1997–98 Northampton Town F.C. season

April 2022 Northampton Town 1997–98 Ian Atkins Barry Stonhill Sixfields Stadium Division Two 4th Play-offs Runners-up FA Cup Third round League Cup First round League Trophy Second round David Seal (12) David Seal (14) 7,501 vs Bristol Rovers 2,631 vs Plymouth Argyle 6,389 1996–97 1998–99 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 match played 24 May 1998.Glenda Rollin Jack Rollin Rothmans Football Yearbook 1998–99 1998 Headline Publishing Group London 978-0-7472-7652-4 260 Name Position Nat. Place of birth Date of birth (age) Apps Goals Previous club Date signed Fee GoalkeepersBilly TurleyGKENGWolverhampton1998 5 24 1973 7 15 y60Evesham United10 July 1995FreeAndy WoodmanGKENGCamberwell1998 5 24 1971 8 11 y1740Exeter City10 March 1995Free DefendersCharlie BishopCBENGNottingham1998 5 24 1968 2 16 y90Wigan Athletic1 December 1997£20,000David BrightwellCBENGLutterworth1998 5 24 1971 1 7 y471Bradford City29 July 1997FreeIan ClarksonRBENGSolihull1998 5 24 1970 12 4 y1092Stoke City2 August 1996FreeLee ColkinLBENGNuneaton1998 5 24 1974 7 15 y1194Apprentice31 August 1992N/AJason DrysdaleLBENGBristol1998 5 24 1970 11 17 y10Swindon Town27 March 1998FreeJohn FrainLBENGBirmingham1998 5 24 1968 10 8 y562Birmingham CitySummer 1997FreeColin HillCBNIRUxbridge (ENG)1998 5 24 1963 11 12 y360Trelleborgs FF19 November 1997£30,000Ian SampsonCBENGWakefield1998 5 24 1968 11 14 y19417Sunderland5 August 1994£30,000Ray Warburton (c)CBENGRotherham1998 5 24 1967 10 7 y20515York City4 February 1994£35,000 MidfieldersJason DozzellCMENGIpswich1998 5 24 1967 12 9 y254Tottenham Hotspur16 December 1997FreeAli GibbRMENGSalisbury1998 5 24 1976 2 17 y933Norwich City5 February 1996£30,000James HuntCMENGDerby1998 5 24 1976 12 17 y300Notts County1 August 1997FreeRoy HunterCMENGSaltburn-by-the-Sea1998 5 24 1973 10 29 y12312West Bromwich Albion2 August 1995FreeSean ParrishLMWALWrexham1998 5 24 1972 3 14 y588Doncaster Rovers2 August 1996£35,000Dean PeerCMENGWordsley1998 5 24 1969 8 8 y1155Walsall22 August 1995FreeMichael WarnerCMENGHarrogate1998 5 24 1974 1 17 y230Tamworth31 May 1995Free ForwardsChris FreestoneFWENGNottingham1998 5 24 1971 9 4 y3213Middlesbrough24 December 1997£75,000John GayleFWENGBromsgrove1998 5 24 1964 7 30 y6012Stoke City10 February 1997£25,000Carl HeggsFWENGLeicester1998 5 24 1970 10 11 y449Swansea City1 August 1997£25,000Christian LeeFWENGAylesbury1998 5 24 1976 10 8 y549Doncaster Rovers13 July 1995FreeDavid SealFWAUSPenrith, NSW1998 5 24 1972 1 26 y4614Bristol City12 September 1997£90,000Kevin WilsonFWNIRBanbury (ENG)1998 5 24 1961 4 18 y100Walsall28 July 1997Free Competitions Football League Division Two 1997–98 Football League#Second Division League