Stat Attack: Crawley Town vs. Notts County

Notts County have only ever played Crawley Town seven times in their history. The first ever fixture between the two was just over three years ago, on the 10th November 2012.

This milestone first meeting between the two, played at Meadow Lane, finished 1-1. Meanwhile the return fixture, played away on the 9th March 2013, ended as a goalless draw.

The record stands at three Notts wins, two defeats and two draws.

Crawley Town have been a non-league side for the majority of their history – just over 10 years ago, while Notts were struggling to survive in the old Second Division, Crawley had just been promoted from the Southern Football League!

Crawley have won plenty of silverware in their history, though the majority of it is amateur-based. This changed when they won the Conference National title in 2011 and the League Two title just a year later.

2010-11 was a record-breaking season not just for Crawley, but also for the Conference. The West Sussex club broke the points total in one season (105) and tie with other teams for most wins in one season (31), fewest defeats (3), and highest goal difference (+63).

Because of this season, alongside the funds they had to buy players and an unlikable manager (Steve Evans), they were known as “the Manchester United of non-league football”.

The town of Crawley is known for being close - just three miles in fact - to Gatwick Airport, the world's busiest single-runway international airport.

Famous people who have links to Crawley include Australian footballer Kevin Muscat (born in Crawley), Gareth Southgate (attended the town's Hazelwick School), English rock band The Cure (formed in Crawley, several of its members attended St Wilfrid's RC School) and Gorillaz lead singer 2D (a fictional character, his back story claims he grew up in the town).

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Chris Atkinson could make his Crawley Town debut when they host Notts in League Two on Saturday. The midfielder arrived on a month's loan from Crewe and goes straight into manager Mark Yates' squad.

His arrival was partly a consequence of the loss, to a broken foot, of Jimmy Smith, who remains sidelined.

Joe McNerney, owing to a knee injury, is Yates' other absentee. 

Notts will have Jamie Fullarton in charge for the first time when they resume action following a two-week break.

Fullarton this week made the short move across the River Trent, having been a coach at Nottingham Forest, to become the new manager of the Magpies, who have not played since January 2 after their game at Accrington last weekend was postponed following heavy rain in Lancashire.

Fullarton will have Alan Smith available, despite the experienced midfielder holding transfer talks with League Two rivals Plymouth. Liam Noble will be completing a four-match suspension.

Scot Bennett will be back in the squad after returning from his loan spell at Newport. It was hoped the defender would be able to feature last weekend against Oxford but international clearance was not received in time.

Bennett will be vying for a recall to the starting line-up along with the likes of Thierry Audel, Curtis Thompson, Jimmy Spencer and Ronan Murray.

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