1980–81 Northampton Town F.C. season

Northampton Town
1980–81 season
Chairman	Neville Ronson
Manager	Bill Dodgin Jr.
Stadium	County Ground
Division Four	10th
FA Cup	First round
League Cup	First round
Top goalscorer	League: Steve Phillips (19); All: Steve Phillips (22)
Highest home attendance	5,542 vs Peterborough United
Lowest home attendance	1,380 vs Hereford United
Average home league attendance	2,305
	← 1979–80 1981–82 →

The 1980–81 season was Northampton Town's 84th season in their history and the fourth successive season in the Fourth Division. Alongside competing in Division Four, the club also participated in the FA Cup and the League Cup.

Players

As of match played 5 May 1981.^[1]

Name	Position	Place of Birth	Date of Birth (Age)	Apps	Goals	Previous club	Date signed	Fee
Goalkeepers
Andy Poole	GK	Chesterfield	(1960-07-06)6 July 1960 (aged 20)	157	0	Mansfield Town	July 1978
Defenders
Dennis Byatt	CB	Hillingdon	(1958-08-08)8 August 1958 (aged 22)	53	3	Peterborough United	June 1979
Wakeley Gage	CB	Northampton	(1958-05-05)5 May 1958 (aged 23)	104	6	Desborough Town	October 1979	£8,000^[2]
Phil Sandercock	LB	Plymouth	(1956-06-21)21 June 1956 (aged 24)	73	3	Huddersfield Town	September 1979
Paul Saunders	U	Watford	(1959-12-17)17 December 1959 (aged 21)	99	3	Watford	July 1978
Des Waldock	CB	Northampton	(1961-12-04)4 December 1961 (aged 19)	57	4	Apprentice	November 1979
Ricky Walker	RB	Northampton	(1959-04-04)4 April 1959 (aged 22)	61	0	Coventry City	August 1978
Midfielders
Dave Carlton	U	Stepney	(1952-11-24)24 November 1952 (aged 28)	194	8	Brentford	September 1980
Peter Cooke	CM	Northampton	(1962-01-15)15 January 1962 (aged 19)	5	1	Apprentice	July 1980
Peter Denyer	W	Chiddingfold	(1957-11-26)26 November 1957 (aged 23)	126	27	Portsmouth	July 1979	P/E
Mark Heeley	W	Peterborough	(1959-09-08)8 September 1959 (aged 21)	78	6	Arsenal	March 1980	£33,000
Gary Leonard	CM	Northampton	(1962-03-23)23 March 1962 (aged 19)	2	0	Apprentice	March 1980
Maurice Muir	W	London	(1963-03-19)19 March 1963 (aged 18)	2	0	Apprentice	April 1980	N/A
Adam Sandy	U	Peterborough	(1958-09-22)22 September 1958 (aged 22)	106	6	Wolverton Town	February 1980
Gary Saxby	U	Clipstone	(1959-12-11)11 December 1959 (aged 21)	75	9	Mansfield Town	August 1980	Free transfer
Keith Williams	CM	Dudley	(1957-04-12)12 April 1957 (aged 24)	142	7	Aston Villa	February 1977
Forwards
Keith Bowen	FW	Northampton (ENG)	(1958-02-26)26 February 1958 (aged 23)	71	25	Apprentice	August 1976
Kevin Farmer	FW	Ramsgate	(1960-01-24)24 January 1960 (aged 21)	81	12	Leicester City	August 1979
Steve Phillips	FW	Edmonton	(1954-08-04)4 August 1954 (aged 26)	103	31	Brentford	August 1980	£40,000^[3]

Competitions

Division Four

League table

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
8	Darlington	46	19	11	16	65	59	+6	49
9	Hartlepool United	46	20	9	17	64	61	+3	49
10	Northampton Town	46	18	13	15	65	67	−2	49
11	Wigan Athletic	46	18	11	17	51	55	−4	47
12	Bury	46	17	11	18	70	62	+8	45

