Northampton Town F.C.

2025-10-24T14:56:54Z

2A02:C7C:E113:DC00:44F:2FC8:6F44:124: /* Supporters and rivalries */ tidied para

{{short description|Association football club in England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2022}}
{{Use British English|date=April 2012}}
{{Infobox football club
| clubname = Northampton Town
| image = Northampton Town F.C. logo.svg
| upright = 0.6
| fullname = Northampton Town Football Club
| nickname = The Cobblers Shoe Army Teyn
| founded = 9 March {{Start date and age|df=yes|1897}}
| ground = [[Sixfields Stadium]]
| capacity = 8,203
| current = 2025–26 Northampton Town F.C. season
| league = {{English football updater|NorthamT}}
| season = {{English football updater|NorthamT2}}
| position = {{English football updater|NorthamT3}}
| chairman = Kelvin Thomas
| manager = [[Kevin Nolan]]
| website = {{official URL}}
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'''Northampton Town Football Club''' is a professional [[association football]] club based in the town of [[Northampton]], England. The team competes in [[EFL League One|League One]], the third level of the [[English football league system]].

Founded in 1897, the club competed in the [[Midland Football League (1889)|Midland League]] for two seasons, before joining the [[Southern Football League|Southern League]] in 1901. They were crowned Southern League champions in 1908–09, allowing them to contest the [[1909 FA Charity Shield]]. Admitted into the [[English Football League|Football League]] in 1920, they spent the next 38 years in the [[Football League Third Division South|Third Division South]]. Under [[Dave Bowen]], the club achieved three promotions from the [[Football League Fourth Division|Fourth Division]] to the [[Football League First Division|First Division]] within five years. However, Northampton only survived for one season in the top tier of English football after relegation in 1966. Northampton then experienced two further relegations in three years to return to the Fourth Division by 1969 – this set a record in English football of moving from the fourth tier to the first tier and back in only nine years. After six seasons of stability in the fourth tier, the club won promotion before returning to the Fourth Division after another relegation in 1977. Northampton won further promotions to the third tier in 1987 and [[1997 Football League Third Division play-off final|1997]].

Relegated in 1999, they won immediate promotion after securing an automatic promotion place the following season. However they were once more relegated after three seasons of struggle in the third tier, before securing promotion out of [[EFL League Two|League Two]] in 2005–06 after two unsuccessful play-off campaigns. Relegated at the end of their third season in [[EFL League One|League One]], they won the League Two title in 2015–16, but only lasted two seasons in League One before again being relegated. In 2020, they gained promotion to League One, but were relegated to League Two once again after a single season in the third tier. They won promotion back to League One in 2023.

Northampton are nicknamed the ''Cobblers'', a reference to the town's historical shoe-making industry, and the team traditionally plays in claret and white [[Kit (association football)|kits]]. The Cobblers played at the [[County Cricket Ground, Northampton|County Ground]] from 1897 until 1994, when they moved to [[Sixfields Stadium]], which has a capacity of 8,203. Northampton's predominant rivals have been [[Peterborough United F.C.|Peterborough United]] in the [[Nene derby]].

== History ==
{{For|Northampton Town's statistical breakdown season-by-season |List of Northampton Town F.C. seasons}}

=== Formation and early history ===
The club was founded on 6 March 1897 by a group of local school teachers who, together with a local solicitor A.J "Pat" Darnell at The Princess Royal Inn, Wellingborough Road, formed the town's first professional football club. Initially, their chosen name was Northampton Football Club, but after objections from the town's rugby club, the club was called Northampton Town Football Club. They joined the Northants League and spent two seasons there, winning the championship the second season. They then spent two seasons in the [[Midland League]], before joining the [[Southern Football League|Southern League]] in 1901–02. Led by player-manager [[Herbert Chapman]] the club were champions of the Southern League in 1908–09 and played against [[Newcastle United]] in the [[FA Community Shield|Charity Shield]] match, losing 2–0 at [[The Oval]].<ref>[https://www.ntfc.co.uk/club/club-history/ Club History] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170311131236/http://www.ntfc.co.uk/club/history/ |date=11 March 2017 }} Northampton Town FC</ref>

=== Inter-war period ===
[[File:Northampton Town FC League Performance.svg|thumb|300px|right|Chart of table positions of Northampton Town in the Football League.]]In [[1919–20 in English football|1919–20]], the first season after the war, Town conceded a club record 103 goals. Nonetheless, the club was allowed to join the [[Football League]] for the following season, in [[Football League Division Three South|Division Three (South)]]. [[1922–23 in English football|1922–23]] saw the club become a [[Public limited company|public company]] and 8,000 shares were released at £1. The season produced a record crowd of 18,123 against [[Plymouth Argyle F.C.|Plymouth]] on Boxing Day and gate receipts for the first time exceeded £1,000. [[1923–24 in English football|1923–24]] started with the club raising £5,000 to build a stand with a players' tunnel underneath and also improved terracing in the Hotel End. The following season saw the formation of the supporters' club. In 1925 the club's first foreign transfer took place as William Shaw was signed from Barcelona. A new ground record was set for the [[F.A. Cup]] third-round replay with Sunderland, 21,148 turned up to see the Cobblers lose 3–0. However, disaster occurred at the [[County Ground, Northampton|County Ground]] during December 1929, when a fire destroyed three stands, with damage valued at around £5,000. Only one stand was saved although this was charred.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oldgrounds.co.uk/county_ground_northampton.htm#Ground%20History |title=County Ground, Northampton – History |publisher=Old Football Grounds |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091125210619/http://www.oldgrounds.co.uk/county_ground_northampton.htm |archive-date=25 November 2009 |access-date=2009-12-30 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The source of the fire was thought to be in the away dressing room; the Cobblers had earlier entertained [[AFC Bournemouth]] reserves. By August 1930, the stands were rebuilt.

In [[1932–33 in English football|1932–33]], the club created history when brothers [[Fred Dawes|Fred]] and [[Albert Dawes]] both scored in an 8–0 win over [[Newport County A.F.C.|Newport County]]. The latter finished the season scoring 32 league goals and even scored four in a 4–0 win over the [[Netherlands national football team]] while the club was on tour. In [[1933–34 in English football|1933–34]], the [[F.A. Cup]] fifth round was reached for the first time courtesy of a fourth round win away to [[Huddersfield Town A.F.C.|Huddersfield Town]] who, at the time were top of Division One. The Cobblers lost to [[Preston North End]] 4–0 at [[Deepdale]], setting a new ground record of 40,180. In the three seasons prior to the breakout of [[World War II]], the Cobblers finished seventh, ninth and 17th respectively in Division Three (South). In the final match prior to the war, they travelled to [[Dean Court]] and lost 10–0, the club's record league defeat. During the war the Cobblers had the record for the first transfer fee received during the hostilities when [[Bobby King (footballer)|Bobby King]] was sold to [[Wolverhampton Wanderers]] for a substantial four-figure fee.

