1986–87 Northampton Town F.C. season

The 1986–87 season was Northampton Town's 90th season in their history and the tenth successive season in the Fourth Division. Alongside competing in Division Four, the club also participated in the FA Cup, League Cup and Associate Members' Cup.

Northampton Town
1986–87 season
ChairmanDerek Banks
ManagerGraham Carr
StadiumCounty Ground
Division Four1st
FA CupThird round
Littlewoods CupFirst round
Freight Rover TrophyFirst round (s)
Top goalscorerLeague: Richard Hill (29)
All: Richard Hill (33)
Highest home attendance11,138 vs Cardiff City
Lowest home attendance3,558 vs Torquay United
Average home league attendance6,316

Players edit

As of match played 9 May 1987.[1]
Name Position Nat. Place of Birth Date of Birth (Age) Apps Goals Previous club Date signed Fee
Goalkeepers
Peter Gleasure GK   Luton (1960-10-08)8 October 1960 (aged 26) 223 0 Millwall March 1983
Alan Harris GK   Nuneaton (1969-04-13)13 April 1969 (aged 18) 0 0 Nuneaton Town Summer 1986 £15,000[2]
Defenders
Bobby Coy CB   Birmingham (1961-11-30)30 November 1961 (aged 25) 20 0 Chester City 20 August 1986
David Logan LB   Middlesbrough (1963-12-05)5 December 1963 (aged 23) 15 1 Mansfield Town 20 February 1987
Keith McPherson CB   Greenwich (1963-09-11)11 September 1963 (aged 23) 76 5 West Ham United 23 January 1986 £10,000[3]
Graham Reed RB   Doncaster (1961-06-24)24 June 1961 (aged 25) 88 2 Frickley Athletic Summer 1985 £6,000
Russ Wilcox CB   Hemsworth (1964-03-25)25 March 1964 (aged 23) 41 4 Frickley Athletic 30 June 1986 £15,000[4]
Midfielders
Paul Bunce W   Coalville (1967-01-07)7 January 1967 (aged 20) 2 1 Leicester City 27 March 1987
Phil Chard U   Corby (1960-10-16)16 October 1960 (aged 26) 95 21 Peterborough United 19 August 1985
Warren Donald CM   Hillingdon (1964-10-07)7 October 1964 (aged 22) 95 9 West Ham United 4 October 1985 £11,000[5]
Dave Gilbert W   Lincoln (1963-06-22)22 June 1963 (aged 23) 53 12 Boston United Summer 1986
Richard Hill CM   Hinckley (1963-09-20)20 September 1963 (aged 23) 103 52 Nuneaton Town Summer 1985 £10,000
Aidy Mann W   Northampton (1967-07-12)12 July 1967 (aged 19) 96 6 Apprentice May 1984 N/A
Eddie McGoldrick W   Islington (1965-04-30)30 April 1965 (aged 22) 48 6 Nuneaton Town Summer 1986 £15,000[6]
Forwards
Ian Benjamin FW   Nottingham (1961-12-11)11 December 1961 (aged 25) 161 68 Peterborough United Summer 1984
Glen Donegal FW   Northampton (1969-06-20)20 June 1969 (aged 17) 1 0 Apprentice January 1987 N/A
Trevor Morley (c) FW   Nottingham (1962-03-20)20 March 1962 (aged 25) 95 29 Nuneaton Town Summer 1985 £20,000[7]

Competitions edit

Today League Division Four edit

League table edit

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion or relegation
1 Northampton Town 46 30 9 7 103 53 +50 99 Division Champions, promoted
2 Preston North End 46 26 12 8 72 47 +25 90 Promoted
3 Southend United 46 25 5 16 68 55 +13 80
4 Wolverhampton Wanderers 46 24 7 15 69 50 +19 79 Participated in play-offs
5 Colchester United 46 21 7 18 64 56 +8 70
Source: [citation needed]

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 30 9 7 103 53  +50 99 20 2 1 56 20  +36 10 7 6 47 33  +14

Last updated: 6 April 2020.
Source: [citation needed]

League position by match edit

Round12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940414243444546
GroundAHAHHAHAHAHHAAAHAHHHAHHAHAAHAAHHHHAHAAHAHAHAAA
ResultDWWWWLWWWWWWWDWWWWDWWWWDWWDLDWWDWWLWLLWLWLWDDW
Position7441121111111111111111111111111111111111111111
Source: Rothmans Football Yearbook 1986-87
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Matches edit

