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First County Visit:	Saturday 22nd October 1978
Competition:	Football League Division 4 – (Tier 4)
Result:	Northampton Town 2 – 2 Stockport County
Attendance:	3,867
Away Trip:	7
Away Day:	7
County Line-up	1 Mike Rogan; 2 Andy Thorpe; 3 John Rutter; 4 Ken Fogarty; 5 Terry Park; 6 Paul Edwards; 7 Mike Summerbee; 8 George Armstrong; 9 Les Bradd; 10 Phil Henson; 11 Stuart Lee
Scorers:	Stuart Lee; Les Bradd
Manager:	Mike Summerbee
County Visits:	3

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CHAIRMAN KIRK AND HIS TOUCHLINE JIG

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Both Sheffield clubs grew out of cricket teams; as indeed did Wrexham.  Existing side by side as football grew in popularity became less and less common. A trip to the County Ground Northampton provided one of the last chances to take in a venue which hosted both games at a professional level.

Prior to the visit to the Cobblers I had seen a Division 1 game, (Tier 1), at Bramall Lane Sheffield back in the early 1970’s.  Summer use of the arena was for Yorkshire CCC, with the Blades taking occupation on the three-sided stadium during the winter. 

It was a somewhat bizarre experience, a decent 20,000 plus crowd occupying the terracing and stands with a void the whole length of one touchline, necessitating of course a squadron of ballboys charged with retrieving the errant clearances from the defences of the day.  Yorkshire were summarily evicted in 1973 as the football team took pre-eminence, and started the development of the ground to the impressive stadium it is today.

Which left Northampton as the sole joint use ground.  They enjoyed that status for a further 21 years.  At which point the pattern diverges.  Bramall Lane had become a focus for football.  The Cobblers, on the other hand, packed their bags, moved to Sixfields, and left the County Ground for summer use exclusively.  We shall of course return to Sixfelds some 28 years after the trip to Northampton’s previous home.

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The County Ground had of course hosted Division 1 football for a single season in 1965/66 – a three-sided ground for the top tier of the English game – absolutely inconceivable now.  But its most famous day was surely 4 years later when the aristocracy turned up for an FA Cup tie.  Manchester United won 8-2; George Best managed a mere six of them and the County Ground was writ large in the history books.

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The accommodation comprised a decent Main Stand, on Abingdon Avenue; a covered terrace behind one goal and an open Kop at the other.  The latter was abruptly terminated about half way across the goal, presumably to accommodate the cricket outfield. Age has dulled the memory of the first of my four trips.  The records show that we managed a 2-2 draw – with a point on the road the journey back can’t have been too arduous.  The fabled strike force of Lee and Bradd notched a goal apiece, and County found themselves 6^th in the League – heady heights indeed in those years!

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In three visits there was but a single victory.  The first proved to be a disappointing affair, with many of those to come. We were two up in the first ten minutes or so, (courtesy of the scoring partnership of Stuart Lee and Les Bradd). Hopes of a second away win on my travels were dashed as the Cobblers struck twice in the last 15 minutes. There were many similar occasions to come!.

Coming out on top by the odd goal in five at the beginning of February 1983 was memorable in itself.  But reflecting back I have a vision of the County bench that day.  A vision that summed up everything that I had come to love about the Hatters.

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For that County fans over the years should be more than grateful. He followed the team virtually everywhere, and at the County Ground that afternoon, it wasn’t in the Director’s Box and whatever passed for hospitality that he stationed himself.  Rather, it was in the dugout.  Not interfering with Eric Webster’s stewardship, just a keen interest; engagement and involvement with the outfit he was effectively paying for. Beside him, not available for selection was Quinny.  Whether a suspension, (more than possibly), or an injury, the legendary target-man found himself with other duties. In those days, with Webster having to rely on a squad of 13 for the season and precious little help elsewhere it fell to Quinn to take on the role of what must be called “spongeman”. 

“Trainer” would have been stretching it more than a little and “physio” would have pushed the grounds of credulity.  His duties appeared to be to no more taxing than running on the pitch; splashing some cold water around, on what was a sharp winter afternoon, and no doubt whispering in the victim’s ear, “get up soft lad, there’s bugger all wrong with you”.

And that was what County were about.  A close-knit team followed by a faithful travelling throng, almost revelling in adversity.  It’s the sort of affinity that can never, ever be present in the higher echelons of the game.

And just to cap it off the Chairman, with far more years behind than in front of him, danced a jig along the touchline, as long serving John Rutter, with a very, very rare strike, put County in the lead with a 25 yarder. 

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It more than made up for the feelings of deep despondency 7 days earlier as the Hatters played a part in a seven goal thriller at Boothferry Park Hull.  Pity that we struggled to score “nil” that day!!.  Anyway, more of that anon, when ground number 24 hoves into view….

October 2016

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VISITS

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Day	Date	Competition	Tier / Round	Opponents	Res	F	A	Crowd	Away Day
Sat	22/10/78	Football League Division 4	Tier 4	Northampton Town	D	2	2	3,867	7
Sat	05/02/83	Football League Division 4	Tier 4	Northampton Town	W	3	2	1,982	72
Sat	13/10/90	Barclays League Division 4	Tier 4	Northampton Town	L	0	1	3,927	196

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ON MY JOURNEY WITH COUNTY AROUND 180 GROUNDS

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Previously – BELLE VUE Next stop – PLOUGH LANE