Sixfields – Northampton Town

11^th October 2014

Northampton 1-2 Burton Albion

Cresswell (80)      Blyth (45)

                                   MacDonald (85)

What I should have loved to have seen I think is Northampton Town playing at their former home, the County Ground.  For although the atmosphere would have been pretty crap, the sight of a senior football match being played on a cricket pitch really must have been rather surreal.  Particularly so during The Cobblers’ sole season in the top flight (1965/66), and also on that occasion a few years later when they hosted Manchester United in the FA Cup.

The club decamped from the County Ground to Sixfields in 1994, although I noted with some irony that they were once more playing in front of only three stands – the East one currently in the process of being redeveloped.

Having said that, the three stands presently in use comfortably housed the just under 5,000 souls who pitched up this afternoon to watch Burton deservedly take all three points.  Although it did take a quite stunning free-kick from Alex McDonald to separate the sides.

I came across this impressive structure during my walk from the rail station to Sixfields.  A bit of research led me to discover it is the National Lift Tower, which holds six lifts shafts of varying sizes, and is used by "lift companies for research, development, testing and marketing" sez Wiki.

Sixfields - Northampton Town FC

A view of Sixfields from Edgar Mobbs Way showing the rear of the East Stand under construction.

Sixfields - Northampton Town FC

Northampton Town v Burton Albion - October 2014

We had football royalty in the shape of the great John Motson
read out the Northampton team before the match.

The Paul Cox Panel & Paint Stand.

Work only began on redeveloping the East Stand in the Summer of 2014.
Although I believe work has "temporarily stopped" due to a "contract dispute".

Northampton Town v Burton Albion - October 2014

The hill was only sparsely populated.

Ian Sharps

Northampton Town v Burton Albion - October 2014

Northampton Town v Burton Albion - October 2014

Albion's George Mousinho and Town's Ivan Toney high step.

Northampton Town v Burton Albion - October 2014

Northampton Town v Burton Albion - October 2014

Northampton Town v Burton Albion - October 2014

Ivan Toney

The ball is just about to fall perfectly for No36 Ryan Cresswell to poke in Northampton's equaliser.

Alex MacDonald's winner (1)
One has to say, a three-man wall left the former Falkirk player a lot to aim at.

Alex MacDonald's winner (2)
Home 'keeper Jordan Archer thinks "I can get that".

Alex MacDonald's winner (3)
Home 'keeper Jordan Archer thinks "Perhaps I can, on the way back out".

Northampton Town v Burton Albion - October 2014

This little chap scowled down on proceedings; his success as a scarecrow,
judging by the amount of bird shit around me, could best be described as minimal. 

Panorama of Sixfields, Northampton.