- Founded: 1884
- Nicknames: Rovers
- Honours: Division 3 (N) (1937/38), Welsh Cup (1935), Leyland DAF Cup (1990)
Formed in 1884 as Belmont, they adopted the present title a year later and joined the West Lancashire League ahead of the 1889/90 season. The club almost folded a year later when the players left en bloc to join a rival club. Tranmere survived the crisis and went from strength to strength. They joined the Football League in 1921.
Tranmere is a suburban village outside the Wirral town of Birkenhead, on the south bank of the River Mersey. Birkenhead’s dock system is part of the famous Port of Liverpool with regular ferries to Dublin, Ireland. Local points of interest around the Wirral include Port Sunlight, a village built by the Lever Brother’s to house workers at the Soap factory, and Birkenhead Park which was the countries first publicly funded civic park.
A young Birkenhead player named William Ralph Dixie’ Dean made his debut for Rovers at the age of just 16 years 355 days in 1924, a record that would stand for many decades. Dean scored 27 goals in 30 games for Tranmere, before being transferred across the River Mersey to Everton for £3,000, where he scored a British record 60 League goals in 1927-28.
The majority of Tranmere’s successes came in the 1930’s. In 1935, Rovers won the Welsh FA Cup and three years later celebrated their only league title, edging Doncaster to the title by 2 points. Rovers were helped in abundance by their free scoring striker Bunny Bell, who a season later scored nine (9) goals in a 13-4 victory over Oldham Athletic.
The club have usually played in Tiers 3 and 4 but throughout the nineties Tranmere were regulars in Division 1 (now the Championship). John King had guided them to promotion in 1992 and Liverpool legend John Aldridge took the reins in ’96. Aldridge took Rovers to the last League Cup final played at the old Wembley, but they couldn’t win the three handled cup being beaten by Leicester.
Promotion-chasing Northampton were held to a 1-1 draw by Michael Flynn’s resurgent Walsall at Sixfields.
After Mitch Pinnock struck the opener, Conor Wilkinson equalised to leave the Cobblers second in League Two.
Northampton were gifted the opening goal just four minutes in when Carl Rushworth scuffed his clearance straight to Pinnock and he held off the defender to slam into the bottom corner.
Wilkinson nodded wide and Liam Roberts needed strong fists to beat away Joss Labadie’s fierce drive as Walsall sought a swift reply.
But Northampton also had chances to go further in front before half-time with Louis Appere flicking just wide and Pinnock shooting tamely into the gloves of Rushworth when well-placed.
Wilkinson made the home side pay for their wasteful finishing by slamming home the equaliser from George Miller’s lay-off five minutes into the second half.
The momentum was now with the away side and Wilkinson side-footed a good chance wide and Miller had a free header but could not convert.
Northampton were poor in the second half but should have snatched victory in stoppage time, Sam Hoskins heading against the post from close range.
Newport County returned to winning ways in League Two with victory over fellow promotion hopefuls Tranmere Rovers.
Aaron Lewis put the hosts ahead after curling in Dominic Telford’s pass.
Telford turned from provider to scorer, slotting home a penalty after Finn Azaz was brought down in the box by Calum MacDonald.
Josh Dacres-Cogley pulled one back for Tranmere, before a Azaz and Telford scored either side of a Mickey Demetriou own goal.
Tranmere stay third despite defeat, while eighth-placed County go level on points with Swindon Town in seventh.
Northampton edged above Tranmere in the League Two promotion battle with a victory at Prenton Park.
Kion Etete’s fine effort and Sam Hoskins’ penalty secured a third straight Cobblers league win that moved the visitors into third.
The result ended Tranmere’s eight-game unbeaten run in all competitions and they slipped out of the play-off places in a tight fourth tier table.
Rovers had a goal disallowed in the 26th minute as goalkeeper Liam Roberts was fouled in the box.
Mitch Pinnock’s exquisite delivery then somehow evaded Tottenham loanee Etete and the 19-year-old thrashed over after a Cobblers counter just before half-time.
Paul Lewis missed a glorious chance seconds after the restart as he headed straight at Tranmere goalkeeper Ross Doohan.
Jon Brady’s side took the lead in the 52nd minute as Etete showed superb technique to side-foot home Pinnock’s low cross.
Midfielder Hoskins dispatched a penalty to double the visitors’ lead in the 68th minute after Lewis was fouled by Doohan.
The impressive Etete almost added a third as Doohan made amends with a fantastic reflex save.
The visitors continued to threaten but settled for a convincing victory.
| Played | Won | Draw | Lost | F | A |
| 46 | 16 | 12 | 15 | 58 | 63 |
PLAYED FOR BOTH
We look at a selection of players that played for the Cobblers and Tranmere.
STEPHEN MARTIN
Mark Pottage and Adrian Waters
Fourth Official : Trevor Kettle
| Date | Home | Result | Away |
| 14.08.2018 | Wycombe | 8:7 on pens | Northampton |
| 24.11.2015 | Crawley Town | 1:2 | Northampton |
| 07.03.2015 | Plymouth | 2:0 | Northampton |
| 29.03.2014 | Northampton | 0:3 | Bury |
| 10.11.2013 | Bishop’s St. | 1:2 | Northampton |
| 25.08.2012 | Northampton | 3:3 | Southend United |
| 1 | Northampton have won each of their last two Football League games against Tranmere, they haven’t won three in a row since October 1982. |
| 2 | Tranmere have failed to win on each of their last four Football League visits to Northampton (D2 L2), having won three of the previous four such games (L1). |
| 3 | Northampton’s Sam Hoskins has scored three goals in four Football League appearances against Tranmere, against no other side has he scored more league goals (also 3 against Bristol Rovers). |
| 4 | Tranmere’s 4-2 defeat to Newport last time out was only the second time in League Two this season they’ve conceded more than two goals in a game, while those four goals conceded was as many as in their previous six league games beforehand (W2 D2 L2) |
