January 1999

Cobblers Comments

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Ray at 22:40:37 Sunday January 31 99
Sorry Ben - but I refuse to go to a site that (A) downloads what I have on my hard disk and (B) consistently hangs my computer. Care to explain?

ben at 20:46:38 Sunday January 31 99
nagers, rubbish and dire's site is higher than this one in the top 100, this means war! my por old site is never gonna get any higher than 76 is it............. YOU GUYS CAN CHANGE THAT!!!! (http://members.tripod.com/~sturgess/ntfc/) i know i havent updated it in a while (too busy alevels!) but the screen saver is there.... and you can tell me what you think of wilko......

The Luton Cobbler at 20:21:39 Sunday January 31 99
Fair comment Ralph. The thing is that everybody knows the players aren't to blame, otherwise they would get a hell of a lot more grief on Saturday afternoon. Their moral must be rock bottom and dictatorship is no way to improve it. Atkins' only knows one way to play and whilst the players that have come in probably are technically better, the style has not changed. The bottom line is that he has taken the club as far as he can. As much as i hate them, fair play to the Colchester manager for admiting as much and going. Unfortunately Atkins is too blind to see this and too stubborn to admit it.

Anon at 20:9:34 Sunday January 31 99
WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?

The Angry Cobbler at 20:6:26 Sunday January 31 99
I don't think Atkins has respect for anyone. He smirked at me after the game, the players all dislike him and all of the fans are sick of him. I feel he has done his best but he should be allowed to go now before we go down. I also think that the line has to be drawn as regarding players. We have a squad of 28 or 29 and we shouldn't be buying players all of the time. If anything, we should sell. Mr Atkins, why don't you transfer list these players: Sean Parrish, Paul Wilkinson, Tony Dobson and Christian Lee. We have too many strikers, Parrish hasn't performed in the second division and Dobson is no cop at all. Who thinks Ray should bring back the quizlet?

Ralph at 19:48:44 Sunday January 31 99
Luton Cobbler - That's my point I can sit here and write exactly what I like with no come back. To do that would be a bit cowardly so I try to temper my feelings with a bit of reason. I know the Club read these pages. It would do the players no good at all to be singled out particularly at the present time. And I'm not prepared to listen to arguments that they are professionals, so is anyone that gets paid for working and we all have feelings. From what I can gather half our problems are from constant bollockings. How does that affect our perfomance in our jobs when we get bollocked, particularly if we feel it is unjust?

Ralph at 19:39:40 Sunday January 31 99
Times are so tough, but not as tough as they are now . . . . . We must really get behind the team from here on in. Partly the reason we survived the drop at Shrewsbury was down to the magnificent support from us fans. We cannot let personalities get in the way. Get behind the team and no better place to start than on Saturday against Blackpool. I hope the Gaffer is at the game tomorrow night and selects the team for Saturday on current form and commitment. With players like Hill, Sampson, Howey and Frain in defence and players of the talent of Hunter, Savage and Hunt in midfield and unquestionable flair and quality of forwards like Seal, Clarke and Corrazin I see no other result than an emphatic Cobblers win. Crikey we will still have quality like Gibb, Warner, Hope, Freestone, Spedding, et. al. on the bench. COME ON GAFFER YOU KNOW IT MAKES SENSE!

Ralph at 19:39:27 Sunday January 31 99
Times are so tough, but not as tough as they are now . . . . . We must really get behind the team from here on in. Partly the reason we survived the drop at Shrewsbury was down to the magnificent support from us fans. We cannot let personalities get in the way. Get behind the team and no better place to start than on Saturday against Blackpool. I hope the Gaffer is at the game tomorrow night and selects the team for Saturday on current form and commitment. With players like Hill, Sampson, Howey and Frain in defence and players of the talent of Hunter, Savage and Hunt in midfield and unquestionable flair and quality of forwards like Seal, Clarke and Corrazin I see no other result than an emphatic Cobblers win. Crikey we will still have quality like Gibb, Warner, Hope, Freestone, Spedding, et. al. on the bench. COME ON GAFFER YOU KNOW IT MAKES SENSE!

Ralph at 19:39:22 Sunday January 31 99
Times are so tough, but not as tough as they are now . . . . . We must really get behind the team from here on in. Partly the reason we survived the drop at Shrewsbury was down to the magnificent support from us fans. We cannot let personalities get in the way. Get behind the team and no better place to start than on Saturday against Blackpool. I hope the Gaffer is at the game tomorrow night and selects the team for Saturday on current form and commitment. With players like Hill, Sampson, Howey and Frain in defence and players of the talent of Hunter, Savage and Hunt in midfield and unquestionable flair and quality of forwards like Seal, Clarke and Corrazin I see no other result than an emphatic Cobblers win. Crikey we will still have quality like Gibb, Warner, Hope, Freestone, Spedding, et. al. on the bench. COME ON GAFFER YOU KNOW IT MAKES SENSE!

Kingsthorpe Cobbler at 19:39:16 Sunday January 31 99
Several points about Saturday's games - firstly Atkins "smirks" & looks away when the mounties coach pulls up along side the team bus in H'smith. The rest of the team looked like they were on their way to grannie's funeral. Before the match our team warm up was a strange cross of musical chairs & ritual shagging ! By the end of the game there was a group of Northampton followers at each others throats over the "Atkins" question - for the first time that I can remember the cobblers faithful are now divided - thanks for that Ian. Meanwhile the man himself walks off the pitch looking like the cat thats got the cream - . Is this bloke for real ? - personally I think he's taking this piss - what somebody should remind him (and pretty soon) is that this club was saved from extinction not so long ago - by the very people that he is now showing such contempt for. The only comfort that we can take from all this shit is that we will still be here - long after he is gone.

Ralph at 19:38:42 Sunday January 31 99
Times are so tough, but not as tough as they are now . . . . . We must really get behind the team from here on in. Partly the reason we survived the drop at Shrewsbury was down to the magnificent support from us fans. We cannot let personalities get in the way. Get behind the team and no better place to start than on Saturday against Blackpool. I hope the Gaffer is at the game tomorrow night and selects the team for Saturday on current form and commitment. With players like Hill, Sampson, Howey and Frain in defence and players of the talent of Hunter, Savage and Hunt in midfield and unquestionable flair and quality of forwards like Seal, Clarke and Corrazin I see no other result than an emphatic Cobblers win. Crikey we will still have quality like Gibb, Warner, Hope, Freestone, Spedding, et. al. on the bench. COME ON GAFFER YOU KNOW IT MAKES SENSE!

THeLuton Cobbler at 19:34:52 Sunday January 31 99
Come on Ralph, name names! Over the last few weeks it could be one of many

Ralph at 19:24:59 Sunday January 31 99
The pressure really is on individuals to perform and it will be interesting to see from here on in who gets the nod. It was evident that the players who did perform well at Fulham were the more experienced; Hill, Savage, Clarke, Frain and Sampson were pick of the bunch. That said one youngster who has shown he can rise to the occasion and is not phased by adverse pressure is James Hunt. Surely he must get a game soon. Half our problem stems from not being able to keep the ball. The current midfield is not providing quality ball to the forwards and the current front line is not holding the ball up. Mentioning no names but our centre forward can trap a ball further than I can kick it!

Ralph at 19:16:30 Sunday January 31 99
Interesting to hear the Gaffer's comments about the InterNet page. It is very easy to begin unsolicited rumours, just as much as it is to blame these pages for a player leaving. I know why Woody left, do you Gaffer?

Ralph at 19:13:18 Sunday January 31 99
The youngsters that the gaffer is being 'forced' to play are looking very disheartened. I know it's an old chestnut but insisting on playing Chris Lee in front of David Seal under these circumstances is ludicrous. Massive credit has to go to Seal who turns in quality performances in the reserves, his head never drops and he is full of commitment and running. Atkins wants experience yet it is on his own doorstep.

Ralph at 19:7:58 Sunday January 31 99
Just popped in to work a few minutes and have spent the last twenty reading up on the comments. For those of you who think playing Michael Warner will save our season, think again. It will take much more than that! It was very noticeable how hard it was for the travelling fans to get behind the team yesterday. Again there were too many lack lustre performances by certain individuals.

Bill at 18:24:57 Sunday January 31 99
Also BTW - Atkins out. The bloke is a complete nutter.

Bill at 18:23:53 Sunday January 31 99
Anyone think that the ceefax Cobblers page is a bit..er..crap? And btw, glory hunter and Mr. Posh - why not f*** off back to the dustbins?

*R* at 17:32:55 Sunday January 31 99
OK. Point taken.

John Mcrirrick at 17:32:28 Sunday January 31 99
You could be right Sid, I watched the last 10 minutes with my head in my hands so I could easily have missed Atkins tactical switch

Anon at 17:27:21 Sunday January 31 99
No, but spot on

Sid at 17:26:27 Sunday January 31 99
Yes John, agree to disagree!! We did play 4 centre backs in those positions at the end of the game, in the last 10 mins. It looked bloody awful!

*R* at 17:26:16 Sunday January 31 99
That's not very nice is it Anon.

Anon at 17:20:30 Sunday January 31 99
ATKINS OUT

John Mcrirrick at 17:18:59 Sunday January 31 99
I would like to here the basis on which supporters of Ian Atkins are defending him. I genuinely am interested. My case against Atkins is this. 1. He is a negative, not a positive manager, he says that we won't lose if we don't concede goals, I say we won't win if we don't score goals. Our defence is so unorganised that we can't continually sit back and soak up pressure, West Ham was the exception not the rule. 2. If Atkins was judged gloriously on his successes he should be judged on his failures, he wasn't arguing that he didn't deserve the praise when we were doing well. We were outplayed by Swansea at Wembley first time around, he never said we were lucky then, or that Swansea were unlucky. 3. He won't select players that he himself bought (namely Corrazin) and refuses to play the same team for two consecutive matches, even if we disagree with his opinions I would like to see him be consistent so that the team can develop and understand each other. 4. He seems to treat the fans with contempt, the instances at the last 2 away games were disgusting. 5. He seems to treat the players with contempt, I never agree with chastising in public, the good managers don't do it, Atkins always has. 6. His constant excuses, yes we have had injuries, but not to the extent he claims and when these players get fit he doesn't pick them anyway. 7. He applied for the Wolves job, was that showing loyalty. 8. We're 4 from bottom and likely to get relegated. Even the most pro Atkins supporters should consider there position at the end of Feb, if after 4 home games out of 5 we're still stuck in the relegation fight then stop accepting 2nd best. The rest of us though will go on expressing our disgust at the way he is dragging OUR team into the third.

Hartwell Cobbler at 16:56:12 Sunday January 31 99
I think we can take the comments on the fulham match from travelling fans as representative of the general and growing feeling - that atkins, for all he has done in the past, has come to the end of the road here. In fact I am forced to agree with Anon's view that atkins has already squandered far too much money and that he's likely to do the same with any more this club can find for him to spend. more worrying is the way in which team spirit seems to have eroded. It seems obvious the players have little faith in him or respect for him and are generally disillusioned with his lack of any tactical nous or desire/ability to change. He claims he has changed things. Well, I don't see anything basically different in either his formations or methods. (ie its still five at the back and lump the ball forward in hope). We've certainly got some better players here than we had two seasons ago (albeit amid the rubbish). What we haven't got is a manger who seems to have any clue how to get the best out of them. Players like Corazzin need support and decent ball in to them. They get neither from our defensive style or hoof it and run methods of play. Anyone who has watched football regularly over the years cannot fail to see watched football over the years cannot fail to see that the current problem lies squarly at the feet of the manager. And if he continues to blame the players I would remind him they are mainly onces he has selected to bring to the club. As for injuries - yes, ok. But its really a smokescreen, hiding plainer truths about the way the team is managed, selected and told to play. I would be happy to be proved wrong. But I can't see any other explanation for what's happening.

NP at 16:41:20 Sunday January 31 99
The general consensus from reading this page is that Atkins is not up to the job and should be replaced. Personally I am not a 'troublemaker', I wish no harm on the club, I only want the best for the club but I can't see a future for NTFC and Ian Atkins. What amazes me though is the reluctance of many Cobblers supporters to accept this point, I understand loyalty but misplaced nostalgia will only lead to tears. We saw under Graham Carr that just becuse you have done wonderful things for a club, this is no guarantee that you won't fail in the future and return to the lows of the past. GC stayed too long and we paid the penalty. The problem we have with Atkins is that he won't see his position untenable while the majority of fans do not voice dissaproval, neither will the board. If we sit and say nothing we will sink into the third, and don't think that we will automatically bounce back, with the resentment and lack of spirit amongst the players at the club, if Atkins stays through next season we will struggle in that division too. Look at Carlisle. There were 1500 paying loyal followers of Northampton that didn't deserve that yesterday and there will be 6000 on Saturday that will probably deserve more than they get than as well. These are hard working, paying supporters, the club wouldn't exist without them. With all our hearts we should get behind them on Saturday, but should we be treated to another illogical team selection and poor performance, we should voice our dissatisfacion AFTER the game, but not at the players at the manager.

NP at 16:26:1 Sunday January 31 99
Quiet here isn't it

John Mcrirrick at 14:2:42 Sunday January 31 99
Anyway Sid from what I could see against Lincoln we didn't play 4 centre backs, Howey was playing up front in our adventurous 5-2-3 formation.

John Mcrirrick at 13:59:11 Sunday January 31 99
Sid, You might be right but to be honest until we get to see a flat back 4 of 2 full backs and 2 centre backs we will never know but my feeling is that playing 4 midfielders in midfield gives us so many options. Our midfielders our good with the ball run hard and tackle well, with 4 we could support the attackers and protect the defence. If the midfielders don't get forward then we constantly have a situation of our 2 strikers being marked by 4 defenders !. For the system you suggest to work the winbacks have to constantly get forward, they don't at present, even when they do invariably the final ball is poor. We will probably agree to disagree, opinions is what it is all about.

Sid at 13:52:1 Sunday January 31 99
I disagree, John. It when we change to a back four it doesnt work. Take Lincoln. Atkins idea of a back four is 4 central defenders (Hope, Hill, Howey, Sampson) This also looks like a back 6 if you count Spedding and Gibb. The back 5 works if Atkins doesnt play three central defenders with Frain, Spedding and Gibb. Thats why Frain should switch to Centre back, where he play commendably. Any other formation leaves the midfield short, and we get overrun - sounds like Lincoln. We need a bloke who can sit in the hole behind the front two in this formation, like a Dozzell but much much more fitter!

A Cobbler at 13:48:58 Sunday January 31 99
When will poor old Warner get a run (sorry,game!) in a team that is crying out for someone with a bit of quality & composure on the ball Also... 5 at the back just does not work for us - we need to pack the midfield and support the strikers!!!

John Mcrirrick at 13:46:21 Sunday January 31 99
*R* The reason I don't see Warner is because I live in London, I travel to all first team games but push my luck at work on midweek games as I have to leave work at about 4. As the Reserve games are in the week I can't swing those ones though I would love to.

John Mcrirrick at 13:29:24 Sunday January 31 99
Sid, still 5 at the back, it's just not working, everyone getting in each others way, leaving the ball to each other and then no outlet when we get the ball so we give it straight back. Since razor went the organisation at the back has been awful, no natural leader in the back line, they are all playing as individuals (sometimes well) but not as a unit. It would be interesting to see stats on how many offsides won this year to last, I only remember 1 in the last 2 games.

*R* at 13:29:16 Sunday January 31 99
John M, if you want to see Warner in action why not try going to a reserve match. There's one tomorrow - NORTHAMPTON TOWN RESERVES vs. CHELSEA RESERVES. I'd check it out if I were you.

Sid at 13:15:37 Sunday January 31 99
My XI if everyone is fit is: (5-3-2) Turley, Gibb, Frain, Sampson, Hill, Spedding, Savage, Hunter, Corazzin, Clarke, Hunt. Subs: Howey, Warner, Freestone.

*R* at 13:13:24 Sunday January 31 99
John Mcrirrick, fair point but I can asure you Warner is a player with some wonderful skills.

John Mcrirrick at 12:59:26 Sunday January 31 99
Answer to *R*, forgot to put my name when I entered my team, although what I have seen of Warner I have liked, I haven't seen enough to put him into that team. I think the key to a succesful team is consistent selections where everyone knows their role that is what I have gone for their with the option of adding Warner as an attacking midfielder is neccesary, but I wouldn't argue with anyone making him their first choice. We all know though that Atkins won't pick him, my 11 was chosen with the fainest hope that Atkins could actually pick that side, at least they are players he has used before, even if some seem to be out of favour now, it's just a pipedream though I know,

*R* at 12:29:12 Sunday January 31 99
Anon, your team looks good but where's Warner?

Anon at 11:53:38 Sunday January 31 99
Can anyone answer two simple questions, for any of you that seem to be in the know am I correct in presuming that Atkins has a minimal chance of being sacked as the board seem to be completley behind him, making available more and more money for him to "strenthen" the team. To me they certainly don't seem to be about to push him. I have a feelin we are going to pay a horrible price for the loyalty and gratitude some fans and the board are showing for atkins past glories. Plenty of managers lose the plot and although it's a cliche Ian Atkins isn't bigger than NTFC. At the point where it is detrimental to NTFC for him to be here, he should go. In my opinion we reached that point probably at Yeovil being totally outplayed by a Conference side. The players obviously don't respect him, and their is little spirit in the team, yesterday they looked relieved at ONLY losing 2 nil, so did Atkins come to that. If the players won't play for him what other choice is there. My second question is what exactly was that formation yesterday, it looked suspiciously like 6-2-2 although I suppose hell call it 5-3-2. Can anyone exlain his thinking ?. Will we go to 8-1-1 next ?. For what it's worth my team to get us out of trouble is 4-4-2 Turley,Gibb,Hill,Sampson,Spedding,Hunt,Savage,Hunter,Peer,Clarke and Corrazin. Guaranteed to stay up.

The Luton Cobbler at 11:5:22 Sunday January 31 99
John Mc is totaaly correct. He really has lost the plot and all the evidence is that he does not particularly care. On the evidence of the last few weeks, where is the next point coming from? We'll score again, dont know when, don't know when.......

The Angry Cobbler at 10:58:29 Sunday January 31 99
Well said John. I shouted "Get back to Birmingham Atkins you twat" at him after the game and he just smiled like a twat. I hope we sack him today.

The Angry Cobbler at 10:56:37 Sunday January 31 99
I predict we'll beat the scum 8-0 and 5-0 next season in a victorious promotion campaign which will see us win the division by Feburary.

John Mcrirrick at 10:54:57 Sunday January 31 99
Yet Again, what a performance and what a team selection!!!. I was talking in the pub after the game with two Fulham fans who made two interesting comments, the first one was that he thought we lacked urgency, but he said how could we expect to play any better with that formation, quite astute I thought for someone seeing his first Cobblers game of the season. The second comment came after I expressed surprise that the Fulham fans didn't take the piss more during the games, he said that we were so poor it that they were almost too embarresed to really take the piss, they just felt sorry for us. I went to the game with massive optimism, knowing that we always play well against Fulham I expected a good spirited performance,at the very least a draw, once the team ran out I knew that we couldn't get anything from the game. What was that formation ?. Does he even care ? . How can you blame the players, how many consecutive games now that he has changed the front two, no wonder they look clueless, they have no understanding of each other. We can't compete by playing only two established midfielders, we are overrun, the defence get no protection, its depressing. What an astute tactical substitution when we are 1 nil down, the only thing he can muster up is to take off a central defender and put on another one. Nobody actually played badly yesterday, just as well as they could in the circumstances. I would plead with all the fans to leave the players alone, it's not their fault. Atkins is the problem quite simply. Although we are easily good enough to survive if he is still the manager in May we will be relegated. And as for laughing at the Cobblers fans as he walked off, if thats what he thinks of us why are there still fans defending him.

*R* at 9:45:43 Sunday January 31 99
Why oh why didn't Atkins play Warner again yesterday? Doesn't he realise he's the most skilled player on the Cobblers' books?!

Ray at 23:43:9 Saturday January 30 99
Which is more that Sh*tborough are Mr. Posh!

Nigel Wickens at 22:23:33 Saturday January 30 99
Hi

Mr Posh at 22:12:5 Saturday January 30 99
The bell continues to toll........you're on your way.

P***ed off at 21:59:11 Saturday January 30 99
We were frankly outclassed today. Not surprising given the quality of Fulham players. What was unforgiveable however was just having 1 shot at goal in the whole game, and that was a very speculative effort from way out. Atkins must go. We'll be playing R&D next season, without doubt.

Sid at 21:56:3 Saturday January 30 99
Anyone up for a chat come to http://members.xoom.com/cobblers now! and discuss Ian Atkins future........

Sid at 21:55:8 Saturday January 30 99
Yep, it seemed like a poor performance again. I cannot understand his team selection though! Lee in front of Freestone!?!?! On the radio his name was mentioned twice in the whole match!!! Did he bring on Freestone or Hunt in the end??

The Angry Cobbler at 20:26:55 Saturday January 30 99
Well, we were beaten by a more skilful, committed side who worked hard and showed us up for the fops we are. We were bloody awful until about 20 minutes from the end when we were going to lose anyway. TWO CHANCES IN 90 MINUTES? After playing like that we deserve to go down. At the end of the game I clapped the players and shouted "Get back to Birmingham" at Atkins who just smiled like a moron. I don't see any way out for us now with the way we're playing. Then on the train home I speak to this bloke who's best mates with Carlo who said he wants out already. ATKINS, GET OUT NOW! My man-of-the-match: Colin Hill My Not-man-of-the-match: Ian Atkins.

Barry Stonhill at 19:33:35 Saturday January 30 99
I think it's time I took over this club.

Paddington Cobbler at 19:1:45 Saturday January 30 99
Got back from this afternoon's game and I'm sorry to say that it was another poor showing from the Cobblers. Fulham dominated the first half - I'd reckon they had possession at least 80% of the time, moving the ball around on the ground with nice build-up work. Fortunately their finishing skills were pretty bad, hence only the 1-0 scoreline at halftime. Hayles' goal was a scrambled affair in front of the goalmouth after a lot of confusion in our defence. Cobblers played their typical game of hoofing the ball down the field to no-one in particular. Our best chance in the first half came when Savage got the ball in the Fulham half and just kept running with it ... he was brought down just in front of the penalty area. We squandered the free kick which bounced harmlessly off the wall. The second half saw a livelier Cobblers. The team seemed to be trying that bit harder and created a few more chances; we looked a lot better when we passed the ball around rather than booting it upfield. The best opportunity came when Clarke received the ball on the half-turn and hit a very hard shot on goal (which surprised all of us) but brought a great save from the Fulham goalie. Clarke was doing a lot of work during the game, running and going for the ball, but rarely getting any decent balls from midfield. Colin Hill did a good job in defence - the scoreline could have been worse without his tireless efforts. The second Fulham goal came from a corner. Typically all our men dropped back, but were unable to stop Albert heading in the cross. Yes, all in all it was a pretty lacklustre display from the team. The lads tried hard but the Fulham team was a classier outfit (despire the poor finishing). Some of the fans jeered Atkins as he left the field. He just smiled. The Cobblers: Turley, Hill, Sampson, Gibb, Howey (replaced by Hope), Savage, Spedding, Frain, Peer, Lee, Clarke.

The Luton Cobbler at 18:56:44 Saturday January 30 99
Just got back. Another toothless performance against an exceptionally good Fulham. It doesn't help playing against 13 men though. Hayles miles off side for the first goal. Totally over run in midfield and abolutely nothing created at all. Those that stayed away, made the right choice. See we're now in a relegation spot. Can't see any evidence today that we'll move from there.

hartwell cobbler at 18:8:53 Saturday January 30 99
vegas cobbler - hunter is again having problems with the knee which was recently operated on. parrish also having recurring knee problems. well, so much for my optimism - today's loss drops us into the bottom four - below notts county. while we have 12 home games to play, our record anywhere (home or away) does not bode well. cannot comment on today's performance as i didn't go to craven cottage because wife and i are going out in 15 mins. no doubt we should get some reports shortly from fans who did travel. from what i could gather on radio n'pton we were over-run particularly in first 20 mins. we only appeared to have one shot on goal - that a long range effort.

Vegas Cobbler at 17:2:38 Saturday January 30 99
Can anyone say why Roy Hunter wasn't playing today - was he injured?

Ray at 16:50:52 Saturday January 30 99
.....and Woodman let in 4 goals - lol!

Ray at 16:49:43 Saturday January 30 99
If it makes any of you feel better - Poppies, Diamonds and Saints also all lost.

Ray at 16:48:39 Saturday January 30 99
Cobblers lose for the first time to Fulham under Ian Atkins managership - going down 2-0 at Craven Cottage.

Sid at 16:45:17 Saturday January 30 99
I have been listening to this on the radio and it surely has to be one of the worst performances of the season. It's ended 2-0, just now and Atkins team selection didn't help.

Vegas Cobbler at 16:33:4 Saturday January 30 99
Unfortunately we're now 2-0 down (Albert after 70 mins). Although it looks as though we'll slip into a relegation place as things stand if you look at the league table (relegation fears) we have far more home games to play than our rivals. This might just save us....let's keep praying!!

Richard at 16:0:16 Saturday January 30 99
Fulham 1-0 up!!!! Hayles scored on 18 minutes

deborah at 10:35:4 Saturday January 30 99
ralph=i have dropped my cap locks now will you tell me??????? please???

Amanda at 10:13:58 Saturday January 30 99
Why did we sell Woddy??? maybe someday i'll understand

Anon at 9:18:31 Saturday January 30 99
Why is Seal on a free,Wilkinson when he`s fit can`t match him for pace skill heading abillty or any other aspect of the game I care to think of.The only person with anything good to say about Wilko is IA what can he see that 5000 others can`t. Basically he can`t run, jump, head or kick the ball effectively anymore, thank god he`s not playing today ,at least we will have 11 players out there, not 10 with 1 passenger. I say give Seal a run in the team i.e. the same chance that`s been given to Wilko I`d bet he`ll score more than 1 goal in as many games. Can`t get to Fulham today, i¬m working but good luck cobblers I forecast a 1-1 draw Sampson scoring.

Dave at 1:38:57 Saturday January 30 99
My heart skipped this week when Radio 5 mentioned IA - I was sure they were about to say he'd been sacked, but it was only a continuance of the sideline fracas. I give him four matches. Shit, if someone said something facile about Woody and he left then the shit that has been spread about IA means he has to go.

os at 1:7:53 Saturday January 30 99
win

Ossie at 0:53:57 Saturday January 30 99
We're gonna have trouble tomorrow, although I don't really know whats going on at the moment, not seeing a game since Wycombe (H), what I do know is, we should have kept the talismanic Razor, and getting rid of Woody is nothing short of criminal.

Upset Cobbler at 0:37:26 Saturday January 30 99
Upset cos' none of me mates wanna go to Fulahm. We've all been there for as long as I can remember and always done well. Now ive been dumped. huh. BTW Pharoah & Firkin has been known to turn you away if you're a cobbler (as has that one near Putney Bridge). But if my memory serves me right that tends to happen after we WIN. COME ON THE COBBLERS.

Ray at 23:20:6 Friday January 29 99
.... and Im currently sitting all on me own in #cobblers...

Ray at 23:17:28 Friday January 29 99
Ah! He musta been blaming me then Robert - lol

The Angry Cobbler at 22:48:44 Friday January 29 99
SuperBrum's right, you can't have 11 passers but you can have 11 players who are comfortable with passing. It's a shame no one said that to him.

The Angry Cobbler at 22:43:14 Friday January 29 99
Does anyone think Atkins will get the boot if we don't win tommorow! Prediction: 2-2 (Freestone with a brace) and Atkins sacked at 12:00 on Sunday.

Robert Dunkley at 22:37:16 Friday January 29 99
Sid You missed me interrogate IA. I asked him about team selection, i.e whether it is on the basis of skill or personal reasons. He made it quite clear that he selects the team on the basis of the best team to field agaisnt the opposition!?? He blamed "sad characters" on the Net for rumours, and said they played a part in losing a favourite goalkeeper!! He said though that I am not accusing you of rumour starting. I said about the better quality of players and no change in the tactics in the few games I have seen this season, he said that there was a change and I had not seen enough games!! He also said you cannot have eleven passers in a team, and that Andy Morrow is more likely to figure next season, as he needs someone with strength to play along side him.

The Angry Cobbler at 22:24:3 Friday January 29 99
Team for tommorow v Fulham: (5-3-2) Turley, Gibb, Spedding, Sammo, Hill, Frain, Hunter, Savage, Clarke, Corazzin or Seal, Parrish. Subs: Freestone, Howey, Warner.

Sid at 21:56:31 Friday January 29 99
A chat forum??? yyyaaaaaayyyyy!!!! Hang on, is someone trying to say the chat room on my site is not very good............!!!!!! (LOL) Has anyone been there yet??

Sid at 21:54:32 Friday January 29 99
Did anyone hear Atkins speak on the radio?? I want to know what he had to say for himself! and also GTA. If anyone hasn't guessed for this week (Fulham [A]) and would like to, please mail me with your name and Attendance guess before 2:30pm tomorrow.