=== Rise and fall ===
Northampton were promoted three times in the five years 1960 to 1965. Starting the [[1960–61 in English football|1960–61]] season in the [[Football League Fourth Division|Fourth Division]], they reached the [[Football League First Division|First Division]] in [[1965–66 in English football|1965–66]], their only season ever in the top division of English football. They were then relegated back to the Fourth Division over the next five years, playing in the bottom tier again in [[1969–70 in English football|1969–70]]. During their top-flight season they earned a double against [[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]] and victories at home over clubs including [[Leeds United F.C.|Leeds]], [[Newcastle United F.C.|Newcastle]], [[West Ham United F.C.|West Ham]], and [[Blackburn Rovers F.C.|Blackburn]], the latter being the only team Northampton would finish above in the table.

Since their relegation from the Second Division in [[1966–67 in English football|1966–67]], Northampton have played every season in either the third or fourth tier of English football.

=== 1970s and 80s ===
In 1970, they lost 8–2 to [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] in the [[FA Cup]] fifth 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 performance.<ref>May, John (24 January 2004) [https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/fa_cup/3416891.stm Cobblers stroll down memory lane] ''BBC Sport.'' Retrieved 2011-01-11.</ref> For the first time since becoming a league side the club had to apply for re-election in 1971, they finished the most favoured club with 49 votes. In the [[1974–75 in English football|1974–75 season]], future England International [[Phil Neal]] was sold, after 200 games in all competitions for the ''Cobblers'', [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]] bought Neal for a then club record of £65,000, whilst playing in the same side of another future England International, [[John Gregory (footballer)|John Gregory]]. Finally during the [[1975–76 in English football|1975–76 season]], the club finished second in Division Four and were promoted behind champions [[Lincoln City F.C.|Lincoln City]]. They did this without losing a home game and having every regular player score during the season, including the goalkeeper, [[Alan Starling]], who netted from a penalty in the penultimate home game against [[Hartlepool United F.C|Hartlepool]]. In [[1976–77 in English football|1976–77]], the club were relegated back to Division Four. The season started with ex-[[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] assistant manager, [[Paddy Crerand]] in charge; however, he resigned in the new year. No new manager was appointed and instead a committee was formed consisting of the chairman, the coach and three senior players. Prior to the start of the 1979–80 season, [[George Reilly]] was sold to [[Cambridge United F.C.|Cambridge United]] for a then-club record of £165,000 (he had been the club's top scorer for the previous two seasons).

New [[Floodlights (sport)|floodlights]] were installed in time for the [[1980–81 in English football|1980–81 season]], but they failed during the first match against [[Southend United F.C.|Southend United]] and the game had to be abandoned. The club struggled in the bottom half of the Fourth Division for the first half of the decade, but 16-year-old [[Aidy Mann]] became the club's youngest player in May 1984. In [[1988–89 in English football|1984–85]], the lowest ever league attendance was recorded at the County Ground where only 942 people turn up to watch the ''Cobblers'' lose 2–0 at home to [[Chester City F.C.|Chester City]]; this was also Northampton's only ever league attendance below 1,000. In the same year, the club managed what seemed like a major coup when they appointed as manager [[Tony Barton (footballer)|Tony Barton]], who had won the [[1981–82 European Cup|European Cup]] with [[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]] two years previously. Barton's only season in charge proved severely disappointing however, as the club were never outside the bottom two, and health problems forced Barton's resignation near the end of that season. Success was achieved under Barton's replacement, [[Graham Carr]], who brought in several players from the non-league in addition to a number of quality league players to finish eighth in his first season in charge. The [[1986–87 in English football|1986–87 season]] saw Northampton win the Fourth Division championship, gaining a club record total of 99 points and scoring 103 goals, 29 of them from [[Richard Hill (footballer born 1963)|Richard Hill]], who was transferred in the summer to [[Watford F.C.|Watford]] for a club record fee of £265,000. The club adjusted to life in Division Three quickly and just missed out on a play-off place despite finishing sixth. Important players such as [[Trevor Morley]] and [[Eddie McGoldrick]] were sold and the team fell back down to Division Four in the [[1989–90 in English football|1989–90 season]].

=== Early 1990s ===
The 1990s began badly, with the club [[relegated]] to the Fourth Division at the end of the [[1989–90 in English football|1989–90]] season. The following season began well as the club looked on course to return to the [[Football League Division Three|Third Division]] at the first attempt. They were top of the table in February, but fell away and finished mid-table. Things then got even worse and the club went into [[Administration (British football)|administration]] in April 1992, with debts of around £1.6 million. Ten players were sacked and youth players were drafted in to make up the numbers; results did not improve. These events sparked the formation of the Northampton Town [[Supporters' trust]], which has a shareholding in the club and a representative on the [[board of directors]].<ref>[http://www.ntfctrust.co.uk/artman/publish/article_79.shtml The Origins of Northampton Town Supporters' Trust] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080705092422/http://www.ntfctrust.co.uk/artman/publish/article_79.shtml |date=5 July 2008 }} ''NTFC Trust''. 2006-01-20. Retrieved 2009-12-29.</ref> This was the first such instance of a supporters' trust taking over a football club.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/david-conn-inside-sport-blog/2010/apr/21/fc-united-supporter-owned-clubs | location=London | work=The Guardian | first=David | last=Conn | title=FC United homage to history as they prepare for future at Newton Heath | date=21 April 2010 | access-date=12 December 2016 | archive-date=1 December 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201045602/https://www.theguardian.com/football/david-conn-inside-sport-blog/2010/apr/21/fc-united-supporter-owned-clubs | url-status=live }}</ref>

The club needed to win the final game of the [[1992–93 in English football|1992–93]] season to avoid being relegated to the [[Football Conference|Conference]]. Over 2,500 made the trip to [[Shrewsbury Town F.C.|Shrewsbury Town]] and saw the ''Cobblers'' win 3–2, despite being 2–0 down at half-time. The [[1993–94 in English football|1993–94]] season got worse for the ''Cobblers'' as they finished bottom of the [[Football League]] for the only time in the club's history. Relegation was only avoided due to the Conference champions, [[Kidderminster Harriers F.C.|Kidderminster Harriers]], not meeting the necessary ground criteria. The club eventually began its move to Sixfields.

