Why promotion would be 'dream come true' for Notts' Belshaw
Notts take automatic promotion push to final day
- Published
Goalkeeper James Belshaw says trying to help Notts County to promotion as a Magpies player is a less stressful experience than watching the club as a lifelong fan.
The 35-year-old, who joined Notts in January as the club's first-choice keeper, grew up as a Magpies supporter, attended matches with his father – who remains a season ticket holder - served as a matchday mascot at Meadow Lane and even had a spell on the club's books when he was a youngster.
Just three years ago he was at Wembley Stadium to watch Notts beat Chesterfield on penalties to seal promotion to League Two.
It was at the same stage and venue in 2020 that Belshaw helped deny Notts promotion as part of Harrogate Town's play-off final winning side.
Now, with Belshaw in goal for his boyhood club, Notts have taken their quest for automatic promotion to League One to the final day.
Belshaw says it would be a "dream come true" if, as a Notts player, he could now deliver the "elation" of promotion to fellow fans.
"I've felt that emotion, I've seen in my dad and numerous family members, and to now be part of that is probably less nerve-racking to be playing than watching," he told BBC East Midlands Today.
"I love this football club, and if I can be a part of it, if I can be a part of history then I'll give whatever I can.
"Everyone knows how desperately I want this for for the club, for the city for the fans, for family and for everyone so it won't be through lack of effort and lack of trying."
For fifth-placed Notts to finish in the top three and snatch the last remaining automatic promotion place on Saturday, the Magpies will need to beat Bristol Rovers and have results elsewhere go their way.
If they fall short of a direct route back to League One after an 11-year absence, as they did on the final day last season, they still have a shot of going up through the play-offs.
"We're in a really good place and it's about executing on Saturday and controlling what we can control," Belshaw said.
"If results go our way, then it's going to be some day in Nottingham. But if not, and we have to go do it the other way then we'll do it other way."
