As Newport County prepare to take on Notts County at Rodney Parade on the opening day of the Sky Bet League Two season, we take a closer look at the Magpies.
Notts County’s Story
Founded in 1862, Notts County are the oldest professional football club in the world. Known as The Magpies, they made their FA Cup debut in 1877 and became one of the founding members of the Football League in 1888. In 1894, Notts County lifted their first major trophy by defeating First Division side Bolton Wanderers 4-1 in the FA Cup final—becoming the first Second Division club to win the competition.
In 1947, the club made headlines by signing former Burnley and Everton striker Tommy Lawton. A prolific goal scorer and England international, Lawton brought large crowds to Meadow Lane and went on to score 90 goals in 151 appearances. However, following his departure, the club entered a period of decline and dropped into the Fourth Division by the 1960s.
A revival came under manager Jimmy Sirrel, who guided the club back up the divisions, culminating in promotion to the First Division in 1981. The 1991–92 season under Neil Warnock marked Notts County’s last campaign in the top flight of English football.
In the decades that followed, the club endured financial and ownership instability, which eventually led to relegation from the Football League in 2019. Despite this setback, Notts County made a strong comeback, returning to the EFL in 2023, and are now entering a new, more optimistic chapter in their storied history.
The Manager
Notts County are currently managed by 38-year-old Martin Paterson, who brings a fresh approach to the role following his appointment in the summer of 2024 after Stuart Maynard’s departure.
Paterson began his playing career at Stoke City, making his professional debut in 2005. After a brief loan spell at Grimsby Town, he found form at Scunthorpe United, which earned him a move to Burnley. His five-year spell at Turf Moor proved to be the most successful of his career, as he scored 29 goals in 130 appearances despite struggling with injuries.
Following his time at Burnley, Paterson signed for Huddersfield Town, though injury setbacks limited him to just 25 appearances across two seasons. He also had loan spells with Bristol City, Fleetwood Town, and MLS side Orlando City—where he briefly played alongside Ballon d’Or winner Kaká. Short stints at Blackpool, Port Vale, Tampa Bay Rowdies, and ATK in India followed before he retired from playing.
Paterson moved into coaching and was appointed head coach of Burton Albion in January 2024, helping the club narrowly avoid relegation. He later joined Huddersfield Town’s backroom staff before taking the reins at Notts County, where he now looks to lead the club into a promising new era.
The Club Captain
With over a decade of EFL experience, midfielder Matt Palmer is expected to continue as club captain for Notts County in the 2025–26 season.
Palmer came through the youth systems at Derby County and Burton Albion, making his professional debut for the Brewers as an 89th-minute substitute in an FA Cup win over Altrincham. He went on to make 159 appearances for Burton, including a brief loan spell at Oldham Athletic during the 2015–16 season.
In January 2018, Palmer joined Rotherham United but struggled for regular game time, leading to a season-long loan at Bradford City. After leaving Rotherham, he signed for Swindon Town, where he made just three appearances across two seasons. A loan to Wigan Athletic followed in 2020–21 before he returned to Swindon to feature more regularly.
Since joining Notts County in 2021, Palmer has established himself as a key figure in midfield. He played a pivotal role in the club’s promotion back to League Two in 2023, following a remarkable 107-point season that saw the Magpies finish just behind Wrexham in the National League title race.
Key Player
After an injury-hit campaign, Jodi Jones will be eager to recapture the electric form he showed during the 2023–24 season, where he recorded six goals and an impressive 24 assists in 46 appearances.
The 27-year-old Maltese international began his career in the youth systems of Arsenal and West Ham United before joining Dagenham & Redbridge. His standout performances there earned him a move to League One side Coventry City.
Jones endured a rollercoaster spell with the Sky Blues—suffering relegation to League Two early in his tenure but staying loyal to the club and playing a key role in their rise back to the Championship. However, his progress was severely hampered by a serious ACL injury, which side lined him for over a season and a half. His time at Coventry eventually came to an end.
After a short spell at Oxford United, Jones joined Notts County on loan and became an instant hero, scoring a dramatic last-minute winner in the National League play-off semi-final. Following the Magpies' promotion-clinching victory over Chesterfield in the final, the club moved quickly to secure his services on a permanent basis.