1949–50 Notts County F.C. season

Notts County 1949–50 Eric Houghton C.G. Barnes Third Division South 1st FA Cup Third Round Tommy Lawton (31) Tommy Lawton (33) 46,000 vs Nottingham Forest (22 April 1950) 27,076 vs Aldershot (28 January 1950) _blackborder _vneckblack _blackborder _hoops_white 000000 000000 1949–50 1950–51 During the 1949–50 English football season, Notts County competed in the Third Division South, the third tier of the English football league system. It was the 86th season in Notts County's history and their 51st as members of the Football League. The team was captained by the centre forward Tommy Lawton, an England international who had signed for the club in 1947. Notts lost their second game of the season, but they were in first place by 10 September, a position they did not relinquish thereafter. The team went 18 League and Cup matches unbeaten, a run that culminated in a 2–1 away win against Nottingham Forest in the season's first Nottingham derby, a match remembered for Lawton's powerful headed goal. The unbeaten run came to an end in the following match and injuries began to affect the team. By the end of January, its lead at the top of the Third Division South had been reduced from five points to one. The return of players to the team coincided with an upturn in form and, although they then won only one of their first five matches of April, Notts County secured the championship and promotion to the Second Division with a 2–0 home win over Forest on 22 April. Notts entered the FA Cup in the first round and won two matches before being eliminated in the third round by First Division side Burnley. Managed by Eric Houghton, Notts County played 45 matches, winning 27, drawing eight and losing ten. Two players, Harry Adamson and Roy Smith, played in every game, while Lawton was the top scorer with 33 goals. The season was the highpoint of the "Lawton Era", a notable period in Notts County's history where large crowds came to watch Lawton and his teammates. An average of 35,176 people attended the club's 21 home League games, while a new Meadow Lane attendance record of 46,000 saw Notts County's title-clinching win in the Nottingham derby; the former remains the club record, and the latter remains Notts County's largest home League attendance. Background thumb|Jackie Sewell (left) and Tommy LawtonIn November 1947, Notts County (nicknamed the Magpies) broke the British transfer fee record when they paid Chelsea £20,000 for the centre forward Tommy Lawton. The move of Lawton, an England international regarded as one of the best players of his day,Warsop 1984 101 to a Third Division South club was "one of the sporting shocks of the age".https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituary-tommy-lawton-1351115.html Obituary: Tommy Lawton The Independent Ponting Ivan 7 August 2025 7 November 1996 https://web.archive.org/web/20241126161004/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituary-tommy-lawton-1351115.html 26 November 2024 live The transfer was the beginning of the "Lawton Era", one of the most notable periods in Notts County's history.Brown 1995 36 In the 1948–49 season, three players, Lawton, Jackie Sewell and Tom Johnston, each scored 20 goals or more, and the team 102 altogether, but nevertheless it finished 11th in the table,Brown 1995 194 with strong form at the club's Meadow Lane ground offset by a poor away record.Brown 1995 36 In February 1949, the Notts manager Arthur Stollery, who had played an important part in convincing Lawton to join the club,Brown 1995 75 resigned on the grounds of ill health.Warsop 1984 103 A permanent replacement for Stollery was not appointed until after the 1948–49 season's conclusion,Warsop 1984 103 with Eric Houghton appointed manager in May 1949.Eric Houghton to manage Notts County Nottingham Evening Post Nottingham 6 26 May 1949 The team reported for pre-season training on 20 July,Notts County Players Report for Duty Nottingham Evening Post Nottingham 6 20 July 1949 with the