1996–97 Northampton Town F.C. season

The 1996–97 season was Northampton Town's Centenary season, their 100th year in their history and the seventh successive season in the Third Division. Alongside competing in Division Three, the club also participated in the FA Cup, League Cup and Football League Trophy.

Northampton Town
1996–97 season
ChairmanBarry Ward
ManagerIan Atkins
StadiumSixfields Stadium
Division Three4th
Play-offsWinners
FA CupFirst round
Coca-Cola CupSecond round
Auto Windscreens ShieldSemi-final (s)
Top goalscorerLeague: Neil Grayson (12)
All: Neil Grayson (12)
Highest home attendance7,342 vs Watford
Lowest home attendance3,519 vs Hull City
Average home league attendance4,825

Players edit

As of match played 24 May 1997.[1]
Name Position Nat. Place of Birth Date of Birth (Age) Apps Goals Previous club Date signed Fee
Goalkeepers
Stuart Brock GK   West Bromwich (1976-09-26)26 September 1976 (aged 20) 0 0 Aston Villa 27 March 1997 Free
Billy Turley GK   Wolverhampton (1973-07-15)15 July 1973 (aged 23) 3 0 Evesham United 10 July 1995 Free
Andy Woodman GK   Camberwell (1971-08-11)11 August 1971 (aged 25) 118 0 Exeter City 10 March 1995 Free
Defenders
Ian Clarkson RB   Solihull (1970-12-04)4 December 1970 (aged 26) 56 0 Stoke City 2 August 1996 Free
Lee Colkin LB   Nuneaton (1974-07-15)15 July 1974 (aged 22) 117 4 Apprentice 31 August 1992 N/A
John Frain LB   Birmingham (1968-10-08)8 October 1968 (aged 28) 17 1 Birmingham City 24 January 1997 Loan
Lee Maddison LB   Bristol (1972-10-05)5 October 1972 (aged 24) 66 0 Bristol Rovers 22 September 1995 £25,000
David Rennie CB   Edinburgh (1964-08-29)29 August 1964 (aged 32) 43 4 Coventry City 5 August 1996 Free
Ian Sampson CB   Wakefield (1968-11-14)14 November 1968 (aged 28) 147 13 Sunderland 5 August 1994 £30,000
Ray Warburton (c) CB   Rotherham (1967-10-07)7 October 1967 (aged 29) 156 14 York City 4 February 1994 £35,000
Midfielders
Ali Gibb RM   Salisbury (1976-02-17)17 February 1976 (aged 21) 48 2 Norwich City 5 February 1996 £30,000
Roy Hunter CM   Saltburn-by-the-Sea (1973-10-29)29 October 1973 (aged 23) 85 7 West Bromwich Albion 2 August 1995 Free
Dave Martin CM   East Ham (1963-04-25)25 April 1963 (aged 34) 14 2 Leyton Orient 11 October 1996 Free
Danny O'Shea CM   Newington (1963-03-26)26 March 1963 (aged 34) 87 0 Cambridge United 23 March 1995 Free
Sean Parrish LM   Wrexham (1972-03-14)14 March 1972 (aged 25) 47 9 Doncaster Rovers 2 August 1996 £35,000
Dean Peer CM   Wordsley (1969-08-08)8 August 1969 (aged 27) 78 3 Walsall 22 August 1995 Free
Michael Warner CM   Harrogate (1974-01-17)17 January 1974 (aged 23) 11 0 Tamworth 31 May 1995 Free
Forwards
Mark Cooper FW   Watford (1967-04-05)5 April 1967 (aged 30) 46 10 Barnet 2 August 1996 Free
John Gayle FW   Bromsgrove (1964-07-30)30 July 1964 (aged 32) 14 3 Stoke City 10 February 1997 £25,000
Neil Grayson FW   York (1964-11-01)1 November 1964 (aged 32) 141 34 Boston United 19 June 1994 Free
Garry Thompson FW   Kings Heath (1959-10-07)7 October 1959 (aged 37) 52 6 Cardiff City 10 February 1995 Free
Christian Lee FW   Aylesbury (1976-10-08)8 October 1976 (aged 20) 45 9 Doncaster Rovers 13 July 1995 Free
Jason White FW   Meriden (1971-10-19)19 October 1971 (aged 25) 92 18 Scarborough 15 June 1995 £35,000

Competitions edit

Nationwide Football League Division Three edit

League table edit

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion or relegation
2 Fulham 46 25 12 9 72 38 +34 87 Promoted
3 Carlisle United 46 24 12 10 67 44 +23 84
4 Northampton Town 46 20 12 14 67 44 +23 72 Promoted through play-offs
5 Swansea City 46 21 8 17 62 58 +4 71 Participated in play-offs
6 Chester City 46 18 16 12 55 43 +12 70
Source: [2]
Rules for classification: In the Football League goals scored (GF) takes precedence over goal difference (GD).

