2009–10 Notts County F.C. season
Introduction '''Notts County''' were the oldest club in the Football League and the '''2009–10''' season was their 121st year in The Football League. An unknown Investment company (which falsely claimed it had the backing of Middle Eastern investors) took over Notts County in early June with Sven-Göran Eriksson becoming Director of Football and he left on 12 February. On 12 February, Ray Trew became owner of the club following the Peter Trembling's sale.
Season review ===Kits & sponsorship===Notts County change to Nike to design kits, County use the ''Milan'' template in County's traditional black & white colours. Medoc sponsors the home Kit. Octavian Society is the sponsor on the basic ''Nike Template'' blue away shirt.===Events===*14 July 2009 – The fraudulent Munto Finance complete the takeover and named Peter Trembling chairman. *21 July 2009 – Sven-Göran Eriksson was announced as director of football. *7 August 2009 – Notts County sign with Nike and Medoc Computers becomes Shirt sponsor. *25 August 2009 – Former England international Sol Campbell signs on five-year deal. *23 September 2009 – Sol Campbell's contract is cancelled by mutual consent after he walked out. *12 October 2009 – Manager Ian McParland is sacked. *27 October 2009 – Hans Backe is named as manager. *14 November 2009 – Kasper Schmeichel wins League Two Player of the Month. *1 December 2009 – Paul Fearon is appointed as Director of Hospitality, Catering and Events. *10 December 2009 – Munto Finance puts Notts County up for sale. *12 December 2009 – Peter Trembling completes takeover of Notts County from Munto Finance. *15 December 2009 – Hans Backe resigns after just seven-week in charge. *26 January 2010 – Peter Trembling secures investment which will pay off all debt and provide extra funds. *12 February 2010 – Former Lincoln City chairman Ray Trew buys Notts County and director of football, Sven-Göran Eriksson leaves. *23 February 2010 – Steve Cotterill takes over as manager. *1 April 2010 – Notts County sign a two-year sponsorship deal with Lorien Resourcing, the sponsors will be on the back of the first team home shirts. *3 April 2010 – Steve Cotterill wins Manager of the Month for March and Vice-Captain Neal Bishop wins Player of the Month. *17 April 2010 – Notts County unveil new club badge. *17 April 2010 – Notts County are promoted to League One after a 4–1 win over Morecambe. *27 April 2010 – Notts County win the League Two title after a 5–0 win against already relegated Darlington. *1 May 2010 – Steve Cotterill wins his second Football League Two Manager of the Month (April), Lee Hughes wins the April League Two Player of the Month.===League Two===Notts County begin their season with a 5–0 win over Bradford City. This was followed by a win over Macclesfield, scoring nine goals in two games put County top of the League Two table. They suffered their first defeat at Chesterfield but bounced back with a win over Dagenham & Redbridge followed by a loss to Barnet and then a draw against Football League new boys Burton Albion. Notts County continued their promotion hopes with a 5–2 win over Northampton Town, Lee Hughes achieved his 10th career hat-trick. This was followed with a loss to Morecambe and they quickly bounced back when Hughes scored twice and an own goal which gave Notts County in a 3–1 win over Port Vale. Three draws followed these against Cheltenham Town, Torquay United & Rotherham. Crewe Alexandra lost to County with Luke Rodgers and Craig Westcarr scoring the only two goals. This was followed with a 1–1 draw with Shrewsbury Town. Lee Hughes returns on the score sheet in a 3–3 draw with Bury, this was followed with another draw against Aldershot Town. The Magpies then lost 2–1 to Rochdale, following this new manager Hans Backe had his first league win, which was a 4–0 against Darlington. Westcarr and Edwards keep County top of the play-offs with a 2–0 win over Hereford United. After Peter Trembling's take over at County, they lost 2–1 to Accrington, this was County's first home defeat of the season.County returned to action on 28 December after two games were postponed due to frozen pitches and County beat Burton Albion 4–1.In their first league game of 2010 against Dagenham & Redbridge, County earned all three points with three goals followed by a home win against Barnet. Grimsby Town were then beaten by the Magpies. Their winning streak was ended by a 2–1 loss at A.F.C. Bournemouth, then a draw to strugglers Grimsby. Aldershot Town held County to a 1–1 draw. Notts County then beat relegation battlers Hereford United 5–0.They