1977–78 Northampton Town F.C. season

The 1977–78 season was Northampton Town's 81st season in their history and the first season back in the Fourth Division following relegation the previous season. Alongside competing in Division Four, the club also participated in the FA Cup and League Cup.

Northampton Town
1977–78 season
ChairmanBob Brett
ManagerJohn Petts
(until January)
Dave Bowen
(caretaker)
Mike Keen
(from February)
StadiumCounty Ground
Division Four10th
FA CupSecond round
League CupSecond round
Top goalscorerLeague: George Reilly (21)
All: George Reilly (22)
Highest home attendance8,041 vs Watford
Lowest home attendance2,278 vs Halifax Town
Average home league attendance3,517

Players

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As of match played 29 April 1978.[1]
Name Position Nat. Place of Birth Date of Birth (Age) Apps Goals Previous club Date signed Fee
Goalkeepers
Carl Jayes GK   Leicester (1954-03-15)15 March 1954 (aged 24) 27 0 Leicester City November 1977
Jeff Parton GK   Swansea (1953-02-24)24 February 1953 (aged 25) 30 0 Burnley Summer 1975
Defenders
Steve Bryant LB   London (1953-09-05)5 September 1953 (aged 24) 74 2 Birmingham City December 1976
Tony Geidmintis RB   London (1949-07-30)30 July 1949 (aged 28) 18 0 Watford February 1978 £8,000
Steve Litt (c) CB   Carlisle (1954-05-21)21 May 1954 (aged 23) 22 0 Minnesota Kicks September 1977
Dave Lyon CB   Altrincham (1951-01-18)18 January 1951 (aged 27) 6 0 Cambridge United October 1977
Peter Mead LB   Luton (1956-09-09)9 September 1956 (aged 21) 39 1 Luton Town August 1977
Stuart Robertson CB   Nottingham (1946-12-16)16 December 1946 (aged 31) 237 23 Doncaster Rovers Summer 1972
Midfielders
Billy Best U   Glasgow (1942-09-07)7 September 1942 (aged 35) 271 56 Southend United Summer 1973
Derrick Christie W   Bletchley (1957-03-15)15 March 1957 (aged 21) 136 17 Apprentice January 1974 N/A
John Farrington W   Lynemouth (1947-06-19)19 June 1947 (aged 30) 170 19 Cardiff City Summer 1974
David Liddle CM   Bedford (1957-05-21)21 May 1957 (aged 20) 32 2 Apprentice July 1977 N/A
Don Martin U   Corby (1944-02-15)15 February 1944 (aged 34) 252 81 Blackburn Rovers November 1975
Andy McGowan CM   Corby (1956-07-17)17 July 1956 (aged 21) 111 14 Apprentice June 1975 N/A
Kim Wassell W   Wolverhampton (1957-06-09)9 June 1957 (aged 20) 7 0 West Bromwich Albion September 1977
Keith Williams CM   Dudley (1957-04-12)12 April 1957 (aged 21) 49 3 Aston Villa February 1977
Forwards
Keith Bowen FW   Northampton (1958-02-26)26 February 1958 (aged 20) 1 0 Apprentice Summer 1976 N/A
Jim Hall FW   Northampton (1945-03-21)21 March 1945 (aged 33) 136 35 Peterborough United Summer 1975
George Reilly FW   Bellshill (1957-09-14)14 September 1957 (aged 20) 72 24 Corby Town June 1976
Paul Stratford FW   Northampton (1955-09-04)4 September 1955 (aged 22) 188 61 Apprentice Summer 1972 N/A

Competitions

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Division Four

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League table

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
8 Reading 46 18 14 14 55 52 +3 50
9 Torquay United 46 16 15 15 57 56 +1 47
10 Northampton Town 46 17 13 16 63 68 −5 47
11 Huddersfield Town 46 15 15 16 63 55 +8 45
12 Doncaster Rovers 46 14 17 15 52 65 −13 45
Source: [citation needed]