Results summary edit

Overall Home Away
Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts W D L GF GA GD W D L GF GA GD
46 20 12 14 67 44  +23 72 14 4 5 43 17  +26 6 8 9 24 27  −3

Last updated: 26 April 2020.
Source: [citation needed]

League position by match edit

Round12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940414243444546
GroundAHHAAHHAHAHAAHHAAHAHAHAHAHHHHAHAHHAAHAHAHAAHAH
ResultLWDDDLLDWLLWLWWWLDWDLWDWLWWWWLLDWDLWDLLWWDWWDW
Position1710111012161920151621162014131012121011151011710656567889108810109665564
Source: Rothmans Football Yearbook 1997-1998
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Matches edit

  Win   Draw   Loss

17 August 1996 (1996-08-17) 1 Wigan Athletic 2–1 Northampton Town Wigan
15:00 BST K.Sharp   50'
G.Lancashire   56'
W.Biggins   73'
M.Cooper   28'
D.O'Shea   40'
D.Peer   50'
Stadium: Springfield Park
Attendance: 2,499
24 August 1996 (1996-08-24) 2 Northampton Town 3–0 Mansfield Town Northampton
15:00 BST D.Rennie   36'
R.Hunter   53'
M.Cooper   85'
M.Sale   81' Stadium: Sixfields Stadium
Attendance: 4,162
Referee: Carl Finch
27 August 1996 (1996-08-27) 3 Northampton Town 1–1 Torquay United Northampton
19:45 BST D.Rennie   85' R.Jack   4' Stadium: Sixfields Stadium
Attendance: 4,128
31 August 1996 (1996-08-31) 4 Scarborough 1–1 Northampton Town Scarborough
15:00 BST G.Bennett   76' C.Lee   85' Stadium: Athletic Ground
Attendance: 2,520
7 September 1996 (1996-09-07) 5 Barnet 1–1 Northampton Town Chipping Barnet
15:00 BST S.Devine   55' C.Lee   6' Stadium: Underhill Stadium
Attendance: 2,982
10 September 1996 (1996-09-10) 6 Northampton Town 0–1 Leyton Orient Northampton
19:45 BST D.Chapman   90' Stadium: Sixfields Stadium
Attendance: 3,994
14 September 1996 (1996-09-14) 7 Northampton Town 1–2 Cambridge United Northampton
15:00 BST I.Sampson   63' M.Hyde   32'
T.Richards   58'
Stadium: Sixfields Stadium
Attendance: 4,584
21 September 1996 (1996-09-21) 8 Cardiff City 2–2 Northampton Town Cardiff, Wales
15:00 BST T.Philliskirk   18'
C.Middleton   83'
M.Cooper   87'
R.Hunter   89' (pen.)
Stadium: Ninian Park
Attendance: 4,124
28 September 1996 (1996-09-28) 9 Northampton Town 3–0 Brighton & Hove Albion Northampton
15:00 BST R.Hunter   27' (pen.)
C.Lee   30'
A.Gibb   54'
Stadium: Sixfields Stadium
Attendance: 4,402
1 October 1996 (1996-10-01) 10 Chester City 2–1 Northampton Town Chester
19:30 BST D.Flitcroft   55'
K.Noteman   79'
N.Grayson   72' Stadium: Deva Stadium
Attendance: 1,791
5 October 1996 (1996-10-05) 11 Northampton Town 0–1 Fulham Northampton
15:00 BST M.Conroy   54' Stadium: Sixfields Stadium
Attendance: 6,171
12 October 1996 (1996-10-12) 12 Exeter City 0–1 Northampton Town Exeter
15:00 BST C.Lee   29' Stadium: St James Park
Attendance: 3,002
16 October 1996 (1996-10-16) 13 Scunthorpe United 2–1 Northampton Town Scunthorpe
19:30 BST D.D'Auria   80'
