The 2011–12 season was Notts County's 123rd year in the English Football League and their second consecutive season in League One.
Season review
Kits Fila will become Notts County's kit suppliers this season, after signing a three-year contract. With Nottingham based solicitors, Fraser Brown, sponsor the home shirt and Vision Express sponsoring the away shirt.
Pre-season Notts County began their pre-season with two games on the same day. Half of the squad played at newly formed Ilkeston FC, the game finished 2–2, while the other half of the squad won 1–0 at Hucknall Town FC. They then lost 2–0 at Hinkley United before a 1–0 win at Kettering Town. Notts then won 2–1 at Nottinghamshire rivals Mansfield Town before two home games – a 3–2 defeat to Peterborough United and a 1–1 draw with Wolverhampton wanderers. They then lost 2–0 at Corby Town – this the first game at Corby's new home ground - Steel Park. Pre Season finished with a 1–0 defeat at Macclesfield Town and a 3–2 defeat at Maidenhead United.
League Notts County began their league campaign with a 3–0 victory on the road at Carlisle United, before losing their first home game of the season to Charlton Athletic. They then beat Tranmere rovers 3–2 thanks to an injury time penalty in a feisty affair at Meadow Lane. This was followed by back to back defeats at Sheffield Wednesday and Preston North End. They then went unbeaten through September, winning 3–1 at home to AFC Bournemouth before heading out to Turin to take on Juventus in a showpiece friendly to open Juventus's new stadium. The game ended in a 1–1 draw. Notts returned to league action with a 2–1 win at home to Walsall before drawing at Exeter City. They ended September with two 2–0 wins at Stevenage and at home to Rochdale. October began with a 3–0 loss at Milton Keynes Dons, before County themselves won 3–0 at home to Hartlepool United. They then won 3–1 at Chesterfield in a local derby. This was followed up by draws at home to Brentford and away to Bury, before going down 4–2 at Colchester United. November saw Notts draw with Wycombe Wanderers, lose at Huddersfield Town, and win at home to Scunthorpe united.
December saw Notts County suffer defeats to Yeovil Town, Leyton Orient, Sheffield United and Oldham Athletic. January signalled the start of Notts County's 150th Anniversary, and they began with a 2–2 draw at home to Huddersfield Town. They then lost to AFC Bournemouth before draws against Milton Keynes Dons and Preston North End. They ended January with a 1–0 win away to Walsall before a 2–1 win over Exeter City. County then lost 3–0 at Hartlepool United, after which manager Martin Allen was sacked, and replaced by former England International Keith Curle. His tenure began with 4 straight wins over Stevenage, Chesterfield, Rochdale and Carlisle United before a 1–1 draw at Tranmere Rovers. However, they followed this up with a shock 4–2 win away at runaway leaders Charlton Athletic. But Notts were brought quickly back down to earth with defeats at home to Sheffield Wednesday and Sheffield United. A draw at Scunthorpe United followed before wins over Oldham Athletic, Leyton Orient, and Yeovil Town moved County right into the battle for the league's final play off spot. A 0–0 draw at Brentford had moved County into pole position to claim that final play off spot, but they suffered a surprise 4–2 defeat at home to Bury. Despite wins over Wycombe Wanderers and Colchester united in their final two games, Notts County missed out on the playoffs on goal difference.
League Cup County lost in the first round away from home at their neighbours Nottingham Forest but only after a highly exciting game. the two sides were level at 2–2 after 90 minutes so they went to extra time. Notts went 3–2 up, and were seconds away from victory before Wes Morgan equalised for Forest. County lost on penalties.
FA Cup Round 1 saw Notts comfortably beat league two side Accrington Stanley 4–1, before a 2–0 win away at Conference South high flyers Sutton United. A 2–0 win away at Championship club Doncaster Rovers followed before County were knocked out by fellow league one club Stevenage, costing them a home tie with Tottenham Hotspur.
