Notts County

Notts County: Luke Williams' rise from coaching young offenders to leading the Magpies' renaissance..By Andrew Aloia, BBC Sport.

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Luke Williams will oversee his first Nottinghamshire derby on Saturday when Notts County host Mansfield Town

Notts County boss Luke Williams was loading lorries, driving minibuses and breaking up fights among young offenders when he first "fell into" coaching at West Ham two decades ago.

He didn't choose the circumstances that landed him on the path to management. And it would be a theme for much of his career.

More than half a lifetime before guiding the Magpies back to the English Football League - and quickly getting them to the top of League Two when they got there - he was sharing pitches in east London with future England stars in the area, including John Terry and friend Bobby Zamora.

But his playing career didn't go stratospheric like theirs - a knee injury that required five operations in four years after he was released by Norwich City as a teenager ended all hopes of that.

"I didn't make the cut, and then by the time I tried to regroup and gather myself to try make something of it at 19, I did an ACL [anterior cruciate ligament], meniscus and lateral collateral [ligament]," 42-year-old Williams told BBC Sport.

"Between the ages of 19 and 23 I had surgery five times to rebuild my knee, but by then you have missed too much and it's impossible.

"So then you are just lost in the world not knowing who you are any more.

"And then you start to try and make a life, so I worked in a warehouse, drove a minibus and some coaching.

"I fell into it. I was coaching, trying to make some money really, because coaching was more enjoyable than working in the warehouse or driving a bus."

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A start at Leyton Orient then led to a job coaching young offenders at West Ham.

It was at the Hammers that Williams learned the importance of hard work and commitment, two traits that would go on to define the Magpies side that dramatically restored themselves as the world's oldest football league club in May.

"At West Ham they put me with young offenders because they needed someone who would turn up to an estate, show up on time and show up the next week even though it was carnage and fights everywhere," Williams said.

"So I ended up picking up a lot of work because I was prepared to work and I needed to make some money. I was brought up like that - if you have a job, you turn up and try.

"That was the thing, just give everything. If you are stacking the lorry up, do it properly, if you are driving the minibus, drive it properly.

"I started coaching and fortunately I clocked up more hours coaching and then before you know it I was a coach."

It was then a "call out of the blue" from Brighton and interview with then Seagulls boss Gus Poyet that led to a job with their under-21 side.

He moved into first-team coaching as an assistant at Swindon in 2013, and it was the Wiltshire club that gave him his first break as a boss on a caretaker basis two years later.

Six wins in 10 league games landed him with a "surprise" five-year deal, but he lasted only one full season in charge before being sacked following their relegation to League Two in 2017.

A move back into under-21 coaching came at Bristol City, then assistant jobs at MK Dons and Swansea City followed before Williams became a somewhat obscure appointment by Notts County in the summer of 2022.

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Under Williams, Notts broke numerous club and competition records on the way to finishing second in the National League to Wrexham, before eventually securing their place in League Two with a penalty shootout win against Chesterfield in a thrilling Wembley promotion final.

After a rough start to life back in League Two, having suffered a 5-1 opening-day defeat by Sutton, the Magpies soared to the top of the division.

It's a place they continue to hold as they welcome undefeated Mansfield Town in the first Nottinghamshire derby for four years on Saturday.

For Notts, it's the latest "big moment" in what has become a long list for an attention-grabbing side who are led by a man who has done well to avoid any attention being focused on him.

That has become increasingly difficult, however, for someone now regarded as one of English football's highest-rated emerging coaches - with Portsmouth and Reading among the clubs to be linked with Williams in the past 10 months.

When asked what it is like being "that guy" after a career of toil and little previous recognition, Williams said: "You have beggars and choosers.

"And my whole life up until I arrived at Notts, I was a beggar.

"Then I became a chooser. And the people here, they made me a chooser.

"I will give everything I've got while I'm here and hopefully it will keep me being a chooser for a long time to come."

Saturday 21st October 2023 - Gillingham 1 Notts County 2 (Langstaff 38, Macari 78) - Attendance: 6983 (820 away fans)

Substitute Lewis Macari's spectacular winner earned Notts County a 2-1 victory against managerless Gillingham in their 5,000th league game.

