This is a list of notable footballers who have played for Northampton Town . The aim is for this list to include all players that have played 100 or more senior matches for the club. Other players who are deemed to have played an important role for the club can be included, but the reason for their notability should be included in the 'Notes' column.
For a list of all Northampton Town players with a Wikipedia article, see Category:Northampton Town F.C. players . For the current Northampton Town first-team squad, see the Players section of the club's main article.
Players are listed according to the year of their first team debut for the club, and then by order of surname. The 1909 FA Charity Shield match is included in the statistics, however wartime matches are excluded.
Notable players
Statistics correct as of 17 December 2024.
This and the † indicate that they are a club record holder
This indicates that they played their full career at Northampton Town.
Italics This indicates they received international honours while not at the club.
(n/a) = Information not available
Players in bold are still playing for the club.
Name
Nat.
Position[ 1]
Period
League
Total
International honours
Caps
Notes
Apps
Goals
Apps
Goals
James Frost
Outside forward
1900–1907
189
22
205
22
Ralph Howe
Wing-half
1901–1906
155
2
169
2
Herbert Neal
Wing-half
1901–1907
153
8
164
8
Herbert Chapman
Inside forward
1901, 1904, 1907–1909
67
23
80
39
†[ 2]
Peter Durber
Full-back
1902–1906
112
0
117
0
Bill Perkins
Goalkeeper
1903–1906
101
0
109
0
George Cooch
Goalkeeper
1905–1909
125
0
133 [ 3]
0
Edwin Freeman
Outside forward
1905–1920
341
19
364[ 3]
21
Dave McCartney
Centre-half
1907–1910
106
8
113 [ 3]
9
Frank McDiarmid
Outside forward
1907–1911
138
18
149[ 3]
19
Fred Lessons
Centre-forward
1907–1915
234
75
249 [ 3]
79
†[ 4]
Lloyd Davies
Full-back
1907–1920
311
3
330 [ 3]
3
Wales
16
†[ 5]
Albert Lewis
Inside forward
1908–1913
164
85
179 [ 3]
90
Jock Manning
Wing-half
1908–1920
264
8
283 [ 3]
8
Fanny Walden
Outside forward
1909–1913, 1926–1927
128
27
137
29
England
2
†[ 6]
Thomas Thorpe
Goalkeeper
1909–1914
254
2
270
2
Bobby Hughes
Outside forward
1909–1915
112
23
116
23
Fred Clipston
Full-back
1910–1920
174
6
185
6
Harry King
Centre-forward
1911–1914
99
68
105
70
Walter Tull
Wing-half
1911–1915
105
9
108
9
†[ 7]
William Lockett
Centre-forward
1914–1926
262
100
282
109
England Schools
Billy Pease
Outside forward
1919–1925
278
46
299
52
England
1
Charles Smith
Goalkeeper
1919–1925
190
0
198
1
Bob Hewison
Utility
1920–1925
99
8
108
9
†[ 8]
Willie Watson
Full-back
1920–1929
326
4
352
5
Billy Williams
Wing-half
1921–1926
187
3
203
3
Wales
1
Thomas Jeffs
Full-back
1921–1927
143
0
160
0
Louis Page
Outside forward
1922–1925
122
24
129
26
England
7
Frank Brett
Full-back
1923–1929
254
4
273
4
Ernie Cockle
Centre-forward
1924–1927
97
46
104
46
Ralph Hoten
Inside forward
1924–1930
197
75
213
84
†[ 9]
Len Hammond
Goalkeeper
1924–1932
301
0
326
0
George Allon
Wing-half