forward and new recruit Billy Evans among them;"Magpies" Back to Work Nottingham Evening Post Nottingham 5 20 July 1949 he had signed for Notts in June from Aston Villa for a nominal fee.Notts County Sign Player from Villa Nottingham Journal Nottingham 3 2 June 1949 The team played two trial matches in preparation for the new season. The first was a "leisurely" match at Meadow Lane on 6 August, where Billy Evans nevertheless "showed himself a thrustful forward".Notts Newcomers Please in Practice Nottingham Evening Post Nottingham 6 8 August 1949 The second, played between the first team and a team of trialists, saw Lawton score a hat-trick, and the first team won 5–1.Lawton's Hat-Trick in Trial Nottingham Journal Nottingham 3 16 August 1949 Houghton was questioned on his team's promotion prospects before the season began: "We may be thereabouts ourselves", he replied.Warsop 1984 103 Third Division South August–October The season opened on 20 August with a home game against Southend United. The match was played in "intense heat", and won 2–0 by Notts despite missing two first-half penalties.Sweltering Heat, Record Crowds Football Post Nottingham 1 20 August 1949 Lawton gained his first goal of the season in Notts County's first away match, though it was not enough to prevent the Magpies losing 4–3 at Norwich City,Baxter's One Slip Loses Notts the Game Nottingham Journal Nottingham 3 25 August 1949 a scoreline that left commentators worrying that this was to be a repeat of the previous season.Brown 1995 37 Lawton scored a brace in the following game at Bristol Rovers, helping his side to a 3–0 win,Lawton Celebrates His First Visit Football Post Nottingham 12 27 August 1949 before Notts played Norwich again in the first match of September, this time winning 5–0 with Fred Evans earning two goals. After consecutive clean sheets, the Nottingham Journal opined that "the much-maligned defence department is a vast improvement".Notts Take Chances and Go Nap Nottingham Journal Nottingham 3 2 September 1949 Notts were temporarily reduced to nine men within the first four minutes of their next game, played at home to Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic on 3 September, following a collision between Billy Baxter and Harry Chapman; the former returned to the field with his knee heavily bandaged, the latter after an absence of 16 minutes.Substitutions were not permitted in English football until 1965.https://www.theguardian.com/football/the-agony-and-the-ecstasy/2020/jul/15/starters-five-brief-history-substitutions-in-football From starters to five: a short history of football substitutions The Guardian Foster Richard 8 August 2025 15 July 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20231023115605/https://www.theguardian.com/football/the-agony-and-the-ecstasy/2020/jul/15/starters-five-brief-history-substitutions-in-football 23 October 2023 live Despite this, Notts won 2–0 with another brace from Lawton.Huge Crowds Again Everywhere Football Post Nottingham 1 3 September 1949 The Magpies were at home to Exeter City in their next game, with England selectors present to watch Lawton. He and Johnston had given the home side a 2–0 lead after 22 minutes, but Exeter led 3–2 before the hour mark, and it required a second Johnston goal nine minutes from the end to earn a 3–3 draw.F.A. Selectors Watch Lawton Botting A.E. Nottingham Journal Nottingham 3 2 September 1949 The result left Notts in second place, level on points with but behind Southend,How They Stand in the Table Nottingham Journal Nottingham 3 2 September 1949 but the team took top spot following a 2–1 win at Crystal Palace,Results and Tables Football Post Nottingham 1 10 September 1949 a position they would occupy for the remainder of the season.Warsop 1984 104 Notts won 1–0 in both of their next two games, against Watford and Reading respectively,Brown 1995 196 before hosting Leyton Orient on 1 October. England selectors were once again present to watch Lawton, and they saw him, Sewell and Billy Evans