=== The Sixfields era ===
The club moved to new ground, [[Sixfields Stadium]], in October 1994. The change of ground did not change the club's fortunes and they finished 17th, with [[Ian Atkins]] taking over as manager from [[John Barnwell]] halfway through the [[1994–95 in English football|1994–95]] season.<ref>Hodgson, Guy (30 September 1994) [https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/northampton-sack-barnwell--football-1388857.html Northampton sack Barnwell] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925225241/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/northampton-sack-barnwell--football-1388857.html |date=25 September 2015 }} ''The Independent.'' Retrieved 2009-12-28.</ref> After two more seasons, in the club's centenary season [[1996–97 in English football|1996–97]], Atkins lead the ''Cobblers'' to [[Wembley Stadium|Wembley]] for the first time in 100 years, where they beat [[Swansea City A.F.C.|Swansea City]] 1–0 in the [[1997 Football League Third Division play-off final|Third Division play-off final]], [[John Frain]] scoring the winning goal from a twice-taken free kick deep into [[injury time]].<ref>[http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=389878 1997 League Two play off final] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080520175348/http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=389878 |date=20 May 2008 }} ''Soccerbase.'' Retrieved 2009-12-28.</ref><ref>Fox, Norman [https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/northampton-sing-a-joyous-refrain-1263539.html Northampton sing a joyous refrain] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180225210322/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/northampton-sing-a-joyous-refrain-1263539.html |date=25 February 2018 }} ''The Independent.'' Retrieved 2009-12-30.</ref><ref>Curtis, Adrian (24 May 1997) [http://web.ukonline.co.uk/ntfc/ntfc_scf.htm Northampton Town v Swansea City] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080709015324/http://web.ukonline.co.uk/ntfc/ntfc_scf.htm |date=9 July 2008 }} Soccernet. Retrieved 2009-12-30.</ref> The following season Northampton made the [[1998 Football League Second Division play-off final|Second Division play-off final]], but lost 1–0 to [[Grimsby Town F.C.|Grimsby Town]] in front of a then-record 62,998 crowd, with the Northampton support greater than 40,000 fans also a then-record for the most supporters taken to Wembley by one team.<ref>[http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=389894 1998 League One play off final] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071001061601/http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=389894 |date=1 October 2007 }} ''Soccerbase.'' Retrieved 2009-12-28.</ref> Northampton were not able to progress from the previous year's success because of long-term injuries to 16 of their players during the [[1998–99 in English football|1998–99]] season. The team was relegated to [[Football League Division Three|Division Three]], despite being unbeaten in the last nine games of the season. However, there were some promising results such as a 2–1 aggregate win over [[West Ham United]] in the [[EFL Cup|League Cup]].<ref>Bernstein, Joe (22 September 1998) [https://www.theguardian.com/football/1998/sep/22/match.sport2 Hammer horror for Old Lady] ''The Guardian.'' Retrieved 2009-12-30.</ref> The [[1999–2000 in English football|1999–2000]] season saw the club bounce back to [[Football League Second Division|Division Two]], finishing in the third automatic promotion spot. Ian Atkins left the club in October following a poor start to the season; his assistant, [[Kevin Wilson (footballer born 1961)|Kevin Wilson]] and coach [[Kevan Broadhurst]] took joint charge for the rest of the month. Former [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]] player Wilson was appointed manager at the start of November, going on to win two manager of the month awards.

The following season started promisingly, with players such as [[Marco Gabbiadini]] and [[Jamie Forrester]] pushing the ''Cobblers'' towards a play-off place before the club eventually finished in 18th place due to a large number of injuries in the second half of the season. Kevin Wilson was sacked in November 2001 to make way for his assistant Kevan Broadhurst, who steered the ''Cobblers'' from relegation to a remarkable survival with a game to spare after losing only one home game from mid-January. The next season was the worst since the early 1990s, both financially and on the pitch. Early on they were forced into a 'Save our Season' campaign to keep afloat until the end of the year. It was required after the collapse of [[ITV Digital]] and much-publicised takeover attempts by [[John Fashanu]]<ref>Conn, David (28 December 2001) [https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/david-conn-northampton-brought-back-to-reality-621366.html Northampton brought back to reality] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606105549/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/david-conn-northampton-brought-back-to-reality-621366.html |date=6 June 2011 }} ''The Independent.'' Retrieved 2010-01-21.</ref> and [[Giovanni Di Stefano (businessman)|Giovanni Di Stefano]]<ref>Conn, David (22 May 2002) [https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/football-league/arkans-lawyer-has-ambitions-to-take-over-northampton-652231.html Arkan's lawyer has ambitions to take over Northampton] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606110111/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/football-league/arkans-lawyer-has-ambitions-to-take-over-northampton-652231.html |date=6 June 2011 }} ''The Independent.'' Retrieved 2010-01-21.</ref> had failed and left the club with huge debts. They were taken over by a consortium run by [[Andrew Ellis (businessman)|Andrew Ellis]], who sacked Broadhurst in January 2003, when Northampton were struggling at the foot of the division. He was briefly replaced by former [[England national football team|England]] player [[Terry Fenwick]] who was sacked after a winless spell of seven games. This was, at the time, the eighth-shortest managerial reign in English football history. [[Martin Wilkinson]], the new manager lasted little longer, being dismissed in October 2003 in favour of former [[Scotland national football team|Scotland]] and [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]] defender [[Colin Calderwood]].<ref>[https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/northampton_town/3178954.stm Calderwood joins Cobblers] ''BBC Sport.'' 2003-10-09. Retrieved 2010-01-21.</ref> Calderwood led Northampton to the play-offs in his first season, where they were knocked out in the semi-finals by [[Mansfield Town F.C.|Mansfield Town]] after a penalty shoot-out. In the [[2004–05 in English football|2004–05]] season, Northampton finished seventh, again in the play-offs, where they were defeated by [[Southend United F.C.|Southend United]]. Following this, the manager made substantial changes to the squad, bringing in experienced players such as [[Ian Taylor (footballer, born 1968)|Ian Taylor]] and [[Eoin Jess]], and they enjoyed a successful [[2005–06 in English football|2005–06]] league season. On 29 April, the ''Cobblers'' clinched promotion to [[Football League One]], with a 1–0 win at home to [[Chester City F.C.|Chester City]]. On 30 May 2006, Northampton announced that Calderwood was leaving to join [[Nottingham Forest]] as their new manager,<ref>[https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/nottm_forest/5030352.stm Calderwood named new Forest boss] ''BBC Sport.'' 2006-05-30. Retrieved 2010-01-21.</ref> and he was replaced by [[John Gorman (footballer)|John Gorman]] on 5 June. On 20 December, Gorman resigned due to "personal issues" with the side 18th in the table, with [[Ian Sampson]] and [[Jim Barron (footballer, born 1943)|Jim Barron]] briefly taking care of first team affairs.<ref>[https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/n/northampton_town/6197605.stm Gorman exits as Northampton boss] ''BBC Sport.'' 2006-12-20. Retrieved 2010-01-21.</ref> He was replaced by former [[Southampton F.C.|Southampton]] boss [[Stuart Gray (footballer born 1960)|Stuart Gray]] on 2 January 2007.<ref>[https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/n/northampton_town/6226139.stm Northampton name Gray as Manager] ''BBC Sport.'' 2007-01-02. Retrieved 2010-01-21.</ref> ''The Cobblers'' were relegated from League One on the final day of the [[2005–06 in English football|2008–09]] season, after suffering a 3–0 defeat away at [[Leeds United F.C.|Leeds United]] and other results that went against them.

