Northampton Town F.C.

Northampton Town Football Club is a football team in Northampton, England. The club was formed in 1897 by a group of teachers and is nicknamed The Cobblers. They are currently in Football League Two, and play their trade at the Sixfields Stadium since moving from the County Ground in October 1994. They usually play in Claret and White, and the Cobblers' main rivals are Peterborough United and Rushden & Diamonds.

Related Topics:
Football - Northampton - England - 1897 - Football League Two - Sixfields - October - 1994 - Peterborough United - Rushden & Diamonds

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Northampton Town have spent on season of their existence in the top division of English football, in 1965-66 when they were relegated from the First Division after just one season. In 1970, they lost 8-2 to Manchester United in the F.A Cup Third Round. Six of the goals conceded were scored by George Best, who received the match ball (signed by Northampton players) as a reward for his performances.

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The club finished bottom of the Football League's new Division Three in 1993-94, only avoiding relegation to the Conference because Kidderminster Harriers did not have a satisfactory stadium. Manager John Barnwell was sacked soon afterwards to make way for Ian Atkins, and the club began to move forward. In 1997 they won promotion to Division Two thanks to a playoff final victory over Swansea City, and almost made it two successive promotions the following season - but were beaten by Grimsby Town in the Division Two playoff final. The club went down a year later and Atkins resigned, but promotion was earned at the first attempt under new manager Kevin Wilson.

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Kevin Wilson was sacked in November 2001 to make way for his assistant Kevin Broadhurst, who steered the Cobblers to Division Two survival. But Broadhurst was sacked in January 2003 with Northampton struggling at the foot of the division, and was briefly replaced by Terry Fenwick, who in turn left after just seven weeks to make way for Martin Wilkinson. Wilkinson lasted little longer, being dismissed in October 2003 in favour of Colin Calderwood.

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Calderwood led Northampton to the play-offs in his first season, where they were knocked out in the play-off semi-finals by Mansfield Town after a penalty shoot-out. In the 2004/05 season, Northampton finished 7th, again in the play-offs, where they were defeated by Southend United. Following this, the manager made substantial changes to the squad, but the start of the 2005/06 season showed no sign of improvement.

Related Topics:
Mansfield Town - Southend United

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