each score two goals as the Magpies prevailed 7–1. "This was the County at their best", the Football Post said. "The speed of the forwards was pleasing to see."Another Fine Victory for Notts Football Post Nottingham 1 1 October 1949 In October, Notts announced the signing of two new players. The first was that of centre-half Alec Simpson, who joined for a £7,500 fee from Wolverhampton Wanderers on 4 October.Simpson Signs for Notts Nottingham Journal Nottingham 3 4 October 1949 Two days later, Notts signed the defender Tommy Deans, also for a £7,500 fee, from Clyde.Notts Spend £15,000 in Three Days Nottingham Journal Nottingham 3 6 October 1949 The latter made his debut two days later at Newport County before what was their largest crowd since the end of World War II. The Magpies, who had not been "displaying that form expected of League leaders", found themselves 1–0 down, but Sewell's 85th-minute equaliser salvaged a point for the away team.Biggest Newport Post-War Gate Football Post Nottingham 12 8 October 1949 A 4–1 home win over Bristol City followed, with Sewell earning a brace,Sewell Riddles Bristol Defence Football Post Nottingham 1 15 October 1949 before Notts played at Brighton & Hove Albion in their next game. The match was played in hail and rainstorms, and Brighton led 2–0 in the 22nd minute. However, two goals from Lawton had made it 2–2 by the 53rd minute, and an 89th-minute goal by Johnston gave Notts a 3–2 win.Notts. Find the Going Heavy Football Post Nottingham 12 22 October 1949 On 28 October, Notts announced the signing of the winger Frank Broome from Derby County, who made his debut at home to Walsall the following day.Notts. County Sign Frank Broome Nottingham Evening Post Nottingham 6 28 October 1949 The Magpies required another late goal, this time an 89th minute penalty from Lawton, to secure a 1–1 draw. Notts County ended October in first place, with 23 points from 14 matches.Lawton Saves Notts. with Penalty Football Post Nottingham 1 29 October 1949 November–February thumb|right|alt=Football stadium The City Ground, Nottingham, pictured in the 1920s|The City Ground (pictured in the 1920s) hosted the season's first Nottingham derby.Notts County's first match of November was a 3–1 win at Millwall in which Sewell scored twice.Lawton on the Mark Again Football Post Nottingham 12 5 November 1949 Lawton scored a hat-trick in a 3–0 win against Swindon Town at Meadow Lane the following week, including two penalties,2 More Lawton Penalties Football Post Nottingham 1 12 November 1949 before the team played out a goalless draw at Torquay United.Brilliant Sunshine for Notts. Match Football Post Nottingham 12 19 November 1949 On the same day as the Torquay match, Notts County's city rivals Nottingham Forest defeated Bristol Rovers 2–0 to move into second place in the Third Division South. This meant that the season's first Nottingham derby would between first and second.Results and Tables Football Post Nottingham 1 19 November 1949 The match, the first League meeting of the two clubs since February 1935, was played before an all-ticket capacity crowd.Memorable City Ground Match Football Post Nottingham 1 3 December 1949 Notts took a 1–0 lead through a Lawton goal described by A.J. Turner of the Nottingham Journal as a "jet-propelled" header "of the type to be talked about for years".Lawton Match Winner in England Form Turner A.J. Nottingham Journal Nottingham 3 5 December 1949 "No other forward could have... folded in mid-air like a pen-knife, and headed a goal with the power and accuracy of a man taking a penalty", Desmond Hackett of the Daily Express wrote.Tommy Lawton shows England class Hackett Desmond Daily Express London 6 5 December 1949 Broome made it 2–0 Notts with nine minutes left and, although Forest pulled a goal back five minutes later, the Magpies held on to win 2–1. Notts lost 2–0 at Southend in their next match, their first defeat in 18 games,Inclusive of League and FA Cup games.Leaders on the Grill Sunday Post Lanarkshire 15 18 