  Win   Draw   Loss

23 August 1986 (1986-08-23) 1 Scunthorpe United 2–2 Northampton Town Scunthorpe
15:00 BST S.Cammack  
L.Hunter  
R.Hill  
G.Reed  
Stadium: Old Show Ground
Attendance: 2,302
31 August 1986 (1986-08-31) 2 Northampton Town 1–0 Torquay United Northampton
15:00 BST I.Benjamin   Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 3,558
6 September 1986 (1986-09-06) 3 Rochdale 1–2 Northampton Town Rochdale
15:00 BST S.Taylor   I.Benjamin  
P.Chard  
Stadium: Spotland Stadium
Attendance: 1,606
14 September 1986 (1986-09-14) 4 Northampton Town 2–1 Peterborough United Northampton
12:00 BST T.Morley  
P.Chard   pen.'
D.Gregory   Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 5,517
17 September 1986 (1986-09-17) 5 Northampton Town 2–0 Tranmere Rovers Northampton
19:30 BST E.McGoldrick  
R.Hill  
Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 3,873
20 September 1986 (1986-09-20) 6 Swansea City 2–1 Northampton Town Swansea, Wales
15:00 BST S.McCarthy  
I.Love  
P.Chard   Stadium: Vetch Field
Attendance: 6,902
27 September 1986 (1986-09-27) 7 Northampton Town 2–1 Wolverhampton Wanderers Northampton
15:00 BST T.Morley  
R.Hill  
A.Mutch   Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 5,713
Referee: M James
30 September 1986 (1986-09-30) 8 Halifax Town 3–6 Northampton Town Halifax
19:30 BST P.Brown  
R.Holden  
D.Longhurst  
W.Donald  
R.Hill   pen.'    
I.Benjamin  
P.Chard  
Stadium: The Shay
Attendance: 1,034
Referee: Ken Lupton
4 October 1986 (1986-10-04) 9 Northampton Town 4–2 Aldershot Northampton
15:00 BST R.Hill    
T.Morley  
P.Chard  
T.Langley  
M.Ring  
Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 4,304
Referee: Kelvin Morton
17 October 1986 (1986-10-17) 10 Cambridge United 2–3 Northampton Town Cambridge
19:30 BST M.Cooper  
D.Crown  
K.McPherson  
P.Chard   pen.'
T.Morley  
Stadium: Abbey Stadium
Attendance: 6,283
22 October 1986 (1986-10-22) 11 Northampton Town 4–2 Burnley Northampton
19:30 BST T.Morley   29', 37'
I.Benjamin   43'
R.Hill   66'
L.James   64'
A.Hoskin   85'
Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 5,718
25 October 1986 (1986-10-25) 12 Northampton Town 3–2 Hereford United Northampton
15:00 BST T.Morley  
I.Benjamin  
R.Hill  
S.Phillips  
S.Devine  
Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 5,336
Referee: David Elleray
27 October 1986 (1986-10-27) 13 Stockport County 0–3 Northampton Town Stockport
19:30 BST R.Hill    
T.Morley  
Stadium: Edgeley Park
Attendance: 1,729
1 November 1986 (1986-11-01) 14 Hartlepool United 3–3 Northampton Town Hartlepool
15:00 GMT R.Hogan   pen.'
K.Dixon  
R.Wilcox   o.g.'
P.Chard   pen.'
R.Hill    
Stadium: Victoria Park
Attendance: 1,657
4 November 1986 (1986-11-04) 15 Orient 0–1 Northampton Town Leyton
19:30 GMT I.Benjamin   Stadium: Brisbane Road
Attendance: 3,496
Referee: John Martin
8 November 1986 (1986-11-08) 16 Northampton Town 3–1 Preston North End Northampton
15:00 GMT I.Benjamin  
K.McPherson  
R.Hill  
S.Taylor   Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 6,537
Referee: Jim Ashworth
28 November 1986 (1986-11-28) 17 Crewe Alexandra 0–5 Northampton Town Crewe
19:30 GMT I.Benjamin  
K.McPherson  
R.Hill      
Stadium: Gresty Road
Attendance: 2,331
2 December 1986 (1986-12-02) 18 Northampton Town 4–0 Exeter City Northampton
19:30 GMT T.Morley  
E.McGoldrick  
R.Hill    
Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 6,639
13 December 1986 (1986-12-13) 19 Northampton Town 2–2 Wrexham Northampton
15:00 GMT R.Wilcox  
I.Benjamin  
J.Steel     Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 6,070
21 December 1986 (1986-12-21) 20 Northampton Town 3–1 Lincoln City Northampton
15:00 GMT D.Gilbert   pen.'
E.McGoldrick  
I.Benjamin  
G.Lund   Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 7,063
Referee: Keren Barratt
26 December 1986 (1986-12-26) 21 Southend United 0–4 Northampton Town Southend-on-Sea
15:00 GMT R.Hill    
I.Benjamin  
W.Donald  
D.Gilbert  
Stadium: Roots Hall
Attendance: 8,541
28 December 1986 (1986-12-28) 22 Northampton Town 4–1 Cardiff City Northampton
15:00 GMT I.Benjamin  
D.Gilbert   pen.'
T.Morley  
R.Hill  
C.Pike   Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 11,138
