18 years ago today...

[mattywoo]

The first game at Sixfields was played against Barnet.

A day of mixed emotions for me as it was the first football match I'd ever been to which was exciting, but then also my Granda had a heart attack at the top of the hill after the game!

Does anyone else have any memories of that day?

[abington_cobbler]

Martin Aldridge scoring the first ever goal at sixfields and his somersault celebration is my lasting memory from that day

[Dorset Cobbler]

Yeah. The game was a sell out!!!!!!!  

[NaggerPagger]

Biggest memory was that the gravel car parks were not the best place to park !

Its not such a bad old ground when you think about it, could be better but we play at a lot worst.

[Elad]

I remember saving up tokens from the Programme to get a seat and then going to the County Ground to collect the tickets. I also remember going to an open day before the season and thinking that Sixfields was the boll*cks.

[Zen Master]

The first game at Sixfields was played against Barnet.

A day of mixed emotions for me as it was the first football match I'd ever been to which was exciting, but then also my Granda had a heart attack at the top of the hill after the game!

Does anyone else have any memories of that day?

I have very vivid memories of this day and the brave new era that I thought we were entering. Still got the ticket stub.  I suppose with several promotions and Wembley twice since it did change and certainly altered the demographics of the people that attend games regularly however the rose tint nowadays is not so blinkered as it once was. I used to think it was Saturday (or Tuesday) lets go to a game, meet my mates and have a beer or three.  Tragically I can clearly recall an older gentleman having collapsed on the hill afterwards getting the attention that hopefully was lifesaving.
  The Cobblers should come with a health and wealth warning!

[Artlenock Cobbler]

Yeah, despite being a season ticket holder since Sixfields opened I had to miss the game as I was in America. Gutted I was!! 

[Rodney]

Fitting that the first goal was scored by a local boy...and the equaliser came from the now manager of Crystal Tragic. Had to buy a ticket through Barnet as home areas were sold out. I too thought it was the start of a brave new world. Must look up naive in the dictionary.

[ClaretCobbler]

That was the first game I ever went to, at the age of 2! 18 years later, and I still go every week! Love this club, could't see myself supporting any other club in the world

[Deepcut Cobbler]

That was the first game I ever went to, at the age of 2! 18 years later, and I still go every week! Love this club, could't see myself supporting any other club in the world

Thats the spirit..

[sbedscobb]

I remember the chaos of the 2nd game when 7000 turned up for a non ticket pay at the gate! Queues like never seen before and many 100's turned away or as I and a few others did sat with the Wigan fans.

[abington_cobbler]

Who can forget the hole in the goalmouth game v Fulham?

[razorntfc]

RIP Martin Aldridge, what a strike to christen the 1st game,1st goal

[Poggy]

I can briefly remember my first game at Sixfields going to a friendly match against Notts Forest who I think had Jason Lee playing for them. After a couple of seasons in the family enclosure I remember watching most home games of the 96/97 season with my old man in the west upper (south end). What an atmosphere you used to get in there. There was one really loud bloke who used to come out with very funny comments / observations, which Atkins used to occasional acknowledge. Don't know if he still goes as have not sat in the west for a few years.

Some of my favourite Sixfields memories include Larry's hat trick, Cardiff 5-0, Plymouth 03, Chester 06, Sc***horpe 07, Swansea 08, Oxford last season.

My sixfields regrets: Not going to either of the 97 or 98 play off games, missing Harper save Forlan's penalty and not realising it happened until after the game. I think against Swansea in 97 some of their fans tied a Welsh flag to the goal net before the game. I don't think i've ever heard such anti-Welsh comments / bad lanaguage since. A real education for a 10 year old.

I think from about the 02/03 season relegation the novely of a new stadium wore off and has been in decline ever since.

[ClaretCobbler]

One of my favourite has to be Bradley Johnson scoring in the 98th minute against Sc***horpe, stopping them getting promoted that day! Think they'd been on a unbeaten run as well!

[Artlenock Cobbler]

One of my favourite has to be Bradley Johnson scoring in the 98th minute against S****horpe, stopping them getting promoted that day! Think they'd been on a unbeaten run as well!

Here are some of my favourite or most memorable moments.

The hole in the Goalmouth v Fulham

The Cardiff (or was it Swansea) fan who staggered on to the pitch from the away end and lurched towards the home end. He was met by the Vilgalante Cobbler on the half way line.

Derry's wheelchair invasion v Rotherham

Scoring two 90th minute goals against Swansea after they lead 0-1 most of the game( lots of people had left!)

Last gasp winners against S****horpe and Oxford to really p*ss them off!

The ball ending up in row Z of the West stand and being returned instantly for the throw in from which we scored an equalizer. It was almost like there was no break in play, Atkins even thanked the anonymous fan because we went on to win the game.

Black Friday v S****horpe. Lost 0-1 in from of 3,000 ish fans. The Sixfields bubble had burst!

The play off game v Cardiff,
The Play off game V Rovers.

Penalty save V Man Utd

The best defensive performance I've ever seen to deny keegans Fulham, Cobblers winning it with a rare chance on goal.

Larry's hat trick and snow dive.

Getting to the outskirts of eastern Northampton in October 2008 to hear the game had been postponed because of snow. It had rained all day in Irthlingborough!

Memorable moments I missed at Sixfields despite being a ST holder for all 18 years.

The opening game  V Barnet

Man City in the league

Leeds Utd in the league

The wind blowing the signs down when leading against Huddersfield.

3-0 up against Hereford and lost 4-3.

[NTFC Nut]

The one I'm surprised no-one's mentioned yet is the Swansea 4-2 game in the 07-08 season. Honestly the best performance I can ever remember seeing from an NTFC side. It was March, they were top of the league and champions elect having won about 7 or 8 on the bounce going into that game, and we tore them to shreds.

[TbananaG]

We were 3-0 up after about 20 mins as I remember it... Great day.

[The 12th Marquis of Sixfields]

Beating the West Ham All Stars in 98. Who was in their team back then?
David James, Rio, Frank Lampard Jr (as he still was), Ian Wright, Trevor Sinclair? Was he there then? Who else? I know they used to finish 5th or 6th back then under 'Arry

[Monkey]

Beating the West Ham All Stars in 98. Who was in their team back then?
David James, Rio, Frank Lampard Jr (as he still was), Ian Wright, Trevor Sinclair? Was he there then? Who else? I know they used to finish 5th or 6th back then under 'Arry

http://www.11v11.com/matches/northampton-town-v-west-ham-united-15-september-1998-33472/

What a game, even though I was expecting us to get spanked at Upton Park. But hanging on then going 1-0 up against Spurs in the next round, only do be undone by the swampy pitch is one of my earliest memories. 

Spurs had a decent team out too

http://www.11v11.com/matches/northampton-town-v-tottenham-hotspur-27-october-1998-33517/