On the day of the team's first warm-up match, David was present despite his busy schedule overseeing the plans for the new youth training base.
The weather was typically English—damp with a light drizzle and mist hanging in the air. David initially expected a sparse crowd due to both the weather and the club's recent years spent in lower leagues, which had dimmed the atmosphere around Notts County.
But he quickly underestimated the passion of the fans, especially stirred this transfer window by the club's lavish recruitment. Meadow Lane, with its capacity of just 20,000, was packed to the brim. Fans in black-and-white jerseys filled every seat and even spilled into the aisles.
Concerned about potential crowd management issues—especially since the warm-up match was free and open to all—David immediately contacted the local police to ensure safety and order.
Finally, with everything in place, David settled into his seat on the coaching bench, ready to watch his team close-up.
Their opponents were Northampton Town, who had finished 18th in the Second Division last season and showed little ambition or activity in the transfer market. Some of their key players had left, and relegation was still considered their likely objective.
Given that Notts County had just wrapped up physical training and had barely begun tactical drills, the match was more about regaining rhythm and adapting to English football's intense physicality than about winning.
Most of Notts County's squad was foreign, and adjusting quickly to the challenging style of lower-league English football was crucial if they hoped for a successful season.
In the first half, Löw fielded his favorite starting lineup: Diego López in goal; Grosso, Lescott, Carvalho, and Lahm in defense; Alonso anchoring midfield with Misimović in front of him; Iniesta on the left, Kuyt on the right; and Hubner paired with Di Natale upfront.
Because both clubs agreed on unlimited substitutions, players were rotated constantly to ensure everyone gained valuable playing time.
Just ten minutes in, David's confident demeanor faded as his heart sank.
Northampton, supposedly inferior and relegation-bound, were surprisingly strong and physical—exactly the kind of side to give a newly-formed Notts County lineup problems.
The players looked uncoordinated, unfamiliar with one another, and rusty. For a team training together less than a month, the struggle was apparent.
David admitted to himself that he'd been a little overzealous—football has its own rhythm. You can't expect a collection of talented individuals to instantly become a synchronized machine.
As he watched closely, the player who stood out was defensive midfielder Meireles. Alongside Alonso, he balanced offense with committed, sweeping tackles in midfield, effectively becoming the team's engine.
Fifteen minutes in, Notts County began to find their footing, gradually organizing better attacks despite lacking crisp passing. At least they were no longer overwhelmed.
In the second half, the game broke open. Hubner's 45-degree angled run and finish opened the scoring—the team's first goal since assembling the new squad.
Though the goal owed much to Hubner's individual skill, it was an encouraging breakthrough.
But as the second half progressed and Löw began substituting heavily, injecting a mostly reserve lineup, control slipped. Late in the game, Northampton equalized.
The draw left the team frustrated but not broken. No one playing wanted to embarrass themselves in front of the loyal Notts County crowd, which cheered loudly until the final whistle.
David, however, had a more relaxed view.
Victory or defeat was secondary in this match; the goal was for players to feel match sharpness and begin to develop understanding and cohesion. Above all, this was a stepping stone toward a well-drilled squad come season start.
After a day of rest, the team moved to London for two weeks of training and two more warm-up games against London clubs: Queens Park Rangers and Crystal Palace.
Top-notch hotels and training facilities had been booked well in advance. Notts County's summer spending spree extended beyond players to logistics and support, ensuring players' comfort during their grueling preparation.
David knew these two weeks were critical. The tactical foundation laid here would dictate whether the team could survive and thrive in the fiercely competitive league.
Yet David would not accompany the team to London. His responsibilities with the youth training academy demanded his presence elsewhere.
The club's lack of local talent meant David personally supervised much of the recruitment and development planning. But he also recognized his limits.
David often mused that he was an unreliable chairman in some respects, steering from broad strokes rather than micro-managing.
He felt it prudent to find a capable vice chairman to oversee day-to-day operations, ensuring the club's hands-on leadership could keep pace with ambitious plans.
However, attracting high-caliber talent for executive roles was difficult—Notts County's status as a recently promoted Second Division club made it less appealing.
For now, David reluctantly decided to delay these hires until the club reached the Premier League, when Notts County's reputation—and resources—would be far more inviting.