Nottingham mourned the loss of a footballing hero for the second time in the space of a month, Notts County the latest to lose a manager loved by all.
Managers come and go, but Luke Williams was different. Different because he returned Notts County to the football league after four years away. Different because he embraced Nottingham like it was his hometown. Different because it meant so much to him, like it did the supporters.
But ultimately when his family’s hometown came calling, it was an opportunity he could not decline, returning to Swansea City as their head coach, after a stint as assistant manager there before his move to Notts.
When Ian Burchnall abandoned Notts County following a heart-breaking 119th-minute loss to Grimsby in the playoffs, it was hard to see where the Magpies would go next. Playing football they loved, with a manager they loved, the prospect of never escaping the National League was felt more than ever.
Notts elected to give Williams the job. A young, inexperienced coach with a point to prove; his only other job as a manager resulted in relegation for Swindon Town in 2017. But Williams was ready for this one, following four years working under Russell Martin at MK Dons and Swansea, this was his time to shine.
Shine he did, going unbeaten in his first eight, winning 12/16 from the start and being top of the table by Matchweek 10. Any other season and Notts’ 107 points would have cleaned the floor and won promotion to League Two, with only one place available for automatic promotion. Unluckily, however, Notts were up against Hollywood, with Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenny’s Wrexham rivalling Notts all season.
County and Williams were up for the fight - no one else was in the top two apart from those two from October onwards. It all came down to a crunch game at Wrexham’s Racecourse Ground, the winner in the hot seat for a return to the promised land. The game ebbed and flowed, with Notts eventually losing 3-2 despite taking the lead and having a 97th-minute penalty, Cedwin Scott seeing Ben Foster keep him out.
It’s unthinkable that a side that only lost three games all season didn’t go up, but that’s the nature of the National League’s promotion system. Notts would settle for playoff football then, this time on the right end of a late winner, as Jodi Jones’ 120th-minute goal saw the Magpies beat Boreham Wood and secure Wembley.
There they met 3rd placed Chesterfield, with their commendable 84 points made to look measly by Wrexham and Notts. As you’ve probably gathered, Notts County very rarely do things the easy way, and the playoff final was no different…
1-1 after full-time, 2-2 after extra time: the final would be settled by penalties. Notts had control and could have won it through veteran John Bostock, but his attempted Panenka hit the bar. But Notts would have their moment, as Scott gained redemption, scoring the penalty that secured promotion.
A promotion not possible without Williams and his immense management. Possession football like the National League had never seen before, and League Two wasn’t ready either, as Notts were the bookies’ favourites for promotion to League One this year. An opening day thrashing woke them up to the realities of professional football but from then on, the Notts we all knew shone through. County rose to the top by gameweek five, Williams’ impressive displays touting him for many vacant jobs throughout the season. In the end, it was the job at his former employers that swayed him, as he leaves Notts in sixth place but on a run of three losses from five.
The move won’t tarnish the memories though. Williams will fondly be remembered at Meadow Lane as a legend. He eradicated the negativity and allowed his side to compete with the best National League side ever seen, and his warming, glowing personality always shone through.
Notts have got the last two managerial appointments bang on – Burchnall and Williams – this one is just as important, as the club aims for back-to-back promotions. Thank you, Luke, for the memories, for Wembley, and for putting Nottingham’s older, yet sometimes forgotten brother back on the map.