During the 1964-1965 Bryan Harvey saved six penalties and four points for the club during the promotion season. The first came at Ipswich in September. The ‘tractor men’s’ winger Brogan fell in the box on 68 minutes. Referee Norman Burtenshaw awarded a penalty but the Cobbler’s keeper saved Brogan’s spot kick and Leadbetter’s follow up. The match ended 0-0 and should Ipswich have scored the Cobblers would have lost a point, 

The next save was at the County Ground in September against Charlton and the Cobblers were leading 1-0 through a Tommy Robson goal when a penalty was awarded against Vic Cockcroft, but once again Bryan Harvey saved the penalty. 

Southampton’s visit to Northampton in January saw two penalties awarded against the Cobblers, ironically the same thing happened in the corresponding fixture the previous season. Terry Paine had converted both penalties the previous season but he saw both of his spot kicks saved. Not only did the ‘Saints’ winger lose his ‘penalty taking’ job with Southampton but also England where he was also in charge of penalties. The match ended 2-2 meaning Harvey saved another point, 

The next penalty save did not affect the score as Bolton Wanders were beaten 4-1 at the County Ground in March and Bryan saved a penalty from Francis Lee, with his legs! He dived the wrong way but deflected the ball away from goal. The final save was at Norwich about a fortnight later in a 1-1 draw, this time he saved Mullett’s spot kick and saved the cobblers another point. The match as marred when City keeper was sent off for removing two of Tommy Robson’s teeth with a punch. 

The four points he saved would have not made a difference to the club’s final position but it certainly kept the club closer to Newcastle United, the Champions who had scored one more point than the Cobblers. He concede two penalties in the match at Plymouth Argyle but it mattered little as the club were promoted in the following match, home to Plymouth! 

DATEVENUEOPPONENTSCOREPENALTY TAKER 

15/9/64AwayIpswich Town1-1Frank Brogan 

10/10/64HomeCharlton Athletic1-0Roy Matthews 

2/1/65HomeSouthampton2-2 (2 Saved)Terry Paine 

2/3/65HomeBolton Wanderers4-1Francis Lee 

20/3/65AwayNorwich City1-1Joe Mullett