Promotion via the play-offs last time around, and perhaps the toughest of starts to their return to EFL League One for Martin Paterson’s Notts County.

An interesting pre-season which includes a trip to Denmark, and a derby against their cross-river rivals, could prove the catalyst for a decent season ahead after a relegation from this level back in 2015. A decade-long climb back from near National League obscurity is now complete, and the Meadow Lane faithful will look ahead with optimism.

It all begins in the afore-mentioned, pre-season schedule, where which Paterson takes his side to Denmark for a camp which will see County oppose two, Superliga sides in Viborg FF (11 July) and Randers (14 July), before returning to Nottingham, and the first of several, local derbies ahead.

County welcome Trentside neighbours, Nottingham Forest, to Meadow Lane, on 18 July, and they’ve also drawn Forest’s U21s side, alongside Burton Albion and Grimsby Town, in Group F of the EFL Trophy, where they’ll be looking to progress beyond the group stage.

The Nottinghamshire derby, against Mansfield, will see the Magpies looking to avenge consecutive losses a couple of seasons back, their last success coming in February 2019 as Craig Mackail-Smith netted the only goal at the Lane.

As for the ‘other derby’ with Forest, the last time the two sides met in the league was way back in 1994, in the old First Division, whilst in the cups, its 2011s six-goal thriller in the League Cup when the two collided – time will tell how strong a side Forest will play in the upcoming friendly, and Trophy encounters.

County’s 2026/27 campaign itself meanwhile starts with a triple-header against former, Premier League opposition – the Carabao (League) Cup draw pits them away to Burnley on 8 August, this is followed by the League One campaign starting at home to former Premier League champions, Leicester City (15 August, 12:30KO), then away to Luton Town (22 August) a week later, Burton Albion then visit Meadow Lane (29 August) at the end of the month.

In an opponent-reversal to Notts rivals, Mansfield, Paterson’s County side will host Cambridge United at Meadow Lane on Boxing Day (26 December), before travelling to Barnsley (1 January) to ring in the New Year.

Fast-forwarding to the seasons end, and it’s an interesting double-header for a County side who’d love to be pushing towards the top end of the table; County’s last home game sees MK Dons visit on 1 May, followed by a road trip a week later to AFC Wimbledon, on 8 May. View Notts County’s 2026/27 fixtures HERE

*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).

*Main image @Official_NCFC Meadow Lane is getting ready for the 2026/27 League One season.