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VS Rugby, perched in the dizzy heights of the Beazer Premier Division’s top rung, are tomorrow’s FA Cup visitors, evoking happy memories for the veteran Rovers supremo.

“The last time I went there was when I was managing Wolverhampton United – and just before Rugby went to Wembley in the FA Vase final.

“We got a 2-2 draw and I remember saying to the lads afterwards: ‘We’d better get away from here quick because it looks like we’ve done a spot of daylight robbery!’

It’s not quite so long since Rovers last met VS – back in the days when the Warwickshire side were a fellow West Midlands League club before they went up a step during reorganisation of the Southern League into Midland and Southern Divisions.

Since then, The Valley have reached new heights under the guidance of Jimmy Knox, watched Rovers dispose of Raunds Town in a first qualifying round replay.

Said Northwood: “We’re obviously the underdogs but we’ve got a lot of experience in the side and no-one will give less than 100 per cent.

“I’m obviously hoping for a big crowd and I’m sure the fans will get behind us. Their manager has been to look at us and done his homework but every match is different and we may have a few surprises for him.”

Northwood rejects that notion that VS will pose the biggest test ever to a Gresley team under his stewardship.

“We played Worksop here a few seasons ago and beat them 1-0 with a Brian Beresford goal. They were a very good side. In the next round we went to play Leyton Wingate and they were hell of a side too – they beat us 3-1 and went on to play Swansea in the first round proper.

“I said before we played Raunds that my one unfulfilled ambition as a Gresley manager was to reach that stage of the competition and there’s no reason why we shouldn’t do that this year.”

And if that involves a little more “daylight robbery?” Says Northwood: “I don’t care what they accuse us of tomorrow – as long as we get a result!”