One player who will watch tomorrow's match with more than a passing interest is Oldham midfield player Lee Duxbury who played a combined total of 301 league matches for both clubs.

Duxbury, who still lives in the South Craven area, has a special affinity with both City and Town, but he hopes that whatever the result City gain automatic promotion.

He said: "I have always fancied Ipswich to go up in second place, but I hope City go up straightaway.

"I am glad for my old team-mate Paul Jewell. I always thought he would become a good manager, but it has happened faster than I thought it would do - faster than anyone expected, which is brilliant.

"He was always a deep thinker about the game and good on tactical matters. He would be able to analyse what had gone wrong in a match and how it had gone wrong. We used to speak about how things should be done and he was always spot on.

"Paul has had money to spend, but he has bought wisely. He had nothing to lose when he took over as manager and he has come through.

"I am not surprised how well City have done. They have spent a lot of money on the team and Valley Parade is going to be a fantastic stadium when they build the new Kop.

"That's what we need at Oldham - a new stadium like City and Huddersfield have built and start afresh."

Duxbury said: "I think City will beat Town because they are on a roll and they are so strong at home, but it is a derby match. Town have got their pride to play for and would love to get one over on Bradford."

Duxbury began his career at Valley Parade, joining City from school but after playing 209 league matches he was surprisingly transferred to Town just before Christmas 1994.

He returned the following October and helped City to win promotion through the play-offs in May 1996, but he left for a second time in March 1997, rejoining his former Town manager Neil Warnock at Oldham.

Such is the rapidly changing scene at Valley Parade that Wayne Jacobs and John Dreyer are the only two current players who were there when he left two years ago.

At 29, his ambition is to play First Division football again. He said: "I know I will never be a Premier League player, but although I am in the Second Division now I know I can play well in the First Division. I have proved that and that is where I want to be.

"I think I personally have had one of my best ever seasons, but unfortunately we are struggling to avoid relegation."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.