The County associations affiliated to the Football Association had important fixtures in the 1880s. The Notts Association team was usually drawn from Nottingham Forest and Notts County, the two strongest clubs. However, clubs such as Notts Rangers and Notts Olympic. long since defunct, were also of sufficient a standard to provide players for the County side.

Notts met London on 1st November 1884, and here are some of the Notts players tastefully arranged for the camera! Back: Danks, Caborn, Widdowson, Lindley. Centre: Billyeald, Hancock, Fox, Ward. Front: Norman, Leighton, Beardsley, Unwin.

Widdowson is the famed inventor of the shin pad. Lindley was a skilful amateur player and England international, respected as one of the best centre-forwards of the 19th century.