Macaulay Langstaff met Tobi Adebayo-Rowling's low cross to deservedly put the visitors in front in the 38th minute.

A last-ditch tackle from Dom Jefferies prevented Langstaff from doubling the Magpies' lead from close range shortly after the break.

The Gills, under the guidance of interim manager Keith Millen, drew level thanks to a fine solo goal from left-back Scott Malone in the 52nd minute.

The former Millwall man created a chance out of nothing inside the penalty area and fired low past Sam Slocombe.

County continued to dominate possession and almost retook the lead when Jodi Jones forced Jake Turner into a smart reaction save, before Malone's block of Adebayo-Rowling's dangerous cross almost deflected into his own net.

The visitors' victory was secured when Stoke loanee Macari marked his English league debut by firing into the top corner from 20 yards.

County's third away win of the season keeps them second in League Two, while Gillingham drop to ninth following a third defeat in six.

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Lou Macari with his grandson Lewis who is on loan from Stoke City

Lewis Macari: Notts County sign on-loan Stoke City defender on permanent deal..

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Lewis Macari has scored one goal for Notts County this season, which was their winner against Gillingham in October

On-loan defender Lewis Macari has made his move to Notts County from Championship side Stoke City permanent.

The 21-year-old has made 10 appearances for Notts since arriving on loan in the summer, and has now signed a deal until the end of the 2026-27 season.

League Two side Notts initially signed Macari when Geraldo Bajrami suffered a season-ending knee injury.

"This club's on the up and I wanted to be someone who could help take it forward," Macari said.

Talking to BBC Radio Nottingham, the defender added: "I feel properly part of the team now and I'm really happy to be staying permanently.

"I'd been at Stoke a long time, and I can't thank everyone there enough for everything they've done for me, but the time has come to move away and take my first proper steps into men's football.

"I know I've got to kick on from here now."

The Scot, who is the grandson of former Manchester United midfielder and Stoke boss Lou Macari, made just one senior appearance for Stoke, which came in the FA Cup last season.

SATURDAY 13th JANUARY 2024 - LEAGUE TWO

Grimsby Town 5 Notts County 5

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The extraordinary scoreline at the end of the Grimsby v Notts County match

Grimsby Town manager David Artell described it as a "basketball game on a football pitch" as they and Notts County played out an astonishing 5-5 draw at Blundell Park.

Grimsby were ahead three times but needed new signing Harry Wood to mark his debut with a dramatic last-gasp equaliser - the 10th goal of the afternoon.

That came after veteran County striker David McGoldrick struck his second goal of the afternoon and what looked to be the winner, but Wood had other ideas with the final say.

Mariners captain Danny Rose, Abo Eisa (two) and Harry Clifton were also on target while Macaulay Langstaff and Aaron Nemane (two) also scored for County.

"It was a basketball game on a football pitch," Artell told BBC Radio Humberside.

"It was a real good game, not just because it was 5-5, but there was some real good football on the pitch.

"But we didn't help ourselves at crucial moments. We could have been 3-0 up and then we can't defend like we defended."

Rose put Grimsby ahead from the penalty spot with seven minutes on the clock and Eisa - the player fouled in the build-up - made it 2-0 eight minutes later when adding the finishing touch from a half-cleared corner.

County fought back in the run-up to the break as McGoldrick and Langstaff netted in almost identical fashion from Jodi Jones deliveries.

Nemane twice restored parity for County after Clifton and Eisa netted and there was even more to come at either end with Grimsby substitute Wood cancelling out a late strike from McGoldrick.

Notts County's joint interim boss Jim O'Brien said his side had not shown enough control during the game.

"It was a bit 'you have a go and we'll have a go'," the Scot told BBC Radio Nottingham.

"We've definitely got a lot to learn and we're going to have a busy week with the video meetings.

"We gave ourselves a mountain to climb, climbed back up and got near to the top, but sometimes you just fall, that happens."

