Wikipedia

1973–74 Northampton Town F.C. season

The 1973–74 season was Northampton Town's 77th season in their history and the fifth successive season in the Fourth Division. Alongside competing in Division Four, the club also participated in the FA Cup and League Cup.

Northampton Town
1973–74 season
ChairmanNeville Ronson
ManagerBill Dodgin Jr.
StadiumCounty Ground
Division Four5th
FA CupSecond round
League CupFirst round
Top goalscorerLeague: Paul Stratford (13)
All: John Buchanan (15)
Paul Stratford (15)
Highest home attendance11,378 vs Peterborough United
Lowest home attendance2,995 vs Banbury United
Average home league attendance5,424

Players edit

As of match played 25 April 1975.[1]
Name Position Nat. Place of Birth Date of Birth (Age) Apps Goals Previous club Date signed Fee
Goalkeepers
Alan Starling GK   Dagenham (1951-04-02)2 April 1951 (aged 23) 135 0 Luton Town June 1971
Defenders
Dietmar Bruck RB   Danzig (1944-04-19)19 April 1944 (aged 30) 44 0 Charlton Athletic June 1972 N/A
John Clarke CB   Northampton (1945-10-23)23 October 1945 (aged 28) 255 1 Apprentice July 1965 N/A
John Gregory U   Scunthorpe (1954-05-11)11 May 1954 (aged 19) 59 0 Apprentice Summer 1972 N/A
Phil Neal U   Irchester (1951-02-20)20 February 1951 (aged 23) 195 27 Apprentice July 1968 N/A
Alan Oman FB   Newcastle upon Tyne (1952-10-06)6 October 1952 (aged 21) 73 2 Apprentice October 1970 N/A
Stuart Robertson CB   Nottingham (1946-12-16)16 December 1946 (aged 27) 68 7 Doncaster Rovers Summer 1972
Barry Tucker FB   Swansea (1952-08-28)28 August 1952 (aged 21) 69 0 Apprentice August 1970 N/A
Midfielders
Billy Best (c) U   Glasgow (1942-09-07)7 September 1942 (aged 31) 91 24 Southend United Summer 1973
John Buchanan W   Dingwall (1951-09-19)19 September 1951 (aged 22) 112 26 Ross County October 1970
Dave Carlton CM   Stepney (1952-11-24)24 November 1952 (aged 21) 35 0 Fulham October 1973
Derrick Christie W   Bletchley (1957-03-15)15 March 1957 (aged 17) 3 0 Apprentice January 1974 N/A
Graham Felton W   Cambridge (1949-03-01)1 March 1949 (aged 25) 261 26 Apprentice September 1966 N/A
Bobby Park CM   Edinburgh (1946-07-03)3 July 1946 (aged 27) 25 0 Peterborough United February 1973
Robin Wainwright CM   Luton (1951-03-09)9 March 1951 (aged 23) 1 0 Millwall February 1974 Loan
Forwards
Tony Buck FW   Clowne (1944-08-18)18 August 1944 (aged 29) 18 3 Rochdale January 1973
Malcolm John FW   Bridgend (1950-12-09)9 December 1950 (aged 23) 13 4 Bristol Rovers March 1974 Loan
Paul Stratford FW   Northampton (1955-09-04)4 September 1955 (aged 18) 59 16 Apprentice Summer 1972 N/A

Competitions edit

Division Four edit

Main article: 1973–74 Football League § Fourth Division

League table edit

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GAv Pts Promotion or relegation
3 Colchester United 46 24 12 10 73 36 2.028 60 Promoted
4 Bury 46 24 11 11 81 49 1.653 59
5 Northampton Town 46 20 13 13 63 48 1.313 53
6 Reading 46 16 19 11 58 37 1.568 51
7 Chester 46 17 15 14 54 55 0.982 49
Source: rsssf.com

Results summary edit

Overall Home Away
Pld W D L GF GA GAv Pts W D L GF GA Pts W D L GF GA Pts
46 20 13 13 63 48 1.313 53 14 7 2 39 14 35 6 6 11 24 34 18

