1952–53 Northampton Town F.C. season

Northampton Town

1952–53 season
Chairman	E.C. Hawtin
Manager	Bob Dennison
Stadium	County Ground
Division Three (S)	3rd
FA Cup	Second round
Top goalscorer	League: Willie O'Donnell (27) All: Willie O'Donnell (27)
Highest home attendance	19,242 vs Reading
Lowest home attendance	6,100 vs Hendon
Average home league attendance	12,031

The 1952–53 season was Northampton Town's 56th season in their history and the twenty-fifth successive season in the regional Third Division South. Alongside competing in Division Three South, the club also participated in the FA Cup.

Players

As of match played 30 April 1953.

Name	Position	Nat.	Place of Birth	Date of Birth (Age)	Apps	Goals	Previous club	Date signed	Fee
Goalkeepers
Alf Wood	GK		Aldridge	(1915-05-14)14 May 1915 (aged 37)	63	0	Coventry City	Summer 1951	£2,100[1]
Full backs
Ron Patterson	LB		Gateshead	(1929-10-30)30 October 1929 (aged 23)	49	0	Middlesbrough	Summer 1952
Jack Southam	RB		Willenhall	(1917-08-19)19 August 1917 (aged 35)	104	1	Birmingham City	Summer 1949
Half backs
Maurice Candlin	CH		Jarrow	(1921-11-11)11 November 1921 (aged 31)	152	2	Partick Thistle	Summer 1949
Ben Collins	CH		Kislingbury	(1928-03-09)9 March 1928 (aged 25)	78	0	Apprentice	Summer 1948	N/A
John Croy	WH		Falkirk	(1925-02-23)23 February 1925 (aged 28)	5	0	Third Lanark	Summer 1951
James Davie	WH		Cambuslang	(1922-09-07)7 September 1922 (aged 30)	76	1	Preston North End	Summer 1950
Norman Dodgin	WH		Gateshead	(1921-11-01)1 November 1921 (aged 31)	19	1	Reading	Summer 1951
Gwyn Hughes	WH		Blaenau Ffestiniog	(1922-05-07)7 May 1922 (aged 30)	140	15	Blaenau Ffestiniog Amateur	Summer 1946
Tom McLain	WH		Morpeth	(1922-01-19)19 January 1922 (aged 31)	35	2	Sunderland	Summer 1952
John Smith	WH		Leicester	(1928-09-04)4 September 1928 (aged 24)	10	1	Apprentice	Summer 1950	N/A
Frank Upton	WH		Atherstone	(1934-10-18)18 October 1934 (aged 18)	4	0	Nuneaton Borough	Summer 1952
Inside/Outside forwards
Jack English	OF		South Shields	(1923-03-19)19 March 1923 (aged 30)	151	64	Apprentice	Summer 1947	N/A
Tommy Fowler	OF		Prescot	(1924-12-16)16 December 1924 (aged 28)	200	40	Everton	Summer 1946
Felix Staroscik	OF		Silesia	(1920-05-20)20 May 1920 (aged 32)	25	7	Third Lanark	Summer 1951
Don Adams	IF		Northampton	(1931-02-15)15 February 1931 (aged 22)	9	4	Apprentice	Summer 1951	N/A
Larry Baxter	IF		Leicester	(1931-11-24)24 November 1931 (aged 21)	11	2	Apprentice	Summer 1952	N/A
Maurice Edelston	IF		Kingston upon Hull	(1918-04-27)27 April 1918 (aged 35)	33	15	Reading	Summer 1952
Ken Leek	IF		Ynysybwl	(1935-07-26)26 July 1935 (aged 17)	0	0	Apprentice	Summer 1952	N/A
Fred Ramscar	IF		Salford	(1919-01-24)24 January 1919 (aged 34)	95	47	Preston North End	Summer 1951
Centre forwards
Willie O'Donnell	CF		Clydebank	(1924-08-09)9 August 1924 (aged 28)	71	37	Partick Thistle	Summer 1951

Competitions

Division Three South

Main article: 1952–53 Football League § Third Division South

League table

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GAv	Pts	Qualification or relegation
1	Bristol Rovers	46	26	12	8	92	46	2.000	64	Division Champions, promoted
2	Millwall	46	24	14	8	82	44	1.864	62
3	Northampton Town	46	26	10	10	109	70	1.557	62
4	Norwich City	46	25	10	11	99	55	1.800	60
5	Bristol City	46	22	15	9	95	61	1.557	59

