The king has had his coronation, now let’s have the Northampton summation…
In the end, County’s failure to beat relegated Hartlepool on the final day didn’t matter, as the Cobblers did what they needed to on the Wirral
Saturday 3 June 2023
Dear County fans, Stopfordians, and any Northampton supporters joining us today, a very warm welcome to your Saturday edition of The Scarf My Father Wore.
Yesterday we featured the team who denied us promotion at Wembley. Today we’ve got the side who pipped us to promotion on the final day, as Brendan Walsh looks back at the Cobblers’ campaign.
Today’s edition of The Scarf My Father Wore is sponsored by BGM Decorators. A big thank you to Ben. If you’re thinking of having any decorating work done over the coming weeks or months, please see below for further details.
Have a lovely weekend!
Des Junior
Had King Charles invited you to his coronation celebrations, and insisted you brought him the best food you’d experienced inside a League Two ground this season, what would you have treated him to?
That’s not much of a coronation gift! I don’t know to be honest, I tend to eat outside the ground if I can. I’ll say a bag of pick ‘n’ mix from Sixfields and hope to appeal to his sweet tooth.
Charles is now king of the UK. But who would you choose to be crowned king of Sixfields, and who would be locked up in the tower? You can pick anybody who’s had some sort of connection with the club this season.
The King of Sixfields at the moment has to be Jon Brady after taking us up.
There’s a few particularly vocal Cobblers fans online who are overtly negative. I remember them calling for Brady’s sacking at one point in the season which is laughable. I’d lock them all up!
Best moment of 2022-23?
Has to be Sammy’s goal at Tranmere on the final day to send us up.
Worst moment of 2022-23?
Probably the home defeat to Swindon just after Christmas. Felt like a gut punch and their two goals were beauties.
Funniest moment of 2022-23?
Looking back on it, probably McGowan’s sending off for nothing against Crawley. We won the game in the end so we’re able to look back and laugh at some comical refereeing.
Four Four Two said you’d finish 3rd. When Saturday Comes said you’d finish 3rd. You finished 3rd. Discuss.
I think without injuries we could have pushed higher, but with the way last season ended, 3rd was all we wanted and needed.
Northampton 2 County 1 in September. County 2 Northampton 0 in January. Thoughts?
The first game, I just remember thinking please don’t let Horsfall score which of course he did. But turning that game around was huge as we didn’t manage to do it much the season before. It really felt like a significant win.
At your place, it looked like our injuries had caught up with us. After a good spell, it just started to show and we looked leggy and toothless.
Best and worst away days of 2022-23?
I didn’t make the game but winning 3-2 at Stevenage was the best on paper. The game, the goals, and the scenes. It looked like a spicy affair. If it had to be a game I saw then obviously Tranmere on the final day.
Worst away day was probably at County.
After decades travelling around the world, Sir David Attenborough’s most recent BBC documentary covered Great Britain. Let’s imagine David and his crew have been filming Northampton fans throughout the 2022-23 season. In that famous voice of his, how would he describe them?
“The Cobblers are relentless and professional with an innate ability to overcome adversity.”
With Wrexham up and MK Dons down, there’s a couple of teams going into League Two who generally cause quite a lot of debate wherever they go. You’re on Moonpig.com buying a welcome card for both of them. What messages are going inside?
Wrexham’s card would say “See You Soon in League One”.
I wouldn’t buy MK a card if you paid me.
Click on the links below to read the previous 2022-23 reviews we’ve published so far.
Carlisle / Grimsby / Leyton Orient / Mansfield / Newport / Sutton / Swindon / Tranmere / Wimbledon
Today’s sponsor: BGM Decorators
Don’t be like this random stranger Des Junior found on the internet. He thought he could decorate his living room himself. But now look at him, sat forlorn on his floor covered in a tin of Dulux. His wife’s left him, and his evenings are now occupied by microwave meals and old repeats of The Sweeney. You know what he should have done, don’t you? He should have called BGM Decorators.
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Photo of the day
The Pinatar Arena, Murcia
This is where County will be kicking off their pre-season campaign in July with a friendly against Lincoln. Beats Cheadle Heath Nomads, I suppose.
Today in SK
🥂 Food and drink 🥂
Head down to Petersgate Tap (SK1) for a refreshing pint of Newton Court Cider.
Bottomless Saturday at TRUNK (SK7). £30 per person (includes 1 breakfast item) from 10am till 12pm. Bottomless lunch £35 per person (includes 3 tapas dishes) from 12pm till 4pm. T&Cs apply and 90 minutes of selected bottomless drinks.
🎤 Karaoke 🎤
Lee at the Nelson Tavern (SK1). 8pm - 1am.
⚽️ Live football ⚽️
You’ve got Four in a Bed and Ben Fogle’s New Lives in the Country on the telly at 3pm today, which seem a lot more appealing than a City v United FA Cup final. But if you do want to head out to catch today’s Wembley Manchester derby, here are the best places for you.
Bask (SK1). 75” screens, with a DJ set from Jon Fitz afterwards.
The Alexandra (SK3). Seven TVs inside, with three outside in the beer garden. Guilty Pleasures will be serving food from 3pm.
The George & Dragon (SK7). Click here to book a table.
🎶 Live music 🎶
Northside Brothers of Soul at The Dog & Partridge (SK2). 8pm.
Redhouse at The Armoury (SK3). Classic rock, indie, punk and pop hits. 9pm.
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