On this day

[guest48]

1972/3 saw us in a re-election battle and on 7th April 1973 we welcomed promotion chasing Aldershot to the County Ground. The season had started quite well with 3 wins in the first 4 games but by the time the 'Shots rolled up we were 8 games without a win, which soon became 9 following a 0-2 defeat.
          Dave Bowen was the Manager at the start of the season but he stood down in October, becoming General Manager, and summer signing, Bill Baxter, took over as player-manager. Reading between the lines, he wasn't very popular amongst the players after fining 4 of the younger players for something trivial. The season finished with Aldershot gaining promotion, after finishing 4th, and we finished 23rd with only Darlington below us. Never the less we were comfortably re-elected with 43 votes, Yeovil being the highest non-league team with 14 votes.
          The Cobblers team was John Roberts, Dietmar Bruck, Jim Burt, Trevor Gould, Billy Hurrell, Barry Tucker, Bobby Park, John McGleish, Gordon Riddick, Phil Neal and Peter Hawkins. Sub : John Hold       The attendance was 1877 !!!
          John Roberts was an Australian keeper, not to be confused with the Welsh centre half of the same name. Young Centre Half Billy Hurrell was making his debut.

[GrangeParkCobbler]

Other games on 7th April in years gone by..... most recently was the 2-0 win at Leyton Orient in 2007, with first half goals from Simon Cox and an Aiden Palmer own goal. Kenny Deuchar came on late in the second half and Sean Dyche was an unused sub for us.


We only won one of our last 10 games in the 2000/01 season, included in that was a 1-1 draw at Swindon on 7th April 2001, Dave Savage equalising an early Ian Woan goal for the home side.

[guest48]

On the 8th April 1963 the Cobblers hammered Bristol City 5-1 at the County Ground, on their way to becoming 3rd Division Champions. Frank Large (2), Ray Smith (2) and Roly Mills were the goal scorers in front of a 12,366 crowd. This was the 4th game in a run of 7 games in 18 days, this was mainly due to the very harsh winter where we only played 2 games between Boxing Day and the start of March !
   That season the Cobblers scored 109 League goals and 5 players, Alec Ashworth (25 goals in 30 appearances), Cliff Holton (14  in 21 games), Frank Large (18 in 20 games), John Read (11 in 41 games) and Barry Lines (16 in 46 games) all got into double figures.
   The crowds that season were really good with the lowest gate , all season, was just under 8,000 and nearly 19,000 crammed in for the game against Coventry on 2nd March, our first home game for just over 3 months!
 The Cobblers team that took Bristol City apart was Chic Brodie, Theo Foley, Mike Everitt, Big John Kurila, Terry Branston, Roly Mills, Billy Hails, Ray Smith, Frank Large, John Reid and Barry Lines.

[guest3338]

Amongst other games played this day.
In 1997 Cobblers earned a 0-0 draw at the Abbey as part of an unbeaten run that took them to a Wembley playoff final victory. Even the second half introduction of Mark 'Cooperman' Cooper failed to break the deadlock.
Three years ago today some bloke called Chris Wilder brought his team of Blades, already well on their way to 100 points and the championship, to Sixfields where the Cobblers went down to an 88 minute winning goal from Fleck. Most (well I) thought a draw the most suitable result.

[Melbourne Cobbler]

9/04/66 Northampton 0 Liverpool 0 - attendance    20,029

Team

Bryan Harvey
John Mackin
Mike Everitt
John Kurila
Terry Branston
Joe Kiernan
Harry Walden
Graham Moore
George Hudson
Don Martin
Barry Lines

Liverpool

Tommy Lawrence
Chris Lawler
Gerry Byrne
Gordon Milne
Ron Yeats (c)
Willie Stevenson
Ian Callaghan
Geoff Strong
Ian St John
Tommy Smith
Peter Thompson

[west stand oap]