Results summary

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Overall Home Away
Pld W D L GF GA GAv Pts W D L GF GA Pts W D L GF GA Pts
46 17 13 16 63 68 0.926 47 9 8 6 32 30 26 8 5 10 31 38 21

Last updated: 2 February 2024.
Source: [citation needed]

League position by match

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Round12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940414243444546
GroundAAAHAHHAHAAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHHHAAHHAHAHAAHAAHHA
ResultLDWWLWWLWDLLWLWDLLDWDLWDLDLWLLDWDLDDWLLWDWWWDW
Position231795987106891289991215141314161013151515151717181617171716141718161613119910
Source: 11v11.com
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Matches

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  Win   Draw   Loss

20 August 1977 (1977-08-20) 1 Brentford 3–0 Northampton Town Brentford, London
15:00 BST B.Lloyd  
A.McCulloch  
S.Phillips  
Stadium: Griffin Park
Attendance: 5,492
22 August 1977 (1977-08-22) 2 Southend United 0–0 Northampton Town Southend-on-Sea
19:30 BST Stadium: Roots Hall
Attendance: 3,693
27 August 1977 (1977-08-27) 3 Halifax Town 0–1 Northampton Town Halifax
15:00 BST S.Bryant   Stadium: The Shay
Attendance: 1,869
3 September 1977 (1977-09-03) 4 Northampton Town 1–0 Torquay United Northampton
15:00 BST D.Christie   Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 3,889
9 September 1977 (1977-09-09) 5 Southport 3–1 Northampton Town Southport
19:30 BST S.Robertson   Stadium: Haig Avenue
Attendance: 2,677
13 September 1977 (1977-09-13) 6 Northampton Town 2–1 Stockport County Northampton
19:30 BST J.Farrington  
G.Reilly  
Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 3,880
17 September 1977 (1977-09-17) 7 Northampton Town 5–3 Hartlepool United Northampton
15:00 BST D.Martin  
G.Reilly      
S.Robertson  
Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 3,499
24 September 1977 (1977-09-24) 8 Wimbledon 2–0 Northampton Town Wimbledon, London
15:00 BST B.Holmes   35'
P.Summerill   38'
Stadium: Plough Lane
Attendance: 3,236
27 September 1977 (1977-09-27) 9 Northampton Town 3–1 Huddersfield Town Northampton
19:30 BST B.Best  
G.Reilly    
T.Gray   Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 3,942
1 October 1977 (1977-10-01) 10 Scunthorpe United 2–2 Northampton Town Scunthorpe
15:15 BST D.Martin     Stadium: Old Show Ground
Attendance: 2,711
4 October 1977 (1977-10-04) 11 Darlington 2–0 Northampton Town Darlington
19:30 BST Stadium: Feethams
Attendance: 1,729
8 October 1977 (1977-10-08) 12 Northampton Town 0–2 Reading Northampton
15:00 BST Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 3,861
11 October 1977 (1977-10-11) 13 Northampton Town 3–1 Rochdale Northampton
19:30 BST D.Christie    
G.Reilly  
S.Melledew   Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 2,965
14 October 1977 (1977-10-14) 14 Crewe Alexandra 3–2 Northampton Town Crewe
19:30 BST B.Best  
D.Christie  
Stadium: Gresty Road
Attendance: 2,807
22 October 1977 (1977-10-22) 15 Northampton Town 1–0 AFC Bournemouth Northampton
15:00 BST G.Reilly   Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 3,479
29 October 1977 (1977-10-29) 16 Rochdale 1–1 Northampton Town Rochdale
15:00 GMT O'Loughlin   72' (pen.) J.Farrington   90' Stadium: Spotland
Attendance: 1,198
5 November 1977 (1977-11-05) 17 Northampton Town 2–4 Newport County Northampton
15:00 GMT D.Christie  
D.Martin  
H.Goddard    
J.Emanuel  
R.Walker  
Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 3,568
12 November 1977 (1977-11-12) 18 Doncaster Rovers 4–2 Northampton Town Doncaster
14:00 GMT J.Hall  
A.McGowan  
Stadium: Belle Vue
Attendance: 2,688
19 November 1977 (1977-11-19) 19 Northampton Town 1–1 Barnsley Northampton
15:00 GMT G.Reilly   Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 3,131
3 December 1977 (1977-12-03) 20 Swansea City 2–4 Northampton Town Swansea, Wales
15:00 GMT D.Christie  
J.Farrington  
D.Liddle  
G.Reilly  
Stadium: Vetch Field
Attendance: 4,735
10 December 1977 (1977-12-10) 21 Northampton Town 1–1 York City Northampton