December 1949Notts Record Gone with the Wind Botting A.E. Nottingham Journal Nottingham 3 19 December 1949 but the team swiftly returned to winning ways, defeating Bristol Rovers 2–0 on 24 December.Blank First Half at Meadow Lane Football Post Nottingham 1 24 December 1949 The Magpies then faced Ipswich Town in consecutive games on 26 and 27 December, winning both times. The first, played at Meadow Lane, saw a 2–0 home win which brought the team to 50 goals for the season.Meadow Lane Crowd of 40,192 Football Post Nottingham 3 27 December 1949 The following day, Notts had a first-half reprieve when George Perrett of Ipswich appeared to have scored for the home side, only to find the referee had already awarded his team a penalty, which was easily saved. It took until the 60th minute for the Magpies to score, but they eventually prevailed 4–0, with two goals for Lawton.Ipswich Hold Out for an Hour, then Crash Nottingham Journal Nottingham 3 28 December 1949 Notts were one of only two Football League teams to secure three wins from their three matches over the Christmas period,Notts County One of Two Sides to Achieve Full Points Nottingham Journal Nottingham 3 28 December 1949 but Broome and Deans both sustained injuries during this time, keeping them out of the next game, a 3–0 loss at Bournemouth.A Notts. Disaster by the Seaside Football Post Nottingham 1 31 December 1949 Broome returned for the next match, a home game with Crystal Palace, but Lawton and Baxter were absent, the former through injury and the latter through flu, and Notts were defeated 1–0.Brunt Deputises for Lawton Football Post Nottingham 1 14 January 1950 After a further defeat, this one 2–1 at Watford,Costly Mistakes by Notts. Football Post Nottingham 12 21 January 1950 Notts County's lead at the top of the Third Division South had been reduced from five points to one. Two days afterwards, the Nottingham Evening Post reported that Deans was expected to return to the team in its next game, and expressed hope that Notts would be able to field a full-strength side for the first time since beating Forest.Notts County hope to be at full strength Nottingham Evening Post Nottingham 6 23 January 1950 In the event, Lawton remained absent for Notts County's final match of January, but the team nevertheless beat Aldershot 3–1.Magpies Return to Winning Track Football Post Nottingham 1 28 January 1950 The Magpies then defeated Reading 4–0 at Meadow Lane, with Lawton back in the side and among the goal scorers. A.E. Botting of the Nottingham Journal described the match as "a return to the type of football which characterised their [Notts County's] form earlier in the season".Notts' Promotion Chance Improved Botting A.E. Nottingham Journal Nottingham 3 6 February 1950 Notts next won 4–1 at Leyton Orient, with Johnston scoring two,Lawton Attracts a Big Crowd Football Post Nottingham 12 18 February 1950 before the team hosted Newport in the final match of February. Notts had won the previous season's corresponding fixture 11–1, and Newport fared little better this time; Sewell scored a hat-trick, Lawton a brace, and the Magpies won 7–0.Notts. Again Trounce Newport Football Post Nottingham 1 25 February 1950 Notts ended February in first place, with 44 points from 29 matches.Results and Tables Football Post Nottingham 1 25 February 1950 March–May thumb|right|upright=1.3|alt=Fellows Park football stadium|During March, Notts drew 3–3 at Walsall's Fellows Park (pictured in 1982) having been 3–0 down.Notts County were beaten 4–0 at Bristol City in their first game at March. Sewell sustained an injury during this match,Injured Sewell May Miss Three Matches Botting A.E. Nottingham Journal Nottingham 3 6 March 1950 keeping him out of the team in its 4–2 win over Brighton on 11 March.Brighton No Match for Magpies Football Post Nottingham 1 11 March 1950 Notts were 3–0 down after 63 minutes of their next game at Walsall and seemed destined to lose; this was the score until the 80th minute, when a Lawton header reduced