Northampton Town
1997–98 season
ChairmanBarry Stonhill
ManagerIan Atkins
StadiumSixfields Stadium
Division Two4th
Play-offsRunners-up
FA CupThird round
Coca-Cola CupFirst round
Auto Windscreens ShieldSecond round (s)
Top goalscorerLeague: David Seal (12)
All: David Seal (14)
Highest home attendance7,501 vs Bristol Rovers
Lowest home attendance2,631 vs Plymouth Argyle
Average home league attendance6,389

The 1997–98 season was Northampton Town's 101st season in their history and the first season back in the Second Division after promotion the previous season. Alongside competing in Division Two, the club also participated in the FA Cup, League Cup and Football League Trophy.

Players

As of match played 24 May 1998.[1]
Name Position Nat. Place of Birth Date of Birth (Age) Apps Goals Previous club Date signed Fee
Goalkeepers
Billy TurleyGKEnglandWolverhampton15 July 1973 (aged 24)60Evesham United10 July 1995Free
Andy WoodmanGKEnglandCamberwell11 August 1971 (aged 26)1740Exeter City10 March 1995Free
Defenders
Charlie BishopCBEnglandNottingham16 February 1968 (aged 30)90Wigan Athletic1 December 1997£20,000
David BrightwellCBEnglandLutterworth7 January 1971 (aged 27)471Bradford City29 July 1997Free
Ian ClarksonRBEnglandSolihull4 December 1970 (aged 27)1092Stoke City2 August 1996Free
Lee ColkinLBEnglandNuneaton15 July 1974 (aged 23)1194Apprentice31 August 1992N/A
Jason DrysdaleLBEnglandBristol17 November 1970 (aged 27)10Swindon Town27 March 1998Free
John FrainLBEnglandBirmingham8 October 1968 (aged 29)562Birmingham CitySummer 1997Free
Colin HillCBNorthern IrelandUxbridge (ENG)12 November 1963 (aged 34)360Trelleborgs FF19 November 1997£30,000
Ian SampsonCBEnglandWakefield14 November 1968 (aged 29)19417Sunderland5 August 1994£30,000
Ray Warburton (c)CBEnglandRotherham7 October 1967 (aged 30)20515York City4 February 1994£35,000
Midfielders
Jason DozzellCMEnglandIpswich9 December 1967 (aged 30)254Tottenham Hotspur16 December 1997Free
Ali GibbRMEnglandSalisbury17 February 1976 (aged 22)933Norwich City5 February 1996£30,000
James HuntCMEnglandDerby17 December 1976 (aged 21)300Notts County1 August 1997Free
Roy HunterCMEnglandSaltburn-by-the-Sea29 October 1973 (aged 24)12312West Bromwich Albion2 August 1995Free
Sean ParrishLMWalesWrexham14 March 1972 (aged 26)588Doncaster Rovers2 August 1996£35,000
Dean PeerCMEnglandWordsley8 August 1969 (aged 28)1155Walsall22 August 1995Free
Michael WarnerCMEnglandHarrogate17 January 1974 (aged 24)230Tamworth31 May 1995Free
Forwards
Chris FreestoneFWEnglandNottingham4 September 1971 (aged 26)3213Middlesbrough24 December 1997£75,000
John GayleFWEnglandBromsgrove30 July 1964 (aged 33)6012Stoke City10 February 1997£25,000
Carl HeggsFWEnglandLeicester11 October 1970 (aged 27)449Swansea City1 August 1997£25,000
Christian LeeFWEnglandAylesbury8 October 1976 (aged 21)549Doncaster Rovers13 July 1995Free
David SealFWAustraliaPenrith, NSW26 January 1972 (aged 26)4614Bristol City12 September 1997£90,000
Kevin WilsonFWNorthern IrelandBanbury (ENG)18 April 1961 (aged 37)100Walsall28 July 1997Free

Competitions

Division Two

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion or relegation
2 Bristol City 46 25 10 11 69 39 +30 85 Promoted
3 Grimsby Town 46 19 15 12 55 37 +18 72 Promoted through play-offs
4 Northampton Town 46 18 17 11 52 37 +15 71 Participated in play-offs
5 Bristol Rovers 46 20 10 16 70 64 +6 70
6 Fulham 46 20 10 16 60 43 +17 70
Source: [2]
Rules for classification: In the Football League goals scored (GF) takes precedence over goal difference (GD).