15:00 GMT D.Martin   Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 3,108
26 December 1977 (1977-12-26) 22 Watford 3–0 Northampton Town Watford
15:00 GMT B.Downes  
A.Mayes  
B.Pollard  
Stadium: Vicarage Road
Attendance: 15,056
27 December 1977 (1977-12-27) 23 Northampton Town 2–1 Grimsby Town Northampton
15:00 GMT D.Martin  
B.Tucker  
Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 3,518
31 December 1977 (1977-12-31) 24 Northampton Town 1–1 Aldershot Northampton
15:00 GMT J.Farrington   Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 3,598
2 January 1978 (1978-01-02) 25 Newport County 5–3 Northampton Town Newport, Wales
15:15 GMT H.Goddard    
B.Clark  
Jones  
J.Farrington  
G.Reilly    
Stadium: Rodney Parade
Attendance: 7,160
14 January 1978 (1978-01-14) 26 Northampton Town 2–2 Brentford Northampton
15:00 GMT G.Reilly     A.McCulloch     Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 4,050
28 January 1978 (1978-01-28) 27 Torquay United 2–1 Northampton Town Torquay
15:00 GMT G.Reilly   Stadium: Plainmoor
Attendance: 2,443
4 February 1978 (1978-02-04) 28 Northampton Town 1–0 Southport Northampton
15:00 GMT Mead   Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 2,374
25 February 1978 (1978-02-25) 29 Northampton Town 1–2 Scunthorpe United Northampton
15:00 GMT D.Christie   Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 2,952
28 February 1978 (1978-02-28) 30 Northampton Town 0–3 Wimbledon Northampton
19:30 GMT R.Connell   23', 44'
S.Parsons   30'
Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 2,643
4 March 1978 (1978-03-04) 31 Reading 0–0 Northampton Town Reading
15:00 GMT Stadium: Elm Park
Attendance: 2,443
6 March 1978 (1978-03-06) 32 Stockport County 1–2 Northampton Town Stockport
19:30 GMT D.Liddle  
G.Reilly  
Stadium: Edgeley Park
Attendance: 3,358
11 March 1978 (1978-03-11) 33 Northampton Town 0–0 Crewe Alexandra Northampton
15:00 GMT Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 2,842
14 March 1978 (1978-03-14) 34 Northampton Town 1–2 Halifax Town Northampton
19:30 GMT J.Farrington   Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 2,278
Note: Fixture was previously postponed on January 21, 1978.[2]
17 March 1978 (1978-03-17) 35 AFC Bournemouth 1–1 Northampton Town Bournemouth
19:30 GMT A.McGowan   Stadium: Dean Court
Attendance: 2,221
21 March 1978 (1978-03-21) 36 Northampton Town 0–0 Southend United Northampton
19:30 GMT Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 2,431
25 March 1978 (1978-03-25) 37 Grimsby Town 0–1 Northampton Town Cleethorpes
15:00 GMT A.McGowan   Stadium: Blundell Park
Attendance: 5,077
28 March 1978 (1978-03-28) 38 Northampton Town 0–2 Watford Northampton
19:30 GMT I.Bolton  
A.Mayes  
Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 8,041
1 April 1978 (1978-04-01) 39 Aldershot 2–1 Northampton Town Aldershot
15:00 GMT D.Martin   Stadium: Recreation Ground
Attendance: 3,353
4 April 1978 (1978-04-04) 40 Huddersfield Town 0–1 Northampton Town Huddersfield
19:30 GMT S.Bryant   Stadium: Leeds Road
Attendance: 3,488
8 April 1978 (1978-04-08) 41 Northampton Town 0–0 Doncaster Rovers Northampton
15:00 GMT Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 2,793
11 April 1978 (1978-04-11) 42 Hartlepool United 0–2 Northampton Town Hartlepool
19:15 GMT A.McGowan     Stadium: Victoria Park
Attendance: 2,844
Note: Fixture was previously postponed on February 9, 1985.[2]
15 April 1978 (1978-04-15) 43 Barnsley 2–3 Northampton Town Barnsley
15:00 GMT J.Farrington  
D.Christie  
G.Reilly  
Stadium: Oakwell
Attendance: 3,434
22 April 1978 (1978-04-22) 44 Northampton Town 3–1 Swansea City Northampton
15:00 GMT D.Christie  
G.Reilly  
S.Robertson  
Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 4,865
25 April 1978 (1978-04-25) 45 Northampton Town 2–2 Darlington Northampton
19:30 GMT A.McGowan  
G.Reilly  
Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 3,181
29 April 1978 (1978-04-29) 46 York City 0–3 Northampton Town York
15:00 GMT G.Reilly    
K.Williams  
Stadium: Bootham Crescent
Attendance: 1,389