Sid at 21:41:7 Friday January 29 99
oooohhhh!!!!! Fulham here we come. I have been thinking about this game and I am so positive! I really do think a 3-1 win is on the cards! Calarke should finally score a cracker aswell. Also, I haven't been receiving any mailing list E-mails. Is this the case for everyone??

Ray at 21:8:31 Friday January 29 99
Channel #cobblers is now open for business. The bot on permanent duty is madcow - so if thats all theres there when u arrive - then u are on your own.

BAKA at 18:53:20 Friday January 29 99
I've just looked at Ceefax and it says that Atkins is lining up a £200k bid for Steve Torpey, who said things couldn't get worse.

Wilf at 18:23:38 Friday January 29 99
Perhaps we can all just join hands for a moment? Remember the power of positive thinking. I urge you all to think of only happy and positive thoughts from now until the final whistle. Give the team the finest support tomorrow. See you all there.

adam at 18:14:53 Friday January 29 99
having seen horsfield last season i can say he's ok, but better than crap like wilkenson who plays for you. i would guess your main chance is to hack at either hayles, horsfield for than canadian bloke so they get injured.

Paul S at 16:43:2 Friday January 29 99
We usually do well at Fulham because we stick ti the IA gameplan, defend well and score on the break. If we leave holes at the back we will get torn apart. Playing against the league leaders is no time to change the system, especially since it has delivered against them in the past. Its not going to be pretty, but lets hope its going to be effective.

hartwell cobbler at 16:31:43 Friday January 29 99
I have this sneaking feeling we might get a result tomorrow. there's never a good time to play fulham. but they come off the back of several hard cup and league games. they have a winning streak going - and that's always there to be broken! and we usually do well at craven cottage. having said that, much depends on atkins tactics. if he's prepared to play a positive formaton, attack in numbers, play the ball on the ground to feet and get it wide, we may surprise them. if we do get three points (which i fervently hope) it may paper over the cracks. but it will not change my long-term views about atkins - unless he can prove he's willing to admit his mistakes and make the changes to our style of play which many of us believe are necessary.

SBJ at 15:52:28 Friday January 29 99
I couldn't resist . . . I like a good complaint.

Ray at 15:5:24 Friday January 29 99
If anyone else would care to join in the compliants then the email address is webmaster@st-pauls.org.uk - please copy any mail to me so I have a note.

Ra at 15:2:25 Friday January 29 99
Sorry folks - I had to temporaily take the site off line. All the crap has now been deleted and a mail sent to the webmaster at St. Pauls asking for appropriate action to be taken.

SBJ at 13:46:41 Friday January 29 99
I take it St.Paul's is some kind of local institution for the criminally unoccupied (cf. the addresses of recent messagees immediately below)?

Anon at 13:45:4 Friday January 29 99
and think of the time some people take leaving their pointless messages (young master Jeffary for example). Perhaps some junior school pupils need to be more closely watched in their ICT lessons?

Phil at 13:39:50 Friday January 29 99
Who are these idiots leaving stupid and inapropriate messages?

lincoln cobbler at 13:23:44 Friday January 29 99
irc net is good - however dreamnet is small and reliablew plus they have a chanserv that protects channels from takeovers and the like. I also know most of the admins. But the final choice is down to you.

Ray at 13:19:43 Friday January 29 99
I was thinking about setting it up on ircnet - so it was less hassle for people to log in.

lincoln cobbler at 13:18:18 Friday January 29 99
if you want to sort this out ray mail me at t.j.head@bgc.ac.uk

lincoln cobbler at 13:11:18 Friday January 29 99
channel #cobblers

lincoln cobbler at 13:10:57 Friday January 29 99
the server is telehouse.uk.eu.dreamnet.org

Ray at 13:9:46 Friday January 29 99
Yep - I can do that - I can also put a bot in to keep the channel open.

lincoln cobber at 13:7:33 Friday January 29 99
ray i use Mirc and have friends that run and extremelly fast irc network. Would you be interested in starting up a channel on there?

Ray at 13:1:32 Friday January 29 99
Re: chat. by far the best way of doing it is for people to load mirc or pirch - then we could set up a real time chat room without all that java crap. If you are interested then just post here. If you require eithe rof the programs then you can download then FOC from TUCOWS.

Pete Moore at 12:8:5 Friday January 29 99
It looks as thought this year it will be a battle of relegation rather than promotion, once again from Princes to Paupers!!!! Also i've noticed dwindling support on the home front. I mean come on I know that things are not going that well but we need all the support we can get i come from Romford in Essex and spread the gospel of the cobbs and attend ALL the home matches. Also we need all the money we can too obviously since they've sold another quality player, Woody. Up the Cobbs!!! Pete Moore The Romford Cobbler

lincoln cobbler at 12:1:11 Friday January 29 99
Ray - you ever thought of putting a java link to a irc chat network on your page? That way you could have a real time (almost) chat forum.

SBJ at 11:53:9 Friday January 29 99
TRB Mark: good chant! (good from p.o.v. of creativity as opposed to use, just in case anyone has me marked as a hooligan . . . This Fulham match is proving to be a good draw for support - when I suggested it to friends a couple of weeks back I got one 'maybe'; to date there's now 9 definitely coming, and 3 'maybes', which is going to hurt for the first round of drinks in the P&F beforehand :-)

Phil at 11:36:12 Friday January 29 99
What do you mean surviving we're one place of the relegation places and this from losing play-off finalists last season. ATKINS OUT

Anon at 11:11:55 Friday January 29 99
Even though they're not doing very well, the cobblers don't deserve to go down. The fact that we're surviving in a division 2 that is full of big 'rich' clubs shows what we are capable of. Although, I do think that Seal should be played more often and it is a disgrace that he has been left out of the side so much that he has requested a transfer. He is much better than Chris Freestone and most of the other strikers put together!

Daniel Worby at 11:7:4 Friday January 29 99
I dont think Northhampton doing any good they deserve relagation! Please discuss with me!

Graeme rose at 11:3:35 Friday January 29 99
hey, Phil you really know what you re talking about. Your great!! Be my friend!!

Graeme rose at 11:3:35 Friday January 29 99
hey, Phil you really know what you re talking about. Your great!! Be my friend!!

Graeme rose at 11:3:35 Friday January 29 99
hey, Phil you really know what you re talking about. Your great!! Be my friend!!

GRAEME ROSE at 11:0:51 Friday January 29 99
Paul S your right! our youth team is great i can wait to see some of that fresh talent on the first team.

Paul S at 10:31:4 Friday January 29 99
Eebygum - At the trust meeting IA said that Plymouth had made an offer for Seal and although the offer included a contract which was substantially better than his at the Cobblers he didn't want to drop down a division. He thought he was too good for the lower leagues. I agree, but don't think he will be a success here where endeavour is required by IA. IA has a problem here, Seal is best as an out and out attacker and without a play maker (as Wilson is for the Reserves) Seal is never going to be productive. I love to see him play, he has got lovely control and touch, but the ball has to passed to him in the box and with him facing goal, without a consistent, quality midfield and striking partner he just vanishes from the game.

Paul S at 10:19:53 Friday January 29 99
Adam I think that is just what we are doing! Our youth team and reserves have been quite successful and IA is building a team for the future, buying players like Hope and Spedding.

Colin Hill at 10:19:22 Friday January 29 99
Oi Atkins ! It's not my fault we're in this bloody mess. Ok, I got sent off in the first game of the season, but that was a bit harsh anyway. As for 'kicking lumps' out of Heggsy, you told me to. You said you were fed up with him diving all over the park on a saturday afternoon for no apparent reason, and you wanted me to show him how much it does hurt for real. All part of the learing process you said. As for not getting on with Razor, well let me tell you, we went to Deep-Pan pizza last night (and shared) Razor and I are the bestest of buddies, so stop stirring. And Woody as well ? I loved the way his blond hair moved in the air when making a save, I know i joked to him about his posing, but he took it in good heart. I'm an international you know. And by the way, me and Steve Lomas are proud to be Ginger. Don't expect us to dye our hair blond like that lad Lennon from Leicester, doesn''t suit him. The king is dead, long live the red-heads !

Ian at 23:30:41 Thursday January 28 99
Yes Nod, Graham Carr was a defender who used some brilliant players to very good attacking ends but also employed a "to the half way line at all costs" offside trap that lead to some pretty banal periods of play. It wasn't all excitement.

John Mcrirrick at 21:29:36 Thursday January 28 99
I agree with the majority of sensible comment on this page. On Saturday we should get as many travelling supporters as possible down to Fulham, be 100% behind our team and make as much noise as possible. We're all unhappy, particularly with Atkins but we should put that away for 90 minutes and be as positive a force towards a good result as possible. Unfortunatley, if we get anything out of the game, we can all guess who will be taking the credit.

Ian Atkins at 20:8:55 Thursday January 28 99
Hill as manager you're having a laugh. It's his fault I'm in this mess - if he hadn't have got sent off on the opening day we would have won ya know. Hilly and Warburton don't get on and as for Hilly and Heggs, you should have seen them in training, kicking lumps out of each other ya know. Don't even get me on to Hill and Woody.... Problem is I can't get rid of him - he's the only ging in the squad. By the way have had to pick Seal for the weekend as some member from the SOS who happens to be in the SAS has threatened to kill me.

adam at 19:27:37 Thursday January 28 99
things seem to be in a bit of a mess at sixfields! players who don't care about the club, a f#####-up manager and fans who are heavily pissed off. why not get a decent youth team and breed players who want to play for the club, like posh are doing very succesfully, and rushden are very close to achieving some excellent players from their youth team.

Redimp at 19:22:38 Thursday January 28 99
ha SCUM! We beat you well and truly on Saturday. You have wank supporters who spent most of the time trying to provoke the home fans - which obviously means that none of you lot care much about the team you claim to support! YOURE GOING DOWN... with or without us.

Eebygum it's a Man In The Know at 18:23:46 Thursday January 28 99
I have it on very good authority that Seal was offered round the football league on a free by Atkins after no clubs came in for him when he was transfer listed at the start of the season. After he was offered round still no clubs came in for him and thats why he is so unhappy.

The Angry Cobbler at 18:12:48 Thursday January 28 99
I think someone with Hill's international experience, experience of playing abroad (with Martimo (a Porteguese team) and IFK Gothenburg (I think?)) and knowledge of the game would make him an ideal replacement for Atkins who was a journeyman midfielder who played four times for Everton before doing a tour of the clubs in the Birmingham region. I won't boo the team on Saturday unless we take a 5-0 beating or Atkins blows kisses at us again. I think that Atkins should be given this game to try and motivate his team and if we lose he should be shown the door.

TRB Mark at 17:29:2 Thursday January 28 99
SJB, Surely one of the most original football chants of all times belongs to the Cobblers and can only work for NTFC. It chants the initials of our club and glorifies football violence (not a good thing!) at the same time. It goes N T NTF-NTFC 0K! (Then repeated but sounding the letters phonetically to make) NER-TER NER-TER- FER NER-TER-FER-KER OK! ( Nut a f***er) hope that comes across and gets 10/10 for originality in my book!

Nod at 15:45:35 Thursday January 28 99
Ray; there may be something in what you say, but how do you fit Kenny Dalglish into your theory? He was one of the best attackers in the country, but comes up with dour, dreary sides even though he has people like Shearer, Ginola , Gillespie and Ferdinand available. Not all books should be judged by their covers. (Wasn't Graham Carr a defender...?)

SBJ at 15:34:54 Thursday January 28 99
At least we probably wouldn't have to spend a fortune on putting Hill in place as player-manager.

Ray at 15:6:27 Thursday January 28 99
To be honest I'm not sure that we want another defender as manager/coach as I find the position ex-players played in tends to influence their view on the game.

Hartwell Cobbler at 14:55:25 Thursday January 28 99
Jacks - yes, there's the rub! you are quite right. we don't have any say in the running of the club. however fans have over the years brought about the downfall of managers and directors, through open protest. however, that is a last resort and i personally do NOT want any "atkins out" matchday protests. we are on the brink of the relgation zone and as far as i'm concerned we should get behind the team on saturday afternoons. i only hope that happens and that the players respond, putting us - the fans - ahead of any squabbles they may have with atkins. (i'm probably being over-optimistic, though. once bad feeling sets in, it usually goes deep). Interestingly enough, Nod, a good friend and season ticket holder who lives in Southampton, e-mailed me last week saying he'd like to see Hill as player-coach!! Hill is certainly experienced, shows composure on the ball and the way he plays suggests he would be likely to make the tactical changes many of us are caling for. If the rumour's true, then is this a case of life immitating conjecture ?!!!

T. at 14:54:15 Thursday January 28 99
Surrey Cobbler I'm here now

Nod at 13:49:54 Thursday January 28 99
The latest word from a friend at Barclaycard who says he knows what's going on (OK, it's a rumour, but at least I'm sourcing it!) is that Carlo and Freestone are leading a campaign to have Hill installed as player-coach. I've arranged to meett my brother in the Pharoah & Firkin on Saturday, it's always seemed to be full of Cobblers in previous years.

Stats Man at 13:43:56 Thursday January 28 99
From this point last season (31 Jan vs. Oldham) until the final game against York we won 7 drew 7 and lost only 4; we conceded only 12 goals in those 18 games, and scored 20 (including 8 from Freestone, 3 from Seal, and 2 from Peer - notably Peer's earned us the point away at Watford and the three points at home to Fulham in the penultimate game). There were 16 renditions of 'Cheer Up Barry Fry', 3 'Blackpool's Full Of Slags' and a couple of rounds of 'Can You Hear The Millwall Sing'. Ah, glory days . . .

Jacks at 13:18:20 Thursday January 28 99
Some very good points there Hartwell, but will any of it any see any fruition? I think the answer is sadly no...so what's to do? But, it would be nice to think that Mr Atkins was at the very least questioning the tactics deployed thus far this season and would be willing to acknowledge that mistakes HAVE been made and that different decisions need to be made. A very good friend of mine supports Shrewsbury Town, and whilst in the pub at Barnet last weekend were looking forward to the teams that will be relegated from the second at the end of the season who could be 'local' (Herts) to visit. Alas, one of the teams being considered was our own, naturally protestation was voiced by yours truly..let's hope i'm right and we can sort ourselves out of this mess.

Hartwell Cobbler at 12:5:48 Thursday January 28 99
Some excellent, balanced, comments on the site today - I particularly agree with those from SBJ, Ralph and Kobbler. Sadly it appears things are not well behind the scenes at the club we all love. Most of the time we can only guess what's going on. However, what happens on the pitch cannot be concealed. Poor, disjointed performances and woeful tactics seem, with few exceptions, the order of the day. And of course the results tell us everything. It's as clear as day fundamental changes must be made to the way we play, team selection and players' roles on the park. Given Atkins stubborn nature it seems unlikely they will come from him. The choice, then, is clear: we either go blundering on the way we are and risk relegation or the club takes the bull by the horns and replaces Atkins. There seems to be no choice. Like many here I firmly believe that, given a manager who will allow the team to play the ball around, attack more and make the most of the best players in the squad, we could be a more than useful side, win games and entertain (they are not alien bedfellows). The focus should be on utilising the cream of the present squad. At the end of the season, however, there must be a wholesale clearout of the dead wood which has accumulated this season. The sub-standard journeymen players, those tottering to the end of their careers with seemingly little passion for the club, must be weeded out. This would leave a strong nucleus, around which a few choice additions should be made, giving us a squad which could challenge this division. Well, we can dream.......

SBJ at 11:54:4 Thursday January 28 99
Just another thought: Adrian Thrills is compiling his second book on football songs (first volume June 98, probably available through Sports Pages). There was nothing from the Cobblers in the first book; but it says "if you have any interesting chant-related stories, or if your favourite chant is not included here, write to You're Not Singing Any More, Ebury Press, Random House, 20 Vauxhall Bridge Road, London, SW 1V 2SA". 'Fields Of Green' must be worth printing?

SBJ at 11:47:55 Thursday January 28 99
Cheers Phil. Yes, the Pharaoh & Firkin: that's one which was recommended to me as being 'at least neutral'. That's where I'll be from midday, wearing a too-big centenary shirt. The bus goes from outside my flat to outside that pub - I'm probably more local than some of the Fulham fans. Hoping for a Cobblers win, realistically expecting a 1-1 draw.

Phil at 10:50:0 Thursday January 28 99
SBJ All pubs are fine around Fulham, Try the Firkin in Putney Bridge all ways tends to be full of Cobblers

surrey cobbler at 10:37:24 Thursday January 28 99
T, are you there....

The Shropshire Cobbler at 10:36:34 Thursday January 28 99
How many social workers does it take to change a light bulb .... None, but it takes 15 to write a paper entitled "Coping with darkness".

surrey cobbler at 10:33:51 Thursday January 28 99
T are you there

The Shropshire Cobbler at 10:33:26 Thursday January 28 99
What's the difference between a Peterborough girl and a walrus? One's got a moustache and smells of fish, and the other lives in the sea ...

The Shropshire Cobbler at 10:33:5 Thursday January 28 99
What's the difference between a Peterborough girl and a walrus? One's got a moustache and smells of fish, and the other lives in the sea ...

surrey cobbler at 10:31:24 Thursday January 28 99
T are you there

SBJ at 10:19:7 Thursday January 28 99
Saturday certainly. Does anyone know which pub is reckoned to be the away fans' pub? Fulham fans I know could only recommend a neutral one.

Paul S at 10:15:46 Thursday January 28 99
Angry Cobbler, You may think Mickey Warmner is the best thing since sliced bread bur I don't think anyone would use him as a target man. Don't forget Wilko was really third choice, behind Oldfield and Rammell and though his performances immediately after his injury were poor, his play lately has been a lot better and we missed him when he went off against Stoke. Really just another example of the disruption injuries have caused to the team.

Andy C at 9:58:56 Thursday January 28 99
According to the Brentford site the fee is £75k so I guess you can take your pick. Reading comments on here as a neutral, I have to say there is a very clear consensus that Atkins should go, and those who continue to support him are doing so on the basis of the past rather than the present. Personally, I don't care a great deal whether Northampton stay up or not - although please win on Saturday - but it seems a terrible waste that a club that's come so far in the past few years should now be heading back into trouble because key figures (players, manager, board, supporters) are now all pulling in different directions.

Jacks at 9:49:13 Thursday January 28 99
I hope everyone is going to Fulham....let's just go for it, NOT slag anyone off at the game and just let the Fulham lot know WE'RE BACK. See you all Saturday.......

T. at 9:13:10 Thursday January 28 99
First Wilf, then Ralph, who will replace him?

RICHARD at 23:6:27 Wednesday January 27 99
Ralph: Steady on, mate. Don't go trying another 'Reggie@'on us!

Bozeat Cobbler at 22:17:19 Wednesday January 27 99
Good Evening everybody. There are times when you have to take one step backwards to achieve better results in the long run. However I do not want to go back to watching Div 3 football so lets get behind the team to remind them exactly why they should be putting their differences with the management to one side and play for the only people that really matter - Us supporters. Let's cut out the abuse of individual players and ensure that we finish as high up the Division as possible.

Ralph at 20:54:43 Wednesday January 27 99
This is the End . . . . my beautiful friends . . . . the End . . . . .

The Luton Cobbler at 20:32:24 Wednesday January 27 99
Just where will it all end. You can't keep ripping the heart out of a successful side and expect it to get better. The excuses keep coming "we're replacing them with better players" - crap. Good luck Woody. We're very grateful for everything. The sad reality is that you'll be playing Second Div football next year.

Ian at 20:17:15 Wednesday January 27 99
Don't know if it puts the season in context but looking at yesterday's results I found: Youth: WBA 2 Cobblers 2. Conference: Yeovil 0 Forest Green 4....... Forest Green???

Ian at 20:7:11 Wednesday January 27 99
Ray, I just tried to get to the "official" site from your links but this was rejected. Is something up with the "official" site?

Ray at 19:7:4 Wednesday January 27 99
The deal for Woody has now been completed and is confirmed on the official site as £100K.

Sid at 18:47:18 Wednesday January 27 99
Gavin, I agree. I have actually got a Andy Woodman Tribute Guestbook up on my site. If people would like to make a comment about Andy Woodman's departure, please goto members.xoom.com/cobblers, and the links should be at the top of the main screen.

The Angry Cobbler at 18:39:44 Wednesday January 27 99
Ralph: You made a good point about Wilkinson. I spoke to a Barnsley fan a couple of days ago and when I told him we had Wilkinson he laughed. Apparently Wilkinson had no talent when Barnsley won promotion (he scored 12 tap-ins from around 18 starts & 14 sub appearences) and as soon as Wilson realised he was crap he dropped him to the bench. Wilkinson scored twice for Millwall last season in 25 starts & numerous sub appearences and because he put no effort in the Millwall fans turned against him in a big way. Apparently he was released after falling out with Billy Bonds (he called him a wanker and threw his shirt at him when he was taken off, then stormed off out the stadium) and we were the only club who was interested. We shouldn't be signing old players who are only going to be a quick fix (or a slow, unfit fix). When you think Wilkinson pocketed a fat fee and is probably not the lowest paid player at the club by a long way it makes you wonder if IA is really that good a manager. He has bought players like Mickey Warner and then not recognised that talent when it is needed. I think Ray should bring back the "Should Atkins go" quizlet to see what everyone thinks now.

Gavin at 18:20:27 Wednesday January 27 99
A sad day... All the best Woody.

SBJ at 18:12:39 Wednesday January 27 99
And where did Kobbler get that e-mail address?

SBJ at 18:11:7 Wednesday January 27 99
I think HC pretty much covers the general spread of consensus from these pages, tho of course there are many other differing opinions posted here too (where's Bez been recently?). The key thread though is that we do have a good squad of players, and because of that we don't always need to panic-buy in times of need. We need a management style which makes the best use of all the squad, both in terms of giving less regular players their fair chance to shine, and in terms of playing the formation and style of play which suits the players' abilities. There's a youth match tonight I think - it'd be good to hear about the performance, if anyone's going to it?

Kobbler at 18:5:21 Wednesday January 27 99
It seems clear that the manager is the problem here. During the sucessful years we maintained a good balance between his cracpot view of the way the game should be played and sane objective views of senior players and coaching staff. There has alway been a danger this might happen, but now he's got complete control and look whats happening. We've lost the backbone of the squad in heggs Warburton and Woodman, the senior players like Hill and Corazzin are being dropped over personal differences, we're booing our own players when they applaud us after games, the club tells us nothing about all the petty bickering going on behind the scenes because they don't want to look stupid yet moan when rumours start to flare up. In case you hadn't noticed gentlemen we are up shit creek without a paddle and if we don't start getting results we will be relegated and that is what we must avoid. Ian Atkins should hand in his resignation and let the rest of them pull together to stop us going arse-over-tit. Cobblers 4 eva.

Ralph at 18:4:41 Wednesday January 27 99
Steve Francis - Someone asked what he's like. From memory he played for Chelsea and Reading. Quite small for a keeper, age 34ish. Great shot stopper. Struggles to command the box.

Ralph at 17:48:34 Wednesday January 27 99
We should never sign average players. We should sign players who are hungry and want to make a career for themselves. James Hunt is a shining example of the type of player we want. Not those who are just seeing out their time under the guise of experience. Wilkinson was watched several times and the club/IA were advised not to buy. But we go ahead and make the purchase and burden ourselves with a high wage.

Hartwell Cobbler at 16:21:58 Wednesday January 27 99
Paul S - to answer your points: I'm not suggesting any quick fixes. What I am saying is we can't afford to live on past glories. Atkins must be judged by recent results. A good manager doesn't have to be a high flyer. My summary was of supporters comments on this site, which I think reflects the general picture. I certainly am not claiming to know everyone's opinions, though. I accept we've had numerous injuries this season and that we've needed cover. But we've signed too many when we already have more than adequate cover in the reserves. I feel it would have been more sensible to use what we've got and to have supplemented them with fewer but better additions from elsewhere. It probably wouldn't have cost us any more to be selective. Just look at what Bournemouth have achieved with a far smaller number of key signings. People like Stein have made the difference. And regarding injuries - can it all be co-incidence? Or, in the light of some of the exceptionally serious injuries, have we been (shall we say) prudent enough in the market ?

Paul S at 13:16:23 Wednesday January 27 99
So HC another quick fix. Dilly-Dallying suggests that a decision is not being made. I would like to think that the board has made a decision and that they have chosen a manager who in their opinion is the best man available to do the job. I guess George Graham (and other?) high flying miracle workers are not interested. I also disagree about your concensus of opinion - its very easy to only count those that agree with you. Sure ther are a number of disgruntled supporters, but very little clarity in their solutions, or indeed their view of the problem. Signing average players is all we can afford and who can deny we have needed players given the injury problems we have encountered this season. I guess the important messages you must mean are those you have written

Paul at 13:0:4 Wednesday January 27 99
I think the thing that anoys most fans is the fact that when Heggs and the Razor were sold, the fee was "Undisclosed", at the insistence of Diremonds. Now we sell Woody and the fee is again "Undisclosed". Is that at our request or theirs! I mean, if it was Brentford that said.. "We will only buy him if the fee is Undisclosed", then we say "fine, we wont sell him to you". Is that so difficult?? I think these "Undisclosed" fess are maybe one of the most anoying things from the fans point of view! Its almost like saying "bugger off , dont be so nosey"

Hartwell Cobbler at 12:40:14 Wednesday January 27 99
Having read recent comments avidly it's clear there is a broad concensus of opinion that a)Atkins must go b)he should go now while his past exploits still have a little currency c)we must stop signing more average players as if there's no tomorrow and avoid over-stretching our finances d)we should install a manager who can bring with him some flair,creativeity and imagination e)that man must also be able to re-motivate the squad f)among the majority of poor journeymen players currently on our books there is a nucleus of a very good team g)those players should be selected on merit and allowed to express themselves. Providing the board makes the right choice of replacement manager(rather than another negative thinker)our future will again look bright. We have the players, the stadium (with expansion potential) and certainly the support to go higher. As a town of some 200,000 we should be able to maintain a Div One side. But, unless or until Atkins goes, not only are we unlikely to make progress; we could well slide back down to Div 3, a fate all too familiar to many of us long-standing supporters. The club is at the crossroads. It simply must start making changes. And start now. Dilly-dallying about is not an option we can consider. Finally, let's not knock each other for what we do/don't know. It's not the background noise we should be listening to; its the important messages.

The Deleted Cobbler at 12:16:5 Wednesday January 27 99
Whoops! I posted on the invitation only page but it got deleted because I put the wrong e-mail address on it. After reading some of the posts on here, I wonder how we are in the black. Selling Razor and Heggsy wouldn't have lightened the wage bill by that much (Razor was only on about a few hundred a week - remember he signed during the bad old days when we didn't have tuppence to rub together) and we have since bought in seven players, four of them permenant. According to someone I know who has a contact within the club the wages bill has rocketed from £600,000 or so pa to £1.4m pa this season. One only wonders where this money is coming from. Yes, we got £300k from Wembley and another £200k from West Ham but this isn't a regular source of income. Players like Wilkinson (apparently on £3,000 a week at Millwall) and Carlo (who is class, but came here despite offers from Watford, Port Vale and an improved contract offer from Plymouth - I'd bet on him pocketing a grand a week and a £120,000 signing fee) were highly paid at their old clubs and aren't likely to take a step down. Apparently Hodgson was on £1,000 a week at Oldham (that's why he came here for £20,000) and I wouldn't bet against him being on the same here. This season we have spent around £300,000 on transfers with maybe another £180,000 on signing fees for free transfer players like Damian Matthew. This policy of "panic buying" will bankrupt us sooner rather than later. I think this whole situation (fans getting annoyed at the lack of communication from the club) has arisen because we have got ideas above our station. Does a smallish club like us really NEED a PR officer? We don't need a spindoctor here thank you very much Mr Wilshner. When the club was pulled out of recievership it was based on the fans, board and management pulling together. It seems as if Gareth Wilshner has decided that we don't need to know what goes on at OUR club (like with all of this 'undisclosed fee' rubbish - they only say that because either the fee is ridiculously low or stupidly high) so he is going to keep tight lipped. If this isn't sorted we are going to be playing Diremonds and the scum next season instead of Reading and other higher profile teams. I don't mean to whinge but I don't want us to go down the pan.

Nat at 11:51:22 Wednesday January 27 99
whats this about a £200,000 bid by Atkins for Bristol City striker, Torpey?

anon at 11:45:40 Wednesday January 27 99
Having just followed the link from the official site, I am writing to whoever reads this on behalf of the club. Selling Andy Woodman is one of the worst decisions ever!

9224 at 11:39:56 Wednesday January 27 99
For all the people that say "you didn't criticise IA last year" and "look what he's done for the club" I will remind you that last year he did not make some of the WORST SELECTION AND SALES DECISIONS EVER. Did he sell HEGGS, RAY, WOODMAN last year? NO, and we got to Wembley. Did he drop Seal for no reason last year, yes, and our form suffered because of it. IT IS TIME FOR IA TO PUT THE CLUB FIRST, AND BY THAT I MEAN TO START GIVING QUALITY PLAYERS A FAIR CHANCE! WOODY IN! SEAL IN! ATKINS - you know what you have to do!

lincoln cobbler at 11:31:24 Wednesday January 27 99
so woody id deffinately going. Its a sad day for footbal when personalities can tear a team apart. Whats the news on this steve francis geezer? any good - is he as old as people are saying?

