Notts County is today a team outside the top four leagues of English football, but a few decades ago they were in the top flight while Leicester City competed in the league below, and a number of players have of course been both camps.
Trevor Christie is a player that made the trip from Filbert Street to Meadow Lane, breaking into the first team at Leicester City as a teenager, and his form got attention with Jock Wallace agreeing to a move for the talented young forward. He did appear for Notts County in the top flight, and did well, so that Brian Clough and Nottingham Forest decided to pay £165 000 for his services and Christie made the short walk to City Ground. Christie later had spells at Derby County, Manchester City, Walsall and Mansfield Town before moving into non-league action, until retirement in the early 90’s.
Alan Birchenall and Willie Carlin are two other players with a life in both camps as they both left Leicester City for Notts County. Birch and Carlin had brief spells at Meadow Lane. Birch had a special connection to Notts County with his father being a long life supporter of the club. He first joined on loan in 1975 and later moving back in 1977.
Jeff Blockley and Eddie Kelly are two former foxes as well in this category. Mark Goodwin had his best days in football here as it became a colony of former foxes at the time. Martin O’Neill did his return to Nottingham and changes Forest with County.
Kasper Schmeichel is a former Magpie, joining the club from Manchester City and playing there for a season, 43 league appearances in all before joining Leeds United in 2010 and from there a year after moving to Leicester.
Gary Mills and Wes Morgan are other players who can say to have been in both camps, with the former European Cup winner playing a number of seasons at Meadow Lane before and after joining Leicester City. Wes Morgan was one that probably didn’t have the fondest memories, being released by Notts County as a youth team player and from non-league action with Dunkirk getting his first team chance at Nottingham Forest instead.
Alan Sheehan is a bit of a traveller in football, starting at Leicester City back in 05, and playing from 11 to 14 at Notts County, also rejoining on loan in 15, adding up 128 league games for the Magpies, and Leicester he was played 23 league games in a very short first team period.
The names of Jon Ashton and Pegguy Arpexad are also listed among league appearances in both camps, with loan spells at Notts County and of course a season or two with Leicester City. The current N Ireland manager Ian Baraclough started out with Leicester City and played in two periods with Notts County in between a spell at Queens Park Rangers.
Lawrie Dudfield is another name that appear in both lists records of league games, playing for Leicester City in the start of this century and being with Notts County from 06 to 08. Nicky Platnauer a 90’s player at Leicester City and also with Notts County.
Defender Rob Ullathorne is probably most known for his days at Norwich City, but also a player with Leicester City and Notts County. Not forgetting Mike Whitlow the left back that joined Leicester City from Leeds United and later turned out at Meadow Lane.
Former striker Alan Young is also in this category of former Leicester City and Notts County players, and not to forget former Leicester City manager Nigel Worthington who is also a former player with Notts County getting his breakthrough in English football at Meadow Lane before moving to Sheffield Wednesday and Leeds United.
Then you have the father of Harvey Barnes, Paul Barnes who had a spell at Notts County in his days, and not to forget the brother of Frank Worthington, Bob, who played most of his career in the left back position at Meadow Lane.
A list of players in both camps,
- Goalkeepers
- Kasper Schmeichel
- Pegguy Arphexad
- Defenders
- Jeff Blockley
- Alan Sheehan
- Wes Morgan
- Rob Ullathorne
- Jon Ashton
- Mike Whitlow
- Jamie Clapham
- Midfield
- Eddie Kelly
- Willie Carlin
- Mark Goodwin
- Gary Mills
- Alan Birchenall
- Nicky Platnauer
- Forwards
- Trevor Christie
- Lawrie Dudfield
- Alan Young
- Ian Baraclough
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