the home team's lead to 3–1. Johnston scored a second header two minutes later to make the score 3–2 and, two minutes after that, Alec Simpson ran through and equalised for the Magpies. "It was the most thrilling finish of any match this season", the Football Post said. "They [Notts] staged a ...rally so strong it overwhelmed the Walsall defence."Walsall Were Leading 3–0 Football Post Nottingham 12 18 March 1950 Simpson, who was deputising for the still injured Sewell, scored again in the final game of March, with two goals in a 2–0 home win over Millwall.Simpson Success as a Forward Football Post Nottingham 1 25 March 1950 Sewell returned to the team for their match at Swindon on 1 April, but Simpson retained his place at the expense of Broome. Simpson scored again and Notts earned a 1–1 draw.New Right Wing of Notts Football Post Nottingham 12 1 April 1950 The Magpies then defeated Port Vale at Meadow Lane; this result, combined with defeats on the same day for their nearest rivals, left Notts requiring only four more points to secure promotion.Notts Nearly There Botting A.E. Nottingham Journal Nottingham 3 8 April 1950 One of those rivals, second-placed Torquay, were visitors to Meadow Lane on 8 April. Torquay had lost their previous four matches, and "it was more or less expected that Notts would make sure of the championship". Torquay, however, led 1–0 at half time, and it required a second half Lawton equaliser to earn Notts a 1–1 draw.Lawton Averts Defeat by Torquay Football Post Nottingham 1 8 April 1950 Forty-two buses and two football specials were required to transport Notts supporters to their team's next game, away at Port Vale on 10 April,Thousands Follow Notts Nottingham Evening Post Nottingham 6 10 April 1950 but the Magpies were defeated 3–1.Magpies Plucked at Hanley Botting A.E. Nottingham Journal Nottingham 3 11 April 1950 The following week, Notts travelled to Aldershot for a match between first and last, where Notts fell to a surprise 2–0 loss.Notts Slip – and Get No Help from Forest Botting A.E. Nottingham Journal Nottingham 3 17 April 1950 The season's second Nottingham derby was played on 22 April 1950. An all-ticket crowd of 46,000, a new record for Meadow Lane, attended the match, with some supporters arriving as early as 9.30am. Forest had the better of the first half, which ended 0–0, but Sewell gave Notts a 1–0 lead in the 58th minute, Lawton scored a second two minutes later, and match finished 2–0 to Notts.Notts Again Beat Forest Football Post Nottingham 1 22 April 1950 Elsewhere, Northampton Town defeated Southend, and this meant that Notts secured, not only their first ever "double" of home-and-away wins over their city rivals, but also the Third Division South championship and promotion to the Second Division.Notts County Win Championship before Record Nottingham Crowd Botting A.E. Nottingham Journal Nottingham 3 24 April 1950 Notts hosted Northampton, now the team closest to them in the table, in the final competitive home match of the season, and the Magpies won 2–0 with two goals from Lawton.Lawton Snap Goals Botting A.E. Nottingham Journal Nottingham 3 28 April 1950 He and Sewell were both rested from the team in its return match at Northampton two days later,Lawton and Sewell to rest Nottingham Evening Post Nottingham 8 28 April 1950 and Notts were beaten 5–1.Table Turned on Notts. Football Post Nottingham 1 29 April 1950 Notts travelled to Exeter for their final game of the season, and the line-up included six more changes.Notts. In the Sunshine Football Post Nottingham 1 6 May 1950 The match finished 2–2, meaning Notts finished the season in first place with 58 points from 42 matches.Results and Tables Football Post Nottingham 1 6 May 1950 League match details Key In result column, Notts County's score shown first H = Home match A = Away match pen. = Penalty kick o.g. = Own goal +ResultsBrown Warsop 2007 135DateOpponentsResultNotts County goalscorersAttendance20 August 1949Southend United (H)2–0F.J. Evans Fred Evans, Sewell33,50724 