Northampton caused an upset in the third round of the [[2010–11 Football League Cup]], knocking out [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]] at [[Anfield]]. The game was drawn 2–2 after extra time, as the ''Cobblers'' beat the team 69 places above them 4–2 on [[Penalty shootout (association football)|penalties]], the winning penalty being scored by [[Abdul Osman]] at the 'Kop End'.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report?id=307976&cc=5739|title=Reds crash out to League Two side|date=22 September 2010|work=ESPN Soccernet|access-date=8 December 2010|archive-date=26 September 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100926130717/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report?id=307976&cc=5739|url-status=dead}}</ref> Ian Sampson was sacked as manager on 2 March 2011 after a poor run of form saw the ''Cobblers'' fail to win in eight games and sit in a disappointing 16th position in League Two. Sampson's last game in charge was a 2–3 defeat against [[Burton Albion F.C.|Burton Albion]], the manner of this defeat ultimately costing him his job. Sampson's sacking brought to an end a 17-year association with Northampton, and his commitment to the club has guaranteed his status as a legend in fans' hearts.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/n/northampton_town/9412023.stm |title=Northampton Town sack manager Ian Sampson |publisher=BBC Sport |date=2 March 2011 |access-date=6 March 2021}}</ref>

David Cardoza moved quickly and [[Gary Johnson (footballer, born 1955)|Gary Johnson]] was unveiled as the new manager on 4 March 2011.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2011/mar/04/northampton-gary-johnson-manager-sampson |title=Northampton appoint Gary Johnson as manager after Ian Sampson sacking |work=The Guardian |date=4 March 2011 |access-date=6 March 2021}}</ref> However, things didn't go well under Johnson: the club slid further down the table in League Two and only just avoided relegation at the end of the [[2010–11 Northampton Town F.C. season|2010–11 season]]. The beginning of the [[2011–12 Northampton Town F.C. season|2011–12 season]] saw no improvement for the ''Cobblers'' and Johnson left the club on 14 November 2011 by mutual consent.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/15719111|title=Gary Johnson leaves as Northampton Town boss|date=14 November 2011|publisher=BBC Football|access-date=14 November 2011}}</ref> In November 2011, Northampton appointed ex-[[Watford F.C.|Watford]] manager [[Aidy Boothroyd]] as their new manager.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/15959397 |title=Aidy Boothroyd named Northampton Town boss |publisher=BBC Sport |date=30 November 2011 |access-date=6 March 2021}}</ref> After drafting in players such as [[Ben Harding]], [[Luke Guttridge]] and [[Clarke Carlisle]], Boothroyd managed to keep Northampton in the league and over the summer set about transforming the club into a club with promotion ambitions. On 18 May 2013, Northampton reached the [[2013 Football League Two play-off final|League Two play-off final]], losing 3–0 to [[Bradford City A.F.C|Bradford City]] at [[Wembley Stadium]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/22491339 |title=Bradford City 3–0 Northampton Town |publisher=BBC Sport |date=18 May 2013 |access-date=6 March 2021 |archive-date=15 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200415130008/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/22491339 |url-status=live }}</ref>

After a poor start to the [[2013–14 Northampton Town F.C. season|2013–14]] League Two season, Northampton found themselves at the foot of the table, and as of 21 December, they had only won four games. Boothroyd was subsequently sacked.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/25479770 |title=Aidy Boothroyd: Northampton Town sack manager |publisher=BBC Sport |date=21 December 2013 |access-date=6 March 2021 |archive-date=1 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210201115602/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/25479770 |url-status=live }}</ref> From the start of the 2013–14 season, Northampton shared their [[Sixfields Stadium]] with [[Coventry City]] with the West Midlands club going through a protracted dispute with the owners of their previous home, the [[Ricoh Arena]] in [[Coventry]]. On 27 January 2014, David Cardoza appointed former [[Oxford United F.C.|Oxford United]] manager [[Chris Wilder]] as the new manager of the club on a three-and-a-half-year deal.<ref>{{cite web|title=Chris Wilder appointed new manager|url=http://www.ntfc.co.uk/news/article/wilder-appointed-1318363.aspx|publisher=ntfc.co.uk|access-date=27 January 2014|archive-date=30 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140130153600/http://www.ntfc.co.uk/news/article/wilder-appointed-1318363.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref>

In October 2015, [[HM Revenue and Customs]] issued the club with a winding-up petition over unpaid taxes.<ref name=bbcHMRC>{{cite news |date=15 October 2015 |title=Northampton Town issued with winding-up petition by HMRC |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/34538252 |publisher=BBC Sport |access-date=16 October 2015}}</ref> ''(See [[Sixfields Stadium]])'' In February 2016, Northampton Town broke their club record of eight successive wins by beating Wycombe Wanderers 1–0, extending the winning run to nine.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ntfc.co.uk/club/club_records/|title=Club records|website=ntfc.co.uk|access-date=2016-03-10|archive-date=11 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170311133458/http://www.ntfc.co.uk/club/club_records/|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[2015–16 Northampton Town F.C. season|2015–16 season]] was successful and resulted in promotion to [[EFL League One|League One]] on 9 April.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ntfc.co.uk/news/article/northampton-town-promoted-cobblers-promoted-3024503.aspx|title=Northampton Town have been promoted to Sky Bet League 1|last=Willsher|first=Gareth|website=ntfc.co.uk|access-date=2016-04-09}}</ref> A draw at Exeter combined with Oxford United's defeat at home to Luton Town meant that they clinched the League Two championship a week later on 16 April.

''The Cobblers'' went on to play their first season in the third tier of English football since 2009. In the [[2016–17 Northampton Town F.C. season|2016–17]] season, after a 5–0 defeat to [[Bristol Rovers F.C.|Bristol Rovers]], [[Rob Page]] was sacked and replaced with [[Justin Edinburgh]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.ntfc.co.uk/news/2017/january/justin-edinburgh-appointed-the-new-northampton-town-manager/ |title=Justin Edinburgh appointed the new Northampton Town manager|publisher=Northampton Town FC Official Site |date=13 January 2017 |access-date=6 March 2021 |archive-date=12 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240612095356/https://www.ntfc.co.uk/news/2017/january/justin-edinburgh-appointed-the-new-northampton-town-manager/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Northampton finished 16th, meaning that they would continue to play third-tier football. They made it to the third round of the [[2016–17 EFL Cup|EFL Cup]], where they lost to [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/37357878 |title=Northampton Town 1–3 Manchester United |publisher=BBC Sport |date=21 September 2016 |access-date=6 March 2021 |archive-date=14 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210114153421/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/37357878 |url-status=live }}</ref> On 26 June 2017 a 60% stake in Northampton Town was purchased by Chinese company 5uSport. The company indicated that they would invest in both the playing budget and stadium development. Although the investment was technically a takeover, Kelvin Thomas remained chairman and the two parties have acted in partnership since.