Results summary

OverallHomeAway
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsWDLGFGAGDWDLGFGAGD
46 18 17 11 52 37  +15 71 14 5 4 33 17  +16 4 12 7 19 20  −1

Last updated: 22 April 2020.
Source:

League position by match

Round12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940414243444546
GroundHAHAAHAHHAAHHAHAAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAHHAHAAHAHAHA
ResultLDWWWWDWWDLWDDDDLWLLDLWDWLWDDDWWDLWLWWDDLLDWWD
Position2220159633212222233434556443544574335344454677554
Source: Rothmans Football Yearbook 1998-1999
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Matches

  Win   Draw   Loss

9 August 1997 (1997-08-09) 1 Northampton Town 0–2 Bournemouth Northampton
15:00 BST J.Vincent 69'
S.Fletcher 75'		 Stadium: Sixfields Stadium
Attendance: 6,384
Referee: Eddie Lomas
16 August 1997 (1997-08-16) 2 Wycombe Wanderers 0–0 Northampton Town High Wycombe
15:00 BST Stadium: Adams Park
Attendance: 5,130
Referee: Barry Knight (referee)Barry Knight
23 August 1997 (1997-08-23) 3 Northampton Town 2–1 Bristol City Northampton
15:00 BST D.Seal 23'
J.Gayle 45'		 C.Cramb 5' Stadium: Sixfields Stadium
Attendance: 6,217
Referee: Paul Taylor
30 August 1997 (1997-08-30) 4 Carlisle United 0–2 Northampton Town Carlisle
15:00 BST D.Seal 16', 33' Stadium: Brunton Park
Attendance: 6,037
Referee: R.Pearson
2 September 1997 (1997-09-02) 5 Walsall 0–2 Northampton Town Walsall
19:45 BST D.Seal 30'
J.Gayle 80'		 Stadium: Bescot Stadium
Attendance: 4,435
Referee: Terry Heilbron
9 September 1997 (1997-09-09) 6 Northampton Town 1–0 Luton Town Northampton
19:45 BST S.Parrish 2' G.McGowan Red card 44' Stadium: Sixfields Stadium
Attendance: 7,246
13 September 1997 (1997-09-13) 7 Oldham Athletic 2–2 Northampton Town Oldham
15:00 BST R.Graham 12'
S.McNiven 35'		 D.Seal 1'
R.Hunter 65' (pen.)		 Stadium: Boundary Park
Attendance: 5,829
20 September 1997 (1997-09-20) 8 Northampton Town 1–0 Wigan Athletic Northampton
15:00 BST D.Seal 54' Stadium: Sixfields Stadium
Attendance: 6,570
Referee: Paul Danson
27 September 1997 (1997-09-27) 9 Northampton Town 2–0 Millwall Northampton
15:00 BST I.Sampson 53'
R.Hunter 65' (pen.)		 P.Sturgess Red card 62' Attendance: 6,578
Referee: Steve Baines
4 October 1997 (1997-10-04) 10 Southend United 0–0 Northampton Town Southend-on-Sea
15:00 BST Stadium: Roots Hall
Attendance: 4,304
Referee: Andy Butler
11 October 1997 (1997-10-11) 11 Grimsby Town 1–0 Northampton Town Cleethorpes
15:00 BST K.Donovan 44' Stadium: Blundell Park
Attendance: 5,096
Referee: Guy Stretton
18 October 1997 (1997-10-18) 12 Northampton Town 2–1 Gillingham Northampton
15:00 BST J.Gayle 35'
C.Heggs 39'		 A.Akinbiyi 53'
P.Smith Red card 77'		 Stadium: Sixfields Stadium
Attendance: 7,191
Referee: Gurnam Singh
21 October 1997 (1997-10-21) 13 Northampton Town 1–1 York City Northampton
19:45 BST R.Hunter 6' (pen.) R.Rowe 48' Stadium: Sixfields Stadium
Attendance: 6,029
Referee: M.Brandwood