Referee: Malcolm Cotton
1 January 1987 (1987-01-01) 23 Northampton Town 3–2 Colchester United Northampton
15:00 GMT I.Benjamin   50'
T.Morley   56'
D.Gilbert   86' (pen.)
Report T.Adcock   52', 63' Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 8,215
Referee: D Vickers
3 January 1987 (1987-01-03) 24 Exeter City 1–1 Northampton Town Exeter
15:00 GMT S.Biggins   R.Hill   Stadium: St James Park
Attendance: 4,331
24 January 1987 (1987-01-24) 25 Northampton Town 5–0 Rochdale Northampton
15:00 GMT P.McMenemy    
P.Chard  
E.McGoldrick  
R.Hill  
Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 5,484
31 January 1987 (1987-01-31) 26 Peterborough United 0–1 Northampton Town Peterborough
15:00 GMT I.Benjamin   Stadium: London Road
Attendance: 7,911
6 February 1987 (1987-02-06) 27 Tranmere Rovers 1–1 Northampton Town Birkenhead
15:00 GMT I.Muir   R.Hill   Stadium: Prenton Park
Attendance: 2,583
14 February 1987 (1987-02-14) 28 Northampton Town 0–1 Swansea City Northampton
15:00 GMT C.Pascoe   87' Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 8,288
21 February 1987 (1987-02-21) 29 Wolverhampton Wanderers 1–1 Northampton Town Wolverhampton
15:00 GMT M.Holmes   P.Chard   Stadium: Molineux Stadium
Attendance: 9,991
24 February 1987 (1987-02-24) 30 Torquay United 0–1 Northampton Town Torquay
19:30 GMT W.Donald   Stadium: Plainmoor
Attendance: 1,780
27 February 1987 (1987-02-27) 31 Northampton Town 1–0 Halifax Town Northampton
19:30 GMT I.Benjamin   Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 6,351
4 March 1987 (1987-03-04) 32 Northampton Town 1–1 Hartlepool United Northampton
19:30 GMT I.Benjamin   R.Hogan   Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 5,470
11 March 1987 (1987-03-11) 33 Northampton Town 1–0 Scunthorpe United Northampton
19:30 GMT T.Morley   Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 5,352
14 March 1987 (1987-03-14) 34 Northampton Town 3–0 Cambridge United Northampton
15:00 GMT D.Gilbert   pen.'   pen.'
R.Hill  
Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 6,201
17 March 1987 (1987-03-17) 35 Burnley 2–1 Northampton Town Burnley
19:30 GMT A.Hoskin   39'
J.Gallagher   70'
C.Henry   Stadium: Turf Moor
21 March 1987 (1987-03-21) 36 Northampton Town 2–1 Stockport County Northampton
15:00 GMT P.Chard     W.Entwistle   Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 5,466
3 April 1987 (1987-04-03) 37 Preston North End 1–0 Northampton Town Preston
19:30 BST G.Brazil   Stadium: Deepdale
Attendance: 16,566
8 April 1987 (1987-04-08) 38 Hereford United 3–2 Northampton Town Hereford
19:30 BST S.Phillips  
S.Spooner  
O.Kearns  
P.Chard  
T.Morley  
Stadium: Edgar Street
Attendance: 2,758
12 April 1987 (1987-04-12) 39 Northampton Town 2–0 Orient Northampton
15:00 BST D.Gilbert  
K.McPherson  
Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 6,711
17 April 1987 (1987-04-17) 40 Colchester United 3–1 Northampton Town Colchester
19:30 BST R.Wilkins   39'
N.Chatterton   57' (pen.)
R.Hedman   76'
Report D.Logan   15' Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 3,676
Referee: Colin Downey
20 April 1987 (1987-04-20) 41 Northampton Town 2–1 Southend United Northampton
15:00 BST R.Hill  
K.McPherson  
R.Cadette   Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 7,383
Referee: Joe Worrall
26 April 1987 (1987-04-26) 42 Lincoln City 3–1 Northampton Town Lincoln
15:00 BST J.Gilligan  
W.Gamble  
P.Chard   o.g.'
E.McGoldrick   Stadium: Sincil Bank
Attendance: 4,012
29 April 1987 (1987-04-29) 43 Northampton Town 2–1 Crewe Alexandra Northampton
19:30 BST D.Gilbert   pen.'
R.Hill  
P.Bodak   Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 8,890
4 May 1987 (1987-05-04) 44 Cardiff City 1–1 Northampton Town Cardiff, Wales
15:00 BST E.Curtis   I.Benjamin   Stadium: Ninian Park
Attendance: 4,012
6 May 1987 (1987-05-06) 45 Aldershot 3–3 Northampton Town Aldershot
19:30 BST I.McDonald  
A.King  
G.Johnson  
D.Gilbert  
I.Benjamin  
T.Morley  
Stadium: Recreation Ground
Attendance: 3,377
9 May 1987 (1987-05-09) 46 Wrexham 1–3 Northampton Town Wrexham, Wales
15:00 BST S.Buxton   P.Bunce  
T.Morley    
Stadium: Racecourse Ground
Attendance: 2,709