Match details Competition summary
Pre-season
League One
Standings
Results summary
Result round by round
Matches
FA Cup
League Cup
Football League Trophy
Squad
Detailed overview No.NameNat.Place of birthDate of birthClub apps.Club goalsInt. capsInt. goalsPrevious clubDate joinedFee1Rob BurchYeovil8 October 1983190 – –Lincoln City8 June 2010Free2Julian KellyLondon6 September 1989 – – – –Reading2 June 2011Free3Alan SheehanAthlone14 September 1986 – – – –Swindon Town3 June 2011Free4Mike EdwardsBeverley25 April 198027020 – –Grimsby Town26 May 2004Free5Krystian PearceBirmingham5 January 1990352 – –Birmingham City26 July 2010Free6Hamza BencherifParis 9 February 1988 – – – –Macclesfield Town23 June 2011Free7Ishmel DemontagnacLondon15 June 1988 – – – –Blackpool27 May 2011Free8Karl HawleyWalsall6 December 19811004 – –Preston North End3 August 2009Undisclosed9Lee HughesSmethwick22 May 19768250 – –Oldham Athletic22 June 2009Free10Neal BishopStockton-on-Tees7 August 19811023 – –Barnet1 July 2009Undisclosed11Jeff HughesLarne29 May 1985 – – – –Bristol Rovers28 June 2011Free12Jude StirlingLondon29 May 1982 – – – –Milton Keynes Dons2 June 2011Free14Alan JudgeDublin11 November 1988211 – –Blackburn Rovers14 January 2011Undisclosed15Jonathan ForteSheffield25 July 198618820Southampton27 January 2012Loan16Stephen HuntSouthampton11 November 19841366 – –Colchester United19 June 2006Free17Stuart NelsonStroud17 September 1981380 – –Aberdeen1 August 2010Undisclosed18Sam SodjeLondon 25 May 197911170Skoda Xanthi1 November 2010Free19Charlie AllenReading24 March 1992 – – – –Dagenham & Redbridge29 June 2011Free20Kieron FreemanNottingham21 March 1992 – – – –Nottingham Forest13 January 2012Loan21Liam MitchellNottingham18 September 1992 – – – –N/A1 July 2011Trainee22Ben BurgessBuxton 9 November 1981181 – –Blackpool2 July 2010Free23Jon HarleyMaidstone26 September 1979470 – –Watford1 August 2010Free24Liam ChilversChelmsford6 November 1981270 – –Preston North End23 July 2010Free25John SpicerLondon13 September 1983273 – –Doncaster Rovers2 July 2010Free26Haydn Hollis14 October 1992 – – – –N/A1 July 2011Free27George Nicholas19 December 1992 – – – –N/A1 July 2011Free30Dele AdebolaLagos23 June 1975 - - - -Hull City20 March 2012Loan31Gavin MahonBirmingham2 January 1977 - - - -Queens Park Rangers25 August 2011Free32Lloyd SamLeeds27 September 1987 - - - -Leeds United15 March 2012Loan33Fabian Speiss35Damion Stewart18 August 1980 - - - -Bristol City5 January 2012Loan36Louis HarrisWolverhampton - - - -Wolverhampton Wanderers22 March 2012Loan37Nico YennarisLeytonstone - - - -Arsenal23 March 2012Loan40Daniel BogdanovićMisrata 26 March 1980 - - - -Blackpool22 March 2012LoanTyrell WaiteDerbyshire - - - -Ilkeston21 March 2012Undisclosed
Statistics
|colspan="14"|Players played for Notts County this season but who have left the club:
Goalscoring record N P Name League One FA Cup League Cup League Trophy Total11MFJeff Hughes13400179FWLee Hughes100101114MFAlan Judge710088FWKarl Hawley2201515FWJonathan Forte5000532MFLloyd Sam5000522FWBen Burgess4000430MFCristian Montaño400042DFJulian Kelly300035DFKrystian Pearce300033DFAlan Sheehan2100318DFSam Sodje30003Own Goals 3 0 0 0 36MFHamza Bencherif2000210MFNeal Bishop2000240FWDaniel Bogdanović200024DFMike Edwards1010235DFDamion Stewart2000230FWDele Adebola1000120DFKieron Freeman1000120FWCraig Westcarr10001 Totals 76 8 2 1 89
Disciplinary record No. Pos. Name League One FA Cup League Cup League Trophy Total10MFNeal Bishop71101000919FWLee Hughes71100000813DFAlan Sheehan1001000001105DFKrystian Pearce70101000907MFIshmel Demontagnac110000102111MFJeff Hughes60001000702DFJulian Kelly210000002114MFAlan Judge600000006018DFSam Sodje50000000506MFHamza Bencherif30000000304DFMike Edwards200010003023DFJon Harley300000003017GKStuart Nelson300000003015MFRicky Ravenhill200010003022FWBen Burgess200000002024DFLiam Chilvers200000002020DFKieron Freeman200000002030FWCristian Montaño200000002032MFLloyd Sam200000002035DFDamion Stewart200000002018DFSam Sodje100000001012DFJude Stirling1000000010Totals774405010874
Transfers
In
Out
Notes 1Although officially undisclosed, The Star reported the fee to be around £70,000
Contracts
Awards Supporters' Player of the Year: Alan Judge Players' Player of the Year: Alan Judge Manager's Player of the Year: Jeff Hughes Golden Boot: Jeff Hughes Goal of the Year: Lee Hughes Community Award: Mike Edwards Youth Players' Player of the Year: Fabian Spiess Youth Manager's Player of the Year: Fabian Spiess Youth Golden Boot: Jonathan Boyack Youth Goal of the Year: Jonathan Boyack
References