Tomorrow will be a strange experience for Michael Johnson.
The popular defender will make his last appearance at Meadow Lane in a competitive nature tomorrow when Notts County go head-to-head with Dagenham & Redbridge.
Johnson is hanging up his boots after next weekend's game at Wycombe Wanderers after eighteen years in the game.
And he is very much looking forward to saying goodbye to the County faithful who may be seeing him in action for the last time.
Said Johnson: "It will be strange when I walk out tomorrow knowing it will be my last ever competitive game at Meadow Lane, but I'm looking forward to it.
"I've always enjoyed playing at Meadow Lane, even before the stadium was re-developed.
"It's fair to say I've had some fantastic memories at Meadow Lane that I'll cherish and it was fitting I got my first Notts goal - at last - there last season against Rochdale.
"It was something that always used to bug me that I never opened by Notts account in my first spell.
"Hopefully tomorrow as a team we can finish the season at home on a high note. It is a shame we didn't have the season we wanted but next year hopefully things will improve.
"It hasn't sunk in yet I'll be retiring next week and to be honest I don't think it will until next season when it all starts again, but like I said I'm looking forward to the challenges ahead."
Johnson left County for Birmingham CIty in 1995 and went on to enjoy a fruitful career in the top two levels of English football at St. Andrews.
He went on to have eight successful years with the Blues before joining Derby County in 2003.
And then in February 2008 he returned to where it all started, back with County.
Johnson always had a burning desire to return to Meadow Lane and round off his career in the famous black and white stripes and he's delighted he got the opportunity to do so.
"I maintained down the years that when I did finish my career it would be back at Notts County and throughout my time away I would always look how things were going at Meadow Lane," he said.
"Notts gave me my chance in football and the club has always been close to my heart, so when the Gaffer got in touch the pull to play for him, Dave Kevan and Tommy Johnson was too strong to turn down.
"I felt I owed it to the club that gave me the chance and when they were fighting for their Football League lives last season and from there I was offered a one-year deal and I was happy to stay.
"Being Nottingham-born and Nottingham-based so this was the move I always wanted and we're coming to the final stages now - but I'm very much looking forward to the future and my role with the Youth Team next season."