Source: ^{[citation needed]}

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	18	13	15	65	67	0.97	49	11	7	5	42	26	29	7	6	10	23	41	20

Last updated: 15 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	A	A	A	H	A	H	H	A	H	H	A	A	H	H	A	A	H	H	A	A	H	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	A	H	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	H	A	H	H	A	A
Result	L	D	W	L	L	W	W	L	L	L	W	W	W	W	L	L	W	W	L	L	D	W	D	W	L	W	D	L	L	D	L	D	D	W	W	D	L	D	W	D	D	D	D	W	W	W
Position	20	21	18	19	23	19	15	20	21	22	21	17	12	9	15	16	12	11	14	18	18	15	12	9	13	13	11	11	11	10	13	13	11	11	12	15	15	14	13	13	13	14	12	12	10	10

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

Matches

Win Draw Loss

16 August 1980 (1980-08-16) 1	Darlington	1–0	Northampton Town	Darlington
15:00 BST				Stadium: Feethams Attendance: 1,763

23 August 1980 (1980-08-23) 2	AFC Bournemouth	0–0	Northampton Town	Bournemouth
15:00 BST				Stadium: Dean Court Attendance: 2,875

6 September 1980 (1980-09-06) 3	Hartlepool United	2–3	Northampton Town	Hartlepool
15:00 BST			K.Bowen K.Farmer S.Phillips	Stadium: Victoria Park Attendance: 2,435

13 September 1980 (1980-09-13) 4	Northampton Town	0–2	Doncaster Rovers	Northampton
15:00 BST				Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 2,280

17 September 1980 (1980-09-17) 5	Bradford City	3–1	Northampton Town	Bradford
19:30 BST			S.Phillips	Stadium: Valley Parade Attendance: 2,765

19 September 1980 (1980-09-19) 6	Northampton Town	2–0	York City	Northampton
19:30 BST	S.Phillips G.Saxby			Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 1,843

23 September 1980 (1980-09-23) 7	Northampton Town	2–0	Southend United	Northampton
19:30 BST	D.Carlton S.Phillips			Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 2,337

27 September 1980 (1980-09-27) 8	Hereford United	4–1	Northampton Town	Hereford
15:00 BST			S.Phillips pen.'	Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 2,693

30 September 1980 (1980-09-30) 9	Northampton Town	0–1	Bradford City	Northampton
19:30 BST				Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 2,293

3 October 1980 (1980-10-03) 10	Northampton Town	0–1	Stockport County	Northampton
19:30 BST				Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 1,902

7 October 1980 (1980-10-07) 11	Bury	1–2	Northampton Town	Bury
19:30 BST			P.Denyer D.Waldock	Stadium: Gigg Lane Attendance: 1,779

11 October 1980 (1980-10-11) 12	Scunthorpe United	0–2	Northampton Town	Scunthorpe
15:00 BST			S.Phillips	Stadium: Old Show Ground Attendance: 2,650

17 October 1980 (1980-10-17) 13	Northampton Town	4–1	Crewe Alexandra	Northampton
15:00 BST	S.Phillips K.Farmer			Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 2,179

21 October 1980 (1980-10-21) 14	Northampton Town	2–0	Aldershot	Northampton
19:30 BST	W.Gage M.Heeley			Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 3,194

25 October 1980 (1980-10-25) 15	Lincoln City	8–0	Northampton Town	Lincoln
15:00 BST				Stadium: Sincil Bank Attendance: 4,060

27 October 1980 (1980-10-27) 16	Mansfield Town	2–0	Northampton Town	Mansfield
19:30 GMT	R.Allen N.Parkinson			Stadium: Field Mill Attendance: 3,560

31 October 1980 (1980-10-31) 17	Northampton Town	2–1	Halifax Town	Northampton
19:30 GMT	S.Phillips			Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 2,226

4 November 1980 (1980-11-04) 18	Northampton Town	5–3	Bury	Northampton
19:30 GMT	P.Denyer pen.' P.Saunders			Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 2,229

