Notts County F.C.

Notts County Football Club carries a weight of history that few modern teams can match. Established in 1862, the club holds the title of the oldest professional football side in existence. Their journey began in earnest when they entered the FA Cup in 1877 and joined the original twelve founding members of the Football League in 1888. Over more than a century and a half, the Magpies have navigated every tier of English football, securing promotion fifteen times while facing relegation seventeen times.

Based in Nottingham, the team plays its home matches at Meadow Lane, a ground that has served as their base since 1910. This stadium remains one of the oldest football grounds still in use for competitive matches. The black and white striped kits earned them the moniker The Magpies, a name that fans embrace with pride during the intense local clashes against city rivals Nottingham Forest.

Recent seasons have seen the club firmly established in EFL League One following a successful playoff campaign. In August 2026, they drew 1-1 against Leicester City at home, holding off the newly relegated Foxes in a notable result. Earlier that month, they faced Burnley in the EFL Cup, losing 5-4 in a high-scoring affair before engaging Nottingham Forest in an EFL Trophy match later in October. [edit]

The club was founded on November 28, 1862, making it the world's oldest existing professional association football club. They were instrumental in forming the Football League in 1888 and spent their first twenty-two years in the top flight before a long period of fluctuation between divisions. While they never won the top-flight title, they reached the FA Cup semi-finals twice, notably in 1894 and 1973. The club also secured multiple lower-division championships throughout their history.

Meadow Lane became their permanent home in 1910 after moving from Trent Bridge. The ground has hosted countless historic matches and remains a central part of the club's identity. Despite financial struggles in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, the club survived and continues to compete in the English Football League system. [edit]