Sixfields Stadium: Northampton Town
By Dwadfish at English Wikipedia [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
From the team’s formation in 1897 until 1994, Northampton Town played their home games at the County Ground, a stadium they shared with the town’s cricket club. It was decided in the mid-1990s that they needed their own space, so a purpose built ground was constructed in the Sixfields area of Northampton.
The Cobblers have enjoyed a mixed history. Their major claim to fame is that they hold the record for the shortest amount of time needed to be promoted from the bottom tier of English football to the top tier and then back down again. It was a feat they achieved in just nine years, but doubtless a record they would prefer not to hold.
Stats
| Sixfields Stadium Stats | |
|---|---|
| Year Opened | 1994 |
| Capacity | 7798 |
| Average Attendance | 6842 |
| Record Attendance | 7798 (Northampton v Manchester United (21/092016)) |
| Pitch Size | 106 x 65 (6890 |
| Owner | Northampton Town F.C. |
| Clubs Hosted | Northampton Town, Coventry City |
| First Fixture | Northampton Town v Barnet (15/10/1994) |
| Northampton Town Stats | |
|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1897 |
| Nickname | The Cobblers |
| Club Mascot | Clarence the Dragon |
| Rivals | Peterborough United, Milton Keynes Dons, Barnet |
| Previous Stadiums | County Ground |
| Kit | Maroon & White (Home) / White & Maroon (Away) |
| Training Ground | Moulton College |
| Shirt Sponsor | University of Northampton |
| Team Owner | Kelvin Thomas |
| Record Goalscorer | Jack English (143) |
| Record Appearances | Tommy Fowler (552) |
Sixfields Stadium Photos
By Matt Churchill (Northampton - SixfieldsUploaded by Kafuffle) [CC BY 2.0]
Credit: Ian Rob
Sixfields Stadium Seating Plan and Where to Sit
The Dave Bowen North Stand is behind one of the goals and named after the club’s ex player and manager, while The East Stand is the family section. The South Stand is where the away fans are housed and The West Stand is the largest section of the stadium and houses the club offices and supporters bar.
Northampton Town Ticket Prices
It’s all nice and simple at Sixfields, with one price for every seat in the stadium. The only thing that will affect the cost is your age and whether or not you book in advance. If you do it will save you the princely sum of £1.00. Prices are as follow:
- Adults: £24.00
- Concessions: £20.00
How To Get Northampton Town Tickets
Tickets are available via the club’s official website, over the phone, from the ticket office at the ground and from the club shop.
Where to Buy
Getting To Sixfields Stadium
Train – Northampton Town Train Station is about two miles from the ground.
Bus – Numerous buses run from Northampton town centre to near to the ground and should only take about 20 minutes.
Car – From the South leave the M1 at Junction 15A and get on the A43 until you see the ground. From the North leave it at Junction 16 and take the A45 until you see it.
By Air – London Luton Airport is about 34 miles away from Northampton and Birmingham International is just under 40 miles away.
Taxi – Getting a cab from the train station to the ground will take just under ten minutes and cost about £8.
Parking Near Sixfields Stadium
There are two car parks at the ground that you can use for about £5.
Useful Resources
- Parking - Just Park
Sixfields Stadium Hotels
Need somewhere to lay your head before the match? Try one of these:
ibis Northampton Centre - £50+
Northampton Marriott Hotel - £60+
Hilton Northampton - £80+
Pubs and Bars Near Sixfields Stadium
It’s slim pickings close to the ground, but Northampton itself has some cracking little pubs. Take your pick from the below:
T.G.I. Friday's
Tenpin Northampton
The Malt Shovel Tavern
Facilities
Sixfields was built in the mid 90s so it is around 30 years old now and showing its age. You will probably get wet if its raining even though the stands are covered, but you can get something to eat and drink and there are plenty of loos.
Prices
- Programme: £3
- Pie: £3.3
- Cup of tea: £2.2
- Beer: £3.6
Hospitality
The 1897 Suite offers a decent dining experience as well as the opportunity to watch the man of the match presentation. There will also be a match day host to keep you entertained and seats from which to enjoy the game in the West stand. The other option is the Cobblers Lounge, which is smaller, and comes with premium seating, refreshments, a room host, and a matchday programme.
Private Hire
The 1897 Suite is also available for event hire, with corporate days commonly held there.
Stadium Tours & Museum
Tours aren’t readily available but do come with some hospitality packages and are also run for kids groups occasionally too. Contact them directly to try and arrange something. If there are a group of you they may just run something for you.
About Northampton Town
Formed in 1897 when a meeting between the town’s schoolteachers and a solicitor resulted in the decision that it needed a football club, Northampton Town has had a long-term rivalry with nearby Peterborough United and, more recently, both Rushden & Diamonds and Oxford United.
The Cobblers, so named because of Northampton’s shoe-making industry, have played only one season of top-flight football, which occurred in 1965-1966. George Best once scored a double hat-trick against the team when they played Manchester United in the FA Cup in 1970.
Sixfields Stadium History
Sixfields is actually a sports venue, rather than just a football ground. Next to the stadium is an athletics area that regularly holds athletic meets. It was originally scheduled to open for the start of the 1994-1995 season but numerous delays meant that it wasn’t opened until October of that year, meaning The Cobblers had to play their opening games at their old stadium, the County Ground.
There have been numerous attempts to expand the stadium, including a 2003 proposal to double the capacity to around 15,000. It didn’t work out because of complications over the application. The East Stand started undergoing redevelopment in 2014, but financial problems stopped them from continuing until new owners bought the club in 2016. At the time of writing it is still only half finished.
Future Developments
The continued development of The East Stand has been painfully slow. It has been held up by legal questions surrounding the sale of some land around the ground. However, plans are now in place to have it finished by March 2025, taking the total capacity to 8,200.