then climbed to 4th with wins against Macclesfield Town, Accrington Stanley and Chesterfield. A draw with fellow promotion hopefuls A.F.C. Bournemouth put County into the automatic places and then a win against Crewe Alexandra moved them up to 2nd. Which were followed by a draw against Bradford City and wins against Rotherham United, with Rodgers getting the only goal, which earned new manager Steve Cotterill Manager of the Month for March. Fellow promotion hopefuls Bury were beaten 5–0 by Notts County. Ben Davies gave County a 1–0 over ''The Shrews''. Davies scored his third in three games with the only goal against Northampton Town. Notts County edge ever closer to promotion with a 3–1 win over Lincoln City. Rochdale lost to relegated Darlington putting County top of the table. Notts County were promoted along with Rochdale after a 4–1 win over Morecambe. The next game was at home against Rochdale which County won 1–0.County then on 24 April 2010 lost 2–1 to Port Vale, one more win by county or a loss by Rochdale and Notts are Champions. County clinched the title with a 5–0 win over already relegated Darlington. County beat Cheltenham 5–0 in the final home game of the season. County finished their League Two campaign with a goalless draw with Torquay United.PosClubPldWDLFAGDPts'''1''''''Notts County (C)''''''46''''''27''''''12''''''7''''''95''''''30''''''+65''''''93'''2A.F.C. Bournemouth (P)46258135943+17832Rochdale (P)46257148248+2482'''Pld''' = Matches played; '''W''' = Matches won; '''D''' = Matches drawn; '''L''' = Matches lost; '''F''' = Goals for; '''A''' = Goals against; '''GD''' = Goal difference; '''Pts''' = Points '''(P)''' = Promoted====Results summary=======Cups=======FA Cup====County started their FA Cup campaign against League Two rivals Bradford City. Hawley and Jackson put County through in a 2–1 win. The Magpies were drawn with a trip to A.F.C. Bournemouth for the second round. County put Bournemouth out of the cup with a 2–1 win, the draw for the third round named non-League side Forest Green Rovers to play County at Meadow Lane County then beat Forest Green 2–1 to go through to the next round, County's first fourth round entry in 15 years. Premier League outfit Wigan Athletic held County to a late draw (2–2) resulting in a replay, which County won 2–0.County were then knocked in the fifth round by Premier League side Fulham.==== League Cup ====Notts County were knocked out of the first round by Championship outfit Doncaster Rovers.==== Football League Trophy ====Notts County were knocked out in the first round by Bradford City, County lost 3–2 on penalties.
Squad  ===Statistics===''Last Update 9 May 2010''* *Indicates player left during the season====Captains====NumberPosPlayerStarts 6  CB/RB  John Thompson  44 10  CM  Neal Bishop  9 9  ST  Lee Hughes  4====Disciplinary record====NumberPosPlayer 9  ST  Lee Hughes  13  1 5  CB  Graeme Lee  10  1  19  ST  Luke Rodgers  8  1 6  CB/RB  John Thompson  12  0 4  CB  Mike Edwards  9  0 10  CM  Neal Bishop  8  0 8  CM  Ricky Ravenhill  7  0 18  CB/RB  Stephen Hunt  6  0 11  CM/RM  Ben Davies  4  0 21  CM/LM  Johnnie Jackson  3  0 20  ST  Craig Westcarr  3  0 7  RM  Matthew Hamshaw  2  0 24  LM  Daniel Jones  2  0 2  RB  Brendan Moloney  2  0 23  GK  Kasper Schmeichel  2  0 30  ST  Ade Akinbiyi  1  0 22  ST  Delroy Facey  1  0 15  ST  Karl Hawley  1  0 3  LM  Matt Ritchie  1  0
Transfers ===Summer transfers in===PlayerClubFee Neal Bishop Barnet Free Sol Campbell Portsmouth Free Ben Davies Shrewsbury Town Free Karl Hawley Preston North End Undisclosed Lee Hughes Oldham Athletic Free Johnnie Jackson Colchester United Free Graeme Lee Bradford City Undisclosed Ricky Ravenhill Darlington Free Luke Rodgers Yeovil Town Free Kasper Schmeichel Manchester City Undisclosed Craig Westcarr Kettering Town Free===Summer transfers out===* * Indicates the player joined club after being releasedPlayerClubFee Richard Butcher Lincoln City Free Jamie Forrester Lincoln United* Free Michael Johnson Retired – Adam Nowland FC Tampa Bay Rowdies* Free Gavin Strachan Corby Town* Free Adam Tann Histon* Free  Myles Weston Brentford Undisclosed===Loans in===PlayerClubArrival DateReturn Date Brendan Moloney Nottingham Forest 1 July 1 January Matt Ritchie Portsmouth 1 September 31 December Daniel Jones Wolverhampton Wanderers 24 September 1 January===Loan out===PlayerClubArrival DateReturn Date Tom Hawkins Rotherham United 1 December 1 June Ben Fairclough Ilkeston Town 1 September 1 October Russell Hoult Darlington 16 September 16 October Kevin Pilkington Luton Town 12 November 16 January Delroy Facey Lincoln City 26 November 2 February Johnnie Jackson Charlton Athletic 18 February 18 March