1926–1931
185
7
192
7
Robert Maloney
Centre-half
1926–1931
183
4
194
4
Tommy Wells
Outside forward
1926–1934
277
73
305
84
William Cave
Goalkeeper
1926–1937
93
0
104
0
Tom Smith
Inside forward
1927–1930
112
22
121
22
Ted Bowen
Centre-forward
1927–1931
162
114
172
120
†[ 10]
George O'Dell
Wing-half
1927–1932
147
10
158
10
Albert Dawes
Centre-forward
1929–1933
164
82
175
94
†[ 11] [ 12]
Fred Dawes
Full-back
1929–1936
162
1
185
4
Len Riches
Wing-half
1929–1937
136
8
151
9
Frank Davies
Wing-half
1930–1933
144
7
164
13
Tommy Boyle
Inside forward
1930–1935
142
33
151
35
Danny Tolland
Inside forward
1933–1937
138
26
150
30
Billy Thayne
Centre-half
1935–1938
138
0
143
0
Bill Gormlie
Goalkeeper
1935–1938
133
0
143
0
Sid Russell
Full-back
1935–1938
109
0
117
0
Bobby King
Forward
1937–1939, 1947–1949
99
23
102
23
Bill Barron
Full-back
1938–1951
166
4
189
4
†[ 13]
Gwyn Hughes
Wing-half
1945–1956
226
15
246
19
Tom Smalley
Full-back
1945–1951
200
2
226
2
England
1
Dave Smith
Inside forward
1946–1951
128
31
142
33
Tommy Fowler
Outside forward
1946–1961
521
84
552
88
†[ 14]
Dave Bowen
Wing-half
1947–1950, 1959–1960
34
1
35
1
Wales
19
†[ 15]
Bill Coley
Wing-half
1947–1951
104
7
113
7
Jack English
Outside forward
1947–1960
302
135
322
143
†[ 16]
Jack Ansell
Goalkeeper
1948–1952
131
0
142
0
Ben Collins
Centre-half
1948–1959
213
0
224
0
Maurice Candlin
Half-back
1949–1953
139
1
152
2
Jack Southam
Full-back
1949–1955
145
1
156
2
John Smith
Wing-half
1949–1960
186
9
195
9
Willie O'Donnell
Centre-forward
1951–1954
105
44
109
44
Fred Ramscar
Inside forward
1951–1955
139
55
146
59
Alf Wood
Goalkeeper
1951–1955
139
0
146
0
Tom McLain
Wing-half
1952–1955
96
11
101
11
Ron Patterson
Full-back
1952–1962
300
5
317
5
Maurice Marston
Full-back
1953–1957
149
2
155
2
Ray Yeoman
Wing-half
1953–1959
169
4
176
4
Roly Mills
Wing-half
1954–1964
305
30
324
33
England Youth
Ken Leek
Inside forward
1955–1958, 1964–1965
87
31
93
33
Wales
13
†[ 17]
Alan Woan
Inside forward
1956–1959
119
68
123
69
Tony Claypole
Full-back
1956–1961
116
1
125
1
Colin Gale
Centre-half
1956–1962
211
0
222
1
Derek Leck
Wing-half
1958–1966
246
45
267
49
Terry Branston
Centre-half
1960–1967
246
2
271
2
Barry Lines
Outside forward
1960–1970
266
48
294
50
Cliff Holton
Inside forward
1961–1962
62
50
68
54
†[ 18]
Mike Everitt
Full-back
1961–1967
207
15
227
17
Theo Foley
Full-back
1961–1967
204
8
220
11
Republic of Ireland
9
†[ 19]
John Kurila
Wing-half
1962–1963, 1964–1968
148
4
162
8
Graham Carr
Half-back
1962–1968
85
0
96
0
England Youth
†[ 20]
Frank Large
Centre-forward
1962–1963 1966–1967 1969–1972
220
88
250
96
Don Martin
Utility
1962–1968, 1976–1978
228
69
252
81
England Youth
Bryan Harvey
Goalkeeper
1963–1967
165
0
181
0
Billy Best
Utility
1963–1968, 1973–1978
243
49
271
56
†[ 21] [ 22]
Jim Hall
Centre-forward
1963–1967, 1975–1978
124
35
141
39
England Youth
†[ 23]
Joe Kiernan
Wing-half
1963–1971
308
13
352
14
Graham Moore
Inside forward
1964–1967
53
10
59
12
Wales
21
†[ 24]
John Mackin