FA Cup edit

16 November 1986 (1986-11-16) First round Northampton Town 3–0 Peterborough United Northampton
15:00 GMT E.McGoldrick  
D.Gilbert   pen.'
I.Benjamin  
Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 9,114
Referee: Jim Ashworth
5 December 1986 (1986-12-05) Second round Southend United 4–4 Northampton Town Southend-on-Sea
19:45 GMT R.Cadette      
R.McDonough  
W.Donald  
R.Hill    
I.Benjamin  
Stadium: Roots Hall
Attendance: 7,412
Referee: Ray Lewis
16 December 1986 (1986-12-16) Second round (r) Northampton Town 3–2 Southend United Northampton
19:45 GMT I.Benjamin  
D.Gilbert   pen.'   pen.'
G.Pennyfather  
R.Cadette  
Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 10,603
Referee: Ray Lewis
21 January 1987 (1987-01-21) Third round Newcastle United 2–1 Northampton Town Newcastle upon Tyne
19:30 GMT P.Goddard   3'
A.Thomas   68'
Report R.Hill   67' Stadium: St James' Park
Attendance: 23,177

Littlewoods Cup edit

25 August 1986 (1986-08-25) First round 1st leg Gillingham 1–0 Northampton Town Gillingham
19:30 BST M.Weatherly   Stadium: Priestfield
Attendance: 2,948
3 September 1986 (1986-09-03) First round 2nd leg Northampton Town 2–2 Gillingham Northampton
19:30 BST B.Coy  
I.Benjamin  
T.Cascarino     Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 2,724
Referee: Howard Taylor

Freight Rover Trophy edit

Group 2
Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
Gillingham 2 2 0 0 6 0 +6 6
Northampton Town 2 1 0 1 3 1 +2 3
Notts County 2 0 0 2 0 8 −8 0
Source: [citation needed]
16 December 1986 (1986-12-16) Prelim round (s) Gillingham 1–0 Northampton Town Gillingham
19:30 GMT H.Pritchard   Stadium: Priestfield Stadium
Attendance: 2,046
5 January 1987 (1987-01-05) Prelim round (s) Northampton Town 3–0 Notts County Northampton
19:30 GMT R.Hill  
D.Gilbert  
A.Mann  
Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 3,578
26 January 1987 (1987-01-26) First round (s) Fulham 3–2 Northampton Town Fulham
19:30 GMT K.Achampong  
G.Barnett  
J.Marshall  
P.Chard  
I.Benjamin  
Stadium: Craven Cottage
Attendance: 2,080