25 October 1997 (1997-10-25) 14 Fulham 1–1 Northampton Town Fulham, London
15:00 BST P.Peschisolido 43' J.Gayle 50' Stadium: Craven Cottage
Attendance: 9,848
Referee: Martin Fletcher
1 November 1997 (1997-11-01) 15 Northampton Town 1–1 Bristol Rovers Northampton
15:00 GMT J.Gayle 57' B.Gayle Red card 67'
J.Cureton 79'		 Stadium: Sixfields Stadium
Attendance: 7,264
Referee: Scott Mathieson
4 November 1997 (1997-11-04) 16 Blackpool 1–1 Northampton Town Blackpool
19:45 GMT P.Clarkson 37' I.Sampson 75' Stadium: Bloomfield Road
Attendance: 3,685
Referee: Kevin Lynch
8 November 1997 (1997-11-08) 17 Wrexham 1–0 Northampton Town Wrexham
15:00 GMT N.Roberts 48' Stadium: Racecourse Ground
Attendance: 3,768
Referee: Graham Laws
18 November 1997 (1997-11-18) 18 Northampton Town 4–0 Brentford Northampton
19:45 GMT C.Heggs 4'
J.Gayle 10'
D.Seal 40', 43'		 Stadium: Sixfields Stadium
Attendance: 5,227
Referee: Mick Pierce
22 November 1997 (1997-11-22) 19 Northampton Town 0–1 Watford Northampton
15:00 GMT P.Kennedy 57' Stadium: Sixfields Stadium
Attendance: 7,373
Referee: Paul Robinson
29 November 1997 (1997-11-29) 20 Burnley 2–1 Northampton Town Burnley
15:00 GMT N.Moore 76'
P.Barnes 82'		 A.Gibb 49' Stadium: Turf Moor
Attendance: 8,366
Referee: Matt Messias
2 December 1997 (1997-12-02) 21 Northampton Town 0–0 Chesterfield Northampton
19:45 GMT Stadium: Sixfields Stadium
Attendance: 4,828
Referee: Eddie Wolstenholme
13 December 1997 (1997-12-13) 22 Preston North End 1–0 Northampton Town Preston
15:00 GMT J.Macken 56' Stadium: Deepdale
Attendance: 7,448
Referee: Mike Pike
20 December 1997 (1997-12-20) 23 Northampton Town 2–1 Plymouth Argyle Northampton
15:00 GMT C.Freestone 66', 71' C.Corazzin 45' Stadium: Sixfields Stadium
Attendance: 5,546
Referee: David Pugh
26 December 1997 (1997-12-26) 24 Luton Town 2–2 Northampton Town Luton
15:00 GMT D.Oldfield 67'
T.Thorpe 85'		 J.Dozzell 8' (pen.)
A.White 13' (o.g.)		 Stadium: Kenilworth Road
Attendance: 8,856
Referee: Clive Wilkes
28 December 1997 (1997-12-28) 25 Northampton Town 3–2 Walsall Northampton
15:00 GMT D.Seal 31'
C.Freestone 48'
J.Dozzell 54'		 G.Porter 40'
J.Hodge 61'		 Stadium: Sixfields Stadium
Attendance: 7,094
Referee: Roger Furnandiz
10 January 1998 (1998-01-10) 26 Bournemouth 3–0 Northampton Town Bournemouth
15:00 GMT S.Jones 63'
S.Fletcher 78'
N.Young 83'		 Stadium: Dean Court
Attendance: 4,257
Referee: Mike Bailey
17 January 1998 (1998-01-17) 27 Northampton Town 2–1 Carlisle United Northampton
15:00 GMT C.Heggs 54'
J.Dozzell 77'		 I.Stevens 37' Stadium: Sixfields Stadium
Attendance: 6,327
Referee: Brian Coddington
24 January 1998 (1998-01-24) 28 Bristol City 0–0 Northampton Town Bristol
15:00 GMT Stadium: Ashton Gate
Attendance: 14,753
31 January 1998 (1998-01-31) 29 Northampton Town 0–0 Oldham Athletic Northampton
15:00 GMT Stadium: Sixfields Stadium
Attendance: 6,559
Referee: David Orr
7 February 1998 (1998-02-07) 30 Wigan Athletic 1–1 Northampton Town Wigan
15:00 GMT S.Morgan 60' C.Freestone 68' Stadium: Springfield Park
