Anglo-Italian Cup Winners
In March 1995, Notts County became the last side on British shores to win the Anglo-Italian Cup with a 2-1 win over Ascoli in 1995.
The Anglo-Italian Cup was initially introduced after Swindon Town had won the 1969 League Cup, but could not qualify for the Inter-cities Fairs Cup as they played in the then-Third Division. It was contested between clubs below the top division of each country's league.
The competition was abandoned in 1973, but a competition under the same name was set up for semi-professional teams from 1975 to 1987. The professional competition was re-established as a competition between teams in the second levels of football (Serie B and the newly-renamed First Division) in 1992, to replace the Full Members Cup in England. After only four seasons and general indifference towards the cup from fans and clubs in both countries, as well as a growing reputation for violence between the fans now hanging over it, the competition was abandoned in 1996 win Genoa beating Port Vale in the 'Final Final'.
In the 1994/95 season that saw the Magpies relegated from the First Division, the Cup-run was the only shining light in what was otherwise a poor season at Meadow Lane which saw a managerial change on four separate occasions during the campaign.
Notts were managed by ex-Everton boss Howard Kendall at the time and reached the final at Wembley Stadium, albeit an almost empty Wembley, having beaten Stoke City on penalties in the semi-finals after two goalless draws in the First and Second Legs of the semi-final. Three draws (against Ascoli, Atalanta and Venezia) and a 1-0 win over Leece early in the competition allowed Notts to progress to the Semi-Final stage.
Kendall decided to allow his Assistant, Russell Slade, to take charge of the Final after Slade had been Manager prior to Kendall's arrival and he had worked extremely hard to get Notts to Wembley.
Notts had reached the final the previous year under Mick Walker, but suffered defeat by a strong Brescia outfit who were destined for Serie A. Gabrielle Ambrosetti, who later went on to play for Chelsea, netted te only goal. The squad still contained number of players from the previous season's defeat, with Steve Cherry, Chris Short, Phil Turner, Shaun Murphy, Michael Johnson, Paul Devlin, Tony Agana, Tommy Gallagher, Andy Legg and Michael Simpson all looking for revenge.
And they got it against Ascoli. The game was not exactly a classic, and Notts had an early scare when Jonatan Binotto screwed a shot wide from a clear position, but Notts' call to relax with the pressure from the relegation fight off saw the Magpies much calmer in their play, and the side produced some fine football on the famous Wembley turf.
Kendall's side took the upper hand in the game, and on thirteen minutes they took the lead when Andy Legg's long throw into the box was touched home by Tony Agana - or that was what is appeared to be. Television replays later showed that Ascoli defender Benetti got the final touch and the goal was eventually credited as an own goal.
The goal obviously lifted Notts, who then began to zip the ball around with confidence, although there was little attacking penetration.
Twenty minutes later, after a strong spell of pressure by the Serie B side, Mirabelli levelled the scores with a scrambled effort. Oliver Bierhoff's header rebounded off a Magpies defender and the forward was first to react to fire the ball past Cherry, who had replaced Paul Reece between the sticks for the game.
Bierhoff had twice come close to giving the Italian side the lead before the break, and the German forward would go on to experience greater spells at the glamorous stadium. 16 months later he came off the bench to net twice for Germany in the Euro 1996 final against the Czech Republic and hand them a 2-1 win having fallen behind.
Just before half-time, Notts regained the lead with Devon White powering home a header for his fifth goal in ten starts. The former QPR forward rose highest to a Paul Devlin cross to thump the ball home and score what was to be the winning goal, and bring a little piece of success to the Magpies to their first cup success since 1894 when they lifted the FA Cup.
The second half was one of few chances and certainly less dramatic, although Notts could have added to their tally when Andy Legg found the net direct from a free-kick, only for the goal to be chalked off as the free-kick was actually awarded as an indirect free-kick. Man of the Match Gary Mills cleared a shot off the line as Notts held on, while substitute goalkeeper Paul Reece made a fine save from Mirabelli as he looked to add to his goal.
Notts hung on despite a late bout of pressure to become the first English team since Sutton United in 1979 to lift the trophy, and also become the fifth English side to win the competition along with Newcastle United, Blackpool, Sutton United and Swindon Town.
Despite being the last English side to win it, Notts County are however not the holders of the competition, that crown goes to the Italian side Genoa who defeated Port Vale 5-2 at Wembley in the following season prior to the competition being scrapped.
Reacting to the victory, Captain Phil Turner said: "It was a much better game than last year's final. It was the fourth time I had captained the side at Wembley, and my third time as a winner and it is a great feeling. The victory is a spark in what has been a very disappointing season."
Notts County 2-1 Ascoli - 19 March 1995
Attendance - 11,704
Notts County: Cherry (Reece 74), Short, Mills, Turner, Murphy, Johnson (Emenalo 74), Devlin, White, Agana (Gallagher 86), Simpson, Legg.
Not Used: Hogg, Galloway.
Booked: White.
Ascolo: Bizzarri, Benetti, Mancuso (Milana 62), Marcato, Pascucci, Zanoncelli, Binotto (Menolascina 76), Bosi, Bierhoff, Favo, Mirabelli.
Not Used: Ivan, Carco, Daniele.
Booked: Pascucci, Binotto, Benetti, Favo.
Referee: Charles Agius (Malta).