8 November 1980 (1980-11-08) 19	Wimbledon	1–0	Northampton Town	Wimbledon, London
15:00 GMT				Stadium: Plough Lane Attendance: 2,029

12 November 1980 (1980-11-12) 20	Wigan Athletic	3–0	Northampton Town	Wigan
19:30 GMT				Stadium: Springfield Park Attendance: 3,375

15 November 1980 (1980-11-15) 21	Northampton Town	2–2	Darlington	Northampton
15:00 GMT	P.Denyer S.Phillips			Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 1,656

29 November 1980 (1980-11-29) 22	Northampton Town	3–1	Tranmere Rovers	Northampton
15:00 GMT	S.Phillips A.Sandy			Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 1,487

12 November 1980 (1980-11-12) 23	Torquay United	3–3	Northampton Town	Torquay
15:00 GMT			K.Bowen K.Williams	Stadium: Plainmoor Attendance: 1,975

20 December 1980 (1980-12-20) 24	Northampton Town	3–2	Rochdale	Northampton
15:00 GMT	S.Phillips 7' P.Denyer 44' K.Bowen 53'		B.Wellings 27', 86'	Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 1,705 Referee: Clive White

26 December 1980 (1980-12-26) 25	Peterborough United	3–0	Northampton Town	Peterborough
15:00 GMT				Stadium: London Road Attendance: 6,265

27 December 1980 (1980-12-27) 26	Northampton Town	5–1	Port Vale	Northampton
19:30 GMT	K.Farmer K.Bowen P.Sandercock P.Denyer		N.Chamberlain	Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 2,978

3 January 1981 (1981-01-03) 27	Aldershot	0–0	Northampton Town	Aldershot
15:00 GMT				Stadium: Recreation Ground Attendance: 2,992

10 January 1981 (1981-01-10) 28	Northampton Town	0–1	Mansfield Town	Northampton
15:00 GMT			J.McClelland	Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 2,985

16 January 1981 (1981-01-16) 29	Tranmere Rovers	3–2	Northampton Town	Birkenhead
19:30 GMT			K.Bowen	Stadium: Prenton Park Attendance: 1,246

23 January 1981 (1981-01-23) 30	Southend United	0–0	Northampton Town	Southend-on-Sea
19:30 GMT				Stadium: Roots Hall Attendance: 6,191

31 January 1981 (1981-01-31) 31	Northampton Town	0–1	AFC Bournemouth	Northampton
15:00 GMT				Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 2,140

3 February 1981 (1981-02-03) 32	Northampton Town	1–1	Wigan Athletic	Northampton
19:30 GMT	K.Farmer			Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 1,708

6 February 1981 (1981-02-06) 33	Doncaster Rovers	1–1	Northampton Town	Doncaster
19:30 GMT			K.Bowen	Stadium: Belle Vue Attendance: 6,191

14 February 1981 (1981-02-14) 34	Northampton Town	3–1	Hartlepool United	Northampton
15:00 GMT	K.Bowen P.Denyer			Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 2,032

6 March 1981 (1981-03-06) 35	Stockport County	1–2	Northampton Town	Stockport
19:30 GMT			S.Phillips P.Cooke	Stadium: Edgeley Park Attendance: 1,945

13 March 1981 (1981-03-13) 36	Northampton Town	3–3	Scunthorpe United	Northampton
19:30 GMT	P.Denyer pen.'			Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 2,046

21 March 1981 (1981-03-21) 37	Crewe Alexandra	3–1	Northampton Town	Crewe
15:00 GMT			K.Williams	Stadium: Gresty Road Attendance: 2,120

28 March 1981 (1981-03-28) 38	Northampton Town	1–1	Lincoln City	Northampton
15:00 GMT	M.Heeley			Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 2,424

4 April 1981 (1981-04-04) 39	Halifax Town	0–1	Northampton Town	Halifax
15:00 BST			S.Phillips	Stadium: The Shay Attendance: 2,120

11 April 1981 (1981-04-11) 40	Northampton Town	1–1	Wimbledon	Northampton
15:00 BST	K.Bowen			Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 2,121

