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As the oldest professional football club in the world, Notts County has a rich tapestry of history woven into its very fabric. The club, which has been a cornerstone of the English Football League (EFL) since its inception, is on the cusp of a remarkable milestone - its 5,000th EFL match. This momentous occasion is not just a testament to the club's longevity but also a reflection of its enduring influence on the beautiful game. Notts County is gearing up for a significant match against Gillingham, marking a milestone in the club's history. Head coach Luke Williams acknowledges the importance of this event, which is amplified by the legacies of club legends like Jimmy Sirrel and Brian Clough, whose influences are ever-present in the stadium. As Notts County gears up for its momentous 5,000th EFL match, the club's head coach, Luke Williams, has shared his insights on the significance of the milestone and the enduring influence of the club's rich history. In his pre-match interview ahead of the game against Gillingham, Williams offered a candid look into the club's present and past. The weight of history is not lost on Williams, who, despite being focused on the present, acknowledges the deep-rooted connection between Notts County's past and the current team's ambitions. "You cannot escape the past when you come to work every day at this club," he said, "You know that you're a part of a historical club, and that's a great feeling." Notts County boasts a storied past that includes legends like Jimmy Sirrel and Brian Clough. Their enduring legacy is celebrated with a statue and a mural just outside the stadium, serving as a constant reminder of the club's historical achievements. Williams emphasised the importance of embracing the glorious moments of the club's past, saying, "Legends like Jimmy Sirrel and Brian Clough have left a lasting mark on this club, and it's an honour to be a part of it." In the build-up to the historic match, Notts County has made a gesture that demonstrates their commitment to their supporters. The club is offering free travel for fans to attend an away game, a move that Williams wholeheartedly supports. He commented, "I love the gesture. It's been a tough period with a lot of long-distance travels for the team and the supporters, so I think that will be greatly received." Looking ahead to the forthcoming match against a team at the top of the table, Williams acknowledged the challenges but also the level playing field. "No, they don't get any easier," he admitted. "But of course, they have to say the same thing. They're playing against a team at the top end of the table, and so we have to try to make a better performance." Luke Williams paints a vivid picture of Notts County's historic milestone and its enduring connection to the club's storied past. As the team prepares to step onto the pitch for their 5,000th EFL match, the blend of tradition and ambition is palpable, echoing the sentiment that to truly understand the present, one must embrace the past. Immerse yourself in the Pride of Nottingham discussions! Our all-in-one page allows you to read, interact, and respond using our popular topic feed page. As Notts gears up for the weekend’s fixture against Gillingham, we invite all fans to join the Pride of Nottingham match discussion and share in the excitement.

Five thousand, thanks. It’s been a few years in the making, but this weekend Notts County finally play their 5,000th Football League match away to Gillingham. It will be our 888th fourth division match. We’ve spent the largest share of our Football League existence in the third division (1528 matches), with 1516 matches played in the second division (now the Championship) and 1068 in the top flight, albeit mostly before the war. We are the eighth club to reach the landmark, after Preston, Burnley, Wolves, Derby, Bolton, West Brom and Blackburn. Blackburn played their 5000th league game last month, and we could overtake them and West Brom in terms of League games if either win promotion to the Premier League. So how did things work out in our previous landmark games? Let’s have a trip back in time! 4000th game 10 January 1998: Rochdale 1-2 Notts County (Jones, Robinson); att. 2387 This was a sixth straight win on the way to winning the fourth division under Sam Allardyce, leaving us seven points clear at the top of the division. Shaun Derry started for Notts; he would leave the club a few weeks later. We were the first club to play 4000 league matches, with number 4000 originally scheduled to be played at home to Hull City and special match programmes printed. Unfortunately it was postponed, so we reached the landmark at Spotland instead. Key figures: Darren Ward, Ian Hendon, Gary Jones UK prime minister: Tony Blair (Lab) UK number one: Various Artists – Perfect Day 3000th game 25 March 1975: Notts County 2-2 Nottingham Forest (Scanlon, Richardson (OG)9; att. 20,303 We played our nearest and dearest in the second division for our 3000th. Notts, managed by Jimmy Sirrel, were comfortably in mid-table at the time and might have had a stab at promotion but for a leaky defence. The visitors were perched precariously above the relegation zone and had just appointed a new manager called Brian. We eventually finished 14th, just a couple of places and points higher than Forest. Key figures: David Needham, Bill Brindley, Ian Scanlon UK prime minister: Harold Wilson (Lab) UK number one: Bay City Rollers – Bye Bye Baby 2000th game 13 December 1952: Notts County 5-0 Blackburn Rovers (Ken McPherson (4), Edwards); att. 10,222 We celebrated our 2000th league game in style with this win in the second division. We started the game comfortably in mid-table while Blackburn were struggling, but over the course of the season Notts found wins hard to come by and eventually finished 19th, just three points clear of the relegation zone. In the early 1950s, the club’s envisaged march to the top flight had stalled, and Tommy Lawton had left the club the previous season. We had another five seasons in the second division, mostly fighting relegation, but by the end of the decade we had dropped into the fourth division for the first time. Key figures: Leon Leuty, Cecil McCormack, Tommy Deans UK prime minister: Winston Churchill (Con) UK number one: Al Martino – Here in my Heart (this was the very first UK number one!) 1000th game 25 February 1922: West Ham United 2-1 Notts County (Cook); att. 20,000 Notts started this Division Two match perched handily behind the promotion places, but following this defeat we won only one more match all season and finished in a disappointing 13th, at the time our lowest ever league position. Better times were to come though: we finished top the following season, heralding a three-year stint in the top flight. Our goalkeeper at this time was one Albert Iremonger. Key figures: Albert Iremonger, Billy Flint, Harold Hill UK prime minister: David Lloyd George (Lib) Thanks go to the brilliant Up The Maggies site; I wouldn’t have been able to work out our 1000th and 2000th games without it! Additionally, there's the EFL website featuring their exclusive "5000 club". Disclaimer: I’m rubbish at maths. https://carouseldrivefootballs.on.drv.tw/utm/maggies00.html https://www.efl.com/about-the-efl/the-5000-club/ Thank you for taking the time to read this article. The Pride of Nottingham very much values your time visiting our site and, we are very appreciated for being here to share the journey of Notts County with you!