1976–77 Northampton Town F.C. season

The 1976–77 season was Northampton Town's 80th season in their history and the first season back in the Third Division following promotion the previous season. Alongside competing in Division Three, the club also participated in the FA Cup and League Cup.

Northampton Town
1976–77 season
ChairmanNeville Ronson
ManagerPat Crerand
StadiumCounty Ground
Division Three22nd
FA CupFirst round
League CupFirst round
Top goalscorerLeague: Paul Stratford (12)
All: Paul Stratford (13)
Highest home attendance7,782 vs Brighton & Hove Albion
Lowest home attendance3,911 vs Chesterfield
Average home league attendance5,750

Players

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As of match played 7 May 1977.[1]
Name Position Nat. Place of Birth Date of Birth (Age) Apps Goals Previous club Date signed Fee
Goalkeepers
Jeff Parton GK   Swansea (1953-02-24)24 February 1953 (aged 24) 18 0 Burnley Summer 1975
Defenders
Steve Bryant LB   London (1953-09-05)5 September 1953 (aged 23) 28 0 Birmingham City December 1976
John Gregory U   Scunthorpe (1954-05-11)11 May 1954 (aged 22) 203 10 Apprentice Summer 1972 N/A
Alex Malcolm LB   Hamilton (1956-02-13)13 February 1956 (aged 21) 2 0 Luton Town August 1976
Stuart Robertson CB   Nottingham (1946-12-16)16 December 1946 (aged 30) 194 20 Doncaster Rovers Summer 1972
Barry Tucker FB   Swansea (1952-08-28)28 August 1952 (aged 24) 202 2 Apprentice August 1970 N/A
Midfielders
Billy Best (c) U   Glasgow (1942-09-07)7 September 1942 (aged 34) 233 53 Southend United Summer 1973
Derrick Christie W   Bletchley (1957-03-15)15 March 1957 (aged 20) 89 7 Apprentice January 1974 N/A
John Farrington W   Lynemouth (1947-06-19)19 June 1947 (aged 29) 121 11 Cardiff City Summer 1974
Don Martin U   Corby (1944-02-15)15 February 1944 (aged 33) 223 72 Blackburn Rovers November 1975
Andy McGowan CM   Corby (1956-07-17)17 July 1956 (aged 20) 77 8 Apprentice June 1975 N/A
Keith Williams CM   Dudley (1957-04-12)12 April 1957 (aged 20) 17 1 Aston Villa February 1977
Forwards
Keith Bowen FW   Northampton (1958-02-26)26 February 1958 (aged 19) 1 0 Apprentice Summer 1976 N/A
Jim Hall FW   Northampton (1945-03-21)21 March 1945 (aged 32) 125 34 Peterborough United Summer 1975
Ray Haywood FW   Dudley (1949-01-12)12 January 1949 (aged 28) 13 2 Shrewsbury Town March 1977
George Reilly FW   Bellshill (1957-09-14)14 September 1957 (aged 19) 23 2 Corby Town June 1976
Paul Stratford FW   Northampton (1955-09-04)4 September 1955 (aged 21) 186 61 Apprentice Summer 1972 N/A

Competitions

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Division Three

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League table

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion or relegation
20 Portsmouth 46 11 14 21 53 70 −17 36
21 Reading 46 13 9 24 49 73 −24 35 Relegated
22 Northampton Town 46 13 8 25 60 75 −15 34
23 Grimsby Town 46 12 9 25 45 69 −24 33
24 York City 46 10 12 24 50 89 −39 32
Source: rsssf.com

Results summary

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Overall Home Away
Pld W D L GF GA GAv Pts W D L GF GA Pts W D L GF GA Pts
46 13 8 25 60 75 0.8 34 9 4 10 33 29 22 4 4 15 27 46 12

Last updated: 9 April 2020.
Source: [citation needed]

League position by match

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Round12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940414243444546
GroundAAHAHAHHAHAAHHAHAAHHAHHHAAHAAHAHAHHAHHAAHHAHAA
ResultDLWDLLLLLWLWLDLWLDLLLLLWWLLDWWWLLWWLDWLLWDLDLL
Position141689141922232420222021222322232323232323232323242424242122222220172020202121201919192022
Source: 11v11.com
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Matches

