PU PREVIEW 33: NOTTS COUNTY

Founded in 1862, Notts County are the oldest football team in the world to currently play at a professional level. Between 1888-89 and 2014-15, they have played a total of 4,802 Football League matches, more than any other English team. The club predates the Football Association and initially played a game of its own devising rather than association football. The club's early games were played at Park Hollow, in the grounds of Nottingham Castle, but in December 1864 a bigger venue was sought and after playing at several grounds the club eventually settled on Trent Bridge Cricket Ground in 1883. When the ground was in use for cricket, County used the Castle Ground or Nottingham Forest's Town Ground. Ernest Greenhalgh, the club's full-back, played for England versus Scotland in the first ever international association football match, in November 1872. In 1888, along with eleven other clubs, County became founding members of the Football League and have remained there ever since. The club reached the FA Cup Final in 1891, losing 3-1 to Blackburn Rovers; however, they won the trophy in 1894 by defeating Bolton Wanderers 4-1 and became the first club from outside the top division to win the competition. The club moved to their present home, Meadow Lane, in 1910.

The 'golden age' of the club came just after the end of World War Two. County signed Tommy Lawton from Chelsea for a then record fee and his arrival boosted crowds by over 10,000. During this period, one game saw 10,000 fans locked outside the ground. 1950-51 was the last season in which County competed at a higher level than their city rivals, Nottingham Forest. The Magpies struggled during the 1960s and it wasn't until Jimmy Sirrel was appointed manager in November 1969 that the club's fortunes started to change. County were promoted the following season and returned to the top division in 1981 after an absence of fifty-five years. Neil Warnock took over as manager in 1988, with the club then in Division Three, and led County to successive promotions back to the top flight in 1991; they were relegated after one season. The Premier League was introduced in 1992, so County were relegated from the old Division One to the new Division One.

In September 2003, County faced dissolution due to crippling debts, but were saved by a combination of local businessmen and the club's supporters. The club's relegation from Division Two in 2004 coincided with rebranding of the Football League and County played the next season in League Two. The club was taken over in September 2009 by Qadbak Investments and former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson was appointed Director of Football, but resigned in February 2010; by this time, Ray Trew had taken over the club. Former Pompey boss Steve Cotterill became manager and led the club to promotion to League One. County's managers since Cotterill's departure have included two former Pompey players, Martin Allen and Shaun Derry.

County are managed by Kevin Nolan (appointed January 2017) and finished in 17th place at the end of the 2015-16 season. They are known as The Magpies, County or Notts.

Pompey and County have met on twenty-nine occasions, the earliest being in November 1926 which Pompey won 3-2. Of the three FA Cup meetings, Pompey have won one and County two. County won the only League Cup meeting between the sides. Of the twenty-five League meetings, County have won ten and Pompey nine with six ending as draws. Pompey's wins include the club's record League win of 9-1, which came at Fratton Park on 9 April 1927. County won 2-1 at Fratton Park earlier in the season.

(Information via Wikipedia and www.11v11.com)