On 4 September 2017, [[Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink]] was appointed as manager on a three-year deal, replacing [[Justin Edinburgh]] who had been sacked after four losses from the start of the [[2017–18 Northampton Town F.C. season|season]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink: Northampton Town appoint new manager to succeed Justin Edinburgh|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/41148797|access-date=4 September 2017|publisher=BBC Sport|date=4 September 2017|archive-date=12 June 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240612095342/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/41148797|url-status=live}}</ref> His first game was against [[Doncaster Rovers F.C.|Doncaster Rovers]] five days later, a home tie which ended in a 1–0 victory for Northampton Town.<ref>{{cite news |title=Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink gets Northampton tenure off to a winning start |url=http://www.espnfc.us/report?gameId=484184 |work=ESPN FC |agency=Press Association Sport |date=9 September 2017 |access-date=26 September 2017 |archive-date=12 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240612095355/https://www.espn.com/soccer/match?gameId=484184 |url-status=live }}</ref> He was sacked on 2 April 2018 after Northampton Town went nine games without a win and was replaced by [[Keith Curle]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/45709789 |title=Keith Curle: Northampton Town appoint former Carlisle United manager |publisher=BBC Sport |date=1 October 2018 |access-date=29 June 2021 |archive-date=17 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230417163040/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/45709789 |url-status=live }}</ref> Curle had his contract extended in July 2020 for a further two years.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/53312922#:~:text=Northampton%20boss%20Keith%20Curle%20has%20signed%20a%20new,final%20win%20over%20Exeter%20at%20Wembley%20last%20week. |title=Keith Curle: Northampton Town manager signs new two-year contract |publisher=BBC Sport |date=6 July 2020 |access-date=29 June 2021 |archive-date=12 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240612095407/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/53312922#:~:text=Northampton%20boss%20Keith%20Curle%20has%20signed%20a%20new,final%20win%20over%20Exeter%20at%20Wembley%20last%20week. |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 29 June 2020, the club were promoted to [[EFL League One|League One]] after beating [[Exeter City]] 4–0 in the [[2020 EFL League Two play-off final|play-off final]], despite a delay in the season due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/53177235 |title=League Two play-off final: Exeter City 0–4 Northampton Town |author=Brent Pilnick |publisher=BBC Sport |date=29 June 2020 |access-date=29 June 2021 |archive-date=30 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200630223801/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/53177235 |url-status=live }}</ref> This was Northampton's fourth EFL play-off final and it ended in victory, 23 seasons after their only other Wembley win for promotion.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/53177235 |title=League Two play-off final: Exeter City 0–4 Northampton Town |author=Brent Pilnick |publisher=BBC Sport |date=29 June 2020 |access-date=29 June 2021 |archive-date=30 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200630223801/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/53177235 |url-status=live }}</ref> They made it to Wembley following a second leg comeback against [[Cheltenham Town]], after the first leg at [[Sixfields Stadium]] where they had trailed 2–0 and faced an uphill battle to progress to the play-off final. However, in the second leg, the ''Cobblers'' performed the turnaround by winning 3–0 away from home.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/53063401 |title=Cheltenham Town 0–3 Northampton Town (agg 2–3): Cobblers seal comeback win to reach Wembley |author=Tom Garry |publisher=BBC Sport |date=22 June 2020 |access-date=29 June 2021 |archive-date=30 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201030174350/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/53063401 |url-status=live }}</ref> However, Northampton were relegated back to League Two in their first season after finishing 22nd in the [[2020–21 Northampton Town F.C. season|2020–21]] season.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/56869274 |title=Northampton Town 0–3 Blackpool: Cobblers relegated back to League Two |publisher=BBC Sport |date=1 May 2021 |access-date=29 June 2021 |archive-date=12 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240612095332/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/56869274 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In the [[2021–22 Northampton Town F.C. season|2021–22]] season Northampton finished fourth, narrowly missing out on automatic promotion on the final day to [[Bristol Rovers F.C.|Bristol Rovers]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=7 May 2022 |title=Barrow 1–3 Northampton Town |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/61281123 |access-date=22 June 2022 |publisher=BBC |archive-date=12 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240612095325/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/61281123 |url-status=live }}</ref> Although Northampton started the final day in the automatic positions and managed to win their away match to [[Barrow A.F.C.|Barrow]] 3–1, Bristol Rovers managed to beat [[Scunthorpe United F.C.|Scunthorpe United]] 7–0. This meant Rovers would gain the final automatic promotion place based on goals scored across the season. In the play-off semi-finals, the ''Cobblers'' were subsequently defeated by [[Mansfield Town F.C.|Mansfield Town]] 3–1 on aggregate.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Scott |first=Ged |date=18 May 2022 |title=Northampton 0–1 Mansfield Town |publisher=BBC |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/61403413 |access-date=22 June 2022 |archive-date=20 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220520021833/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/61403413 |url-status=live }}</ref> In the following season, they defeated [[Tranmere Rovers]] on the final day of the season to seal automatic promotion to League One.<ref>{{Cite web |date=8 May 2023 |title=Tranmere Rovers 0–1 Northampton Town |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/65445792 |access-date=8 May 2023 |publisher=BBC |archive-date=12 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240612095326/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/65445792 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Club crest and colours==

===Shirt sponsors and manufacturers===
Northampton's kit has been manufactured by Puma since 2023. Previous manufacturers have included [[Bukta]] (1975–82), [[Adidas]] (1982–83), [[Umbro]] (1983–86), Spall (1986–88), MG (1988–89), Scoreline (1989–91), Beaver Sports (1991–92), Ribero (1992–93), Swift (1993–94), [[Lotto Sport Italia|Lotto]] (1995–97), Pro Star (1997–2000), Sport House (2000–03), Xara (2003–05), Salming (2005–06), Vandanel (2006–09), [[Errea]] (2009–16), [[Nike, Inc.|Nike]] (2016–20), [[Hummel International|Hummel]] (2020–23) and [[Puma (brand)|Puma]] (2023–).

The club's shirts are sponsored by the University of Northampton, since 2013, and PTS Academy, since 2016. Previous sponsors have included [[Northampton Chronicle & Echo|Chronicle & Echo]] (1985–86 and 1994–95), [[Thomas Nationwide Transport|TNT]] (1986–88), Costain Homes (1988–91), Van Aid (1991–92), Carpet Supacentre (1992–94), [[Lotto Sport Italia|Lotto]] (1995–97), EBS Mobile Phones (1997–98), [[Nationwide Building Society|Nationwide]] (1998–2003), Jackson Grundy (2007–13), Red Hot Buffet (2011–12), [[Gala Casinos]] (2012–13), and [[Opus Energy]] (2015–18){{clear left}}

==Stadiums==

===County Ground===
[[File:Northants 780.JPG|thumb|right|Northampton Town played at the [[County Ground, Northampton|County Ground]] from 1897 to 1994]]
{{Main|County Cricket Ground, Northampton}}
Northampton moved to the county ground in 1897,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oldgrounds.co.uk/county_ground_northampton.htm|title=County Ground, Northampton|publisher=Old Football Grounds|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091125210619/http://www.oldgrounds.co.uk/county_ground_northampton.htm|archive-date=25 November 2009|access-date=2009-07-27}}</ref> sharing it with [[Northamptonshire County Cricket Club]] from 1905. The main stand was situated alongside Abington Avenue and was a covered stand with seating to the rear and [[Terrace (stadium)|terracing]] to the front. The stand survived until 1985, but following the [[Bradford City stadium fire]], it was deemed unsafe and demolished, leaving only the terracing. This was then replaced by a small temporary stand nicknamed the ' ''Meccano Stand'' ' by fans. The other two stands were at the ends with the Spion Kop, which only reached the goalposts, usually used for away supporters and the Hotel End for the home supporters. In [[1965–66 in English football|1965–66]], the only time that Northampton Town were in the top flight of English football, the county ground saw its highest attendance 24,523 against [[Fulham F.C.|Fulham]] on 23 April 1966. The ground also saw Northampton's lowest ever attendance in the [[Football League]], a crowd of 942 for the [[1984–85 in English football|1984–85]] match against [[Chester City F.C.|Chester City]]. The last game to be played at the ground was a 1–0 defeat by [[Mansfield Town F.C.|Mansfield Town]] on Tuesday, 12 October 1994.