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  Win   Draw   Loss

21 August 1976 (1976-08-21) 1 Chesterfield 0–0 Northampton Town Chesterfield
15:00 BST Stadium: Saltergate
Attendance: 4,052
25 August 1976 (1976-08-25) 2 Sheffield Wednesday 2–1 Northampton Town Sheffield
19:30 BST D.Christie   Stadium: Hillsborough Stadium
Attendance: 11,684
Referee: G P Owen
28 August 1976 (1976-08-28) 3 Northampton Town 1–0 Lincoln City Northampton
15:00 BST D.Christie   Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 6,350
4 September 1976 (1976-09-04) 4 Gillingham 1–1 Northampton Town Gillingham
15:00 BST J.Hall   Stadium: Priestfield Stadium
Attendance: 5,375
11 September 1976 (1976-09-11) 5 Northampton Town 1–2 Reading Northampton
15:00 BST S.Robertson   Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 6,176
18 September 1976 (1976-09-18) 6 Shrewsbury Town 3–0 Northampton Town Shrewsbury
15:00 BST Stadium: Gay Meadow
Attendance: 4,191
25 September 1976 (1976-09-25) 7 Northampton Town 0–1 Walsall Northampton
15:00 BST Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 5,656
Referee: Colin Gardner
1 October 1976 (1976-10-01) 8 Northampton Town 0–2 Wrexham Northampton
19:30 BST Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 5,114
Referee: Jim Bent
8 October 1976 (1976-10-08) 9 Port Vale 2–1 Northampton Town Burslem
15:00 BST D.Brownbill  
J.Rogers  
S.Phillips   Stadium: Vale Park
Attendance: 3,962
15 October 1976 (1976-10-15) 10 Northampton Town 3–1 Portsmouth Northampton
19:30 BST J.Hall  
S.Robertson  
G.Reilly  
Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 4,805
23 October 1976 (1976-10-23) 11 Swindon Town 5–1 Northampton Town Swindon
15:00 BST T.Anderson   21' (pen.), 87' (pen.)
D.Moss   43'
J.McLaughlin   79'
D.Syrett   89'
Report A.McGowan   70' Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 7,483
Referee: Clive Thomas
26 October 1976 (1976-10-26) 12 York City 1–4 Northampton Town York
19:30 GMT D.Christie    
J.Farrington  
P.Stratford  
Stadium: Bootham Crescent
Attendance: 2,634
30 October 1976 (1976-10-30) 13 Northampton Town 0–2 Brighton & Hove Albion Northampton
15:00 GMT Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 7,782
Referee: Ken Salmon
2 November 1976 (1976-11-02) 14 Northampton Town 2–2 Peterborough United Northampton
19:30 GMT P.Stratford  
  o.g.'
Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 7,483
6 November 1976 (1976-11-06) 15 Preston North End 3–0 Northampton Town Preston
15:00 GMT [ Stadium: Deepdale
Attendance: 7,306
13 November 1976 (1976-11-13) 16 Northampton Town 1–0 Oxford United Northampton
15:00 GMT S.Robertson   Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 7,021
27 November 1976 (1976-11-27) 17 Chester City 2–1 Northampton Town Chester
15:00 GMT A.Oakes  
I.Edwards  
S.Phillips   Stadium: Sealand Road
Attendance: 3,721
18 December 1976 (1976-12-18) 18 Crystal Palace 1–1 Northampton Town Selhurst, London
15:00 GMT A.McGowan   Stadium: Selhurst Park
Attendance: 11,032
27 December 1976 (1976-12-27) 19 Northampton Town 1–4 Rotherham United Northampton
15:00 GMT J.Gregory   Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 6,963
1 January 1977 (1977-01-01) 20 Northampton Town 0–1 Preston North End Northampton
15:00 GMT Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 5,024
3 January 1977 (1977-01-03) 21 Brighton and Hove Albion 2–0 Northampton Town Hove
15:00 GMT Stadium: Goldstone Ground
Attendance: 22,517
7 January 1977 (1977-01-07) 22 Northampton Town 3–4 Tranmere Rovers Northampton
19:30 GMT B.Best  
D.Martin  
P.Stratford  
Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 4,267
15 January 1977 (1977-01-15) 23 Northampton Town 0–2 Sheffield Wednesday Northampton
15:00 GMT Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 5,828
22 January 1977 (1977-01-22) 24 Northampton Town 2–1 Chesterfield Northampton
15:00 GMT B.Best  
J.Gilligan  
Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 3,911
29 January 1977 (1977-01-29) 25 Grimsby Town 0–1 Northampton Town Cleethorpes
15:00 GMT J.Farrington   Stadium: Blundell Park
Attendance: 3,909
5 February 1977 (1977-02-05) 26 Lincoln City 5–4 Northampton Town Lincoln
15:00 GMT B.Best      
S.Robertson  
Stadium: Sincil Bank
Attendance: 5,869
12 February 1977 (1977-02-12) 27 Northampton Town 1–2 Gillingham Northampton
15:00 GMT J.Farrington   Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 4,391
15 February 1977 (1977-02-15) 28 Bury 1–1 Northampton Town Bury
19:30 GMT J.Farrington   Stadium: Gigg Lane
Attendance: 3,809
19 February 1977 (1977-02-19) 29 Reading 2–4 Northampton Town Reading
15:00 GMT D.Christie  
A.McGowan    
P.Stratford  
Stadium: Elm Park
Attendance: 5,051
26 February 1977 (1977-02-26) 30 Northampton Town 5–3 Shrewsbury Town Northampton
15:00 GMT B.Best    
J.Gregory  
D.Martin  
P.Stratford  
Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 5,112
5 March 1977 (1977-03-05) 31 Walsall 0–3 Northampton Town Walsall
15:00 GMT D.Martin  
P.Stratford    
Stadium: Fellows Park
Attendance: 4,806
8 March 1977 (1977-03-08) 32 Northampton Town 0–1 Mansfield Town Northampton
19:30 GMT Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 7,283
12 March 1977 (1977-03-12) 33 Wrexham 3–1 Northampton Town Wrexham, Wales
15:00 GMT B.Best   Stadium: Racecourse Ground
Attendance: 6,775
15 March 1977 (1977-03-15) 34 Northampton Town 3–0 Crystal Palace Northampton
19:30 GMT J.Gregory  
R.Haywood  
P.Stratford  
Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 6,253
19 March 1977 (1977-03-19) 35 Northampton Town 3–0 Port Vale Northampton
15:00 GMT B.Best  
P.Stratford    
Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 5,808
26 March 1977 (1977-03-26) 36 Portsmouth 2–1 Northampton Town Portsmouth
15:00 BST P.Stratford   Stadium: Fratton Park
Attendance: 9,195
1 April 1977 (1977-04-01) 37 Northampton Town 1–1 Swindon Town Northampton
19:30 BST B.Best   77' Report C.Prophett   83' Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 5,609
9 April 1977 (1977-04-09) 38 Northampton Town 3–0 Bury Northampton
15:00 BST B.Best  
P.Stratford  
  o.g.'
Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 5,262
11 April 1977 (1977-04-11) 39 Rotherham United 2–0 Northampton Town Rotherham
15:00 BST Stadium: Millmoor
Attendance: 7,286
12 April 1977 (1977-04-12) 40 Peterborough United 3–1 Northampton Town Peterborough
19:30 BST J.Gregory   Stadium: London Road
Attendance: 7,286
16 April 1977 (1977-04-16) 41 Northampton Town 3–0 York City Northampton
15:00 BST B.Best  
G.Reilly  
K.Williams  
Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 5,427
19 April 1977 (1977-04-19) 42 Northampton Town 0–0 Grimsby Town Northampton
19:30 BST Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 5,699
23 April 1977 (1977-04-23) 43 Oxford United 1–0 Northampton Town Oxford
15:00 BST Stadium: Manor Ground
Attendance: 5,075
29 April 1977 (1977-04-29) 44 Northampton Town 0–0 Chester City Northampton
19:30 BST Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 5,015
2 May 1977 (1977-05-02) 45 Tranmere Rovers 2–1 Northampton Town Birkenhead
15:00 BST R.Haywood   Stadium: Prenton Park
Attendance: 2,030
7 May 1977 (1977-05-07) 46 Mansfield Town 3–0 Northampton Town Mansfield
15:00 BST Stadium: Field Mill
Attendance: 11,314