Full-back
1965–1969
101
11
112
13
John Clarke
Centre-half
1965–1975
233
1
262
1
England Youth
Graham Felton
Winger
1966–1976
254
25
286
27
England Youth
Ron Flowers
Midfielder
1967–1969
62
4
67
4
England
49
†[ 25]
John Roberts
Utility
1967–1969
62
11
67
13
Wales
22
†[ 26]
John Fairbrother
Forward
1968–1971
140
56
164
62
Ray Fairfax
Full-back
1968–1971
116
2
138
2
Frank Rankmore
Centre-back
1968–1971
103
15
126
19
Wales
1
Phil Neal
Utility
1968–1974
187
28
208
30
England
50
Dixie McNeil
Forward
1969–1972
85
33
102
38
Trevor Gould
Midfielder
1970–1973
105
6
110
6
England Youth
†[ 27]
John Buchanan
Midfielder
1970–1974, 1981–1983
183
30
209
34
Alan Starling
Goalkeeper
1971–1976
238
1
258
1
Barry Tucker
Full-back
1971–1977, 1982–1984
277
8
302
8
John Gregory
Utility
1972–1977
187
8
203
10
England
6
Paul Stratford
Forward
1972–1978
172
59
188
61
†[ 28]
Stuart Robertson
Centre-back
1972–1979
254
27
281
29
†[ 29]
Dave Carlton
Midfielder
1973–1977, 1980–1982
180
7
194
8
Derrick Christie
Winger
1974–1979
138
18
156
21
John Farrington
Winger
1974–1980
232
29
253
31
Steve Phillips
Forward
1975–1977, 1980–1982
126
38
141
43
England Youth
†[ 30]
Andy McGowan
Midfielder
1975–1978
105
14
111
14
England Youth
Steve Bryant
Midfielder
1976–1979, 1982
107
5
117
5
†[ 31]
George Reilly
Forward
1976–1980
127
45
144
54
Keith Williams
Midfielder
1976–1981
131
6
142
7
†[ 32]
Andy Poole
Goalkeeper
1978–1982
141
0
157
0
†[ 33]
Paul Saunders
Utility
1978–1983
125
5
141
5
Peter Denyer
Midfielder
1979–1983
148
28
170
34
Mark Heeley
Winger
1979–1983
92
5
110
6
Adam Sandy
Midfielder
1979–1983
104
6
113
8
Wakeley Gage
Centre-back
1979–1985
218
17
253
22
†[ 34] [ 35] [ 36]
Gary Saxby
Midfielder
1980–1983
96
11
114
14
Adrian Burrows
Centre-back
1982–1984
88
4
106
5
Peter Gleasure
Goalkeeper
1983–1991
344
0
412
0
†[ 37] [ 38]
Steve Brown
Midfielder
1983–1985, 1989–1994
173
22
205
26
Russell Lewis
Centre-back
1983–1986
132
6
155
6
Wales Semi-pro
†[ 39]
Brian Mundee
Full-back
1983–1986
100
3
118
4
England Youth
Ian Benjamin
Forward
1984–1988
150
59
180
69
England Youth
†[ 40]
Warren Donald
Midfielder
1984–1990
188
13
220
14
England Schools
Richard Hill
Midfielder
1985–1987
86
46
103
52
†[ 41] [ 42] [ 43]
Trevor Morley
Forward
1985–1988
107
39
130
45
England Semi-pro
†[ 44]
Graham Reed
Full-back
1985–1988
112
2
138
2
Phil Chard
Utility
1985–1988, 1989–1994
278
46
331
54
†[ 45] [ 46]
Eddie McGoldrick
Midfielder
1986–1988
107
9
130
11
Republic of Ireland
15
Dave Gilbert
Winger
1986–1989
120
21
145
27
Russ Wilcox
Centre-back
1986–1990
138
9
162
10
England Semi-pro
Keith McPherson
Centre-back
1986–1990
182
8
216
9
†[ 47] [ 48]
Paul Wilson
Full-back
1987–1992
141
6
168
7
Steve Berry
Midfielder
1988–1991
102
7
123
10
Trevor Quow
Midfielder
1988–1992
88
2
100
2
England Youth
Tony Adcock
Forward
1988–1989, 1991–1992
107
40
122
46
†[ 49]
Bobby Barnes
Forward
1989–1992
98
37
118
44
England Youth
Terry Angus
Centre-back
1990–1993
116
6
138
6
Micky Bell
Winger
1990–1994
