Sandwiched between two media behemoths, Notts County and Harrogate prepare for massive day with massive implications

Could the two sides heading to Wembley be any more different?

There are those who say the FA Cup final has lost its magic. Certainly, much media comment focuses on the implications for places in the UEFA Champions League rather than the glory of winning the FA Cup today as Arsenal and Chelsea prepare for battle.

Its importance may be dwarfed by that other London derby taking place on Tuesday when Fulham and Brentford face off for a place in the EPL, a match reputed to be worth over £170m to the winner.

Between those two games however, there will be a another at Wembley of massive importance to the two participants, Notts County and Harrogate Town who will meet for only the second time ever.

Notts County revel in being the world’s oldest football club. Founded in 1862, they predate the formation of the FA.Their colours of black and white stripes are the reason Juventus adopted the same. How their fans must be sick of reading all this!

They have played in the Football League, any of the top four divisions, in all of the league’s 132 years of existence, until this year. Humiliatingly, they were relegated out of the fourth tier at the end of last season, ending a 132 year presence.

The prize on Sunday is to make that absence a one year only absence and right a wrong. Although the National League season was ended early, the Magpies comfortably made the playoffs where they defeated Barnet 2-0 with Kristian Dennis and Cal Roberts scoring.

Sunday represents their first visit to Wembley in 24 years. In 1996, 39,972 watched then lost 2-0 to Bradford City in a Football League Second Division play-off Final. That was City’s first ever visit to Wembley but County’s fifth since 1990.

County manager Neil Ardley selected Ben Turner and Jim O’Brien to face Barnet dropping Connell Rawlinson and Enzio Boldewijn to the bench despite the latter two carrying a heavy workload during the regular season.

The Dutchman Boldewijn had played 37 games, starting 36 with 3167 minutes of league football to his name. Rawlinson had started 31 matches securing 2803 minutes on the pitch, only behind Boldewijn and midfielder Mitchell Rose.

Attendances have held up well in their one season in the NL, with an average home gate of 5,210 compared to 7,357 in their last season in League 2. Much of that difference can be attributed to lower numbers of visiting fans. 12,660 for instance watched their home match with neighbours Mansfield Town, 10,641 were there when Lincoln City visited and an amazing 15,026 for the visit of Cambridge United.

The sides have only met once before
Photo: Harrogate Town FC

Despite being relegated, they were still the third best supported side in League 2.

County’s league goals are well shared around. Kyle Wootton has 13, Dennis 12 and Wes Thomas ten. Wootton has two more from the FA Cup and Dennis another, a mere consolation in a 3-1 loss at Northampton Town. Wootton scored his brace in the first round, seeing off Ebbsfleet United 3-2 with Ben Turner netting a late winner

The sides have only ever met once, earlier this year. County won 2-0 in Yorkshire with a Dennis penalty and an 88th minute goal from Boldewijn securing the points. The return game did not beat the lockdown.

Kick off is 3pm on Sunday and you will be able to follow our updates live from inside Wembley Stadium on our Twitter @ProstInt.

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