Northampton Town Club Profile

Northampton Town Football Club was formed in 1897 by school teachers from the Northampton and District Elementary Schools' Association. The club gained entry to the Football League as original members of Division Three in 1920.

The Cobblers were runners-up in Division Three South on two occasions, 1928 and 1950, but could not escape that division and were placed in Division Four when the north and south sections merged in 1958.

The early 1960s were a stellar period for the club after they rose from the basement division to the top flight with promotions in 1961, 1963 and 1965. However, Town then suffered three relegations in four seasons and they were back in Division four by the end of that decade.

Northampton then won promotion as runners-up to Lincoln in Division Four in 1976 but once again they couldn't cope with life at a higher level and were relegated the following year.

In 1987 the club stormed to the Fourth Division title after gaining 99 points and scoring 103 goals, with Northmapton Town players Richard Hill and Trevor Morley forming a formidable strike partnership. But the subsequent sale of the majority of their best players led to their relegation in 1990.

In 1994, Northampton actually finished bottom of the Football League but they were spared demotion to the Conference because Kidderminster's ground did not meet the necessary requirements.

A move to a new stadium, Sixfields, brought an upturn in fortunes and they won promotion under manager Ian Adkins after winning the play-offs in 1997, only to be relegated two years later.

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