Last updated: 7 February 2024.
Source: [citation needed]

League position by match edit

Round12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940414243444546
GroundHAHHAAHAHHAHAAHAHAHHAAHAHAHHAHAHHAAHHAAHHAAAHA
ResultWLDWDDWLWDDLLLWWWLWWLLWLWWDDWWLDWDLWDWWLDWDLWD
Position1114578675671111121110912109111311139988556655555556655655
Source: 11v11.com
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Matches edit

  Win   Draw   Loss

25 August 1973 (1973-08-25) 1 Northampton Town 3–1 Rotherham United Northampton
15:00 BST S.Robertson  
G.Felton  
P.Neal  		 Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 4,098
1 September 1973 (1973-09-01) 2 Mansfield Town 2–0 Northampton Town Mansfield
15:00 BST T.Eccles  
D.Roberts  		 Stadium: Field Mill
Attendance: 3,109
7 September 1973 (1973-09-07) 3 Northampton Town 0–0 Colchester United Northampton
19:30 BST Report Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 4,916
Referee: Ronnie Marshall
11 September 1973 (1973-09-11) 4 Northampton Town 1–0 Newport County Northampton
19:30 BST J.Buchanan   Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 4,061
14 September 1973 (1973-09-14) 5 Stockport County 2–2 Northampton Town Stockport
19:30 BST P.Stratford  
G.Riddick  		 Stadium: Edgeley Park
Attendance: 3,552
18 September 1973 (1973-09-18) 6 Swansea City 1–1 Northampton Town Swansea, Wales
19:30 BST S.Robertson   Stadium: Vetch Field
Attendance: 1,301
21 September 1973 (1973-09-21) 7 Northampton Town 2–0 Scunthorpe United Northampton
19:30 BST P.Stratford     Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 5,049
29 September 1973 (1973-09-29) 8 Workington 1–0 Northampton Town Workington
15:00 BST Stadium: Borough Park
Attendance: 970
2 October 1973 (1973-10-02) 9 Northampton Town 2–0 Swansea City Northampton
19:30 BST J.Buchanan  
S.Robertson  		 Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 5,287
5 October 1973 (1973-10-05) 10 Northampton Town 0–0 Torquay United Northampton
19:30 BST Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 6,640
13 October 1973 (1973-10-13) 11 Bradford City 1–1 Northampton Town Bradford
15:00 BST P.Stratford   Stadium: Valley Parade
Attendance: 3,343
20 October 1973 (1973-10-20) 12 Northampton Town 1–2 Exeter City Northampton
15:00 BST P.Stratford   Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 4,923
23 October 1973 (1973-10-23) 13 Newport County 3–1 Northampton Town Newport, Wales
19:15 BST R.Jones  
S.Aizlewood  
H.Jarman  		 P.Neal   pen.' Stadium: Somerton Park
Attendance: 3,592
27 October 1973 (1973-10-27) 14 Bury 3–1 Northampton Town Bury
15:15 BST P.Stratford   Stadium: Gigg Lane
Attendance: 4,360
3 November 1973 (1973-11-03) 15 Northampton Town 1–0 Hartlepool Northampton
15:00 GMT P.Stratford   Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 3,715
10 November 1973 (1973-11-10) 16 Darlington 2–3 Northampton Town Darlington
15:00 GMT P.Neal  
J.Buchanan  
B.Best  		 Stadium: Feethams
Attendance: 2,063
13 November 1973 (1973-11-13) 17 Northampton Town 2–1 Barnsley Northampton
19:30 GMT A.Oman  
J.Clarke  		 Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 4,299
17 November 1973 (1973-11-17) 18 Peterborough United 3–0 Northampton Town Peterborough
14:15 GMT Stadium: London Road
Attendance: 10,351
8 December 1973 (1973-12-08) 19 Northampton Town 1–0 Lincoln City Northampton
15:00 GMT B.Best   Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 3,464
22 December 1973 (1973-12-22) 20 Northampton Town 1–0 Workington Northampton
15:00 GMT D.Krzywicki   Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 4,038
26 December 1973 (1973-12-26) 21 Gillingham 3–1 Northampton Town Gillingham
15:00 GMT B.Yeo       G.Felton   Stadium: Priestfield
Attendance: 11,313
29 December 1973 (1973-12-29) 22 Colchester United 1–0 Northampton Town Colchester
14:00 GMT B.Dyson   77' (pen.) Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 5,042
Referee: Brian Martin