C.Hope   90'
I.Sampson   16' Stadium: Glanford Park
Attendance: 2,079
19 October 1996 (1996-10-19) 14 Northampton Town 2–1 Colchester United Northampton
15:00 BST S.Parrish   45'
N.Grayson   55'
Report C.Fry   41' Stadium: Sixfields Stadium
Attendance: 4,119
Referee: Steve Baines
26 October 1996 (1996-10-26) 15 Northampton Town 3–1 Darlington Northampton
15:00 BST N.Grayson   52'
R.Warburton   61'
S.Parrish   90'
G.Naylor   15'
D.Roberts   41'
Stadium: Sixfields Stadium
Attendance: 4,123
29 October 1996 (1996-10-29) 16 Hartlepool United 0–2 Northampton Town Hartlepool
19:30 GMT N.Grayson   1'
S.Parrish   22'
Stadium: Victoria Park
Attendance: 1,254
2 November 1996 (1996-11-02) 17 Swansea City 1–0 Northampton Town Swansea, Wales
15:00 GMT S.Torpey   67' Stadium: Vetch Field
Attendance: 3,335
9 November 1996 (1996-11-09) 18 Northampton Town 1–1 Carlisle United Northampton
15:00 GMT S.Parrish   52' P.Conway   59'
S.Hayward   80'
Stadium: Sixfields Stadium
Attendance: 4,682
19 November 1996 (1996-11-19) 19 Doncaster Rovers 1–2 Northampton Town Doncaster
19:30 GMT J.Schofield   54' R.Warburton   1'
M.Rush   61'
Stadium: Belle Vue
Attendance: 1,030
23 November 1996 (1996-11-23) 20 Northampton Town 2–2 Rochdale Northampton
15:00 GMT R.Hunter   2'
J.White   69'
A.Farrell   66', 68' Stadium: Sixfields Stadium
Attendance: 3,836
30 November 1996 (1996-11-30) 21 Darlington 3–1 Northampton Town Darlington
15:00 GMT S.Shaw   46'
D.Roberts   73', 77'
M.Cooper   39' Stadium: Feethams
Attendance: 1,030
3 December 1996 (1996-12-03) 22 Northampton Town 2–1 Hull City Northampton
19:45 GMT P.Stant   7', 23' (pen.) D.Darby   57' Stadium: Sixfields Stadium
Attendance: 3,519
14 December 1996 (1996-12-14) 23 Lincoln City 1–1 Northampton Town Lincoln
15:00 GMT G.Ainsworth   67' D.Rennie   33' Stadium: Sincil Bank
Attendance: 2,702
20 December 1996 (1996-12-20) 24 Northampton Town 1–0 Hereford United Northampton
19:45 GMT N.Grayson   77' Stadium: Sixfields Stadium
Attendance: 4,238
26 December 1996 (1996-12-26) 25 Leyton Orient 2–1 Northampton Town Leyton, London
15:00 GMT J.Channing   6'
A.Inglethorpe   79'
N.Grayson   22' Stadium: Brisbane Road
Attendance: 4,492
28 December 1996 (1996-12-28) 26 Northampton Town 2–0 Barnet Northampton
15:00 GMT I.Sampson   40'
M.Cooper   81'
Stadium: Sixfields Stadium
Attendance: 5,060
1 January 1997 (1997-01-01) 27 Northampton Town 4–0 Cardiff City Northampton
15:00 GMT R.Warburton   16'
L.Jarman   42' (o.g.)
M.Cooper   54'
N.Grayson   69'
J.Eckhardt   47' Stadium: Sixfields Stadium
Attendance: 4,416
18 January 1997 (1997-01-18) 28 Northampton Town 5–1 Chester City Northampton
15:00 GMT M.Rush   21'
M.Cooper   24'
R.Warburton   45'
I.Sampson   48'
N.Grayson   82'
K.Noteman   28' Stadium: Sixfields Stadium
Attendance: 4,434
25 January 1997 (1997-01-25) 29 Northampton Town 3–0 Hartlepool United Northampton
