By Joe Jones
Notts County have only ever played Crawley Town four times in their history. The first ever fixture between the two was just under two years ago, on November 10 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.
Last season, at the turn of last year, we lost 1-0 to the Red Devils, a result that saw us drop to the foot of League One, but a 1-0 win on April 21 gave us hope in staying up.
Crawley Town have been a non-league side for the majority of their history – 11 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”.
Crawley have the smallest stadium in League One; the Broadfield Stadium holds a meagre 5,996 people. You could fit just over three and a half Broadfields inside Meadow Lane!
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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Notts County have midfielder Liam Noble available after suspension, while winger Michael Petrasso could make his debut after joining on loan from QPR.
Mustapha Dumbuya is away with Sierra Leone and injured fellow defender Hayden Mullins is also absent.
Crawley have defender Joe Walsh and winger Gwion Edwards available again after international duty with Wales.
Midfielder Josh Simpson and striker Izale McLeod will be assessed by manager John Gregory.
Left-back Ryan Dickson remains sidelined, so the Reds have extended Mat Sadler's loan deal until November 11.
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