153
10
178
12
Steve Terry
Centre-back
1990–1994
181
17
211
18
†[ 50]
Jason Burnham
Full-back
1991–1994
88
2
108
2
Barry Richardson
Goalkeeper
1991–1994
96
0
113
0
†[ 51]
Lee Colkin
Full-back
1991–1998
99
3
119
4
Darren Harmon
Midfielder
1992–1995
89
12
106
13
†[ 52]
Ian Sampson
Centre-back
1994–2004
390
26
449
31
†[ 53] [ 54]
Neil Grayson
Forward
1994–1997
120
31
141
34
†[ 55]
Ray Warburton
Centre-back
1994–1998
187
12
222
16
†[ 56]
Andy Woodman
Goalkeeper
1995–1999
163
0
197
0
Dean Peer
Midfielder
1995–2000
128
5
156
7
Roy Hunter
Midfielder
1995–2002
177
17
211
20
Ali Gibb
Winger
1996–2000
129
4
158
4
Sean Parrish
Midfielder
1996–2000
108
12
122
16
Ian Clarkson
Full-back
1996–2000
94
1
119
2
†[ 58]
James Hunt
Midfielder
1997–2002
174
8
205
10
John Frain
Full-back
1997–2003
213
4
252
8
Carlo Corazzin
Forward
1998–2000
78
30
89
32
Canada
59
†[ 59] [ 60]
Dave Savage
Midfielder
1998–2001
113
18
124
18
Republic of Ireland
5
Richard Hope
Centre-back
1998–2003
134
7
153
7
Duncan Spedding
Full-back
1998–2003
123
1
143
1
Ian Hendon
Full-back
1999–2000
60
3
66
4
England Under-21
†[ 61]
Keith Welch
Goalkeeper
1999–2002
117
0
127
0
†[ 62]
Jamie Forrester
Forward
2000–2003
121
45
136
50
England Youth
Marco Gabbiadini
Forward
2000–2003
120
25
136
30
England 'B'
Chris Hargreaves
Midfielder
2000–2004
151
6
175
11
†[ 63]
Derek Asamoah
Forward
2001–2004
112
10
132
13
Ghana
4
Paul Trollope
Midfielder
2002–2004
84
8
100
8
Wales
9
Lee Harper
Goalkeeper
2002–2007
156
0
182
0
†[ 64]
Chris Willmott
Centre-back
2003–2005
81
1
101
1
Josh Low
Winger
2003–2006
102
15
124
19
Wales Under-21
†[ 65] [ 66]
Martin Smith
Midfielder
2003–2006
104
23
127
29
England Under-21
Luke Chambers
Centre-back
2003–2007
122
1
149
1
Marc Richards
Forward
2003–2005, 2014–2018
176
54
210
63
England Under-20
†[ 67]
Chris Doig
Centre-back
2003, 2005–2009
129
4
147
5
Scotland Under-21
Scott McGleish
Forward
2004–2007, 2008–2009
120
43
143
56
†[ 68] [ 69]
Mark Bunn
Goalkeeper
2004–2008
90
0
106
0
†[ 70]
Ian Taylor
Midfielder
2005–2007
66
8
74
8
†[ 71]
Andy Kirk
Forward
2005–2008
106
30
123
36
Northern Ireland
11
Jason Crowe
Full-back
2005–2009, 2011–2012
182
14
205
17
England Under-20
Ryan Gilligan
Midfielder
2005–2011
181
20
206
23
Mark Hughes
Centre-back
2006–2009
93
4
106
4
Chris Dunn
Goalkeeper
2006–2011
98
0
110
0
Andy Holt
Utility
2006–2012
191
16
220
17
Danny Jackman
Full-back
2007–2009
82
9
93
9
†[ 72] [ 73]
Adebayo Akinfenwa
Forward
2007–2010, 2011–2013
168
71
188
74
†[ 74]
Luke Guttridge
Midfielder
2008–2010, 2012–2013
100
10
112
14
Abdul Osman
Midfielder
2008–2011
104
7
118
7
Michael Jacobs
Winger
2009–2012
87
11
100
15
†[ 75] [ 76]
John Johnson
Full-back
2009–2013
139
13
151
14
Ben Tozer
Utility
2010–2015
173
6
199
7
Kelvin Langmead
Centre-back
2011–2015
90
11
104
12
†[ 77]
Chris Hackett
Winger
2012–2016
122
11
138
12
Ivan Toney
Forward
2012–2015
53
11
60
13
England
6
†[ 78]
Zander Diamond
Centre-back
2014–2017
113
3
125
5
Scotland 'B'
†[ 79]
Brendan Moloney
Full-back
