2nd tier* League fixture
*Then known as Division Two

Notts County 1     Leeds United 2
Harkouk                                                Wright
                                                              Wright 77
 

HT 1-1

Attendance :- 12,196
 

Notts County
Colours:- White shirts with black dual pinstripes, Black shorts, White socks
League Position:- First game of the season, had just been relegated from the top flight
Manager:- Larry Lloyd

1.   Mick Leonard
2.   Simeon Hodson
3.   David Clarke
4.   Mark Jones
5.   Aki Lahtinen
6.   David Hunt
7.   Martin O'Neill
8.   Justin Fashanu
9.   Keith Downing
10. Rachid Harkouk
11. Ian McParland

Sub not used: Mark Goodwin
 

Leeds United
Colours:- Yellow shirts, Blue shorts, Yellow socks
League Position:- First game of the season, had finished 7th in 1983/84
Manager:- Eddie Gray

1.   David Harvey
2.   Denis Irwin
3.   Gary Hamson *
4.   Andy Watson
5.   Andy Linighan
6.   Neil Aspin
7.   Tommy Wright
8.   John Sheridan
9.   George McCluskey
10. Peter Lorimer
11. Frank Gray

Sub: Mark Gavin *

Larry Lloyd's programme notes

Rachid Harkouk, Peter Lorimer, Justin Fashanu and Andy Linighan.

Up the Maggies footnote:
With league football resuming on the final Saturday of August, it had been a long frustrating summer with British television viewers denied the opportunity to watch live coverage of Euro '84 because no home nation had qualified, but in spite of Notts' relegation from the top flight, you wouldn't have anticipated a collapse in results and attendance's at Meadow Lane on the opening day of the 1984/85 season among a 12,000+ crowd watching the likes of David Harvey, Peter Lorimer and Frankie Gray on show for Leeds competing against a County side welcoming back Justin Fashanu (for his first game since Christmas) lining-up alongside internationals Martin O'Neill, Aki Lahtinen and future World Cup player Rachid Harkouk. There were notable absentees however, John Chiedozie could be seen on the programme cover but had just been sold to Tottenham Hotspur, whilst our top scorer Trevor Christie had - unforgivably - crossed over to the wrong side of the Trent. In the week leading up to the match, Central News cast doubt over whether it would go ahead as the council were not happy with a safety issue concerning County Road, but this was sorted out on the Friday. The game proved to be an exciting and bruising encounter which was settled in Leeds favour by Scottish U21 international Tommy Wright with two opportunists goals. The Leeds no.2 in this match later became an integral part of Alex Ferguson's success with Manchester United in the 1990's.
 

Notts County Season 1984/85
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