Thompson, a then out-of-work football manager who lives in Lincolnshire, was the enemy from within for Boston. He spent last season co-commentating on almost all of the Pilgrims games as they finished 11th in League Two, a clear ten places ahead of the Magpies.
But, by his own admission, Thompson had a vested interest and, when given the Notts job in the summer, snapped-up no fewer than six of the players who starred for Boston during the previous campaign.
Lawrie Dudfield, Jason Lee, Austin McCann and the now-departed Alan White all made the short move to Meadow Lane, as did Ian Ross and Gary Silk - players who had spent time on-loan at York Street.
Boston officials were furious that many of their best players had been cherry-picked in this way and Thompson hardly endeared himself to those on York Street when he later openly admitted to discussing moves with the players during the season, should he find himself a management position.
|
"When he was out of work last season, Steve Thompson couldn't have watched many teams because he was always at our games," Thompson's opposite number, Steve Evans, told the Lincolnshire Echo.
"He used to criticise us most weeks as well, so it's strange to see so many ex-Boston players at Notts County."
Evans is himself a highly-controversial figure and the two sides meeting earlier in the season was remarkable not only for the way Notts somehow threw away a 3-1 lead against a team with just 14 available players.
The Boston manager had been spared a jail sentence just 24 hours before the game, which ended in a 3-3 draw. He was handed a one-year suspended sentence for his role in the tax evasion scam which painted the entire club in a bad light and means sympathy is often in short supply despite their current plight.
Evans' appearence on the pitch pre-kick off though, left no doubt as to how the Boston fans - those of them that showed up - thought of their boss. Many others have voted with their feet and it is their decision - coupled with awful management - that has put the club in a desperately poor financial situation.
For the second time this season, Evans' team will make their way to the game in their cars, as the club cannot afford a team bus. They are also expected to name just three substitutes from a possible five, ridiculing Thompson's recent claim that Notts have the smallest squad in the Division.
It all looks pretty desperate for the Pilgrims, especially when it's taken into further consideration that the entire staff remain unpaid for the past month. Midfielder Stewart Talbot, who has a nagging calf injury, has been getting treatment at another club, as Boston can no longer employ a physio outside of match-days.
Despite this, Notts fans would be wrong to see tomorrow's fixture at Meadow Lane as a foregone conclusion. The one and only other occasion Boston's players made their own way to an away game, they drew inspiration and stunned an on-form Mansfield Town with a 2-1 victory.
Fighting spirit, it seems, is still strong amongst the side that is sat 23rd in the League Two table.
For Notts, the last two weeks have come as a welcome surprise as the season had been in danger of replicating the previous campaign, where the Magpies started brightly before plunging down the Division and faced a nail-biting end to the season.
Wins against Bury and Grimsby Town may have been more workmanlike than stylish, but they dis-spelled any nagging relegation doubts and have even got one or two supporters talking about the playoff positions.
|
Thompson admits that he already has one eye on next year, but he is reluctant to play some of the youngsters currently at the club while the playoffs remain in the equation.
That means loanees James Walker, Myles Weston and Michael Byron are again unlikely to start. All are said to be frustrated that their arrivals at Meadow Lane three weeks ago have not coincided with first-team experience, with Walker's two late cameos as a substitute the only appearences of any kind for the trio.
Charlton duo Walker and Weston are said to be particularly annoyed at the lack of games, but Thompson's stance on youth has been proved in his team selections throughout this season.
Dan Martin, Jake Sheridan and even Stef Frost were also hoping for sustained chances before their contracts expire in the summer, but that now looks unlikely.
With a clean-bill of health, the only change to the team may well be the recall of Andy Parkinson - a substitute for the past two games - in-place of T'Cham N'Toya.
Thompson may also opt against naming a goalkeeper on the bench, with Matt Somner nominated as the stand-in should anything happen to first-choice Kevin Pilkington.
Notts (probable): Pilkington; Pipe, Edwards, Hunt, McCann; Ross, Somner, Smith; Parkinson, Lee, Dudfield.
Subs (from): Deeney, Byron, Silk, Martin, Weston, Sheridan, Frost, Walker, N'Toya.
For a full match report on tomorrow's clash, be sure to check back to NCM after the final whistle.