Jodi Jones put on a masterclass performance at Wembley Stadium to lead Notts County to a dominant 3-0 victory over Salford City in the League Two play-off final. The 28-year-old winger completely stole the show, playing a massive part in Notts County’s first two goals before scoring the final goal himself to seal the win.

Other team managers watching the game called it a “virtuoso display” and said Jones was the clear choice for man-of-the-match. The big victory means Notts County has earned promotion to League One, capping off a dream season for the club and its star player.

Battling Back From Dark Times

This big moment at Wembley is a massive triumph for Jones, who spent years fighting to save his soccer career. Jones suffered three major anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) knee injuries that kept him off the pitch for a total of 897 days during his time with Coventry City. In total, he missed 130 games and went more than five years without starting a single league match.

Holding the play-off trophy, an emotional Jones thanked his family and his former club, Coventry, for sticking by him through the hardest times of his life when he easily could have been forced to quit the game. He noted that he spent nearly 1,900 days dreaming of a day like this while recovering in the hospital and gym. Now fully healthy, Jones has helped Notts County achieve two promotions in just four seasons.

The Magic Touch and Global Success

Notts County manager Martin Paterson praised Jones after the final whistle, calling him a “magician” with individual flair, though he also praised the rest of the squad for working hard to give Jones the space to shine. Interestingly, Salford boss Karl Robinson was actually the manager who let Jones leave on loan to Notts County in 2023, admitting after the match that it was highly disappointing to see his former player come back to haunt his current team.

Wembley has truly become a lucky charm for Jones, who has never lost a match at the historic stadium. He previously won the EFL Trophy there with Coventry in 2017 and scored a crucial penalty in a promotion shootout for Notts County in 2023. His incredible club success also matches his international career, where the talented winger represents the Malta National Team, notably playing against England at Wembley in late 2023.

To make the day even more special, Jones revealed that he made an incredible prediction in a family group chat before the season started. He predicted that his childhood club, Arsenal, his former club, Coventry, and his current team, Notts County, would all enjoy massive soccer glory this year—and his prophecy came perfectly true.