1970–71 Northampton Town F.C. season
| 7th | |
| FA Cup | First round |
|---|---|
| League Cup | Third round |
| Top goalscorer | League: John Fairbrother (15) All: John Fairbrother (18) |
| Highest home attendance | 11,923 vs Notts County |
| Lowest home attendance | 3,337 vs Workington |
| Average home league attendance | 6,602 |
→ | |
The 1970–71 season was Northampton Town's 74th season in their history and the second successive season in the Fourth Division. Alongside competing in Division Four, the club also participated in the FA Cup and League Cup.
Players
- As of match played 1 May 1971.
| Name | Position | Nat. | Place of Birth | Date of Birth (Age) | Apps | Goals | Previous club | Date signed | Fee | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | |||||||||||
| Kim Book | GK |  |
Bath | 12 February 1946 (aged 25) | 94 | 0 | Bournemouth & B A | July 1969 | |||
| David Hill | GK | |
Kettering | 28 September 1953 (aged 17) | 1 | 0 | Apprentice | August 1970 | N/A | ||
| Defenders | |||||||||||
| Eric Brookes | FB | |
Darton | 3 February 1944 (aged 27) | 98 | 3 | Barnsley | July 1969 | |||
| John Clarke | CB | |
Northampton | 23 October 1945 (aged 25) | 139 | 0 | Apprentice | July 1965 | N/A | ||
| Ray Fairfax | FB | |
Smethwick | 14 November 1941 (aged 29) | 138 | 2 | West Bromwich Albion | July 1968 | |||
| Brian Heslop | U | |
Carlisle | 4 August 1947 (aged 23) | 10 | 0 | Sunderland | March 1971 | |||
| Phil Neal | U | |
Irchester | 20 February 1951 (aged 20) | 59 | 8 | Apprentice | July 1968 | N/A | ||
| Alan Oman | FB | |
Newcastle upon Tyne | 6 October 1952 (aged 18) | 2 | 0 | Apprentice | October 1970 | N/A | ||
| Frank Rankmore | CB |  |
Cardiff | 21 July 1939 (aged 31) | 126 | 19 | Peterborough United | August 1968 | £12,000 | ||
| Neil Townsend | CB | |
Long Buckby | 1 February 1950 (aged 21) | 50 | 1 | Apprentice | September 1968 | N/A | ||
| Barry Tucker | FB | |
Swansea | 28 August 1952 (aged 18) | 0 | 0 | Apprentice | July 1970 | N/A | ||
| Midfielders | |||||||||||
| John Buchanan | W |
 |
Dingwall | 19 September 1951 (aged 19) | 3 | 0 | Ross County | October 1970 | |||
| Graham Felton | W |
|
Cambridge | 1 March 1949 (aged 22) | 145 | 13 | Apprentice | September 1966 | N/A | ||
| Trevor Gould | CM | |
Coventry | 5 March 1950 (aged 21) | 37 | 1 | Coventry City | October 1970 | |||
| Peter Hawkins | LW |
|
Swansea | 9 November 1951 (aged 19) | 25 | 3 | Apprentice | July 1968 | N/A | ||
| Joe Kiernan | CM | |
Coatbridge | 22 October 1942 (aged 28) | 310 | 14 | Sunderland | July 1963 | |||
| John McGleish | CM | |
Airdrie | 18 December 1951 (aged 19) | 3 | 0 | Apprentice | November 1968 | N/A | ||
| Dixie McNeil | W | |
Melton Mowbray | 16 January 1947 (aged 24) | 76 | 22 | Corby Town | May 1969 | £5,000 | ||
| Eric Ross | CM |  |
Belfast | 19 September 1944 (aged 26) | 68 | 5 | Newcastle United | August 1969 | |||
| Forwards | |||||||||||
| Keith East | CF | |
Southampton | 31 October 1944 (aged 26) | 35 | 9 | Bournemouth & B A | July 1970 | £5,000 | ||
| John Fairbrother | CF | |
Cricklewood | 12 February 1941 (aged 30) | 159 | 62 | Peterborough United | February 1968 | |||
| Frank Large | CF | |
Leeds | 26 January 1940 (aged 31) | 188 | 74 | Fulham | August 1969 | |||
Competitions
Division Four
League table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Chester | 46 | 24 | 7 | 15 | 69 | 55 | 1.255 | 55 | |
| 6 | Colchester United | 46 | 21 | 12 | 13 | 70 | 54 | 1.296 | 54 | Qualified for 1971 Watney Cup[a] |
| 7 | Northampton Town | 46 | 19 | 13 | 14 | 63 | 59 | 1.068 | 51 | |
| 8 | Southport | 46 | 21 | 6 | 19 | 63 | 57 | 1.105 | 48 | |
| 9 | Exeter City | 46 | 17 | 14 | 15 | 67 | 68 | 0.985 | 48 |
Source: rsssf.com
Notes:
Notes:
- ^ The two teams who scored the most goals in each division, and did not qualify for Europe and were not promoted, qualified for the Watney Cup.