Source: ^{[citation needed]}

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	26	10	10	109	70	1.557	62	18	4	1	75	30	40	8	6	9	34	40	22

Last updated: 20 May 2020.
Source: ^{[citation needed]}

League position by match

Round	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29	30	31	32	33	34	35	36	37	38	39	40	41	42	43	44	45	46
Ground	A	A	H	H	A	H	H	A	A	H	H	A	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	A	A	H	H	A	A	H	A	H	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	A	H	H	H	A	H
Result	W	L	W	W	L	W	W	D	L	W	W	L	W	D	W	W	W	W	D	L	W	W	W	L	W	W	D	W	W	L	L	D	D	D	W	W	W	D	W	L	L	W	W	D	W	D
Position	10	13	10	7	12	7	4	3	10	6	4	6	2	4	2	2	2	2	3	3	2	2	2	4	2	2	3	2	2	2	3	3	3	4	3	3	4	3	2	3	3	2	2	2	2	3

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

Matches

  Win   Draw   Loss

Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic v Northampton Town

23 August 1952 (1952-08-23) 1	Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic	0–1	Northampton Town	Bournemouth
15:00 BST			J.English	Stadium: Dean Court Attendance: 14,771

Exeter City v Northampton Town

27 August 1952 (1952-08-27) 2	Exeter City	2–0	Northampton Town	Exeter
BST				Stadium: St James Park Attendance: 12,729

Northampton Town v Southend United

30 August 1952 (1952-08-30) 3	Northampton Town	4–3	Southend United	Northampton
BST	T.Fowler F.Ramscar			Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 13,611

Northampton Town v Exeter City

4 September 1952 (1952-09-04) 4	Northampton Town	3–1	Exeter City	Northampton
BST	M.Edelston W.O'Donnell F.Ramscar			Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 11,988

Watford v Northampton Town

6 September 1952 (1952-09-06) 5	Watford	2–1	Northampton Town	Watford
15:15 BST			J.English	Stadium: Vicarage Road Attendance: 21,959

Northampton Town v Coventry City

11 September 1952 (1952-09-11) 6	Northampton Town	3–1	Coventry City	Northampton
BST	M.Edelston J.English W.O'Donnell			Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 13,280

Northampton Town v Brighton & Hove Albion

13 September 1952 (1952-09-13) 7	Northampton Town	5–3	Brighton & Hove Albion	Northampton
BST	M.Edelston W.O'Donnell			Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 14,342

Coventry City v Northampton Town

15 September 1952 (1952-09-15) 8	Coventry City	1–1	Northampton Town	Coventry
17:55 BST			F.Ramscar	Stadium: Highfield Road Attendance: 18,217

Newport County v Northampton Town

20 September 1952 (1952-09-20) 9	Newport County	4–1	Northampton Town	Newport, Wales
BST			W.O'Donnell	Stadium: Somerton Park Attendance: 10,479

Northampton Town v Swindon Town

25 September 1952 (1952-09-25) 10	Northampton Town	3–1	Swindon Town	Northampton
BST	M.Edelston T.Fowler			Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 8,746

Northampton Town v Crystal Palace

27 September 1952 (1952-09-27) 11	Northampton Town	5–1	Crystal Palace	Northampton
BST	J.English T.Fowler M.Edelston J.Southam			Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 12,805

Torquay United v Northampton Town

1 October 1952 (1952-10-01) 12	Torquay United	3–0	Northampton Town	Torquay
BST				Stadium: Plainmoor Attendance: 4,784

Bristol City v Northampton Town

4 October 1952 (1952-10-04) 13	Bristol City	2–3	Northampton Town	Bristol
15:15 BST			J.English W.O'Donnell o.g.'	Stadium: Ashton Gate Attendance: 21,795

Northampton Town v Bristol Rovers

11 October 1952 (1952-10-11) 14	Northampton Town	2–2	Bristol Rovers	Northampton
BST	J.English T.McLain			Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 19,064

Millwall v Northampton Town

18 October 1952 (1952-10-18) 15	Millwall	1–2	Northampton Town	Millwall, London
BST			J.English F.Ramscar	Stadium: The Old Den Attendance: 22,948

Northampton Town v Gillingham

25 October 1952 (1952-10-25) 16	Northampton Town	3–1	Gillingham	Northampton
BST	M.Edelston J.English F.Ramscar			Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 13,689