14 April 1981 (1981-04-14) 41	Northampton Town	0–0	Hereford United	Northampton
19:30 BST				Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 1,380

18 April 1981 (1981-04-18) 42	Port Vale	1–1	Northampton Town	Burslem
15:00 BST	P.Sproson		K.Farmer	Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 2,120

21 April 1981 (1981-04-21) 43	Northampton Town	2–2	Peterborough United	Northampton
19:30 BST	P.Denyer S.Phillips			Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 5,542

1 May 1981 (1981-05-01) 44	Northampton Town	1–0	Torquay United	Northampton
19:30 BST	K.Bowen			Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 1,562

3 May 1981 (1981-05-03) 45	Rochdale	0–1	Northampton Town	Rochdale
15:00 BST			P.Denyer 79'	Stadium: Spotland Attendance: 1,474

5 May 1981 (1981-05-05) 46	York City	1–2	Northampton Town	York
19:30 BST			K.Bowen S.Phillips	Stadium: Bootham Crescent Attendance: 1,167

FA Cup

22 November 1980 (1980-11-22) First round	Northampton Town	1–4	Peterborough United	Northampton
15:00 GMT	S.Phillips			Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 5,542

League Cup

8 August 1980 (1980-08-08) First round 1st leg	Northampton Town	0–2	Reading	Northampton
19:30 BST				Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 3,294

13 August 1980 (1980-08-13) First round 2nd leg	Reading	2–3	Northampton Town	Reading
19:30 BST			P.Denyer S.Phillips	Stadium: Elm Park Attendance: 4,357

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	Andy Poole	46	–	–	1	–	–	2	–	–	49	–	–
DF	Dennis Byatt	14	–	–	–	1	–	2	–	–	16	1	–
DF	Wakeley Gage	29	1	1	1	–	–	1	–	–	31	1	1
DF	Phil Sandercock	31	–	1	1	–	–	2	–	–	34	–	1
DF	Paul Saunders	25	3	2	–	–	–	–	–	–	25	3	2
DF	Des Waldock	22	1	1	1	–	–	1	–	–	24	1	1
DF	Ricky Walker	2	–	–	–	–	–	2	–	–	4	–	–
MF	Dave Carlton	39	–	1	–	–	–	–	–	–	39	–	1
MF	Peter Cooke	4	1	1	–	–	–	–	–	–	4	1	1
MF	Peter Denyer	45	–	13	1	–	–	2	–	1	48	–	14
MF	Mark Heeley	33	3	2	1	–	–	1	–	–	35	3	2
MF	Gary Leonard	1	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	1	–	–
MF	Maurice Muir	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–
MF	Adam Sandy	32	4	1	1	–	–	1	–	–	34	4	1
MF	Gary Saxby	28	6	1	1	–	–	1	–	–	30	6	1
MF	Keith Williams	39	–	2	1	–	–	–	–	–	40	–	2
FW	Keith Bowen	32	–	13	1	–	–	2	–	–	35	–	13
FW	Kevin Farmer	36	3	6	–	–	–	1	1	–	37	4	6
FW	Steve Phillips	45	–	19	1	–	1	2	–	2	48	–	22
Players who left before end of season:
FW	Gary Sargent	3	–	–	–	–	–	2	–	–	5	–	–

References

^ Rothmans Football Yearbook 1981/82, p.250.
^ Focus on Wakeley Gage, Chester City v. Burnley matchday programme, 5/10/85, p. 13
^ Matthews, Tony (1995). Birmingham City: A Complete Record. Derby: Breedon Books. p. 117. ISBN 978-1-85983-010-9.

Books

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

[1] Rothmans Football Yearbook 1981/82, p.250.

[Focus_on-2] Focus on Wakeley Gage, Chester City v. Burnley matchday programme, 5/10/85, p. 13

[3] Matthews, Tony (1995). Birmingham City: A Complete Record. Derby: Breedon Books. p. 117. ISBN 978-1-85983-010-9.

[1]

[2]

[3]