Ralph at 11:23:10 Wednesday January 27 99
Nod - Once scored a blinding overhead kick against Houghton Lions. But that's all in the past.

Paddington Cobbler at 11:15:39 Wednesday January 27 99
The latest set of audited accounts I've seen are about 18 months old and so won't shed much light on the current position. They show that in the year to 30 June 1997 NTFC made a loss of about £100,000, which was probably not bad for a 3rd div. club. At that time the club's liabilities exceeded assets by about half a million. Since then we've had a season and a half in Div 2, plus the receipts from Wembley 98, so all is not doom and gloom as long as there are effective financial controls in place.

Jayemm at 10:34:50 Wednesday January 27 99
Will someone please tell me how Turley compares to Woodman. Hasn't he shown some flair in the past? Everyone seems extremely worried about Woodman going.

Ray at 9:52:14 Wednesday January 27 99
A sure sign that a company is in trouble is lateness of paying bills. I do the odd bit of paid work for the Cobblers and this season there has not been any problem with them "hanging on" before sending money - as has happened in the "bad old days". I suspect that currently they DO have a bit of a cash flow problem - after all we have not had a home game this year which produduces the most amount of "readies". I'm sorry if you decide not to post in the future - I try not to be abusive (most of the time) when I make a comment or reply. Does anyone have copy of the club accounts? This will give some idea as to the amount being paid to players.

In the know at 9:31:29 Wednesday January 27 99
I'm sorry some of you wish me to disappear, I only have the supporters interests at heart. Please folks, do the simple mathematics. A senior pro would (after bonuses etc) be on a minimum of £1000 a week, have a look at our income, even a rough guestimate, you can plainly see that things will not add up. Ray, your contacts at the club would never admit to anything being wrong, they never do, lets face it all chairmen of Nationwide clubs must be insane to be in the position they are in. Maybe I shouldn't have come on here, I am risking getting found out and I don't want that to happen. To prove my credentials Ray, how would I know about Heggs signing on fee? Ask your contact this, as he should be aware if he really does understand what's going on in the footie world, how many clubs in the Nationwide League had their players wages paid for by the PFA in December? All clubs are aware that it was an amazing 22, yes that is the state of football today. I'm afraid that I won't post anymore, I've written more than I should and frankly I don't like some of the abuse, when all I have is your interests at heart.

Nod at 8:49:18 Wednesday January 27 99
No mater how short of cash we may be, the most cost-effective use of what we have got must surely be to pay up Atkins contract. It is a manager's job to get the best out of his staff, and he clearly is unable to do this any more. He has got to go, or who else will be leaving? Seal wants out already, Carlo? Roy? Ali? Mickey? who's next for the famous treatment? When he does go, please, please, please do not install Kevin Bloody Wilson. I had the chance to hear him at work last year (in the Autoglass game against Plymouth?) when Atkins stayed away for the first half. I was the steward on duty beside the dugout, and frankly I've heard better watching Houghton Lions on a Sunday morning. The only instruction he relayed to the pitch all game was for Ali to "get wide". He did repeat this at two minute intervals all through the half, making up in consistency what he lacked in creativity, but surely a quiet word with Gibb before kick-off would have been a better idea...?

Ray at 0:47:52 Wednesday January 27 99
Interesting about the car - did he keep the same one he had at the Cobblers and just had the lettering changed do you think?

TRB Mark at 0:34:9 Wednesday January 27 99
I forgot to mention that while I was picking up my new offspring from Kettering general, Carl Heggs was just leaving the hospital in his sponsored car (swan Vally motors?) In reference to the club's financial plight , so called, it was my impression from various trust meetings that we are NOT in the financial s**te For a start, all our debts were paid and we came out of administration last Summer. I think that there is a real desire on the part of Barry Stonhill to carry on where Barry Ward left off. That is, not to spend what we hav'nt got. Normally, a business would specualte to accumulate but I think with the vagaries of Bosman, injuries and personalities (clashes) , this is not so easy in football, unless you are Man Utd and have money to burn. I think that players wages will be the ruin of many clubs and frankly, alot of themdon't deserve £200, let alone £2,000 quid a week. Also Julie Brickett (sponsorship manager) from the Nationwide stated that we were one of the few clubs in the League NOT in financial trouble.

hotel ender at 0:16:16 Wednesday January 27 99
to Glory Hunter - your name sums you up - where were you before Al Fayed's millions? and when was the last time you Cockney scum beat the Cobbs in London????????? check your history book!!!!!

Ray at 23:46:0 Tuesday January 26 99
Well "glory hunter" I hate to disillusion you but I suggest before you make rash claims about the "usual stuffing" you should ask your team who they fear to play the most as they never appear to get a result.

Ray at 23:43:53 Tuesday January 26 99
Congratz Mark!

Ian at 23:13:55 Tuesday January 26 99
Congratulations Mark, you must have been wondering if the birth was ever going to happen!

glory hunter at 22:44:36 Tuesday January 26 99
are you lot ready for your usual stuffing at the hands of the mighty FULHAM,you sad losers

Loyal1 at 22:8:48 Tuesday January 26 99
It's high time for ill informed miscreants like "In the know" to shut his big mouth or disappear altogether (the preferred route). Rumour spreading without foundation is totally irresponsible and damaging to the greater good of our club, players, management and supporters. So be a good boy and b..... off!!!

TRB Mark at 21:47:35 Tuesday January 26 99
Blimey! This board is busy! Anyway, to those that are interested a new Cobblers fan was born yesterday in the shape of Amelia, weighing in at 7pounds 8 oz. Puts a different slant on things for me.

Bozeat Cobbler at 20:45:36 Tuesday January 26 99
How long will it be before the Board sacks Mr Atkins and installs Barry Stonhill as Manager!!!! Just thought that there ought to be some light relief amongst all the doom,gloom and despondancy!!!

Bozeat Cobbler at 20:41:12 Tuesday January 26 99
In line with current fashion shouldn't the Board sack Mr Atkins and Barry Stonhill take up the reins!!!! Silliest comment of the week so far.

Ralph at 20:38:47 Tuesday January 26 99
So they tell me the Oldham bus has broken down on its way to Craven Cottage. Now that what I call defensive tactics! If anyone at the football league is reading this deduct three points and make them play the game.

John Mcrirrick at 20:4:25 Tuesday January 26 99
The current plight of the club does seem to be serious but I for one cannot believe that the club are to be allowed down that route again. The frustration to me is that regardless of this situation we have a squad of players who should be at the other end of the table. They are just being misdirected, and IA doesn't seem to have a clue. We should be playing to the strengths of the current squad, Atkins seems to believe that these are still a rock solid defence, this is a joke, the defence at the moment is a shambles. Almost every entry on the page offering their team for the weekend gives a 5-3-2 formation. It appears to me that cramming the defence is not a solution. We always have plenty of defenders around the ball when we concede goals, it's just that they all seem to be getting in each others way and leaving the ball for each other. None of them seem to know their job. To me the strength of our current squad is in midfield, Savage, Hunter,Hunt, Parish and Peer are all good 2nd Division players(which can't nessecarily be said for everyone else) and would at least hold their own in most other 2nd Div teams, even higher in the case of Savage and Hunter. Picking only 3 of these 5 seems ridiculous to me(2 on Saturday). I'd play 4-4-2 allowing the midfield to protect the defence a bit more and then support the attackers when neccesary. 5 at the back clearly isn't working and Lincoln with their pitiful attack made a mockery of it on Saturday, cutting through it at will, did you see our attempts to play offside ?, Sunday League stuff. Corrazin has to start up front with 1 other, Clarke looked superb on Saturday and will be a real asset if we can keep him long enough. Having said that Atkins the arrogant b******d will probably play 5-3-2 again on Saturday and we'll gat a draw because we always raise our game against Fulham, and he'll feel vindicated. It's a mess and I feel wholeheartedly that Atkins should go, while fans still remember what he did for the club, if he drags us down, which is a strong possibility he'll be hated despite all the good that he has done.

Sid at 18:8:30 Tuesday January 26 99
As i said on the E-mail list, I can see both position's now. The directors have to keep everything afloat, but we have definitely spent more than we have gained through transfer fees etc. Even if "In the Know"'s comments aren't true, the directors have to balance, but his comments have some meaning, to the clubs finances.

Hartwell Cobbler at 18:1:36 Tuesday January 26 99
Yep, Ralph - I agree the directors have managed to keep the ship on course, finance-wise. I just worry that the continuous policy of buying-in willy-nilly may catch us out in the end. In a perfect world everything is costed and budgeted for. But I am sure it's difficult keeping tabs on every cost day in day out, especially at a football club. I'm not saying we are in trouble; more warning about the dangers inherrent in a policy which allows such a throughput of players, when on many occasions there is ample talent (and good, young talent at that) in the reserves who should be given their chance).

Ralph at 17:29:30 Tuesday January 26 99
I would also like to question 'In the Know's' info. I was fortunate recently to have the ear of someone who is very much 'in the know' and had the opportunity of broadly discussing the club's financial situation. Whilst the directors that run this club may not be oil magnates they are very much supporters and deeply care. All of us have been too close to the abyss the last time and no way would the club be back in dire straits without us all knowing. If this type of rumour mongering persists then the credibility of these pages will cease.

Paul S at 17:15:42 Tuesday January 26 99
Anyway this is one area where IA has done well. Our average age is falling all the time and looks to continue to do so in the next few seasons. Whilst I may agree that we may have bought in loan players to cover injuries when sometimes a reserves could have stepped in, I would say that the wage bill and number of loan players is mainly down to the injury list.

Paul S at 17:11:15 Tuesday January 26 99
Sorry HC but 22 is nowhere near the prime of a modern footballer. Yes there are some young strikers that rely on pace to be destructive, but for midfielders or defenders reading the game and experience is more critical, their prime is 26-30.

Mr "Psycho" Evans at 16:41:8 Tuesday January 26 99
Atkins tatics and squad changing these season have rightly been critisied. For example; Maccfld (a) one-nil ahead in the dying minutes but atkins made the team stay back and defend meaning we were left on a knive edge, on to whether they would score. OK this worked to effect at West Ham, but times have changed. Atkins is not as ruthless as he used to be and I sometimes feel he doesn't belivie in the players anymore. He doesn't belivie that they can score more than one or pass the ball about (Stoke - First Half), they has to stick to his own usual tatics and if they don't like it well tough luck. If he doesn't get his act together it will be back down to the basement.

Hartwell Cobbler at 16:11:50 Tuesday January 26 99
In the Know is right: in the long term clubs like the Cobblers cannot afford to continue paying increasingly silly money for two-bit players. We have to make long-term plans to develop a youth culture -- and that means not just investing in a high quality youth set-up which young players will be keen to join. It is also totally conditional on the club's manager being 100% committed to the structure, and giving the best the chance to make the grade at senior level. We have to nurture our own. Another reason we cannot go on dipping into the transfer market is because, at the other end, there are fewer and fewer buyers. In the last 12 months the numbers of players being bought from Nationwide League clubs by Premier League clubs has fallen from over 30% to just 19%. And this is a trend which is likely to continue as the top clubs get richer, their fans demand the more exotic and the directors oblige by buying the overseas stars. So, where does this leave clubs like the Cobblers, who have bought wholesale with little regard for quality and are, as such, now generally overloaded with very, very ordinary players? The answer is:in a financial cleft stick. They are left paying the wages without much chance of selling on. As we have already seen even the better players at the club are only commanding poor returns. As for the rest ? At the end of this season we'll simply have to sell off a "job lot"; at best we'll be lucky to give most of them away for fee, just to reduce the wage bill which, incidentally, has rocketed from £440,000 to a staggering £1.6 million this season. Our problems are, therefore, not just confined to Atkins sad tactics. They also relate to his continual purchases -- and even loan players cost us dearly in terms of wages. This clearly cannot go on. If it does we'll surely be back up the McRichieville with no paddle. Much of what's being said on these pages makes sense and proves you cannot pull the wool over the eyes of the regular supporters. Regarding Atkins tactics: they were acceptable at the outset because we had a very poor squad and it was a case of making the most of what we had. But they are now long, long past their sell-by date. What is so worrying to us all is that he clearly isn't either prepared or able to change. Nor is he prepared to give youngsters the chance. In last night's Chronic., for instance, Atkins was (as usual) moaning - this time about having to play five youngsters - ie under 22's (youngsters?) Where is he coming from ? At 22 most players are in or nearing their prime. Young in soccer is 16-18 or so. Just one further example of how he seems to have totally lost the plot.

Mr "Psycho" Evans at 15:54:12 Tuesday January 26 99
Knowing our luck we will sell off Woody this week, Turley will get injured on saturday. Meaning Clarence the Dragon will end up in goal!

Steve at 15:53:3 Tuesday January 26 99
It's all depressing stuff this, but can it be as bad as is suggested? I would've thought that, having just come out of administration, and having no real 'assets' (such as our own ground)to use as collateral to borrow against,we would have zero borrowings. In this case, the only way to support us in loss making times is by paying our creditors late. Although this is an uncomfortable process, it's not as bad as owing millions.

Ray at 15:52:43 Tuesday January 26 99
Just to let you know that I have been assured by the club that "in the know" aint....and is talking a load of b*****ks. However, if "in the know" would care to give facts and figures proving his case then we will listen - in the meantime I certainly won't. If he would care to email me personally I'd be happy to look at whatever "facts and figures" he has. Personally I think this is yet another unfounded rumour designed to get everyone on edge and cause as much unrest as possible.

In the know at 15:46:4 Tuesday January 26 99
To Lincoln Cobbler: Who knows, but we are treading water presently (How long can you tread water for?). To Jack: Selling your best players for a nominal fee is sound business sense when you know how much money they are on and for how long you have got to pay it. Heggs incidentally got £45,000 net signing on fee for Rushden. My opinion, for what it's worth, is that we have to go back to go forward. Sadly our "friends" from the murky end of the nene have got it right in my opinion. They opted for a Youth Academy as opposed to short term success and plough all their money into the long term. We should do the same. If a young player in this area has a choice of clubs to go to, he will always go to an academy club, it's sensible for him to do this. We are left with the rest. We have to suffer pain to gain, it's not very nice for the fans, but at the end of it at least we will still have a club.

The Shropshire Cobbler at 15:20:29 Tuesday January 26 99
Interesting, isn't it , that we have to get the 'true' picture (allegedly) from "In the Know"? Perhaps it's because we're all "In The Dark" ....

Jacks at 15:2:56 Tuesday January 26 99
"In the Know"...your'e information is appreciated, if you are close to the club: What then can be done? For I do not see that selling your captain and Heggsy for a nominal fee is very good business sense - the reason being that since, particularly Razor's departure, the team has fallen apart from its heart. There is no cohesion, no spirit..as such the results have been proven....we are losing games we should easily be getting 3 points from, as such more and more money is being shelled out for poor performance but high wage players.....and an endless stream of loan players - some who do not even make an appearance! As soon as the money comes in for the players we have short-sightedly sold.it's gone...back to square one...but without the quality players we have let go and in a severely weakened position. Hence, this season, what we are now seriously facing is relagation - poor team spirit - and desperate times. What can WE do, fans love this club - if the passion is not coming from inside of Sixfields just take a look outside...it is out there in abundance and nothing is ever going to change that, but a little more loyalty to those fans who do feel passionate about their club is needed, because I know that if there is anything we can do - we will. BUT WE HAVE TO KNOW.

lincoln cobbler at 14:55:53 Tuesday January 26 99
in the know>> how long are we looking at before something serious happens?

In the know at 14:46:49 Tuesday January 26 99
Things are not as bad as Oxford, but they are not far off approaching Portsmouth standards. Forget ground development, it's not going to happen. I can't say much more, I don't want my cover to get blown, I am well known within the club - I just thought/felt that I needed to tell someone. I had hoped you could all have guessed what was going on, maybe I'm just a bit to close to the club.

SBJ at 14:40:11 Tuesday January 26 99
In The Know: does it seem to be serious debt we're looking at (like Oxford or Portsmouth) or is it rather that the club's struggling to make ends meet but ought to be able to avoid serious debt with some corners cut? Presumably the big financial commitment has to be the development of Sixfields to conform to Div 2 capacity? A practical view (not my preference) would be that if we went back to Div.3 we wouldn't need to spend out on the stadium, and we could bring on some of the untried players against a generally lower quality of opposition. I'd rather we stay in Div.2, but not at the cost of the club's long-term existence. But I'm not suggesting that we should try and get into the 3rd (tho' we'd be on a success curve if we did!). Sudbury Town and Chelmsford FC voluntarily relegated out of the Dr.Martens Premier a few seasons back for just those financial reasons. Didn't work out very well for either club, mind. Nor Peterborough apparently. Cheer up Barry Fry!

In the know at 14:7:42 Tuesday January 26 99
NTFC have been touting with disaster since promotion to Division Two. Spiralling wages, players and personnel on ludicrous long-term high income contracts (both on and off the pitch) and a general milking of the club by those in the position that are able to do so. Short-sightedness with the capacity at Sixfields etc etc. Things are very badly run. It doesn't take a genius to work out that paying such high wages to people like Dozell and others on our limited income from gate receipts is a recipie for disaster. OK if we had got promotion last season, we would have been ok, but we didn't. The gamble never came off. Therefore players have to go, corners have to be cut and we have to start again. At the end of the day, we still have a team to support (just), in a few years time, we will all be grateful for that as many around us collapse and believe me it will happen. Peterborough are going through what we are about to enter, their fans ain't very happy either, but who gives a toss about them!

David Errington at 13:40:44 Tuesday January 26 99
Well as a Cobllers fan of 12 years from my home twon of Sunderland, It has made me sick the way IA is picking the team formation at the moment. From August to December, I was stuyding in America and was loooking out for team scores and information via the net. I even had my mother play the rdaio five live broadcast of the Tottenahm game down the phone to me - I love this team so much! Wilko is a has been. Howey was good @ sunderland and is better as a striker - trust me!. IA needs to go now after the sale of Woodman, Heggs and RW. We should have got at least £ 500,000 for all three of them ! We need to pass the ball around, not lump it forward and prey. Sunderland do this and look were they are in DIV 1 !! Bring in John Ward or Alex MIller to replace IA. They both know how to build a good team up and use younger players more ! On the keeper front, go for Neil Alexander in Scotland. Scotish Under 21 keeper-vewry good young player. We need to support the club, players and the boss more now than ever fellow Cobblers!!!!!! E-Mail me at david.errington@sunderland.ac.uk if there are any nothern cobblers around !!

Jacks at 13:23:16 Tuesday January 26 99
.and of course that should read fans, not fams!

Jacks at 13:21:39 Tuesday January 26 99
"In the Know" - do enlighten us as to what 'serious' actually means in terms of the future plans ? There does appear to have been some disasterous financial decisions this season that appear to have made no sense. The fans are not told anything, so naturally we worry. We love this club and we don't like this whole situation, of course we don't. BUT, we need to be told. I think that the fams deserve this.

lincoln cobbler at 13:4:43 Tuesday January 26 99
what an abysmal display on saturday. The team was asleep for 70 mins of the game. Turley was dodgy at best. Andy clarke looked lively but never really shined. As for the woodman saga the least said the better. However although i dont agree with some of his decisions ( i.e. playing christain lee on saturday) i will support IA. The attitude shown by some of the fans on saturday distubed me - calling for atkins out. What we need is to get behind the team with our support not to look for a scapegoat to blame fo all of the teams problems. As for the money situation looking serious (in the know) how serious are we talking? one last gripe - what the hell was that yellow strip all about?

In the know at 12:31:31 Tuesday January 26 99
It's surprising that no one who has been posting messages hasn't realised what the current problem is with NTFC. As someone who is privvy to a lot of info at Sixfields, I can tell you all that NTFC is totally strapped for cash. The (almost) success of the last few years has not come cheaply and last seaons failure means that we now have to endure a period where we suffer. Things are serious folks, NTFC is in trouble.

Paul S at 12:28:49 Tuesday January 26 99
IA was fined £750 according to teletext

STEWART C BAILEY at 12:11:0 Tuesday January 26 99
IS IT TRUE WOODYS GOING.NO MORE THE BLOND STREAK IN GOAL.HOPE THE PLANES COMING IN AND OUT OF HEATHROW DONT MISTAKE IT FOR A BEACON.

When it rains at 10:29:54 Tuesday January 26 99
No mention of Ian Atkins fine by FA yesterday due to something at the Preston match.

SBJ at 10:1:40 Tuesday January 26 99
Poor old Oxford, they were robbed by that 'penalty'. And despite what Lineker says, the gate receipts from the replay won't suddenly make them happy - what's £50,000 to a club £11,000,000 in debt? Good to hear the Stiffs did well - perhaps we'll be seeing some of those new faces soon?

Steve at 7:57:11 Tuesday January 26 99
Took the kids to see the stiffs last night. A thoroughly entertaining game. The trouble is we arrived too late to pick up a team sheet and there one or two of the players I didn't recognise. I don't know who the goalie was, but I'm sure it wasn't Francis. Eiother way, he was fine in spite of a trifle vertically challenged. The greatest player ever to don the Claret & White, one J. Frain was at centre half, and was as solid as ever. Sean Parrish was at left back. Mickey Warner right back. Numbers 4 & 5 in central defence I didn't know, but were more than competent. Was one of the Hughes? We had a midfield of Hunt, Savage & Matthew. Up front were Lee and Seal. When we arrived, the Cobblers were already one up through Hunt. Norwich equalised just before half time (Frain's only slip up all night). In the second half Morrow was on for Seal and later Scott Wood came on for Hunt and some tallish yong bloke came on for Matthew. The interesting thing was how much we were passing the ball about. There was some tremendous skill all round. Morrow scored a beauty to put us 2-1 up and just before the end a sweetly worked move started by Warner and then Morrow gave Lee the chance to sidefoot it in to make it 3-1. Savage did some good stuff. Matthew hit a couple of long distance crackers which were blocked. Overall it was excellent stuff.

Ray at 23:32:49 Monday January 25 99
Reasonable posts regarding the club can now be made at the alternative comments page I have set up. The address is only available by request as per my previous posting. Strict rules on behaviour will apply.

The Angry Cobbler at 23:10:33 Monday January 25 99
My reasons why Ian Atkins should leave: 1. Some very questionable decisions (like selling your club captain for a quarter of his worth and replacing him with a corpulent journeyman who the WBA fans I spoke to decsribed as "A great bench warmer because of his fat arse") 2. Not playing skilful, hard working players like Hunt and Warner and instead playing "skilful, hard working players" like Paul Wilkinson and Tony Dobson 3. Refusing to pass the ball about to get the most out of our players and boost confidence (If any1 saw Liverpool v Blackburn - 'Pool pass the ball about for five minutes before scoring) 4. Dismantling the promotion team 5. The fact that Atkins always refuses to listen to anybody else. Even if Marcelo Lippi rang him with some advice he'd probably disregard it 6. A failure to keep his squad happy. This is because he buys a new player almost every time we lose. What is it, ten in this season? 7. Wasting the clubs money and then not making the most of the clubs assets (leaving our record signing Seal out in the cold whilst selling two excellent players for about a sixth of their collective worth) 8. Never buying form players (such as Lee Howey who was the skipper of Burnley last season and got booed every time he touched the ball by the HOME FANS) 9. Favouritism (I bet even Maldini wouldn't get in our team if Frain was fit at the same time) and finally 10. Gambling on crocked players (Slater who has been injured more times than Darren Anderton and Dozzell who wasn't fit at all when we signed him on a "£3k a week do-bugger-all contract"). SO BASICALLY, THE MAN MUST GO NOW BEFORE WE HAVE TO SUBJECT OURSELVES TO A TRIP TO LONDON ROAD NEXT SEASON

The Oxford Cobbler at 18:42:40 Monday January 25 99
P.S. With reference to Mr Atkins'future. We do not know all the goings on and i feel the club is to blame for its poor communication. The rumours it complains about would not happen if it was honest with the fans in the first place. Through the web site it has every opportunity to address the fans but to date there has been no proper explanation for the departure of Razor, Heggs, Thompson or Woody. In most professions most good managers know when they have done as much as they can. Unfortunaley, most football managers and boards hang on in there until it is too late. I would like to see Atkins go but the dilema is who would take his place. Definately not Wilson because if he is a minature Atkins. With Warburton and Thompson gone there is no natural successor at the club. Someone mentioned John Ward, now he would be super.

The Oxford Cobbler at 18:26:42 Monday January 25 99
To "Hang on one minute" I went to Wembley both times but I have always been critical of the way we play under Atkins (see past volumes of WALOC). The trouble is I love the Cobblers and I will always follow them even if that means watching a complete pile of dross. Unfortunately, it appears the "win at all costs" supporters don't appear to like the "the lose at all costs" that we are seeing now. What is really sad is that the team of the last two years was better than hit and hope game that we played. I have always said if they had been allowed to play a footballing game they could have gone up in an automatic position last year. Atkins has continued with this narrowed minded approach and it has back fired. As a result, our players have forgotten how (or are too scared) to play FOOTBALL, the opposition now know our obvious tactics which we don't have the proper players to carry out. Atkins allows the sale of Woodman, Warburton, Heggs and then complains about a lack of experience. Our reserves beat the Premiership champions reserves and the youth players don't get a look in. Instead we take on loan and (alledegelly, spelt wrong i know!!!) pay a kings randsom to a slow 29 year old from who was booed by 10,000 of his own supporters when we visited Burnley last season and look to replace a cracking goalkeeper who would die for the club with a 35 year old who i've never heard off.

Jo at 18:7:11 Monday January 25 99
This is the first time I've logged on in over a week. What a lot of comments to read!! This is for 'Anon' - how do you know Ali Gibb is gay?!! Also the Glousester County Cup is one of the regional cups played in the Women's football league. You'll all be glad to know that my team 'Freeway Ladies' won 4-0 against Tetbury. I played striker for the first time in my footballing career (normally play defence) & I scored the third goal. A nice volley in the top right hand corner! Hope that answers your questions 'Anon'!!

Jo at 18:2:50 Monday January 25 99
This is the first time I've logged on in over a week. What a lot of comments to read!! This is for 'Anon' - how do you know Ali Gibb is gay?!! Also the Glousester County Cup is one of the regional cups played in the Women's football league. You'll all be glad to know that my team 'Freeway Ladies' won 4-0 against Tetbury. I played striker for the first time in my footballing career (normally play defence) & I scored the third goal. A nice volley in the top right hand corner! Hope that answers your questions 'Anon'!!

Ralph at 17:54:23 Monday January 25 99
Well I was hoping to watch the stiffs play Norwich stiffs tonight, so I'm going to dash. Might sit alongside the dugout, just to get a feel of things.

SBJ at 17:38:20 Monday January 25 99
Ralph, I've heard much sillier things suggested by other fans I speak to! I've always admired HC's tactical talks here (I can almost see the NTFC tracksuits with 'HC' on the breast . . .) and anyone who can bring a ring of confidence to the club gets my vote. Did anyone ever get a firm grip on what Kevin Wilson might do in the event of IA leaving? I'll have to pick up on this tomorrow; social life calls me away from the desk. I'm wearing my centenary Cobblers shirt for my volleyball match tonight, to publicise our great club to all my team-mates; and damn if I don't wear it to the theatre after Saturday's game as well. There must be more Cobblers fans in London than just me and that Fulham-based bloke?

Ralph at 17:29:56 Monday January 25 99
If you are looking for the ideal dream ticket, look no further than Hartwell Dave and myself. I have no doubts that we could manage the team. Hartwell is a profound tactician and I have all the man management credentials to bring a ring of confidence to the whole club.

nosey parker at 17:25:34 Monday January 25 99
Well what can I say Atkins has to go for all our sakes he had the players in Sunday for an hour just to "teach them a lesson" what a way to treat a team eh?Please for the sake of the club Ian just go with even a small amount of dignity please we want to remember the good times not just the bad.Newe manager ....how about Stan the Man Collymore or Jason "I will get £3000 a week for doing bugger all" Dozzell or even better still Dougie Hodgson as assistant to the short one Wilson!!!!!!!

SBJ at 17:21:53 Monday January 25 99
To 'Hang on a minute': yes I was fully in favour of hero Atkins when We Were On Our Way To Wembley, and even before when We Were Just Not Going Into The Conference. Atkins was a super manager then. In my own defence, I've been one of the several fans on this site who have advocated giving IA all the chances he needs to sort out the way the team plays. Now I'm of the opinion that action needs to be taken urgently, but not necessarily the sacking of IA: my preferred option (idealist that I am) is that IA / the Directors would listen to what the fans are saying (here, on the terraces, in letters, at the Trust meetings) and take notice. OK, maybe none of us could manage the team ourselves, but many correspondents here have seen enough Cobblers matches to know where the strengths and weaknesses of the squad lie. IA could at least show willing to try some of the more reasonable suggestions out. And as for the club itself, off the pitch there is something amiss too: rumours or not, there are clearly problems of debatable magnitude between playing staff and managing staff, and a frequently-cited communications breakdown between club and fans. There's faults on all sides no doubt, and all I think we want for our club is that we sort out whatever problems we're having, in whatever way is best to ensure that performances pick up and we start to get back towards where we really ought to be (higher than we are now in other words). If it's considered that a new manager is the key, then fine. If an open forum meeting for all interested parties to thrash out team tactics seems appropriate, then fine. Or if it's the players at fault and they need to be transfer-listed, then so be it. Whatever, we need to act now before we find ourselves back where we were 10 years ago; signing up to the 'book' that Ray is operating is as good a way as any to get things started. Sorry to rattle on, but my club's in trouble, and I want to help.

