Coach for the next campaign, with Sirrel taking up the role of General Manager.
He leapt back into the hot-seat, however, when he saw his club in danger, with Notts on the brink of back-to-back relegations under Larry Lloyd.
Unfortunately, he was unable to prevent the drop, but did manage to halt the freefall that County were in, by consolidating in the Third Division for two more seasons before retiring as a true hero.
Since then, he has been a regular spectator at Meadow Lane and even had the County Road Stand named after him.
He was actually called back into the dressing room and onto the pitch to boost spirits when Notts nearly slipped out of the football league in 2005.
Chants of 'there's only one Jimmy Sirrel' bellowed throughout the stadium, demonstrating how much he meant to every single County fan. 
Sadly he was not able to attend towards the end of his life, because of ill health, which progressively worsened.
R.I.P Jimmy
Heartbreakingly, it was announced that Jimmy had passed away in the early hours of this morning at the Queen's Medical Centre.
Since the news broke, ex-players, managers and many more from all over have emerged in their masses to speak fondly about the great man.
These have included Sir Alex Ferguson, Howard Wilkinson, Don Masson, John Armstrong-Holmes and Les Bradd.
Couple these with the heartfelt tributes that have filtered through from supporters of all ages, and tears cannot be prevented from encroaching the corner of the eye, nor can shivers be prevented from tingling down one's spine, as it becomes apparent how much one man deeply affected so many people.
Those who witnessed his reign will thank him for the memories and those who are too young will express their gratitude for what he did for the club.
He was not as good as Brian Clough, Bill Shankly and so forth, he was better. In any Notts County fans' eyes he was the best, full stop, and he will never be forgotten.
We all love you Jimmy and every single one of us is eternally grateful for your efforts - rest in peace Gaffer.