David Beckham and Gary Neville watched from Wembley as Salford City were beaten 3-0 by Notts County in the League Two play-off final, sealing another year in the fourth tier for Salford after eight consecutive seasons.
Scorching heat sat over Wembley on Monday afternoon. but the real sting for Salford City came when Notts County turned the League Two play-off final into a statement. David Beckham and Gary Neville—part of Salford’s ownership group—were left heartbroken as the Ammies were beaten 3-0. a comprehensive loss that crushed their bid to reach the third tier.
Notts County scored through Alassan Jatta, Lucas Ness and Jodi Jones, and Karl Robinson’s side couldn’t find a way back from the start. The defeat means Salford will remain in League Two for an eighth consecutive season, even after their late-season promise.
Salford’s route to the final had carried real momentum. They had only missed out on automatic promotion on the final day after being held to a 0-0 draw by relegation-threatened Crawley. Still, they bounced back in the play-offs, beating Grimsby Town 4-3 on aggregate following a dramatic second leg.
At Wembley, the contrast between the stands was immediate. Beckham and Neville were pictured looking glum in London as the final unfolded. with former Manchester United team-mate Paul Scholes also in attendance. They were joined by Ryan Giggs. Nicky Butt and Phil Neville—Gary Neville’s brother—linked to the earlier Class of 92 ownership group that Salford has since moved on from. The presence of former Lioness Jill Scott beside Beckham and Neville added another layer to the occasion. but the football on the pitch didn’t bend for the pedigree watching.
The result reshapes Notts County’s season in a different direction. With the 3-0 win, the club will return to League One for the first time since 2015. It’s a further reminder of how quickly fortunes can swing: Notts County were promoted back into the EFL after four seasons in the National League just three years ago.
After the final whistle. Notts County’s players celebrated alongside Beckham and Neville. with the former seen shaking hands with several members of the squad from seats positioned near the celebrations. For Salford. the night felt like a cruel extension of a familiar pattern—one more year in the fourth tier after coming so close to breaking through.
Beckham’s own words from last year still linger in the background. When the new ownership group took over. he said he would be involved “over every big decision” and “every little decision” at Salford. adding: “We’re definitely not doing it for a laugh and it’s also not for the romantic side of things.” He stressed the intention was to win. with success building “to go on to the next level. ” and pointed to ambition stretching toward the Premier League. “But there’s a lot of hard work and a lot of investment to be done up until that point. ” Beckham said. before describing the approach as “step by step. ” aiming for Championship progress “very quickly. ” while acknowledging “these things take time.”.
The play-off final delivered the opposite feeling on the day: heat, heartbreak, and a 3-0 scoreline that left Salford’s push for promotion firmly stalled—while Notts County move up, buoyed and unburdened by what might have been.
David Beckham Gary Neville Salford City Notts County League Two play-off final Wembley Alassan Jatta Lucas Ness Jodi Jones Karl Robinson EFL League One promotion