Walsall v Northampton Town

1 November 1952 (1952-11-01) 17	Walsall	1–5	Northampton Town	Walsall
GMT			M.Edelston J.English W.O'Donnell	Stadium: Fellows Park Attendance: 8,420

Northampton Town v Shrewsbury Town

8 November 1952 (1952-11-08) 18	Northampton Town	3–1	Shrewsbury Town	Northampton
GMT	M.Edelston J.English			Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 13,988

Queens Park Rangers v Northampton Town

15 November 1952 (1952-11-15) 19	Queens Park Rangers	2–2	Northampton Town	White City, London
14:30 GMT			M.Edelston W.O'Donnell	Stadium: Loftus Road Attendance: 14,661

Aldershot v Northampton Town

29 November 1952 (1952-11-29) 20	Aldershot	2–1	Northampton Town	Aldershot
GMT			T.Fowler	Stadium: Recreation Ground Attendance: 3,263

Norwich City v Northampton Town

13 December 1952 (1952-12-13) 21	Norwich City	1–2	Northampton Town	Norwich
GMT			J.English T.McLain	Stadium: Carrow Road Attendance: 21,093

Northampton Town v Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic

20 December 1952 (1952-12-20) 22	Northampton Town	5–1	Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic	Northampton
GMT	W.O'Donnell F.Ramscar			Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 8,649

Northampton Town v Reading

26 December 1952 (1952-12-26) 23	Northampton Town	6–1	Reading	Northampton
GMT	M.Edelston J.English W.O'Donnell F.Ramscar			Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 19,242

Southend United v Northampton Town

3 January 1953 (1953-01-03) 24	Southend United	3–1	Northampton Town	Southend-on-Sea
14:30 GMT			W.O'Donnell	Stadium: Roots Hall Attendance: 7,425

Orient v Northampton Town

10 January 1953 (1953-01-10) 25	Orient	0–1	Northampton Town	Leyton, London
14:30 GMT			J.English	Stadium: Brisbane Road Attendance: 7,826

Northampton Town v Watford

17 January 1953 (1953-01-17) 26	Northampton Town	4–1	Watford	Northampton
GMT	M.Edelston J.English W.O'Donnell			Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 13,250

Brighton & Hove Albion v Northampton Town

24 January 1953 (1953-01-24) 27	Brighton & Hove Albion	1–1	Northampton Town	Hove
14:45 GMT			F.Staroscik	Stadium: Goldstone Ground Attendance: 18,750

Northampton Town v Orient

31 January 1953 (1953-01-31) 28	Northampton Town	3–1	Orient	Northampton
GMT	T.Fowler F.Ramscar			Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 9,868

Northampton Town v Newport County

7 February 1953 (1953-02-07) 29	Northampton Town	5–0	Newport County	Northampton
GMT	M.Edelston J.English F.Ramscar			Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 11,977

Crystal Palace v Northampton Town

14 February 1953 (1953-02-14) 30	Crystal Palace	4–3	Northampton Town	Selhurst, London
GMT			D.Adams W.O'Donnell	Stadium: Selhurst Park Attendance: 6,409

Northampton Town v Bristol City

21 February 1953 (1953-02-21) 31	Northampton Town	0–2	Bristol City	Northampton
GMT				Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 15,291

Bristol Rovers v Northampton Town

28 February 1953 (1953-02-28) 32	Bristol Rovers	1–1	Northampton Town	Bristol
GMT			F.Ramscar	Stadium: Eastville Stadium Attendance: 31,115

Northampton Town v Millwall

7 March 1953 (1953-03-07) 33	Northampton Town	1–1	Millwall	Northampton
GMT	W.O'Donnell			Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 13,687

Gillingham v Northampton Town

14 March 1953 (1953-03-14) 34	Gillingham	1–1	Northampton Town	Gillingham
15:15 GMT			F.Ramscar	Stadium: Priestfield Stadium Attendance: 10,250

Northampton Town v Walsall

21 March 1953 (1953-03-21) 35	Northampton Town	2–1	Walsall	Northampton
GMT	W.O'Donnell F.Ramscar			Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 9,717

Shrewsbury Town v Northampton Town

28 March 1953 (1953-03-28) 36	Shrewsbury Town	2–4	Northampton Town	Shrewsbury
GMT			J.English W.O'Donnell F.Ramscar	Stadium: Gay Meadow Attendance: 7,329

