“What an exceptional display. He truly shone on this occasion.”
“Jodi Jones was simply outstanding.”
In the League Two play-off final between Notts County and Salford City, the man-of-the-match was undeniably Jodi Jones, as noted by Gillingham manager Gareth Ainsworth and Bromley’s Andy Woodman.
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Jones was the standout performer at Wembley, playing a crucial role in both of Notts’ first-half goals and netting the promotion-clinching third in a dominating 3-0 win.
Having endured a challenging period in his career with over five years without a league start due to injuries, Jones has now propelled Notts to two promotions in just four seasons.
The 28-year-old winger expressed his joy at rediscovering his passion for football on such a prominent platform.
“I’m thrilled,” Jones told BBC Sport, sharing an incredible premonition he had about his first club, Arsenal, former club Coventry, and his current team Notts County all achieving success this season.
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“I thrive in moments like these, where I can showcase my skills on such a fantastic pitch.”
“I’d like to think of myself as a big game player who rises to the occasion, creating opportunities, scoring goals, and assisting our team.”
“Today was extraordinary, truly one of the highlights of my football career.”
Jodi Jones’ goal to secure a 3-0 victory against Salford was his 10th of the season for Notts [Getty Images]
From Adversity to League One
Jones faced overwhelming challenges, including three anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) surgeries, which kept him off the field for a total of 897 days and forced him to miss 130 matches between November 2017 and August 2021.
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He experienced a drought of over five years without a league start, beginning from the day of his injury at Coventry to making an impactful appearance for Notts County in the National League after a loan from Oxford United in January 2023.
Jones reflected that he spent nearly 1,900 days dreaming about moments like Monday, becoming emotional as he held the play-off final trophy. “You’re making me feel a bit emotional,” he admitted.
“Those were hard times. My family and Coventry were there for me, renewing my contracts even when my future was uncertain.”
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“I’ll forever be grateful to Coventry, a club I now support, and I’m thrilled they achieved promotion as well this season.”
“My family stood by me through those tough days, as did the fans. I’m back playing, enjoying football—that’s what matters most.”
Jones’ exceptional performance added another highlight to his Wembley story, which includes his role in helping Coventry win the EFL Trophy in 2017 and being part of the squad that secured the League Two play-offs in 2018.
His earlier appearance for Notts County featured him scoring in the National League promotion final shootout against Chesterfield in 2023.
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He followed up his successful season with a substitute appearance for Malta against England in November 2023 and earned the League Two player of the year title in 2024 after setting a record of 24 assists, previously shared by Thierry Henry and Kevin de Bruyne.
“I believe there’s another Wembley chapter in store for me,” said Jones. “I’ve never lost at Wembley with a club, so I consider it my lucky ground.”
With Notts County’s promotion marking their 14th in EFL history, just one shy of the all-time record held by Birmingham and Bolton, Jones remains optimistic about the club’s future.
“My godfather mentioned when I joined Notts, ‘I believe you can replicate what you achieved at Coventry and rise through the leagues. Notts seems like the kind of club that can do that; they are a massive club,'” recounted Jones.
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“It wasn’t too long ago when I played for Coventry and we secured promotion against Notts in the play-offs. I hope they can forgive me for that.”
“Who knows what the future holds. We’re a fantastic club, and I’m sure we’ll attract talented players eager to join us.”
Reflecting on his third major success with significant clubs, Jones mentioned discussing Arsenal, Coventry, and Notts County’s promising seasons in a family group chat at the start of the year, saying, “It would be fantastic if that happens.”
“And here we are. It’s fantastic.”
Notts County achieved promotion through the play-off after finishing fifth in the league table [Getty Images]
Jones: The ‘Magician’ who Shined against Robinson
Magpies manager Martin Paterson praised Jones’ talent while acknowledging the contributions of his teammates that allowed him to excel.
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“He possesses that individual flair, with goals and tricks that dazzle,” Paterson remarked to BBC Sport. “He’s a magician, a true flair player.”
“I hope he revels in this man-of-the-match performance, enjoying it with his family and teammates, because what often goes unnoticed is the effort put in by others that enables him to shine.”
“This teamwork is essential – you have players like Rod McDonald, Oliver Norburn, and Scott Robertson providing support. It’s a collective effort, and I don’t want to single anyone out.”
“The framework built by the team allows individual talents to shine. That’s what happened today; they seized their moments thanks to the efforts of our hardworking team.”
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Salford manager Karl Robinson spoke of Jones while recalling his tenure at Oxford, where he was instrumental in sending Jones on loan to Notts. “Seeing him have this kind of game is disappointing for me,” he said.
“Once Jodi gets into a game, he tends to flourish. He thrives when given the confidence. We allowed him that space to find the pass that led to their first goal.”