Fixtures & results ===League===+DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers 8 August  Bradford City  H  5–0  9,369  Davies, Hughes(3), Moloney 15 August  Macclesfield Town  A  4–0  2,785  Ricky Ravenhill, Hunt, O.G., Westcarr 19 August  Chesterfield  A  1–2  6,196  Edwards 22 August  Dagenham & Redbridge  H  3–0  6,562  Hughes, Hawley, Jackson 29 August  Barnet  A  0–1  2,858  5 September  Burton Albion  H  1–1  8,891  Hawley 12 September  Northampton Town  H  5–2  7,154  Ritchie(2), Hughes(3) 19 September  Morecambe  A  1–2  3,335  Davies 26 September  Port Vale  H  3–1  7,561  Hughes(2), O.G. 29 September  Lincoln City  A  3–0  5,527  Rodgers(3) 3 October  Cheltenham Town  A  1–1  4,134  Rodgers 11 October  Torquay United  H  2–2  8,812  Westcarr, Davies 17 October  Rotherham  A  0–0  5,738  24 October  Crewe Alexandra  H  2–0  6,545  Rodgers, Westcarr 31 October  Shrewsbury Town  H  1–1  7,562  Lee 14 November  Bury  A  3–3  3,602  Hughes(2) Ritchie 21 November  Aldershot Town  H  0–0  6,500  24 November  Rochdale  A  1–2  2,779  Davies 1 December  Darlington  H  4–0  4,606  Rodgers, Hughes(2), Davies 5 December  Hereford United  A  2–0  2,727  Westcarr, Edwards 12 December  Accrington Stanley  H  1–2  5,885  Hughes 28 December  Burton Albion  A  4–1  5,801  Ravenhill, Hughes(3) 26 January  Dagenham & Redbridge  A  3–0  1,916  Davies, Hughes, O.G. 30 January  Barnet  H  2–0  6,444  Hawley, Davies 6 February  Grimsby Town  A  1–0  4,452  Hughes 9 February  A.F.C. Bournemouth  A  1–2  5,472  Bishop 14 February  Grimsby Town  H  1–1  5,163  Hughes 20 February  Aldershot Town  A  1–1  4,016  Davies 27 February  Hereford United  H  5–0  6,036  Westcarr (3), Rodgers (2) 2 March  Macclesfield Town  H  1–0  4,672  Clapham 6 March  Accrington Stanley  A  3–0  2,123  Davies, Hughes, Rodgers 9 March  Chesterfield  H  1–0  7,341  Davies 15 March  Bournemouth  H  2–2  6,120  Hughes (2) 20 March  Crewe Alexandra  A  1–0  5,003  Edwards 23 March  Bradford City  A  0–0  11,630   27 March  Rotherham United  H  1–0  9,015  Rodgers 3 April  Bury  H  5–0  7,005  Edwards, Westcarr, Davies, Hughes, Facey 5 April  Shrewsbury Town  A  1–0  6,287  Davies  10 April  Northampton Town  A  1–0  5,647  Davies 13 April  Lincoln City  H  3–1  7,501  Hughes, Lee, Facey 17 April  Morecambe  H  4–1  8,500  Hughes (2), Ravenhill, Davies 20 April  Rochdale  H  1–0  10,536  Hughes 24 April  Port Vale  A  1–2  7,459  Lee 27 April  Darlington  A  5–0  2,112  Jackson, Edwards, Westcarr, Rodgers (2) 1 May  Cheltenham Town  H  5–0  11,331  Lee, Hughes (2), Davies, Rodgers 8 May  Torquay United  A  0–0  5,124  ===FA Cup===+DateRoundOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers6 November  One  Bradford City  H  2–1  4,213  Hawley, Jackson28 November  Two  Bournemouth  A  2–1  6,082  Hughes, Westcarr19 January  Three  Forest Green Rovers  H  2–1  4,389  Hunt, Hughes23 January  Four  Wigan Athletic  H  2–2  9,073  Hughes, Davies2 February  Four – Replay Wigan Athletic  A  2–0 5,519   Hunt 75, Caldwell (OG) 7813 February  Five  Fulham  A  0–4  16,132  ===League Cup===+DateRoundOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers 11 August  One  Doncaster Rovers  H  0–1  4,893 ===Football League Trophy===+DateRoundOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers 6 October  One  Bradford City  A  2–2 (2–3 on Pens)  3,701  Westcarr, Facey
Backroom staff PositionNameFirst-Team ManagerSteve CotterillAssistant ManagerDave KevanCoachTommy JohnsonYouth Team ManagerMichael JohnsonGoalkeeping CoachCarl MuggletonPhysioPaul GodfreyFitness CoachMarcus SvenssonHead of YouthMick Leonard
Honours ===Team===*League Two Champions===Individual===*October Football League Two Player of the Month: Kasper Schmeichel*March Football League Two Player of the Month: Neal Bishop*March Football League Two Manager of the Month: Steve Cotterill*April Football League Two Manager of the Month: Steve Cotterill*April Football League Two Player of the Month: Lee Hughes*League Two PFA Team of the Year: Ben Davies, Lee Hughes, Kasper Schmeichel*League Two PFA Fans' Player of the Year: Kasper Schmeichel*Football League Two Golden Boot: Lee Hughes===Club Awards===*Player of the Year: Ben Davies*Manager's Player of the Year: Lee Hughes*Player's Player of the Year: Lee Hughes*Golden Boot: Lee Hughes*Goal of the Year: Ben Davies against Bury (3 April 2010)*Youth Manager's Player of the Year: Haydn Hollis*Youth Player's Player of the Year: Haydn Hollis*Most Improved Youth Player: Reiss Neal
See also *Notts County F.C. seasons
References