FA Cup

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20 November 1976 (1976-11-20) First round Leatherhead 2–0 Northampton Town Leatherhead
15:00 GMT Stadium: Fetcham Grove
Attendance: 3,550

League Cup

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14 August 1976 (1976-08-14) First round 1st leg Swindon Town 3–2 Northampton Town Swindon
19:30 BST K.Stroud   24'
H.Goddard   75'
D.Syrett   85'
Report D.Christie  
J.Gregory  
Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 6,353
18 August 1976 (1976-08-18) First round 2nd leg Northampton Town 2–0 Swindon Town Northampton
19:30 BST D.Martin  
P.Stratford  
Report Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 7,037
31 August 1976 (1976-08-31) Second round Northampton Town 0–1 Huddersfield Town Northampton
19:30 BST Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 6,641

Appearances and goals

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Pos Player Division Three FA Cup League Cup Total
Starts Sub Goals Starts Sub Goals Starts Sub Goals Starts Sub Goals
GK Jeff Parton 12 1 13
DF Steve Bryant 28 28
DF John Gregory 46 4 1 3 1 50 5
DF Alex Malcolm 2 2
DF Stuart Robertson 41 4 1 3 45 4
DF Barry Tucker 37 1 3 41
MF Billy Best 40 11 1 3 44 11
MF Derrick Christie 37 7 5 1 3 1 41 7 6
MF John Farrington 35 6 4 1 2 35 9 4
MF Andy McGowan 25 6 4 3 28 6 4
MF Don Martin 32 5 3 1 3 1 36 5 4
MF Keith Williams 17 1 17 1
FW Keith Bowen 1 1
FW Ray Haywood 11 2 2 11 2 2
FW George Reilly 19 3 2 1 20 3 2
FW Paul Stratford 40 2 12 1 3 1 44 2 13
Players who left before end of season:
GK Alan Starling 26 3 29
GK Bob Ward 8 8
DF Dave Carlton 6 6
DF Ian Ross 2 2
MF John Gilligan 5 1 5 1
FW Keith Bowker 4 4
FW Jim Hall 11 2 1 3 15 2
FW Bobby Owen 5 5
FW Steve Phillips 16 1 2 1 3 20 1 2

References

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  1. ^ Rothmans Football Yearbook 1977/78, p.270.

Books

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