[[File:Sixfieldsstadium.JPG|thumb|[[Sixfields Stadium]]]]

===Sixfields Stadium===
{{Main|Sixfields Stadium}}
The club moved to Sixfields Stadium in 1994.<ref>[http://www.footballgroundguide.com/northampton_town/ Sixfields Stadium] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724125201/http://www.footballgroundguide.com/northampton_town/ |date=24 July 2011 }} ''Football Ground Guide''. Retrieved 2009-10-05.</ref> It is a modern [[all-seater stadium]] with a capacity of 7,653 and award-winning disabled facilities. The stadium plan is simple with the west stand seating 4,000, opposite the smaller 1,000-capacity east stand known as the Alwyn Hargrave stand after the Ex-Borough [[Councillor]] who helped the [[stadium]] become reality. At either end are identical stands that are the same height as the east stand, the south stand usually for away supporters. (Against [[Chester City F.C.|Chester City]] on 29 April 2006, the stand was split and supporters segregated to allow the maximum number of home supporters to witness the club's promotion to [[EFL League One|League One]].) The north Stand is known as the Sheinman Opticians Stand, due to a naming rights partnership with local Opticians, Sheinman Opticians.

The stadium was renamed the PTS Academy Stadium in June 2018 after the club agreed a naming rights partnership with local training provider PTS Training Academy.
<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ntfc.co.uk/news/2018/may/stadium_partnership/|title=COBBLERS AGREE STADIUM RIGHTS NAMING PARTNERSHIP|website=ntfc.co.uk}}</ref> The name of the stadium reverted to Sixfields Stadium in July 2021, following the liquidation of PTS Training Academy.

;Training ground
Since July 2016, Northampton have trained at [[Moulton College]] in Moulton, Northampton. Before this, they trained at the former athletics track, located at the back of the East Stand at Sixfields Stadium.

==Supporters and rivalries==

'''Peterborough United'''

''Main article [[Nene derby]]''

The club's biggest traditional rivals are [[Peterborough United F.C.|Peterborough United]], a rivalry which has endured since the 1960s. Matches between the two clubs are known as the [[Nene derby]], after the river which links Northampton and Peterborough.

'''Other rivals'''

Other significant rivalries include [[Oxford United F.C.|Oxford United]], [[Milton Keynes Dons F.C.|Milton Keynes Dons]], [[Coventry City F.C.|Coventry City]], [[Cambridge United F.C.|Cambridge United]] and [[Rushden and Diamonds F.C.|Rushden & Diamonds]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Swan |first1=Rob |title=The top five rivals of English football's top 92 clubs revealed |url=https://www.givemesport.com/1500300-the-top-five-rivals-of-english-footballs-top-92-clubs-revealed |website=Givemesport |date=27 August 2019 |access-date=11 February 2021 |archive-date=29 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190929205049/https://www.givemesport.com/1500300-the-top-five-rivals-of-english-footballs-top-92-clubs-revealed |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Players==

===Current squad===
{{updated|19 September 2025}}<ref name="http://www.ntfc.co.uk/team">{{cite web| title = Northampton Town F.C. Player Profiles| url = https://www.ntfc.co.uk/teams/first-team/| publisher = Northampton Town F.C.| access-date = 24 February 2020}}</ref>
{{Fs start}}
{{Fs player|no=1|nat=ENG|pos=GK|name=[[Lee Burge]]}}
{{Fs player|no=2|nat=SCO|pos=DF|name=[[Jack Burroughs]]}}
{{Fs player|no=3|nat=IRL|pos=DF|name=[[Conor McCarthy (association footballer)|Conor McCarthy]]}}
{{Fs player|no=4|nat=SCO|pos=MF|name=[[Dean Campbell]]}}
{{Fs player|no=5|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=[[Jon Guthrie]]|other=[[Captain (association football)|captain]]}}
{{Fs player|no=6|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=[[Jordan Willis (footballer)|Jordan Willis]]}}
{{Fs player|no=7|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=[[Sam Hoskins]]}}
{{Fs player|no=8|nat=NIR|pos=MF|name=[[Cameron McGeehan]]}}
{{Fs player|no=9|nat=ENG|pos=FW|name=[[Tom Eaves]]}}
{{fs player|no=10|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=[[Elliott List]]}}
{{Fs player|no=11|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=[[Kamarai Swyer]]}}
{{Fs player|no=12|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=[[Nesta Guinness-Walker]]}}
{{fs player|no=14|nat=SLE|pos=MF|name=[[Tyrese Fornah]]}}
{{Fs player|no=15|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=[[Jordan Thorniley]]|other=on loan from [[Oxford United F.C.|Oxford United]]}}
{{Fs mid}}
{{Fs player|no=16|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=Joe Wormleighton}}
{{fs player|no=17|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=[[Michael Jacobs (footballer)|Michael Jacobs]]}}
{{Fs player|no=18|nat=NIR|pos=DF|name=[[Michael Forbes (footballer)|Michael Forbes]]|other=on loan from [[West Ham United F.C.|West Ham United]]}}
{{Fs player|no=19|nat=ENG|pos=FW|name=[[Ethan Wheatley]]|other=on loan from [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]]}}
{{Fs player|no=20|nat=IRL|pos=GK|name=Theo Avery}}
{{Fs player|no=21|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=[[Jack Perkins (English footballer)|Jack Perkins]]}}
{{Fs player|no=22|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=[[Kyle Edwards (footballer, born 1998)|Kyle Edwards]]}}
{{Fs player|no=23|nat=WAL|pos=MF|name=[[Terry Taylor (footballer)|Terry Taylor]]|other=on loan from [[Charlton Athletic F.C.|Charlton Athletic]]}}
{{Fs player|no=27|nat=WAL|pos=FW|name=[[Jack Vale (footballer, born 2001)|Jack Vale]]}}
{{Fs player|no=29|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=[[Liam Shaw]]}}
{{Fs player|no=33|nat=SCO|pos=DF|name=Matthew Ireland}}
{{fs player|no=34|nat=ENG|pos=GK|name=[[Ross Fitzsimons]]}}
{{Fs player|no=35|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=[[Max Dyche]]}}
{{Fs player|no=36|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=Ollie Evans}}
{{Fs end}}

===Out on loan===
{{Fs start}}
{{Fs player|no=25|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=[[Josh Tomlinson]]|other=on loan at [[Bedford Town F.C.|Bedford Town]]}}
{{Fs player|no=31|nat=ENG|pos=GK|name=[[James Dadge]]|other=on loan at [[Spalding United F.C.|Spalding United]]}}
{{Fs player|no=40|nat=ENG|pos=FW|name=[[Neo Dobson]]|other=on loan at [[St Ives Town F.C.|St Ives Town]]}}
{{Fs end}}

