Northampton Town F.C.
Northampton Town have spent on season of their existence in the top division of English football, in 1965-66 when they were relegated from the First Division after just one season. In 1970, they lost 8-2 to Manchester United in the F.A Cup Third Round. Six of the goals conceded were scored by George Best, who received the match ball (signed by Northampton players) as a reward for his performances.
The club finished bottom of the Football League's new Division Three in 1993-94, only avoiding relegation to the Conference because Kidderminster Harriers did not have a satisfactory stadium. Manager John Barnwell was sacked soon afterwards to make way for Ian Atkins, and the club began to move forward. In 1997 they won promotion to Division Two thanks to a playoff final victory over Swansea City, and almost made it two successive promotions the following season - but were beaten by Grimsby Town in the Division Two playoff final. The club went down a year later and Atkins resigned, but promotion was earned at the first attempt under new manager Kevin Wilson.
Kevin Wilson was sacked in November 2001 to make way for his assistant Kevin Broadhurst, who steered the Cobblers to Division Two survival. But Broadhurst was sacked in January 2003 with Northampton struggling at the foot of the division, and was briefly replaced by Terry Fenwick, who in turn left after just seven weeks to make way for Martin Wilkinson. Wilkinson lasted little longer, being dismissed in October 2003 in favour of Colin Calderwood.
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