The Magpies face Gillingham in a crucial relegation survival match this weekend with over 2000 people set to be at the MEMS Priestfield Stadium on Sunday.
On the final day of last season, Alan Sheehan stepped up to score the equalising penalty at Oldham in a 1-1 draw that saw County avoid relegation. Twelve months on and the Magpies are fighting to stay up again.
More than two thousand Notts County fans will travel down to Gillingham’s Priestfield Stadium on Sunday to see if they can pull off the last day heroics again.
Their fate is in their own hands though, a win will definitely seal their League One status. If the Magpies were to draw, they would be relying on other results to go their way. To lose though would be unthinkable.
Courageous comeback
Relegation would have serious implications both on and off the pitch: it is likely top talents would be poached from high division teams and season ticket sales would be likely to drop.
Pies defender and local lad, Haydn Hollis played in that ‘great escape’ match last season at Oldham and understands the significance of avoiding the drop.
“The game is massive, probably the biggest of my career. It’s huge for our careers, for the club’s future and for the fans.”
“We must make sure we give absolutely everything to get the right result.”
Manager Ricardo Moniz was a calm figure at his press conference on Friday morning.
A few weeks ago, County were destined for the drop but he has masterminded a courageous comeback to leave them a win away from safety. He is already looking to the future though.
“League One status is so important. This club should be thinking upwards after this season. We want to go forward, but relegation to League Two will halt our momentum.”
“The fans are the twelfth man, they are incredible. In my three home games since i’ve been here, they have won us points on their own. They got us the late goal against Barnsley and the second goal against Doncaster.”
“When you have that kind of support, you always have a chance.”