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Northampton Town
1973–74 season
Chairman	Neville Ronson
Manager	Bill Dodgin Jr.
Stadium	County Ground
Division Four	5th
FA Cup	Second round
League Cup	First round
Top goalscorer	League: Paul Stratford (13); All: John Buchanan (15); Paul Stratford (15)
Highest home attendance	11,378 vs Peterborough United
Lowest home attendance	2,995 vs Banbury United
Average home league attendance	5,424
	← 1972–73 1974–75 →

The 1973–74 season was Northampton Town's 77th 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 League Cup.

Players

As of match played 25 April 1975.^[1]

Name	Position	Place of Birth	Date of Birth (Age)	Apps	Goals	Previous club	Date signed	Fee
Goalkeepers
Alan Starling	GK	Dagenham	(1951-04-02)2 April 1951 (aged 23)	135	0	Luton Town	June 1971
Defenders
Dietmar Bruck	RB	Danzig	(1944-04-19)19 April 1944 (aged 30)	44	0	Charlton Athletic	June 1972	N/A
John Clarke	CB	Northampton	(1945-10-23)23 October 1945 (aged 28)	255	1	Apprentice	July 1965	N/A
John Gregory	U	Scunthorpe	(1954-05-11)11 May 1954 (aged 19)	59	0	Apprentice	Summer 1972	N/A
Phil Neal	U	Irchester	(1951-02-20)20 February 1951 (aged 23)	195	27	Apprentice	July 1968	N/A
Alan Oman	FB	Newcastle upon Tyne	(1952-10-06)6 October 1952 (aged 21)	73	2	Apprentice	October 1970	N/A
Stuart Robertson	CB	Nottingham	(1946-12-16)16 December 1946 (aged 27)	68	7	Doncaster Rovers	Summer 1972
Barry Tucker	FB	Swansea	(1952-08-28)28 August 1952 (aged 21)	69	0	Apprentice	August 1970	N/A
Midfielders
Billy Best (c)	U	Glasgow	(1942-09-07)7 September 1942 (aged 31)	91	24	Southend United	Summer 1973
John Buchanan	W	Dingwall	(1951-09-19)19 September 1951 (aged 22)	112	26	Ross County	October 1970
Dave Carlton	CM	Stepney	(1952-11-24)24 November 1952 (aged 21)	35	0	Fulham	October 1973
Derrick Christie	W	Bletchley	(1957-03-15)15 March 1957 (aged 17)	3	0	Apprentice	January 1974	N/A
Graham Felton	W	Cambridge	(1949-03-01)1 March 1949 (aged 25)	261	26	Apprentice	September 1966	N/A
Bobby Park	CM	Edinburgh	(1946-07-03)3 July 1946 (aged 27)	25	0	Peterborough United	February 1973
Robin Wainwright	CM	Luton	(1951-03-09)9 March 1951 (aged 23)	1	0	Millwall	February 1974	Loan
Forwards
Tony Buck	FW	Clowne	(1944-08-18)18 August 1944 (aged 29)	18	3	Rochdale	January 1973
Malcolm John	FW	Bridgend	(1950-12-09)9 December 1950 (aged 23)	13	4	Bristol Rovers	March 1974	Loan
Paul Stratford	FW	Northampton	(1955-09-04)4 September 1955 (aged 18)	59	16	Apprentice	Summer 1972	N/A

Competitions

Division Four

League table

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GAv	Pts	Promotion or relegation
3	Colchester United	46	24	12	10	73	36	2.028	60	Promoted
4	Bury	46	24	11	11	81	49	1.653	59	Promoted
5	Northampton Town	46	20	13	13	63	48	1.313	53
6	Reading	46	16	19	11	58	37	1.568	51
7	Chester	46	17	15	14	54	55	0.982	49

Source: rsssf.com

Results summary

Overall								Home						Away
Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GAv	Pts	W	D	L	GF	GA	Pts	W	D	L	GF	GA	Pts
46	20	13	13	63	48	1.313	53	14	7	2	39	14	35	6	6	11	24	34	18