FA Cup

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26 November 1977 (1977-11-26) First round Tooting & Mitcham United 1–2 Northampton Town Mitcham, London
15:00 GMT D.Christie  
D.Martin  
Stadium: Sandy Lane
Attendance: 3,513
17 December 1977 (1977-12-17) Second round Northampton Town 0–2 Enfield Northampton
15:00 GMT Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 5,249

League Cup

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16 August 1976 (1976-08-16) First round 2nd leg Northampton Town 2–1 Southend United Northampton
19:30 BST B.Best  
D.Martin  
Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 4,395
30 August 1977 (1977-08-30) Second round Ipswich Town 5–0 Northampton Town Ipswich
19:30 BST Stadium: Portman Road
Attendance: 15,443

Appearances and goals

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Pos Player Division Four FA Cup League Cup Total
Starts Sub Goals Starts Sub Goals Starts Sub Goals Starts Sub Goals
GK Carl Jayes 25 2 27
GK Jeff Parton 10 2 12
DF Steve Bryant 39 2 2 2 3 44 2 2
DF Tony Geidmintis 18 18
DF Steve Litt 19 1 2 21 1
DF Dave Lyon 6 6
DF Peter Mead 37 1 1 1 37 2 1
DF Stuart Robertson 38 3 2 3 43 3
MF Billy Best 33 1 2 1 3 37 1 2
MF Derrick Christie 39 4 9 2 1 1 1 42 5 10
MF John Farrington 44 7 2 3 1 49 8
MF David Liddle 25 2 2 2 3 30 2 2
MF Andy McGowan 30 2 6 2 32 2 6
MF Don Martin 16 9 7 2 1 2 1 20 9 9
MF Kim Wassell 3 4 3 4
MF Keith Williams 25 3 1 1 3 1 28 4 2
FW Keith Bowen
FW Jim Hall 10 1 1 11 1
FW George Reilly 44 21 2 3 1 49 22
FW Paul Stratford 2 2
Non-professional:
DF Arthur Poppy 1 1
Players who left before end of season:
GK Stuart Garnham 11 1 12
DF Barry Tucker 28 1 2 3 33 1
FW Ray Haywood 3 1 4

References

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  1. ^ Rothmans Football Yearbook 1978/79, p.270.
  2. ^ a b "1977/78 Division 4". ntfcmemorabilia.weebly.com. 1 February 2024. Retrieved 1 February 2024.

Books

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