Notts County, football's oldest professional club, continued their resurgence by securing promotion to League One with a commanding 3-0 victory over Salford City in the League Two playoff final at Wembley Stadium. The win marked County's return to the third tier after an 11-year absence, capping a remarkable rise from non-league football.
Alassana Jatta opened the scoring with a clinical finish after a sublime pass from Jodi Jones, setting the tone for a dominant performance in scorching heat. Lucas Ness doubled the lead with a towering header before half-time, and Jones sealed the victory with a second-half strike following a cutback from Conor Grant.
The match pitted tradition against celebrity, with Salford's ownership group—including Gary Neville, David Beckham, Paul Scholes, and Nicky Butt—watching from the stands. Despite their star power, Salford struggled to cope with County's intensity and quality. Manager Karl Robinson admitted his team fell short, saying, 'We have big dreams and big hopes, and we didn't fill any of them.'
Notts County manager Martin Paterson praised his players' desire and performance, noting, 'You talk about desire—this is stuff you can't qualify. How do you turn up at Wembley and perform? I don't have the answers; my players were excellent.'
Salford's key weapon, Luke Garbutt's left-foot diagonals, failed to trouble County, and their frustrations boiled over as Haji Mnoga escaped a red card for a challenge on Jones. The victory was particularly sweet for Jones, who had been on loan at County from Oxford United before joining permanently. 'It is the most fun I've had all season,' he said.
The win completes a redemption arc for County, who were relegated from the top division in 1992 and spent four years in non-league until 2023. Under Danish owners who emphasize data analytics, they have achieved two promotions in four seasons. Meanwhile, League One remains a barrier that Salford's project has yet to cross.
The attendance of 30,851 included only about 5,000 Salford fans, with the South Stand three-quarters empty, drawing disapproval from traveling County supporters. As Notts County celebrated their return, the playoff final highlighted the harsh realities of lower-division football, with Neville and Beckham's expressions reflecting the cruelty of defeat.
