Top flight* League fixture
*Then known as Division One

Notts County 2     Luton Town 1
Matthews 34, 70                                    James 17
 

Attendance:- 11,380
Referee:- R. Nixon (West Kirby)
Weather:- Drizzle followed by bright sunshine
Corners:- Notts 5 Luton 6
Goal attempts on target:- Notts 4 Luton 8
Goal attempts off target:- Notts 5 Luton 10
Bookings:- Thomas (Notts) and Pembridge (Luton) both for fouls
 

Notts County
Colours:- Black & white striped shirts, Black shorts, Black socks
League Position:- before match 21st/22, final position 21st/22
Manager:- Neil Warnock

1.   Steve Cherry
2.   Charlie Palmer
3.   Dean Thomas
4.   Craig Short
5.   Chris Short
6.   Mark Draper
7.   Andy Williams
8.   Paul Harding
9.   Tony Agana
10. Rob Matthews
11. Kevin Wilson *

Sub: Paul Devlin *58
Sub not used: Michael Johnson
 

Luton Town
Colours:- Blue shirts, White shorts, Blue socks
League Position:- before match 20th/22, final position 20th/22
Manager:- David Pleat

1.   Alec Chamberlain
2.   Julian James
3.   Darren Salton *
4.   Chris Kamara +
5.   John Dreyer
6.   Trevor Peake
7.   Scott Oakes
8.   Brian Stein
9.   Mick Harford
10. Mark Pembridge
11. David Preece

Sub: Phil Gray *71
Sub: Jason Reece +74

Video of the match:- Recorded for goal reports.
 

Up the Maggies note:
This was the last match to be played in front of the old County Road stand and the open terraced kop. Half of the Kop’s old concrete steps had already been removed and the first signs of construction at the Meadow Lane end were also in evidence. The Luton fans had to be accommodated in the home side of the kop because the away section was now merely a bank of earth. I think everybody accepted that re-building Meadow Lane was inevitable and necessary, there were no voices of descent, although - now that relegation had been confirmed with a defeat at Manchester City the previous Saturday - there were a few mutterings that it might have been wiser to concentrate on securing a place in the Premier League before pressing ahead with plans to construct a new stadium (The fact that Notts had only recently been promoted would have given them a longer time-frame in which to satisfy Premier League stadia requirements). Luton Town had now enjoyed ten consecutive season's in the top flight, a largely unpopular tenancy due to their plastic pitch and the decision to ban all away fans, but the Hatters came to Meadow Lane on this final day knowing that only a win for them and a defeat for Coventry City at Aston Villa would keep them up. Coventry City lost 2-0 but Notts saved the sky blues and it was Luton who were relegated along with us and West Ham, the 2-1 victory also meant that we avoided finishing bottom of the league (no thanks to Forest who lost 3-0 to the 22nd placed Hammers). At the final whistle, I decided it was best not to make an issue of my last moments on County Road, I made a swift exit walking along the planks of wood that had absorbed the jokes, the jeers and the cheers of many great old characters on the terraces who’s ghosts would soon be lost in the rubble. I turned to take one last look at the 67 year old wooden stand before reaching the exit gate - At least the old fellow had bid farewell with a victory and one last season in the top flight. What I didn’t realise then was just how much I would miss it.
 

INSIDE WRITE
By Derek Pavis
Page 3 Matchday programme editorial written by the Chairman

