Notts County goalkeeper and boyhood fan James Belshaw says the rivalry with Mansfield Town is the club’s biggest derby in their history.

The Nottinghamshire Derby returns this weekend, more than two years after the last fixture was played.

Following their promotion to League One in May, Notts County are now back in the same division as rivals Mansfield Town and they will battle for the bragging rights this weekend at the One Call Stadium.

Lifelong County supporter James Belshaw grew up watching the Nottinghamshire Derby and now, at 36 years of age, he will play in his first one.

James Belshaw of Notts County during the Sky Bet League Two match between Cambridge United and Notts County FC at Abbey Stadium on April 11, 2026 in Cambridge, England. (Photo by Leila Coker/Getty Images)

placeholder image — James Belshaw of Notts County during the Sky Bet League Two match between Cambridge United and Notts County FC at Abbey Stadium on April 11, 2026 in Cambridge, England. (Photo by Leila Coker/Getty Images)

The goalkeeper’s career started with the Magpies back in 1996 but he dropped out of the youth system in 2005 before making his step up to senior football. In January this year, Belshaw signed for County on an 18-month deal, returning to the club after more than two decades.

Since his arrival, he has been Martin Paterson’s first choice goalkeeper and Saturday will see him play in the one fixture he has been waiting all his career for.

“You can feel the fans are up for this one more than others, and it's one that they probably mark the calendars in at the start of the year to go to Field Mill,” Belshaw said, looking ahead to the highly anticipated derby (via BBC Sport).

“I have been in the stands – the noise, the chanting, the tackles going in. People ask me what Notts' biggest derby is, and I would say this one.

“I'd say for Notts and Mansfield over the last few years, teams that have been sort of at similar levels. It will be nice to play in one.”

Belshaw has played against Mansfield Town four times throughout his career – three times with Harrogate Town and once with Bristol Rovers. He will remember the threat of Stags’ attack vividly, having been in goal when they put nine past Harrogate during their promotion-clinching 2023/24 League Two season.

The crushing 9-2 win came courtesy of a Hiram Boateng hat-trick, braces for Lucas Akins and Will Swan, and a goal each for Tom Nichols and Davis Keillor-Dunn.

That match was the first time Belshaw had conceded a Mansfield Town goal – or nine – having kept clean sheets in each of the three previous games against them.