Like their counterparts at Bury and Bolton Wanderers, supporters at Notts County were wondering whether they would have a team to support this season.

The Magpies' first-ever relegation from the Football League last May was compounded by a winding-up petition over an unpaid tax bill during the summer that threatened the 157-year-old club’s existence.

Thankfully, they avoided oblivion and although the transition in ownership from Alan Hardy to Christoffer Reedtz wasn’t a smooth one, it was still a better outcome than what befell the other two clubs mentioned.

In Bury’s case, the reasons are painfully obvious, but unlike Bolton, County did not have to start the season with a 12-point deduction and could go back to conducting their business as normal.

And boy did they do plenty of business in a short space of time, with manager Neal Ardley belatedly able to build a squad capable of competing in their maiden season in the National League.

The new-look side, which included experienced heads Michael Doyle, Nathan Tyson, Wes Thomas and Ben Turner, took some time to gel, winning only two of their first nine games.

However, like Barrow AFC, the Magpies’ form turned around in September, with a 1-0 win against Halifax starting their current run of eight wins in 12 games, in all competitions, which has lifted them up to seventh in the table ahead of tomorrow’s clash with the Bluebirds.

They also have a second round tie in the FA Cup at League Two side Northampton Town to look forward to at the end of the month, after Turner’s stoppage-time goal snatched a 3-2 victory at Ebbsfleet United last Saturday.

This will be AFC’s first visit to Meadow Lane since August 1970, at the start of their penultimate season in the Football League.

Eddie Garbett struck for them, but the Magpies eventually ran out 3-1 winners in what was the sign of things to come for Barrow that year - they eventually finished bottom of Division Four.