I was interested to hear the rumours that I would be pulling out of Notts County if we were relegated and I can only say that the person who started them doesn't know me very well. Of course it's a setback - a very big one - but you underestimate me if you think I can be beaten that easily.
It's been an ambition of mine for a long time to see Notts County established in the top flight and challenging for honours and nothing has changed. We will get there eventually and although the past nine months have been a bit of a nightmare, I've come through it a stronger and wiser person and I'm sure that's true of many at Meadow Lane. The challenge now is to put that knowledge and experience to good use so that we can claim a place in the Premier League as quickly as possible… but that will be easier said than done.
As you may have read this week, the players and management must pay the price of relegation with a pay-cut because we cannot afford to continue paying First Division wages and the cut-backs will not end there. I am determined that the club will not be thrown into financial turmoil again by allowing more money to be spent than we have coming in and if that upsets some people, so be it. The club is far bigger than any individual - myself included - and we must take a hard look at all financial matters, save where possible and channel what money we do have available in the right direction.
As you are well aware, Phase 1 of the project to re-develop the ground is already underway and helped by a grant from the Football Trust, I'm confident we will find the £3.2million involved. It won't be necessary to sell players in order to meet those bills but the new players we expect to sign during the summer will largely have to be paid for by others moving on. In other words, Neil Warnock will have to wheel and deal to strengthen and increase the senior squad - and he has already shown himself capable of doing that.
At the bottom end of the scale, the youth policy which has been so productive for the club over the past few years will not be affected by the cut-backs to any great extent. It's vital for our long-term future that we continue to find and develop our own youngsters but we must be more ruthless in deciding which of the young professionals has a realistic chance of making the grade. We have taken the decision this week to withdraw the A team from the Midland Senior League as a cost-cutting exercise but although steps have to be taken to balance the books, don't think that means we have lost our desire to be successful. I'm not foolish enough to predict that we will win promotion again next season but you have my word on it that we will try. I'm sorry that we have failed to match up to expectations. But no one is more disappointed than me and having had a taste of the big-time, I can promise that I will do all in my power to get back there as quickly as possible.
 
 

“CHANGING FACE OF MEADOW LANE”
Two page article from the matchday programme.

The bulldozers have already made their presence felt and after today's game, it will be all systems go in the race to transform Meadow Lane before the start of next season. In case you are not aware, the contractors have just 7 weeks in which to convert The Kop and Meadow Lane End - and totally re-build County Road. That represents Phase 1 of plans to convert the ground into a modern all-seater stadium and here's a closer look at the changes to be made and how it will affect you next season.

* What exactly is being done?
We are re-developing three sides of the ground in line with recommendations in the Taylor Report and the expected criteria for members of the Premier League. The terracing has already been removed at the Meadow Lane end and will be replaced by 2,320 seats which will be covered by a roof, attached to the current building. The Kop is being completely dismantled and replaced by terracing more suitable for seats. When finished, complete with roof, it will accommodate 5,550 people. County Road is the most challenging part of the project, not least because the stand backs onto a busy road and there's a river running underneath! The tiles have already been removed from the current structure, which is to be demolished next week and replaced by a cantilever stand with 5, 741 seats .

* What facilities will the new stand include?
The easy answer to that is the bear minimum but don't be misled, In order to keep down the costs, the plans have not included any executive or corporate hospitality facilities but the toilets and refreshment bars in all three sides of the ground will be a vast improvement. The object of the exercise was to create a situation where supporters are guaranteed a comfortable seat with an excellent view and we are confident that will be achieved.

* Will access be easier?
Without doubt it will be easier to enter and leave the ground because extra and more modern turnstiles are being installed. On County Road, for example, there will be 13 new stiles equally spread along the stand as opposed to the current figure of 10 - some of which will remain in use. Ten new turnstiles are also being installed for The Kop at Cattlemarket Corner, an area where we have had problems in the past. And as from the start of the new season, entrance to the Meadow Lane End will be from the junction of County Road - Meadow Lane, which used to be the entrance for standing on the County Road side.

* Where will visiting supporters be accommodated next season?
The new facilities will make it possible for us to introduce proper segregation for the first time and the plan at this stage is for away fans to use The Kop Stand. Realistically, we will only need to reserve half of that area for the vast majority of matches but where visiting supporters have always tended to use the seats and some terracing on the County Road side, they will no longer be allowed into that area of the ground.

* How much extra will the installation of seats affect prices next season?
The chairman promised when he revealed our plans to supporters some months ago that prices would, as near as possible remain in line with the current cost of standing. We realise it would be unreasonable to ask you to pay a vast amount more to sit and it is certainly not in our interests to have thousands of empty seats every week. The price structure for next season has not been decided at the time of writing but you can rest assured that they will be set at a level designed to encourage you to come and sample the new facilities - and bring a friend!

