Northampton Town

Northampton Town FC is a professional football club formed in 1897 after a meeting by local teachers. They gained permission to play at The County Ground on Wantage Road, the home of Northamptonshire CCC.

The club first saw competitive league action in the Midland League between 1899 and 1901 before becoming members of the Southern League; where ‘The Cobblers’ were crowned as champions in 1908-09 and then runners-up in 1910-11 under manager Herbert Chapman.

The Football League expanded for the 1920-21 season with Northampton being accepted as founder members of Division Three South with Bob Hewison as manager. The team ended as runners-up in 1927-28 with Jack Tresadern in charge of the team.

The club suffered a fire to their grandstand, which had to be replaced in 1930, while nothing of significance happened on the pitch. Further managers Jack English, Syd Puddefoot, Warney Cresswell and Tom Smith all had periods at the helm.

Bob Dennison’s side finished as Division Three South runners-up in 1949-50 before he was replaced by Dave Smith. Dave Bowen had become manager when the club was placed in Division Four after league re-organisation.

The Cobblers were promoted in 1960-61 and then became Division Three champions in 1962-63. In 1964-65 the team finished as Division Two runners-up to reach the top flight of English football. However, just twelve months later the club were relegated from Division One.

A second successive demotion followed before Bowen was replaced by Tony Marchi who lasted a season before Ron Flowers arrived at The County Ground. He couldn’t stop the rot as Northampton went back down to Division Four in 1968-69.

Bowen returned, but things didn't get any better when Manchester United rode into town in the FA Cup in 1970 and George Best wreaked havoc. Click here to watch: Young full back Phil Neal learned his trade before being transferred to Liverpool.

Billy Baxter was appointed as manager from 1972 for around twelve months before being replaced by Bill Dodgin Jnr, who led the side to promotion in 1975-76 with Joh Gregory in midfield. However, Town went back down in 1976-77 under the tutelage of Pat Crerand.

John Petts, Mike Keen, Clive Walker twice, another spell from Dodgin Jnr and Tony Barton all oversaw the team at different periods over the next few years before Graham Carr was appointed in 1985.

The new man installed discipline into a talented side which featured Richard Hill, Trevor Morley and Eddie McGoldrick. The team romped to the Division Four title in 1986-87 but suffered a setback when the Main Stand at the County Ground had to be demolished following the Bradford Disaster.

A new small temporary structure; nicknamed The Meccano Stand was installed as a replacement as the ground really showed signs of age. Players were sold on and the team went down in 1989-90 with Carr being replaced by Theo Foley.

Phil Chard and then John Barnwell were the next managers, as the club only escaped relegation to non-league football because Kidderminster Harrier's Aggborough stadium failed to satisfy the ground graders after Town finished bottom of the Football League. 

New man Ian Atkins gave up his player-manager role at Doncaster Rovers to move down the M1; quickly turning round the fortunes of the club. He led the team to promotion from Division Three; as the bottom tier had been renamed via the play-offs.

Cardiff City were beaten before a solitary John Frain goal defeated Swansea City at Wembley. Northampton came desperately close to a second successive promotion after defeating Bristol Rovers in the semi-final of the play-offs.

In the final Grimsby Town won 1-0 in front of 40,000 Cobblers fan in a gate of 62,998. In 1997-98 Town went back down to Division Three before regaining their Division Two place at the first attempt before Atkins departed to be replaced by Kevin Wilson.

Marco Gabbiadini and Jamie Forrester scored the goals to cheer the fans before form fell away and Wilson was dismissed in November 2001. Kevan Broadhurst took over during a turbulent period which saw the collapse of the ITV Digital TV deal.

Broadhurst left in January 2003, to be followed by short spells from Terry Fenwick and then Martin Wilkinson as the Cobblers went back down to the bottom tier. Colin Calderwood was named as manager in October 2003.

The former Premier League and Scotland defender led Northampton to the play-offs in 2003-04 where they were defeated by Mansfield Town. In 2004-05, with Division Three now called League Two; the Cobblers again reached the play-offs.