COUNTY GROUND at 17:4:19 Monday January 25 99
What are the details of Woodies sale (another atkins give-away)? Also what are the details of the purchase of Slater -who is known not to be fit enough to play for anny other team- Plus who is the veteran goalkeeper reported to be signed-is he really over 40. PLEASE LET ME KNOW?? ASAP

Hollie at 16:42:52 Monday January 25 99
*Cheer up Barry Fry, oh what can it be? He's a fat, bloody bastard with a shit football team!*

Hang On A Minute at 16:2:1 Monday January 25 99
CTIA: I bet you said you'd never liked him on the way to Wembley the last two years did you? Didn't go eh? Try and be a bit more balanced and judge him on the dodghy decisions he's made, not feelings in your water

Hang On A Minute at 16:2:1 Monday January 25 99
CTIA: I bet you said you'd never liked him on the way to Wembley the last two years did you? Didn't go eh? Try and be a bit more balanced and judge him on the dodghy decisions he's made, not feelings in your water

Can't take it anymore at 15:39:8 Monday January 25 99
Sack Atkins and go for some one else we must have a change in direction before its to late. He can go back to those other scummers Colchester, they can go down with him. It always amazes me that someone like him, who I must say I have never liked, has been able to have the success that he sort of brought. Up the Cobblers.

Andy C at 15:2:20 Monday January 25 99
SBJ, may I suggest that if the players are as sick of Atkins as the rumour-mongers claim, that chanting "Atkins out" might encourage them!! Please wait until after we've played you, then sack Atkins and get someone in who will provoke stunning victories over all our promotion rivals. Is Cobblers v Gills likely to be a sell-out on your side? We'll probably need more tickets so if home areas are going to be free the segregation might break down a bit, especially in the small side stand (East?).

A Posh Fan at 14:38:46 Monday January 25 99
With reference to Andy Clarke. Clarke is out of contract with Wimbledon at the end of the season and agreed terms with his "old buddy" Barry Fry some time ago to come to Peterborough next season. He was even pictured in the local rag with a copy of their property section page under his arm. I'm afraid he's just bideing his time with you lot.

Jacks at 14:30:29 Monday January 25 99
MarconiCobbler - it isn't that people are 'getting' at Atkins and the players, I think what worries most fans is the lack of respect there appears to be about the place. The players are obviously dejected and this is worrying - yes, we must still be behind our team, but other issues must be addressed as to why there is such unrest.

nat at 13:58:13 Monday January 25 99
if you want to cheer yourself up during all this gloom you've got to visit that fulham site - it's v. funny

Ralph at 13:14:32 Monday January 25 99
Ray - Where do I sog up?

MarconiCobbler at 13:5:41 Monday January 25 99
As much as I am disappointed with the poor run we seem to be having, getting at the players and Atko is'nt going to get us anywhere. Atko got us into Division 2 and nearly into division one last year when everyone was praying we would just stay up. Sometimes though his tactics do seem strange and it appears that we put up good performances (with the odd mistake that often leads to a goal) against the good clubs and really poor against the not so good clubs. How? and Why? Keeping the attendances and the support up (lots more cheering needed) and we might get those few pieces of good luck that seem to be missing this season. Come on the Cobblers!!

Ray at 12:57:37 Monday January 25 99
OK - I'll set up a sogning book if you wish. However - this will be strictly controlled - no anons - no swearing - and no "whos doing who". I'm also going to have control of this and the addresss will only be given to people who mail me and request it. If you would like to add to the "Cobblers Comments Part Deux" then please email for the URL. Make the subject "request to post".

SBJ at 12:46:39 Monday January 25 99
pca: maybe a 'protest book' could be set up here by Ray (?) - we could sign in our comments, or simply register our support for a single agreed statement of general discontent; this could then be made available to the directors for their information. It could be mirrored by a signing book / books at Sixfields. Perhaps a letter to the Chron drawing attention to this? The statement could be something like "we the undersigned are unhappy at the current situation at NTFC because (blah blah) and therefore we want a review of the situation beofre it's too late". And then we all sign it, if we agree. I don't want it to be a personal crusade against IA - more of a demand that steps will be quickly taken towards improvement of our current poor performances, and of the club-fans relationship.

pca at 12:30:18 Monday January 25 99
I seem to remember that last year at Fulham (Peschisolido handball for their goal, Big John equaliser) we were singing ironic 'One Micky Adams' chants as Keegan had just usurped him. What are the odds on repeating the song, this time as a possible successor to IA. Incidentally I was talking to someone who used to work with Atko at Cambridge, who described him as 'completely barking mad'. Until the last month or so, he's always been an undeniable hero to me, but I'm just about converted to the dark side now with the Warburton, Heggs, Seal, Woodman, Warner problems. Then it struck me, if the blowing kisses reports are true, he has turned into Brian Clough! One thing I don't want to hear are any Atkins out chants or abuse of the players before or during the game on Saturday. Say what you want afterwards (no disgraceful gestures to the players ) but don't undermine confidence when there are still points to be won.

Ralph at 12:25:32 Monday January 25 99
Protests will happen when they happen, I don't think you'll be able to stop people like the bunch behind the goal on Saturday. Whose the bald headed, fat bloke who was on the telly with his wife? He appears to have gone from loyal supporter to slag them all off at any cost. What we must ensure is that we back the team, Turley included. He is our number one. The chanting by that faction on Saturday was pathetic as well as cruel. It's not Billy's fault that he is the number one.

Ray at 12:5:54 Monday January 25 99
Not sure about the "loyalty" factor - but Frain (for example) has just signed up for another 2 years.

pca at 12:0:1 Monday January 25 99
have to say angry cobbler's team looks pretty good, my ideal line-up has only a couple of adjustments.. with Clarke in there too if we can sign him. (5-3-2) Turley, Gibb, Spedding, Sampson, Howey, Hill, Hunter, Savage, Corazzin, Seal, Warner. Subs: Frain, Hunt, Freestone. Matthew, Clarkson would be involved too if fit. There is a lot of quality there but it takes a bit of teamwork and confidence. Another problem of a manager leaving is that 'his' players normally go with him, are there any loyal Atkins devotees left? Frain? Sammo?

Paul at 11:53:22 Monday January 25 99
I agree that the time to protest is not during the match, but surley we should try and organsise something more than writing comments here. I dont think the club are really taking notice of the fans, and suspect we need to do more. Any one got any ideas that would still allow us to support the team, yet make our feelings felt??

hartwell cobbler at 11:14:6 Monday January 25 99
BAKA - yes, sorry. you're right about the milan scorer. my apologies! ref any move to sack atkins - i suspect the problem is he has a three year contract and the board doesn't want another barnwell situation. however i'm sure they are well aware of the situation -- and indeed, should be better informed than we are! if it's as bad as we believe they may be forced to conclude the need is more pressing than the cost. i agree however that it is important we give the players every backing on the pitch. i only hope they, in return, will respond, putting aside any alleged dressing room confrontations and put the fans and the club first. i also agree with many of the comments here - that despite some pretty inept purchases/loans, we have still have the nucleus of a good team. there are players at this club who can perform. we need a manager who allows them to play proper football, not this awful hump-it-and-chase stuff. secondly, it's not just that we're not winning so much as the manner in which we are losing which concerns me. i've given atkins the benefit of the doubt and the chance to change tactics and start putting things right. this hasn't happened. and doesn't look like happening. so, i like many have now concluded that the only answer is a fresh face. and that must happen soon.

SBJ at 10:59:30 Monday January 25 99
Dead right, Jacks: get everyone down to Fulham. I was in my local on Saturday night with some Fulham fans, and they're looking forward to the game, and are expecting us to be as noisy as ever despite our problems. One of them advised that we shouldn't think of chanting 'Atkins Out' or anything similar, just put that kind of view across by other means (ie. this site, letters etc.). They foresee us winning (bizarrely) - we're as low as we can get, they're as high as they can get, and subject to their result on Tuesday at Oldham bringing them back down to earth, these fans reckon that the 3 points are ours for the taking. I'm a London-based Cobbler, and I've got some other Cobblers coming up from Brighton for the day to see the match, and some others from Northampton too: we're probably going to be in the Pharoah & Firkin just outside Fulham station (not my choice of pub, but everyone I've spoken to - Fulham fans and other team fans - says it's OK as an away fans pub). Probably be there from midday. Wouldn't it be good to get a vast crowd of us there - show the players we care? COME ON YOU COBBLERS!!!

Jacks at 10:37:54 Monday January 25 99
My weekend has gone from worse to .......a lot worse!! What has happened to our wonderful team. Spirit is blatently gone - I would like to ask whether the board feel any slight pang of concern? Before Christmas many were saying oh give it until the New Year, we will be winning again - and as true Cobblers supporters we had faith in our lads that we would, because they are talented, passionate footballers - but what has happened to them? They are despondent and look like they could do with their confidence boosting by a management re-structuring programme. Face it, we have a problem - we have some fantastic players at this club and they need to know that WE THE FANS KNOW IT. It is getting too late, almost in the relegation zone and something needs to be done - NOW. Please don't let the players feel we don't support THEM - we are what they have to believe in. It was a desperate game at Lincoln...and I don't quite know what else to say except I will be at Fulham and I urge as many Cobblers supporters as possible to get off their backsides and make an effort FOR THE PLAYERS AND OUR CLUB. What is to be done?

The Shropshire Cobbler at 10:14:35 Monday January 25 99
Ralph mentioned a watershed .... the only watershed we're going to have this season is when THAT MAN departs. We've got a great bunch of players, they just need some decent leadership.

SBJ at 9:53:12 Monday January 25 99
"We've got to get together sooner or later 'cos the revolution's here." It's good to see that those of you who went to the match feel the same way as those of us (like me) who didn't. I like to think I'm a positive and supportive kind of fan, but I'm finding it very hard to maintain any sort of faith in IA. Other teams would have turfed him out long ago; I think we're being mighty lenient. As has been said, the players are there in the squad (mostly) but the tactics, and apparently the all-important club atmosphere (dressing room rifts? player-manager arguments?) just aren't making the best use of their abilities. I've had some great days out at Southend, Brighton, Brentford etc., and would love to be able to take my Dad to see Cobblers vs Rotherham (his team) but I do NOT want to be ploughing round 3rd division grounds again when I know we've got the resources at our club to keep us playing in the second division. Grrrrr . . . .

Ralph at 8:48:21 Monday January 25 99
Call out the instigator 'cos there's something in the air . . . .

Ray at 0:7:33 Monday January 25 99
Using the search engine (see above) I found: Fulham makes electronic ballasts for compact fluorescent, and ciruline lamps. They are available in multi lamp, and multivoltage versions. Amazing....

Ray at 23:32:12 Sunday January 24 99
OK - OK - I know its a stressful time but please leave out the 4 letter words - in future I'll cut the whole post and not do the **** bit. I know if we use words longer than 4 letter then Posh supporters wont understand but we can't have everything. btw - that report Steve sent us to has got to be one of the funniest things Ive seen for an age - lol!

Paul at 22:36:37 Sunday January 24 99
Why ATKINS?? PLEASE JUST MAKE LIKE A TREE... AND LEAVE! BE LIKE A BANANA ... AND SPLIT. just get out of here, and leave us with what we have left... the tatters of what was once a great team spirit.

Bozeat Cobbler at 22:34:27 Sunday January 24 99
There is an alleged dressing room split - the senior players are well and truly p***ed off with the way that Atkins treats the younger players (those under 30!!!).This has to be the time to change our leadership but one doubts whether the board or should that be committee have the balls to make such a decision? It has been obvious from the start of the season that there are several players who do not respect Atkins or his methods. Lets get behind the team on Saturday.

Mr POSH at 22:5:22 Sunday January 24 99
The bell begins to toll.....I did tell you at the start of the season and again at Christmas. You're finished.

Jayemm at 21:9:15 Sunday January 24 99
Dear Mr Mcrirrick, Thank you for your reply. You are absolutely right of course. Unfortunately I ahve only been lucky enough to see two matches but I love the Cobblers and follow them each week in the media. However, I will try not to turn a blind eye in future. Jayemm

The Luton Cobbler at 20:55:22 Sunday January 24 99
Just read on teletext that he's trying to sign Stuart Slater. Surely this must be some kind of mistake as he's not from Brum and under 6ft tall. Hang on though, he has been permanently injured for the last few years. He's been shown the door by Watford where he couldn't even get a game as ballboy. Yes this would seem to make sense.Another masterstroke by the boss

Poppies Pete at 20:48:47 Sunday January 24 99
I think you already are the third club in Northants, not in terms of supporters but in terms of the actual team. You should keep Atkins, as then we will see you at Rockingham Road next season!

The Angry Cobbler at 20:44:9 Sunday January 24 99
Atkins is right - we are losing because of a lack of experience. A lack of experience of having a nasty little ****** for a manager who couldn't pick a decent team for all the Birmingham shirts in the world. I hope the board do the decent thing and use the cash from Woodys sale to pay off Atkins and install John Ward ASAP. He got Bristol City promoted so maybe he can do a job for us as well. Atkins pathetic tactics, misguided self confidence, arrogance, inability to listen to anyone unless they talk in a brummie accent and panic buying whenever things don't go our way are going to get us broke, back in the third and worst of all made the third club in Northants. CAN'T YOU SEE SENSE STONHILL? SACK ATKINS NOW BEFORE ITS TOO LATE!!!

BAKA at 20:10:42 Sunday January 24 99
Atkins keeps saying that their losing due to a lack of experience, well what does he expect when he sells/gets rid all of the experienced players! p.s. Hartwell Cobbler, it wasn't the Nigerian who scored it was Bruno N'Gotty who is French.

Sid at 19:2:16 Sunday January 24 99
Ralph:- Answer to your Q........ All fallen out with Atkins at some point??

Steve at 18:32:49 Sunday January 24 99
I'm just trying to help you channel your agression Ralph. Don't be so moody.

The Luton Cobbler at 18:19:35 Sunday January 24 99
Isn't the Spratton Cobbler the one found at Franklins Gardens on FA Cup 3rd day ?

Ralph at 18:17:29 Sunday January 24 99
Drop your caps lock and I'll tell you.

DEBORAH at 18:14:10 Sunday January 24 99
WHO IS THE SPRATTON COBBLER?

DEBORAH at 18:13:11 Sunday January 24 99
WHAT WERE THE RUMOURS ABOUT WOODY???

Ralph at 18:9:19 Sunday January 24 99
Moanchester, Fulham, who gives a s**t. We're struggling here and are in dire need of sustenance.

Steve at 18:3:17 Sunday January 24 99
Anybody undecided which team they should be supporting when Moanchester play Fulham, have yourself a peek at the most biased & factually incorrect match report ever at http://freespace.virgin.net/d.guerra/OrmCobblers.htm

Steve at 18:1:42 Sunday January 24 99
Well, Patmore was fat and not very good. Er. What was the question again ?

Ralph at 17:57:4 Sunday January 24 99
What have Colin Hill, Dave Norton, David Seal, Ray Warburton, Andy Woodman, Carlo Corazzin, Martin Aldridge, Ian Bishop, Warren Patmore all got in common?

Ralph at 17:39:21 Sunday January 24 99
Well twenty-four hours after the game and you can tell I'm still so bloody well wound up! What is going on? WHAT IF THIS IS AS GOOD AS IT GETS? Someone offer me a crumb of comfort.

The Luton Cobbler at 17:37:30 Sunday January 24 99
Ralph is absolutely right about Deano. Hunter and Savage were superb at Stoke, especially in the first half. How come Atkins then splits up what potentially is an excellent mid-field pairing. The truth is he spends too much time worrying about the opposition and not enough on us. Will he ever wake up to the fact that it isn't always the players who get it wrong, it's his bloody tactics, lack of man-management skills and over all negative attitude

Ralph at 17:35:18 Sunday January 24 99
The very thing that made our success has gone too, the bloody defence. Colin Hill was like the veritable Dutchman running around plugging holes like fury. Thank gawd he got recalled!

Ralph at 17:32:8 Sunday January 24 99
The point is Ian Atkins appears to be a stubborn man and if he is not careful this stubborness, inability to man manage his staff, reluctance to listen to good advice will drag him, the club and the rest of us down to Southend next season.

Ralph at 17:28:38 Sunday January 24 99
I trust Roy was taken off due to an injury - he certainly seemed very down as he sat on the ground alongside the dugout. I know Peer has become a bit of a cult hero and we all like to chant DEE-NO, but his performance was way short of what is expected. He gives the ball away every time and when a pass is on lacks the vision. How can he get a game when Hunt and Savage are on the bench? Hunt can box-to-box just like Peer. We can sign Andy Clarke, Alan Bloody Shearer as well, but they wont score many if the chances are not being created.

The Angry Cobbler at 17:27:45 Sunday January 24 99
Has anyone noticed that most good teams don't change all of the time (like Arsenal - even my gran could name their first XI) and that most mediocre teams go through players like Barry Fry goes through the scum's club fridge (Newcastle, who used over 30 players last season). We have gradually sold off most of our first XI from last season (Woody, Razor, Heggs, Gayle) and replaced them with dross (Dobson, Wilko, Howey). How can you win games if the team doesn't know any of the other players. Our top draw players like Carlo should be in the team every week. Yes, we have had injuries to players like Clarkson but we have always had 14-15 fit players all season. We're not like Chelsea or the Cockney Reds - they can leave players like Flo and Scholes on the bench. Can you honestly say that Wilkinson is better than David Seal who only gets a place on the bench if he's lucky? It makes sense to always play your best team because they will be more likely to win. So, this is what I think our strongest team is: (5-3-2) Turley, Gibb, Spedding, Sampson, Howey, Hill, Hunter, Savage, Corazzin, Seal, Peer. Subs: Frain, Hunt, Freestone. Selling three players who have done as much if not more to get us to Wembley twice for £200k and replacing them with journeymen and lazy c**ts. We don't want to end up like the scum with a crap team, pathetic megolomaniac manager and no fans.

Ralph at 17:22:24 Sunday January 24 99
I believe the Lincoln game may well be a watershed in our season, if not Ian Atkins future. The players do not appear to be playing for him anymore. Too many have been bollocked unmercifully and they either want away or appear to be going through the motions. Just look at the strikers who have arrived looking fresh and full of confidence and within weeks been reduced to a shadow of their former selves; Freestone; Seal; Corrazin; even Larry had his fair share. It ain't good enough!

Ralph at 17:9:40 Sunday January 24 99
Spot on Hartwell Dave - Whilst I'm sorry to see Woody go, Billy Boy is our number one choice. What were those twots thinking of when they began the 'Where's our Woody gone?' chant. That said I disagree with JMc, Billy is not going through a bad patch, he still has a way to go before you can compere him to Woody. I've never seen a keeper beaten on his near post at a corner before!

Ralph at 17:5:17 Sunday January 24 99
Well, it has to be said, if this continues we'll be back visiting Underhill, Withdean Stadium, Plainmoor, et. al. next season. Lincoln were very poor and that sums up our performance.

John Mcrirrick at 16:28:59 Sunday January 24 99
Spot on, Hartwell Cobbler. Abuse before and during matches is completley out of order. What good do Cobblers supporters think abusing Billy Turley during the game will do ?, as occured yesterday. If the man is going through a crisis of confidence abusing him isn't going to help and may very well lead to a blunder. But we invest are hard earned money in Northamton Town and have every right to comment in forums such as this.

Hartwell Cobbler at 16:7:24 Sunday January 24 99
I've just watched the Bologna - AC Milan game on tv - at 2-2 and with ten minutes to go Milan introduced a 16-year-old Nigerian, who scored the winner with a free kick at the death. While great clubs are not scared to give young talent the chance to shine, why doesn't Atkins have the wisdom and foresight to give some of our prospects a game ? He's kept Warner back for years (I think he still believes he's 17!). The long-term future of most smaller clubs is in the home-grown players they bring on. We are seeing a constant stream of incoming players, most of whom are no better than the rest, some of whom are by any standards poor, others well past their sell-by dates and/or who seem to lack the interest and commitment to give even 50% on the pitch. This is costing the club money it doesn't have and is the road to ruin. This, plus Atkins tactics, are in danger of taking the club we all love back to square one. He must accept the long ball game will not succeed in tis Division. We caught teams out last year but they are all now prepared for us and we offer no surprises; just utter predictability from open play which plays into their hands all the time. Even our set pieces show no originality. The rise and fall is all very reminscent of the Carr and even the Bowen eras. The future lies in investing in youth and then using the talent which emerges (as do Man U to great effect). My criticism of the present regime is done out of the love for the club. It is meant to be constuctive. It's no use pretending all's well when clearly it's not. We should not just sit back and wait the Cobblers to sink back to Div 3. The least (and about all) we can and should do is make our voices heard. The one place I believe open criticism is of detriment is, though, on match days. I will always support the team on the day. But away from the game I refuse to remain silent. I've watched football (and the Cobblers) for over 40 years and I honestly cannot recall ever before seeing such negative, unimaginative and flawed tactics employed on a regular basis, week in week out.

BAKA at 16:7:14 Sunday January 24 99
Stuart Slater set to sign on a free (ex Celtic, West Ham, Ipswich and Watford). Hopefully he will add some width to the side.

John Mcrirrick at 15:9:23 Sunday January 24 99
Just a quick message to Ray to compliment you on your site, it's one of the best around and the new Away Travel section is excellent

John Mcrirrick at 15:0:44 Sunday January 24 99
Dearest Jayemm, all the supporters on this page who are criticising Ian Atkins don't want to support another team. We travel the country following the Cobblers and wan't to support a succesfull team. We are not prepared to sit back and say nothing while the team that we love falls apart. I am getting increasingly annoyed by the 'so called supporters' that dissaprove of criticism. You obviously didn't go yesterday as you couldn't defend that second half performance or team selection. My message to you is that we will be travelling week in week out next season, possibly to see third division football while you will be sitting at home listening to the away games on your radio still saying "don't be nasty, everything will be allright"

Jayemm at 14:13:6 Sunday January 24 99
I think that everyone who is criticising the Cobblers in a negative way should just go and support another team.They obviously cannot be positive when thaings are bad. Being gross and vulgar gets you nowhere. The team needs support right now. Get behind them - give them a lift. PS Andy Woodman wasn't brilliant everytime he played!!!

Sid (with GTA Results) at 13:37:37 Sunday January 24 99
Okay, on a lighter note away from all the Atkins Out chants, The GTA winner this week was Ray Dexeter, who's guess of 4,664 was the closest to 4,608, the actual attendance. I was 1 away from 3 points!!(my guess 4,357, 251 away!!) anyway, Richard Fletcher leades with 21 points, Ben Lee has 20, and the next best has 11 or 10 points. I will publih a league table soon, when I get time. If you want to guess for FULHAM (A) next Saturday, please e-mail me using the thing above, or come to my site. (you know the URL)

Sid at 13:33:22 Sunday January 24 99
Well, we can see the general concencous here now! Perhaps its time for a little quizlet again Ray

Stewart at 12:52:13 Sunday January 24 99
Enough is enough. Blaming it all on injuries and the number of youngsters is just unacceptable. If these youngsters had been given the opportunity when they deserved it they'd be more than ready for it now. Ian Atkins has taken the club as far as he can. Now it's time to go, before it's too late.

Dave at 12:25:22 Sunday January 24 99
What is going on? Are we determined to rip the spine out of our squad? Razor, Heggsy, then Woody, now Seal??? Somebody stop Atkins before he kills us!!

The Man at 12:19:14 Sunday January 24 99
YEA, I AGREE, GET THE F*** OUT OF HERE ATKINS. WE HAVE HAD ENOUGH. I PAID GOOD MONEY TO WATCH SHITE YESTERDAY. If the club does read this page, then PISS OFF AND SACK ATKINS BEFORE ITS TOO LATE. I have to say I agreed when the lincoln fans started chanting "Atkins is a wanker.".

Hartwell Cobbler at 12:14:43 Sunday January 24 99
Well, sadly, my long-held beliefs about Atkins sterile tactics are not going away. In fact with every pasing week the realisation is growing among fans that they lie at the heart of our problems. As I predicted early in the season, Corazzin wouldn't score many goals for us and would sooner or later be made another of Atkins scapegoats. This has, of course, happened. Many of the messages following Saturday's debacle clearly demonstrate the fact that without any creative midfield play, no forward is going to get many goalscoring opportunities. Corazzin et al have to feed on scraps - those few, fleeting chances which just happen to come along by the law of averages. There's no sense, reason or purpose in Atkins over-defensive, long bal, game. Most of the div 2 successful teams play the ball on the ground to feet. The real pity of it all is that Atkins either won't or can't bring himself to learn from his mistakes and change our dire style of play. If, as has been said here, Lincoln are bad and are going down, where does that leave us ? Having taken just one point from them ! Atkins has it all wrong and that's been the case for a long time, now. The writing was on the wall at Wembley last year, when Grimsby showed us the way to play the game and, frankly, over-ran us and might have scored three or four. But nothing seems to change under Atrkins. Same old tactics, which may have worked in div 3 but may be likely to return us there as well.

The Angry Cobbler at 11:54:13 Sunday January 24 99
And one more thing: DON'T PLAY CRAP CHRIS LEE EVER AGAIN ATKINS - EVER!

The Livid Cobbler at 11:52:25 Sunday January 24 99
Atkins must go NOW!! I've had enough of negative formations, crap tactics, misuse of our players and most of all boring long ball football. If God had meant football to be played in the sky, there would be grass in the clouds. Leave now Atkins before we go down. Anyway, my team for Sat v Fulham is: (5-3-2) Turley (seems we have no choice now Mr. Atkins), Gibb, Spedding, Sammo, Hughes, Hill, Hunter, Savage, CORAZZIN, Clarke, Peer. Subs: Freestone, Parrish, Frain. Has anybody noticed that we have not won this season at all when we play 5-2-3 - You have to have midfield to give service to strikers!!! ATKINS FOR THE SACK!!!

John Mcrirrick at 10:34:53 Sunday January 24 99
I have a grim message to all Cobblers fans that weren't lucky enough to witness the debacle that was yesterday afternoon. Get ready for the third division. For the first time this season I have to consider this an option. Yesterday we wre awful. Things looked good for the first twenty minutes without us really creating anything concrete, Clarke was wonderful, but then we were destroyed by what is quite frankly the worst team in the league (whatever Anne says). The second half was the worst performance by a Cobblers team I have ever seen, Lincoln ripped through are defence almost at will and to be quite honest it could have been 4 or 5, and would have been if they had a decent striker. Please remember whatever anyone says this Lincoln team are CRAP and WILL get relegated. Despite the stick they got from the crowd I dont blame the players, not a single one of them, they have no leadership at all. Atkins has lost the plot. 5-2-3 I ask you, What are the players to do, What motivation is there to play well when he drops our best players, starts with a shite formation and then brings off Roy Hunter. I am getting more and more angry with Atkins gragging us down to the third, we have a good team that playing well would comfortably be challenging for play off positions but instead his ego and excuses and incompetance are dragging us down. Don't tell me I'm being negative by making these comments, I spend good money following Northampton Town as do thousands of others and quite frankly we deserve better, at least a manager that is hell bent on survival

Dave at 1:59:13 Sunday January 24 99
bearing in mind the fact that when Woody had a new car Heggsy had his old one Im wondering who will be driving round in his old wheels now? is it a curse to your career at sixfields to be driving round with SWAN MOTOR CO plastered down the side of your car ? ? who next players beware ! !

ADE MILLER at 23:44:5 Saturday January 23 99
A COBBLER TILL I DIE !!!!!!!!!!!!!

m.p at 23:34:5 Saturday January 23 99
Is Mickey Adams looking for work? I know a team in desperate need.

Ray at 23:11:36 Saturday January 23 99
Well - it finally happened - Cobblers Comments made NUMBER ONE on soccersites!

The Ex-Happy Cobbler at 22:9:43 Saturday January 23 99
Well, I was there, and I wont swear here. However, its hard to describe what I saw without the use of harsh words. I dont care what anyone says about what he has done for us. Atkins has taken us as far as he can, but its just not working anymore. Oh, and CLarke was the most commited player on that pitch, he gave it everything and provided some entertainment. I am disgusted at the lack of effort shown by others, but must blame the low team morale rather than each player. Atkins.. GET LOST!!

Sid at 22:0:33 Saturday January 23 99
CHAT is on now, if anyone fancies it! come to http://members.xoom.com/cobblers and follow the instructions. Yep, the arrogance of atkins was really showing throught today!

poppies pete at 21:57:58 Saturday January 23 99
shame on northampton! they are really letting the county down. the poppies are easily the best team in the county at the moment, and even bloody rushden are better than you longballers. whats it like for the first time in your history to be the third best team in the county?

Hotel Ender at 21:23:59 Saturday January 23 99
if this comments page is as strong as its supposed to be (according to Woody and the press - this it what forced him out!) then I want to start the malicious gossip against Atkins - perhaps that might force that twat out too.

