We all know of course that only the few will end up celebrating promotion or cup wins and for some the despair of relegation as their world collapses below them. This time last year I was hopeful of a successful season for Northampton Town Football Club, we'd had a pretty good pre-season and our side looked pretty settled. Unfortunately for the team and the fans, our league showing was at best outstandingly average, and at worst outstandingly poor. (I still haven't recovered from sacrificing a 3 goal lead at home to Hereford only to lose 4-3). I lost the will to keep blogging after that as trying to put my usual positive spin on our performances on the pitch would have been like writing a serious article for the Sunday Sport!
I'm not going backwards.....onwards and upwards for me and NTFC!!
The re-building project started in earnest at Sixfields as soon as the season finished. Taxi's were summoned to transport last seasons "Team Members" to that unforgiving land of the "Out Of Contract" and "Released."
Our manager and his team meanwhile were scouring the land seeking out the "New" Northampton Town team for 2011/2012. So what have we ended up with, well, he's been busy that's for sure with no less than fifteen players signing on the dotted line to commit themselves to the cause. I personally wish them all well and hope for all our sakes that they enjoy their stay with Northampton Town and perform to the best of their abilities to get us out of this league.
As I mentioned earlier, our pre-season has been interesting, "It's all about fitness and Teamwork", has been the mantra. If it had been about results we'd have let ourselves down big time.
Brackley Town 1 Northampton Town 0, Oxford City 2 Northampton Town 2, Northampton Town 1 Nottingham Forest 2, (impressive so far!!), Northampton Town 0 Reading 3, Cambridge United 2 Northampton Town 0 and finally Northampton Town 2 Wycombe Wanderers 1, (are you sure?, yes, we won 2-1).
Now, I've only seen the home games, and I've listened in and joined in the away games either via the chat or Cobblers Player. (Loved the banter of the chat games, erratically but brilliantly co-ordinated by Gareth Willsher, (he admits he's got the best job in the world and the patience of two saints!!).
Memories of pre-season: Brackley; Too windy for a decent game of football; Oxford City; The return of Tadgh Purcell to the starting line-up after an horrendous knee injury and the comments that we have "F.Hall in goal!!); Nottingham Forest; Contender for goal of the season from Jake Robinson, We played good football for 20 minutes and chased shadows for 70; Reading; We played well for 20 minutes until Reading decided to move into second gear. Outplayed for majority of game as you would expect from last seasons "almost made it to the Premiership club". (Great day of family football as all the "others" support Reading FC and attended the match. Great Company, Great BBQ, Great Cupcakes!!)
Cobblers moved on to Cambridge United to have an evening stroll in a different part of the country. Bad day at the office as no one brought their kit and played!! (probably expected to be playing in the new Errea outfits, but that's well documented elsewhere and not one I know enough about to comment on. Only to say It's turned up, we've run out till next week and I'm not wearing yellow!)
Last pre-season game of the close season, Wycombe Wanderers; good performance from the Cobblers, don't know what they worked on between Cambridge and Wycombe, but proved that they could work together to get a result.
What have I thought of the boys so far....glad you asked. Sam Walker; Tall, good distribution, agile; Lewis Young; Quick, stood out in most games I have witnessed; Ashley Corker; steady; Ben Tozer; Could be our Player of the season (In my opinion); Byron Webster; quietly efficient, I think a goal would take him up a notch; Arron Davies; Disappears quickly, probably needs time to settle; Jake Robinson; looks lively and creative, knows how to shoot; Shaun Harrad; Keen but seems out of favour, now injured; Bayo; Coming into himself, looks like Bayo; Andy Holt; minimal participation now injured; Johnno; Inspirational and wants to lead, few clumsy challenges to be curbed; Paul Turbull; Quietly impressive; Nana; Right Back, Left Back, Great going forward, energetic and always wanting ball, definitely one to watch; Michael Jacobs; We know what he's capable of and so do the rest of League Two; Tadgh Purcell; Needs games and will probably go out on loan. Don't think we've seen the best of him yet; Nick McKoy; Could be our Mr. Versatile and I think the supporters will grow to love him, (Cult); Freddy Hall; good shot stopper, nice to know we have competition for the keeper's jersey.
We've also signed two young Austrians - Good haircuts. Not seen them on the pitch yet but rumour has it they're a bit special - put it down as "Potential" and "Work In progress"
So on the eve of our first league game of the season against the might of Accrington Stanley, what can we expect? Well if I'm honest, like you, I don't know what to expect. We can only hope that our dreams become reality but at the end of the day it's down to eleven men on the pitch to perform to their best, consistently, and carry our hopes through to May 2012. I miss the first match of the season as it clashes with my son performing with the National Youth Orchestra at the BBC proms in the Royal Albert Hall. My thoughts will be at Sixfields and I can't wait for 20th August for the next home game.
Best wishes to you all for your season ahead and may we all enjoy the fruits of success - whatever that may be.
Come On Cobblers....Come On!!
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