How the goals went in:

7 mins: 1-0 Danny Rose puts Grimsby ahead

15 mins: 2-0 Abo Eisa doubles the lead

39 mins: 2-1 David McGoldrick halves the deficit

45+1 mins: 2-2 Top scorer Macauley Langstaff brings Notts County level

52 mins: Harry Clifton puts hosts in front again

60 mins: Aaron Nemane makes it 3-3

62 mins: Abo Eisa scores his second and Grimsby lead for a third time

79 mins: Nemane scores his second equaliser of the half

90+2 mins: David McGoldrick puts Notts ahead for the first time

90+5 mins: Harry Wood grabs the 10th goal of the game to make it 5-5

Jaden Warner: Norwich City defender joins Notts County on loan..

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Jaden Warner came through Norwich's academy and captained their age group teams

Notts County have signed defender Jaden Warner on loan from Norwich City for the rest of the season.

The 21-year-old made his first-team debut for the Canaries in a 2-1 League Cup defeat by Fulham last September.

He has also started two Championship games for the club, the most recent a 3-2 win at Cardiff in November.

"Jaden's someone my management team and I have liked for a couple of years now," new head coach Stuart Maynard told the Notts website.

"He's got a bright future ahead of him and I think it's a really good signing for the club."

Maynard will take charge of the team for the first time in Saturday's home fixture against Barrow.

TUESDAY 13th FEBRUARY 2024 - LEAGUE TWO

Newport County 1 (Evans 90 pen) Notts County 3 (Langstaff 22, 59, McGoldrick 35)

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Notts County are without a clean sheet in 11 away league matches but ended their run of seven away League Two matches without victory

Notts County beat Newport County 3-1 to earn their first win under Stuart Maynard.

Macaulay Langstaff's header combined with a David McGoldrick tap-in put the visitors in control at Rodney Parade.

Langstaff netted another header - his 23rd goal of the season - in the second half, with Will Evans' penalty being merely a consolation for the hosts.

Victory was Notts County's first in eight away league matches, and one that ended Newport's four-game winning run.

The Magpies move up to eighth in League Two while the Exiles drop to 14th.

Tuesday 27th February 2024 - League 2

Notts County 3 (Langstaff 13 pen, Crowley 33, 70) Sutton United 4

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Sutton boosted their survival hopes and put a dent in Notts County's promotion bid with a thrilling win at Meadow Lane.

The visitors took the lead in the sixth minute when Stephen Duke-McKenna's cross found Ryan Jackson at the back post.

But the Magpies responded quickly when Macaulay Langstaff saw his effort handled in the area. He dusted himself down to score the spot-kick.

However, Aden Baldwin's under-hit back-pass presented Harry Smith with a run on the County goal and he took the opportunity for his 11th goal of the season.

Dan Crowley levelled just after the half-hour mark, looping in a header from Jodi Jones' teasing delivery to end a pulsating first half.

Olly Sanderson's first goal of the season regained the lead once more for Sutton, only for Crowley to level again with a superb finish from outside the area.

But it was Crowley's outstretched leg that saw Charlie Lakin tripped inside the area late on and the midfielder stepped up to secure Sutton's second away win of the season.

Saturday 9th March 2024 - League Two

Notts County 0 AFC Wimbledon 2

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Match Stats: Notts Co 0 Wimbledon 2 - Possession: 70% - 30% - Shots: 8-8 - On Target: 1-4 - Referee: Simon Mather - Attendance: 10,224

Two goals in the final 10 minutes boosted AFC Wimbledon's play-off hopes as they moved up to eighth in League Two by winning at Notts County.

Substitute Connell Rawlinson's own goal put the visitors ahead with on-loan Kofi Balmer's header doubling the Magpies' woes, leaving them winless at home in 2024.

Dons almost found themselves in front within the first minute when the ball landed at the feet of Omar Bugiel inside the area but he fired his shot over the crossbar.

Macaulay Langstaff squandered the best chance of the half for the hosts, placing his effort well over after a neat one-two inside the Dons box.

The Magpies' top scorer almost made amends early in the second half but was unable to turn home Aaron Nemane's delivery on the line.

Johnnie Jackson's side took the lead in the closing stages when Balmer's throw-in was turned beyond his own goalkeeper by Rawlinson.

They sealed the points five minutes later, with Ronan Curtis' delivery from a corner headed powerfully beyond Sam Slocombe by Balmer for the Northern Ireland international's first goal for Wimbledon since he joined on loan from Crystal Palace.