Anne at 20:25:38 Saturday January 23 99
Dr Evil, how can you expect Cobblers to improve their game if people like you keep dicouraging them? Ian Atkins is one of the best things that has happened to the club, ok so we're going through a bad patch right now, but there's no way we'll ever get back on form with the bad attitude of some fans like you, all the booing and swearing does make an effect on the player's games and, i say at the moment we should get behind the team more than ever. Even if fans like you do push Atkins to leave, will we be so much better off? Also, about the Lincoln, their position in the league does not reflect their current form, their last results explain why it was a hard match to win.

Robert Dunkley at 20:3:9 Saturday January 23 99
Huh! If Atkins blew kisses to us is that a sign he is quitting :-) This is another example of his arrogance and no doubt he will slag of their fans, we are entitled to voice our opinions and when you consider that mos teams around us, with limited resources and ambitions have sacked their managers, then i think we are jussified in questioning Atkins. If we give one mor emonth we will probably be botto, I was glad to see Colin Hill back in the team. If we've got problems in midfield it's not surprising, where was Savage, Warner etc, they can create chances.

Sid at 19:59:21 Saturday January 23 99
And my site has just reached 2,000!

Sid at 19:57:41 Saturday January 23 99
ermmmm........ I think it might be Ray Dexeter, I'm not sure of the actual attendance. But i will work it out later (after some booze!!!!!)

Sid at 19:55:59 Saturday January 23 99
CHAT - Might be able to make it tonight, I will be there around 10pm, maybe before though. And GTA........... i will just check who has won.

Sid at 19:55:2 Saturday January 23 99
Well, we played a 5-2-3 to start off with today, and i must say it worked. We totally outplayed Lincoln attacking-wise up to their goal, which was there first real chance. But the "Atkins Out" chants were a bit premature, but the obscenities shown to the players after the match was appaling behaviour from fans. Colin Hill looked disgusted with this ("Wanker" signs etc.)

BAKA at 19:20:33 Saturday January 23 99
Woody was never that good he was too shaky on crosses, but saying that nobody will ever live up to the legend of Peter Gleasure, who can forget his unique kicking style.

NOSEY PARKER at 19:6:0 Saturday January 23 99
Well did I say that Woody would be gone soon because of Atkins? Next on the list is Seal (who is on the transfer list did you know) and then Colin Hill also Micky Warner,Chris Lee whos contract runs out at the end of the season will be going as they are all pissed off with Atkins and his silly little mind games.I am sorry to say he has done a good job Atkins but he has to go for the clubs sake.

Norwich Cobbler at 18:56:10 Saturday January 23 99
I think we may on our way back from whence we came -same old Cobblers little bit of success and then back down with a bump. Don't know how we played today -doesn't really matter as we lost to the worst team in the league.Can anyone see us getting a result against Fulham? From what I'm told Ian Atkins has got a lot on enemies at the club thats hardly surprising considering some of the things that have gone on recently.If we go down he'll be out of a job and we'll be back be back with the rubbish if we escape perhaps he should still go.

Anon at 18:41:47 Saturday January 23 99
Hi, Saw your site today on "top soccer sites" list. We are there also so why don't we exchange links as well! Title: La Cancha World Cup 2002 url: http://www.lacancha.com Country: USA PLease give us your info: Title: url: Country: Gerard La Cancha World Cup 2002 http://www.lacancha.com

Dr.Evil at 18:39:12 Saturday January 23 99
So talk on the email group (to which I still can not post) has covered how we can use the £100K to invest in the squad. How about just using it to pay off Atkins. He has destroyed team moral with his press exclaimations and he is taking us back down. He has got rid of the best keeper we've had for a long time. Get while the goings good Atkins...while there's just 'some' of us who think you've ridden your luck too far. GO.

DAVE at 18:24:14 Saturday January 23 99
oh my go! another defeat...where does that leave us, league wise?

Robert Dunkley at 17:14:23 Saturday January 23 99
Well, yes. I do not think that Corazzin would have started, if he was not ill. I do not understand why Clarke is playing, wehn he has not even played in the stiffs!

Ray at 17:12:35 Saturday January 23 99
Yes - I listened on the radio - but its impossible to tell how we are doing with only amateur commentary.

Robert D at 17:9:32 Saturday January 23 99
So you were not listening to the Radio? Has your position on Atkins changed?

Robert at 17:8:38 Saturday January 23 99
Ray are you going into the chat room tonight? BTW Your- e-mails do not have your name on any more!

Ray at 17:8:11 Saturday January 23 99
Ive no idea how they played - I wasn't there. I didnt have my on my red cape with my underwear on the outside and fly back you know - lol!

Ray at 17:7:8 Saturday January 23 99
oh - and Fulham beat Aston Villa away in the cup.

robert dunkley at 17:6:2 Saturday January 23 99
Ray, how did we play? What formation ddi we play from the team on Soccernet it looked like a 6-2-2

Someone stop the rot! at 17:4:40 Saturday January 23 99
I am fed up, yet another defeat to lowly opposition, if there is a good turnout from Northampton say 1 000 + i wonder what they are chanting, okay I do not how they played but I can guess!

Ray at 17:4:32 Saturday January 23 99
Final Score: Lincoln 1 Cobblers 0 - Diremonds lose 3-1 - Kettering match abandoned at holf time due to floodlight failure - Saint win.

Ian at 17:0:47 Saturday January 23 99
Perhaps on the brighter side, Diremonds and Cheltenham lost at home while Kettering drew away.....it could happen!

robert at 16:59:21 Saturday January 23 99
Looks like another defeat, I am not sure what formation we played, but Turley, Gibb, Spedding, Sampson, Howey, Peer, Hunter, Clarke, freestone, Hill suggests a 6-2-2 formation

Anne at 16:21:50 Saturday January 23 99
Ok, so maybe Woody kept us in the Worthington Cup, but remember those goal kicks? dodgy or what? I support Atkins in what he decides to do, and if it's playing Turley then so be it.

clare at 15:55:30 Saturday January 23 99
wheres andy gone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dickie at 15:50:20 Saturday January 23 99
Oh god, 1 nil down. I hate ceefax.

Ray at 12:52:46 Saturday January 23 99
Looking for something on the Internet? Please use the "goto.com" box above. Not only is this an excellent search engine - each time you use it it generates revenue for this site!

ANTHONY HOILE at 11:56:4 Saturday January 23 99
HOW ABOUT A TEAM PHOTO OR GROUND PHOTO THAT CAN BE USED AS WALLPAPER. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK NORTHAMPTON UNDER SUCH HARD TIMES . THANKS FOR A GOOD WEB PAGE.

Robert Dunkley at 11:39:43 Saturday January 23 99
Sid, I will try and sort it out, my Dougie one took a matter of muntes to set up, so when I do I will post it here, are you still going to be on the chat page around 10pm? I must admit I do look out for Lincoln's results as I was born there, but I have lost all interst in them following that match. I reckon we will lose, and that could be that for IA. I would like to see an outsider come in, Steve Wignall who has taken Colchester to lower-middle table on no spending at all could be a good choice, John Ward is only on a monthly contract at Wolves, the chance of management for him may be a good offer, or Paul Fairclough formally at Stevenage, a manager who deserves the chance of managing a league team.

Sid at 10:31:19 Saturday January 23 99
Oh and I forgot something. Woody, you have easily been one of the best keepers in the history of NTFC, even though you have been here for 4 years. If anyone could do a tribute book like we did with Dougie, but on a larger scale, i'm sure it would be appreciated by woody and the supporters.

Sid at 10:16:57 Saturday January 23 99
And so we go and sign some OLD keeper to cover him?? WHY?? He needs to explain his actions before its too late, because there is some mighty P**sed-off supporters here.

Sid at 10:15:17 Saturday January 23 99
I cannot believe this. There is only one person to blame for Woody going in my mind!! ATKINS! Only 3 months ago he single handedly kept us in the Worthington Cup, and we repay him with a transfer to a lower division club?!?!? I wonder what will be chanted on the terraces in todays game!

Sid at 10:12:28 Saturday January 23 99
NNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!! WHY HAVE THEY JUST SOLD OUR BEST KEEPER TO SOME THIRD DIVISION CRAP!!!!! DO THE CLUB WANT TO GET US RELEGATED?!?!?!?!? I'm sorry, but thats just put me in a bad mood for the rest of the day!

Poachers Ears at 9:51:49 Saturday January 23 99
Whos going to kick your arses on saturday!

Ray at 22:48:33 Friday January 22 99
*sigh* second place - and guess whos top......

Barnes Wallis at 21:50:26 Friday January 22 99
Hi All, I live in Lincoln and would love to play in goal for you Saturday... I hear you need a decent keeper. I am really good on the bouncing stuff so should be able to keep those damn Imps out!! Anyway look forward to watching a classy NTFC performance, only marginally outclassed by the Mighty Imps! Good game! lots of fun! Chox away!! AIR RAID INBOUND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bozeat Cobbler at 21:23:12 Friday January 22 99
Does anybody else out there think that our esteemed Manager has gone completely barking mad? On a completely different tact - what is happening with the supposed ground improvements (Floodlights,increased capacity) Sorry to be so boring!!!!!!!

TRB Mark at 21:20:45 Friday January 22 99
One of the things said yeaterday by IA was that Woody's wife was'nt happy living in Northampton and wanted to move back to London. Good Luck Woody, I think you deserve better than Brentford! Oh and Rob the Diremonds band wagon glory hunter has kindly left his email address so I suggest we send him a mail bomb every day until he comes back here begging forgivness.

Andy Woodman at 20:54:59 Friday January 22 99
Well suckers, I told you I would be heading for a big Premiership side. and now here I am. Oh - hang on a minute this chart is upside down.

Kevin Hitchcock at 20:41:20 Friday January 22 99
Mr Atkins, See you are a keeper or two short, well as John Inman would say I'm free - so come and get me.. Now I've mastered French, Italian, Spanish and Dutch in the Chelsea dressing room it's time for a new challenge - who needs the Premiership when I have a golden chance to learn and become fluent in Brummie. As a bonus I am over 30, have a big kick and almost signed for Birmingam a couple of years ago - unfortunately I am rather talented which will probably get right up your nose...Also I have a soft spot for Seals and was a founder member of the SOS campaign

BAKA at 19:53:27 Friday January 22 99
Go to Labrokes and they will give you 5-2 for Everton to score, they don't even have to win. However, they will win tomorrow look out for a lad called Phil Jevons up front. Atkins could have got him on loan rather than Clarke, come on Ian do your old club a favour he could do with experiance.

Norwich Cobbler at 19:42:26 Friday January 22 99
I sit here amazed and very sad - in the space of just a few months we have sold the best centre half the club has probably ever had and now the best goalie since.....Alan Starling?Woody - who saved that penalty at Wembley,who put on a top draw display against WestHam at Upton Park and has been my youngest daughters hero since seeing him at Wembley in 97.Woody said once in a match programme that he'loved this club' - I doubt very much that he loves it now.I wonder if this all goes back to the West Ham game and Woody being quoted as saying 'Come and get me' to the Premiership Clubs.Did Ian Atkins decide to bring him down a peg or two? Ian I have got nothing but admiration for what you have done for the Cobblers but if we get relegated this season your postion will be untenable after selling Razor & Woody - two Cobblers heroes. Spend the money wisely - thanks Woody for your loyalty and committment you will always be one of the best goalies we've ever had.

The Shropshire Cobbler at 19:13:32 Friday January 22 99
I just love to read the stuff from the morons - some fabulous spelling & grammatical mistakes - we should have a prize for the best one of the season (remember the Fulham one??). It's a wonder some of these people can type ....

The Shropshire Cobbler & his Dad at 19:9:49 Friday January 22 99
What's all this about Frainy being suspended & Woody being sold to Brentford?? Any news about getting another keeper? (if only on loan). Any news on Clarkie? We still think John Frain is an excellent player, but definitely not suited to centre-back (a la Stoke match).

Rob at 19:2:9 Friday January 22 99
I am a Rushden & Diamonds fan and I really hate Northampton Town. We have Max you have some poor feller who can't even afford a new suite. So long corn on the cobs, see ya soon!

Northampton Gas at 18:56:50 Friday January 22 99
If Woody is sold, you can bid for that plonker Torpey of the s**t

Gavin at 18:36:42 Friday January 22 99
What a bad week, especially with Danny Baker's superb saturday phone-in on Talk Radio being axed, now no more Woody, life will never be the smae.

Gavin at 18:34:34 Friday January 22 99
I can't believe Woody's going! I've been hearing rumours that we're going to sign a keeper from Huddersfield on a free - anybody else heard anything?

The Ex-Happy Cobbler at 18:18:56 Friday January 22 99
Ahhhhhh........ WE SOLD HIM!!! WHY??? WHY ATKINS, what are you doing man?? I seriously dont believe that I will be wathing the man who made three BAD mistakes in the Stoke game in goal at the Lincoln game. I just hate this!! Up till now most of the supporters have been behind him, but now. Forget it mate, I give Atkins a month. Were already down.

Ray at 17:59:9 Friday January 22 99
... and now they have..... latest news has just been posted......

Ray at 17:3:41 Friday January 22 99
It aint official til the club say something......

Joe at 16:59:50 Friday January 22 99
I can't believe no-one has commented on here yet there Andy Woodman is apparently joining Brentford today for 100k. Well that's what nob-head Andy Roberts reckons in The Chron

Anon at 16:31:14 Friday January 22 99
No problem Ray, I'll say it again just for 'Big Man' the Reading fan. 6-0 at HOME to Bristol Rovers, hahahahahahahahahahahaha. Here's to 3 points at Lincoln tomorrow. Great weekend for footy fans, Man U v Liverpool, Villa upset against Fulham (I don't think so), have a good one !

Sid at 16:27:56 Friday January 22 99
Hi, Okay then. About 30 hits to go to make my site hit 2,000!!! As Ray seems to have many hits today (Have you been No.1 yet on soccer-sites!?!?) I want 2,000 by the time I leave for the Lincoln game tomorrow. For all who dont know my address, its http://members.xoom.com/cobblers So go along and have a look before you finish work etc. etc. Thanks to all those who have done GTA this week aswell. Also, I might be able to make CHAT this wekend, so come along to the chat room at 10:00pm tomorrow and i will speak to you then.

Ray at 16:23:41 Friday January 22 99
Sorry Wobbler - I accidently deleted your msg when I was clearing out the pig sty

TOM REED at 14:45:32 Friday January 22 99
I DID NOT WRITE THE MESSAGE BELOW. I HATE RUSHDEN AND DIAMONDS WITH A PASSSION. MY EX FRIEND WROTE IT. HIS NAME IS RICHARD MONTEIRO HIS EMAIL ADDRESS IS RMONTEIRO@WESTON.RMPLC.CO.UK. HE LIVES IN ECTON NORTHAMPTON. PLEASE ABUSE HIM

The Happy Cobbler at 13:41:1 Friday January 22 99
Hey Tom Reed, I bet you used to support Man U. Then it was a quick break and move to Blackburn when they won the Championship, then back to Man U when they were good again. Oh, and I`m sure it was Arsenal last season that you supported. I think what I am trying to say is you are not a great loss. Anyway, as for the Lincoln game. 2-1 to the Cobblers, and I will be there to see it.

Adam at 13:37:13 Friday January 22 99
Unfortunately it is £13 & £8, sorry. We're tad cash strapped and the club are trying to walk that fine balance between not deterring too many fans with high prices and not losing revenue by having prices lower (the big clubs can affrd lower prices). We're still losing £5,000 a week and have the second lowest (at last check) wage bill in the country. Anyway, the Stacey West terrace is the best noisebox in the country, so it does work to your advantage. And at least you're able to stand, we have no home terracing. Finaly: always laugh at people who don't know where their Capslock key is...

Martin Bjertness at 12:38:46 Friday January 22 99
A good page, but my page is better. Martin Bjertness!!!!!!!!!!!!

TOM REED at 12:1:8 Friday January 22 99
HELLO FOR THE LAST TIME, I HAVE DECIDED TO HAND IN MY BADGE OF HONOUR, AND STOP BEING A COBBLERS SUPPORTER, I HAVE DECIDED TO FOLLOW THE ALL NEW GREAT, RUSHDEN AND DIAMONDS FOOTBALL CLUB. THEIR PLAY AND DEDECATION IS OUTSTANDING. SO I LEAVE YOU LOOSERS AND MOVE TO A BETTER TEAM, I HOPE YOU WILL E-MAIL ME AND TELL ME THAT I HAVE MADE THE RIGHT CHOICE. UNTIL THE NEXT TIME, "SLEEP TIGHT YOU MORANS"

Mary Whitehouse at 11:1:4 Friday January 22 99
Ray,theres a message on thursday 20:38 that should be removed really.

dave at 10:56:15 Friday January 22 99
Frain should not be captain. Who will be captain on Saturday?

Mystic Meg at 9:14:31 Friday January 22 99
In addition to a welcome Cobblers win tomorrow at Sincil Bank, the FA Cup 4th round will see all the Welsh teams go into the 5th round draw, and Portsmouth too. The Lottery numbers will be 3, 9, 11, 21, 30 and 44. If Steve Rider says "So, what a good day for the Welsh, and what about that performance from Portsmouth, eh?" then you know it's time to get a quid on the Lottery . . . .

Paul S at 9:11:3 Friday January 22 99
Sad computer programmer claims visit 65536

Michel Chiasson at 2:42:0 Friday January 22 99
Hi, Hi I looking for one month accomodations (couch, hole in wall), basically anything better than a cardboard box...in London for March or April of 1999. I am a Canadian Medical student who will be doing a rotation at a London Hopsital. If anyone has any ideas on how I can find some accmodations, please email me, thanks!!

Ray at 2:4:26 Friday January 22 99
Damien has now played 2 full matchs - so hopefully he will soon be in contention for a first team place.

RICHARD at 1:20:56 Friday January 22 99
Anyone: I read on the e-mail list recently that one Damien Matthew made an appearance. Is this the prelude to a first team berth before the end of the season?

RICHARD at 1:16:14 Friday January 22 99
Adam: Nice to hear from genuine fans. We of course will be overflowing with praise for the Imps after the game - provided we snaffle the vital 3 points!

RICHARD at 1:13:16 Friday January 22 99
Poor Cobbler: It's a long way from the Us of A!

Poor Cobbler at 22:41:38 Thursday January 21 99
I have had so little money recently that I havn't been able to afford to go to Sixfields this season.

League against the prevention of cruelty to Classy Cobblers at 22:20:33 Thursday January 21 99
I wish I was at the Trust meeting, I'd interogate Atkins till he resigned on the spot. I reckon we will lose to Lincoln and be thrashed by Fulham, as Atkins is playing a dodgy formation. Thankfully, Frain is suspended as he is useless as a centre back! Atkins will probably go for Hope, Howey and Sampson at the back. I also reckon that Savage will be dropped, and he will go for a Peer Hunt, Hunter, midfield with, Clarke and Wilkinson up front. Corazzin will be on the bench with Hughes and Warner. I personally would sack Atkins now, but even if we win all our games he should not be manager if he carries on in his cronyism, arrogant fashion.

League against the prevention of cruelty to Classy Cobblers at 22:20:15 Thursday January 21 99
I wish I was at the Trust meeting, I'd interogate Atkins till he resigned on the spot. I reckon we will lose to Lincoln and be thrashed by Fulham, as Atkins is playing a dodgy formation. Thankfully, Frain is suspended as he is useless as a centre back! Atkins will probably go for Hope, Howey and Sampson at the back. I also reckon that Savage will be dropped, and he will go for a Peer Hunt, Hunter, midfield with, Clarke and Wilkinson up front. Corazzin will be on the bench with Hughes and Warner. I personally would sack Atkins now, but even if we win all our games he should not be manager if he carries on in his cronyism, arrogant fashion.

Sid at 21:18:54 Thursday January 21 99
thats £13 adults and £8 concessions, sorry, forgot to add that.

Sid at 21:18:4 Thursday January 21 99
Bloody quiet around at the mo! Anyway, I think Lincoln prices this weekend (and i dont want to put you off) are £13 and £8 terracing in the Stacey West Stand. Correct me if i'm wrong (i hope i am!!) but thats a bit steep. there deerest tickets is the same price, and thats for seating!

Ray at 17:56:26 Thursday January 21 99
What I want to know is - why can't we catch the Swindon site on the top 100? We were number 2 this morning and b****r me if they weren't number 1.

Swindon Fan at 17:42:6 Thursday January 21 99
I stumbled on this by mistake. I suppose we do have something in common - Nationwide. Do we both hate Oxford ?

Rob McCulloch at 17:21:29 Thursday January 21 99
I am a cobblers fan living in blackburn studying and I am wondering if there are other cobblers fans up in Lancs or any supporter clubs. If there contact me throught my e - mail (robert.mcculloch@talk21.com). Also I wonder if anyone knows where I can get the videos fo rthe two wembley trips.

hartwell cobbler at 17:2:11 Thursday January 21 99
Adam - thanks for your welcome to Sincil Bank on Sat. Although I thought some of your players went over the top here, I don't bear any ill-will towards Lincoln fans. The truth is that, earlier this season, both teams can be fairly criticised for playing some agricultural stuff. Happily we have begun to play a somewhat more open game (although I read the other day that Atkins is thinking of returning to the long ball rubbish - due no doubt to the fear factor). I have also read that as a result of Lincoln's managerial change and the chairman taking over team selection, your game is now more fluid. It should, therefore, be a good game on Saturday. I agree, a draw seems the likely result. Oh, and incidentally you may be interested to know that both clubs' chairmen and their wives are very good friends - I believe they both have property in Marbella (or they certainly meet up there). Anyway, as Adam says, good to hear sensible comment from genuine fans, whoever they support. Thanks for coming onto the site that Ray built!

Adam at 16:48:44 Thursday January 21 99
Er, just thought I'd better point out that my previous comments weren't meant as a comment on the meaage board. Just footy sites in general. Sorry if it offended.

Adam at 16:35:43 Thursday January 21 99
Rail Man: Okay, no worries. I would like to be generous (it'd be great to be in that position), but I hope you understand our need for points. Anyway, it's the sort of game that could go either way (Brian). A draw is likely, but that wouldn't help either team, really. Oh, and most fans are decent. The arseholes just make most of the noise on the websites and stuff (I'd like to think I'm helping to reverse that trend, but I'm sure there are those who think I'm perpetuating it). Cheers.

Rail Man at 16:24:3 Thursday January 21 99
Adam - no, I won’t be going to the match at Lincoln unfortunately. But thanks very much for your welcome, and your offer of directions: it’s good to know that there are decent fans out there (Andy C at Gillingham being another who springs to mind). Hope you enjoy the game, hope it’s a cracker whichever way the result goes. Current form shows our teams as almost inseparable: we have one more goal than you in the last 6 games - a draw likely, but both in need of a win, badly. All the best!

Wobbler at 16:23:12 Thursday January 21 99
The Walsall match has been re-arranged for Tuesday, February 23rd. Kick-off at 7.45pm.

Dickie Davies at 16:1:45 Thursday January 21 99
When has the Walsall match been re-arranged for ???

Adam at 15:38:57 Thursday January 21 99
Quite low apparently. I don't currently live in Lincoln (hence will be getting the train), but I hear from RAF Waddington that they're not expecting much/any more rain, and though the pitch is a bit heavy, it's certainly playable on. There has been no play on it since Bournemouth, so it should be okay. Having said that, if it does rain I'd check before leaving.

Paul S at 15:3:59 Thursday January 21 99
Hi Adam, I see the reserve match was postponed, so what's the likelyhood of Saturdays match being called off?

Adam at 14:51:11 Thursday January 21 99
Due to the supposed bad blood between our clubs (though I can't believe there's that much at the fans' level) I'd like to extend a welcoming hand to all Cobblers fans coming to our fair City on Saturday. Two Points: 1) Rail Man, do you need directions to Sincil Bank from the station? If you know what train you're on, might be able to meet up and I'll show you the way. Otherwise I can give you directions. 2) Ralph, are you about? We were supposed to meet up for a beer.

Ray at 14:39:15 Thursday January 21 99
LOL - rail man. OK - I'll see what I can do. In the meantime a good place to check with trains etc it to go to the "Coming to a match?" option on the main menu here and there is a link where u can find all the train times from anywhere to anywhere.

Ray at 14:10:19 Thursday January 21 99
Problem about giving advice on shares is that legislation prevents u from doing so - so as a non qualified advisor - lol - anyone can hold shares in NTFC - all you have to do is buy them - I think the going rate at the moment is £3 a share with a minimum holding of 50....phone the club - they will be able to tell you.

Rail Man at 14:5:41 Thursday January 21 99
Ray, can you try to find some directions for public transport users to put onto your excellent away travel map? I'll be using trains for most matches I go to (despite the problems experienced by others on this site). I have no car now because yesterday my wife reversed my car out of the garage; trouble was that I'd reversed it into the garage the night before . . .

SBJ at 14:1:18 Thursday January 21 99
Would I have to be a member of the Trust to hold a share in NTFC?

Robert Dunkley at 12:13:0 Thursday January 21 99
You can find some Trust information on my website, on http://freespace.virgin.net/robert.dunkley/ntfc/ It includes a brief history of the supporters trust and other intersting information, remember also that WALOC which comes out six times a season always has an article from Brian Lomax, our representative on the board.

Wobbler at 12:5:4 Thursday January 21 99
Has eveyone left for Lincoln already ????

Ray at 11:56:36 Thursday January 21 99
Quiet aint it?

Paul S at 9:5:8 Thursday January 21 99
Dickie, it is the trust that provides the community with a voice at NTFC at board level. We have a democratically elected member (Brian Lomax) who represents the interests of the trust, and therefore the local community on the board. The trust was instrumental, with Barry Ward, in the survival of the club in its darkest days. They arrange regular meetings where a member of the board or club management or sometimes others (eg Stadium Manager, Police etc.) are present for questions and answers. Of course you get brown nosers and bolshie fans, but quite often there is a genuine transfer of information and it comes from the horses mouth. The trust monies are invested directly in the club and in return we own shares in the club (approx 8 percent I think). This meeting is due to be attended by Ian Atkins - who makes a regular appearances. In the past both IA and Barry Stonhill appeared just after the Hegg/Warburton debacle to argue their case. You don't have to be a member to attend these meetings so come allong and find out whats going on.

Ray at 23:0:55 Wednesday January 20 99
Well .... I have offered to have a link on here to give information about the Trust - and I believe they are in the process of writing their own web site - so hopefully more information should be forthcoming soon.

Dickie at 22:45:27 Wednesday January 20 99
I'm an infrequent visitor to Sixfields, 7-8 matches per season for the last two years (Wembley of course) and as I live in the South of the county we get the Banbury Guardian rather than the Chronic (well, wouldn't you?). Therefore I am ignorant about the "Trust". Yes, there is Trust news in the programme, I know that there are trips to away games and it's something GOOD for the club. I know there are meetings and that it is discussed in Cobblers Comments. I even went into the shop and asked for information once - all they could give me was an application form, which didn't say why I should apply. Surely if this is a good thing for the club, and the club has attracted new supporters, then it should be better advertised. I can afford £5, but with nothing in my 8 prograames a year, on the club's website or on the information handed out from the shop, I may as well spend it on 7 tins of Carling at Londis (yes, they still have their Christmas offer running - who over-ordered???).

Bozeat Cobbler at 20:32:33 Wednesday January 20 99
This is the first time that i have visited this site. Look out for many more visits from me.

Norwich Cobbler at 20:24:51 Wednesday January 20 99
This weekend is a mega important match -league postion is one thing but what went on at Sixfields in September was well out of order. I visited the ground to arrange a birthday visit for my daughter (brilliant day out cost £120.00 for 2 adults 2 kids meal seats with the nobs access to players bar and a shirt for the birthday girl presented by Woody try it -day to remember)following the Lincoln match and was given a description of events by Colin Leggett(Marketing Manager) apparently the Lincoln players had a good laugh about Clarky at half time and so I was told their assistant manager walked out of the changing room because he was so disgusted.Atko also had words with the Lincoln directors after the match telling them in no uncertain words what he thought of the Lincoln players.I'm sure the Cobblers players won't need much winding up for Saturday but they need to remember that they are playing for Ian Clarkson -revenge is too harsh a word -3 points sounds much better Remind them Ian in your prematch talk and lets get 3 points and help to put Lincoln back down where they belong!(with Fat Boy Frys Pooborough)

Ray at 18:36:1 Wednesday January 20 99
There was a message in the email group that Chris Chambers has a season ticket for sale fo rthe remainder of the season for £100 - West T62 - he can be contacted at 07801 423911 or by mailing northampton@clara.net - please mention Cobblers Comments.

Sid at 18:23:16 Wednesday January 20 99
Paul, it would help if i was a season ticket holder, But i know what you mean!

BAKA at 18:21:0 Wednesday January 20 99
The reserve team game at Moor Green was cancelled. It had been hoped that Clarke would play.

Ray at 18:12:57 Wednesday January 20 99
oh - Ive Ive deleted all posts containing the f*** comments. (I think)

Ray at 17:27:12 Wednesday January 20 99
Oh dear - calamity - this site is really going down hill - we are now only in 2nd. place in the top 100....

anon at 17:7:14 Wednesday January 20 99
Returning to 5% payments of TV deals from premiership, I thought that this money wasto be spent on youth teams only. Anyway they have only offered it now as a desparate bribe.