Appearances and goals edit

Pos Player Division Four FA Cup League Cup League Trophy Total
Starts Sub Goals Starts Sub Goals Starts Sub Goals Starts Sub Goals Starts Sub Goals
GK Peter Gleasure 46 4 2 3 55
GK Alan Harris
DF Mark Bushell
DF Lee Carter
DF Bobby Coy 15 2 2 1 1 18 2 1
DF David Logan 15 1 15 1
DF Keith McPherson 46 5 4 2 3 55 5
DF Graham Reed 36 1 1 4 2 2 44 1 1
DF Russ Wilcox 34 1 1 3 3 40 1 1
MF Paul Bunce 1 1 1 1 1 1
MF Phil Chard 39 1 12 3 2 1 1 45 1 13
MF Warren Donald 41 3 3 1 1 2 47 4
MF Dave Gilbert 45 8 3 3 2 3 1 53 12
MF Richard Hill 45 29 4 3 2 3 1 54 33
MF Aidy Mann 7 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 10 4 1
MF Eddie McGoldrick 35 4 5 4 1 2 3 44 4 6
FW Ian Benjamin 46 18 4 3 2 1 3 1 55 23
FW Glen Donegal 1 1
FW Trevor Morley 37 16 4 2 2 45 16
Players who left before end of season:
DF Irvin Gernon 9 3 1 13
MF Keith Gorman 1 1 2
MF Charlie Henry 4 1 4 1
MF John Millar 1 1 2 4
MF Mark Schiavi 1 1
FW Paul McMenemy 4 2 4 2
FW Paul Sugrue

Transfers edit

Transfers in edit

Date from Position Nationality Name From Fee
Summer 1986 CB   Bobby Coy   Chester City
Summer 1986 W   Dave Gilbert   Boston United
Summer 1986 GK   Alan Harris   Nuneaton Town Joint £15,000
Summer 1986 W   Eddie McGoldrick   Nuneaton Town Joint £15,000
30 June 1986 CB   Russ Wilcox   Frickley Athletic £15,000
20 February 1987 LB   David Logan   Mansfield Town

Loans in edit

Date from Position Nationality Name From Date until
November 1986 LB   Irvin Gernon   Ipswich Town January 1987
November 1986 W   Keith Gorman   Ipswich Town December 1986
January 1987 LB   John Millar   Chelsea January 1987
January 1987 FW   Paul McMenemy   West Ham United February 1987
February 1987 AM   Charlie Henry   Swindon Town March 1987

Transfers out edit

Date from Position Nationality Name To Fee
Summer 1986 RB   Paul Curtis   Corby Town
Summer 1986 CB   Russell Lewis   Kettering Town
August 1986 FW   Paul Sugrue   Newport County
September 1986 AM   Mark Schiavi   Cambridge United

Loans out edit

Date from Position Nationality Name To Date until
March 1987 W   Aidy Mann   Torquay United End of Season
FB   Lee Carter   Gravesend & Northfleet

References edit

  1. ^ Dunk, Peter, ed. (1987). Rothmans Football Yearbook 1987–88. Harpenden: Queen Anne Press. p. 258. ISBN 978-0-356-14354-5.
  2. ^ Joint buy with Eddie McGoldrick
  3. ^ "Welcome to the Wonderful World of West Ham United Statistics - Keith McPherson". westhamstats.info. Retrieved 4 November 2013.
  4. ^ Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2002). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2002/2003. Harpenden: Queen Anne Press. p. 438. ISBN 978-1-85291-648-0.
  5. ^ "Welcome to the Wonderful World of West Ham United Statistics - Warren Donald". www.westhamstats.info. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
  6. ^ Joint buy with Alan Harris
  7. ^ Paul Newman (21 November 1986). "Non-League Football: Troubled Nuneaton face a fight for survival". The Times.

Books

  • Beesley, Mark (2011). Champagne Cobblers: Northampton Town 1986-87. London: Desert Island Books. ISBN 9781905328949.
  • Grande, Frank (1997). Northampton Town F.C.: The Official Centenary History. London: Yore Publications. ISBN 978-1874427674.