===Notable players===
====PFA Team of the Year====

''The following have been included in the [[PFA Team of the Year]] whilst playing for Northampton Town:''
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[PFA Team of the Year (1970s)|1974–75]] {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Paul Stratford]]{{citation needed|date=September 2022}}
* [[PFA Team of the Year (1980s)|1980–81]] {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Steve Phillips (footballer, born 1954)|Steve Phillips]]<ref>{{cite book |last=Lynch |title=The Official P.F.A. Footballers Heroes |page=143}}</ref>
* [[PFA Team of the Year (1980s)|1986–87]] {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Keith McPherson]], {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Richard Hill (footballer, born 1963)|Richard Hill]],{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Trevor Morley]]<ref>{{cite book |last=Lynch |title=The Official P.F.A. Footballers Heroes |page=146}}</ref>
* [[PFA Team of the Year (2000s)|1999–2000]] {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Ian Hendon]]<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/sport/football/fa_carling_premiership/731764.stm |title=Keane claims award double |website=BBC News |date=30 April 2000 |access-date=11 March 2023 |archive-date=22 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180622084933/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/sport/football/fa_carling_premiership/731764.stm |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[PFA Team of the Year (2000s)|2005–06]] {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Ian Taylor (footballer, born 1968)|Ian Taylor]], {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Josh Low]]<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/4935884.stm |title=Gerrard named player of the year |website=BBC Sport |date=23 April 2006 |access-date=11 March 2023 |archive-date=8 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170908033508/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/4935884.stm |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[PFA Team of the Year (2010s)|2015–16]] {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Adam Smith (footballer, born 1992)|Adam Smith]], {{flagicon|IRE}} [[John-Joe O'Toole]], {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Ricky Holmes]]<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/apr/21/leicester-tottenham-pfa-team-of-year |title=Leicester and Tottenham dominate PFA Premier League team of the year |work=The Guardian |date=21 April 2016 |access-date=25 September 2022 |archive-date=23 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160423020324/http://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/apr/21/leicester-tottenham-pfa-team-of-year |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[PFA Team of the Year (2020s)|2019–20]] {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Charlie Goode]], {{flagicon|WAL}} [[Nicky Adams]]<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/sep/08/kevin-de-bruyne-and-beth-england-win-pfa-player-of-the-year-awards |title=Kevin De Bruyne and Beth England win PFA player of the year awards |author=Jamie Jackson |work=The Guardian |date=8 September 2020 |access-date=25 September 2022}}</ref>
* [[PFA Team of the Year (2020s)|2021–22]] {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Liam Roberts]], {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Jon Guthrie]], {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Fraser Horsfall]]<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/61736732 |title=Mohamed Salah and Sam Kerr win PFA player of year awards |publisher=BBC Sport |date=9 June 2022 |access-date=25 September 2022 |archive-date=28 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221028104055/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/61736732 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[PFA Team of the Year (2020s)|2022–23]] {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Sam Hoskins]]<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/66650723 |title=Erling Haaland: Manchester City forward wins PFA men's Player of the Year award |publisher=BBC Sport |date=29 August 2023 |access-date=29 August 2023 |archive-date=13 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230913170333/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/66650723 |url-status=live }}</ref>
{{div col end}}

====Cult heroes====
The following were chosen by fans as the favourite club heroes in the BBC Sports Cult Heroes poll in 2006:<ref>[https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/football_focus/4490513.stm Northampton's Cult Heroes] ''BBC Sport.'' 2005-04-30. Retrieved 2009-09-21.</ref>
#{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Andy Woodman]]
#{{flagicon|ENG}} [[John Frain]]
#{{flagicon|WAL}} [[Dave Bowen]]

==Club management==
{{Updated|29 June 2021}}<ref>[http://www.ntfc.co.uk/club/who_is_who/ Who's who at Sixfields] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151025094933/http://www.ntfc.co.uk/club/who_is_who/ |date=25 October 2015 }} ''ntfc.co.uk.'' 2015-09-28. Retrieved 2015-09-30.</ref>

===Staff positions===
* Technical director: [[Colin Calderwood]]
* Manager: [[Kevin Nolan]]
* Assistant Manager: [[Ian Sampson]]
* First Team Coach: [[Marc Richards]]
* Head of Goalkeeping: James Alger
* S & C Lead: Ashlee Adebayo
* S & C Assistant: Joe Power
* First Team Physio: Michael Bolger
* First Team Analyst: Liam Jefferson
* Head Strategic & Recruitment Analyst: Alex Latimer
* Kit Manager: Adam Moreton

===Board of directors and ownership===
{{See also|List of English football club owners}}
* Executive chairman: Kelvin Thomas
* President: Bob Church
* Directors: David Bower, [[Jim Rosenthal]], Nigel Le Quesne
* Associate Director: [[Graham Carr]]
* Non-Executive Director: Mike Wailing

===Managerial history===
{{Main|List of Northampton Town F.C. managers}}
Below is a list of all permanent managers of Northampton Town since its foundation in 1897.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.soccerbase.com/teams/team.sd?team_id=1867&teamTabs=managers |title=Northampton Manager History |website=Soccerbase |access-date=1 April 2024 |archive-date=12 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240612100346/https://www.soccerbase.com/teams/team.sd?team_id=1867&teamTabs=managers |url-status=live }}</ref>

{|
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|
* 1897–1907: {{flagicon|ENG}} Arthur Jones
* 1907–1912: {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Herbert Chapman]]
* 1912–1913: {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Walter Bull]]
* 1913–1919: {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Fred Lessons]]
* 1920–1925: {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Bob Hewison]]
* 1925–1930: {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Jack Tresadern]]
* 1931–1935: {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Jack English (footballer born 1886)|Jack English]]
* 1935–1937: {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Syd Puddefoot]]
* 1937–1939: {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Warney Cresswell]]
* 1939–1949: {{flagicon|ENG}} Tom Smith
* 1949–1954: {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Bob Dennison (footballer, born 1912)|Bob Dennison]]
* 1954–1959: {{flagicon|ENG}} Dave Smith
* 1959–1967: {{flagicon|WAL}} [[Dave Bowen]]
* 1967–1968: {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Tony Marchi]]
* 1968–1969: {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Ron Flowers]]
* 1969–1972: {{flagicon|WAL}} [[Dave Bowen]]
|
* 1972–1973: {{flagicon|SCO}} [[Billy Baxter (footballer)|Billy Baxter]]
* 1973–1976: {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Bill Dodgin, Jr.|Bill Dodgin Jnr]]
* 1976–1977: {{flagicon|SCO}} [[Paddy Crerand]]
* 1977–1978: {{flagicon|ENG}} [[John Petts (footballer)|John Petts]]
* 1978–1979: {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Mike Keen]]
* 1979–1980: {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Clive Walker (footballer born 1945)|Clive Walker]]
* 1980–1982: {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Bill Dodgin, Jr.|Bill Dodgin Jnr]]
* 1982–1984: {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Clive Walker (footballer born 1945)|Clive Walker]]
* 1984–1985: {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Tony Barton (footballer)|Tony Barton]]
* 1985–1990: {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Graham Carr]]
* 1990–1992: {{flagicon|IRE}} [[Theo Foley]]
* 1992–1993: {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Phil Chard]]
* 1993–1995: {{flagicon|ENG}} [[John Barnwell]]
* 1995–1999: {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Ian Atkins]]
* 1999–2001: {{flagicon|NIR}} [[Kevin Wilson (footballer, born 1961)|Kevin Wilson]]
* 2001–2003: {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Kevan Broadhurst]]
|
* 2003: {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Terry Fenwick]]
* 2003: {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Martin Wilkinson]]
* 2003–2006: {{flagicon|SCO}} [[Colin Calderwood]]
* 2006: {{flagicon|SCO}} [[John Gorman (footballer)|John Gorman]]
* 2007–2009: {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Stuart Gray (footballer, born 1960)|Stuart Gray]]
* 2009–2011: {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Ian Sampson]]
* 2011: {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Gary Johnson (footballer, born 1955)|Gary Johnson]]
* 2011–2013: {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Aidy Boothroyd]]
* 2014–2016: {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Chris Wilder]]
* 2016–2017: {{flagicon|WAL}} [[Rob Page]]
* 2017: {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Justin Edinburgh]]
* 2017–2018: {{flagicon|NED}} [[Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink]]
* 2018: {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Dean Austin]]
* 2018–2021: {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Keith Curle]]
* 2021–2024: {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Jon Brady]]
* 2024–: {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Kevin Nolan]]
|}

