I asked Tom when he became a Cobblers fan and can he remember his first game Tom said,

The Cobblers bug bit me in around 1991. I can’t remember my first game exactly. As kids me and my friends were mad about playing football in the street. Sometimes, if a big game was on the TV we’d get bored halfway through and go kick a ball around outside.

In the ’91-92 season, my lower school went to the County Ground for a game and we got to dribble the ball through some cones on the pitch at half time which was a real thrill. Bit by bit, we started going to matches with my dad dropping us off outside. He considered the football too crap to be bothering with (and he had a point) but to us, kids going on the Hotel End was a good laugh. I vividly remember the Michael “McRitchie Out” red card protest organised by the WALOC fanzine and the game v Hereford where they had 4 players sent off, but we could still only draw. Typical Cobblers. From then on, well the rest is history.

I asked Tom to share his best Cobblers XI and why and here is what he had to say; My best 11 Cobblers side comes from all the years I actually saw them. I manage to miss out on the 1986/87 Graham Carr side but had the “To The Top” VHS tape and that was obviously a brilliant outfit. So my team is a good mix of quality and flair from about 1991 onwards. Lots of good memories mixed up with these players.

Goalkeeper: Mark Bunn.

Just a quality shot-stopper and part of, our best team since the ’60s under Stuart Gray in the late 2000s. Bunn could have played a few more games on his career but moved on to quality clubs like Aston Villa which says a lot about his ability.

Right-Back: Jason Crowe.

A well balanced, technical right-back who could get past the halfway line, unlike some, and was a joy to watch when in full flow. Had a shot on him too and added real quality, again under Stuart Gray.

Left-Back: Danny Jackman

Another of Gray’s crop, Jackman was a diminutive left-back who added calm and ability to the Cobblers side. He could play equally well in the centre of the park and possessed a wicked free-kick. Small but mighty. I couldn’t care less about how he came to leave the club personally.

CB: Ray Warburton

You have to question whether Cobblers would have had the Wembley success they did without Razor. Just a colossus at the back, a good pro and would head a brick back if you chucked it at him.

CB: Gabor Gyepes

God knows how this Hungarian international ended up at Sixfields but what a player at that level. Strong as an ox and could slow the game down when needed. Another blink and you’ll miss it sort of talent and left too soon. Class act.

RM: Micky Bell

I’m sure Ricky Holmes will make a few “best of” teams as a winger but for me Bell was more of an out and out winger. Chalk on your boot’s winger from the County Ground days, he went on to a good career with Wycombe and Bristol City. Versatile.

CM: Efon Elad

If I said Elad was the best player to ever put on a Cobblers shirt could anyone argue? This “bottle of fizzy pop” burst onto the County Ground scene for a short time in the 1990’s and it could have been Maradona gracing the turf. Great control ran like Forest Gump and apparently wore shorts and a bomber jacket in Ritzy’s according to folklore which is even better. 10/10 for me.

CM: John-Joe O’Toole

You’d have to say Bradley Johnson was a better player but there’s an emotional connection between JJOT and the fans due to the Sixfields “Missing Millions” years. He was always really kind and into the stuff, we did for him for the Teyn Brand. Lovely fella. Phil Garlick saw him on the train wearing trackie bottoms and a vest so my centre-midfield is unbeatable sartorially.

LM: Michael Jacobs

One of the best “one of our own’s” the Cobblers have ever produced and a winger with true quality. Scored another of the best ever goals at Sixfields v Shrewsbury where he traversed a bobbly pitch and curled a worldy in from 30 yards. We need to keep players like him if we have dreams of higher divisions. Crackers were mustard.

CF: Poul Hubertz.

How can you not pick this man after hearing the stories about him from Andy Holt on the WALOC podcasts? Took Swansea apart in 2008 and scored one of the best goals at Sixfields with an overhead kick v Forest. Never wanted to leave and they replaced him with Leon Constantine. Go figure. The Great Dane.

CF: Adebayo Akinfenwa.

They say no player is bigger than the club but Bayo got close. A talisman that galvanised the club and the supporters. Lethal finisher and far better footballer than people give him credit. Still bemused why he didn’t start at Wembley.

I said to Tom if you can’t fit them all into a team of 11 you can have a bench and here’s what he said;

Andy Woodman. For a club that was more about a team effort, Woody wasn’t half a superstar for Cobblers under Atkins with his blonde hair. Another one that gave the Town a real backbone and was another good shot-stopper. Good times.

Steve Brown. A thoroughbred midfielder who did the business for the Cobblers during some tough times. Born under the floodlights of the County Ground he went on to play in an FA Cup Semi-Final for Wycombe. A real thinker of the game, now in charge of talent ID for Arsenal it’s a shame he hasn’t been utilised by the Cobblers in a senior coaching role.

Hildeberto Pereira. Let’s face it you could play this Portuguese maestro anywhere and he would destroy the opposition or get sent off. Possibly both. Probably had no idea where he was when he ended up at Sixfields under Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink but showed that he had the ability to burn. For some reason only played about 2 games but should have started every game up top. Wind him up and let him go. Now playing in the Portugal Primeira Liga and there are not many ex-Cobblers you can say that about.

I would like to thank Tom for his time, Make sure you go and check out his podcast https://shows.acast.com/what-a-load-of-cobblers/