Results summary
| Overall | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv | Pts | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pts | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pts |
| 46 | 19 | 13 | 14 | 63 | 59 | 1.068 | 51 | 15 | 4 | 4 | 39 | 24 | 34 | 4 | 9 | 10 | 24 | 35 | 17 |
Last updated: 8 March 2022.
Source: [citation needed]
League position by match
Matches
Win Draw Loss
| 15 August 1970 1 | BST |
F.Rankmore  |
Stadium: Somerton Park Attendance: 4,518 |
| 22 August 1970 2 | BST |
K.East Neal |
Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 7,901 |
| 29 August 1970 3 | BST |
B.Owen 3' |
Report | K.East 43' |
Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 5,220 Referee: Harold Hackney |
| 1 September 1970 4 | BST |
F.Rankmore K.East |
Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 6,264 |
| 5 September 1970 5 | BST |
K.East F.Large G.Felton |
Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 7,038 |
| 12 September 1970 6 | BST |
F.Large J.Fairbrother |
Stadium: Blundell Park Attendance: 4,760 |
| 19 September 1970 7 | BST |
G.Felton |
Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 6,509 |
| 22 September 1970 8 | BST |
J.Fairbrother |
Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 7,873 |
| 25 September 1970 9 | BST |
Stadium: Roots Hall Attendance: 9,623 |
| 3 October 1970 10 | BST |
E.Ross |
Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 6,282 |
| 10 October 1970 11 | BST |
Stadium: Borough Park Attendance: 2,564 |
| 17 October 1970 12 | BST |
D.McNeil |
Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 6,171 |
| 20 October 1970 13 | BST |
K.East F.Large J.Fairbrother |
Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 6,152 |
| 24 October 1970 14 | BST |
Stadium: Feethams Attendance: 2,815 |
| 31 October 1970 15 | BST |
D.McNeil P.Neal |
Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 6,049 |
| 7 November 1970 16 | BST |
Stadium: Meadow Lane Attendance: 21,012 |
| 10 November 1970 17 | BST |
D.McNeil |
Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 8,190 |
| 14 November 1970 18 | BST |
F.Rankmore |
Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 5,963 |
| 18 November 1970 19 | BST |
J.Kiernan D.McNeil F.Large |
Stadium: Sincil Bank Attendance: 3,689 |
| 28 November 1970 20 | BST |
F.Large |
Stadium: Old Show Ground Attendance: 3,463 |
| 5 December 1970 21 | BST |
D.McNeil |
Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 6,487 |
| 12 December 1970 22 | BST |
J.Fairbrother |
Stadium: Edgeley Park Attendance: 1,846 |
| 19 December 1970 23 | BST |
F.Large G.Felton |
Stadium: Abbey Stadium Attendance: 4,814 |
| 26 December 1970 24 | BST |
K.East G.Felton |
Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 6,354 |
| 9 January 1971 25 | BST |
F.Large J.Fairbrother |
Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 5,957 |
| 16 January 1971 26 | BST |
D.McNeil J.Fairbrother |
Stadium: Sealand Road Attendance: 4,031 |
| 23 January 1971 27 | BST |
D.McNeil F.Large |
Stadium: Dean Court Attendance: 8,763 |
| 30 January 1971 28 | BST |
F.Large |
Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 4,607 |
| 6 February 1971 29 | BST |
F.Large |
Stadium: Boundary Park Attendance: 12,806 |
| 9 February 1971 30 | BST |
J.Fairbrother |
Stadium: St James Park Attendance: 5,016 |
| 13 February 1971 31 | BST |
J.Fairbrother |
Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 8,854 |
| 20 February 1971 32 | BST |
Stadium: London Road Attendance: 8,066 |
| 27 February 1971 33 | BST |
J.Fairbrother E.Ross |
Stadium: Victoria Park Attendance: 1,288 |
| 5 March 1971 34 | BST |
K.East F.Large |
Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 6,040 |
| 13 March 1971 35 | BST |
Stadium: Gresty Road Attendance: 3,242 |
| 16 March 1971 36 | BST |
J.Fairbrother |
Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 5,724 |
| 20 March 1971 37 | BST |
F.Large |
Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 11,923 |
| 27 March 1971 38 | BST |
J.Fairbrother |
Stadium: Bootham Crescent Attendance: 7,393 |
| 3 April 1971 39 | BST |
D.McNeil 6', 40' |
Report | J.Kurila 49' |
Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 7,909 Referee: Clive Thomas |
| 9 April 1971 40 | BST |
Stadium: Griffin Park Attendance: 10,058 |
| 10 April 1971 41 | BST |
R.Fairfax |
Stadium: Recreation Ground Attendance: 4,461 |
| 13 April 1971 42 | BST |
Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 6,538 |
| 17 April 1971 43 | BST |
D.McNeil F.Large T.Gould J.Fairbrother |
Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 3,337 |
| 24 April 1971 44 | BST |
D.McNeil |
Stadium: Holker Street Attendance: 1,466 |
| 26 April 1971 45 | BST |
D.McNeil |
Stadium: Haig Avenue Attendance: 1,550 |
| 1 May 1971 46 | BST |
Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 3,713 |
FA Cup
| 21 November 1970 First round | Hereford United | 2–2 | Northampton Town | Hereford |
| 15:00 GMT | D.McNeil J.Fairbrother |
Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 10,401 |
| 24 November 1970 First round (r) | Northampton Town | 1–2 | Hereford United | Northampton |
| 19:30 GMT | F.Rankmore |
Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 10,641 |
League Cup
| 19 August 1970 First round | Scunthorpe United | 2–3 | Northampton Town | Scunthorpe |
| 19:30 BST | E.Brookes K.East J.Fairbrother |
Stadium: Old Show Ground Attendance: 4,470 |
| 9 September 1970 Second round | York City | 0–0 | Northampton Town | York |
| 19:30 BST | Stadium: Bootham Crescent Attendance: 5,265 |
| 15 September 1970 Second round (r) | Northampton Town | 1–1 | York City | Northampton |
| 19:30 BST | E.Brookes |
Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 7,247 |
| 28 September 1970 Second round (r2) | Northampton Town | 2–1 | York City | Birmingham |
| 19:30 BST | K.East J.Fairbrother |
Stadium: Villa Park Attendance: 2,561 |
| 7 October 1970 Third round | Northampton Town | 1–1 | Aston Villa | Northampton |
| 19:30 BST | F.Large |
Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 15,072 |
| 13 October 1970 Third round (r) | Aston Villa | 3–0 | Northampton Town | Birmingham |
| 19:30 BST | Stadium: Villa Park Attendance: 25,822 |
Appearances and goals
| Pos | Player | Division Four | FA Cup | League Cup | Total | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starts | Sub | Goals | Starts | Sub | Goals | Starts | Sub | Goals | Starts | Sub | Goals | ||
| GK | Kim Book | 45 | – | – | 2 | – | – | 6 | – | – | 53 | – | – |
| GK | David Hill | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | – | – |
| DF | Eric Brookes | 38 | – | – | 2 | – | – | 6 | – | 2 | 46 | – | 2 |
| DF | John Clarke | 42 | – | – | 2 | – | – | 6 | – | – | 50 | – | – |
| DF | Ray Fairfax | 34 | – | 1 | 2 | – | – | 5 | – | – | 41 | – | 1 |
| DF | Brian Heslop | 10 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 10 | – | – |
| DF | Phil Neal | 18 | – | 2 | – | – | – | 2 | – | – | 20 | – | 2 |
| DF | Alan Oman | 2 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 2 | – | – |
| DF | Frank Rankmore | 25 | – | 3 | 2 | – | 1 | 6 | – | – | 33 | – | 4 |
| DF | Neil Townsend | 15 | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | – | 15 | 1 | – |
| DF | Barry Tucker | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| MF | John Buchanan | 2 | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 2 | 1 | – |
| MF | Graham Felton | 26 | 1 | 4 | – | 1 | – | 3 | – | – | 29 | 2 | 4 |
| MF | Trevor Gould | 35 | – | 1 | 2 | – | – | – | – | – | 37 | – | 1 |
| MF | Peter Hawkins | 4 | 2 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 4 | 2 | – |
| MF | Joe Kiernan | 42 | 1 | 1 | 2 | – | – | 6 | – | – | 50 | 1 | 1 |
| MF | John McGleish | 2 | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 2 | 1 | – |
| MF | Dixie McNeil | 43 | 1 | 13 | 2 | – | 1 | 4 | 1 | – | 49 | 2 | 14 |
| MF | Eric Ross | 15 | 3 | 2 | 2 | – | – | 4 | 1 | – | 21 | 4 | 2 |
| FW | Keith East | 26 | 3 | 7 | – | – | – | 6 | – | 2 | 32 | 3 | 9 |
| FW | John Fairbrother | 40 | 2 | 15 | 2 | – | 1 | 6 | – | 2 | 48 | 2 | 18 |
| FW | Frank Large | 41 | – | 14 | 2 | – | – | 6 | – | 1 | 49 | – | 15 |
Notes
References
Books
- Grande, Frank (1997). Northampton Town F.C.: The Official Centenary History. London: Yore Publications. ISBN 978-1874427674.