Ray at 17:5:32 Wednesday January 20 99
Woof.... thanks!

The Shropshire Cobbler at 16:23:29 Wednesday January 20 99
This site has gone to the dogs (bit like our team at the moment).

Ray at 11:10:54 Wednesday January 20 99
Sorry bored - I normally cut these things out - but Ive been a bit busy....

pca at 10:45:48 Wednesday January 20 99
does anyone know how the practice game against Moor Green went last night?

boring...yes I know but.. at 10:17:13 Wednesday January 20 99
Ive noticed recently the considerable increase in the of '**** words'. Up to now my kids read this page as well, so if it can be cut down a bit it would be appreciated.

TRB Mark at 9:38:1 Wednesday January 20 99
I will give a report on the Trust meeting if I am there. My wife's due date is today but so far, the heir to my artistic genes has failed to put in an appearence thus far. One person who is due to put in an appearence at the meeting is IA. Thanks for the congrats Gareth, with last year's donation, the cards have made £1,050 for the Trust so far! There was never any limit on the attendance for reserve games. The problem was that the club only thought about 3,000 (and think about it 3,000 for a reserve game!) would turn up and made provision (ie number of stewards) for 4,700, which even the most optomistic person before the game would have said was more than enough. In the end it was'nt! I think Sid's guess the Attendance comp would be more of a challenge for reserve games as the attendances are much more likely to be unpredictable. And of course we don't seem to play fist team games at home any more!

Paul S at 9:9:50 Wednesday January 20 99
Sid, I suggest that you and all other season ticket holders go to the ticket office and ask for tickets to ALL the remaining Reserve games. As a Season ticket holder holder we are entitled to them so they should supply them.

Ray at 1:49:23 Wednesday January 20 99
The memorial says: "Erected to the memory of Swansea Jack, the Brave Retriever who saved 27 human and 2 canine lives from drowning. Loved and mourned by all dog lovers. Died December 2nd 1937 at the age of 7 years. Ne'er had mankind more faithful friend than thou; who oft thy life didst lend to save some human soul from death. Owner and trainer WM Thomas."

Ray at 1:48:4 Wednesday January 20 99
Cant tell you a lot about Swansea Jack - but theres a page about him at http://www.folkclub.com/html/wonderdogs.html wich includes a picture of the memorial.

Stuart Burt at 23:9:39 Tuesday January 19 99
gareth I'm willing to present medals, cups, etc at any local final And if Atko needs an assistant, just call ...

David at 21:29:23 Tuesday January 19 99
Can anybody tell me a little about ''Swansea Jack'' ? Some sources say Jack was a Retriever, whilst others will say he was a Newfoundland. I know the plaque is dedicated to a Retriever but his lifesaving skills are more in line with a Newfoundland. Regards.

SOS at 19:11:6 Tuesday January 19 99
Seal, Seal, Seal!!

Sid at 18:21:16 Tuesday January 19 99
I think making the Cobblers Family Football effectively All Ticket is a bad idea. Seeing as we will only possibly reach that capacity again against Chelsea, they putting pressure on people to buy beforehand when there isn't any need to, especially for matches that aren't popular. I also think their "limit" of 4,800 for a reserve game is a bit stupid. Do they need a limit?? Its going a bit far on the basis of one game, where the former England captain was playing. Not surprising they underestimated the Cobblers fans (and Arsenal fans) coming down to watch! They could make more money if they employed more stewards for the game against Chelsea, then more fans could come in. Also, does anyone know if whatever seat it says on your ticket, you have to sit there?? It was a farce last time.

Ray at 17:3:25 Tuesday January 19 99
Unfirtunately I can't either - so I'll leave you in the capable hands of Mark (well volunteered Mark! :)

Gareth at 16:40:9 Tuesday January 19 99
Mark. Well done on the cards!!! Ray, is there any chance of putting a report of the Trust meeting on the guestbook. I would be interested to hear what is said, but I can't attend myself.

lincoln cobbler at 15:38:15 Tuesday January 19 99
ok see you there at 2

Ray at 15:18:54 Tuesday January 19 99
The supporters coaches are normally timed to arrive about 1 hour b4 KO

lincoln cobbler at 15:0:54 Tuesday January 19 99
What time is the supporters coach intending to arrive at sincil bank on saturday?

SBJ at 14:50:30 Tuesday January 19 99
If the TV went through, I wonder if NTFC would consider selling their TV rights to Telecential or whichever cable company it is that serves the Northampton area. In my area of SW London many of the non-league clubs contribute towards our local cable telecomms providers' football round-up programme: 2 hours a week of coverage of non-league / Sunday league teams in Sutton, Wimbledon, and much of Surrey. Hopefully OFT will realise the mistake they could be making . . .

mathew sweeney at 14:49:20 Tuesday January 19 99
i love everton i do

The Happy Cobbler at 14:9:46 Tuesday January 19 99
I see the post before about the 5% that is set aside for grassroots. Well, the present court argument between the Premier League clubs and the OFT (Office Of Fair Trading) is in danger of ending that. The fools at the OFT are trying to make it so that EACH club could go and sell their OWN tv rights. So big clubs would make more, and NOT have to pay the 5% uder the present deal to the grassroots. What a bunch of fools, I think that they are missing the plot!

Ray at 13:35:29 Tuesday January 19 99
Can anyone tell me why the Swindon site is so popular? - particularly as the link in the Top 100 doesn't go there?

SBJ at 12:24:34 Tuesday January 19 99
Just looking at Brian Lomax's letter (Guardian 12 Jan): he notes that the Premier clubs have signed up to a deal by which 5% of their Sky revenues are to be "earmarked for the grassroots". Do we know how the Football Task Force plan to allocate this 5%? Presumably it will go on features such as ground improvements for disabled access, club-in-the-community schemes etc? But do we know if there is to be a bidding system, in which clubs have to prove how poor they are in order to secure money? I would imagine that Chester, being a broke Div 3 club, would be in a strong position to gain funds, while Fulham would not. Oxford, though above Fulham, are in as bad a state as Chester - maybe they deserve funds over and above clubs with decent grounds lower down the leagues (Millwall, or us)? Interesting to see whether factors such as attendances, chairman's wealth, commercial outlets etc are taken into account. Are details about the distribution of the money available on the Internet / elsewhere within access?

anon at 11:29:44 Tuesday January 19 99
I agree with Terry Hawes we probably won't get to the Premiership, lets hold out for the European Superleague, yeh right. I think people should be more realistic with targets, cause then we might attain them.

TRB Mark at 10:21:52 Tuesday January 19 99
Forgot to say, here is a Trust meeting on Thursday evening (I assume it's the usual time/place ~7.30 at the Sporting bar)

TRB Mark at 10:20:8 Tuesday January 19 99
I have just had the final figures in for the Christmas card and the tidy sum of £516 was raised for the Trust as well as £33 for the Macmillan fund for cancer releif. I have to say a big thanks to Nationwide who have been a dream to work with and I'm glad that I have my Mortgage and accounts with them. Thanks also to all Cobblers fans who bought the cards. I know it may seem a long time off to you but I am already thinking of this years card and as soon as I have some ideas I will put it up on my website for your opinions.

SBJ at 9:24:7 Tuesday January 19 99
That Swindon site must be buzzing. Demon's own football club links page lists Notts County in the third division, which must please the Magpies. Always seems to be least to say on the days when I've got most free time on the Internet. Looking forward to Fulham on 30/1. Cobblers win, of course. Hope they haven't sold out of programmes like they usually do.

Wilf at 8:14:26 Tuesday January 19 99
Thankyou for your kind regards Richard, give my love to the Palace Pier.

Ray at 0:43:26 Tuesday January 19 99
.... and yet for some obscure reason you are down in 14th. place in the top 100.....

Ray at 0:38:30 Tuesday January 19 99
715685 hits since 1st. January? hmmm.......

Ray at 0:37:9 Tuesday January 19 99
Have the Cobblers been pencilled in for the World Cup then Gerard?

Gerard at 23:41:47 Monday January 18 99
Hello Now that you have linked with Footballpages.com, we highly recommend that you also place a link on your site leading to us. See our info below: Title: La Cancha World Cup 2002 url: http://www.lacancha.com Now send us your info if you would like to exchange links. (1) Title: (2) url: (3) Country: Thank you Gerard Robbins La Cancha World Cup 2002 http://www.lacancha.com

Terry Hawes at 22:2:21 Monday January 18 99
When January 30 comes and the white and black of Fulham play the claret of Northampton, the result will only justify my earlier claim that the Cobblers are a better football club with better fans and a better stadium. I know what you are thinking. What in the hell is this guy talking about? Trust me, it will all blow up in their faces, they won't be in the Premier League, mind you we probably won't be either. However, we are progressing in the right direction despite our standing right now, Atkins should stay as manager and I know one thing is definitely true...give me Northampton Town over Fulham anyday. They willnot lose at Craven Cottage on January 30...guaranteed!

RICHARD at 22:2:10 Monday January 18 99
Ralf: Regards to Wilf

Halifax Mooseheads at 21:59:42 Monday January 18 99
So. -- what the heck is up with the cobblers season ... underachieving bastards... just when you thought the blokes were gonna move up to the first division they're still playing the likes of lincoln and other backwater clubs that dont even come close to the majestic glory the cobblers should currently be achieving... what's next? shitborough again? exeter? torquay? hull? what to do with the situation... ok, first sixfields appears to be cursed... total demolition may be an option if firing the manager and his entire staff fails... why not make Bob Lenarduzzi manager of this club... certainly can't be much worse than the bastard they have now... Cobblers fans must make some noise about this cause the club right now is the dog's bollocks. Maybe placing Margaret Thatcher in a burning sixfields might drum up the extra cash this club needs to sign a few decent french players.

Amanda at 21:58:4 Monday January 18 99
Thats two home games we have to fit in this season now

Ralph at 21:1:33 Monday January 18 99
Rushden and Diamonds, love them or, apparently, hate them, they are a tribute to Max Griggs. It's one thing having money and another spending it so dilligently. It's a crying shame that he could have spent it with us. Does anyone really know the true story as to why he left us in the first place? During a certain Dick Underwood's reign as I remember. Dick Underwood, he of the here comes a market stall holder think I better off load my Cobblers shares pretty damn quick, notoriety.

Sid at 18:18:44 Monday January 18 99
Well, I would pick Clarke for the first game, you never know!! I didn't realsie Clarke fitted the bill for an Atkins signing! 1. He is over 30. - 2. He is a striker. - 3. He plays long ball at his club. 4. He was probably signed to replace big Johnny G! (Big target man, well, 5'10" thats why he never scores for the Dons!) Seal was sub in your XI, if I recall, but he would not even get there. Thats what I am saying!

The Angry Cobbler at 16:59:55 Monday January 18 99
The reason I didn't pick Clarke is because he is shite. Corazzin is our top scorer and Freestone supplies the pace Carlo lacks. Hughes should be given a chance to prove what he can do. And, I didn't pick Seal in the XI at all...

pca at 16:37:15 Monday January 18 99
The correct title for 'last year's reserves' is the Optimum Interiors Capital League title!

Ray at 16:15:50 Monday January 18 99
The Maunsell cup is what used to be called the Northants Senior Cup.

Getting MoreBoring at 16:7:31 Monday January 18 99
Ray, at the risk of sounding Mr non Cobbler, what's the Maunsell Cup?

lincoln cobbler at 15:45:29 Monday January 18 99
does anyone ever post anymore?

Ray at 15:12:25 Monday January 18 99
The other two cups we currently hold (no doubt someone will correct me if Im wrong) are - the Maunsell Cup and last years Reserves!

lincoln cobbler at 15:3:54 Monday January 18 99
what time is everyone arriving on saturday?

lincoln cobbler at 14:52:0 Monday January 18 99
ray - why doesnt the page reload propperly anymore?

GARY MORTON at 14:40:53 Monday January 18 99
EMAIL ME FOR PURE SEX

lincoln cobbler at 14:40:27 Monday January 18 99
I heard a rumour on saturday about a new loan signing from wimbeldon. Is this correct and if so Who? See you all on saturday at sincil bank- c'mon the cobblers! Lets see if this game can have less injuries than the last one (clarkson and corrazin) that was an appaling game - 2-0 score i predict

TOM REED at 14:37:47 Monday January 18 99
FREESTONE AND CLARKE UP FRONT HUNTER IN MIDFIELD WOODY IN GOAL BOBS YOUR UNCLE BRING BACK LARRY BRING BACK EFON ELAD HAIL PAT GAVIN

RICHARD MONTEIRO at 14:32:32 Monday January 18 99
I THINK THAT ANDY CLARKE IS DARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRK I HATE RUSHDEN AND DIREMONDS

Jacks at 12:58:52 Monday January 18 99
Look, all this negativity is getting really worrying, there are rumours flying around all over the place. The club is hesitant to let the fans know what is going on until this stage when allegations are geting potentially nasty (my heart goes out to Woody's wife, I have to say). There obviously appears to be something going on, that the club feels we should not know. Is Carrazin going, I hope not - FOR THE SAKE OF THE TEAM, he's a very talented player and it would be wrong to lose him. I think that, with respect, the club appears to need to invest in some effective PR, any news transmitted by Andy Roberts often appears to 1) fuel speculation and gossip 2) stir up resentment 3) frequently incorrect. Once and for all, we are all on the same side !! (or should be) Cobblers division 2 next season - FACT

BoringGit at 11:57:4 Monday January 18 99
Ray, I am still wondering what the other two of our four cups are.

Confused Cobbler at 11:23:37 Monday January 18 99
Have had no computer access at college recentley and the text on my t.v is bust so i've only just started to catch up on news. Why have we signed that tool from Wimbledon we don't need him. Any other info i should know about.

T. at 8:52:2 Monday January 18 99
No sign of the babe then yet TRB Mark? I'm not in school today, off to a funeral in an hour, my best friend's sister who was knocked down on New Year's Eve and then died a week later, only 18. Which is why I need some good Cobbler's newa and a HOME Cobbler's match!

sjodare@skegness97.freeserve.co.uk at 23:23:52 Sunday January 17 99
Come down to Sincil Bank you cobblers. The IMPS are on a roll. Hope you enjoy your visit - but not too much.

TRB Mark at 21:38:46 Sunday January 17 99
Oh and that B&Q cast off Bescot thingy is what you would call a proper football ground David. I think not. And at least we fill ours. To those who want to know about the Woody statement. Basically, as you would expect, his wife is very upset about the rumours . She is expecting thier second child and take it from me, the last thing you want to do is upset your wife when she is pregnant. Jeez, it's bad enough not putting the toilet lid down so God knows what it must be like for Woody. AI column in Saturaday's chronic dwelt on the subject of whingers and shirkers. Whilst he cited Paul Merson as an example, it seemed to be an implied crisitism of the attitude of some of our players. I cant believe that there has only been 2 home games since the Reading game of Nov 21st and there won't be another until February 6th! I'v got the shakes!

Ray at 17:7:24 Sunday January 17 99
Well David - if you check out "away fans" from the front menu you will find just the information you are looking for. In return for this favour could you check out http://web.ukonline.co.uk/ntfc/walsall.htm and just check that the info I've included is correct please.

David at 15:35:30 Sunday January 17 99
Just like to know how to get to that thing you called a football ground from train station that's all & has anyone heard the new date for Northampton and the super saddlers ????

Sid at 12:2:12 Sunday January 17 99
Well, I wouldn't have Seal in my Team. Also I would have Hope instead of Hughes. What about Clarke??

The Angry Cobbler at 11:55:42 Sunday January 17 99
My Team for Sat v Lincoln: (5-3-2) Woody, Gibb, Spedding, Sammo, Hughes, Hill, Hunter, Savage, Corazzin, Freestone, Peer. Subs: Seal, Hope, Warner.

The Angry Cobbler at 11:52:40 Sunday January 17 99
Wow, no posts...

BeckyBoobs!! at 22:20:26 Saturday January 16 99
Not much to say really..just that i cant believe how bored i was today with not having a NTFC match to go to!! Its only my first year as a season ticket holder but i never realised quite what i was missing...and this is when we're have a bit of a struggling time of it!!.....Gowd help me if Wembley ever comes round again!!!!! (well you never know whats round the corner..and to quote Ian Atkins after the win at Burnley..."someone always rises from the pack"!!!! All you need is faith in the team y'know!!!!) UP THE COBBLERS!!!!! (..... and then some!!!!)

Sid at 21:44:40 Saturday January 16 99
Ben, that was me going on your site! Come to the chat room now if anyone wants to chat!! http://members.xoom.com/cobblers

Robert Dunkley at 20:17:38 Saturday January 16 99
Please can more of you leave your message for Dougie H, he is in Oz for a couple more weeks and I want to post it to him soon, go to http://freespace.virgin.net/robert.dunkley/ntfc Then go to the Dougie hodgson page. Thanks.

Robert Dunkley at 20:15:28 Saturday January 16 99
Will somebody please tell me what Woody/Mrs Woodman said in the Chron, there are some of us out of towners who do not know what the eck is going on!

Pete at 18:30:51 Saturday January 16 99
Maybe they wre really blind Maoist? Anyone got a better theory?

Pete at 18:28:45 Saturday January 16 99
I think Dougie H is daft if he tries to come back given what is at stake- I cannot imagine any reputable club taking him on.I saw the Sixfield staff working on the pitch and presumed their would be trouble. I was there this morning - lots of retired referees walking around the park prodding it with their white sticks, .brought tears to my eyes, I'm really too sentimental to be a cobblers fan. Incidentally, there were also lots of directors around- a decision on an unhappy player? Do they deliberately make players unhappy in order to get them to want to leave- Micky W, Hill, the Seal....cuts down on the wage bill. Now Carlo C is being messed about, one of our best buys recently.......or am I being too cynical again as well as being sentimental about finding useful work for elderly Merchants? It is awful how the brain goes when there is no football to look forward to ( or moan about). Then again, maybe it's the fact that I've been putting too much vinegar on my chips this afternoon.Scheeerio.

The Angry Cobbler at 18:14:9 Saturday January 16 99
Oh crap.

ben at 17:14:36 Saturday January 16 99
whahey!!!!! my site reached 93 in the top 100........... im so proud.... sniff sniff......

ben at 16:53:50 Saturday January 16 99
i just read in the chronic that dougie hodgson reckons he may be able to play again after all, "it aint over till the fat lady sings....." i think was his official statement..... lets hope this isnt just the chronic making up a load of cobblers to fill up the back page... but even if it is true, after having broken his neck it is doubtfull that he will be back anytime soon...... BTW it was on teletext that the match was off, so too was it on northants 96 todays crappy music (if you can call it that) mix, where mix means variety, yes variety, their bloody playlist has only 3 songs on it!!! anyway back to the subject of football......

Ray at 16:21:54 Saturday January 16 99
Mind you that wouldnt have helped this morning - as I was told by the club that the match was on....and it was only put off about 10:30 after Id posted..

Ray at 16:18:56 Saturday January 16 99
Sid - I never accused you of being one.... but the first thing I do every day is come here and see whats going on :-)

Sid at 16:14:39 Saturday January 16 99
Janine, I live in MK aswell, and i only found out at 3:00pm or so. As i said, being asleep doesn't help and Ray, I don't think I am an Internet addict! I haven't been online since last night, and a lot can happen in 18 hours!

Ray at 16:10:6 Saturday January 16 99
The match was postponed because of a waterlogged pitch. Not sure about teletext lack of info but it was posted here, on the official site and to the email group - you obviously aren't an internet addict! :-)

janine at 16:6:26 Saturday January 16 99
how did u guys find out that the match is off? i live in milton keynes and heard nothing.not even teletext had it? well at least turning up at the ground i got to see a few of the players.i dont think ali gibb is gay

Sid at 16:5:47 Saturday January 16 99
Just found another Cobblers site, called Planet Cobblers. It looks like it coul be a good site. Here is the Address: http://members.tripod.com/~Fikster/cobblers/

Sid (GTA and CHAT) at 15:40:24 Saturday January 16 99
GTA and CHAT:- Well, obviously GTA doesn't count this week, but i might use the same guesses for the replay in a couple of months. I don't know actually.... Anyway, if anyone is up for the CHAT this week, come to the room at 9:45pm tonight. (Saturday) I might be there, or I might fall asleep before then. (That's what 'Flu does to you!) But i will make an appearance.

Sid at 15:37:22 Saturday January 16 99
Why was it called off??? I have been ill the last couple of days and was asleep this morning. I turned on the radio, and heard the saints commentry. I thought "Why is this on?? It been on for a long time....!" Then it twigged. I looked on Ceefax, and yes, it was off.

Ray at 15:33:30 Saturday January 16 99
We've been beaten by loads of clibs eh? I think not - I dont think we have even played a clib.

*************** at 15:18:35 Saturday January 16 99
The cobblers are a load of *****, thats why Grimsby and loads of other clibs have beaten them.

Sid at 15:13:36 Saturday January 16 99
huh??? Match off?? Thats the first I've heard of it?? Whats was up??

Ray at 14:47:59 Saturday January 16 99
I know some of the graphics are a bit big at the mo - but Im working on that as well.... any particularly big ones then please let me know about those as well.

Ray at 14:45:43 Saturday January 16 99
OK - you can trot along to the "away travel" bit now - its not complete but at least its almost useable. Please email me with any pictures I appear to be short of, parking information etc etc. There shouldn't be any broken links so please email me with those as well please. http://web.ukonline.co.uk/ntfc/map.htm

Ray at 14:42:10 Saturday January 16 99
Damn the club being short of readies - what about us not having a footie match! I haven't seen them play this year!

Steve Kelly at 14:41:0 Saturday January 16 99
I think the people who slag off the team want shooting, things are bad at the moment so we should get behind them. Does anyone remember the two great days at wembley we had.

Ian at 14:37:8 Saturday January 16 99
Yeh, as Wimbledon may be a bit short of readies after signing Hartson, I would think that Clarke in part exchange for Hunter may be in their minds. Pity about today's game, with two in a row not played at home the club may be a bit short of readies themselves.

Hartwell Cobbler at 13:44:17 Saturday January 16 99
While the historic co-incidences involving Lincoln and Kennedy are very interesting may I suggest the Fortean Times web site is a more appropriate place for stories and discussions on such anomolous phenomena?

NOSEY PARKER at 13:4:2 Saturday January 16 99
Has anybody else seen our "new mascot" he is called Clarence the Dragon and he looks very......erm.....different shall we say.The latest news is it is Dougie Hodgsons new job !!!!!!!!

Ray at 12:6:26 Saturday January 16 99
The new "away travel section" is being downloaded as I speak. You can find it at http://web.ukonline.co.uk/ntfc/map.htm - but be prepared for a few broken links until I've been through and checked it all.

Ray at 12:4:22 Saturday January 16 99
Its a bit early for a rearranged date yet - I'll post one as soon as I can.

Ray at 12:2:51 Saturday January 16 99
Its all done automatically when you open this page (as long as you are loading images) - if you want to see how we are doing then click on the logo and then on Top 100 sites.

ben at 11:54:12 Saturday January 16 99
ray how does the top 100 thing work, do we have to click on the banner or just open this page??? BTW when will the match be now then?

Ray at 11:47:4 Saturday January 16 99
However - the flurry of people logging in to find out about the match has now put us in THIRD place in the top 100 - so its an ill wind....

Ray at 11:43:31 Saturday January 16 99
Hang on Gavin - its still being downloaded! After monday am - all the info should be available for away travel.

Ray at 11:42:24 Saturday January 16 99
Sorry - about the incorrect information earlier - but I can only report what I'm told by the club *sigh*

Ray at 11:41:37 Saturday January 16 99
THE MATCH IS DEFINITELY OFF!

Pete at 11:17:30 Saturday January 16 99
Heavens, it is off- the club have just told me!

Gavin at 10:48:28 Saturday January 16 99
Nice to see BJ up to his old tricks again!

Gavin at 10:47:15 Saturday January 16 99
Ray, the new map/club pages are great, hopefully a hasty re-make won't be neccessary, unless we go down! However I cannot access any maps, I just get URL not found messages, any ideas why?

BJ at 10:39:12 Saturday January 16 99
Just heard todays game is OFF

tony@taxitrucks.demon.co.uk at 10:35:39 Saturday January 16 99
Come on Billy show them what you are made of. We all love you.

Ray at 10:10:26 Saturday January 16 99
NTFC confirm that this afternoons game against Walsall is ON despite the weather - but the Poppies game away is OFF.

Ray at 10:9:36 Saturday January 16 99
He is? hmmmm....

Anon at 9:36:50 Saturday January 16 99
And Ali Gibb is gay.

Anon at 9:34:52 Saturday January 16 99
Excuse my ignorance - but whats the Gloucester Cup?

T. at 9:23:39 Saturday January 16 99
Nice one Jo!

Jo at 8:44:5 Saturday January 16 99
I also have no interest in Players private lives (accept Ali Gibb who can tell me about his any time!) but if their private lives affect their performance on the pitch & their chances of selection then it needs to be sorted straight away & the fans minds put at rest. The Club wants the fans support & respect - so they should earn it. Anyway good luck today Cobblers & good luck to me for tomorrow as I am playing in the women's Gloucester Cup first round (like anyone is interested!) Oh bye the way, cheers guys for the support of Cobblers fans who have to live outside of Northampton. I photocopied & enlarged my Wembley ticket from the play offs & put it on every Bristol Rovers desk in my work. It kept them quite for a day or so!

Ray at 1:14:51 Saturday January 16 99
Re: The top 100 - down to 6th. now Im afraid - but at least we are now ahead of Swindon....but we ares still behind Peru, British Columbia and Turkey and have been overtaken by Portugal.... oh hum....

Ray at 1:8:47 Saturday January 16 99
Re: travel to oppositions grounds - the experimental page so many people kindly analysed for me earlier - will be up and running in all its glory by Mon/Tues next week! I'll announce it here as well as making a link on the main menu.

RICHARD at 0:25:47 Saturday January 16 99
This site was recommended to me by a client this week and I've just surfed in. It's wacko and non-footie-related but, nonetheless, a tad interesting! The Strange & Amazing Coincidences of Presidents John F. Kennedy & Abraham Lincoln These events took place a century apart, but the facts speak for themselves: - Abraham Lincoln was elected to Congress in 1846. John F Kennedy was elected to Congress in 1946. - Abraham Lincoln was elected President in 1860. John F Kennedy was elected President in 1960. - The names Lincoln and Kennedy each contain seven letters. - Both were particularly concerned with civil rights. - Both their wives lost their children while living in the White House. - Both presidents were shot on a Friday. Both were shot in the head. - Both were shot in the presence of their wives. - The secretary of each president warned them not to go to the theatre and to Dallas, respectively. - Lincoln's secretary was named Kennedy. Kennedy's secretary was named Lincoln. - Both were assassinated by southerners. Both were succeeded by southerners. Both successors were named Johnson. - Andrew Johnson, who succeeded Lincoln, was born in 1808. Lyndon Johnson, who succeeded Kennedy, was born in 1908. - John Wilkes Booth,who assassinated Lincoln, was born in 1839. - Lee Harvey Oswald, who assassinated Kennedy,was born in 1939. - Both assassins were known by their three names. Both names have 15 letters. - Booth ran from the theatre and was captured in a warehouse. - Oswald ran from the warehouse and was captured in a theatre.

RICHARD at 0:14:23 Saturday January 16 99
Shanger: I recall some 'nice' pubs along the south bank of the river towards Twickers when I used to waste my life away in the Smoke, but they're small, quaint and would crumble at the sight and sound of a marauding pack of points-hungry Cobblers intent on drinking the Thames dry before thrashing the pants off the lilywhites.

Shanger Cobbler at 0:7:39 Saturday January 16 99
But if anyone wants to tell me the most accomodating pubs round Fulham. The Firkin was always good up till the last few times (Note: zip up yer jacket with no colours showing and when the bouncer says "where you from?", say "Deanshanger !" and he'll let you cos' he thinks its a London borough). Of course, we wouldnt have this problem if we stopped beating them down there.

Shanger Cobbler at 23:56:26 Friday January 15 99
Hey Richard, dont worry, only Leyton Orient have thrown me out for that kind of behaviour !

RICHARD at 23:50:59 Friday January 15 99
Shanger: Not my usual stomping ground,I'm afraid, so I'll leave it to the hardened veterans of away drinking to come up with a suitable itinerary for you! Just be sure you empty your bladder BEFORE you come and stand behind me on the terrace, OK?

RICHARD at 23:47:23 Friday January 15 99
re Soccer-sites Top 100: We're up to 5th with only Peru, British Columbia and Turkey ahead of us! And....oh yes, Swindon FC!!

Shanger Cobbler at 23:31:49 Friday January 15 99
Directions to Fulham OK Richard, but what pubs are along the way? Its has to be a few good un's before i consider changing my normal away-match-at-fulham-pub-crawl. But im from 'shanger so what do I know?

The Mystic Angry Cobbler at 22:44:35 Friday January 15 99
I think as soon as Hunter gets back to his best he will go to Wimbledon for £800,000 with old crap Clarke coming the other way. I also think Carlo will be off soon for about £300,000 (maybe to Port Vale or somewhere like that???)