15:00 GMT N.Grayson   44', 45', 48' Stadium: Sixfields Stadium
Attendance: 5,093
1 February 1997 (1997-02-01) 30 Carlisle United 2–1 Northampton Town Carlisle
15:00 GMT P.Conway   47', 60' I.Clarkson   59'
C.Lee   77'
Stadium: Brunton Park
Attendance: 5,271
8 February 1997 (1997-02-08) 31 Northampton Town 1–2 Swansea City Northampton
15:00 GMT C.Lee   59' P.Brayson   23'
D.Penney   85' (pen.)
Stadium: Sixfields Stadium
Attendance: 6,178
15 February 1997 (1997-02-15) 32 Rochdale 1–1 Northampton Town Rochdale
15:00 GMT J.Deary   44' M.Rush   9' Stadium: Spotland Stadium
Attendance: 1,988
22 February 1997 (1997-02-22) 33 Northampton Town 2–0 Doncaster Rovers Northampton
15:00 GMT M.Cooper   12'
N.Grayson   41'
Stadium: Sixfields Stadium
Attendance: 4,577
1 March 1997 (1997-03-01) 34 Hull City 1–1 Northampton Town Kingston upon Hull
15:00 GMT D.Darby   24' R.Dewhurst   74' (o.g.) Stadium: Boothferry Park
Attendance: 3,495
4 March 1997 (1997-03-04) 35 Brighton & Hove Albion 2–1 Northampton Town Hove
19:45 GMT R.Reinelt   23'
J.Peake   81'
D.Peer   89' Stadium: Goldstone Ground
Attendance: 4,943
8 March 1997 (1997-03-08) 36 Hereford United 1–2 Northampton Town Hereford
15:00 GMT J.Williams   54'
A.Foster   90'
S.Parrish   9'
C.Lee   13'
Stadium: Edgar Street
Attendance: 8,043
15 March 1997 (1997-03-15) 37 Northampton Town 1–1 Lincoln City Northampton
15:00 GMT R.Hunter   90' (pen.) S.Holmes   65' Stadium: Sixfields Stadium
Attendance: 5,266
22 March 1997 (1997-03-22) 38 Mansfield Town 1–0 Northampton Town Mansfield
15:00 GMT S.Eustace   83' Stadium: Field Mill
Attendance: 2,596
29 March 1997 (1997-03-29) 39 Northampton Town 0–1 Wigan Athletic Northampton
15:00 GMT D.Lowe   90' Stadium: Sixfields Stadium
Attendance: 5,914
31 March 1997 (1997-03-31) 40 Torquay United 1–2 Northampton Town Torquay
15:00 BST R.Jack   28' S.Parrish   17'
I.Sampson   19'
Stadium: Plainmoor
Attendance: 2,336
5 April 1997 (1997-04-05) 41 Northampton Town 1–0 Scarborough Northampton
15:00 BST R.Hunter   54' (pen.) Stadium: Sixfields Stadium
Attendance: 4,854
8 April 1997 (1997-04-08) 42 Cambridge United 0–0 Northampton Town Cambridge
19:45 BST Stadium: Abbey Stadium
Attendance: 4,412
12 April 1997 (1997-04-12) 43 Fulham 0–1 Northampton Town Fulham, London
15:00 BST J.White   7' Stadium: Craven Cottage
Attendance: 11,419
19 April 1997 (1997-04-19) 44 Northampton Town 4–1 Exeter City Northampton
15:00 BST S.Parrish   44'
M.Cooper   47', 53'
J.Gayle   71'
D.Rowbotham   90' (pen.) Stadium: Sixfields Stadium
Attendance: 6,400
26 April 1997 (1997-04-26) 45 Colchester United 0–0 Northampton Town Colchester
15:00 BST Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 5,956
Referee: Paul Rejer
3 May 1997 (1997-05-03) 46 Northampton Town 1–0 Scunthorpe United Northampton
15:00 BST S.Parrish   74' Stadium: Sixfields Stadium
Attendance: 6,828