On that occasion it was Southend United who ended the season in the play-offs. However, Calderwood’s tem wouldn’t be denied in 2005-06 as they were promoted as League Two runners-up. The manager departed for Nottingham Forest after the triumph.

John Gorman managed the side for a few months until being replaced by Stuart Gray. Northampton were relegated back to League Two in 2008-09. Ian Sampson replaced Gray who lasted for a couple of seasons before the arrival of Gary Johnson.

Town created a massive upset in the League Cup of 2010-11 when they defeated Liverpool on penalties in their tie at Anfield after a 2-2 draw following extra time. Abdul Osman scored the decisive spot kick.

Aidy Boothroyd became team manager in November 2011, stabilising the side and rebuilding it for the 2012-13 campaign. Town defeated Cheltenham Town before losing 3-0 in the final at Wembley to Bradford City.

Controversial owner David Cardoza sacked Boothroyd and replaced him with Chris Wilder in January 2014 before HM Revenue and Customs issued the club with a winding-up petition over unpaid taxes in October 2015.

The new East Stand was left incomplete after the company building it were left unpaid. Players went without wages as a financial scandal involving the club owner came to light. Wilder remained at the club and led the team to promotion in 2015-16.

Wilder departed soon after to take the Sheffield United job, with Rob Page arriving at Sixfields to replace him. Page was replaced by Justin Edinburgh in January 2017 who remained in charge until the early stages of the 2017-18 campaign.

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink took charge of the team from August 2017; before departing in April 2018 with Northampton in the relegation zone. Dean Austin couldn’t save the team from demotion to League Two in his short term as manager before being replaced by Keith Curle in October 2018.

Curle led the Cobblers to fifteenth place in their League Two campaign of 2018-19 before reaching the play-offs in 2019-20. Cheltenham Town were defeated led to a 4-0 Wembley win against Exeter City with goals from Ryan Watson, Callum Morton, Sam Hoskins and Andy Williams secured promotion.

Curle was sacked in February 2021 with Jon Brady taking over as boss. He failed to resurrect the teams’ fortunes as Northampton were relegated. They regathered and reached the League Two playoffs in 2021-22 where they lost to Mansfield Town in the semifinals.

However, promotion was achieved in 2022-23, as Sam Hoskins put away the goals. Town consolidated their third tier status twelve months later.

Northampton Town FC will play in EFL League One in the 2024-25 season.

My visits

Northampton Town 0 Scarborough 2 (Friday 1st February 1991) Division 4 (att: 4,058)

I travelled down in a car with Pete and Darren Trapps and Baz Rewcroft while recuperation from leg surgery. Pete was so tight he went in the home end because it was slightly cheaper! We couldn't get in the pub outside the home end so we had a long wait in the away end.

The County Ground was not a very good venue but there was something about its quirkiness I liked. We stood on a very unusual shaped open terracing. To our left was the cricket ground with just a row of fans stood on planks of wood. 

The club had erected temporary stands for occasional big games. On the right was an open terraced paddock with the wall of the old Main Stand behind it. The Meccano Stand was on the half way line. The Hotel End at the far end was a covered terracing for home fans.

Boro played really well and deservedly won. I had to be carefully celebrating as I was "on the sick" and the goals were being filmed to be shown on "On the Ball" on Saturday lunchtime. We stopped off in a friendly pub on the outskirts of Leicester to round off a good night.

Northampton Town 3 Scarborough 2 (Saturday 12th February 1994) Division Three (att: 2,974)

We went by mini bus to this game in the hope of seeing rapidly improving Boro increase their outside chances of a play off birth against bottom of the table Town. It turned out to be a very boozy day out. Kev P had agreed to drive there as long as someone took over for the return. 

We stopped for a "comfort break" when one of our customers who I'll call Mr M for privacy purposes returned from the bottom of the grass bank with an uncorked bottle of wine. Poor Kev was getting clog from the thirsty back seat passengers as he was giving a continual tour of the Northampton ring road while the rest were giving helpful advice such as "look out for the floodlights". 

