Our semi-final opponents were Bristol Rovers managed by Ian Holloway in his first top job as a player-manager. The first leg at the Memorial Stadium saw the Cobblers fall 3-0 behind thanks to a Peter Beadle penalty followed by goals from Frankie Bennett and Barry Hayles. At 3-1, the tie was still not over.

With a second Wembley appearance in successive seasons on the line, the Sixfields roar was sucking the life out of the visitors before a ball was even kicked.

He opened the scoring after a tension-filled opening half an hour, getting on the end of a corner to edge us in front on the night and the Cobblers never looked back.

It took fifteen minutes of the second half to get back on terms on aggregate. Then Ian Clarkson was there on the hour mark to power in the second. It was Clarkson’s only ever goal for the club and in many ways his final hurrah as he would severely break his leg in August of that year in a game against Lincoln City, limiting his final few appearances.

This was the first time that the Cobblers were in front in the tie with away goals counting in those days and the momentum continued for a fantastic third goal, headed in by Ray Warburton with thirteen minutes to go to complete the turnaround and send Sixfields absolutely potty.

Then the Party began as the Cobblers were going to Wembley for the second consecutive season.