table y Second Division NOR Results summary 14 5 4 33 17 4 12 7 19 20 22 April 2020 April 2020 League position by match table b Round Ground H/A/H/A/A/H/A/H/H/A/A/H/H/A/H/A/A/H/H/A/H/A/H/A/H/A/H/A/H/A/H/H/A/A/H/H/A/H/A/A/H/A/H/A/H/A Result L/D/W/W/W/W/D/W/W/D/L/W/D/D/D/D/L/W/L/L/D/L/W/D/W/L/W/D/D/D/W/W/D/L/W/L/W/W/D/D/L/L/D/W/W/D Position 22/20/15/9/6/3/3/2/1/2/2/2/2/2/3/3/4/3/4/5/5/6/4/4/3/5/4/4/5/7/4/3/3/5/3/4/4/4/5/4/6/7/7/5/5/4 Home Away green2 Win yellow2 Draw red2 Loss 1st 2nd blue1 red1 complete Rothmans Football Yearbook 1998-1999 April 2020 Matches #CCFFCC Win 1px solid #AAAAAA #FFFFCC Draw 1px solid #AAAAAA #FFCCCC Loss 1px solid #AAAAAA 1997 8 9 y 15:00 BST 1 0–2 Northampton Town Bournemouth J.Vincent 69S.Fletcher 75 Sixfields Stadium Northampton 6,384 Eddie Lomas L 1997 8 16 y 15:00 BST 2 0–0 Wycombe Wanderers Northampton Town Adams Park High Wycombe 5,130 Barry Knight D 1997 8 23 y 15:00 BST 3 2–1 Northampton Town D.Seal 23J.Gayle 45 Bristol City C.Cramb 5 Sixfields Stadium Northampton 6,217 Paul Taylor W 1997 8 30 y 15:00 BST 4 0–2 Carlisle United Northampton Town D.Seal 16 33 Brunton Park Carlisle 6,037 R.Pearson W 1997 9 2 y 19:45 BST 5 0–2 Walsall Northampton Town D.Seal 30J.Gayle 80 Bescot Stadium Walsall 4,435 Terry Heilbron W 1997 9 9 y 19:45 BST 6 1–0 Northampton Town S.Parrish 2 Luton Town G.McGowan 0 44 Sixfields Stadium Northampton 7,246 W 1997 9 13 y 15:00 BST 7 2–2 Oldham Athletic R.Graham 12S.McNiven 35 Northampton Town D.Seal 1R.Hunter 65 pen. Boundary Park Oldham 5,829 D 1997 9 20 y 15:00 BST 8 1–0 Northampton Town D.Seal 54 Wigan Athletic Sixfields Stadium Northampton 6,570 Paul Danson W 1997 9 27 y 15:00 BST 9 2–0 Northampton Town I.Sampson 53R.Hunter 65 pen. Millwall P.Sturgess 0 62 Northampton 6,578 Steve Baines W 1997 10 4 y 15:00 BST 10 0–0 Southend United Northampton Town Roots Hall Southend-on-Sea 4,304 Andy Butler D 1997 10 11 y 15:00 BST 11 1–0 Grimsby Town K.Donovan 44 Northampton Town Blundell Park Cleethorpes 5,096 Guy Stretton L 1997 10 18 y 15:00 BST 12 2–1 Northampton Town J.Gayle 35C.Heggs 39 Gillingham A.Akinbiyi 53P.Smith 0 77 Sixfields Stadium Northampton 7,191 Gurnam Singh W 1997 10 21 y 19:45 BST 13 1–1 Northampton Town R.Hunter 6 pen. York City R.Rowe 48 Sixfields Stadium Northampton 6,029 M.Brandwood D 1997 10 25 y 15:00 BST 14 1–1 Fulham P.Peschisolido 43 Northampton Town J.Gayle 50 Craven Cottage Fulham, London 9,848 Martin Fletcher D 1997 11 1 y 15:00 GMT 15 1–1 Northampton Town J.Gayle 57 Bristol Rovers B.Gayle 0 67J.Cureton 79 Sixfields Stadium Northampton 7,264 Scott Mathieson D 1997 11 4 y 19:30 GMT 16 1–1 Blackpool P.Clarkson 37 Northampton Town I.Sampson 75 Bloomfield Road Blackpool 3,685 Kevin Lynch D 1997 11 8 y 15:00 GMT 