I look back at the 2013 play offs semi finals when the Cobblers beat Cheltenham 2-0 to get to Wembley. Here’s a look back at that team and where they are now.
Lee Nichols – MK Dons
On 6 August 2012, Nicholls signed on loan for the Cobblers until the end of October 2012, and later re-signed on 6 November 2012 until the end of the 2012–13 season.
On 5 May 2013, Nicholls competed for Northampton Town in the play-off semi-final second leg v Cheltenham. In total, Nicholls made 51 appearances for Northampton Town, achieving 20 clean sheets before returning to Wigan. On 11 September 2015, Nicholls joined side for Bristol Rovers on a three-month loan.
In 2016 Nicholls joined Cobblers neighbours, MK Dons. He signed a two year deal, he made his debut in August 2016, featuring in a 3-2 win over Newport County in the League Cup.
In 2017 Nicholls took the Number One shirt and signed a new deal to keep him at MK Dons until June 2020.
Nathan Cameron – Macclesfield Town
on loan until the end of the season on 26 March 2013.[29] Cameron made his Northampton Town debut three days later on 29 March 2013, coming on as a substitute bench for Chris Hackett in the 86th minutes, in a 1–0 win over Torquay United. After making two starts in both legs against the Robins in the semi–final play–offs, which Northampton Town won 2–0 on aggregate. Cameron played the whole match of the Play-off final defeat to Bradford City .Despite this, Northampton Town were keen on signing Cameron, but the move was later withdrawn.
When Cameron left the Cobblers he joined relegated Bury in 2013 signing a 2 year contract. Cameron made his Bury debut, playing in the central–midfielder, in a 2–0 loss against Chesterfield in the opening game of the season.
He was released by Bury at the end of the 2017–18 season. Former manager David Flitcroft gave Cameron a trial at Mansfield Town in the 2018 close season, however he was injured in the friendly match with Derby County.
On 16 November 2018, Cameron joined Macclesfield Town on a two-month deal.
Lee Collins – Yeovil Town
Collins joined League Two club Mansfield Town in June 2015, with “Stags” manager Adam Murray praising his ability and experience, saying that “To bring Lee in to the building is a big one for us”. He made 38 appearances across the 2015-16 campaign after recovering from a foot injury picked up in pre-season. He was appointed club captain in January and went on to sign a new contract in the summer.[48] He was released by Mansfield at the end of the 2016- 2017 season, having made 44 appearances to help Mansfield to a 12th-place finish.
In May 2017, Collins joined Forest Green Rovers on a two-year contract to become the club’s first signing following their promotion from non league into the English Football League. He scored two goals in 48 appearances over the 2017-18 campaign to help the Green to a 21st-place finish. He missed much of the 2018-19 season with a long-term injury, but returned to fitness in time to feature in both legs of the play-off semi-final defeat to Tranmere He was released by Forest Green Rovers at the end of the 2018–19 season
On 26 June 2019, Collins signed a two-year contract with newly-relegated Yeovil Town. Marc Richards also joking Yeovil in 2019.
Clarke Carlisle – Retired
On 19 November 2012, Carlisle re-signed for Northampton on loan until January 2013, when he would sign permanently, having made 14 appearances for York. He made his second debut the following day in Northampton’s 3–0 home win over Morecambe. After making five appearances on loan, Carlisle completed his permanent move to Northampton on a one-and-a-half year contract on 4 January 2013. He played for Northampton in their 3–0 defeat to Bradford in the play off final at Wembley Stadium on 18 May 2013.
On 23 May 2013, Carlisle announced his retirement from playing.
Ben Tozer – Cheltenham
On 19 June 2015, Tozer signed for Yeovil Town on a one-year deal. Upon signing for the club, Tozer was given a number two shirt ahead of a new season.
On 4 July 2016, Tozer rejected Yeovil’s offer of a new contract,[50] and signed for fellow League Two side Newport County on a one-year deal. Upon joining the club, Tozer was given a number twelve shirt for a new season.
On 24 May 2018, it was announced that Tozer had declined a contract extension at Newport and signed for Cheltenham Town after his Newport contract had expired.
Ishmel Demontagnac – Retired
After his release from Notts County, Demontagnac signed a two-year contract with the Cobblers and joined them on 1 July 2012.[31] He scored his first goal for Northampton in an FA Cup tie against Bradford on 13 November 2012. His first league goal came against Morecambe on 20 November 2012. On 31 January 2014, Demontagnac had his contract terminated.
Luke Guttridge – Dagenham and Redbridge
Guttridge signed for Luton on a two-year contract on 5 July 2013. He was played in an advanced creative midfielder role for much of the 2013 -14 season scoring 13 goals and assisting 9 others in 32 league games, making him one of the most effective performers as Luton won the Conference Premier title and with it promotion to the Football league.
Guttridge signed a one-and-a-half-year contract with League Two club Dagenham and Redbridge two days after his release by Luton.[30] He was restricted to just three appearances, scoring once in 2015-16 due to injury
Chris Hackett –
On 14 January 2016, it was announced that Hackett had joined Barnet on loan until the end of the 2015–16 season. He made five appearances for the Bees but suffered an injury in February and did not play agin before his loan ended.
Having earned his UEFA B badge, Hackett joined Oxford United as under-15s coach in September 2016. In December 2017 his coaching at Oxford turned full-time, as he was offered the role of joint Youth Team manager, alongside Leon Blackmore Such, filling the vacancy left by Andy Whing’s move to coach Kidderminster Harriers’ under-23 side.
Ben Harding – Truro City
On 13 July 2013, Harding signed for Torquay United on a two-year contract, becoming Alan Knill’s fifth signing of the summer.
On 28 July 2017, Harding signed for Truro City on a one-year contract, becoming Lee Hodges’s second signing of the summer after Ben Gerring’s release from Torquay United. On 8 August 2018, Harding was appointed interim manager of Truro, following Lee Hodges resignation.
Roy O’Donovan – Newcastle Jets FC
After previously rejecting a contract after initial talks in January, O’Donovan signed a contract with Brunei DPMM FC in February 2014 as their marquee player in the Singapore S.League.
In February 2015, he was signed by Mitra Kukar of the Indonesian Super League. Having enjoyed success in Asia the previous season scoring 26 goals in 35 games in the Singapore S.League in all competitions with Brunei DPMM. He was to spend only two months in Indonesia due the newly formed Indonesian Super League (ISL) being scrapped by FIFA regarding ongoing issues with the football association of Indonesia.
On 30 May 2015, the Central Coast Mariners announced that they had signed O’Donovan to a 2-season contract.
On 19 April 2017, O’Donovan signed a two-year contract with another A-League team, the Newcastle Jets.
Adebayo Akinfenwa – Wycombe Wanders
Akinfenwa re-signed for Gillingham on a free transfer on 2 July 2013.
On 20 June 2014, he signed for League Two side AFC Wimbledon who had pursued his signature for 14 months.[33] In the third round of the FA Cup on 5 January 2015, in which AFC Wimbledon hosted Liverpool Akinfenwa equalised against the club he supports, albeit in a 1–2 defeat.
Following his departure from AFC Wimbledon, Akinfenwa signed for Wycombe initially on a one-year contract.
In April 2018, he was nominated for the EFL League Two Player of the Season award.
In May 2019 he was offered a new contract by Wycombe, which he accepted on 12 June.