1976–77 Northampton Town F.C. season

Northampton Town

1976–77 season
Chairman	Neville Ronson
Manager	Pat Crerand
Stadium	County Ground
Division Three	22nd
FA Cup	First round
League Cup	First round
Top goalscorer	League: Paul Stratford (12) All: Paul Stratford (13)
Highest home attendance	7,782 vs Brighton & Hove Albion
Lowest home attendance	3,911 vs Chesterfield
Average home league attendance	5,750

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.

Players

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

Division Three

Main article: 1976–77 Football League § Third Division

League table

Pos	Team v t e	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

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

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	A	H	A	H	H	A	H	A	A	H	H	A	H	A	A	H	H	A	H	H	H	A	A	H	A	A	H	A	H	A	H	H	A	H	H	A	A	H	H	A	H	A	A
Result	D	L	W	D	L	L	L	L	L	W	L	W	L	D	L	W	L	D	L	L	L	L	L	W	W	L	L	D	W	W	W	L	L	W	W	L	D	W	L	L	W	D	L	D	L	L
Position	14	16	8	9	14	19	22	23	24	20	22	20	21	22	23	22	23	23	23	23	23	23	23	23	23	24	24	24	24	21	22	22	22	20	17	20	20	20	21	21	20	19	19	19	20	22

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

Matches

  Win   Draw   Loss

Chesterfield v Northampton Town

21 August 1976 (1976-08-21) 1	Chesterfield	0–0	Northampton Town	Chesterfield
15:00 BST				Stadium: Saltergate Attendance: 4,052

Sheffield Wednesday v Northampton Town

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

Northampton Town v Lincoln City

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

Gillingham v Northampton Town

4 September 1976 (1976-09-04) 4	Gillingham	1–1	Northampton Town	Gillingham
15:00 BST			J.Hall	Stadium: Priestfield Stadium Attendance: 5,375

Northampton Town v Reading

11 September 1976 (1976-09-11) 5	Northampton Town	1–2	Reading	Northampton
15:00 BST	S.Robertson			Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 6,176

Shrewsbury Town v Northampton Town

18 September 1976 (1976-09-18) 6	Shrewsbury Town	3–0	Northampton Town	Shrewsbury
15:00 BST				Stadium: Gay Meadow Attendance: 4,191

Northampton Town v Walsall

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

Northampton Town v Wrexham

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

Port Vale v Northampton Town

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

Northampton Town v Portsmouth

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

Swindon Town v Northampton Town

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

York City v Northampton Town

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

Northampton Town v Brighton & Hove Albion

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

Northampton Town v Peterborough United

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

Preston North End v Northampton Town

6 November 1976 (1976-11-06) 15	Preston North End	3–0	Northampton Town	Preston
15:00 GMT			[	Stadium: Deepdale Attendance: 7,306

Northampton Town v Oxford United

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

Chester City v Northampton Town

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

Crystal Palace v Northampton Town

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

Northampton Town v Rotherham United

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

Northampton Town v Preston North End

1 January 1977 (1977-01-01) 20	Northampton Town	0–1	Preston North End	Northampton
15:00 GMT				Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 5,024

Brighton and Hove Albion v Northampton Town

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

Northampton Town v Tranmere Rovers

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

Northampton Town v Sheffield Wednesday

15 January 1977 (1977-01-15) 23	Northampton Town	0–2	Sheffield Wednesday	Northampton
15:00 GMT				Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 5,828

Northampton Town v Chesterfield

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

Grimsby Town v Northampton Town

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

Lincoln City v Northampton Town

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

Northampton Town v Gillingham

12 February 1977 (1977-02-12) 27	Northampton Town	1–2	Gillingham	Northampton
15:00 GMT	J.Farrington			Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 4,391

Bury v Northampton Town

15 February 1977 (1977-02-15) 28	Bury	1–1	Northampton Town	Bury
19:30 GMT			J.Farrington	Stadium: Gigg Lane Attendance: 3,809

Reading v Northampton Town

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

Northampton Town v Shrewsbury Town

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

Walsall v Northampton Town

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

Northampton Town v Mansfield Town

8 March 1977 (1977-03-08) 32	Northampton Town	0–1	Mansfield Town	Northampton
19:30 GMT				Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 7,283

Wrexham v Northampton Town

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

Northampton Town v Crystal Palace

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

Northampton Town v Port Vale

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

Portsmouth v Northampton Town

26 March 1977 (1977-03-26) 36	Portsmouth	2–1	Northampton Town	Portsmouth
15:00 BST			P.Stratford	Stadium: Fratton Park Attendance: 9,195

Northampton Town v Swindon Town

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

Northampton Town v Bury

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

Rotherham United v Northampton Town

11 April 1977 (1977-04-11) 39	Rotherham United	2–0	Northampton Town	Rotherham
15:00 BST				Stadium: Millmoor Attendance: 7,286

Peterborough United v Northampton Town

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

Northampton Town v York City

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

Northampton Town v Grimsby Town

19 April 1977 (1977-04-19) 42	Northampton Town	0–0	Grimsby Town	Northampton
19:30 BST				Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 5,699

Oxford United v Northampton Town

23 April 1977 (1977-04-23) 43	Oxford United	1–0	Northampton Town	Oxford
15:00 BST				Stadium: Manor Ground Attendance: 5,075

Northampton Town v Chester City

29 April 1977 (1977-04-29) 44	Northampton Town	0–0	Chester City	Northampton
19:30 BST				Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 5,015

Tranmere Rovers v Northampton Town

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

Mansfield Town v Northampton Town

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

Main article: 1976–77 FA Cup

Leatherhead v Northampton Town

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

Main article: 1976–77 Football League Cup

Swindon Town v Northampton Town

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

Northampton Town v Swindon Town

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

Northampton Town v Huddersfield Town

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

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

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.