1981–82 Northampton Town F.C. season

Northampton Town
1981–82 season
Chairman	Neville Ronson
Manager	Bill Dodgin Jr.; (until February); Clive Walker; (from February)
Stadium	County Ground
Division Four	22nd
FA Cup	Second round
Milk Cup	Third round
Top goalscorer	League: Steve Phillips (10); All: Steve Phillips (12)
Highest home attendance	4,975 vs Peterborough United
Lowest home attendance	1,480 vs Hartlepool United
Average home league attendance	2,308
	← 1980–81 1982–83 →

The 1981–82 season was Northampton Town's 85th season in their history and the fifth successive season in the Fourth Division. Alongside competing in Division Four, the club also participated in the FA Cup and the League Cup.

Players

As of match played 15 May 1982.^[1]

Name	Position	Place of Birth	Date of Birth (Age)	Apps	Goals	Previous club	Date signed	Fee
Goalkeepers
Andy Poole	GK	Chesterfield	(1960-07-06)6 July 1960 (aged 21)	157	0	Mansfield Town	July 1978
Defenders
Paul Brady	RB	Marston Green	(1961-03-26)26 March 1961 (aged 22)	47	2	Birmingham City	August 1981
Steve Bryant	LB	London	(1953-09-05)5 September 1953 (aged 29)	117	5	Portsmouth	March 1982
Wakeley Gage	CB	Northampton	(1958-05-05)5 May 1958 (aged 24)	104	6	Desborough Town	October 1979	£8,000^[2]
Pat Kruse	CB	Arlesey	(1953-11-30)30 November 1953 (aged 28)	18	0	Brentford	February 1982	Loan
Paul Saunders	U	Watford	(1959-12-17)17 December 1959 (aged 22)	99	3	Watford	July 1978
Andy Taylor	RB	Stratford-upon-Avon	(1963-04-04)4 April 1963 (aged 20)	22	0	Aston Villa	June 1981
Midfielders
John Buchanan	CM	Dingwall	(1951-09-19)19 September 1951 (aged 30)	164	32	Cardiff City	September 1981
Dave Carlton	U	Stepney	(1952-11-24)24 November 1952 (aged 29)	194	8	Brentford	September 1980
Peter Coffill	CM	Romford	(1957-02-14)14 February 1957 (aged 25)	42	5	Torquay United	July 1981	£5,000^[3]
Peter Denyer	W	Chiddingfold	(1957-11-26)26 November 1957 (aged 24)	126	27	Portsmouth	July 1979	P/E
Mark Heeley	W	Peterborough	(1959-09-08)8 September 1959 (aged 22)	78	6	Arsenal	March 1980	£33,000
Maurice Muir	W	London	(1963-03-19)19 March 1963 (aged 19)	2	0	Apprentice	April 1980	N/A
Adam Sandy	U	Peterborough	(1958-09-22)22 September 1958 (aged 23)	106	6	Wolverton Town	February 1980
Gary Saxby	U	Clipstone	(1959-12-11)11 December 1959 (aged 22)	75	9	Mansfield Town	August 1980
Forwards
John Alexander	FW	Liverpool	(1955-10-05)5 October 1955 (aged 26)	27	4	Reading	August 1981
Frankie Belfon	FW	Wellingborough	(1965-02-18)18 February 1965 (aged 17)	1	0	Apprentice	April 1982	N/A
Steve Perrin	FW	London	(1952-02-13)13 February 1952 (aged 30)	18	6	Hillingdon Borough	December 1981	P/T
Steve Massey	FW	Manchester	(1958-03-28)28 March 1958 (aged 24)	18	5	Peterborough United	February 1982
Roger Russell	FW	Corby	(1957-11-20)20 November 1957 (aged 24)	1	0	Corby Town	September 1981

Competitions

Division Four

League table

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Promotion
20	Mansfield Town	46	13	10	23	63	81	−18	49
21	Rochdale	46	10	16	20	50	62	−12	46	Re-elected
22	Northampton Town	46	11	9	26	57	84	−27	42
23	Scunthorpe United	46	9	15	22	43	79	−36	42
24	Crewe Alexandra	46	6	9	31	29	84	−55	27

Source: ^{[citation needed]}

Results summary


Overall								Home						Away
Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD
46	11	9	26	57	84	−27	42	9	5	9	32	27	+5	2	4	17	25	57	−32

