First meeting: 30th August 1958: Halifax Town 1-1 Notts County
Town team: A. Johnson, P. Roscoe, Stan Lonsdale, B. Atkinson, Alex South, R. Lorenson, J. Fowler, W. Smith, H. Priest, Peter Tilley, Andy McCall (Captain)
Town goal: Lorenson
Att: 9,789
Last meeting: 3rd March 1973: Notts County 3-0 Halifax Town
Town team: Alex Smith, Alex Burgin, Jeff Lee, Ken Hale, John Pickering, Tony Rhodes, F. Brogan, Dave Verity, W. Irvine, Fred Kemp, Bob Holmes
Town sub: J. Wilkie
Att: 9,820
In researching previous encounters with County, I was shocked to discover that it was not until the 1958/59 that Town finally made acquaintances. Indeed, though The Shaymen had played Notts County Reserves Pre-World War One in the Midland Counties Leagues, this 1-1 home draw under the management of Harry Hooper was the first. The reverse figure saw a 4-4 draw played out between the two on the 3rd January 1959. Blackburn, a Kilford own goals and two from Smith the scorers for Halifax.
Town finished the season 9th in the 3rd Division whilst The Magpies were relegated along with rivals Rochdale.
The two met again in the 3rd Division following County’s promotion back on the 25th February 1961 and Notts came out the 1-0 victors. Just under a month later Town’s home league fixture ended in a 1-1 draw. 8,346 saw Peter Tilley score for The Shaymen. Town once more finished 9th in the 3rd Division whilst County finished 5th.
Town lost 1-2 at home to County and drew 0-0 away the following season. Town 18th in the 3rd Division and Notts 13th.
They were regular opponents for roughly the next decade with both going between 3rd and 4th Divisions however our final meeting with The Magpies came on the 3rd March
- As stated above it was a 3-0 defeat in Nottingham and in decades proceeding 1973 County have gone up all four Football League Divisions and back again with The Shaymen a struggling 4th Division side before dropping to non-league in 1993. Promotion in 1998, relegation again 2002, liquidated 2008 and now back once more knocking on the door of the Football League. A level both feel they belong at.
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