Attendance: 3,579
Referee: R.Pearson
10 February 1998 (1998-02-10) 31 Northampton Town 2–0 Wycombe Wanderers Northampton
19:45 GMT D.Seal 59' (pen.)
C.Freestone 69'		 Stadium: Sixfields Stadium
Attendance: 5,303
Referee: George Cain
14 February 1998 (1998-02-14) 32 Northampton Town 3–1 Southend United Northampton
15:00 GMT C.Freestone 30'
D.Brightwell 42'
J.Frain 55'		 J.Boere 34' Red card 70' Stadium: Sixfields Stadium
Attendance: 6,147
Referee: Tony Leake
21 February 1998 (1998-02-21) 33 Millwall 0–0 Northampton Town Millwall, London
15:00 GMT Stadium: The Den
Attendance: 6,007
Referee: Andy D'Urso
24 February 1998 (1998-02-24) 34 Gillingham 1–0 Northampton Town Gillingham
19:45 GMT G.Butters 69' (pen.) Stadium: Priestfield
Attendance: 6,405
Referee: Mark Halsey
28 February 1998 (1998-02-28) 35 Northampton Town 2–1 Grimsby Town Northampton
15:00 GMT D.Seal 59' (pen.)
N.Gleghorn 64'		 K.Donovan 17' Stadium: Sixfields Stadium
Attendance: 6,932
Referee: Barry Knight
3 March 1998 (1998-03-03) 36 Northampton Town 0–1 Wrexham Northampton
19:45 GMT D.Spink 39' Stadium: Sixfields Stadium
Attendance: 5,183
Referee: David Crick
7 March 1998 (1998-03-07) 37 Bristol Rovers 0–2 Northampton Town Bristol
15:00 GMT C.Freestone 34'
J.Dozzell 61' (pen.)
C.Bishop Red card 79'		 Stadium: Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 6,535
Referee: Paul Rejer
14 March 1998 (1998-03-14) 38 Northampton Town 2–0 Blackpool Northampton
15:00 GMT C.Freestone 27'
C.Heggs 73'		 Stadium: Sixfields Stadium
Attendance: 6,586
Referee: Mike Jones
21 March 1998 (1998-03-21) 39 Brentford 0–0 Northampton Town Brentford, London
15:00 GMT R.Taylor Red card 87' Stadium: Griffin Park
Attendance: 5,746
Referee: Alan Wiley
28 March 1998 (1998-03-28) 40 Watford 1–1 Northampton Town Watford
15:00 GMT R.Johnson 57' D.Peer 84' Stadium: Vicarage Road
Attendance: 14,268
Referee: Clive Wilkes
4 April 1998 (1998-04-04) 41 Northampton Town 0–1 Burnley Northampton
15:00 BST C.Heggs Red card 86' A.Payton 16' Stadium: Sixfields Stadium
Attendance: 7,264
Referee: Andy Hall
11 April 1998 (1998-04-11) 42 Chesterfield 2–1 Northampton Town Chesterfield
15:00 BST I.Breckin 48'
M.Williams 71'		 I.Clarkson 9' Stadium: Saltergate
Attendance: 5,064
Referee: Eddie Wolstenholme
13 April 1998 (1998-04-13) 43 Northampton Town 2–2 Preston North End Northampton
15:00 BST I.Sampson 78'
D.Seal 82'		 L.Ashcroft 45'
J.Macken 90'		 Stadium: Sixfields Stadium
Attendance: 5,664
Referee: Mick Fletcher
18 April 1998 (1998-04-18) 44 Plymouth Argyle 1–3 Northampton Town Plymouth
15:00 BST M.Saunders 45' C.Freestone 8', 47', 90' Stadium: Home Park
Attendance: 6,389
25 April 1998 (1998-04-25) 45 Northampton Town 1–0 Fulham Northampton
15:00 BST D.Peer 58' Stadium: Sixfields Stadium
Attendance: 7,443
Referee: Chris Foy
2 May 1998 (1998-05-02) 46 York City 0–0 Northampton Town York
15:00 BST Stadium: Bootham Crescent
Attendance: 6,688
Referee: Andy Butler