August 1949Norwich City (A)3–4Lawton, B. Evans, Sewell32,13127 August 1949Bristol Rovers (A)3–0Lawton (2), Johnston24,8161 September 1949Norwich City (H)5–0F.J. Evans Fred Evans (2), B. Evans, Lawton, Johnston35,3043 September 1949Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic (H)2–0Lawton (2)34,6068 September 1949Exeter City (H)3–3Johnston (2), Lawton32,26810 September 1949Crystal Palace (A)2–1B. Evans, Johnston26,84717 September 1949Watford (H)1–0Sewell34,05524 September 1949Reading (A)1–0B. Evans29,1341 October 1949Leyton Orient (H)7–1Sewell (2), B. Evans (2), Lawton (2), Johnston36,4368 October 1949Newport County (A)1–1Sewell21,54315 October 1949Bristol City (H)4–1Sewell (2), Southwell Aubrey Southwell, Lawton38,05522 October 1949Brighton & Hove Albion (A)3–2Lawton (2, 1 pen.), Johnston17,41129 October 1949Walsall (H)1–1Lawton (pen.)42,7895 November 1949Millwall (A)3–1Lawton, Sewell (2)19,52712 November 1949Swindon Town (H)3–0Lawton (3, 2 pens.)37,22019 November 1949Torquay United (A)0–013,8243 December 1949Nottingham Forest (A)2–1Lawton, Broome37,90317 December 1949Southend United (A)0–214,62824 December 1949Bristol Rovers (H)2–0Broome, F.J. Evans Fred Evans32,07926 December 1949Ipswich Town (H)2–0Sewell, Johnston40,41927 December 1949Ipswich Town (A)4–0Sewell, Lawton (2), Johnston22,98231 December 1949Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic (A)0–322,65114 January 1950Crystal Palace (H)0–131,38121 January 1950Watford (A)1–2F.J. Evans Fred Evans17,61128 January 1950Aldershot (H)3–1Broome, F.J. Evans Fred Evans, Sewell27,0764 February 1950Reading (H)4–0Sewell, Broome, Lawton, Johnston36,24518 February 1950Leyton Orient (A)4–1Sewell, Johnston (2), Broome21,63325 February 1950Newport County (H)7–0Sewell (3), Lawton (2, 1 pen.), Johnston, B. Evans28,4274 March 1950Bristol City (A)0–432,49111 March 1950Brighton & Hove Albion (H)4–2Tennant (o.g.), Chapman Harry Chapman, Lawton, Johnston34,28318 March 1950Walsall (A)3–3Lawton, Johnston, Simpson Alec Simpson19,58925 March 1950Millwall (H)2–0Simpson Alec Simpson (2)31,0611 April 1950Swindon Town (A)1–1Simpson Alec Simpson19,8767 April 1950Port Vale (H)3–1Boyes, Lawton, Simpson Alec Simpson32,0978 April 1950Torquay United (H)1–1Lawton43,45610 April 1950Port Vale (A)1–3Lawton15,38015 April 1950Aldershot (A)0–29,75822 April 1950Nottingham Forest (H)2–0Sewell, Lawton46,00027 April 1950Northampton Town (H)2–0Lawton (2)31,92829 April 1950Northampton Town (A)1–5Broome9,9716 May 1950Exeter City (A)2–2Broome, Crookes Bobby Crookes10,301 Partial league table 1949–50 Football League#Third Division South main WDL left auto Football League Third Division South final table, leading positions yes 2 PR NCO Notts County NOR Northampton Town SOU Southend United NFO Nottingham Forest 25 8 9 95 50 20 11 11 72 50 19 13 10 66 48 20 9 13 67 39 Division Champions, promoted CP complete Brown Warsop 2007 135 FA Cup Notts County were drawn to play the winner of the tie between Gorleston and Tilbury in the first round of the FA Cup.Cup Draw Favours Notts Clubs Nottingham Journal Nottingham 3 15 November 1949 The latter, an amateur team whose players were required to live within five miles of their club's ground, defeated their opponents 2–1, and so won the right to face Notts at Meadow Lane.Amateurs Notts' Cup Opponents Nottingham Journal Nottingham 3 21 November 1949 Edis Stammers, who the Football Post regarded as Tilbury's best player, could not play due to injury, and Notts ultimately won the tie 4–0.Notts. and Forest in Round Two Football Post Nottingham 1 26 November 1949 In the second round, Notts were drawn away at Third Division North side Rochdale. About 4,000 Notts supporters were among the crowd which set a new record attendance for Spotland Stadium. The home team led 1–0 at half time, but Johnston and Lawton each scored in the second half, and Notts won 2–1. The Magpies progressed to the third round, where they were drawn at home to First Division side Burnley. The match was attended by an all-ticket