Apart from the yoyo seasons where the Cobblers went from the fourth division to the first and then back down to the fourth again, the two clubs had played almost every season since 1958. Most fans will have good memories of the 1986/87 season, seeing the Cobblers beat Crewe 5-0 away and then back at the County Ground at the end of April 87 a 2-1 win saw the Cobblers clinch the old 4th division title.
Northampton strikers will have to get past Nigerian defender Efe Sodje if they are to get a result against the Railwaymen, a feat England failed to do in the heat of the Far East. Sodje appeared for Nigeria in the game with Argentina and then made a re-appearance for Englands vital clash against the Africans. Fortunately England managed a 0-0 result good enough to progress to the 2nd round but the defence of Nigeria including Sodje managed to take their first and only point of the tournament.