* Will you have a good view?
We have followed the 'sight-line' guidelines of the Football Stadia Advisory Council and a lot of effort has gone into making sure that you have a good view - wherever you are in the ground. Minimum requirements are laid down and we will be well above those for all areas of all three sides of the ground. One of the new regulations to be introduced next season is that if a seat does not provide a complete view of the pitch, it must make that clear on the ticket. We do not anticipate selling any such tickets next season. Obviously we cannot guarantee there will not be some exceptions to the rule but a person of average height and weight will have no problems.

* Will there be any other changes?
As you will be aware our floodlights and PA system have left something to be desired in recent years and they are being replaced during the summer. Each of the four floodlights will be on a single column, designed for Premier League standards, and more than adequate for providing good-quality television pictures. They will be the very latest in modern technology with hydraulic masts so that they can be lowered to ground level to provide easier access for replacing bulbs and general servicing. As for the PA system, it's a requirement of the Taylor Report that everyone within the ground can hear and understand announcements which are made and there will be no problems in that direction once the new equipment has been installed.

* What's to become of the Main Stand?
Phase 2 of the re-development plan is to build a new Main Stand and all things being equal, the intention is for that to get underway during the summer of 1994. Obviously the timing and scale of that project is likely to depend on whether we are in the Premier League at that time and the financial situation of the club but the chairman's dream is that it will be the 'jewel in the crown'. That will include executive viewing areas and corporate facilities and it is also envisaged that the dressing rooms etc will be built into that stand. For the time being, however, the Main Stand will remain as it is next season - including the only standing accommodation with room for 2,620 spectators - and until such time as it is replaced the overall capacity of Meadow Lane will be reduced to 19,196 including 16,576 seats.
 
 

Nottingham Evening Post Report
 

MATTHEWS IS NOTTS’ TONIC
By David Stapleton

STEVE CHERRY showed the wisdom behind his Player or the Year award as hugely spirited Notts County ended Luton Town's Premier League dream at Meadow Lane. The 3l-year-old goalkeeper made some fine saves to help the club pass out of the top flight in style. After two goal Rob Matthews, a revelation on his full League debut, Cherry made as big a contribution as anybody. He said: "It was quite emotional when I was told ten minutes-before the awards ceremony that I had been voted Player of the Year. I won it with my previous clubs Derby, Walsall and Plymouth, but this was the most important. Notts are my home town club and I would think I know 100 in our crowd personally. The supporters paid me a great compliment and, after the season we've had, I was delighted that we were able to give them a happier memory to take into the summer. The ideal, of course, on such an occasion would have been a clean sheet, but I was pleased with two or three of my saves."

SECURE
Cherry, who collected 80% of the votes with Charlie Palmer in second place and Craig Short third, had no chance with the low shot from Julian James which put Luton into a 17th minute lead. At that stage you would have given the master escapologists a great chance of again escaping the relegation shackles. They were the more assertive and menacing. But Notts managed to secure more of the possession midway through the half, though only 'keeper Alex Chamberlain's mistake - flapping at Dean Thomas's free-kick enabled Matthews to alertly shoot the equaliser in 35 minutes. County emphasised after the interval that being doomed didn't mean being disinterested. They played with enormous verve, with 21-year-old Matthews the inspiration.
The Loughborough University student is fast and incisive as was Brian Moore, a right winger who arrived at Notts from the same source in the early 1960s. Moore, an avid present day supporter of Notts, was a talented games player who freely admits he should have given his undivided attention to one sport. He played only four League games at Meadow Lane, and on the evidence so far Matthews is going to become infinitely better remembered. After pulling the Luton defence all over the place with his penetrative runs, Matthews' 70th minute winner from 20-yards was remarkable in its composure. Matthews even gave a bit of a spark to the out of sorts Tony Agana, though the striker missed a good early chance of scoring his second goal for the club.
Luton’s Nottingham born manager David Pleat bit back his disappointment to say: "Aston Villa obviously played genuinely to beat Coventry City in the division's other ‘cup final’. So did Notts County - it was a testimony to the honesty and standard of the First Division."

Other Notts awards were: Reserve Team Player of the Year - Michael Johnson; Young Player of the Year - Michael Simpson; Lifeline Sportsman of the Year - Craig Short; Reserve Team Sportsman of the Year -Richard Walker; Young sportsman of the Year - Darren Saunders.
 
 

Notts County Season 1991/92
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