Notts County Football Club (often known as Notts or County or by their nickname The Magpies) are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system. County play their home games at Meadow Lane in black and white striped shirts. Their current manager is Keith Curle

The club has had several spells in the top division of English football, most recently in 1991–92, when County played in the old First Division. Notable former managers of Notts County include Jimmy Sirrel, Neil Warnock, Howard Kendall and Sam Allardyce.

The club has had several owners. In the 21st century a series of financial problems has seen the club owned by a Supporters' trust, who sold the club to Munto Finance – a subsidiary of Qadbak Investments. Further monetary difficulties saw the club sold, for a nominal fee, to Peter Trembling, who then sold the club to Ray Trew for £1 after the club had been served with two winding up petitions from HM Revenue and Customs due to demands for a late PAYE payment of around £500,000.

Alan Michael Anthony Sheehan (born 14 September 1986) is an Irish footballer who plays for Notts County as a defender. His position is mainly recognised as an attacking left back and he is a former Republic of Ireland Under-21 international. He is also a set piece specialist.

Sheehan joined Leicester City in July 2003 after being spotted by a scout whilst playing for the famous youth club Belvedere FC. He became a regular in both the Academy under 19s and the reserves, playing at left-back. He also spent two months on loan at Mansfield Town in the 2006–07 season in order to gain regular first-team experience. A free-kick specialist, Sheehan made his breakthrough into the first team when Craig Levein named him in the starting line-up for City's final game of the 2004–05 season against Plymouth Argyle. The 18-year-old picked up the Academy Player of the Season at the club's 2005 awards ceremony.

Sheehan signed a new two-year contract with the club that would keep him at the Walkers Stadium until the end of the 2007–08 season. He scored his first ever competitive goal for Leicester in a 4–1 win against Watford with a deflected 25-yard shot on 25 August 2007, and his second in a 3–2 win over Nottingham Forest with a classy free-kick on 18 September. Following Leicester's 2–0 victory over Bristol City on 24 November, Sheehan was named in the Championship Team of the Week two days later, together with teammates Stephen Clemence and Richard Stearman.

Lee Hughes (born 22 May 1976) is an English Footballer who plays for Notts County as a striker. Hughes started his career with Kidderminster Harriers, and would go on to play for Coventry City and have two spells at West Bromwich Albion before being imprisoned for causing death by dangerous driving. Following his release Hughes restarted his football career at Oldham Athletic, spending time on loan at Blackpool before joining Notts County.

On leaving Bristnall Hall High School, Oldbury in 1992 Hughes started playing semi-professionally in non-League football with Kidderminster Harriers in the Football Conference, as well as holding down a part-time job as a roofer. Although Hughes scored 35 goals in the 1996–97 season, Kidderminster failed to gain promotion to the Football League, losing out to Macclesfield Town. During his non-League playing days, Hughes had a trial at West Bromwich Albion, who were managed by Alan Buckley. Buckley thought that Hughes' best position was at right back and not as a striker but he failed to impress and was let go after a brief stay with the club.

Shaun Peter Derry (born 6 December 1977 in Nottingham) is an English footballer who plays for Queens Park Rangers. Derry is known for his hard-tackling and aggressive midfield style. He is primarily a defensive midfielder but can also play at right-back.

Derry started his career at Notts County as a trainee^{[citation needed]} before being bought by Sheffield United in 1998 for a fee of £700,000.^{[citation needed]} He scored once during his spell at Sheffield United, his goal coming in the FA Cup against Rushden & Diamonds.

Derry was sold to Portsmouth in 2000 for £300,000. He was a regular in the side under both Tony Pulis and Steve Claridge before being made captain by Graham Rix. After Rix's departure, Derry was amongst the many players deemed surplus to requirements by new manager Harry Redknapp in summer 2002 rebuilding and was sold to Crystal Palace for £400,001. He scored only once during his spell at Portsmouth, his goal coming in a crucial win over against West Bromwich Albion.

Derry helped Crystal Palace in their return to the Premier League in 2004, making 44 appearances including an appearance in the play-off final. It was his corner that led to Darren Powell scoring a 90th minute header to send the Eagles to extra-time in the semi-final, which they would win on penalties. He struggled to get into the team during the 2004–05 season and, after a loan spell at Nottingham Forest, Leeds signed him for an undisclosed amount in February 2005.