Play-offs

10 May 1998 (1998-05-10) Semi-Final 1st Leg Bristol Rovers 3–1 Northampton Town Bristol
15:00 BST P.Beadle 30' (pen.)
F.Bennett 37'
B.Hayles 46'		 J.Gayle 74' Stadium: Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 9,173
Referee: Rob Harris
13 May 1998 (1998-05-13) Semi-Final 2nd Leg Northampton Town 3–0
(4–3 agg.)		 Bristol Rovers Northampton
19:45 BST C.Heggs 34'
I.Clarkson 61'
R.Warburton 77'		 Stadium: Sixfields Stadium
Attendance: 7,501
Referee: Mick Fletcher
24 May 1998 (1998-05-24) Final Grimsby Town 1–0 Northampton Town London
15:00 BST K.Donovan 19' Stadium: Wembley Stadium
Attendance: 62,988
Referee: Terry Heilbron

FA Cup

15 November 1997 (1997-11-15) 1st round Exeter City 1–1 Northampton Town Exeter
15:00 GMT D.Rowbotham 32' R.Hunter 37' Stadium: St James Park
Referee: Kevin Lynch
25 November 1997 (1997-11-25) 1st round (R) Northampton Town 2–1 Exeter City Northampton
19:45 GMT R.Hunter 10'
C.Heggs 86'		 B.Clark 43' Stadium: Sixfields Stadium
Referee: Kevin Lynch
6 December 1997 (1997-12-06) 2nd round Northampton Town 1–1 Basingstoke Town Northampton
15:00 GMT D.Seal 39' Carey 75' Stadium: Sixfields Stadium
Referee: Andy Butler
16 December 1997 (1997-12-16) 2nd round (R) Basingstoke Town 0–0 (a.e.t)
(3–4 p)		 Northampton Town Basingstoke
19:45 GMT Stadium: Winchester Road
Referee: David Orr
3 January 1998 (1998-01-03) 3rd round Leicester City 4–0 Northampton Town Leicester
15:00 GMT I.Marshall 17'
G.Parker 26' (pen.)
R.Savage 53'
T.Cottee 58'		 I.Clarkson Red card 69' Stadium: Filbert Street
Attendance: 20,608
Referee: Alan Wilkie

Coca-Cola Cup

12 August 1997 (1997-08-12) 1st round 1st leg Northampton Town 2–1 Millwall Northampton
19:45 BST J.Gayle 60'
D.Seal 65'		 K.Grant 33' Stadium: Sixfields Stadium
Referee: John Kirkby
27 August 1997 (1997-08-27) 1st round 2nd leg Millwall 2–1 (a.e.t)
(0–2 p)		 Northampton Town Millwall
19:45 BST D.Hockton 51', 61' J.Gayle 90' Stadium: The Den
Referee: Mark Halsey