17 1–0 Wrexham N.Roberts 48 Northampton Town Racecourse Ground Wrexham, Wales 3,768 Graham Laws L 1997 11 18 y 19:45 GMT 18 4–0 Northampton Town C.Heggs 4J.Gayle 10D.Seal 40 43 Brentford Sixfields Stadium Northampton 5,227 Mick Pierce W 1997 11 22 y 15:00 GMT 19 0–1 Northampton Town Watford P.Kennedy 57 Sixfields Stadium Northampton 7,373 Paul Robinson L 1997 11 29 y 15:00 GMT 20 2–1 Burnley N.Moore 76P.Barnes 82 Northampton Town A.Gibb 49 Turf Moor Burnley 8,366 Matt Messias L 1997 12 2 y 19:45 GMT 21 0–0 Northampton Town Chesterfield Sixfields Stadium Northampton 4,828 Eddie Wolstenholme D 1997 12 13 y 15:00 GMT 22 1–0 Preston North End J.Macken 56 Northampton Town Deepdale Preston 7,448 Mike Pike L 1997 12 20 y 15:00 GMT 23 2–1 Northampton Town C.Freestone 66 71 Plymouth Argyle C.Corazzin 45 Sixfields Stadium Northampton 5,546 David Pugh W 1997 12 26 y 15:00 GMT 24 2–2 Luton Town D.Oldfield 67T.Thorpe 85 Northampton Town J.Dozzell 8 pen.A.White 13 o.g. Kenilworth Road Luton 8,856 Clive Wilkes D 1997 12 28 y 12:00 GMT 25 3–2 Northampton Town D.Seal 31C.Freestone 48J.Dozzell 54 Walsall G.Porter 40J.Hodge 61 Sixfields Stadium Northampton 7,094 Roger Furnandiz W 1998 1 10 y 15:00 GMT 26 3–0 Bournemouth S.Jones 63S.Fletcher 78N.Young 83 Northampton Town Dean Court Bournemouth 4,257 Mike Bailey L 1998 1 17 y 15:00 GMT 27 2–1 Northampton Town C.Heggs 54J.Dozzell 77 Carlisle United I.Stevens 37 Sixfields Stadium Northampton 6,327 Brian Coddington W 1998 1 24 y 15:00 GMT 28 0–0 Bristol City Northampton Town Ashton Gate Bristol 14,753 D 1998 1 31 y 15:00 GMT 29 0–0 Northampton Town Oldham Athletic Sixfields Stadium Northampton 6,559 David Orr D 1998 2 7 y 15:00 GMT 30 1–1 Wigan Athletic S.Morgan 60 Northampton Town C.Freestone 68 Springfield Park Wigan 3,579 R.Pearson D 1998 2 10 y 19:45 GMT 31 2–0 Northampton Town D.Seal 59 pen.C.Freestone 69 Wycombe Wanderers Sixfields Stadium Northampton 5,303 George Cain W 1998 2 14 y 15:00 GMT 32 3–1 Northampton Town C.Freestone 30D.Brightwell 42J.Frain 55 Southend United J.Boere 34 0 70 Sixfields Stadium Northampton 6,147 Tony Leake W 1998 2 21 y 15:00 GMT 33 0–0 Millwall Northampton Town The Den Millwall, London 6,007 Andy D'Urso D 1998 2 24 y 19:45 GMT 34 1–0 Gillingham G.Butters 69 pen. Northampton Town Priestfield Gillingham 6,405 Mark Halsey L 1998 2 28 y 15:00 GMT 35 2–1 Northampton Town D.Seal 59 pen.N.Gleghorn 64 Grimsby Town K.Donovan 17 Sixfields Stadium Northampton 6,932 Barry Knight W 1998 3 3 y 19:30 GMT 36 0–1 Northampton Town Wrexham D.Spink 39 Sixfields Stadium Northampton 5,183 David Crick L 1998 3 7 y 15:00 GMT 37 0–2 Bristol Rovers Northampton Town C.Freestone 34J.Dozzell 61 pen.C.Bishop 0 79 Memorial Stadium Bristol 6,535 Paul Rejer