2014–2018
104
2
115
2
Republic of Ireland Under-21
John-Joe O'Toole
Midfielder
2014–2019
173
33
194
35
Republic of Ireland Under-21
†[ 80] [ 81]
Ryan Watson
Midfielder
2014, 2015, 2019–2021
80
13
101
17
†[ 82]
Ricky Holmes
Winger
2015–2016, 2020
58
15
64
17
England 'C'
†[ 83]
Nicky Adams
Winger
2015–2016, 2019–2021
90
4
107
6
Wales Under-21
†[ 84]
Adam Smith
Goalkeeper
2015–2017
86
0
94
0
†[ 85]
David Buchanan
Full-back
2015–2019
162
1
187
1
Northern Ireland Under-21
Sam Hoskins
Winger
2015–
352
82
398
91
†[ 86] [ 87]
Shaun McWilliams
Midfielder
2016–2024
200
6
229
7
David Cornell
Goalkeeper
2016–2020
92
0
108
0
Wales Under-21
Charlie Goode
Centre-back
2019–2020
53
3
62
4
England 'C'
†[ 88] [ 89] [ 90]
Fraser Horsfall
Centre-back
2020–2022
85
12
100
12
England 'C'
†[ 91]
Jack Sowerby
Midfielder
2020–
140
2
153
2
Jon Guthrie
Centre-back
2021–
141
15
152
15
†[ 92]
Mitch Pinnock
Winger
2021–
156
24
174
25
England 'C'
Aaron McGowan
Full-back
2021–
99
2
108
2
Liam Roberts
Goalkeeper
2021–2022
46
0
49
0
†[ 93] [ 94]
Louis Appéré
Forward
2022–2024
98
17
106
18
Notes
^ For a full description of positions see football positions .
^ Manager of Northampton from 1907–1912.
^ a b c d e f g h Northampton Town's only appearance in the Charity Shield is included in the overall total.
^ Manager of Northampton for between 1913–1918.
^ Club record holder for oldest first team player; 42 years old and most international caps while at the club; 12 caps for Wales.
^ Also played first-class cricket for Northamptonshire County Cricket Club.
^ Became the first "coloured" infantry officer in the British Army
^ Player-manager of Northampton for between 1920–1925.
^ Joint club record holder with Bert Dawes for most goals in one match; 5 v Crystal Palace (H) won 8–1 Division Three South 1928/29.
^ Club record holder for most league goals in Division Three South; 34 in 1928–29.
^ Joint club record holder with Ralph Hoten for most goals in one match; 5 v Lloyds Bank (H) won 8–1 FA Cup Round One 1932/33.
^ Joint club record holder with Albert Lewis for most hat-tricks; 7.
^ Also played first-class cricket for Northamptonshire County Cricket Club.
^ Club record holder for most competitive appearances.
^ Manager of Northampton for two spells between 1959–1967 and 1969–1972.
^ Club record holder for most competitive goals.
^ Member of Wales' 1958 World Cup squad.
^ Club record holder for most goals in a season; 36 in 1961/62 Division Three.
^ Manager of Northampton between 1990–1992.
^ Manager of Northampton between 1985–1990.
^ Inaugural Northampton Town 1975 Player of the Year.
^ Northampton Town 1977 Player of the Year.
^ Northampton Town 1976 Player of the Year.
^ BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year in 1959.
^ Member of England's 1966 World Cup winning squad and player-manager of Northampton between 1968–1969.
^ Sold to Arsenal for record fee at the time of £30,000.
^ Former Head of Centre of Excellence at Northampton Town .