Auto Windscreens Shield

9 December 1997 (1997-12-09) 1st round (S) Northampton Town 1–1
(5–3 p)		 Plymouth Argyle Northampton
19:30 GMT C.Heggs 82' D.O'Hagan 69' Stadium: Sixfields Stadium
Attendance: 2,631
Referee: Steve Baines
13 January 1998 (1998-01-13) 2nd round (S) Northampton Town 5–1 Torquay United Northampton
19:30 GMT C.Freestone 28', 64'
J.Frain 51'
C.Heggs 67', 80'		 K.Veysey Red card 49'
J.Gittens 73'		 Stadium: Sixfields Stadium
Attendance: 2,845
Referee: Rob Styles
13 January 1998 (1998-01-13) Quarter Final (S) Peterborough United 2–1 Northampton Town Peterborough
19:30 GMT S.Castle 7'
A.Edwards 60'		 I.Sampson 24' Stadium: London Road
Attendance: 5,516
Referee: Terry Heilbron

Appearances, goals and cards

Pos Player Division Two FA Cup League Cup League Trophy Play-offs Total Discipline
Starts Sub Goals Starts Sub Goals Starts Sub Goals Starts Sub Goals Starts Sub Goals Starts Sub Goals Yellow card Red card
GKBilly Turley –––––––––3––––– 3––––
GKAndy Woodman 46––5––2–––––3–– 56––1–
DFCharlie Bishop 71––––––––––1–– 81–11
DFDavid Brightwell 34115––2––2–––1– 45212–
DFIan Clarkson 42–15––2––1––3–1 53–261
DFLee Colkin –––––––––11–––– 11–1–
DFJason Drysdale 1–––––––––––––– 1––––
DFJohn Frain 45–15––2––3–13–– 58–23–
DFColin Hill 27––3–––––3––3–– 36––6–
DFIan Sampson 39–32––2––1–13–– 47–46–
DFDean Tallentire ––––––––––––––– –––––
DFRay Warburton 39––3––2––2––3–1 49–16–
MFJason Dozzell 18341–––––2––1–– 2234––
MFAli Gibb 628123––2–2–––2– 10351––
MFJames Hunt 147–12––––3––3–– 219–6–
MFRoy Hunter 28–35–22––3––––– 38–55–
MFSean Parrish 12–1–––2–––––––– 14–12–
MFDean Peer 26424––––––––21– 32524–
MFMichael Warner 37––––––––2–––– 39–––
FWChris Freestone 232111–––––2123–– 293134–
FWJohn Gayle 26964––11211–3–1 3511910–
FWCarl Heggs 2112441111–1132–1 2915991
FWChristian Lee 33–1––1––1––––– 63–––
FWDavid Seal 307122112–111––2– 3511144–
FWKevin Wilson 18––1–––––––––– 19–––
Players who left before end of season:
DFGraham Potter 4––––––––1––––– 5––––
DFDavid Rennie 32–1––––––––––– 42–1–
MFNigel Gleghorn 351–––––––––––– 3511–
MFPaul Tait 21––––––––––––– 21–1–
FWPaul Conway 21––––1–––––––– 31–2–
FWClaudio De Vito ––––––––––––––– –––––
FWLaurens ten Heuvel ––––––––––––––– –––––
FWRaymond Van Dullemen –1–––––1––––––– –2–––
FWColin West 11––––––––––––– 11–––

References

  1. ↑ Rollin, Glenda; Rollin, Jack, eds. (1998). Rothmans Football Yearbook 1998–99. London: Headline Publishing Group. p. 260. ISBN 978-0-7472-7652-4.
  2. ↑ "England 1997–98". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 24 February 2010.
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