It has been the most significant day in Notts County's long-standing history, but not one that will be remembered fondly.
With the final score at Swindon Town a 3-1 defeat, the Magpies' now face the crushing reality of relegation.
The world's oldest Football League club fought hard to retain their position but the odds were stacked against them.
Needing to win, but also needing Macclesfield to lose, Notts gave themselves a glimmer of hope, though it didn't last long.
With Macclesfield down 1-0 against Cambridge, a Kane Hemmings penalty just after half-time gave fans reason to believe that the Great Escape could happen.
That feeling was short-lived however, as Swindon went on to score two goals in just four minutes, followed by a final goal in the second minute of stoppage time to send the Pies into the abyss of non-league.
By that point, Sol Campbell's Macclesfield had leveled it up against Cambridge and render the result at the County Ground irrelevant.
After 157 years and 130 seasons in the Football League, Notts County will now enter the National League.
Magpies supporters, more than 2,000 of them in Wiltshire, continued to show their support, singing and praising the players who applauded them before leaving the pitch.
Nottinghamshire Live spoke to one of the Magpies' most notable fans to get his thoughts on the result and what this means for the club.
Screen and playwright William Ivory, originally from Southwell, wanted to tell the young fans to remember this day for the future.
Mr Ivory, who wrote a play based on former Notts County player, Dave McVay's book 'Steal...Diana Ross' said that the fans are "brilliant" and that today meant "a new opportunity."
He added: "It's just really sad. It's a sad day.
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"But I'm not completely without hope, just look at Lincoln and Mansfield.
"The Notts County fans are brilliant, and there's an average of 7,000 (this season at Meadow Lane) which is unheard of.
"They have everything to hope for now though, sometimes you have to hit rock bottom for things to change.
"This has got to be a new opportunity.
"They are a terrific club."
Speaking about what may have lead to the outcome, Mr Ivory added: "There's been some dodgy decisions but they just need a bit of commitment now from a manager and I would back Neal Ardley.
"They need to stop the short term solutions and look at the big things that need changing.
"Give it three or four years and we'll be back.
"To the fans - just stick with it. To all the young kids in the crowd, crying on the way home, remember this day.
"In ten years time, they'll be celebrating going up."
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