Cobblers A-Z
Partly culled from a fine Wrexham programme, and with additional research by the site owner, this A-Z will be added to periodically.
A
ANSELL. Tony Ansell ran the food stall at the County Ground. Not the greatest food in the world, but let's face it, the catering at Sixfields isn't exactly the bee's knees either!
ARSENAL. On 4th January 1958 the Cobblers recorded a 3-1 home win against the mighty Arsenal in the FA Cup. The victory set up a tie against Liverpool, which the Cobblers lost.
ATKINS. Ian Atkins is the current Cobblers Manager and led us to promotion via the play-offs in 1996/7
B
BOWEN. A former skipper of the Cobblers, as Manager, Bowen oversaw the meteoric rise up the leagues during the 1960s. Bowen was the Club's Manager for 11 seasons, and then served as a Director.
BOXING DAY 1927 saw the Cobblers fight back from a 5-1 halftime deficit at home to Luton, to win 6-5.
C
CARR. Graham Carr spent six seasons in charge of the Cobblers between 1984 and 1990. During this time he won the Division 4 title (1986/7), winning 30 of the 46 games.
CHAPMAN. Herbert Chapmen, who later led Arsenal to the Division One title and 2 FA Cups, cut his Managerial teeth with the Cobblers. Having played for us at the turn of the century, Chapman returned in 1907 as Manager. The following season he lifted the Southern League title. Manager for 5 seasons, Chapman's Cobblers won 102 of their 196 games.
COUNTY GROUND. The home of the Cobblers from 1897 until 1994 when they moved to Sixfields. Shared with the Cricket Club, the County Ground had a stand on one side, terracing behind the goals, and one side open.
COVENTRY suffered a shock FA Cup defeat at the hands of the Cobblers on 6th January 1990. Carr's team won 1-0, Steve Berry scoring the winner.
D
DARNELL. Albert Joseph Darnell founded the Cobblers in 1897. A solicitor and coroner, Darnell led the Cobblers through their formative years, and remained involved until his death.
DEFEAT. The Cobblers' record League defeat was 10-0 away at Bournmouth on 3rd September 1939.
E
ENGLISH. Jack English joined the Cobblers in 1947, and in the next 12 years he scored 135 goals from 301 League apearances. He remains the club's all-time leading scorer.
EUROPE. In 1965, after winning promotion to the Firts Division, the Cobblers ventured into Europe where they managed to draw 2-2 with Rapid Vienna in a friendly. If Scotland cn be counted as a foreign trip, the Cobblers also recorded a 2-0 victory against St Mirren that Summer.
F
FRAIN. John Frain will forever be a Cobblers hero after scoring a memorable free-kick at Wembley to win the 1997 Div 3 Play-Off Final.
FULHAM beat the Cobbler 4-2 at the County Ground in April 1966 to more-or-less decide that the Cobblers were relegated from Division 1 after just one season.
G
GAY MEADOW was the scene of one of the most emotional days in recent Cobblers history. May 8th 1993 saw the Cobblers needing to win to guarantee staying in the Football League. 2-0 down at half-time. Player-Manager Phil Chard scored once, and Pat Gavin twice to give the Cobblers a 3-2 victory. Halifax dropped out of the League.
GRIMSBY TOWN were the Cobblers' first ever Football League opposition on 28th August 1920. Grimsby won 2-0.
H
HOLTON. Cliff Holton set the record for most goals in a season in 1961/2 when he netted 36 goals.
I
IRISH punishment was handed out to the Cobblers on 7th February 1970, when Man United beat the Cobblers 8-2 in the FA Cup. George Best scored 6 goals. The game has brought the Cobblers an unwanted piece of fame.
J
JOINT RECORD. Only 5 times in the history of the Footbal League have four players been sent off in one match. The Cobblers have been involved in two of these matches: 18/8/87 v Port Vale (2 each), 11/11/92 v Hereford (Hereford all four).
K
KITS. Forget your moaning about Man Utd, the Cobblers have changed their first team strip every year for at least the last 10 years.
L
LEAGUE appearances record for the Cobblers is held by Tommy Fowler who made 583 appearance between 1946 and 1961.
M
MIRACLE According to Joe Mercer, the miracle of 1966 wasn't England winning
the World Cup, but seeing the Cobblers in the First Division.
N
NEAL. Phil Neal is probably one of the most succesful Cobblers players. Joining the Cobblers in 1968, he made 208 appearences before joining Liverpool in 1974 where he won many honours including the League and the European Cup.
O
ONE season in the First Division (1965/6), but at least we can say we have been in the top flight!
P
PERFORMANCE. Harry Loasby managed to score 28 goals in 30 games between 1927 and 1929.
Q
QUEUES. The largest Cobblers home gate was 24,523 on 23rd April 1966 for the relegation dogfight between the Cobblers and Fulham. The Cobblers lost 4-2 and were relegated soon after.
R
RECORD FEE. In July 1987 the Cobblers sold Richard Hill to Watford for £265,000.
S
SHANKLY, as in Bill shankly played for the Cobblers during the Second World War.
SIXFIELDS Stadium is the current home of the Cobblers. Sixfields hosted its first game on 15th October 1994 when the Cobblers entertained Barnet. The ground has a capacity of 7,653.
T
TEN nil is the Cobblers' record Cup victory. It happened on 7/12/1907 against Sutton Town.
TRUST. In the dark days of the early 1990s when the club's fate was in the balance, the Supporters' Trust was formed (1992). The Trust was a significant factor in saving the club and to this day it elects one member to be a full Director on the Cobblers' Board.
Tull. Walter Tull was the Cobblers' first black player. He joined the club in 1911 from Spurs. When war broke out in 1914 he was the first player to enlist in the army. He was killed in action in 1918.
U
UNWANTED notoriety has been gained for the club by its relegation down the leagues. Between 1965/6 and 1968/9 the Cobblers took just 4 seasons to fall from the First Division to the basement.
V
VICTORY. The Cobblers' record League win is 10-0 v Walsall on 5/11/1927. Loasby, Smith and Wells all scored hat-tricks.
W
WALOC aka What A Load of Cobblers is the NTFC fanzine. Produced 8 times a year it provides an altrenative slant on the club.
WELSH INTERNATIONAL Lloyd Davies won 12 caps whilst with the Cobblers. He was Herbert Chapman's first signing and went n to make 308 appearances for the club.
X
XMAS DAY. NTFC last played on Christmas Day in 1956. It was a 2-2 draw against Southend.
Y
YARKER is one of 5 players to have played FA Cup games but no League games. The others were Gorman, Roe, Welsh and Wilson.
Z
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