Last updated: 15 February 2024.
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	H	A	H	A	A	H	H	A	A	H	H	A	H	A	H	H	A	A	H	A	H	H	A	H	H	A	A	A	H	H	A	H	A	A	H	H	A	H	H	A	A	H	H	A	A	A
Result	D	L	D	L	L	L	D	L	D	L	L	D	W	L	L	W	L	L	L	L	L	L	W	D	L	L	L	L	W	W	L	W	W	L	W	W	D	W	D	L	L	L	W	D	L	L
Position	12	17	17	22	22	23	23	22	23	23	23	23	23	23	21	23	24	24	24	24	24	24	23	24	24	24	24	24	23	23	23	23	23	23	21	19	19	19	20	20	20	22	20	20	22	22

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

Matches

Win Draw Loss

29 August 1981 (1981-08-29) 1	Northampton Town	1–1	Scunthorpe United	Northampton
15:00 BST	M.Heeley			Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 2,064

4 September 1981 (1981-09-04) 2	York City	2–1	Northampton Town	York
19:30 BST			S.Phillips	Stadium: Bootham Crescent Attendance: 2,086 Referee: David Allison

12 September 1981 (1981-09-12) 3	Northampton Town	1–1	Hull City	Northampton
15:00 BST	P.Denyer pen.'			Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 1,938

19 September 1981 (1981-09-19) 4	Wigan Athletic	3–1	Northampton Town	Wigan
15:00 BST			P.Denyer	Stadium: Springfield Park Attendance: 3,996

21 September 1981 (1981-09-21) 5	Mansfield Town	4–1	Northampton Town	Mansfield
19:30 BST	J.Lumby G.Nicholson A.Burrows A.Mann		P.Brady	Stadium: Field Mill Attendance: 2,612

26 September 1981 (1981-09-26) 6	Northampton Town	2–3	Hereford United	Northampton
15:00 BST	S.Phillips			Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 1,552

29 September 1981 (1981-09-29) 7	Northampton Town	0–0	Stockport County	Northampton
19:30 BST				Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 1,865

2 October 1981 (1981-10-02) 8	Colchester United	5–1	Northampton Town	Colchester
19:30 BST	P.Coleman 5' I.Allinson 7' (pen.) K.Bremner 72', 86' R.McDonough 83'	Report	P.Denyer 50' (pen.)	Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 2,760 Referee: Darryl Reeves

10 October 1981 (1981-10-10) 9	AFC Bournemouth	1–1	Northampton Town	Bournemouth
15:00 BST			P.Denyer	Stadium: Dean Court Attendance: 5,241

13 October 1981 (1981-10-13) 10	Northampton Town	0–1	Blackpool	Northampton
19:30 BST				Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 2,376

17 October 1981 (1981-10-17) 11	Northampton Town	0–2	Bradford City	Northampton
15:00 BST				Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 2,053

21 October 1981 (1981-10-21) 12	Torquay United	2–2	Northampton Town	Torquay
19:30 BST			M.Heeley A.Sandy	Stadium: Plainmoor Attendance: 2,526

24 October 1981 (1981-10-24) 13	Northampton Town	3–2	Tranmere Rovers	Northampton
15:00 BST	J.Buchanan J.Bramhall o.g.'			Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 1,722

31 October 1981 (1981-10-31) 14	Bury	7–1	Northampton Town	Bury
15:15 GMT			S.Phillips pen.'	Stadium: Gigg Lane Attendance: 2,526

3 November 1981 (1981-11-03) 15	Northampton Town	1–2	Sheffield United	Northampton
19:30 GMT	S.Phillips			Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 4,168

8 November 1981 (1981-11-08) 16	Northampton Town	3–0	Crewe Alexandra	Northampton
15:00 GMT	S.Phillips G.Saxby P.Brady			Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 2,794 Referee: Dave Axcell

14 November 1981 (1981-11-14) 17	Hartlepool United	3–1	Northampton Town	Hartlepool
15:15 GMT			S.Phillips	Stadium: Victoria Park Attendance: 1,641

28 November 1981 (1981-11-28) 18	Peterborough United	1–0	Northampton Town	Peterborough
15:00 GMT				Stadium: London Road Attendance: 5,293

5 December 1981 (1981-12-05) 19	Northampton Town	0–1	Darlington	Northampton
15:00 GMT				Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 1,669

23 January 1982 (1982-01-23) 20	Scunthorpe United	2–1	Northampton Town	Scunthorpe
15:15 GMT			S.Perrin	Stadium: Old Show Ground Attendance: 1,439

30 January 1982 (1982-01-30) 21	Northampton Town	2–3	Wigan Athletic	Northampton
15:00 GMT	P.Denyer S.Perrin			Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 2,418

2 February 1982 (1982-02-02) 22	Northampton Town	3–5	Port Vale	Northampton
19:30 GMT	J.Alexander S.Phillips G.Saxby		G.Hunter P.Sproson M.Chamberlain J.Greenhoff	Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 1,644