1 January 1974 (1974-01-01) 23 Northampton Town 2–0 Mansfield Town Northampton
15:00 GMT P.Neal   pen.'
D.Krzywicki  		 Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 6,231
5 January 1974 (1974-01-05) 24 Hartlepool 1–0 Northampton Town Hartlepool
14:00 GMT Stadium: Victoria Park
Attendance: 2,078
12 January 1974 (1974-01-12) 25 Northampton Town 2–0 Stockport County Northampton
14:00 GMT D.Krzywicki  
P.Stratford  		 Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 3,396
20 January 1974 (1974-01-20) 26 Rotherham United 1–2 Northampton Town Rotherham
14:00 GMT J.Buchanan     Stadium: Millmoor
Attendance: 4,609
Referee: Derek Richardson
27 January 1974 (1974-01-27) 27 Northampton Town 2–2 Reading Northampton
14:30 GMT B.Best    
P.Stratford  		 Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 7,599
2 February 1974 (1974-02-02) 28 Northampton Town 0–0 Brentford Northampton
14:30 GMT Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 4,130
10 February 1974 (1974-02-10) 29 Scunthorpe United 1–2 Northampton Town Scunthorpe
14:30 GMT J.Buchanan  
P.Stratford  		 Stadium: Old Show Ground
Attendance: 3,603
Referee: Bob Armstrong
17 February 1974 (1974-02-17) 30 Northampton Town 3–0 Bradford City Northampton
14:45 GMT J.Buchanan  
P.Neal  
S.Robertson  		 Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 8,146
24 February 1974 (1974-02-24) 31 Torquay United 1–0 Northampton Town Torquay
15:00 GMT Stadium: Plainmoor
Attendance: 4,186
Referee: John Gow
3 March 1974 (1974-03-03) 32 Northampton Town 0–0 Gillingham Northampton
15:00 GMT Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 8,583
9 March 1974 (1974-03-09) 33 Northampton Town 3–1 Bury Northampton
15:00 GMT B.Best  
J.Buchanan    		 Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 4,884
16 March 1974 (1974-03-16) 34 Exeter City 1–1 Northampton Town Exeter
15:00 GMT G.Felton   Stadium: St James Park
Attendance: 4,052
18 March 1974 (1974-03-18) 35 Brentford 3–1 Northampton Town Brentford, London
17:15 BST R.Cross  
D.Simmons  
B.Salvage  		 M.John   Stadium: Griffin Park
Attendance: 3,686
24 March 1974 (1974-03-24) 36 Northampton Town 5–0 Darlington Northampton
15:00 BST M.John  
B.Best  
P.Neal   pen.'
P.Stratford    		 Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 5,416
26 March 1974 (1974-03-26) 37 Northampton Town 3–3 Chester Northampton
19:30 BST P.Neal   pen.'
J.Buchanan  
M.John  		 B.Tucker   o.g.'
N.Whitehead  
J.Redfern  		 Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 5,969
Referee: Alan Robinson
3 April 1974 (1974-04-03) 38 Reading 1–2 Northampton Town Reading
19:30 BST J.Buchanan     Stadium: Elm Park
Attendance: 7,055
6 April 1974 (1974-04-06) 39 Barnsley 0–2 Northampton Town Barnsley
15:00 BST P.Neal  
M.John  		 Stadium: Oakwell
Attendance: 3,646
13 April 1974 (1974-04-13) 40 Northampton Town 0–1 Peterborough United Northampton
15:00 BST Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 11,378
Referee: Terry Bosi
15 April 1974 (1974-04-15) 41 Northampton Town 1–1 Crewe Alexandra Northampton
15:00 BST P.Neal   Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 5,389
Referee: Tony Glasson
16 April 1974 (1974-04-16) 42 Crewe Alexandra 0–2 Northampton Town Crewe
19:30 BST P.Stratford     Stadium: Gresty Road
Attendance: 1,498
20 April 1974 (1974-04-20) 43 Lincoln City 1–1 Northampton Town Lincoln
15:00 BST G.Felton   Stadium: Sincil Bank
Attendance: 2,530
23 April 1974 (1974-04-23) 44 Doncaster Rovers 2–1 Northampton Town Doncaster
19:30 BST P.Stratford   Stadium: Belle Vue
Attendance: 1,561
Note: Fixture was previously postponed on December 1, 1973.[2]
27 April 1974 (1974-04-27) 45 Northampton Town 3–1 Doncaster Rovers Northampton
15:00 BST J.Buchanan  
B.Best  
G.Felton  		 Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 3,137
Referee: Peter Walters
1 May 1974 (1974-05-01) 46 Chester 0–0 Northampton Town Doncaster
19:30 BST Stadium: Sealand Road
Attendance: 1,928

