Bradford had featured in the play-offs on two occasions, losing in the second tier-semi-finals in 1988 and winning the third-tier 1996 Football League Second Division play-off Final 2–0 against Notts County. They had played in the fourth tier since relegation from League One in the 2006–07 season. Northampton had lost in the 1998 Football League Second Division play-off Final having secured promotion the season before from the fourth tier of English football with victory in the 1997 Football League Third Division play-off Final. They had played in the fourth tier since relegation from League One in the 2008–09 season. The teams had faced each other four times during the season. Bradford had won both league matches 1–0, at Sixfields in October 2012 and at Valley Parade in April 2013. They had played one another twice in the first round of the 2012–13 FA Cup. The first encounter, at Sixfields, ended 1–1, forcing a replay which was played ten days later at Valley Parade. That match ended 2–2 in regular time, and 3–3 after extra time; Bradford won 4–2 in the subsequent penalty shootout. The play-off final was Northampton's 64th match of the season. Bradford had already played at Wembley during the season when they faced Swansea City in the League Cup final, losing 5–0.