The Furious Cobbler at 22:41:40 Friday January 15 99
Why the f**k have we signed ANOTHER striker? If P**erborough wanted him, why the hell are we chasing him? If Carlo doesn't play tommorow I'll sing Carlo until Atkins does the right thing.

Paul at 22:39:26 Friday January 15 99
Hi again, I am in favour of this new signing. I mean, yea sure we already have too many Strikers, but how many goals have we scored?? Not enough!! So I suspect that Atkins has this in mind, and any player from a Premier League club should inject some quality into our play (heaven knows we need it). As for the game tomorrow. Dont be suprised in Carlo is on the bench, I hear he is having trouble getting fit for the game on Teletext. My bet is one Freestone and Clarke up front for the game. Though I am certain Woodman will be in the team!

Sid at 22:23:53 Friday January 15 99
Ian, are you talking about a possible move for Hunter to the Dons?? (Like he was linked last year?)

RICHARD at 22:13:47 Friday January 15 99
Ian: Sorry, but what is the connection?

Ian at 22:5:11 Friday January 15 99
I know this will sound a bit cynical but is it a coincidence that Wimbledon give us Clarke on loan just as Hunter is starting to play well again?

RICHARD at 22:1:58 Friday January 15 99
Tom: For directions to Craven Cottage: If you take the tube from Kensington Olympia south to Putney, walk south to Putney bridge and then west alongside the river, you'll come to the away fans turnstiles first.

Sid at 22:0:48 Friday January 15 99
Is this true about Andy Clarke?? Has he signed? Want to know because i haven't been online since yesterday night.

Ray at 21:19:58 Friday January 15 99
A few seconds commercial break ....... any business/charity/etc etc who would like a free listing on the internet (the only criteria is that your telephone number begins 01604) should complete the form at http://www.northampton.uk.com/apply.htm..... and now back to our regular programs....

Ray at 20:52:48 Friday January 15 99
.... and I always thought that this was the jest book........

Odd Jobson at 19:34:50 Friday January 15 99
Hello Northampton Fans from EIK TONSBERG Fans in NORWAY if you think your old County Ground was a dump have a look at our Ground. Also please sign our Guest book (gjestebok) on our web site at http://www.tic.vf.no/eik-tbg/ . Thanks Odd Job

Robert Dunkley at 19:19:23 Friday January 15 99
Obviously, this shows that the board are maybe willing to give Atko, a final month to sort things out. If Clarke has been signed to replace an injured/unfavoured Wikinsom, an unfit Seal, a low on confidence Chris Lee/ Freestone, then fair enough. But if Atkins si signing Clarke as an excuse to keep Carlo out of the 1 or even subs, for reasons re have discuseed earlier, then it is going to lead more comnets slagging off Atkins. BTW What has Mrs Woodman said on the Chron, us out of towners do not know as their website has been abandoned!

Pete at 19:8:13 Friday January 15 99
My son was trecking in Nepal last summer. Every few days he met someone, at which point in true English style the people meeting would either smile and say 'Good Morning, isn't the weather lovely' or 'Chilly for June/July' or some such meaningful exchange or look down at the ground as if to discover some new insect before scurrying on. After one such event he suddenly realised that the passer bye had been wearing a Cobblers top as had been my son's girlfriend- anyone had a similar experience in Nepal in the summer?

Amanda at 18:43:25 Friday January 15 99
But is it good news we have him on loan? Don't we have enough strikers already?

Pete at 18:41:49 Friday January 15 99
I have been wondering why Alex Mcleish came all the way to N'pton for a reserve match then I remembered that one of our scouts- who wore a kilt at Wembley- was an ex-Hibs player(goalkeeper). A friend in Edin. lives near one of the Hibs keepers(ex Norwich). He tells me that the ex Norwich man has not been playing much. If Andy - whom I think is our best- is playing tomorrow, my worry would be that it would be because he was being 'shop windowed', that he is capital bound- the R&D man appears to be doing well, they dont need two top line keepers. Given the abuse that he has had on this page, I would not be surprised if Andy wants to go. This loyal Cobbler must be sickened by the back stabbers.In other words, I totally agree with Ray- this is a fans' page. If someone has facts, publish in the Echo, write to the board or what ever, naming yourself so that your victims can defend themselves in the open. If you still want to hide behind the internet, make up your own page and tell us where it is. This way those who want unpleasant slease know where to find you: those of us who dont can stay with Ray. Ray has the right to keep his page clean where 'clean' is defined by Ray. From his track record I feel Ray has earned our trust ( and thanks).

BAKA at 18:11:26 Friday January 15 99
Good news! Andy Clarke has been signed on loan from Wimbledon, he will be in the squad for the game with Walsall. If you remember he went on loan at P'boro and they were very keen to sign him.

Come on at 18:8:18 Friday January 15 99
If you cant put unfounded rumour onto the internet where CAN you put it?

Luke Taylor at 17:31:12 Friday January 15 99
We really ought to be signing a striker from Barry Town-Eifion Williams......Watch this space....

MARINA PEARCE at 16:44:8 Friday January 15 99
I just wanted to congratulate the Cobblers for the Family Football launch on Monday night.My boys took along a bunch of Arsenal/ mMan Utd /Liverpool fans on the night, and they are all now converted to ardent supporters of their home town-quite right too.Good result too!Kevin Wilson for the first team?

TRB Mark at 15:24:37 Friday January 15 99
Well, you only have to read the back page of the Chron to see what effect some of the gossip on these pages is having . It must be dreadful for Mrs Woodman especially to have to put up with this sort of crap. If you have a rumour to post, *think* about the people it may damage.

SBJ at 15:5:43 Friday January 15 99
Whoever's right to freedom of speech / censorship it is, we know that the players and club staff read what we say here, so what's the point of writing stuff that's going to damage the club morale? Sure, IA's current management decisions can range between puzzling and wierd, but shouldn't we be pressing for clarity of communication from the club rather than furthering extraneous gossip? Even if the gossip is 'insider information', shouldn't it stay that way in the interests of team spirit? A bit of self-restraint on our part is all I'm hoping for, not some Draconian sanitised message board or our own club bawling us out for libel etc.

Carl at 14:37:45 Friday January 15 99
But surely Ray as the provider of this service it is at YOUR discretion, that things are allowed to be viewed and not a COMPANY who the mail is written about. I realise it would be very difficult to vet every entry onto the list, but from what I can make out the only possible reason that NTFC Ltd. Plc. Gmbh. Nv. can think that they have a say in what we the 'FANS' write is the fact that there is a link from the official page to here. Also if all these rumours have no foundation in truth, then where do they come from? You have to be pretty sad in the head to make some of this stuff up. If only we had some decent football to talk about!!!!!

Ray at 14:26:6 Friday January 15 99
I have no problem at all with the truth being put on here - its the other bits I have the problem with.

Carl at 14:24:55 Friday January 15 99
I thought Margaret Thatcher wasn't in power anymore, all this attempted censorship is complete nonsense. Can a football club really tell the fans what is going on by not telling them anything at all, and then expecting rumours not to be spread around about 'Tweedle dum' and 'Tweedle Dee'. We don't need to be told everything but surely it must be beneficial to allow some information to come out officially via whatever format. I for one don't give a toss about player's private lives and this should definitely not be a reason for selection, but again this is just another rumour that has been spread around

Nod at 13:6:58 Friday January 15 99
Ray, are you trying to say that we should not be able to report news of players' activities if they seem a trifle immoral? With regard to (*censored*), there have been a lot of people on the site wanting to know why he's not playing, and if the answer is one which involves details of his private life, are explanations to be witheld? The truth is out there; can't we bring it in here?

David Bintley at 10:14:20 Friday January 15 99
Living in Australia, it's quite hard to keep up with what's going on in anything but Premier League. However, since my cousin (Kevin Wilson) became a Cobbler, I've tried to keep up with the club's progress. Although, this year has been a little on the dissapointing side, I'm sure the club will soon start the climb and push for another chance at the playoffs.

Paul at 9:49:33 Friday January 15 99
Hello all, I hope that Woodman is back in the side on Saturday. That would really be great, and I think that Turley has had a fair chance and cost us two silly goals last weekend. If we all get behind the team, they will do well. Forget what form Wallsall are in, look how we played in the first half against stoke. That was good play, and if we had scored.... Well, here's to a 2-1 win!

Tom at 9:36:47 Friday January 15 99
Talking about railway disasters does anyone remember the Walsall game a couple of seasons ago where we circled Birmingham for three hours and nearly missed the kick-off. Looking at the Fulham game it might be easier to take the Connex service to Kensington Olympia which is fairly close to the Cottage.

PHIL WEAVER at 4:16:3 Friday January 15 99
Just saying Hi to Kevan Broadhurst, if he is still coaching at North Hampton Town. Phil and Ellen in Rock Island, Illinois, USA.

PHIL WEAVER at 4:15:53 Friday January 15 99
Just saying Hi to Kevan Broadhurst, if he is still coaching at North Hampton Town. Phil and Ellen in Rock Island, Illinois, USA.

Ian at 3:35:51 Friday January 15 99
One Brummie who has been often linked with us has gone elsewhere:"Oxford United have signed Birmingham midfielder Paul Tait on a free transfer".

RICHARD at 1:1:0 Friday January 15 99
At least it may be proof that this site is well read by the Cobblers organization. Freedom of speech obviuosly allows a few cranks and subversives to gain acces to the airwaves, but 'no news is bad news' i.e. in this case, tell us nothing and see what trouble can be caused by the ill-informed. At least some news is received here and it's for the discerning fan to sort the wheat from the chaff!

TRB Mark at 23:6:42 Thursday January 14 99
Credit due where credit is due, Diamonds tie with Leeds has been a public relations triumph for them with virtually the whole of the media, the city of Leeds joining in the love in. Even their oodles of money has failed to provoke any sort of envy /backlash and thier secret PR weapon is the affable Max Griggs who is a regular Northamptonshire good ol boy. Compare this to Stevenage v Newcastle or our PR cock ups of late. I bet the high media profile has added 100's to their fan base and I was interested to note that the mascots for the Leeds home and away ties were from Northampton. This should sound the alarm bells ringing at Sixfeilds. I can't get that image out of my head of that bloke in "The invasion of the body snatchers" running down the street shouting "you're next".

Steve at 22:53:22 Thursday January 14 99
Brian Lomax has a letter published in todays Guardian. Something about the task force being a good thing, and the OFT being a bad thing. We all more or less knew that anyway. But it's another namecheck for the Cobblers in the press ! Hooray.

Ray at 22:41:59 Thursday January 14 99
Reading between the lines regarding the posting on the "news" site - I suspect that the references are about accusations/rumours etc etc about the private lives of players/officials/staff and the like. I edit as much out of here as is possible but I can only do much and I really dont want to censor comments at all really. This is a free forum but PLEASE can we cut out the allusions to whos bonking/was bonking/going to bonk whom!

British Rail Phobia at 22:3:12 Thursday January 14 99
Must also add that I had a good time in Camden Town & Soho the other season after BR cock up. We lost 2-0 at Barnet (I think) but as I say, I was having a GOOD time :)

British Rail Phobia at 22:0:41 Thursday January 14 99
ahhh, that BR story takes me back to all those missed London games - 3 changes just from Wolverton to Euston, Underground power failures, leaves on the line, "Sorry, the drivers off for a fag at Watford Junction" etc etc. However, its a shit drive to Fulham, so see you all at the buffet bar wondering why we're stopping 10 miles outside Berkhamsted...

Sid at 21:45:47 Thursday January 14 99
Who actually wrote the comments on the official site??? What are they trying to say?? That some of these comments aren't true? I know we get a load of Bull-s*****rs on this site, but we know when people have given us info, and sometimes they have been right. What comments are they referring to in particular??

RICHARD at 20:38:20 Thursday January 14 99
IK'CIWT: I will NEVER, EVER use BR to get to a footie game again! They are solely responsible for the near break-up of my marriage, possible imprisonment for assault and battery on a minor and, most importantly, the flare up of my back trouble again! What a disaster. Friday night we set off from Tunbridge Wells for Crewe; outside London Bridge there's "...an incident on the line ahead..."; we miss two connections; picked up by friends at the station, we just have time to scoff some curry and quaff some ale before lights out; homeward bound, the "flyer" (!) from Liverpool is 20 minutes late since "... the guard could not be found..."; outside Milton Keynes (where else?) we start slowing down because "...the goods train in front has defective brakes..."; we miss two more connections; we discover, thanks only to wife and mobile, not BR, that no more trains are running from Charing Cross or London Bridge; we leg it to Cannon where, again only thanks to w & m, the last trains out of London might be going our way; Cannon Street is bereft of men in royal blue; the information office is battened down tight with only the gun port opening up to announce the broadside that "...the 22:43 to Hastings will be leaving from platform 6, for everyone here except those two people in Claret and White wanting Tunbridge Wells..."; to top it all, my wife decides, that night of all nights, to contract the dreaded lurgy, so it's shoulder pads on and scrum down for the under-staffed taxi rank once we finally arrive at somnolent TW!!!!!!!!!!!!! Mind you we did meet some interesting characters on the trains: the Liverpool-based business consultant, who single-handedly rewrote the training and tactics manual for the boy, Chris' local U14 footie team, which I coach - top of the league by the end of the season he guaranteed; then there was the Dover Athletic Conference side vandalising fruit machines on Crewe station. When the boy, Chris approached them, they fell over themselves in the rush to sign autographs; perhaps it doesn't happen often. One of them, Ray Shearer, said when he saw the Stoke v Cobblers programme, " I had trials with your lot. Is that young dark-haired winger still with you?" "Ali Gibb?" said Chris. "Yeah, that's the one." What puzzles me is, reading First Sport the next day, the team sheet listed an 'R. Shearer', but Dover had won 3-0 away to Welling - ( incidentally, Tony Witter scoring an own goal - small world) - so what the hell were they doing on Crewe Station travelling home?! BR must really have been up the creek that night. SORRY - spotted the deliberate error. That was the paper from a couple of weeks ago; they had, in fact, lost at Northwich. There were the saddened Watford-based Evertonians bemoaning their lot and giving away programmes! One of them recognised the strip and admitted to following our results after being invited by his mate from St Neots, a rabid Cobbler to the last Rovers game. He was mightily impresed by one C Heggs and couldn't understand why he was now with R & D! Anyway, enough of the railway chronicles; what about the match? Travelling to the ground in an Audi saloon has its benefits, but not when there are 4 adults and two 13 year olds. You become more than intimate friends after a while in such close proximity. We did stop off at the local for an ale and cribbage session (2hours?). I thought our luck was in; the boy and I had never played before, but we managed a creditable draw against these seasoned, gnarled pros of the small green baise crib board. Enthused with 3 pints of Marstons Pedigree and a whiskey chaser, my vocal chords were at full stretch as soon as we took our seats.The stadium is quite impressive, save for the fact that it was more than half empty. When you can read the legend, 'Stoke City FC' clearly on the banks of seats in the main stand after K.0 time, you know the home fans have stayed away in droves. This was their second worst turn out of the season; confidence was low after a home win drought going back to the end of November. And they proceeded to play like it for much of the first half, in which we had chances to go ahead on more than one occasion. It probably was one of our best performances up to that stage, ranking alongside the Man City, Preston, Rovers and Wycombe games in terms of possession and determination. Billy had pulled off at least one outstanding save and looked confident in his own area. He shouldn't be judged too harshly for one glaring error and his part in the other mix-up, when reviewing the full 90 minutes. Their 3rd goal was a cracker and not due to any defensive slip. At the back we thought Howey was in good form and had him down as a contender for MotM, despite the early missed header and not just because he did score right at the end. It appears we are not attempting to sign him long term at the moment. Shame, he could have developed into a handy dual threat. Sammo was comfortable without being as commanding as he has been in other games. Perhaps he IS missing the Razor. Ali was an attacking force throughout and adequate in defence. I can't recall their penalty claim against him, but nothing appeared as blatant as Freestone's up-ending later on. Now what is this about Frainy? People seem to be getting on his case. Is it because he's taken over as captain from the Great One? Or is it because he's lost his hair? I can't work out why the criticisms have been raining in recently. The one about his speed is unfounded; he has rarely been out-paced in games I've watched; he's only 29, not 39, despite the aerodynamic nature of his coiffure! Don't blame him for the club's ills because he was handed the arm band following Razor's departure; he doesn't need to lunch out on the Wembley hero ticket either; he's more than that; he's OK is Frainy! Mid-field was again our strong suit, with Hunter and Savage in particular doing a good job. Roy is coming back on-line to 96/7 form and Lily has always shown some flare and grit, a heady combination. I can't recall much about Duncan out wide and Sean in the middle but there were no horrors either. And now for the great Wilko debate! He did miss a scoring opportunity, but who didn't; he wasn't the quickest on the ground, but not everyone can win the egg and spoon race on sports day. It was summed up for me by the guy stood next to me in the bog at half time. "I wish all those Wilko-bashers could have seen him today. For me he has had a good 45 minutes. It's a shame he got the injury at the end" I rest my case. But why Carlo on the bench? Not knocking Chrissy F, but was CC injured? It looked like he was wearing a cast on his wrist. Carlo, Lily and Roy are my first names to go on the team sheet, any game. Going in 0-0 I thought we had displayed a lot of character and attacking skill. Obviously, Alan Little thought the same too, as the half time tea must have had something strong in it, for Stoke to come out all guns blazing and transform the match. I've covered the first goal and mentioned are bad luck with the possible penalty equaliser. The fact that Stoke swept back down the pitch and scored a second so soon after was a killer, regardless of the manner of conceding. Even so, apart from that 20-25 minute spell, we weren't overawed or over-run. Sport First put it like this, " A greatly improved second half performance in Stoke's first league victory since Nov. 28th put their promotion bandwagon back on track. But battling Northampton can consider themselves unfortunate with a final scoreline that flattered Brian Little's team." Other references worth mentioning from the write-up: ...a splendid save from Billy Turley... ...Paul Wilkinson brought a good save from (GK)... ...Northampton soon rekindled their atacking intentions... ... Dean Peer struck the post... ...Northampton finally gained some reward for their efforts when Howey headed home a consolation goal... Well, we're still 12th on current league form; a win over the Saddlers on Saturday and we'll replace them in the form table (6th). Hope springs eternal and our form should see us through. But we still need to convey to the team that we are behind them - ALL of them! May the points be with us!

ben at 19:46:35 Thursday January 14 99
THANK GOD LEEDS WON! bloody diremond fans would have never left us alone.... lincoln cobbler: the sale of warburton was to enable us to play a back four ( however that is meant to work) and theyd better not merge us with peterborough!!!!! what would it be peternorthbridge?? or something?

Tinky Winky at 18:56:28 Thursday January 14 99
I see that Heggs has obviously been practising his shooting!

The Mystic Angry Cobbler at 17:58:7 Thursday January 14 99
I predict we will draw 1-1 - Carlo for us and Andy Ramell for Walsall.

TRB Mark at 15:56:6 Thursday January 14 99
Bristol Jo. How about 3-1 and you f**ked it up!

Carl at 14:48:51 Thursday January 14 99
Dave, just checked out your page and completely agree with your Lincoln comments.

Wobbler at 14:35:21 Thursday January 14 99
With regard to Billy Turley comment.....waht do you mean ?????

Anon at 14:10:25 Thursday January 14 99
Billy Turley let me tell you its BIG!

SBJ at 13:28:12 Thursday January 14 99
I thought we were always one of the more hated clubs in the country, behind Millwall of course. The Saddlers comments on ticket allocation etc sound just like the 3,000 Stokies who were definitely coming to Sixfields at the start of this season (about 700 turned up I understand). So expect the usual sort of numbers of Saddlers. 0-3 is possible, but we usually do alright against them (notwithstanding their current excellent form). Bore draw is my prediction. Fulham Cobbler: Fulham - you're lucky: I'm a Wimbledon Cobbler, surrounded by Chelsea 'fans'. "Where were you when you were s**t?" is the usual song I dedicate to such glory-seekers. Get hold of yesterday's London Evening Standard - good article in there about die-hard fans at little clubs vs. glory-seeking 'fans' 'supporting' clubs from towns they've never been to. naturally is the die-hards that win out. Up Fulham! Up Swansea! etc.

DAVID NIKEL at 12:33:6 Thursday January 14 99
Come and see my new "Cobblerland" at www.freeyellow.com/members6/daveworld/index.html

Saddle up and **** off at 12:31:0 Thursday January 14 99
I found this on a mundane Walsall chat page. Any truth in it, and if so you can see why we have had so much trouble this year with Mr. Arsehole suggesting such wonderful ideas. "NTFC have only sent us 900 tickets for next Sats match. If you can't get a ticket don't worry, just go in their end, it is hassle free and if you want the stewards will let you into our end after the kick-off. There were loads of Saddlers in their end last season and I saw at least 12-15 moving across at 1/2 time." Stick your saddles up your arse you horse shagging tossers. P.S. We are quickly becoming the most hated club in the country.

Matt the SAD at 12:7:14 Thursday January 14 99
Ha ha ha Matt - let's see after the match you mindless prat

Jacks at 11:58:21 Thursday January 14 99
This constant baying for Seal is incredible - Dickie - you said you have seen 5 games this season, he cannot have been playing in any of them, because whilst I respect David Seal and defend him tirelessly for his dreadful and unjustified sending off - he just doesn't have it anymore and really has not had since he came back from injury, he IS lazy. Angry Cobbler - I definitely agree with your line up. Come on Mr Atkins lets have some consistency and heart in our play - It has to come from YOU. As fans we can encourage it - but motivation must initially come from within. When we have played well this season, we have looked superb, but at matches like Notts Co., Burnley, Cambs we don't even look like a 2nd division team of quality, we look like an apathetic bunch of uncarers. COME ON COBBLERS. COME ON SUPPORTERS - Our team looks like its sliding into big trouble - wev'e gotta get out of this rut. Club - please, do the right thing by the fans and let us know what is going on, because this is all getting quite ridiculous.

Matt The Saddler at 11:46:21 Thursday January 14 99
Hiya North "kick it up the field and run after it as fast as you can" hampton fans. Enjoying life near the bottom of Division 2?? Hahahahhahaha!!!!! And as for Saturday, it does not matter which team you play as you are gonna get stuffed regardless. Cobblers 0 - 3 Saddlers (oh!, unless you re-sign big Johnny Gayle to come and kick our keepers head in or get brummie Atkins to finally realise that the grass is for passing the ball on) Hope to hear from you after the game!!

Six at 11:34:13 Thursday January 14 99
I spoke to a bristol rovers fan the other day and he said that after bristol city they now hate the cobblers the most, well you can see their point i dont care much for Grimsby (wonder if swansea hate or? or cardiff?.. oh and what a shame about the diamnonds last night (yeah right!)

Fulham Cobbler at 10:10:49 Thursday January 14 99
You're lucky, I live in Fulham. I am now surrounded by glory seeking fans. Where did 17,000 bloody Cottagers appear from last night?

Jo at 8:20:31 Thursday January 14 99
Being a Cobblers fan and living in Bristol I am sick of all the comments from Bristol Rovers fans. I think you can guess what about! Lets hope we annihilate them in April! If anyone has any good comebacks for the Rovers fans let me know before murder is committed!!

Ian Atkins at 22:25:35 Wednesday January 13 99
We have decided to immortialise our Wembley hero John Frain by erecting an 80 foot golden statue of him. We are also going to play the statue on a Saturday because he is more mobile than the real Frainy. And I am also going to offer Douggie Hodgson a £50k a year job cutting up the oranges for half time. And finally, Barry Stonhill has told me that Virgin are going to take us over. This will be good for all of you fans because they will put little TVs in the back of the seats to save you from watching the fucking rubbish on the pitch.

The Angry Cobbler at 22:19:4 Wednesday January 13 99
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha - Those fucking village dickheads got a lesson in what a proper team is like tonight! I wish i'd gone now - I would have sat with the Leeds fans and shouted abuse at the village team. Heggsy proved he's a quality lad but then Leeds showed them what a good team is like. I hope Diamonds never go up and that they go down to the fucking UCL league and that they go out of business and that all of Max Grigg's shoes fall apart. HA HA HA

Dickie at 22:1:57 Wednesday January 13 99
I've only managed to get to 5 games at Sixfields this season, but it seems to me that there is a mixture of panic and lethargy. Panic in that whenever we have the ball at the back the midfielders are there beside them so punt it up to the forwards who fail to control it, and lethargy from one or two players, notably Seal (who I like a lot) and Turley who seems out of his depth. There is apparently panic in the management with players not confident of whether or where they will play, or even if they will suddenly be sold or a competitor for they're place bought. The whole team need to consolidate and develop a pattern of play (but not punting it upfield - please!) with some confidence in their position. Constant change (acknowledging injuries of course) is the tactic of a manager (football or otherwise) who is losing it.

Amanda at 20:29:0 Wednesday January 13 99
Atkins give us a wave Atkins Atkins give us a wave.....GOODBYE!

Amanda at 20:28:11 Wednesday January 13 99
I don't think Tony Adams will play on Sat he was holding his side a lot on monday, good game though pity the crowd can't make that much noise in a first team game

Amanda at 20:25:47 Wednesday January 13 99
Subs: Wilson,Sampson,Peer

Amanda at 20:24:27 Wednesday January 13 99
My team for Sat:(5-3-2) Woodman,Warner,Hughes,Hill,Howey,Spedding,Savage,Hunter,Hunt,Corazzin,Seal

John Mcrirrick at 18:42:32 Wednesday January 13 99
Message to SOS. have you seen Seal play this season. He is a disgrace. He makes no effort and adds nothing to the team. You say that you would like to see him in the positions that Freestone has been in, but wouldn't we all. He just can't be bothered. He played 60 minutes against fulham without making a single challenge. The most passionate thing he has done this season is push the keeper in the lancaster game. Lets give up on Seal, what is all the fuss about, I think it's just that his name is easy to chant. Lets face it our forward line should be Corrazin and AN other. Much as I agree that Freestone and Wilkinson have been the preverbial chocolate teapots at least they try, 100%. My feeling at the moment though is that Kevin Wilson should be tried with Carlo

Nod at 16:57:43 Wednesday January 13 99
Spedding has given us another dimension since he's come back; at Stoke he and Gibb put in a string of good crosses (only for Wilkinson and Howey to miss most of them), and Hunter and Savage produced good opportunities too. Billy had a poor second half, but has looked the part previously. The team for Saturday should be (5-3-2, no chance of anything else): Turley; Gibb, Hughes, Hill, Howey, Spedding; Savage, Hunter, Warner; Corrazin, Freestone. Subs: Parrish, Seal and Hope.

TRB Mark at 16:50:47 Wednesday January 13 99
As a one-time Irthlingborough Diamonds supporter, I'm STILL livid at the merger and I know lots of I'boro people who can't bear to go down Nene Park because of all things Rushden (tribalism is still alive and kicking in East Northants you know). I would'nt protest if Cobblers mergered with Diamonds, Griggs transferred all his assetts to Sixfields and the club was called Northampton Diamonds. Bit less boring than "Town". Anon, I was'nt knocking Bristol as a city, some damn fine looking women there. I want to know why the people are so tight tho"

SBJ at 16:18:40 Wednesday January 13 99
Angry CObbler: 'tis a nice team, I hope IA tries it out soon. I dream of our derby matches being against Leicester (and Derby I suppose). Ian Stott (Oldham Chairman) has apparently resigned following his embarrassment re the merger of Oldham / Bury / Rochdale. Some suspicion in the Dale / Bury camps: why did their Chairmen not immediately denounce Stott's ideas? ie. are these two clubs really secretly ready to sell out? Chester v Brighton on 15 Jan (the Fans United match, in aid of clubs under threat, like Brighton were). Find out more at http://www.chester-city.co.uk/isa_fans3.htm - remember it was us once nearly 'doing an Aldershot'.

Steve at 16:16:43 Wednesday January 13 99
Frain is past it ? First names on teamsheet should be Frain, Sampson, Hunter, Corazzin. Spedding is way overrated, and Frain is much faster than he looks. He's only about 20 you know !

T.A.C at 14:52:37 Wednesday January 13 99
Is it true we are going to sign Peter Beadle?

lincoln cobbler at 14:48:34 Wednesday January 13 99
angry cobbler>> nice team - glad to see the inclusion of peer, gibb and corrazin.

The Angry Cobbler at 14:46:6 Wednesday January 13 99
I think Woody should get a recall for the Walsall game to remind Billy that he has to do well for his place and that there is an excellent keeper waiting in the wings. I also think Atkins is fucking mad for dropping Carlo. Ten goals in a mediocre team by January is good - I would have him tattoed on the team sheet. Spedding is a lot quicker and more skilful than John Frain who to be honest is lethargic and not suitiable for the team any more. Sammo looks lost without Razor beside him and Colin Hill has been dropped for no reason. Atkins, with the exception of injuries, has made this mess by himself so I think he should go back to the reliable players from last season (Deano) with Savage, Spedding, Gibb and Corazzin (the only players to have proved themselves this season) keeping their places - the team would then look like this (5-3-2): Woody, Gibb, Spedding, Sammo, Hughes (he can bring the ball out and might add a touch of class that has been missing ever since Razor left), Hill, Hunter, Savage, Corazzin, Freestone, Peer. I hope Atkins reads this and takes it to heart BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE AND OUR DERBY GAMES ARE P**ERBOROUGH AND RUSHED & DIREMONDS INSTEAD OF WALSALL AND LUTON!!!!

lincoln cobbler at 14:41:47 Wednesday January 13 99
sos>> why not bring back ten heuval and john gayle? why not be at the bottom of the 3rd division again. Look to the future don't live in the past.

