Northampton Town Football Club: Introduction

Northampton Town Football Club, often referred to as “The Cobblers,” is an English professional football club based in Northampton, a town in the East Midlands. The team currently plays football in English League One.

The staff at the Fanbase hope that the club and supporters do well in future seasons. So here’s a comprehensive overview of the club:

Before we continue, here’s a link to the club’s official website.

Foundation and Early History

• Founded: 1897
• Nickname: The Cobblers, a nod to Northampton’s historical association with the shoe industry.
• Stadium: Sixfields Stadium, with a capacity of around 7,800. The club moved to this ground in 1994 from the County Ground, where they had played since their inception.

Northampton Town Football Club: Colours and Crest

• Colours: The team’s traditional colours are claret and white. The home kit is usually claret with white trim, while away kits have varied over the years.
• Crest: The club’s crest features a castle, symbolizing Northampton’s historical significance, and a lion, a common element in many British football crests, representing strength and bravery.

League History and Achievements

Northampton Town has had a varied history across the English football league system:

• 1965-66 Season: The club’s most notable achievement came in the 1965-66 season when they reached the top tier of English football, the First Division (now the Premier League), for the first and only time in their history. Remarkably, this was part of a rapid rise from the Fourth Division to the First Division in just five years. However, they suffered relegation after just one season.
• Fall and Rise: Following their brief stint in the top flight, Northampton experienced a sharp decline, eventually falling back to the Fourth Division.
• Recent Success: In the 2015-2016 season, Northampton Town won the League Two title, securing promotion to League One. The club has oscillated between League One and League Two for much of its recent history.

Northampton Town Football Club has gone from the bottom league to the top league in their time. However, they quickly went back to the bottom league again all in the space of nine years, and this is a record in itself!

Northampton Town Football Club: Rivalries

• Main Rival: The club’s main rivals are Peterborough United, with whom they contest the “Northamptonshire Derby.” The rivalry is fuelled by the geographical proximity of the two towns and the historical competitiveness of their matches.
• Other Rivalry: There is also a degree of rivalry with the following teams: Oxford United, Cambridge United, and Milton Keynes Dons.

Notable Players and Managers

• Ian Sampson: A club legend, Sampson played as a defender for Northampton for over a decade and later managed the team.
• Marc Richards: A prolific goal scorer for the club, particularly during their successful 2015-2016 campaign.
• Chris Wilder: The manager who led Northampton to the League Two title in 2016 before moving on to achieve notable success with Sheffield United.

Ownership and Finances

• Recent Ownership: The club has seen various ownership changes over the years, with some periods of financial difficulty. The most recent owner is Kelvin Thomas, who took over in 2015 and has been focused on stabilizing the club financially and pushing for success on the field.
• Financial Challenges: Like many lower-league clubs, Northampton Town has faced financial challenges, including a high-profile loan controversy involving the local council, which made headlines in 2015.

Northampton Town Football Club: Community and Culture

• Fan Base: Northampton Town enjoys a dedicated and passionate fan base. The supporters are famous for their loyalty, sticking with the club through its ups and downs across the football league.
• Community Work: The club actively involves itself in the local community, running various programs and initiatives through the Northampton Town Community Trust, which aims to improve lives through sport and education.

Recent Performance

• 2022-2023 Season: Northampton Town played in League Two. They consistently perform well enough to be promotion candidates, often finishing in the upper half of the table.

Northampton Town Football Club: In Conclusion

Northampton Town Football Club has a rich history characterized by remarkable highs, such as their brief time in the top flight, and challenging lows, including financial difficulties and relegations. Despite these challenges, the club remains a staple of English lower-league football, known for its strong community ties and resilient spirit.

Promote Northampton Town Football Club

The Football Fan Base allows passionate fans to promote their favourite team on some of the best platforms around. So why not promote Northampton Town! If you don’t, then other people will promote their club above yours! Yours is the best, right?

Indeed, as part of our message boards, we now include the Northampton Town Fans Forum. So, you have no excuses; promote your football team today and have your say!

** Information updated on September 3, 2024.