We eventually found a pub at the cricket side of the ground that welcomed us. Myself and Mr M gave the Glenmorangie bottle a good go for medicinal purposes as it was a cold day.

Boro lost in a thriller to a home side who had been boosted by some new signings. I remember the catering hut charging astronomical prices. An old Boro fan couldn't even afford a cuppa until the lads chipped in. We had our moments but we were good people and supporters.

On the way back I was asked if it was OK for the driver (Filey John for the return trip) to pull into one of our regular stops, Shepshed, to top up on beer and food. I said that was good as long as everyone was back on board by 6.30 as some people had made arrangements. At 6.45 I was sat with just one other passenger. 

He asked where they all were. Judging by the row emanating from the pub over the square it wasn't hard to work out. The sign outside advertising Holsten Pils at £1 while stocks lasted was another give away. I walked in to find Mr C doing handstands against the dart board, all the familiar tunes being played on the jukebox and Mr M leading the incoherent singing. 

I looked at the driver for support, but John just shrugged his shoulders. There was nothing else for it but to join in. Baz rung his missus to tell her the fan belt had broken on the van and he wouldn't be taking her out after all. Stocks of Holsten soon ran out, much to the landlords delight so he could peddle more expensive brews. 

The local unfriendly rugby team walked in. They had an arrogant attitude that unfortunately does down the decent people who follow their game. Mr K decided to play cards with some locals. 

We knew it was getting close to when we should leave when he accused them of being cheating barstewards (or something like that) and he followed that up by grabbing the parts of one of the rugby players girlfriend. Crusher was livid and told him if he heard one further peep out of him, his head would be meeting the outside lane of the M1.

We eventually got home when a member of our gang found himself locked out and sleeping in the car when he decided a trip to the garage for food and drink was a good idea. Mr M slept a lot on the way home!

Northampton Town 1 Scarborough 0 (Saturday 5th April 1997) Division 3 (att: 4,854)

Both sides were chasing the play offs as a minimum when they clashed at Sixfields Stadium on Grand National Day. I travelled on the supporters bus with some of my mates. We got there early but there was nowhere to go for a drink. We had to buy our tickets from an office and then show them at the turnstile which was quite unusual at the time at that level of football.

Sixfields was neat and functional with far better facilities than The County Ground but lacking its atmosphere. The ground was all seated. We were behind a goal in the South Stand with an identical structure at the far end called The Dave Bowen Stand after the manager who took them to the First Division in the sixties. 

To the right was a stand of similar height with a viewing gallery in the middle at the back named after Alwyn Hargrave, the councillor who helped make the stadium reality. This stand doubled up to cater for the athletics track behind it. The Main Stand was the largest structure on our right.

The game was tight with Town just edging it with a Roy Hunter penalty on fifty three minutes, going on to win promotion in the end of the season in the play off final at Wembley. We got back on the coach to find out the Grand National had been abandoned because of a terrorist threat, for it to be run the following Monday.

My return to The County Ground

Near the end of the 2006 cricket season I twice returned to The County Ground for Northants matches against Middlesex and Worcestershire. The evidence of the football ground had all but disappeared. 

The terraces had gone and an indoor cricket school with seats at the front stood where half of the pitch once was. A bar has some memorabilia inside commemorating the George Best match and a plaque saying that it is where one of the penalty spots was once. The home fans turnstiles are still there on Abingdon Avenue, as is the County Tavern.

Friday 3^rd August 2012

For many years I failed to take photos of the grounds and matches I visited to my later regret. A summer’s day offered me an opportunity to correct this at Sixfields as I was heading to the Cobblers old venue of The County Ground.

Yorkshire were in action against Northants in the County Championship so I set off earlier than usual to have a pre game walk. I popped into the impressive Frankin’s Gardens; the home of Northampton Saints RFC for a look and to take some snaps along the way.

Reaching Sixfields I looked down the ground from the top of the bank by the retail outlets and saw what I thought was an open gate at the far end. That is where I headed. My hunch was correct so I went inside.