On 9th April 1966 the legendary Bill Skankly ("football isn't a matter of life and death - it's more important than that") brought table topping Liverpool to the County Ground.
Cobblers: Bryan Harvey, John Mackin, Mike Everitt, John Kurila, Terry Branston, Joe Kiernan, Harry Walden, Graham Moore, George Hudson, Don Martin, Barry Lines.
Liverpool: Tommy Lawrence, Chris Lawler, Tommy Smith, Ron Yeats, Gerry Byrne, Ian Callaghan, Peter Thompson, Gordon Milne, Willie Stephenson, Ian St.John, Geoff Strong.
A crowd of 20029 saw us hold the league leaders to a 0-0 draw with Harvey making several fine saves to be man of the match. Young John Mackin was given a torrid time by Peter Thompson and was moved to left back with Mike Everitt switching to the right. Ian St.John got a boot in the face at the start of the game and was off the pitch for 15-20 minutes before returning with stitches in his jaw. Following the game Liverpool only needed 2 points from the remaining 5 games to clinch the title.
I wonder if Bill Shankly would make his quote in todays circunstances.
Around this time it was reported that a Liverpool church had a poster which asked " what happens when the lord cometh?" under which somebody had scrawled we'll move St,John to inside forward.
It was also said that Britain did not join the euro because the majority of liverpudlians wanted to stay on the giro.

[Melbourne Cobbler]

10/04/65 Teyn needed a win to secure promotion to the old division 1. This draw with Derby meant we had to wait till the following week against the sadly departed Bury.

[guest48]

On 10th April 2020 we SHOULD have been at home to Colchester Utd. Games against Col U always mean something to me as most of my in laws live down that way, just over the border in Suffolk. The football fans amongst them, though, are Ipswich fans which is lucky for me, as our record at Colchester is pretty poor. I've attended virtually every game down there since the mid 70's and can only remember a 2-0 win in 85/6 (Phil Chard & Adi Mann), 1-0 in 94/5 (Darren Harmon pen), 2-0 in 2000/01 (Jamie Forrester and Steve Howard) and last season's 2-1 victory (Matt Crookes & Sam Hoskins), the rest of the time we usually lost.
      Strangely enough our record at home to Colchester is pretty good, with only 5 League defeats in 70 years and only 2 of those coming in the last 36 years. The last few times we've played Colchester it has been really hot, like today, it was a scorcher last August when we lost 1-0 down there in a game where, I thought, both teams looked poor but both teams are now in the play off push, whenever we start again !

[Coolcat]

On 10th April 2020 we SHOULD have been at home to Colchester Utd. Games against Col U always mean something to me as most of my in laws live down that way, just over the border in Suffolk. The football fans amongst them, though, are Ipswich fans which is lucky for me, as our record at Colchester is pretty poor. I've attended virtually every game down there since the mid 70's and can only remember a 2-0 win in 85/6 (Phil Chard & Adi Mann), 1-0 in 94/5 (Darren Harmon pen), 2-0 in 2000/01 (Jamie Forrester and Steve Howard) and last season's 2-1 victory (Matt Crookes & Sam Hoskins), the rest of the time we usually lost.
      Strangely enough our record at home to Colchester is pretty good, with only 5 League defeats in 70 years and only 2 of those coming in the last 36 years. The last few times we've played Colchester it has been really hot, like today, it was a scorcher last August when we lost 1-0 down there in a game where, I thought, both teams looked poor but both teams are now in the play off push, whenever we start again !

Also, not exactly on this day but nevertheless, Good Friday around 94 time iirc, should have played Col Utd at Layer Rd. Few of us down there but rained off!
Think also beat Colchester Utd at Sixfields on a Good Friday back around 97 time too.

[west stand oap]

10th April 1976 v Bradford away, 2 goals from Jim Hall secured a 2-1 victory in front of a 3175 crowd. Bradford obviously not as well supported then. Jim Hall had rejoined us before the season started from Peterborough for £4000 and scored 21 league goals this season with Paul Stratford getting 16.
This of course was a promotion year and we were unbeaten at home (18 wins, 5 draws). Away record was 11 wins, 5 draws 7 defeats.
Lincoln topped the table with 74 points, N'pton 68, Reading 60, Tranmere 58 - 2 points for a win in those days which means with 29 wins we would have 97 points under the current points system. As this only achieved the runners up spot it shows what a great season Lincoln had as they finished 6 points ahead of us.

