A busy memorable few days at the Cobblers after a big game under the Friday night lights at the weekend. With a record crowd of 7,798, which is the biggest since September 2016 when the Cobblers faced Manchester United in the League Cup.
After a memorable night at Sixfields on Friday with the BT Sport cameras on the Wayne Roney’s Derby County when the Cobblers took them to a reply at Pride Park, this allows the Cobblers to be in the 5th round hat. (Ball Number 6) This season is now the club’s best run in the FA Cup in 50 years!
Also, the appearance of Scott Pollock and Morgan Roberts against Derby County meant that the Cobblers have passed a major milestone of 100 appearances from current or former Academy players under the management of Keith Curle.
Curle has been at the club for just under 18 months, a total of 78 games, and has now selected current or former Academy players and graduates for first-team football a total of 100 times.
The appearances have been spread across nine players and the century would no doubt have been reached sooner had injury not deprived Curle of the services of Shaun McWilliams on a number of occasions. Seven of the nine players are Northampton born, and it gives the club great pride to see so many young and in particular locally born players come through the Academy to play first-team football.
On Saturday the Cobblers Made their first signing of the January transfer window, Winger Mark Marshall joined. The experienced winger has over 350 senior appearances under his belt and has played for Swindon Town, Coventry City, Port Vale, Bradford City, Charlton Athletic and Gillingham.
Marshall is a pacy and tricky winger, who helped Charlton to win promotion to the Championship last season and also helped the previous club Bradford City reach the League 1 play-off final two seasons earlier.
A provisional date of Tuesday, February 4th, 2020 kick-off 7.45 pm (date and time subject to final confirmation) have been confirmed for the Cobblers replay with Derby County. Within 4 hours of tickets for the game going on sale just under 900 tickets had been sold. It’s looking at being a very good evening.
To start the week off on a good start the Cobblers add another to signings to the squad. Northampton Town have made a double loan signing. Arsenal midfielder James Olayinka has arrived at the PTS Academy Stadium on loan for the rest of the season. 19-year-old Olayinka played and scored against the Cobblers for Arsenal in the Leasing.Com Trophy game earlier this season. Meanwhile, striker Callum Morton has joined the Cobblers on loan from West Bromwich Albion, also for the rest of the season.
The Emirates FA Cup fifth round draw takes place on Monday evening at 7.19 pm. Northampton Town or Derby County will be ball number 6. The draw will be shown from 7.19 pm on Monday 27 January during The One Show on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. Hosted by Mark Chapman and conducted by Glen Johnson and Teddy Sheringham, the draw will be broadcast live from The One Show Studios at BBC’s Broadcasting House.