Northampton Town v Queens Park Rangers

4 April 1953 (1953-04-04) 37	Northampton Town	4–2	Queens Park Rangers	Northampton
GMT	L.Baxter N.Dodgin J.English T.Fowler			Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 12,546

Ipswich Town v Northampton Town

6 April 1953 (1953-04-06) 38	Ipswich Town	1–1	Northampton Town	Ipswich
15:00 GMT			F.Ramscar	Stadium: Portman Road Attendance: 12,048

Northampton Town v Ipswich Town

7 April 1953 (1953-04-07) 39	Northampton Town	2–0	Ipswich Town	Northampton
19:30 GMT	T.Fowler T.McLain			Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 12,307

Swindon Town v Northampton Town

11 April 1953 (1953-04-11) 40	Swindon Town	3–0	Northampton Town	Swindon
GMT	B.Millar 18' J.Bain 41' (pen.) M.Owen 59'	Report		Stadium: Swindon Attendance: 9,564 Referee: S M Rogers

Reading v Northampton Town

13 April 1953 (1953-04-13) 41	Reading	2–0	Northampton Town	Reading
GMT				Stadium: Elm Park Attendance: 9,020

Northampton Town v Colchester United

16 April 1953 (1953-04-16) 42	Northampton Town	2–0	Colchester United	Northampton
17:40 GMT	W.O'Donnell			Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 7,982

Northampton Town v Aldershot

18 April 1953 (1953-04-18) 43	Northampton Town	4–0	Aldershot	Northampton
15:00 GMT	G.Hughes W.O'Donnell F.Ramscar			Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 10,040 Referee: W Everett

Northampton Town v Torquay United

23 April 1953 (1953-04-23) 44	Northampton Town	3–3	Torquay United	Northampton
18:15 BST	J.English T.Fowler W.O'Donnell			Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 11,510 Referee: W Clapton

Colchester United v Northampton Town

25 April 1953 (1953-04-25) 45	Colchester United	1–2	Northampton Town	Colchester
BST			J.English T.Fowler	Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 8,122

Northampton Town v Norwich City

30 April 1953 (1953-04-30) 46	Northampton Town	3–3	Norwich City	Northampton
18:30 BST	L.Baxter J.English T.Fowler			Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 9,555 Referee: T Martin

FA Cup

Main article: 1952–53 FA Cup

Hendon v Northampton Town

22 November 1952 (1952-11-22) First round	Hendon	0–0	Northampton Town	Cricklewood, London
14:15 GMT				Stadium: Claremont Road Attendance: 9,000

Northampton Town v Hendon

27 November 1952 (1952-11-27) First round (r)	Northampton Town	2–0	Hendon	Northampton
GMT	T.Fowler F.Ramscar			Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 6,100

Swindon Town v Northampton Town

6 December 1952 (1952-12-06) Second round	Swindon Town	2–0	Northampton Town	Swindon
GMT	M.Owen 40' B.Millar 88'	Report		Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 12,936 Referee: F. Read

Appearances and goals

Pos	Player	Division Three (S)		FA Cup		Total
		Starts	Goals	Starts	Goals	Starts	Goals
GK	Alf Wood	46	–	3	–	49	–
FB	Ron Patterson	46	–	3	–	49	–
FB	Jack Southam	46	1	3	–	49	1
HB	Maurice Candlin	28	–	3	–	31	–
HB	Ben Collins	19	–	–	–	19	–
HB	John Croy	2	–	–	–	2	–
HB	James Davie	11	–	–	–	11	–
HB	Norman Dodgin	14	1	–	–	14	1
HB	Gwyn Hughes	29	1	3	–	32	1
HB	Tom McLain	32	2	3	–	35	2
HB	John Smith	–	–	–	–	–	–
HB	Frank Upton	4	–	–	–	4	–
OF	Jack English	45	24	3	–	48	24
OF	Tommy Fowler	46	11	3	1	49	12
OF	Felix Staroscik	1	1	–	–	1	1
IF	Don Adams	2	1	–	–	2	1
IF	Larry Baxter	11	2	–	–	11	2
IF	Maurice Edelston	30	15	3	–	33	15
IF	Fred Ramscar	45	22	3	1	48	23
IF	Ken Leek	–	–	–	–	–	–
CF	Willie O'Donnell	46	27	3	–	49	27
Players who left before end of season:
IF	Tommy Mulgrew	3	–	–	–	3	–

References

1. "Past Managers". saddlers.co.uk. Archived from the original on 1 June 2012. Retrieved 14 November 2011.

Books

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