Last updated: 7 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	H	A	A	H	A	H	H	A	H	A	A	H	A	H	A	H	H	A	A	H	A	H	A	H	H	A	H	A	H	H	A	A	H	H	A	A	H	H	A	A	A	H	A
Result	W	L	D	W	D	D	W	L	W	D	D	L	L	L	W	W	W	L	W	W	L	L	W	L	W	W	D	D	W	W	L	D	W	D	L	W	D	W	W	L	D	W	D	L	W	D
Position	1	11	4	5	7	8	6	7	5	6	7	11	11	12	11	10	9	12	10	9	11	13	11	13	9	9	8	8	5	5	6	6	5	5	5	5	5	5	5	6	6	5	5	6	5	5

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

Matches

Win Draw Loss

25 August 1973 (1973-08-25) 1	Northampton Town	3–1	Rotherham United	Northampton
15:00 BST	S.Robertson G.Felton P.Neal			Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 4,098

1 September 1973 (1973-09-01) 2	Mansfield Town	2–0	Northampton Town	Mansfield
15:00 BST	T.Eccles D.Roberts			Stadium: Field Mill Attendance: 3,109

7 September 1973 (1973-09-07) 3	Northampton Town	0–0	Colchester United	Northampton
19:30 BST		Report		Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 4,916 Referee: Ronnie Marshall

11 September 1973 (1973-09-11) 4	Northampton Town	1–0	Newport County	Northampton
19:30 BST	J.Buchanan			Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 4,061

14 September 1973 (1973-09-14) 5	Stockport County	2–2	Northampton Town	Stockport
19:30 BST			P.Stratford G.Riddick	Stadium: Edgeley Park Attendance: 3,552

18 September 1973 (1973-09-18) 6	Swansea City	1–1	Northampton Town	Swansea, Wales
19:30 BST			S.Robertson	Stadium: Vetch Field Attendance: 1,301

21 September 1973 (1973-09-21) 7	Northampton Town	2–0	Scunthorpe United	Northampton
19:30 BST	P.Stratford			Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 5,049

29 September 1973 (1973-09-29) 8	Workington	1–0	Northampton Town	Workington
15:00 BST				Stadium: Borough Park Attendance: 970

2 October 1973 (1973-10-02) 9	Northampton Town	2–0	Swansea City	Northampton
19:30 BST	J.Buchanan S.Robertson			Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 5,287

5 October 1973 (1973-10-05) 10	Northampton Town	0–0	Torquay United	Northampton
19:30 BST				Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 6,640

13 October 1973 (1973-10-13) 11	Bradford City	1–1	Northampton Town	Bradford
15:00 BST			P.Stratford	Stadium: Valley Parade Attendance: 3,343

20 October 1973 (1973-10-20) 12	Northampton Town	1–2	Exeter City	Northampton
15:00 BST	P.Stratford			Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 4,923

23 October 1973 (1973-10-23) 13	Newport County	3–1	Northampton Town	Newport, Wales
19:15 BST	R.Jones S.Aizlewood H.Jarman		P.Neal pen.'	Stadium: Somerton Park Attendance: 3,592

27 October 1973 (1973-10-27) 14	Bury	3–1	Northampton Town	Bury
15:15 BST			P.Stratford	Stadium: Gigg Lane Attendance: 4,360

3 November 1973 (1973-11-03) 15	Northampton Town	1–0	Hartlepool	Northampton
15:00 GMT	P.Stratford			Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 3,715

10 November 1973 (1973-11-10) 16	Darlington	2–3	Northampton Town	Darlington
15:00 GMT	P.Neal J.Buchanan B.Best			Stadium: Feethams Attendance: 2,063

13 November 1973 (1973-11-13) 17	Northampton Town	2–1	Barnsley	Northampton
19:30 GMT	A.Oman J.Clarke			Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 4,299

17 November 1973 (1973-11-17) 18	Peterborough United	3–0	Northampton Town	Peterborough
14:15 GMT				Stadium: London Road Attendance: 10,351

8 December 1973 (1973-12-08) 19	Northampton Town	1–0	Lincoln City	Northampton
15:00 GMT	B.Best			Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 3,464