[guest48]

Also, not exactly on this day but nevertheless, Good Friday around 94 time iirc, should have played Col Utd at Layer Rd. Few of us down there but rained off!

I was trying to remember what year that was, I seem to recall that it was quite a nice day and didn't start raining until about 4.00pm

[Saint Cobbler]

10/04/65 Teyn needed a win to secure promotion to the old division 1. This draw with Derby meant we had to wait till the following week against the sadly departed Bury.

Just watched and re-lived this game. Reminded me how good Derek Leck was at wing half, after being a complete waste of space earlier in his Cobblers career at centre forward.

[Saint Cobbler]

I have since watched this season's game at home to  Crewe. I know the 1965 game against Derby was 2 divisions above, but why can't our present day players pass a bit better, move a bit quicker to take set pieces, move into space better, and.... celebrate a lot less when scoring?

[everbrite]

I have since watched this season's game at home to  Crewe. I know the 1965 game against Derby was 2 divisions above, but why can't our present day players pass a bit better, move a bit quicker to take set pieces, move into space better, and.... celebrate a lot less when scoring?

Watching the 1965 Derby game thought the standard was uncannily like some of the displays this season. Robson was either brilliant or daft but Brown looked good at times. Missed a sitter towards end of the game!

[Melbourne Cobbler]

I have since watched this season's game at home to  Crewe. I know the 1965 game against Derby was 2 divisions above, but why can't our present day players pass a bit better, move a bit quicker to take set pieces, move into space better, and.... celebrate a lot less when scoring?

What us supporters should do is put together a document emphasising the playing philosophy we want on the pitch? Then if it becomes community owned the players will know what’s expected!

[west stand oap]

11th April 1981 in front of a bumper home crowd of 2121 we drew 1-1 with Wimbledon, scorer Keith Bowen.
11th April 1978 we won 2-0 at Hartlepool with both goals scored by Andy McGowan, crowd 2815. We finished 10th in Division 4 this season with 47 points. In the league cup we beat Southend 5-3 on aggregale in the 1st round, 3-2 away (Reilly, Farrington, Williams) and 2-1 at home (Best, Martin). We got drawn away to Ipswich in the 2nd round when they were managed by Bobby Robson and had a very strong team including Mark Butcher and Paul Mariner. They were too strong for us and we lost 5-0.
In the FA cup we won away at Tooting & Mitcham 2-1 (3431) with goals from Christie and Martin. The 2nd round saw us beaten 2-0 at home (5241) by non league Enfield.

[west stand oap]

Correction to previous post - Ipswich player was, of course, Terry Butcher the centre back who played for England. Mark Butcher being the Surrey and England batsman.

[Melbourne Cobbler]

What a great player Andy McGowan was. Sadly passed away at age 42 after he stopped breathing during a routine leg operation. Details on what happened to the rest of the squad around that time according to The Football League Paper as of 2013 (the link wouldn’t copy properly)

John Clarke: Worked as a wholesale parts rep for Carnation Skoda until he died of a heart attack in Northampton on New Years Day 2011 aged 64.

Stuart Robertson: He settled in Abingdon, living and managing a sports complex until retiring.

Jim Hall: Taught in a workshop for the disabled and then ran a sheltered housing estate in Great Yarmouth before retiring to Northampton. He is returning to Norfolk this week.

John Gregory: Held a number of management positions with Portsmouth, Wycombe, Aston Villa, Derby and QPR, then in Israel, and latterly in Kazakhstan.

Jeff Parton: He returned to to live in Lea, near Preston and has worked in the licensing trade, running pubs.
Alan Starling: He lives in Mount, Huddersfield. After working as a salesman he became a national account manager for a pharmaceutical company.

Robin Wainwright: Based in Luton he has worked in a warehouse and managed a sports centre.

David Carlton: He settled in Little Billing, Northampton and set up his own business supplying golf equipment.