6 February 1982 (1982-02-06) 23	Hull City	0–1	Northampton Town	Kingston upon Hull
15:00 GMT			J.Alexander	Stadium: Boothferry Park Attendance: 3,627

9 February 1982 (1982-02-09) 24	Northampton Town	1–1	Mansfield Town	Northampton
19:30 GMT	P.Denyer		J.Lumby	Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 1,945

14 February 1982 (1982-02-14) 25	Northampton Town	1–2	Colchester United	Northampton
15:00 GMT	P.Coffill 56'	Report	Allinson 19' Bremner 75'	Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 3,102 Referee: Peter Richardson

17 February 1982 (1982-02-17) 26	Blackpool	1–0	Northampton Town	Blackpool
19:30 GMT				Stadium: Bloomfield Road Attendance: 2,231

20 February 1982 (1982-02-20) 27	Hereford United	2–1	Northampton Town	Hereford
15:00 GMT			S.Phillips	Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 2,229

23 February 1982 (1982-02-23) 28	Aldershot	2–1	Northampton Town	Aldershot
19:45 GMT			S.Phillips pen.'	Stadium: Recreation Ground Attendance: 1,171
Note: Fixture was previously abandoned on December 26, 1981.^[4]

27 February 1982 (1982-02-27) 29	Northampton Town	1–0	AFC Bournemouth	Northampton
15:00 GMT	W.Gage			Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 2,125

2 March 1982 (1982-03-02) 30	Northampton Town	2–1	Rochdale	Northampton
19:30 GMT	S.Massey 59' W.Gage 79'		O'Loughlin 63'	Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 1,916

3 March 1982 (1982-03-03) 31	Bradford City	2–1	Northampton Town	Bradford
15:00 GMT			S.Perrin	Stadium: Valley Parade Attendance: 4,836

9 March 1982 (1982-03-09) 32	Northampton Town	2–0	Torquay United	Northampton
19:30 GMT	S.Massey J.Alexander			Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 1,599 Referee: Derek Civil

13 March 1982 (1982-03-13) 33	Tranmere Rovers	0–2	Northampton Town	Birkenhead
15:15 GMT			S.Perrin G.Saxby	Stadium: Prenton Park Attendance: 1,198

17 March 1982 (1982-03-17) 34	Sheffield United	7–3	Northampton Town	Sheffield
19:30 GMT			S.Massey pen.' S.Perrin	Stadium: Bramall Lane Attendance: 15,716

9 March 1982 (1982-03-09) 35	Northampton Town	1–0	Bury	Northampton
15:00 GMT	N.Bradley o.g.'			Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 2,109

23 March 1982 (1982-03-23) 36	Northampton Town	5–0	York City	Northampton
19:30 GMT	J.Buchanan M.Czuczman o.g.' S.Perrin P.Aitken o.g.'			Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 2,452

27 March 1982 (1982-03-27) 37	Crewe Alexandra	2–2	Northampton Town	Crewe
15:00 GMT			G.Saxby	Stadium: Gresty Road Attendance: 1,801

3 April 1982 (1982-04-03) 38	Northampton Town	2–1	Hartlepool United	Northampton
15:00 BST	G.Saxby P.Coffill			Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 1,890

10 April 1982 (1982-04-10) 39	Northampton Town	0–0	Aldershot	Northampton
15:00 BST				Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 2,365

12 April 1982 (1982-04-12) 40	Port Vale	1–0	Northampton Town	Burslem
19:30 BST	P.Sproson			Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 3,014

17 April 1982 (1982-04-17) 41	Darlington	3–0	Northampton Town	Darlington
19:30 BST				Stadium: Feethams Attendance: 1,729

20 April 1982 (1982-04-20) 42	Northampton Town	0–1	Halifax Town	Northampton
19:30 BST				Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 1,935 Referee: Allan Gunn
Note: Fixture was previously postponed on January 16, 1982.^[4]

24 April 1982 (1982-04-24) 43	Northampton Town	1–0	Peterborough United	Northampton
15:00 BST	G.Saxby			Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 4,975

30 April 1982 (1982-04-30) 44	Stockport County	0–0	Northampton Town	Stockport
19:30 BST				Stadium: Edgeley Park Attendance: 1,658

4 May 1982 (1982-05-04) 45	Halifax Town	2–1	Northampton Town	Halifax
19:30 BST			A.Sandy	Stadium: The Shay Attendance: 1,730

15 May 1982 (1982-05-15) 46	Rochdale	5–3	Northampton Town	Rochdale
15:00 BST	E.Martinez 6' B.Wellings 37' S.Warriner 57' N.O'Loughlin 77' D.Goodwin 79'		M.Heeley 1' S.Massey 34' (pen.) A.Sandy 43'	Stadium: Spotland Attendance: 1,056