SAT 23rd MAR 2024 - LEAGUE TWO

Notts County 1 (Crowley 53) Salford City 2

Conor McAleny's double ensured Salford inflicted yet another home defeat on Notts County.
County's Jodi Jones threatened twice early on, testing Alex Cairns with a powerful effort before going dragging his shot wide of the near post.
But it would be the visitors who took the lead with their first effort on target as Sam Austin was dispossessed, allowing McAleny to take aim and fire the ball in off the post.
The Magpies drew level nine minutes after the restart, Austin atoning for his earlier error as his cross deflected into the path of Dan Crowley who finished high into the net.
Both sides continued to create opportunities for a winner as Macaulay Langstaff's effort was saved well by Cairns, before McAleny went close once more but was unable to curl in his second of the afternoon.
However, McAleny had the final say, finishing smartly beyond Sam Slocombe to leave Stuart Maynard still searching for his first home win since becoming Notts head coach.


FRI 29th MAR 2024 - LEAGUE TWO

Swindon Town 2 Notts County 1 (Jatta 90+2)

Swindon Town broke a four-match winless streak as they beat Notts County thanks to two pieces of comedic defending.
The visitors conceded after 19 minutes in calamitous circumstances as Scott Robertson tried to play the ball back to his goalkeeper Sam Slocombe, but it hit the post and rebounded for Aaron Drinan to net his third goal in four games.
Sean McGurk then drifted out to the right and picked out Paul Glatzel in space with a whipped cross, but his header rattled the crossbar and bounced over.
Then, in the 73rd minute, Slocombe came out of his goal and attempted to thread a pass into midfield, but instead played it straight to Glatzel who could not believe his luck as he put the ball into the empty net.
Substitute Alassana Jatta scored a stoppage-time consolation goal for Notts from an acute angle, but it proved too little too late as County's slide down the table continued.


MON 1st APR 2024 - LEAGUE TWO

Notts County 3 (Austin 45+4, Jatta 48, Nemane 90+1) Milton Keynes Dons 3

Aaron Nemane's stoppage-time equaliser dented MK Dons' automatic promotion hopes as they drew a six-goal game with Notts County.
The visitors took the lead in fine fashion as Max Dean's neat turn in midfield was followed up with a sensational strike into the roof of Luca Ashby-Hammond's net.
County almost levelled as Macaulay Langstaff saw his effort cannon back off the crossbar, with Dan Crowley also going close moments later.
The home side's dominance was rewarded in the final minute of first-half stoppage-time as Nemane's deflected cross found Sam Austin on the line to score.
Alassana Jatta headed the hosts in front three minutes into the second half after good work from Adam Chicksen.
Dons drew level with Ellis Harrison grabbing his first of the afternoon with a low finish into the bottom corner in the 64th minute, and he added another seven minutes from time after breaking the offside trap and dinking the ball home.
However, the spoils were shared as Jodi Jones' teasing delivery found Nemane unmarked at the back post to finish.


SAT 6th APR 2024 - LEAGUE TWO

Notts County 3 (Langstaff 45+2 pen, Jones 75, O'Brien 89) Harrogate Town 0

Notts County won at Meadow Lane for the first time in 2024 as they comfortably beat Harrogate 3-0.
Macaulay Langstaff put County ahead from the spot and, after George Thomson saw a penalty saved by Luca Ashby-Hammond, Jodi Jones and Jim O'Brien struck.
The hosts started brightly as Aaron Nemane danced his way into the area, linking up with Dan Crowley and poking the ball home, only to see his effort ruled out for offside.
County took the lead just before the break as Nemane was tripped inside the area, with Langstaff stepping up and sending James Belshaw the wrong way for his 26th goal of the season.
Thomson had the chance to level the game as Aden Baldwin's high boot on Abraham Odoh was penalised, however his spot-kick was brilliantly saved by Ashby-Hammond.
Odoh and Dean Cornelius spurned good chances for the visitors, and they were punished as a result with substitute Jones' weaving run ending with a low shot finding the far corner.
The three points were confirmed a minute before the final whistle, with replacement O'Brien stooping low to glance the ball home.