James Belshaw could barely contain himself as he sprinted toward the Kop at Meadow Lane, fists pumping, after his goalline heroics sent Notts County to Wembley. The goalkeeper’s stunning stop to deny Chesterfield’s Dilan Markanday in the second leg of the League Two play-off semi-final preserved a 1-0 aggregate lead and sparked wild scenes of celebration. For lifelong County fan Belshaw, the moment was the culmination of a dream that began decades earlier in those same stands.
Growing up in a family of passionate Magpies supporters, Belshaw’s earliest football memories are of Wembley. He witnessed Notts County lift the Anglo-Italian Cup there as a five-year-old in 1995 and felt the heartbreak of a play-off final defeat the following year. More recently, he was among the 20,000-strong black-and-white army that roared the club back into the Football League in 2023. But Friday night was different: this time, he was the difference-maker between the posts.
The tie had hung in the balance. Notts County entered the second leg at home with a slender advantage from Jodi Jones’ first-leg winner, but a resolute Chesterfield side pressed relentlessly. Belshaw’s save in the second half – a sprawling reaction to claw away Markanday’s close-range effort – proved the defining act. Without it, the visitors might have forced extra time or worse. “It was very surreal and I’m very honoured to be a small part in this journey,” Belshaw reflected.
His bond with the club is extraordinary. When he joined from Harrogate Town in January, it was an emotional homecoming. The 34-year-old had left Nottingham as a teenager, taking an unconventional path via Duke University in the United States before turning professional with Walsall. Yet his heart never truly left Meadow Lane. “I love this football club. I’d make teas for this football club, whatever it needs me to do,” he said. “But the fact that I get to play in goal is a little bit more special.”
The upcoming final at Wembley on Monday, 25 May is laden with personal significance. Not only does it represent Belshaw’s first opportunity to pull on the Notts County shirt at the national stadium, but it also falls on his daughter Isla’s third birthday. “She’s told me she wants a pink cake and pink balloons,” Belshaw laughed. “We need to figure out how to get that down to Wembley. To have her there, to have my family there and to be wearing a Notts County shirt is just a dream come true.” His father Paul, a long-time season ticket holder, was watching from the Kop as the semi-final unfolded.
That Wembley visit comes with layered history. In 2020, Belshaw stood in the opposite goal for Harrogate Town in the National League promotion final, which was played behind closed doors due to the pandemic. His saves that day broke County hearts, securing a 3-1 victory for the Yorkshire side. “That was a tough one,” Belshaw admitted. “Everyone knows what this club means to me, but unfortunately as a footballer you’re paid to do the job for the club that you’re employed at.” The chance to rewrite that script in County colors is a rare second act.
For Notts County, the final is about more than a single player’s fairytale. After reclaiming their status as the world’s oldest Football League club in 2023, the Magpies have been building steadily under head coach Stuart Maynard. Promotion to League One would bring financial rewards, higher-profile fixtures, and a sign of a club on the rise again. The play-off route was arduous – they finished seventh in the regular season – but the momentum of a dramatic semi-final win, capped by Belshaw’s save, has created a sense of destiny.
Belshaw’s influence extends beyond shot-stopping. His distribution and command of the area have been key since his mid-season arrival, shoring up a defense that had looked vulnerable. Against Chesterfield, his calmness under late pressure was palpable. The Wembley final will test those qualities again, likely against a team that finished higher in the table, but Notts County will carry the emotional weight of a man who represents their own story.
“All the promotion heroes I’ve seen over the years, and then now you get to represent Notts County at Wembley – it doesn’t get much better than that,” Belshaw said. As the squad prepares for 25 May, the goalkeeper’s journey from boyhood fan to Wembley hero serves as the narrative heartbeat of their campaign. For the Belshaw family, the day will be a blend of birthday celebrations and footballing ambition – a pink cake likely waiting somewhere in the dressing room.
Win or lose, Belshaw has already etched his name into the club’s folklore. But with one more clean sheet, he could complete a story that began as a five-year-old in the stands. For Notts County, the final offers a shot at climbing back up the English football pyramid; for Belshaw, it’s the fulfillment of a lifelong allegiance. Based on reporting from BBC Sport.