Alan Oman: Still living in the Northampton area and has had various jobs but is now a carer for the NHS.

Gary Anderson: Returned to east London and after a spell as player-manager of Barking became a train driver.

John Farrington: He became the player-manager of AP Leamington, later working as a club steward in Newbold Verdon, Leicestershire.

Paul Stratford: Never gave up his job as a plumber and returned to it when injury ended his career aged 22.

Barry Tucker: He settled in Northampton and works in the sales office for engineering company FG Metcalfe.

Billy Best: Lives in Earls Barton, Northampton and after working as a painter and decorator he became a  salesman for McConnell’s Seamless Roofing.

Derrick Christie: Lives in Peterborough. Worked as a legal executive, and has been at the Land Registry since 1989.

Gary Mabee: Became a TV news cameraman for Anglia Television and is now freelance with his own business.

David Liddle: He lives in Bedford, was operations manager for a vending machine company, and now works in a warehouse for Argos.

Don Martin: Managed Corby and set up a painting and decorating business until his death in November 2009.

Alan Mayes: Works for a company that does corporate hospitality at sporting events.

Neil Davids: Became a jeweller on the Fylde Coast and ran a property development company until his death in  December 2011.

Steve Phillips: Ran his own bar, Inchys Sports Pub in Benalmadena, Spain, ran the King’s Head in Spratton, then The Crown in Wellingborough.

Graham Felton: On retirement he worked as a painter and decorator from his home in Billing, Northamptonshire.

Andrew McGowan: Died in May 1999 aged 42 after he stopped breathing during a routine leg operation.

[guest48]

On 11th April 1972 the Cobblers played out a 1-1 draw at the County Ground with Southend United, Trevor Gould was the Cobblers scorer in front of a crowd of 3604. Southend finished the season as runners up to champions Grimsby Town but the Cobblers finished in 21st place which meant applying for re-election. We started the last match outside the bottom 4 but a 2-1 home defeat to Darlington condemned us to a bottom 4 finish.
    Frank Large top scored with 19 goals followed by Dixie McNeil with 14. the Cobblers team that drew with Southend was
Alan Starling, John Clarke, Alan Oman, Trevor Gould, Neil Rioch, Brian Heslop, Graham Felton, John Hold, Frank Large, Joe Kiernan and Peter Hawkins.

[everbrite]

What a great player Andy McGowan was. Sadly passed away at age 42 after he stopped breathing during a routine leg operation. Details on what happened to the rest of the squad around that time according to The Football League Paper as of 2013 (the link wouldn’t copy properly)

John Clarke: Worked as a wholesale parts rep for Carnation Skoda until he died of a heart attack in Northampton on New Years Day 2011 aged 64.

Stuart Robertson: He settled in Abingdon, living and managing a sports complex until retiring.

Jim Hall: Taught in a workshop for the disabled and then ran a sheltered housing estate in Great Yarmouth before retiring to Northampton. He is returning to Norfolk this week.

John Gregory: Held a number of management positions with Portsmouth, Wycombe, Aston Villa, Derby and QPR, then in Israel, and latterly in Kazakhstan.

Jeff Parton: He returned to to live in Lea, near Preston and has worked in the licensing trade, running pubs.
Alan Starling: He lives in Mount, Huddersfield. After working as a salesman he became a national account manager for a pharmaceutical company.

Robin Wainwright: Based in Luton he has worked in a warehouse and managed a sports centre.

David Carlton: He settled in Little Billing, Northampton and set up his own business supplying golf equipment.

Alan Oman: Still living in the Northampton area and has had various jobs but is now a carer for the NHS.

Gary Anderson: Returned to east London and after a spell as player-manager of Barking became a train driver.

John Farrington: He became the player-manager of AP Leamington, later working as a club steward in Newbold Verdon, Leicestershire.

Paul Stratford: Never gave up his job as a plumber and returned to it when injury ended his career aged 22.

Barry Tucker: He settled in Northampton and works in the sales office for engineering company FG Metcalfe...........................

Barry Tucker use to run Saints Hockey Club training at Mereway Gym. We played 5 aside footie