crowd of 44,000, and Notts took a 17th-minute lead through Johnston. Shortly before half time, Harry Potts of Burnley was fouled outside of the penalty area, but he fell within it and the referee awarded a penalty which Reg Attwell converted. It was 1–1 at half time, and Burnley eventually prevailed 4–1, ending Notts County's FA Cup participation for the season.Burnley Equalise from Doubtful Penalty Football Post Nottingham 1 7 January 1950 FA Cup match details Key In result column, Notts County's score shown first H = Home match A = Away match N = Match played at a neutral venue +ResultsBrown Warsop 2007 135DateRoundOpponentsResultNotts County goalscorersAttendance26 November 1949FirstTilbury4–0Broome (2), Lawton, Sewell28,58410 December 1949SecondRochdale2–1Johnston, Lawton24,2317 January 1950ThirdBurnley1–4Johnston44,000 Aftermath and legacy Lawton and his wife hosted a party for the team at their home to celebrate their success, and the team took a holiday together in Torquay at the end of the season.No Surprises in Notts. List Football Post Nottingham 2 6 May 1950 In Nottingham, there was civic reception and promotion ball held for the team. Sewell also earned a place on an exhibition tour of Canada organised by the FA.Warsop 1984 104 Thoughts quickly turned to the team's prospects in the Second Division; the majority of players who had seen first-team action during the season were retained, but "Little John", the pseudonymous Football Post correspondent, wrote that Notts would "have to dig deep into the club's purse, because it is apparent that without adequate or efficient reserves no team can hope to meet continued success." In the 1950–51 season, Notts County's first in the Second Division for fifteen years, the team finished 17th in the table.Brown Warsop 2007 136 Lawton remained at Notts until 1952,Brown 1995 40 and the 1949–50 season was the highpoint of his time at the club.Warsop 1984 103 Large crowds came to watch the team; the average home attendance of 35,176 is the club record, and the crowd of 46,000 which attended the title-clinching match with Forest is the largest to attend a League game at Meadow Lane.Brown Warsop 2007 12 Lawton's 33 goals remain one of the most prolific individual seasons in the club's history; since 1949–50, only Lee Hughes in 2009–10 and Macaulay Langstaff in 2022–23 have reached the 30 goal mark.https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/64704677 Macaulay Langstaff: Notts County Boss Luke Williams Hails Striker for Scoring 30 Goals BBC Sport 6 August 2025 20 February 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230315060406/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/64704677 15 March 2023 live Lawton's headed goal against Forest in December 1949 became "part of Nottingham's football folklore".Lawton, Jnr Williams 2010 202 "I never hit a ball as hard before," he recalled. "Everything went exactly right. I just got clear and my jump was carrying me forward as I met the ball full on my forehead."Warsop 1984 104 More than 40 years later, club historian Tony Brown remarked that "people still talk about it ...even those of us that weren't there!"Brown 1995 37 Upon Lawton's death in 1996, the Nottingham Evening Post remarked that the goal was "popularly regarded as the greatest ...ever seen in Nottingham".Great goals were his Stapleton David Nottingham Evening Post Nottingham 66 7 November 1996 Notes References Specific Brown Tony 1995 Notts County F.C: The Official History, 1862–1995 Harefield Yore Publications 1-874427-61-5 Brown Tony Warsop Keith 2007 The Definitive Notts County F.C.: The Oldest League Club in the World Nottingham Soccerdata 978-1-899468-99-7 Warsop Keith 1984 The Magpies: The Story of Notts County Football Club Buckingham Sporting and Leisure Press 0-86023-214-X Lawton, Jnr Tommy Williams Barrie 2010 Get in There! Tommy Lawton: My Friend, My Father Kingston upon Thames Vision Sports Publishing 978-1907637-00-1 General Notts County Category:Notts County F.C. seasons