Jodi Jones delivered a virtuoso display as Notts County dismantled Salford City 3-0 in the League Two play-off final, securing promotion to League One in style. The winger played a pivotal role in all three goals, capping his man-of-the-match performance with a well-taken strike to seal the victory at Wembley.
The 28-year-old’s journey to this triumphant moment is one of resilience. Having endured three anterior cruciate ligament knee operations during his time at Coventry City, Jones was sidelined for 897 days and missed 130 matches between November 2017 and August 2021. At one point, he went more than five years without starting a league game, a period he described as filled with “darkness.”
It was a loan move to Notts County from Oxford United in January 2023 that reignited his career. Since then, Jones has become a talismanic figure at Meadow Lane, helping the Magpies to two promotions in four seasons and reminding everyone of the talent that once made him a highly-rated prospect at Arsenal.
Reflecting on his Wembley heroics, Jones admitted the occasion left him emotional. “I buzz off moments like this where I can express myself on a fantastic pitch,” he shared. He credited his family and former club Coventry for sticking by him during the toughest times, acknowledging that without their continued belief—offering him contract after contract—his career might have ended prematurely.
Jones’ relationship with Wembley has been remarkably positive. His first taste came in 2017 when he helped Coventry win the EFL Trophy, and he was part of their squad when they gained promotion via the League Two play-offs a year later. For Notts, he scored a penalty in the National League promotion final shootout in 2023 and, after Monday’s triumph, can now boast three club successes at the national stadium. “I haven’t lost with a club at Wembley,” he said with a smile.
The Malta international’s resurgence has been nothing short of remarkable. Last season, he broke the single-season assist record for League Two with 24—surpassing a mark shared by Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne—and was named the division’s Player of the Year. His creativity and flair have made him one of the most dangerous attackers outside the top two tiers.
Notts County manager Martin Paterson was full of praise but emphasized the collective effort. “He has that individual quality—goals, nutmegs, a real magician,” Paterson noted, while lauding teammates like Rod McDonald, Oliver Norburn, and Nick Tsaroulla for doing the unglamorous work that allows Jones to shine. “It’s a team effort,” he insisted. “From hard work and a framework comes individual freedom.”
Salford boss Karl Robinson, who allowed Jones to leave Oxford for Notts on loan two years ago, rued his side’s defensive lapses. “We let him get into the game,” Robinson admitted. “Once Jodi Jones feels confident, he flows, and he becomes so difficult to stop.” The space given to Jones for the opening goal proved costly, as the winger’s vision and execution punished them.
For Notts County, this promotion marks their 14th in EFL history—just one shy of Grimsby Town’s record—and underlines the club’s ambition to climb further. With a raucous fanbase and a squad blending experience and flair, the Magpies are already eyeing a sustained push in League One. Jones himself believes the club can replicate Coventry’s trajectory of back-to-back promotions.
Remarkably, Jones revealed that he had predicted a triple triumph for the clubs close to his heart: Arsenal, Coventry, and Notts County all achieving success this season. His godfather told him upon joining Notts that the club could rise through the leagues just as Coventry did, and Jones now sees that as a realistic vision. “Who knows where we can go,” he mused. “We’re a fantastic club, and I’m sure we’ll attract top talent.”
After the final whistle, as he clutched the trophy and reflected on nearly 2,000 days of dreaming, Jones embodied the spirit of perseverance. From the depths of three knee reconstructions to lighting up Wembley on the biggest stage, his story is a testament to mental fortitude and the guiding hands of family and football communities. The next chapter, likely in League One, promises more opportunities for this “big game player” to shine on the sport’s grandest stages.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport.