he one we won’t forget.
On the 9th June the play offs became official.
CONFIRMED: It’s official! 🙌
Following a vote by @SkyBetLeagueTwo clubs this afternoon, the play offs have now been ratified and we’ll face Cheltenham Town in the semi finals. #ShoeArmy 👞 pic.twitter.com/sobSHZYQq0
— Northampton Town (@ntfc) June 9, 2020
Northampton Town Football Club are requesting supporters do not congregate on top of the hill overlooking the PTS Academy Stadium when Thursday night’s behind closed doors play off semi final with Cheltenham Town is taking place.
👞 IT’S MATCHDAY 👊@ntfc v @CTFCofficial @SkyBetLeagueTwo Play-Offs first leg at Sixfields Stadium.
Whose excited? pic.twitter.com/P7yjrzvpba
— Cobblers Past 👞 (@CobblersPast) June 18, 2020
I was in the crowd was you?
Frank's Favourite player Frank Large sitting with me and Frank for tonight's game. #CobblerInTheCrowd | @ntfc pic.twitter.com/qx6Cv0GhjY
— Cobblers Past 👞 (@CobblersPast) June 18, 2020
Not the result we needed in the first leg however 2-0 is a dangers score line.
<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet”><p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”>FULL-TIME: Northampton 0-2 Cheltenham <a href=”https://t.co/cVPTEIkMr4″>pic.twitter.com/cVPTEIkMr4</a></p>— Cobblers Past 👞 (@CobblersPast) <a href=”https://twitter.com/CobblersPast/status/1273719179586273280?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>June 18, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src=”https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js” charset=”utf-8″></script>
The Cobblers travelled to the Jonny Rocks Stadium needing to overturn a 2-0 scoreline from the first leg in order to book a place in the Sky Bet League 2 play off final against Exeter City.
Sam Hoskins, back from suspension, replaced James Olayinka in the only change made by Keith Curle while Alfie May and Jonte Smith came in for Cheltenham.
Hoskins had an early shot blocked and Callum Morton saw a header saved by Owen Evans in a bright start from the Cobblers and they were rewarded for their efforts with the opening goal on nine minutes, Vadaine Oliver on the end of a tantalising cross from Nicky Adams to head home.
Firmly in the ascendancy, the Cobblers then had a chance to level the tie on aggregate but after being played through by Alan McCormack, Morton couldn’t keep his shot down. Adams had a shot blocked at close range and Hoskins saw an effort deflected behind as the Cobblers kept their foot on the pedal.
Smith curled wide for Cheltenham while Adams volleyed just over in another chance created by the Cobblers. A cross from Charlie Goode then found goalscorer Oliver well-placed but this time he couldn’t keep his header down and Cheltenham kept their noses in front 2-1 on aggregate going in at half-time.
Reuben Reid replaced Jonte Smith in a change for Cheltenham at half-time and it was the home side who had the first sight at goal in the second half, Steve Arnold saving from Jake Doyle-Hayes while the Cobblers keeper also did well to gather in a header from Will Boyle after a scramble in the box.
Callum Morton levelled things up on aggregate as the Cobblers doubled their lead on the night, the on-loan West Brom striker getting the final touch after Charlie Goode headed a Nicky Adams corner back across goal.
Ryan Watson saw a shot charged down before McCormack made way for Olayinka in the Cobblers first change.
Keith Curle’s side had been a threat throughout and Callum Morton poked home a loose ball in the box to make it 3-0 to the Cobblers and with under a quarter of an hour to play they were ahead for the first time in the two legged play off semi-final.
Cheltenham rallied in an attempt to get themselves back on level terms but the Cobblers nearly scored a fourth goal, Morton denied his hat-trick with Evans making the save following a quick counter-attack.
Jordan Turnbull made a vital block to deny Robins substitute Rohan Ince and Alfie May fired over as the home side tried in vain to force extra-time and the Cobblers deservedly booked their place at Wembley on 29 June.
<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet”><p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”>We’re going to Wembley! 👞 <a href=”https://t.co/WVuLWYsipl”>pic.twitter.com/WVuLWYsipl</a></p>— Northampton Town (@ntfc) <a href=”https://twitter.com/ntfc/status/1275172135582019590?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>June 22, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src=”https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js” charset=”utf-8″></script>
On the 26th June the Cobblers lost a great Theo Foley; Theo was born in Dublin and went to a school where associated football was not allowed, only Gaelic football and Hurling!!!. He starting to turn out regularly for Home Farm.
Theo went on to spend some time on trial at Burnley before moving to Exeter City who were then in Division Three South and he would go on to spend five seasons at St. James Park. In 1961 Theo asked for a transfer after getting married.
In 1961 Dave Bowen signed him for the Cobblers for a small fee. Theo Captained the Cobblers as the club rose through the divisions but when he was need the most in division one, injury took its toll. He also missed a large chunk of the following season (66-67) and was released at the end of it.
Theo made over 220 appearances for the Cobblers scorning over 11 goals and although Theo was offered a coaching job with Northampton he instead decided to continue playing joining Charlton as player coach.
In January 1970 he was promoted to assistant manager and three months later he was acting manager, being made up to team manager in the close season.
He was sacked in April 1974 just days after receiving a rose bowl from the supporters and ten days before Charlton were awarded £4,000 for being one of the highest scoring clubs.
After a spell with Dulwich Hamlet as coach and advisor he joined L.B.C. and took on broadcasting duties. After a short spell with Dartford he moved to Millwall as coach and was promoted to caretaker manager when Gordon Jago left but when George Petchley was put in as manager three weeks later, Theo resigned.
Loftus road was the next stop as he coached the Q.P.R. reserves side before returning to Millwall as assistant to George Graham. Both manager and coach moved to the Arsenal in 1986 with tremendous success.
Theo felt he wanted to become a team manager again and applied for the vacant job at his old club, Northampton, having applied for it back in 1976 and thought he had been given the job until he returned home and heard on the news it had been given to Pat Crerand.
Theo was given the job with the club back in to Division four at this time, and he built a side that was challenging for a promotion spot until the last few games when injuries struck.
The following season there was a change of board the better players were sold and the administrators sacked Theo. He joined Fulham as their youth team coach then became a coach at Southend United under Ronnie Whelan.
Theo’s final coaching position was at Tottenham where there was a strong Northampton connection. Graham Carr was Chief scout, John Alexander was secretary and Colin Calderwood who would later be a Northampton manager was also a coach & Justin Edinburgh was a player.
We send our condolences and best wishes to Theo’s Family and friends.
The stage was set
Just over 24 hours until our @SkyBetLeagueTwo play off final will be underway! 👞 pic.twitter.com/p1GtWltTfi
— Northampton Town (@ntfc) June 28, 2020
Keith Curle unsurprisingly kept faith with the same starting eleven that overturned a two goal first leg deficit in the semi-finals while Exeter, who needed extra-time to overcome Colchester United in their semi-final, had three former Cobblers loanees on their bench, Lewis Ward, Lee Martin and Brennan Dickenson. Before kick-off there was a minute’s silence as both clubs paid their respects to Theo Foley.
Scott Wharton picked up an early booking for a foul on Randell Williams but the on-loan Blackburn Rovers defender recovered quickly to clear the subsequent free-kick.
It was the Cobblers who struck first though, Ryan Watson with a drilled low finish from just outside the area following a Charlie Goode long throw. Watson’s strike took a deflection to beat Jonathan Maxted who, with the Cobblers on the front foot, could only parry a Nicky Adams free-kick. Vadaine Oliver then went close with a header and Sam Hoskins saw a shot blocked at close range as Keith Curle’s side looked to press home the advantage.
The Cobblers were dealt a blow when Adams was forced off with what looked like a hamstring injury but within seconds it was 2-0, Callum Morton tucking the ball home from close range after Turnbull and Wharton won headers in the box.
Maxted turned behind a header from Wharton as the Cobblers went in search of a third goal before half-time, Oliver and Goode also denied by two top saves from the Grecians keeper in first half stoppage time.
Arnold saved comfortably from Jake Taylor at the start of the second half and it wasn’t long before Exeter made a double change, Tom Parkes and Archie Collins on for Jayden Richardson and Alex Fisher.
Exeter were coming into the game a bit more but they were down to ten men just before the hour mark when referee Michael Salisbury sent off Dean Moxey for a rash challenge on Watson.
Morton had a chance to make it 3-0 after being played through by Oliver but for once the on-loan striker couldn’t find the target and he slid his shot wide of the post.
James Olayinka and Harry Smith replaced McCormack and Oliver in a double change from Curle and the Cobblers extended their lead with ten to play, Sam Hoskins supplying the finish after being played in by Mark Marshall.
The Cobblers weren’t letting up and substitute Andy Williams scored with his first touch to make it 4-0, his close range volley coming from a long throw and flick on by Smith.
It had been another terrific performance and the Cobblers for all their hard work throughout the season were rewarded with not only a fantastic win at Wembley but a promotion back into League 1.
THE TOWN ARE GOING UP!!!! 👞 pic.twitter.com/EiOYOnSsun
— Northampton Town (@ntfc) June 29, 2020