Play-offs edit

11 May 1997 (1997-05-11) Semi-final 1st Leg Cardiff City 0–1 Northampton Town Cardiff, Wales
12:00 BST M.Cooper   70'
S.Parrish   77'
Stadium: Ninian Park
Attendance: 11,369
Referee: John Kirkby
14 May 1997 (1997-05-14) Semi-final 2nd Leg Northampton Town 3–2
(4–2 agg.)
Cardiff City Northampton
19:45 BST I.Sampson   23'
R.Warburton   68'
J.Gayle   77'
J.Eckhardt   25'
J.Fowler   36'
S.Haworth   90'
Stadium: Sixfields Stadium
Attendance: 7,302
Referee: Uriah Rennie
24 May 1997 (1997-05-24) Final Northampton Town 1–0 Swansea City London
15:00 BST J.Frain   90' Stadium: Wembley Stadium
Attendance: 46,804
Referee: Terry Heilbron

FA Cup edit

17 November 1996 (1996-11-17) First round Northampton Town 0–1 Watford Northampton
13:00 GMT D.Rowbotham   32' D.Bazeley   71' Stadium: Sixfields Stadium
Attendance: 7,342

Coca-Cola Cup edit

20 August 1996 (1996-08-20) First round 1st leg Cardiff City 1–0 Northampton Town Cardiff
19:30 BST C.Dale   54' Stadium: Ninian Park
Attendance: 2,294
3 September 1996 (1996-09-03) First round 2nd leg Northampton Town 2–0 Cardiff City Northampton
19:45 BST M.Cooper   21'
C.Lee   62', 78'
Stadium: Sixfields Stadium
Attendance: 3,567
18 September 1996 (1996-09-18) Second round 1st leg Stoke City 1–0 Northampton Town Stoke-on-Trent
19:45 BST N.Worthington   50' Stadium: Victoria Ground
Attendance: 6,093
24 September 1996 (1996-09-24) Second round 2nd leg Northampton Town 1–2 (a.e.t.) Stoke City Northampton
19:45 BST J.Gayle   o.g.' M.Sheron   100', 108' Stadium: Sixfields Stadium
Attendance: 5,088

Auto Windscreens Shield edit

4 February 1997 (1997-02-04) Second round (s) Northampton Town 1–0 Luton Town Northampton
19:45 GMT M.Rush   Stadium: Sixfields Stadium
Attendance: 4,201
11 February 1997 (1997-02-11) Quarter-final (s) Plymouth Argyle 1–2 Northampton Town Plymouth
19:45 GMT D.Martin  
J.Gayle  
Stadium: Home Park
Attendance: 1,499
18 February 1997 (1997-02-18) Semi-final (s) Colchester United 2–1 Northampton Town Colchester
19:45 GMT J.Vaughan   22'
D.Greene   66'
P.Buckle   75'
Report D.Martin   67' Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 3,975
Referee: Neale Barry

Appearances, goals and cards edit

Pos Player Division Three FA Cup League Cup League Trophy Play-offs Total Discipline
Starts Sub Goals Starts Sub Goals Starts Sub Goals Starts Sub Goals Starts Sub Goals Starts Sub Goals    
GK Stuart Brock
GK Billy Turley 1 1
GK Andy Woodman 45 1 4 3 3 56 1
DF Ian Clarkson 45 1 4 3 3 56 8 1
DF Lee Colkin 1 5 1 1 3 2 2 11
DF John Frain 11 3 3 1 17 1 2
DF Lee Maddison 34 1 1 3 1 2 40 1 5
DF David Rennie 42 1 4 4 2 3 51 1 4 2
DF Ian Sampson 43 4 1 4 3 3 1 54 5 11
DF Ray Warburton 35 4 1 3 3 1 42 5 1
MF Ali Gibb 6 12 1 3 1 1 9 14 1 1
MF Roy Hunter 26 10 6 1 4 1 3 35 10 6 6
MF Dave Martin 10 2 2 2 12 2 2 1
MF Danny O'Shea 32 3 1 4 1 1 38 4 4 1
MF Sean Parrish 37 2 8 1 3 1 3 1 44 3 9 11
MF Dean Peer 7 14 1 1 1 1 1 3 9 19 1 1 1
MF Michael Warner 1 8 1 1 2 9
FW Mark Cooper 37 4 10 1 3 1 42 4 10 7 2
FW Claudio De Vito
FW John Gayle 7 2 1 2 1 3 1 12 2 3 3
FW Neil Grayson 38 8 12 1 3 1 2 3 47 9 12 6
FW Christian Lee 12 17 7 1 1 2 2 1 2 16 20 9 1
FW Garry Thompson 1 1
FW Jason White 16 16 2 1 1 3 1 1 1 1 20 21 2 1
Players who left before end of season:
DF Ryan Kirby 1 1
MF Chris Burns 6 1 7 1
W Neil Lyne 1 1 1
W Matthew Rush 14 3 1 1 15 4 1
FW Allan Smart 1 1
FW Phil Stant 4 1 2 4 1 2

References edit

  1. ^ Rollin, Glenda; Rollin, Jack, eds. (1997). Rothmans Football Yearbook 1997–98. London: Headline Publishing Group. p. 260. ISBN 978-0-7472-7738-5.
  2. ^ "England 1996–97". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Archived from the original on 28 March 2010. Retrieved 24 February 2010.

Books

  • Grande, Frank (1997). Northampton Town F.C.: The Official Centenary History. London: Yore Publications. ISBN 978-1874427674.