FA Cup edit

Main article: 1973–74 FA Cup
24 November 1973 (1973-11-24) First round Banbury United 0–0 Northampton Town Banbury
14:15 GMT Stadium: Spencer Stadium
Attendance: 4,800
29 November 1973 (1973-11-29) First round (r) Northampton Town 3–2 Banbury United Northampton
13:45 GMT G.Felton  
S.Robertson  
B.Best  		 Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 2,995
15 December 1973 (1973-12-15) Second round Northampton Town 1–2 Bristol Rovers Northampton
15:00 GMT J.Buchanan   Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 6,181

League Cup edit

Main article: 1973–74 Football League Cup
28 August 1973 (1973-08-28) First round Grimsby Town 2–1 Northampton Town Cleethorpes
19:30 BST J.Buchanan   Stadium: Blundell Park
Attendance: 7,829

Appearances and goals edit

Pos Player Division Four FA Cup League Cup Total
Starts Sub Goals Starts Sub Goals Starts Sub Goals Starts Sub Goals
GK Alan Starling 46 – – 3 – – 1 – – 50 – –
DF Dietmar Bruck 15 – – – – – 1 – – 16 – –
DF John Clarke 39 3 1 1 – – – 1 – 40 4 1
DF John Gregory 46 – – 3 – – 1 – – 50 – –
DF Phil Neal 46 – 9 3 – – 1 – – 50 – 9
DF Alan Oman 17 5 1 2 – – 1 – – 20 5 1
DF Stuart Robertson 31 – 4 3 – 1 1 – – 35 – 5
DF Barry Tucker 33 1 – 3 – – – – – 36 1 –
MF Billy Best 38 1 7 3 – 1 – – – 41 1 8
MF John Buchanan 40 2 13 3 – 1 1 – 1 44 2 15
MF Dave Carlton 32 – – 2 – – – – – 34 – –
MF Derrick Christie 1 2 – – – – – – – 1 2 –
MF Graham Felton 43 1 5 3 – 1 1 – – 47 1 6
MF Bobby Park 3 3 – – – – 1 – – 4 3 –
MF Robin Wainwright – 1 – – – – – – – – 1 –
FW Tony Buck 1 1 – 1 – – – – – 2 1 –
FW Malcolm John 13 – 4 – – – – – – 13 – 4
FW Paul Stratford 45 – 15 3 – – 1 – – 49 – 15
Players who left before end of season:
MF Gordon Riddick 8 – 1 – – – 1 – – 9 – 1
MF Peter Hawkins 1 – – – – – – – – 1 – –
FW Dick Krzywicki 8 – 3 – – – – – – 8 – 3
FW Derek Watts – 1 – – – – – – – – 1 –

References edit

  1. ^ Rothmans Football Yearbook 1974/75, p.270.
  2. ^ "1973/74 Division 4". ntfcmemorabilia.weebly.com. 7 February 2024. Retrieved 7 February 2024.

Books

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