FA Cup

20 November 1981 (1981-11-20) First round	Weymouth	0–0	Northampton Town	Weymouth
15:00 GMT				Stadium: Recreation Ground Attendance: 2,600

24 November 1981 (1981-11-24) First round (r)	Northampton Town	6–2	Weymouth	Northampton
19:30 GMT	D.Carlton S.Phillips A.Sandy W.Gage T.Mahoney			Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 2,613

15 December 1981 (1981-12-15) Second round	Bristol City	3–0	Northampton Town	Bristol
19:30 GMT				Stadium: Ashton Gate Attendance: 2,901

Milk Cup

1 September 1981 (1981-09-01) First round 1st leg	Northampton Town	2–0	Hartlepool United	Northampton
19:30 BST	P.Denyer J.Alexander			Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 1,480

16 September 1981 (1981-09-16) First round 2nd leg	Hartlepool United	2–1	Northampton Town	Northampton
19:30 BST			P.Denyer	Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 1,975

6 October 1981 (1981-10-06) Second round 1st leg	Northampton Town	2–1	Bristol Rovers	Northampton
19:30 BST	S.Phillips A.Sandy			Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 4,476

27 October 1981 (1981-10-27) Second round 2nd leg	Bristol Rovers	1–3	Northampton Town	Bristol
19:30 GMT			M.Heeley G.Saxby T.Mahoney	Stadium: Bloomfield Road Attendance: 3,543

11 November 1981 (1981-11-11) Third round	Manchester City	3–1	Northampton Town	Manchester
19:30 GMT			T.Mahoney	Stadium: Maine Road Attendance: 21,139

Appearances and goals

Pos	Player	Division Four			FA Cup			League Cup			Total
Pos	Player	Starts	Sub	Goals	Starts	Sub	Goals	Starts	Sub	Goals	Starts	Sub	Goals
GK	Andy Poole	46	–	–	3	–	–	5	–	–	54	–	–
DF	Wakeley Gage	43	–	2	3	–	2	5	–	–	51	–	4
DF	Paul Brady	38	1	2	3	–	–	5	–	–	46	1	2
DF	Steve Bryant	10	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	10	–	–
DF	Pat Kruse	18	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	18	–	–
DF	Paul Saunders	21	3	–	2	–	–	1	–	–	24	3	–
DF	Andy Taylor	17	–	–	2	–	–	3	–	–	22	–	–
MF	John Buchanan	34	–	4	3	–	–	–	–	–	37	–	3
MF	Dave Carlton	37	–	–	2	–	1	5	–	–	44	–	1
MF	Peter Coffill	34	2	2	1	–	–	5	–	–	40	2	2
MF	Peter Denyer	22	–	5	–	–	–	3	–	2	25	–	7
MF	Mark Heeley	23	3	3	3	–	–	3	–	1	29	3	4
MF	Maurice Muir	–	1	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	1	–
MF	Adam Sandy	30	9	3	2	1	1	4	–	1	36	10	5
MF	Gary Saxby	32	2	7	3	–	–	2	–	1	37	2	8
FW	John Alexander	21	1	3	–	1	–	3	1	1	25	2	4
FW	Frankie Belfon	1	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	1	–	–
FW	Steve Massey	18	–	5	–	–	–	–	–	–	18	–	5
FW	Steve Perrin	18	–	6	–	–	–	–	–	–	18	–	6
FW	Roger Russell	–	1	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	1	–
Players who left before end of season:
FW	Keith Bowen	3	–	–	–	–	–	2	–	–	5	–	–
FW	Tony Mahoney	6	–	–	3	–	1	2	–	2	11	–	3
FW	Steve Phillips	30	–	10	3	–	1	5	–	1	38	–	12

References

^ Rothmans Football Yearbook 1982/83, p.250.
^ Focus on Wakeley Gage, Chester City v. Burnley matchday programme, 5/10/85, p. 13
^ Jones, Trefor (1996). Watford Football Club Illustrated Who's Who. T.G. Jones. p. 58. ISBN 0-9527458-0-1.
^ ^a ^b "1981/82 Division 4". ntfcmemorabilia.weebly.com. 17 February 2024. Retrieved 17 February 2024.

Books

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

[1] Rothmans Football Yearbook 1982/83, p.250.

[Focus_on-2] Focus on Wakeley Gage, Chester City v. Burnley matchday programme, 5/10/85, p. 13

[3] Jones, Trefor (1996). Watford Football Club Illustrated Who's Who. T.G. Jones. p. 58. ISBN 0-9527458-0-1.

[postponed_games-4] "1981/82 Division 4". ntfcmemorabilia.weebly.com. 17 February 2024. Retrieved 17 February 2024.

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