1897/1898: Schoolboy football in Northampton was stronger than in any other part of the country, just before the turn of the century. This was mainly due to the enthusiastic support of the local schoolteachers. However, they were not happy with just putting over the theory and arranging games between schools, they wanted to teach the boys football through practical demonstrations, and the only way they felt this could be achieved was to form a team themselves.

At the same time, A. J. Darnell, a local solicitor and well known sportsman, had travelled to Leicester with the local Rugby teqrn. After the game he stayed to watch an exhibition game of football between Leicester Fosse and Notts County. So impressed was he that all the way back he thought of starting a senior soccer team in the town.

‘Pat’ Darnell and a representative committee of the schoolteachers got together for a meeting on 6 March 1897, at the Princess Royal Inn, on the Wellingborough Road, and Northampton Town was born.

Firstly a ground had to be found and this they did by arranging all home games at the County Ground. The ground was owned by the Cockerill Trust and used by the County Cricket and bowls teams, but the Football Club were given permission to use the venue as long as no games took place before I September or after I May. Over the years, the Cricket Club has ‘bent’ the rules a little to accommodate the football side, although in fairness Northampton Town FC have made sacrifices too.

The Football Club committee comprised Darnell, (President), A. Jones (Secretary), C. Gyde (Treasurer), and committee members L. Swain, W. Westmoreland, J. Coleman and W. Booth. They entered the Northants League and, as a curtain raiser, they entertained Earls Barton, a member of the Northants League. The Cobblers team was; Parkin: Liddle, Sargent; Randall, Howard, Gilbert: Tear, Warner, Baker, Clarke, Dunkley; this was played on 18 September 1897 and ended in a 4-1 victory for Northampton. A week later, the league started in earnest and the fixture list showed Northampton away to Desborough Unity, now Desborough Town; the Cobbler’s representatives were Parkin; Thompson, Sargent; Gilbert, Howard, Randall; Tear, Warner, Baker, Jones, Dunkley. Desborough won, 2-0. The team’s first home game saw their first league victory, a 3-1 win over Rushden reserves, and the takings for the gate were 9s1/2 d (461/4p). The double was completed over Earls Barton, but to no avail as they withdrew from the League. John Litchfield was the first player to score a hattrick and Dunkley was top scorer with six goals although the records show that eight goals were scored that season by ‘unknown’ players, as noone wore numbers in those days; these goals were generally recorded as ‘Rushed in’.

Fourth place and E65 in the red ended the first season; Darnell, Swain and Jones all joined the Northamptonshire Football Association. Wellingborough reserves ended any interest in the Junior cup, and Kettering town put the side out of the Wellingborough Charity cup.

With only 14 league games the rest of the season was made up of friendly games. Victories were recorded over Leicester Fosse, Kettering and a mammoth 8- I victory over Northampton Victoria.