^ Included the 1974/75 PFA Division Four Team of the Year.
^ Northampton Town 1979 Player of the Year.
^ Included the 1980/81 PFA Division Four Team of the Year.
^ Northampton Town 1978 Player of the Year.
^ Northampton Town 1981 Player of the Year.
^ Northampton Town 1980 Player of the Year.
^ Northampton Town 1982 Player of the Year.
^ Northampton Town 1984 Player of the Year.
^ Northampton Town 1985 Player of the Year.
^ Club record holder for most competitive clean sheets; 112
^ Northampton Town 1988 Player of the Year.
^ Northampton Town 1986 Player of the Year.
^ Northampton Town 1987 Player of the Year.
^ Club record holder for most league goals in Division Four; 33 in 1986–87.
^ Included the 1986/87 PFA Division Four Team of the Year.
^ Caretaker-manager of Northampton in 2003
^ Included the 1986/87 PFA Division Four Team of the Year.
^ Manager of Northampton between 1992–1993
^ Northampton Town 1991 Player of the Year.
^ Included the 1986/87 PFA Division Four Team of the Year.
^ Northampton Town 1990 Player of the Year.
^ Northampton Town 1989 Player of the Year.
^ Northampton Town 1992 Player of the Year.
^ Northampton Town 1993 Player of the Year.
^ Northampton Town 1994 Player of the Year.
^ Manager of Northampton between 2009–2011
^ Northampton Town 2001 Player of the Year.
^ Northampton Town 1995 Player of the Year.
^ Northampton Town 1996 Player of the Year.
^ Northampton Town 1998 Player of the Year.
^ Northampton Town 1997 Player of the Year.
^ 11 International Goals for Canada.
^ Northampton Town 1999 Player of the Year.
^ Included the 1999/2000 PFA Division Three Team of the Year.
^ Northampton Town 2000 Player of the Year.
^ Northampton Town 2002 Player of the Year.
^ Northampton Town 2004 Player of the Year.
^ Club record holder for transfer fee paid; £165,000 from Oldham Athletic in July 2003.
^ Included the 2005/06 PFA League Two Team of the Year.
^ Northampton Town 2015 Player of the Year.
^ Northampton Town 2005 Player of the Year.
^ Northampton Town 2006 Player of the Year.
^ Northampton Town 2007 Player of the Year.
^ Included the 2005/06 PFA League Two Team of the Year.
^ Northampton Town 2008 Player of the Year.
^ Northampton Town 2009 Player of the Year.
^ Northampton Town 2010 Player of the Year.
^ Northampton Town 2011 Player of the Year.
^ Northampton Town 2012 Player of the Year.
^ Northampton Town 2013 Player of the Year.
^ Former club record holder for youngest player; 16 years and 273 days, against Bradford City , November 2012.
^ Northampton Town 2017 Player of the Year.
^ Northampton Town 2016 Player of the Year.
^ Included the 2015/16 PFA League Two Team of the Year.
^ Northampton Town 2021 Player of the Year.
^ Included the 2015/16 PFA League Two Team of the Year.
^ Included the 2019/20 PFA League Two Team of the Year.
^ Included the 2015/16 PFA League Two Team of the Year.
^ Northampton Town 2023 Player of the Year.
^ Included the 2022/23 PFA League Two Team of the Year.
^ Club record holder for transfer fee received; £1 Million+ to Brentford in August 2020.
^ Included the 2019/20 PFA League Two Team of the Year.
^ Northampton Town 2020 Player of the Year.
^ Included the 2021/22 PFA League Two Team of the Year.
^ Included the 2021/22 PFA League Two Team of the Year.
^ Northampton Town 2022 Player of the Year.
^ Included the 2021/22 PFA League Two Team of the Year.
References
Books
Beesley, Mark (2005). Northampton Town: A Season in the Sun 1965–66 . London: Desert Island Books. ISBN 978-1905328017 .
Grande, Frank (1997). Northampton Town F.C.: The Official Centenary History . London: Yore Publications. ISBN 978-1874427674 .
Joyce, Michael (2004). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939 . Soccerdata. ISBN 1-899468-67-6 .
Club Players Matches Grounds Rivalries