Former Notts County striker Lee Hughes has wished his old club and fans the best of luck ahead of their National League play-off showdown with Barnet on Saturday.
Hughes – who scored 33 goals while playing a starring role in the club's League Two title success in 2009/10 – sent Neal Ardley's current crop of promotion hopefuls a message as they bid to bounce back into the EFL at the first attempt.
The Magpies welcome Barnet to Meadow Lane in the semi-final on Saturday and Hughes reckons he would have been at the game alongside the fans but for the coronavirus pandemic.
Signed by Sven-Goran Eriksson for Notts in July 2009, in total the 44-year-old notched up more than 300 goals in more than 700 games for Kidderminster Harriers, Coventry, West Brom, Oldham, Blackpool and Port Vale as well as Forest Green Rovers, Ilkeston, Worcester City and AFC Telford United in Non-League.
The gaffer will be joining us LIVE on Facebook at 5.30pm on the eve of the semi-final to answer YOUR questions ahead of the big game! Make sure you tune in ? pic.twitter.com/SclpQbTyQa
— Notts County FC (@Official_NCFC) July 22, 2020
“Definitely I would have been there with the family cheering them on,” Hughes told The Magpie Circle podcast in an interview published by the Nottingham Post. ”I've formally retired as a player now and definitely plan on coming up to more Notts games.
“I had a wonderful time with Notts and enjoyed a great rapport with the fans. The Championship winning campaign of 2009-10 is probably the most memorable season of my entire career.
“I loved it there and even now I still can't really come to terms with Notts having dropped out of the League. This is a great opportunity for them but it's not going to be easy.
“I've played in play-offs where we have been the favourites and also the outsiders. Clearly, Notts County are big favourites against Barnet but that can work against you as well. I just hope for everyone connected with the club that they can do it.”
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