2008/09...The Good, The Bad and The Ugly...

So it’s goodbye to League One as the various websites, news channels and newspapers begin to update their leagues with the 2009/10 teams. Unfortunately for that means we’re waiting to finally see the name of Northampton Town drop to League Two level once again but now is the time to look back on the final of three seasons above the basement.

We’ve seen former footballing giants fall at Sixfields, trips to locations far away as Carlisle and as nearby as Peterborough, flirted with the playoffs briefly, brought through some good youngsters and loaned out the entire Championship reserve team database.

So let’s look back on last season one more time and look back on the good, the bad and the ugly from 2008/09 in League One…

Match of the Season: Scunthorpe United 4-4 Northampton Town

Match of the year has to go to the Scunny away game when, at 4-1 down, the Cobblers came back to claim a remarkable 4-4 draw as Danny Jackman’s late corner flew straight in. Has we not hit the bar in stoppage time this would have gone down as the greatest ever fight back for a Cobblers side for sure!

Worst Match of the Season: Yeovil Town 1-0 Northampton Town

Plenty of options for this award…the JPT defeat to Brighton, the 1-0 home defeat to Oldham in November and the 0-0 draw with Bristol Rovers in the final game of 2008 but the Yeovil defeat wins it for me for the sheer desperation of the defeat and the manner in which we went for the draw and inevitably lost late on.

NTFC Player of the Year: Danny Jackman

Had to be Jacko again for Player of the Year this season…one of the only players in Claret that showed a willingness to fight for the cause. Jackman won many votes for the official award by stating that he’ll still be a Cobbler next season whatever league we ended up in. Will be much needed in League Two.

Best Signing: Luke Guttridge

When he was fit, Guttridge was a rock in midfield after joining last summer. Distribution and quality was of the highest standard from the former Cambridge man and another that should flourish in League Two..

Worst Signing: Leon Constantine
We waited and waited and waited for Leon to come good all season but two goals for the entire campaign says it all. It wouldn’t have been so bad if he put the effort in but that wasn’t there either and the striker was packed off after just a year, most likely to score a hat-trick against us for another League Two side next season.

Loan of the Season: Frank Fielding

For length of time spent here (Kyle Walker would have come close if he’d have stayed longer) and general consistency I had to go for Fielding here…amongst the hoards of loans that passed through Sixfields this season, Fielding was on top form most weeks between the sticks.

Moan of the Season, sponsored by Jeema: Giles Coke

After the season ended well in 07/08, Coke was set to be one of the shining lights of this campaign. But when the going got tough, Coke got lost and wasn’t up for the rough and tumble of a relegation battle. He’s been offered a new deal but was lucky to get that and if he signs will have work to do to get back in the Town fans’ good books.

Best away ground visited: London Road

A surprise winner perhaps with Elland Road still on our League One map but every trip to the Posh is electric and with the Championship now looming for Darren Ferguson’s men, our 1-0 defeat could be the last time we stand in the incredibly atmospheric Moys Terrace. Not the best of grounds by any means but in terms of noise made and atmosphere it’s unbeatable for Cobblers games.

Most annoying opposition player: Andy Robinson

I don’t know why but I still want to slap Robinson every time I see him.

Best opposition player: Jermaine Beckford

The standing ovation at Sixfields by home fans after Beckford had struck four in the 5-2 cup defeat says it all about a player that will surely go on to bigger things next season.

Defining moment of 2008/09: Yeovil Town 1-0 Northampton Town

Another unwanted “award” for this game as the moment it all went wrong and the Cobblers fell into the bottom four following a desperate performance at Huish Park.


So what will 2009/10 bring? Maybe this time next year we’ll be giving hero status to a new young starlet picked up on a free, maybe the only moan of the year will be that we weren’t promoted sooner and maybe pigs might actually start growing those wings and take to the air.

With the bookies’ odds on our side, so to speak, it’s inevitable that we won’t start well as usual. Stuart Gray will be given time but probably won’t see out October should we make our usual stuttering start to the season. The fixtures come out in just over a week, the day when we can start plotting our route around League Two and attempt to predict where the moments of magic will come from in 09/10.