W 1998 3 14 y 15:00 GMT 38 2–0 Northampton Town C.Freestone 27C.Heggs 73 Blackpool Sixfields Stadium Northampton 6,586 Mike Jones W 1998 3 21 y 15:00 GMT 39 0–0 Brentford R.Taylor 0 87 Northampton Town Griffin Park Brentford, London 5,746 Alan Wiley D 1998 3 28 y 15:00 GMT 40 1–1 Watford R.Johnson 57 Northampton Town D.Peer 84 Vicarage Road Watford 14,268 Clive Wilkes D 1998 4 4 y 15:00 BST 41 0–1 Northampton Town C.Heggs 0 86 Burnley A.Payton 16 Sixfields Stadium Northampton 7,264 Andy Hall L 1998 4 11 y 15:00 BST 42 2–1 Chesterfield I.Breckin 48M.Williams 71 Northampton Town I.Clarkson 9 Saltergate Chesterfield 5,064 Eddie Wolstenholme L 1998 4 13 y 15:00 BST 43 2–2 Northampton Town I.Sampson 78D.Seal 82 Preston North End L.Ashcroft 45J.Macken 90 Sixfields Stadium Northampton 5,664 Mick Fletcher D 1998 4 18 y 15:00 BST 44 1–3 Plymouth Argyle M.Saunders 45 Northampton Town C.Freestone 8 47 90 Home Park Plymouth 6,389 W 1998 4 25 y 15:00 BST 45 1–0 Northampton Town D.Peer 58 Fulham Sixfields Stadium Northampton 7,443 Chris Foy W 1998 5 2 y 15:00 BST 46 0–0 York City Northampton Town Bootham Crescent York 6,688 Andy Butler D Play-offs 1998 5 10 y 15:00 BST Semi-final 1st Leg 3–1 Bristol Rovers P.Beadle 30 pen.F.Bennett 37B.Hayles 46 Northampton Town J.Gayle 74 Memorial Stadium Bristol 9,173 Rob Harris L 1998 5 13 y 19:45 BST Semi-final 2nd Leg 3–0 4–3 Northampton Town C.Heggs 34I.Clarkson 61R.Warburton 77 Bristol Rovers Sixfields Stadium Northampton 7,501 Mick Fletcher W 1998 5 24 y 15:00 BST Final 1–0 Grimsby Town K.Donovan 19 Northampton Town Wembley Stadium London 62,988 Terry Heilbron L FA Cup 1997–98 FA Cup 1997 11 15 y 15:00 GMT First round 1–1 Exeter City D.Rowbotham 32 Northampton Town R.Hunter 37 St James Park Exeter Kevin Lynch D 1997 11 25 y 19:45 GMT First round replay 2–1 Northampton Town R.Hunter 10C.Heggs 86 Exeter City B.Clark 43 Sixfields Stadium Northampton Kevin Lynch W 1997 12 6 y 15:00 GMT Second round 1–1 Northampton Town D.Seal 39 Basingstoke Town Carey 75 Sixfields Stadium Northampton Andy Butler D 1997 12 16 y 19:45 GMT Second round replay 0–0 yes Basingstoke Town Northampton Town 3–4 Winchester Road Basingstoke David Orr W 1998 1 3 y 15:00 GMT Third round 4–0 Leicester City I.Marshall 17G.Parker 26 pen.R.Savage 53T.Cottee 58 Northampton Town I.Clarkson 0 69 Filbert Street Leicester 20,608 Alan Wilkie L League Cup 1997–98 Football League Cup 1997 8 12 y 19:45 BST First round first leg 2–1 Northampton Town J.Gayle 60D.Seal 65 Millwall K.Grant 33 Sixfields Stadium Northampton John Kirkby W 1997 8 27 y 19:45 BST First round second leg 2–1 yes Millwall D.Hockton 51 61 Northampton Town J.Gayle 90 0–2 The Den Millwall Mark Halsey L League Trophy 1997–98 Football