22 December 1973 (1973-12-22) 20	Northampton Town	1–0	Workington	Northampton
15:00 GMT	D.Krzywicki			Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 4,038

26 December 1973 (1973-12-26) 21	Gillingham	3–1	Northampton Town	Gillingham
15:00 GMT	B.Yeo		G.Felton	Stadium: Priestfield Attendance: 11,313

29 December 1973 (1973-12-29) 22	Colchester United	1–0	Northampton Town	Colchester
14:00 GMT	B.Dyson 77' (pen.)	Report		Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 5,042 Referee: Brian Martin

1 January 1974 (1974-01-01) 23	Northampton Town	2–0	Mansfield Town	Northampton
15:00 GMT	P.Neal pen.' D.Krzywicki			Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 6,231

5 January 1974 (1974-01-05) 24	Hartlepool	1–0	Northampton Town	Hartlepool
14:00 GMT				Stadium: Victoria Park Attendance: 2,078

12 January 1974 (1974-01-12) 25	Northampton Town	2–0	Stockport County	Northampton
14:00 GMT	D.Krzywicki P.Stratford			Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 3,396

20 January 1974 (1974-01-20) 26	Rotherham United	1–2	Northampton Town	Rotherham
14:00 GMT			J.Buchanan	Stadium: Millmoor Attendance: 4,609 Referee: Derek Richardson

27 January 1974 (1974-01-27) 27	Northampton Town	2–2	Reading	Northampton
14:30 GMT	B.Best P.Stratford			Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 7,599

2 February 1974 (1974-02-02) 28	Northampton Town	0–0	Brentford	Northampton
14:30 GMT				Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 4,130

10 February 1974 (1974-02-10) 29	Scunthorpe United	1–2	Northampton Town	Scunthorpe
14:30 GMT			J.Buchanan P.Stratford	Stadium: Old Show Ground Attendance: 3,603 Referee: Bob Armstrong

17 February 1974 (1974-02-17) 30	Northampton Town	3–0	Bradford City	Northampton
14:45 GMT	J.Buchanan P.Neal S.Robertson			Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 8,146

24 February 1974 (1974-02-24) 31	Torquay United	1–0	Northampton Town	Torquay
15:00 GMT				Stadium: Plainmoor Attendance: 4,186 Referee: John Gow

3 March 1974 (1974-03-03) 32	Northampton Town	0–0	Gillingham	Northampton
15:00 GMT				Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 8,583

9 March 1974 (1974-03-09) 33	Northampton Town	3–1	Bury	Northampton
15:00 GMT	B.Best J.Buchanan			Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 4,884

16 March 1974 (1974-03-16) 34	Exeter City	1–1	Northampton Town	Exeter
15:00 GMT			G.Felton	Stadium: St James Park Attendance: 4,052

18 March 1974 (1974-03-18) 35	Brentford	3–1	Northampton Town	Brentford, London
17:15 BST	R.Cross D.Simmons B.Salvage		M.John	Stadium: Griffin Park Attendance: 3,686

24 March 1974 (1974-03-24) 36	Northampton Town	5–0	Darlington	Northampton
15:00 BST	M.John B.Best P.Neal pen.' P.Stratford			Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 5,416

26 March 1974 (1974-03-26) 37	Northampton Town	3–3	Chester	Northampton
19:30 BST	P.Neal pen.' J.Buchanan M.John		B.Tucker o.g.' N.Whitehead J.Redfern	Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 5,969 Referee: Alan Robinson

3 April 1974 (1974-04-03) 38	Reading	1–2	Northampton Town	Reading
19:30 BST			J.Buchanan	Stadium: Elm Park Attendance: 7,055

6 April 1974 (1974-04-06) 39	Barnsley	0–2	Northampton Town	Barnsley
15:00 BST			P.Neal M.John	Stadium: Oakwell Attendance: 3,646

13 April 1974 (1974-04-13) 40	Northampton Town	0–1	Peterborough United	Northampton
15:00 BST				Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 11,378 Referee: Terry Bosi

15 April 1974 (1974-04-15) 41	Northampton Town	1–1	Crewe Alexandra	Northampton
15:00 BST	P.Neal			Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 5,389 Referee: Tony Glasson

