Notts County will long for the success of Huddersfield Town transfer again | OneFootball

Notts signed Jimmy Spencer from the Terriers back in 2014, and his addition was vital in the Magpies' great escape in League One.

The January 2025 transfer window is already proving to be a busy one at Meadow Lane.

Notts have already added three players to their squad in the form of Zak Johnson, Charlie Whitaker and Will Jarvis, as well as four leaving the club – Cedwyn Scott, Jevani Brown, Josh Martin and Dan Crowley.

Boss Stuart Maynard announced the most recent departures of Brown and Martin following the impressive 3-0 away victory at Accrington Stanley recently.

The departures of the attacking duo potentially leave the door ajar for further additions to the Magpies’ attack, with another out-and-out striker likely needed as support for Alassana Jatta and David McGoldrick.

With that in mind, Notts would surely love to be able to strike a deal that has the same level of success as their January 2014 signing of Jimmy Spencer.

The Huddersfield Town frontman arrived at Meadow Lane on a deal until the end of the season and almost instantly became a key figure in Shaun Derry’s side, who pulled off a miracle to escape relegation in League One.

Spencer had a massive impact at Notts

Derry’s men looked dead and buried after a 3-2 defeat at Tranmere Rovers left them eight points adrift of safety in League One with just nine games to play.

What came next, however, was one of the most incredible runs of form seen at Notts in several years.

The Magpies produced a stunning turnaround to notch six wins from those last nine games, ultimately securing their third-tier status with a 1-1 draw at Oldham Athletic on the final day, backed by a travelling support of over 3000.

In a matter of a month or two, what had been a torrid season became one of fantastic memories, as Notts managed to drag themselves back from the brink.

It really cannot be underestimated how big of an impact the signing of Spencer had in Notts’ change of fortunes.

The then 22-year-old joined Notts at the start of February 2014 on a deal until the end of the 2013/14 season, but his performances ended up earning him a two-year deal at the club.

Spencer’s impact was almost instant, netting a superb strike from distance in the 3-0 win over Coventry City on his debut.

He also notched a brace in the vital win over Port Vale in early April, before following that up with the only goal in a 1-0 victory over Crawley Town just two weeks later.

Spencer played a crucial part in the upturn in form that ultimately saw Notts survive thanks to a penalty with just nine minutes of the season remaining.

He ended the campaign with five goals from 13 league games, but almost all of them were hugely important.

Although loanees Jack Grealish and Callum McGregor caught the eye of several around the EFL that season, few members of the squad had the same level of impact as Spencer.

As well as scoring vital goals for Derry’s side, he provided them with a focal point up front, allowing them to get up the pitch after spells under pressure. He created a very dangerous partnership with Ronan Murray, and the diminutive Irishman also ended the season in particularly strong form.

Notts could do with an impact signing like Spencer again this season

Unfortunately, a serious injury sustained in the pre-season following that ‘great escape’ meant Spencer’s Notts career never hit the same heights again.

He went on to score just once more for the Magpies as his time at Meadow Lane faded out somewhat.

Now 33, Spencer is currently leading the line for Curzon Ashton in the National League North, with his career having taken in spells with the likes of Mansfield Town, Cambridge United and Plymouth Argyle after leaving Notts.

While he is a far cry from the profile of striker Notts tend to target now, the Magpies could certainly use a frontman who has a similar level of impact to Spencer.

Despite Walsall streaking away at the top of League Two, the fourth division’s promotion race remains very much wide open and with Notts currently enjoying a fine run of form, it feels as though they are potentially only another couple of additions away from mounting a very serious promotion charge in the season’s latter stages.

Ultimately, it’s highly unlikely that anyone who comes in will displace Jatta and McGoldrick, but if Notts can find someone capable of having a similar impact to Spencer over a short spell, it could provide them with the vital boost that they need.