On This day in 1995 Ian Atkins joined the club as manager. He managed the Cobblers from (January 1995 – October 1999).

Ian holds the record for converting the most penalties at Shrewsbury 21. He also won a third division championship and Welsh cup winner’s medal. Although a central defender he once scored 5 goals for Shrewsbury v Caernarfon in a Welsh cup game.

Ian played for Shrewsbury, Sunderland, Everton, Ipswich, and Birmingham captaining them all except Everton. Despite playing over 700 first team games he only made one appearance in Europe for Everton for Fortuna Sittard in Holland in 1985 as a substitute. He was an unused substitute in the European Cup Winners’ cup final v Rapid Vienna. When Everton won the division 1 championship in 1985 Ian had not played enough games to be awarded a medal.

Before joining the Cobblers as a manager he had short spells in charge of Colchester, Cambridge United and Doncaster Rovers. Managed the Cobblers two consecutive play-off finals in 1997 (D.3 winners) & 1998 (D2 runners up). While manager at Northampton both Norwich and Cardiff approached the club for his services. Later managed Chester City, Carlisle United, Oxford United, Bristol Rovers and Torquay United. Later director of Scouting at Sunderland and chief scout at Everton.