Macaulay Langstaff reacts to David McGoldrick's emotional Notts County message | OneFootball

A former team-mate had a simple but telling reply to David McGoldrick's goodbye Instagram message as he leaves Notts County.

Former Notts County and current Millwall striker Macaulay Langstaff has reacted to an emotional farewell message from David McGoldrick, who is leaving the club this summer.

David McGoldrick is leaving Notts County after two seasons, after failing to reach agreement with the club over a new contract.

But this departure is tinged with an extra layer of sadness, because McGoldrick started his professional career with the club 22 years ago, having originally joined them in 2003.

McGoldrick had an emotional message to mark his departure from Meadow Lane, which he posted to Instagram, and among the messages of thanks from fans of the club was an emotional special message from a former teammate.

Macaulay Langstaff reacts to emotional David McGoldrick, Notts County farewell message

Posting to his Instagram account, McGoldrick captioned an almost three-minute-long video featuring some of his finest moments in a Notts County shirt, with an emotional goodbye message to the club.

He said: "Just want to say a massive thank you to everyone at Notts County the players, staff, and you fans !!!

"Love playing for this club for two years and scoring goals has been an honour !!!!

"Even though it’s come to an end, I’ll still be a fan and watching from afar or in the stands for years to come. Love Didzy COYP 🖤🤍 (one of your own) 😢."

Former teammate Macaulay Langstaff was among those commenting on McGoldrick's departure from Meadow Lane, commenting "My GOAT (Greatest Of All Time)".

Langstaff joined the club a year earlier than McGoldrick and left Notts County a year earlier too, going to Millwall in 2024, but it's clear that he still holds him in the highest regard.

Fans, meanwhile, have been highly critical of their club over the statement they issued regarding McGoldrick's departure.

McGoldrick faces an uncertain future after leaving Notts County

Although David McGoldrick scored 17 League goals in League Two for Notts County last season, he still faces a somewhat uncertain future after being unable to agree terms with the club over an extension to his contract.

At 37 years of age, it's expected that he'll find another club, but his destination for now remains unknown.

McGoldrick and Langstaff played together for one season, after Notts County were promoted back into the EFL after an absence of four years. Langstaff scored an incredible 42 goals in 45 games to help to secure that promotion.

As an attacking partnership, they were deadly for that one 2023/24 League Two season. Langstaff scored 28 League goals and McGoldrick scored 12, accounting for 40 out of the 89 that Notts scored in the League season, as they finished 14th in the division. Langstaff ended that season as the top scorer in League Two.

Figures from Sofascore

Langstaff left for Millwall in the summer of 2024, and hasn't been able to rediscover the goal-scoring knack that he had at Meadow Lane yet. He made 34 appearances in the Championship for Millwall over the 2024-25 season, but could only manage one goal.

But his simple message to his former teammate revealed the deep respect that players can have for each other. As an older player with more than two decades' experience, McGoldrick's influence in the dressing room will have been enormous.

Players do tend to look up to their elders, all the more so when they're 'one of our own', as McGoldrick mentioned in his closing Instagram message.