Some training was about to commence, so I was as quick as I could before getting a couple of buses to the cricket. Play was truncated by rain, so I headed to Northampton Spencer, where an official let me in for a look.

There was still time for some cricket before I took a bus to Wellingborough; for that evening’s friendly between AFC Rushden & Diamonds and Luton Town.

Northampton Town 0 Sheffield Wednesday 3 (Tuesday 16^th July 2019) Pre-Season Friendly (att: 2,525)

I’d been looking for a game to get my new season underway. I had the day off work so I was a little more flexible than usual. I wanted to catch up with fellow Scarborough fan Ian Anderson who lived in Northampton as I had some old programmes for him.

Having found some old rail vouchers I decided to go from Euston, so that I could make the ride cheaper. I could exchange them at the rare experience of an open ticket office. My luck was in as I actually got a seat for the ride!

Ian was waiting for me at the station when I got out at the other end. Before long he had parked us up around ten minutes from the ground down a small side street and we headed for a drink at the Walter Tull pub.

The establishment was named after the black footballer who made over a hundred appearances for the Cobblers before World War One, where he was killed in action in northern France. It is a nice touch; even if service is pretty poor.

Rather than waiting an age we decamped to Carr’s Bar at the stadium; named in tribute of Graham Carr, a hugely popular former manager of the club. There was plenty of interesting memorabilia adoring the walls. Sadly, the best option of drink was Carlsberg Export.

Admission was £14 to the main West Stand of the PTS Academy Stadium, as Sixfields had been renamed in a sponsorship deal. Visiting fans filled the South Stand and a couple of blocks of the incomplete East Stand. The other end was unopened.

Sixfields was still a decent enough venue. It felt more grown into than my first visit for a game. It did need the stand finishing and it was a shame to see the athletics track and facilities next door left derelict. Surely that was a waste of a community facility?

Our view was good in the seats lacking too much legroom near to the half way line, with Carlsberg Brewery and the National Lift Tower in the distance. We could also see the home of Northampton Saints RFC and the floodlights of Northamptonshire CCC.

The Owls were in limbo as manager Steve Bruce had resigned the previous day to take the Newcastle job. Lee Bullen was put in temporary charge. Northampton boss Keith Curle fielded six new signings in his starting line up.

Wednesday took the initiative from the kick off with Joost Van Aken the first to force keeper Steve Arnold into a save. Adam Reach was played through on seventeen minutes and made no mistake to put his side 1-0 up.

The experienced Steven Fletcher looked in good form holding the ball up for his Wednesday colleagues. He came desperately close to doubling the league when his shot smashed back off an upright with Arnold well beaten. Reach then shot over.

The Cobblers responded with a Chris Lines volley that went over the bar after a smart spell of play produced a corner. Arnold kept out a low effort from Fernando Forestieri. I headed out to beat the queue for the bar and missed the second goal.

From Ian’s account Wednesday were awarded a stone wall penalty when Fletcher was brought down. He picked himself up to double the lead from the spot, while I got us a pint of Export apiece and sampled a reasonable enough pie from confused staff on their first duty.

The visitors made nine changes at the interval, with Cobblers also swapping a few starters. Barry Banham was the standout for the Owls as he absolutely controlled the second half in midfield. It was an outstanding performance.

It was 3-0 on the hour mark with Atdhe Nuhiu scoring a cracker from just outside the box after some fine play from Lucas Joao. The impressive 1,095 away support also played their part throughout with excellent backing for their team.

Jordan Rhodes was another of the visitors experienced subs to put in a good shift after the break and was rewarded for his efforts when he finished off a fine move with around ten minutes left on the clock.

Northampton put in lots of endeavour with substitute Vadaine Oliver coming close to a consolation a couple of times. He saw a header go just wide and then beat keeper Kieren Westwood to a through pass before putting his effort just past the post.

The 7.30pm start proved helpful for me as I wanted to catch the train at just gone ten. A good stroll up the bank and to the car was followed by a trouble free ride past Franklin’s Gardens to the station. A trouble free journey home ensued.

The old photos of The County Ground have been taken from the internet as I didn't take photos at the time.