==Club records==
Northampton Town hold the record for the shortest time taken to be promoted from the bottom tier to the top tier and relegated back down to the bottom again, in the space of nine years.

[[Tommy Fowler]] holds the record for Northampton Town appearances, having played 552 first-team matches between 1946 and 1961. [[Centre half]] and former captain [[Ian Sampson]] comes second, with 449 games. The record for a [[goalkeeper (association football)|goalkeeper]] is held by [[Peter Gleasure]], with 412 appearances.<ref>[http://www.ntfc.co.uk/page/ClubRecords/ Most appearances in a career]. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081201175715/http://www.ntfc.co.uk/page/ClubRecords/ |date=1 December 2008 }}. ''ntfc.co.uk''. Retrieved 2010-01-19.</ref>

[[Jack English (footballer born 1930)|Jack English]] is the club's top goalscorer with 143 goals in competitive matches between 1947 and 1959, having surpassed [[Teddy Bowen]]'s total of 120. Bowen's record had stood since September 1931, when he overtook the total of 110 goals set by striker [[William Lockett (footballer)|William Lockett]] in 1930.<ref>[http://www.ntfc.co.uk/page/ClubRecords/ Most goals in a career]. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081201175715/http://www.ntfc.co.uk/page/ClubRecords/ |date=1 December 2008 }}. ''ntfc.co.uk''. Retrieved 2010-01-19.</ref>

The highest attendance at the County Ground of 24,523 was on 23 April 1966 in an important relegation battle in the [[Football League First Division|First Division]] against [[Fulham F.C.|Fulham]]. It is unlikely that this record will be broken unless redevelopment takes place at Sixfields. The record attendance at Sixfields is 7,947, for an [[EFL League One]] match against [[Birmingham City F.C.|Birmingham City]] on 15 March 2025.<ref>{{Cite news |title=KEVIN NOLAN PAYS TRIBUTE TO OWNERS, STAFF, PLAYERS AND SUPPORTERS AFTER BIGGEST CROWD IN 38 YEARS SEES COBBLERS DRAW WITH BIRMINGHAM |url=https://www.ntfc.co.uk/news/2025/march/15/kevin-nolan/ |access-date=16 March 2025 |publisher=Northampton Town FC}}</ref>

==Honours==
{{further|List of Northampton Town F.C. records and statistics}}
'''League'''
*[[Football League Second Division|Second Division]] (level 2)
**Runners-up: [[1964–65 Football League|1964–65]]
*[[Football League Third Division South|Third Division South]] / [[Football League Third Division|Third Division]] (level 3)
**Champions: [[1962–63 Football League|1962–63]]
**Runners-up: [[1927–28 Football League|1927–28]], [[1949–50 Football League|1949–50]]
*[[Football League Fourth Division|Fourth Division]] / Third Division / [[EFL League Two|League Two]] (level 4)
**Champions: [[1986–87 Football League|1986–87]], [[2015–16 Football League Two|2015–16]]
**Runners-up: [[1975–76 Football League|1975–76]], [[2005–06 Football League|2005–06]]
**Promoted: [[1960–61 Football League|1960–61]], [[1999–2000 Football League|1999–2000]], [[2022–23 EFL League Two|2022–23]]
**Play-off winners: [[1997 Football League Third Division play-off final|1997]], [[2020 EFL League Two play-off final|2020]]
*[[Southern Football League|Southern League]]
**Champions: [[1908–09 Southern Football League|1908–09]]
**Runners-up: [[1910–11 Southern Football League|1910–11]]

'''Cup'''
*[[FA Charity Shield]]
**Runners-up: [[1909 FA Charity Shield|1909]]

;Notes
{{refbegin}}
:A. {{note|PremierLeague}} On its formation for the [[1992–93 in English football|1992–93]] season, the [[Premier League]] became the top tier of [[Football in England|English football]]; the [[Football League First Division|First]], [[Football League Second Division|Second]] and [[Football League Third Division|Third Division]]s then became the second, third and fourth tiers, respectively.
{{refend}}

==References==
;Notes
{{Reflist}}

;Bibliography
{{Refbegin}}
*{{Cite book
| title=Northampton Town: A season in the Sun 1965–66
| last= Beesley
| first= Mark
|date=December 2005
| publisher=Desert Island Books
| isbn=1-905328-01-X| location=Northampton
}}
*{{Cite book
| title=Northampton Town Football Club
| last=John Watson
| first=David Walden
|date=October 2000
| publisher=Tempus
| isbn=0-7524-1671-5| location=Northampton
}}
{{Refend}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
;Official
*[http://www.ntfc.co.uk Northampton Town F.C.] – official website

;News and Statistics
{{BBC Football Info|BBClinkname=northampton-town}}
*[http://www.historicalkits.co.uk/Northampton_Town/Northampton_Town.htm Historical Kits] – Graphical Kit History
*[http://www.footballsite.co.uk/Statistics/ClubbyClub/ClubHistories/NorthamptonTown.htm Every match result and League table since they joined the Football League]

{{Northampton Town F.C.}}
{{EFL League One}}
{{EFL League Two}}
{{Northampton}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Northampton Town F.C.| ]]
[[Category:Association football clubs established in 1897]]
[[Category:1897 establishments in England]]
[[Category:Football clubs in Northamptonshire]]
[[Category:Football clubs in England]]
[[Category:Midland Football League (1889)]]
[[Category:Southern Football League clubs]]
[[Category:English Football League clubs]]
[[Category:Companies that have entered administration in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:United League (football)]]

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