Grimsby v Northampton Preview

By: Alex Green
Date: 02/04/2010

GOOD Friday Night it’s a time for football, which echoes through the seasons. It’s as natural to football as a sunny FA Cup final day or an early morning start for an away trip. Then again it could be a stupid idea.

Their History

Formed in 1897 between a solicitor and a handful of teachers, Northampton played their first matches at the County Cricket ground under the proviso they didn't play any matches between May and September. The club floated around the southern leagues for a while even having the great ex-Mariner Herbert Chapman manage them for a stint. Since their creation Northampton have graced the first division for one season in the 60’s the appeared in a Charity Shield final losing 2-0 to Chelsea and a Play-off Final at Wembley losing 1-0 to Grimsby Town (if you didn't know).

Last Season Was

The Cobblers lost Mark Bunn and Gabor Gyepes in the summer and were never properly replaced after their big summer moves. Stuart Gray instead had to depend on several loan signings and were doing well being 12th at Christmas but with 2009 came the downturn. Just 5 wins in 2009 saw The Cobblers delve them deep into the relegation dogfight and their relegation was confirmed on the final day with a 3-0 defeat against Leeds ending their 3-year stint in the third tier.

This Season

Northampton oh what a lovely club who don’t hold a grudge. Currently the Cobblers, though Northampton is now more famous for that huge lift testing tower or Alan Carr then shoes, lay 8th. It may sound competent but that 8th place is as disappointing as being where we are right now come the end of the season. 8th is the failures place of promotion you are 1 place from the play-offs - that 1 place from a chance of redemption but it's not the end of the season yet so that chance still remains. The Cobblers found life back in the trenches of the 4th division a struggle to begin with and mid-table was seen as a safe bet for the campaign but a recent upturn in form has pushed the Northampton outfit in to play-off contention. 5 wins in 6 and only dropping points last week to Lincoln in a draw at the Bank. Could this be the start of an immediate return for Northampton?

Key Player: Adebayo Akinfenwa

Akinfenwa actually started his career at one of the most prominent clubs in Wales, Barry Town. The Englishmen spent 2 seasons on the Welsh coast experiencing a Uefa Cup qualifying round and his first taste of semi professional action. Akinfenwa managed 7 goals in as many games in his first season and before he knew it in 2003 he was whisked to south Lincolnshire and the wonderfully corrupt Boston United where he failed to shine.

Leyton Orient and Doncaster were also stopping points during the 2003-04 seasons but it wasn’t till he went to Torquay where his career really started to make some headway. In 2004 and 2005 while in the Yellow of the Plainmoor clan Akinfenwa managed 14 goals in their relegation campaign and while Torquay were unable to save themselves from the Conference Akinfenwa had done enough to welcome a return to Wales at Swansea City but his two seasons spent their didn’t produce the results expected managing just 12 starts in 2006-07.

Millwall then came a knocking but his stint in east London was restricted to mainly substitute appearances and not a sniff at a goal in League One. Akinfenwa finally joined Northampton in 2007 where he found himself in their relegation scrap and though his 7 goals from 13 starts helped just like Torquay it was all in vain and now it seems Akinfenwa is enjoying life in League Two. One of the leagues leading goal scorers with 13, the strong powerful forward causes havoc with defences due to his strength and first touch. Atkinson and co watch out.

Prediction

This home form is going to be our saving grace I promise you!

Grimsby 2-0 Northampton

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