League Trophy 1997 12 9 y 19:45 GMT First round 1–1 yes Northampton Town C.Heggs 82 Plymouth Argyle D.O'Hagan 69 5–3 Sixfields Stadium Northampton 2,631 Steve Baines W 1998 1 13 y 19:45 GMT Second round 5–1 Northampton Town C.Freestone 28 64J.Frain 51C.Heggs 67 80 Torquay United K.Veysey 0 49J.Gittens 73 Sixfields Stadium Northampton 2,845 Rob Styles W 1998 1 13 y 19:45 GMT Quarter-final 2–1 Peterborough United S.Castle 7A.Edwards 60 Northampton Town I.Sampson 24 London Road Peterborough 5,516 Terry Heilbron L Appearances, goals and cards Pos Position 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 GK Billy Turley – – – – – – – – – 3 – – – – – 3 – – – – GK Andy Woodman 46 – – 5 – – 2 – – – – – 3 – – 56 – – 1 – DF Charlie Bishop 7 1 – – – – – – – – – – 1 – – 8 1 – 1 1 DF David Brightwell 34 1 1 5 – – 2 – – 2 – – – 1 – 45 2 1 2 – DF Ian Clarkson 42 – 1 5 – – 2 – – 1 – – 3 – 1 53 – 2 6 1 DF Lee Colkin – – – – – – – – – 1 1 – – – – 1 1 – 1 – DF Jason Drysdale 1 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 1 – – – – DF John Frain 45 – 1 5 – – 2 – – 3 – 1 3 – – 58 – 2 3 – DF Colin Hill 27 – – 3 – – – – – 3 – – 3 – – 36 – – 6 – DF Ian Sampson 39 – 3 2 – – 2 – – 1 – 1 3 – – 47 – 4 6 – DF Dean Tallentire – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – DF Ray Warburton 39 – – 3 – – 2 – – 2 – – 3 – 1 49 – 1 6 – MF Jason Dozzell 18 3 4 1 – – – – – 2 – – 1 – – 22 3 4 – – MF Ali Gibb 6 28 1 2 3 – – 2 – 2 – – – 2 – 10 35 1 – – MF James Hunt 14 7 – 1 2 – – – – 3 – – 3 – – 21 9 – 6 – MF Roy Hunter 28 – 3 5 – 2 2 – – 3 – – – – – 38 – 5 5 – MF Sean Parrish 12 – 1 – – – 2 – – – – – – – – 14 – 1 2 – MF Dean Peer 26 4 2 4 – – – – – – – – 2 1 – 32 5 2 4 – MF Michael Warner 3 7 – – – – – – – – 2 – – – – 3 9 – – – FW Chris Freestone 23 2 11 1 – – – – – 2 1 2 3 – – 29 3 13 4 – FW John Gayle 26 9 6 4 – – 1 1 2 1 1 – 3 – 1 35 11 9 10 – FW Carl Heggs 21 12 4 4 1 1 1 1 – 1 1 3 2 – 1 29 15 9 9 1 FW Christian Lee 3 3 – 1 – – 1 – – 1 – – – – – 6 3 – – – FW David Seal 30 7 12 2 1 1 2 – 1 1 1 – – 2 – 35 11 14 4 – FW Kevin Wilson 1 8 – – 1 – – – – – – – – – – 1 9 – – – Players who left before end of season: DF Graham Potter 4 – – – – – – – – 1 – – – – – 5 – – – – DF David Rennie 3 2 – 1 – – – – – – – – – – – 4 2 – 1 – MF Nigel Gleghorn 3 5 1 – – – – – – – – – – – – 3 5 1 1 – MF Paul Tait 2 1 – – – – – – – – – – – – – 2 1 – 1 – FW Paul Conway 2 1 – – – – 1 – – – – – – – – 3 1 – 2 – FW Claudio De Vito – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – FW Laurens ten Heuvel – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – FW Raymond Van Dullemen – 1 – – – – – 1 – – – – – – – – 2 – – – FW Colin West 1 1 – – – – – – – – – – – – – 1 1 – – – References 1997-98 Northampton Town Northampton Town