A look back at some of the Cobblers previous play off campaigns.
1996/97
The season did not start well!
In the opening league match at Wigan, the team coach got stuck in traffic then during the game Peer and O’Shea were dismissed.New signing Mark Cooper was dismissed in the League cup-tie v Cardiff City. Leyton Orient came to Sixfields and won their second away game in three years their previous one was at Sixfields the previous season.
By the start on the New Year the tables turned and home victories over Cardiff (4-0) and Chester (5-1) was followed by a four-minute hat trick from Larry Grayson v Hartlepool. The club picked up seventeen points from the last seven games and moved into the play off.
Cardiff were beaten 1-0 in the first leg at Ninian Park despite having Mark Cooper sent off again (Same opponents same referee). Then a thrilling game at Sixfields ended in a 3-2 victory for the Cobblers. Northampton Town’s first visit to Wembley, in their centenary season, was an anti climax as a match but a thrilling end when John’ Frain’s twice taken free kick found its way into the back of the net. Promotion was assured.
1997/98
Twelve months later the Cobblers were back at the Twin Towers but this time it was to be Wembley heartbreak for Ian Atkins’ side with Grimsby promoted to what is now the Championship following a 1-0 victory. The game was a notable one for Andy Woodman who saved a penalty while the attendance of 62,998 was a record at the time for a Division 2 play-off final with over 42,000 of those Cobblers fans. • The 1997 /98 season is perhaps however best remembered for an incredible night at Sixfields which saw the Cobblers overturn Bristol Rovers in the play-off semi-final second leg. 3-1 down after the first leg the Cobblers mounted a remarkable fightback and goals from Carl Heggs (34), lan Clarkson (61) and Ray Warburton (77) secured a 4-3 aggregate victory on a truly incredible night under the Sixfields lights.
2003/04
With Colin Calderwood in charge the Cobblers suffered penalty shoot-out agony in 2004 despite a second leg turn around against Mansfield. Having lost the home leg 2-0 the Cobblers were up against it going to Mansfield but Marc Richards (36), Chris Hargreaves (42) and Martin Smith (46) turned the tie on its head. Tom Curtis, having been lucky not to have been shown a second yellow card by referee Phil Crossley, then levelled things up on aggregate and the tie went to penalties. Eric Sabin saw his spot kick saved and it was Mansfield, then managed by now Cobblers boss Keith Curle, who booked their place in the final with a 5-4 victory in the shoot-out.
2004/05
A year on from that penalty heartbreak at Field Mill and like in the 90s under Ian Atkins the Cobblers were involved in the play-offs in back-to-back seasons. Colin Calderwood was looking to go one better than twelve months earlier but it wasn’t to be and it was Southend who edged a tight two-legged semi-final 1-0 on aggregate. After a goalless first leg at Sixfields, Freddy Eastwood’s second half spot-kick at Roots Hall was enough for Southend to book their place in the final. Less than twelve months later the Cobblers were celebrating though as Calderwood avoided a third consecutive play-off campaign by achieving automatic promotion.