Notts County's game with Wrexham is the biggest in non-League history

All eyes are on Notts County’s visit to Wrexham on Easter Monday with both clubs on an incredible 100 points, setting up the biggest game in non-League HISTORY

• Wrexham will host Notts County as both sides target promotion to the EFL
• The host’s story has earned interest due to the club’s Hollywood ownership
• Notts County’s bid for promotion has been spearheaded by Macaulay Langstaff 

Two hundred points between them, two strikers with 75 goals between them, two teams worthy of the ultimate prize — but just one automatic promotion spot available.

It’s the biggest game in non-League history, and with it comes a culture war. Despite being about a club in the fifth tier, Wrexham’s story has captivated many at home and across the Atlantic, with avid football geeks and even non-sports fans fascinated by their Hollywood adventures.

But what of the other side of the tale? Notts County, the National League leaders, don’t care about Disney — this is real life. They don’t care for Hollywood endings.

So, apologies to Wrexham, but after 18 episodes on Disney+ and hundreds of thousands of written words, it’s time to give County the spotlight.

The Magpies are founding members of the Football League and the world’s oldest professional football club but find themselves in the doldrums thanks to a decade of financial strife. It’s a story worthy of its own docu-series.

Macaulay Langstaff will lead the line for Notts County as they travel to Wrexham on Monday

Both Wrexham and Notts County have reached a century of points in their push for promotion 

You might not know much about their team but you will be aware of their striker, Macaulay Langstaff, or at least his astronomical goals record. The football-mad Teessider had his feet up watching Erling Haaland take his tally to 44 for the season, while being taunted by messages.

With 41 to his name, the ‘non-League Haaland’ tag has stalked Langstaff all season. Not that he minds it. ‘I embrace being named in the same sentence as these guys,’ he says.

‘Obviously it’s a bit of fun but it’s good to see. You see your picture next to Haaland in an article, it gives you confidence.

‘Haaland is the best in the world. I haven’t got his physical attributes — I can’t leap in the air and score a header from eight yards but I can try to replicate his movement off the ball and positions he takes up in the box, darting to the back post and popping up. My favourite ever striker is Sergio Aguero. He’s similar to me as a box player… loves those tap-ins. I watch as much football as I can because of any percentage of gain I can get.’

He might compare himself to Manchester City’s greatest-ever goalscorer and perhaps the man to break Aguero’s record, but Langstaff is a firm Middlesbrough fan. He laughs that the only EFL experience he has is being a ballboy at the Riverside.

Langstaff, 26, worked his way to National League level from working as a labourer at a groundworking firm before stints at Stockton Town, Billingham Synthonia, on a maximum of £150 a week, and then Gateshead, where he scored 32 goals last season.

He joined County for £50,000 which is a decent fee at this level, but in hindsight, a bargain. Magpies manager Luke Williams jokes that he owes Gateshead a bottle of wine or two.

‘The figure now looks like robbery! I am sure there will be a bottle of wine going to Gateshead at some point!’ he laughs, before discussing the one automatic promotion spot available.

Langstaff was dubbed the ‘non-League Haaland’ but says Sergio Aguero is his favourite striker

Wrexham’s Hollywood links has seen their story followed at home and across the Atlantic

‘We have to look at the play-offs as a blessing — we have two opportunities to get out of this division. I don’t think there’s ever been a player on top of a trophy parade bus sulking because they haven’t gone up as champions!

‘When we played a few weeks back at Bromley, I became too animated and one of the players in my squad said, ‘Gaffer, relax’. That was magic. It shows we have trust and confidence.

‘If you watch the Wrexham documentary, it’s hard not to feel invested in it. Both teams are thoroughly worthy of promotion and I want to see them go up — as long as we’re successful too!’

As well as the Haaland talk, Langstaff’s tale from the pits of English football to a respectable level has led to some comparisons with Jamie Vardy, who rose from non-League to England international, Premier League and FA Cup winner.

‘How many Vardys have there been?’ says Langstaff. ‘Not many have gone on to do what he’s done, so I would be silly and naive to say that I will. But I am a goalscorer. I can carry these attributes through the leagues.’

Notts County are determined to fight for the automatic promotion spot in honour of their late chief Jason Turner, who died suddenly aged 50 a fortnight ago.

‘We’re all suffering,’ says Williams. ‘When you came into work and something needed doing… you’d go to Jason.

Notts County are fighting for automatic promotion in honour of their late chief Jason Turner 

‘We all know we would be getting told off by Jason if we underperformed because of our emotions.’

Whatever happens today and for the rest of the season, there is no doubt that these are two teams in a promotion battle the like of which we might never see again.

‘It’s a strange season in terms of the levels we’ve both set,’ adds Williams. ‘We might never see this again. It’s two unbelievable teams and top clubs going at it.

‘Life is not fair, we can’t both go up automatically. Once you realise that, it’s easier to function. My biggest worry is to have a victim mentality.’

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