Once competitors for the right-wing position in the FA Trophy final victory at Wembley in 1998, Jimmy Smith and Keith Knight played a huge part in the run that led to victory over Southport and promotion to the Football League the following season.
Cheltenham-born Knight was Steve Cotterill’s first signing in January 1997 and played an immediate part in the club’s successful push for promotion out of the Southern League Premier Division.
He then helped the Robins finish second in the Conference the following season, coupled with the FA Trophy success, before also contributing heavily as the club won the top tier of non-league in 1999.
Knight’s former team-mate Jimmy Smith was another one of Cotterill’s main men in the FA Trophy match, coming off the bench to win the free-kick that resulted in the winner.
He was signed permanently by Lindsay Parsons after impressing on loan from Salisbury City and enjoyed a thoroughly prolific spell at Whaddon Road and they both spoke to us before Saturday's game.
We'll be announcing our special guests later this week for this weekend's match against Mansfield Town.