16 April 1974 (1974-04-16) 42	Crewe Alexandra	0–2	Northampton Town	Crewe
19:30 BST			P.Stratford	Stadium: Gresty Road Attendance: 1,498

20 April 1974 (1974-04-20) 43	Lincoln City	1–1	Northampton Town	Lincoln
15:00 BST			G.Felton	Stadium: Sincil Bank Attendance: 2,530

23 April 1974 (1974-04-23) 44	Doncaster Rovers	2–1	Northampton Town	Doncaster
19:30 BST			P.Stratford	Stadium: Belle Vue Attendance: 1,561
Note: Fixture was previously postponed on December 1, 1973.^[2]

27 April 1974 (1974-04-27) 45	Northampton Town	3–1	Doncaster Rovers	Northampton
15:00 BST	J.Buchanan B.Best G.Felton			Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 3,137 Referee: Peter Walters

1 May 1974 (1974-05-01) 46	Chester	0–0	Northampton Town	Doncaster
19:30 BST				Stadium: Sealand Road Attendance: 1,928

FA Cup

24 November 1973 (1973-11-24) First round	Banbury United	0–0	Northampton Town	Banbury
14:15 GMT				Stadium: Spencer Stadium Attendance: 4,800

29 November 1973 (1973-11-29) First round (r)	Northampton Town	3–2	Banbury United	Northampton
13:45 GMT	G.Felton S.Robertson B.Best			Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 2,995

15 December 1973 (1973-12-15) Second round	Northampton Town	1–2	Bristol Rovers	Northampton
15:00 GMT	J.Buchanan			Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 6,181

League Cup

28 August 1973 (1973-08-28) First round	Grimsby Town	2–1	Northampton Town	Cleethorpes
19:30 BST			J.Buchanan	Stadium: Blundell Park Attendance: 7,829

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	Alan Starling	46	–	–	3	–	–	1	–	–	50	–	–
DF	Dietmar Bruck	15	–	–	–	–	–	1	–	–	16	–	–
DF	John Clarke	39	3	1	1	–	–	–	1	–	40	4	1
DF	John Gregory	46	–	–	3	–	–	1	–	–	50	–	–
DF	Phil Neal	46	–	9	3	–	–	1	–	–	50	–	9
DF	Alan Oman	17	5	1	2	–	–	1	–	–	20	5	1
DF	Stuart Robertson	31	–	4	3	–	1	1	–	–	35	–	5
DF	Barry Tucker	33	1	–	3	–	–	–	–	–	36	1	–
MF	Billy Best	38	1	7	3	–	1	–	–	–	41	1	8
MF	John Buchanan	40	2	13	3	–	1	1	–	1	44	2	15
MF	Dave Carlton	32	–	–	2	–	–	–	–	–	34	–	–
MF	Derrick Christie	1	2	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	1	2	–
MF	Graham Felton	43	1	5	3	–	1	1	–	–	47	1	6
MF	Bobby Park	3	3	–	–	–	–	1	–	–	4	3	–
MF	Robin Wainwright	–	1	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	1	–
FW	Tony Buck	1	1	–	1	–	–	–	–	–	2	1	–
FW	Malcolm John	13	–	4	–	–	–	–	–	–	13	–	4
FW	Paul Stratford	45	–	15	3	–	–	1	–	–	49	–	15
Players who left before end of season:
MF	Gordon Riddick	8	–	1	–	–	–	1	–	–	9	–	1
MF	Peter Hawkins	1	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	1	–	–
FW	Dick Krzywicki	8	–	3	–	–	–	–	–	–	8	–	3
FW	Derek Watts	–	1	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	1	–

References

^ Rothmans Football Yearbook 1974/75, p.270.
^ "1973/74 Division 4". ntfcmemorabilia.weebly.com. 7 February 2024. Retrieved 7 February 2024.

Books

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

[1] Rothmans Football Yearbook 1974/75, p.270.

[postponed_games-2] "1973/74 Division 4". ntfcmemorabilia.weebly.com. 7 February 2024. Retrieved 7 February 2024.

[1]

[2]

1973–74 Northampton Town F.C. season