Played For Both – Shrewsbury Town
Ahead of Northampton Town’s latest meeting with Shrewsbury Town, Cobblers Past takes a look at a selection of players who have represented both clubs over the years.
Tyrese Fornah
One of the more recent names to have represented both clubs is current Cobblers midfielder Tyrese Fornah.
After coming through the academies at Reading and Brighton & Hove Albion, Fornah began his senior career with Nottingham Forest.
During his time at Forest, the midfielder spent the 2021/22 season on loan at Shrewsbury Town, making 19 appearances for the Shrews.
Further loan spells followed with Reading before Fornah joined Derby County in 2023. He was part of the Rams squad that won promotion from League One in 2023/24 before spending the following campaign on loan at Salford City.
Fornah made the move to Sixfields in June 2025, signing a three-year contract with Northampton Town.
Ryan Haynes
Northamptonshire-born Ryan Haynes joined Shrewsbury Town in the summer of 2018 following his departure from Coventry City.
The left-back spent one season with the Shrews before moving on to Newport County in July 2019.
After three years with Newport, Haynes returned to Northamptonshire in the summer of 2022 when he signed for the Cobblers.
He was part of the Northampton squad that won promotion from League Two during the 2022/23 campaign and remained at Sixfields for the club’s return to League One.
Haynes left the Cobblers in the summer of 2024.
Ivan Toney
Ivan Toney came through the Northampton Town academy before breaking into the first team as a teenager.
The striker made more than 50 appearances for the Cobblers and scored 11 goals before leaving Sixfields to join Newcastle United in 2015.
While with Newcastle, Toney spent time out on loan at several clubs, including Shrewsbury Town. He made 19 appearances for the Shrews and scored six goals during his spell in Shropshire.
James Collins
James Collins enjoyed two separate spells with Shrewsbury Town.
He initially joined the club in 2010 and scored 22 goals in 66 appearances before moving on. Collins returned to Shrewsbury in 2014 and added another 22 goals from 68 appearances during his second spell.
In January 2016, Collins joined Northampton Town on loan and became part of Chris Wilder’s League Two title-winning side.
The striker made 21 appearances and scored eight goals as the Cobblers finished the season as champions.
Simon Sturridge
Simon Sturridge joined Northampton Town in August 1999, having previously played under Cobblers manager Ian Atkins at Birmingham City.
He made 19 appearances for Northampton during the 1999/2000 campaign and scored once.
During the latter stages of that season, Sturridge moved to Shrewsbury Town on loan with a view to a permanent move.
He made 11 appearances and scored once for the Shrews before the proposed permanent move failed to materialise.
Sam Aiston
Sam Aiston is another name to have worn the colours of both Northampton Town and Shrewsbury Town during his playing career.
The midfielder spent time at Sixfields before later becoming a long-serving Shrewsbury player.
Bryn Morris
Midfielder Bryn Morris joined Shrewsbury Town in 2017 and went on to make 43 appearances during his two-year spell with the club.
His time in Shropshire included Shrewsbury’s memorable 2017/18 campaign, when the Shrews reached the League One play-off final.
Morris later became a Cobbler, joining Northampton Town in January 2021.
Kelvin Langmead
Kelvin Langmead enjoyed a lengthy spell with Shrewsbury Town after joining the club in 2004.
He spent six years with the Shrews, making more than 230 appearances and scoring 18 goals.
Langmead first arrived at Sixfields on loan from Peterborough United in 2011 before making his move to Northampton permanent.
The defender went on to make 79 appearances for the Cobblers and scored 11 goals.
Aaron Pierre
Aaron Pierre signed for Northampton Town in July 2017 on a three-year contract.
The defender went on to make 60 appearances and score six goals for the Cobblers, while also being named Northampton Town’s Player of the Season for the 2018/19 campaign.
Pierre later joined Shrewsbury Town and produced one of his most memorable moments for the club in January 2020, scoring an 89th-minute winner against Championship side Bristol City in an FA Cup third-round replay.
The goal secured a 1-0 victory and set up a fourth-round meeting with Liverpool.
John Gayle
John Gayle arrived at Northampton Town in February 1997 for a fee of £25,000.
He spent more than a year at Sixfields, scoring seven times in 48 league appearances before leaving for Scunthorpe United in June 1998.
Gayle later joined Shrewsbury Town on a free transfer in November 1999.
He played his part in helping the Shrews retain their Football League status, although injuries restricted him to 19 league appearances, in which he scored twice.
From title winners to promotion heroes and players who have represented the two clubs decades apart, Northampton Town and Shrewsbury Town have shared plenty of names over the years.
The latest chapter between the two sides comes at the Croud Meadow, with the Cobblers making the trip to Shropshire on Saturday.