SOS at 14:27:8 Wednesday January 13 99
One match doesn't make a season - Freestone has missed loads of chances this year, I would love to have seen Seal in the same positions - he would be top scorer by far

Anon at 14:24:29 Wednesday January 13 99
test

Lincoln cobbler at 14:23:1 Wednesday January 13 99
Who cares what woodman did. Turley obviously hasnt got the ability to be playing first team footbal. Wilkinson and seal why. We have talent i the likes of corrazin and freestone ( remember the west ham match?). Let gibb play at right wing back and sure up the midfield. One last point - what the hell did aitkins think he was doing playing a 4-4-2 formation in the notts county game? He has a defence wracked with injury and he had just sold ray warburton - WHY DID HE SELL RAY WARBURTON?!!

SOS at 14:19:24 Wednesday January 13 99
SEAL, SEAL, SEAL!!! He's the only one that's gonna get us goals...

SBJ at 14:5:0 Wednesday January 13 99
I agree with Bolton Cobbler that we'd be livid if, for example, Cobblers, Posh, and Cambridge merged. Or Cobblers and anyone else. It's worth noting that several long-standing Rushden Town fans said the same thing on a TV interview recently about their thoughts at the time of the R&D establishment; they protested and got angry etc but now they admit that both sets of fans now have a club of the class and potential which neither would have achieved without merger. I'm not saying it's necessarily right for any other clubs to merge, just being Devil's avocet (squawk!) really. What would Rochdale fans feel if the football and rugby clubs merged? Rochdale RUFC aren't too bad for a small side. Same arguments as with a Cobblers / Saints merger?

Nod at 14:2:44 Wednesday January 13 99
The Oldham Chairman's resigned - the merger was all bilge.

Bolton Cobbler at 13:0:1 Wednesday January 13 99
I can confirm Mark's comments about the Oldham/Rochdale/Bury saga. I think (not sure) that it was the Oldham chairmans brainchild, and they have already got a proposed site for a new 25,000 stadium should it go ahead. Oldham have offically said its something to consider whilst Bury and Rochdale are keeping tight lipped. Naturally the supporters of the three clubs are furious, and the three supporters associations are kicking up a right stink. Apparantly they want to make "Manchester North End" the third big club in Manchester. Unfortunately its all about the money making. Oldham are a mediocre club on the slide, Rochdale have never got out of the bottom division and look unlikely to unless something like this happens. Bury have done well but do not have the facilities to progress much further. From a business point of view I suppose it is a very good idea, but look at it from the fans view. Three clubs with tradition and history, something they value a lot up here, merged into some faceless souless money machine. Imagine if they did that with Northampton, Cambridge and Peterborough. We'd all be livid.

treenie at 12:10:8 Wednesday January 13 99
the saga with woodman and the wonderful rumours are beginning to read like the script for Dream Team. How many times have their players broke the rules and still played?

Kobbler at 11:22:21 Wednesday January 13 99
It'll never happen, but after his stupendous goal against Arsenal in the reserves, why not give Kev Wilson a crack at those Walsall bastards!!!

NOSEY PARKER at 11:3:19 Wednesday January 13 99
Why do the club keep fans in the dark so much,are they ashamed the way they treat players!! Also ask the club about David Seal now as I can forsee a transfer request coming in by the end of the week for sure but as always they will deny it.Thommo left because he was promised certain things and when he asked for them he was blanked.I am afraid the club needs to go in a new direction manager wise as we will go down for sure.

dave at 11:2:26 Wednesday January 13 99
If woody does go then what about Ian Feuer?

Carl at 10:50:54 Wednesday January 13 99
Seal is arse!!! Seal is Lazy!!! Corazzin and anyone else, apart from Seal, probably Freestone should play every week. Don't bring back Woodman either, he is a tosser. If Turley doesn't work out we should buy another keeper.

Paul S at 10:9:51 Wednesday January 13 99
Draws that should have been wins - Walsall, Man City, Preston, Wycombe....

Anon at 9:59:45 Wednesday January 13 99
SEAL! SEAL!

Ray at 9:50:18 Wednesday January 13 99
Sorry to disappoint, but the draws Ive seen we haven't come close to winning that I can recall - except when we decided to sit back on a lead and let the opposition come to us.

Cobbler Down Under at 6:27:5 Wednesday January 13 99
An open question to all those who have been there. Only one team in the Division has drawn more games than us, Gillingham and they lie in 5th place. How close have we been to converting any of our ten draws? Given a modicum of luck would our position be far rosier than at present? I love beating Walsall!!!

sassy+Turley lover at 22:20:57 Tuesday January 12 99
Its a shame that garys leaving us but we wish him the best of luck in his new job at Bristol.Give Chrissy Lee a chance, he did ever so well in the game last night against Arsenal reserves. Lets give Billy one more chance to prove himself,"Billy Don't f**k up AGAIN". Duncan Spedding stop puffing on those fags, I don't think its doing your game much good, do you?

Anon at 21:41:5 Tuesday January 12 99
trb mark: careful what you write about Bristol. A few of us Cobblers fans live in this excellent city!!!

TRB Mark at 21:22:18 Tuesday January 12 99
As I sat up high in the West Stand (it seemed strange as my season ticket is for the north stand) surveying the scene I could'nt help thinking how far we had come as a club in 6 short years. I bet there is'nt a club n the country that have made the advances that we have. I relived that brilliant night against the Gas and imagined how great the stadium will look when it is extended (as it surely will be in time) to accomodate people coming to the reserves games. Almost 5,000 for a reserve game? A fitting end to GT reign and Rovers gain is the Cobblers loss. I would'nt get too excited by the stuff in the Newspaper N'pton Gas, all players/managers say something like that when they join a new club. I missed most of the phone in on radio 5 this morning but it was about football and R&D got a few mentions and mergers seem to be the theme. Karen Brady seemed to support the theoretical idea of a merger of Aston Villa and B'ham City. Apparently, Rochdale, Oldham and Bury are talking about a merger with the name Manchester North End being touted. Has anyone else heard about this? It seems that Griggs was on the ball in merging Rushden & I'boro D but if I was him I would be wondering forever what I could have done building a stadium of 20,000, with the facilities of Diamonds, near the M1 and within easy reach of 2 of the fastest growing towns in Europe. Also, I think he made a right cock up with the name, because apart from anything else, it's clumsy. Oh, and you Gas fans, can you tell me why people in Bristol are so tight?

ben at 19:59:29 Tuesday January 12 99
i have a prediction. atkins will leave at the end of the season and wilson will take over. atkins will go to yeovil and get rid of patmore once again. and i agree with sid, its likely that doug H has a good chance of becoming reserve team manager.

Norwich Cobbler at 19:47:21 Tuesday January 12 99
Northampton Gas -cheers for the detailed info.Looks like a move that Thommo couldn't turn down - good luck to him except of course against the Cobblers. Four years since Atkins took over - o.k. things to moan about at the moment but remember back to Barmy Barnwells time and realise how much worse things could have been like in the Conference or worse having to do an Aldershot and start all over again.A lot of our progress has got to be due to Atkins love him or loathe him.What's important is preserving our Div.2 status ,getting a full squad back and continuing to improve.Wembley two years running,7 appearances on Sky,beating West Ham,Spurs at Sixfields and of course winning the Maunsell Cup -have we really ever had it so good? Up the Claret & White!

Northampton Gas at 18:40:2 Tuesday January 12 99
My last word on the GT saga. Herewith report from todays Bristol Evening Post - NEW coach Garry Thompson today backed hotshots Jason Roberts and Jamie Cureton to breathe new life into Bristol Rovers’ season.Thompson took up his post yesterday revealing he had fought off attempts from former club Northampton Town to keep him for another week, having already delayed his Memorial Stadium arrival.And the 39-year-old former top-flight striker needed only one training session to weigh up the potential of his new club.“Some of the things Jason and Jamie were doing in training were fantastic,” he said. “They are obviously a couple of very talented lads and I’m very excited about working with them.”Thompson will have a keen eye on Rovers’ frontline but his brief extends to assisting every player at every level.“We knew of Jason when he went on loan to Torquay United last season and tried to get him to Northampton,” he explained.“He’s a talented lad with a lot of attributes and it’s my aim to improve them and those of any player I can at this club.”The affable Brummie, who is set to put his name to a long-term contract, will keep his hand in by remaining registered as a player himself.“I may get the odd run-out in the reserves, but it’ll only be in an emergency,” he said. “I think I’ll have enough to do with my work on the training field.”Thompson’s scheduled debut day trip to Plymouth for a reserve team game was thwarted by a frozen Home Park pitch but he is expected to try again tomorrow.The man whose career spanned spells at Coventry, West Brom, Aston Villa, Crystal Palace, Watford, QPR and Cardiff, is relishing his new challenge.He said: “Once I’d been down to Bristol to hear what the people here had to say and see the facilities, my mind was made up. There looks to be a lot of talented young players throughout the club and I’m excited about playing my part.”As well as leading the reserves, Thompson will be playing an active role in first team games with boss Ian Holloway and coach Gary Penrice out on the pitch.“The key is consistency and if we can get that, there’s no reason why the first team can’t make strides up the table,” he claimed. “They were a bit low yesterday after Saturday’s defeat but having gone 10 games unbeaten before that, they’re clearly a capable side whose season is in no way over.”

Sid at 18:14:1 Tuesday January 12 99
Andy, we have no shortage of Strikers!! You might never hear of them because they all play in the reserves!

PJD at 17:5:6 Tuesday January 12 99
Surrey Cobbler, you're the prat! If you look at Arse's message 11:47:40 Monday January 11, 1999, you'll see the source of the Peer Wilson partnership was a Cobbler! So if your lot are ill informed, don't blame us!

sassy at 16:57:27 Tuesday January 12 99
If Ian chose his team on morality, we would have no players well maybe Roy

Andy The Walsall Fan at 16:33:39 Tuesday January 12 99
Hey Surrey Cobbler I am not a glory hunter... i have had a season ticket at Walsall for the last 12 years.... I just heard that you we so short on strikers due to injuries that Dean Peer was gonna be switched from Midfield... I remember the days when he used to play for the Saddlers and he scored quite a few goals..

SBJ at 15:31:23 Tuesday January 12 99
Ray: nice map feature - I always wondered where Macclesfied is. Looks very useful for me, as I only go to away matches in the South (strangely . . .). For London clubs, there's agood A-Z at www.streetmap.co.uk which gives a map of any given postcode area.

Ray at 13:54:34 Tuesday January 12 99
Surrey Cobbler - email me with details of which browser you are using (inc. version number) please and I'll sort u out.

Surrey Cobbler at 11:15:54 Tuesday January 12 99
Ray, i keep typing and when i click on okay it looses it 5 times, so far!!!!!!

Surrey Cobbler at 11:13:37 Tuesday January 12 99
You glory hunting Walsall prat, you know nothing, of course Peer and Wison won't play up front, Hope and Howey will!!!

Surrey Cobbler at 11:10:2 Tuesday January 12 99
Right now i shall clear a few things up for you all. 1> Hodgson, although he is dead has a future at the club as Atkins sees him as a 'club' man, so I think he will become stiffs coach. 2> I told you all before the hols (under the alias of rumour monger) that the directors are simply waiting until they can afford to pay off the rest of Atkins contract before they show him the door! Wilson who is the directors 'best buddy' has been told that the job is his if he wants it, this source is very reliable and was talking to Atkins at Aston Vanilla a month or so ago, and says that he has changed and become a right arrogant sod!! OK, now the subject of Turley. It is felt that to drop Billy on Saturday it will simply knacker his confidence. I feel though that Walsall is his last chance saloon, and after that bring back Woody. Who cares if he is getting it with some bird, if Robin Cook and Bill Clinton are allowed to influence powerful nations I damn sure Woody should be allowed to kick and catch a ball on a Saturday afternoon - as long as he comes out of his 6 yard box! Yeah and we need more strikers, I say play 5 at the back and 5 up front, and we could still fill the dug out, or maybe Atkins would rather win the reserve league, and give Hodgson plenty of selection headaches! And finally predictions, - Atkins to leave at the end of March and Northern Ireland buddies Wilson and Hill to take over.......Atkins will team up with O'shea again in some place else. Everything is gonna be alright!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Surrey Cobbler at 10:50:23 Tuesday January 12 99
Jesus Christ, what the hell is going on at the club. I can confirm that although Hodgson is dead he will still play a part at the club as Atkins sees him as a 'club' man. And as I told you all before Christmas (under the alias of rumour monger) i have it on good authority that the directors are simply waiting until they can afford to pay the rest of Atkins contract off and then show him the door. Wilson their 'best buddy' has been told that the job is his if he wants it! Who cares if Woody is having it away with some bird - if Robin Cook and Bill Clinton are allowed to influence powerful nations, I am damn sure Woody should be allowed to catch and kick a ball of a Saturday afternoon (on the condition that he ventures out of his six yard box a little more). And he should get into fewer arguments with his back line with no Hill or Warburton who always liked to discuss things in mid game! Oh yes and we need another striker, so maybe we play 5 at the back and 5 up front - and who was the Walsall tart who thought that Peer and Wilson play up front - obviously a new glory seeking style fan... how i love those kind of people.

Northampton Gas at 10:0:3 Tuesday January 12 99
I stayed up to watch highlights of saturdays matches. I wanted to see how we managed to score 3 and still lose.

Ian at 3:16:31 Tuesday January 12 99
Northampton Gas, you keep even stranger hours than Ray!

Northampton Gas at 3:3:16 Tuesday January 12 99
If you manage to sign Peter Beadle, you will have purchased a very good striker. The Gas were very sorry to see him leave, even for £300k. He appeared at times to be rather lazy, but he had the knack of scoring goals. PS - are you sure you are able to pay the wages he must be on at present?

Northampton Gas at 2:55:7 Tuesday January 12 99
Sorry lads but Garry Thompson took up his post with the Gas on Monday morning. It gives me no pleasure in reporting this, only a feeling that the Cobblers are being feed a lot of horse manure at present and being taken for granted. Both of our teams have nothing to shout about this season, we can however look forward to a 4th round cup game in two weeks time. Looking forward to the revival of hostilities at Easter at the Mem.

Ian at 0:41:39 Tuesday January 12 99
Yeh, it is clearer now. I'd still like to know the name or number of the red road to the right of the ground.

Ray at 23:34:12 Monday January 11 99
OK Ian - Ive transferred the directions to the map page so you will be able to see both at the same time. The maps roughly cover the area of the circle in the previous maps.

Ray at 23:32:49 Monday January 11 99
Your guess is as good as ours!

Andy at 23:18:50 Monday January 11 99
Hi Walsall fan here looking forward to the game on Saturday...is it true that you are really gonna play Dean Peer and Kevin Wilson up front???

Ray at 23:10:19 Monday January 11 99
OK - Lincoln is now on the map - but I expect to have to delete it at the end of the season!

T. at 23:5:4 Monday January 11 99
I took great delight in ringing my gooner boyfriend tonight with the result especially as his hero got booked!

Ian at 23:1:29 Monday January 11 99
Okay, so I come down to the end of the M55, does this then become the A5073? And is the road you need to turn right on the A5099? Does this right turn road have a name? These are the questions I would ask if I was driving it without another map. Some grounds are bloody obvious, for instance I doubt if you need a map to find Sixfields from the M1 and Derby's new ground is very visible but I'd want some pretty detailed directions for Gillingham.

Pete at 22:50:25 Monday January 11 99
The program said Hough, the team sheet said Hancock. I dont know which is which but the unused subwas tall,about 19, very short fair hair.

The Last Cobbler at 22:41:28 Monday January 11 99
The other sub was Paul Hough.

Sid at 22:35:59 Monday January 11 99
Ray, Could you get the directions etc for the Lincoln game up ASAP please??? I just want to know how to get there, and where the ground is. Thanks.

Sid at 22:31:47 Monday January 11 99
Yeah sure. Team:- Woodman, Warner, Woods, Hughes, Hill, Hope, Butcher, Hunt, Lee, Wilson, Seal. Subs: Piercewright, Morrow, and someone else I've lost the bloody program!

Ray at 22:26:26 Monday January 11 99
OK - I've changed the scale of the maps of Blackpool - is that any better?

Ray at 22:25:26 Monday January 11 99
Excellent turn out! Can anyone post the team up?

Sid at 22:21:23 Monday January 11 99
Hi, Good game today, Match report on my site tomorrow. I got Ian Atkins to clear up the Thommo thing once and for all, as no official word had been given !?!??! (I think) And Wilson wouldn't say anything on Saturday. He told me he has definitely gone. so there. Official!(even though I sort of knew, i can trust Pete and the Gasheads on this site!) 4,752 the attendance! They had to open the East and North stands! Cracking goal from Wilson and Lee rounded the keeper to make it 2-0! All the Arsenal scum stayed behind to get Adams autograph, but he was ushered out with stewards. Saw Carl Heggs in the boardroom chatting to Atkins etc. I also think Dougie H. will become the New reserve team coach. He looked very cosy with Ian in the boardroom. WHAT DID I SAY a few months ago on the Mailing List?? I said we should aign Peter Beadle!! He is a great player, and I thought that last year in the play-off semis against Rovers.

Norwich Cobbler at 22:17:37 Monday January 11 99
So we can do something right Cobblers Reserves 2 Arsenal 0 and Adams booked - so all we need to do is to put out the reserve side against Walsall and we're guaranteed of 3 points! Well thats the theory anyway. Does anybody know if Thommo has gone - there is nothing official I can find about it? P.S. I bet Warner got a game tonight!

Norwich Cobbler at 22:16:58 Monday January 11 99
So we can do something right Cobblers Reserves 2 Arsenal 0 and Adams booked - so all we need to do is to put out the reserve side against Walsall and we're guaranteed of 3 points! Well thats the theory anyway. Does anybody know if Thommo has gone - there is nothing official I can find about it? P.S. I bet Warner got a game tonight!

Ian at 21:58:51 Monday January 11 99
Okay Ben, so what was the bloody score?

Ian at 21:57:49 Monday January 11 99
Ray, I would think you could use something to tie the third map on the right to the street map. Most people know where Blackpool is but need to know where to get off the Motorway and then how to go from there to Bloomfield Road. The map of the ground is a nice idea.

Ben at 21:43:34 Monday January 11 99
wasnt that a great game? i know its only the reserves, but it makes a change to see some of our good players..... who the hell is this insider person who keeps giving us crap information, just shut up man we know that you are making it all up. BTW ray there seems to be a problem with the little spinning balls on the small frame..... or maybe its just my browser...

The Insider at 21:8:29 Monday January 11 99
PS I heard that Atkins was ready to break the transfer record to bring in a Div 1 striker - Peter Beadle? I actually thought the first 60 minutes were the best we've played all season, but if you don't finish you won't win. Others have to shoulder the blame up front, not Turley who made a brilliant first half save.

Pete at 21:4:25 Monday January 11 99
crowd more than 4700...though how many paid and how many were let in when the ran out of tickets(rumour!)?

The Insider at 21:3:31 Monday January 11 99
The real reason why Hill and Woody are not playing is because Atkins has singled them out as dressing room troublemakers. He has told Hill he will never play for the Cobblers. Hill told us this at half time against Fulham. How could Andy Roberts give Howey an 8? He missed a sitter from 6 yards when it was easier to hit the back of the net. Gibb is clueless, Wilkinson living up to his pre-season billing and Freestone falling over like a schoolboy and clutching any part of his anatomy evrey time he falls over and/or loses the ball.

Pete at 21:2:51 Monday January 11 99
...then again, he might not. I'm a Mickie fan but he did not do himself a lot of favours tonight and neither did the Seal. The Seal just did not look interested. Sadly as of a few mins to play when I left to write this, Woody had not had much to do which no doubt would be a disappointment to the scout from Scotland who admitted he had come down to see him. Hill looked cooler and more in command than Adams. Some of our younger lads looked to be coming on well. All in all a goodly night even if the other team get lucky and score- we deserve to win.

The Insider at 20:59:13 Monday January 11 99
The real reason why Hill and Woody are not playing is because Atkins has singled them out as dressing room troublemakers. He has told Hill he will never play for the Cobblers. Hill told us this at half time against Fulham. How could Andy Roberts give Howey an 8? He missed a sitter from 6 yards when it was easier to hit the back of the net. Gibb is clueless, Wilkinson living up to his pre-season billing and Freestone falling over like a schoolboy and clutching any part of his anatomy evrey time he falls over and/or loses the ball.

Dont live near the sea at 19:50:35 Monday January 11 99
Ray - top map page. Just a thought -with global warming & increasing sea levels all those clubs near the coast could be swallowed up in the next millenium. We might get promoted ! Or Warner might get a game.

The Shropshire Cobbler's Dad at 18:33:13 Monday January 11 99
Sorry to upset anyone, but we got free car parking at Stoke. Roy Hunter was definitely Man of the Match, Roy of the Rovers style, but the whole team performance in the first half was excellent.

Ray at 18:31:37 Monday January 11 99
A few volunteers please to take a look at http://web.ukonline.co.uk/ntfc/clubs/map.htm - dont bother clicking anywhere but Blackpool for the moment.

Pete at 18:21:50 Monday January 11 99
I saw Clarkie today- looking good/ strong.Says'Tell people I'll be back, stronger and better.' He is not keen on being idle but it still looks like the end of March (sorry Ray). We do miss the twin tigers in our tank- but the other one, Roy H is looking like he is back to his best.

NOSEY PARKER at 17:50:40 Monday January 11 99
Well here is food for thought isnt it are you all coming around that Atkins is a dispised and totally hated man at Sixfields.He has got to be the most 2 faced man in the game, so what about Woody?Billy is playing crap and he is the first one to admit it.Remember I was the first to tell you about Atkins playing away and it got deleted.Also Andy Roberts has about as much respect from the players as Hitler does with Jewish people!! He is a total arse and I do not think he even watches the same game as the fans.remember Heggsy was going to hit him early this season because of his comments now he is doing it to Sean Parrish and Sealy lets hope one of them clocks him one soon,mind you he will probably get it wrong who hit him!!!!!

Gaz at 17:30:47 Monday January 11 99
And another thing. The club said if you couldn't get one of the car parking tickets they had been allocated, you would have to go by coach. Rubbish! One phone call to SCFC confirmed that the newsagent in Trentham Village (2 mins drive from the ground) sells the parking tickets on matchdays. So I bought my £3 car parking pass, but really could have parked in Trentham and walked.

Gaz at 17:28:29 Monday January 11 99
We were clearly the better team in the first half v Stoke. If we could maintain performances like that over 90 mins we would leap up the table. Unfortunately it was the same old story...Stoke came out from the break fired up, and immediately put us under pressure. Turley made some good reaction saves, but the first 2 goals were amateurish. Stoke's 3rd goal was probably the best worked goal I've seen this season. Wilko was poor in front of goal, getting only one shot on target, and was subbed with what looked like a bad achilles or calf injury. Howey missed a sitter with a clear header from 6 yards. We hit the post, had a pen turned down and deserved at least a point. But really we should have capitalised on our 1st half dominance. Carlo was on the bench, and it is sod's law that the first time we play the sort of game he relishes, he's not a part of it.

anon at 16:45:34 Monday January 11 99
Its interesting that as debt payments from bad old days are heading to completion that communication to the fans has become rubbish again.

lincoln cobbler at 16:1:48 Monday January 11 99
If Atkins is letting his personal issues influence the team selection he is going to send us d3. Who cares who woody is banging as long as he does his job. I was sickened when listening to the boxing day commentary. He changed the formation to a 4-4-2 rather than the 5-3-2 that the team are used to. This weakened the defence especiall as he has just sold Ray warburton. I think a serious rethink is needed by Ian Atkins if we are to make any impression on D2.

SBJ at 14:4:57 Monday January 11 99
Jacks: I agree, totally. In November it was all 'Atkins out' on this board, but a couple of us said give him a chance and see how it goes. OK, we had a couple of good results in December, and OK we're losing now to teams in the top three (not just Yeovil and Cambridge); but it really is getting towards Final Straw time in terms of team selection, personality clashes, crappy public communications, player morale, fan morale, attendance etc. I'm usually one of the eternal optimists on this board, and I'm not about to start baying for IA's blood right now, but the club really is looking like it's crumbling. And we really can't afford that, not with Lincoln and Oldham starting to get their acts together. With Walsall and Fulham (again) lining up to steamroll into us very shortly, we've got to have the tightest ship possible, and that involves every part of the club: it all affects the way the players play. I don't know what else to say; I'm getting a bit fed up with this season I guess.

Jacks at 13:54:43 Monday January 11 99
Come on EVERYONE, our club appears to be crumbling around our ears.....as it has already been commented - if Atkins is basing team selection on whether the players are being unfaithful - it is TERRIBLE..I don't care who is sleeping with who, but I do care that we are not winning this season, the amount of games we have won at home is awful and unacceptable. There is no communication with the fans thus prompting all this gossip. For God's sake Atkins you are the 1st to lambast anyone who has an off day - and Turley was at fault at Cambridge and again at Stoke - don't we just want the best possible team? Why on earth didn't Corrazin start on Saturday - he was one of the only players who showed any guts at Cambs. What I do actually find quite amusing is that the club obviously have no respect for Andy Roberts cos they keep giving him inaccurate info and then looks like a bit of a twit. My Dad sends me the Chron. (I live in Herts) and it's laughable. Anyway - enough of that. Let's sort the bloody club out shall we?! Colin Hill and Woody back in 1st team contention NOW - Get Razor back for Reserve coach and let's get THIS season moving once and for all!!!!!

Anon at 13:25:56 Monday January 11 99
We wont need any expansion when we are back in the third!

Nod at 12:31:50 Monday January 11 99
Has anyone go any information on the Sixfields expansion plans. Are there any firm dates / details? I was at Stoke on Saturday, and we deserved a draw. The play until the goal went in was the best we've seen this season, but then heads went down. Hunter was back to his best and Billy was looking good too. Can we stop having a go at him during the match, please? Woody won't be back whatever happens (trust me on this) so it doesn't really make sense to destroy the confidence of our only 'keeper, does it? I hear from a friend who overheard Barry Stonhill that Howey will not be joining us permanantly.

9224 at 11:48:18 Monday January 11 99
Poor finishing at Stoke? And the strikers were?????

ARSE at 11:47:40 Monday January 11 99
You are nothing special, PJ & Duncan!! How many years have you been arsing around in Div.2 before you finally manage to to do something, although after your visit to Sixfields last year, I did predict you to get in the play-offs. atch out for Dean Peer and Wilson up front....

9224 at 11:46:33 Monday January 11 99
If it's true about Woody and playing away (stress IF) then who the bloody hell is IA to decide who does and and doesn't play on that basis. If that is the justification behind his mostly STUPID and ABYSMAL team selections then he should go now and PUT THE DAMN CLUB FIRST FOR ONCE. WOODY, WOODY, WOODY!!!!!

9224 at 11:43:22 Monday January 11 99
This has gone on long enough!!! Bring back Woodman, and for god's sake why has Atkins not even tried playing Carlo with Seal. It's pretty bloody obvious that we are not going to win a thing with Wilko and Freestone up front!!!!!!!!!!!!!

PJD at 11:34:12 Monday January 11 99
Saddlers! Saddlers! Saddlers! Anyway got that off my chest. I'm sure Kevin Wilson would love to play against Walsall, but we are a very different team from the one he left (and very different to last season when you did the double over us!) He wouldn't get any change out of our defence at the moment. If your lot are going to get a result then you're gonna have to play pretty well. Either that or attempt to kick us off the park like you did at Bescot last season! See you there! Watch out for Minnie!

The Shropshire Cobbler at 11:4:38 Monday January 11 99
Surrey Cobbler, great idea to play Kevin Wilson - how about in goal??

Surrey Cobbler at 10:54:38 Monday January 11 99
Bring back Kevin Wilson, he'll sort everything on the pitch, and would love playing against Walsall on Saturday - it's worth a try ain't it ?

Andy C at 10:41:44 Monday January 11 99
Don't know anything about Saturday's game as I was too busy despairing of the Gills losing at Walsall, but one thing occurred to me... Looking at your starting line-up, was Howey the top scorer? A defender who's been around for only a couple of months? Surely when you're struggling Atkins can't afford to leave out the only man who's proved himself a regular scorer.

Surrey Cobbler at 10:33:35 Monday January 11 99
Can some one tell me has Thommo definately left, and if so why?

SBJ at 10:16:54 Monday January 11 99
Bah!

Hmmm at 10:15:22 Monday January 11 99
Hmmm

Grim Reaper at 9:48:10 Monday January 11 99
So what if Woody is knocking someone off at the club so is Atkins!!!

The Shropshire Cobbler at 9:33:7 Monday January 11 99
Went to Stoke on Saturday - basically Turley threw it away with 2 abysmall slipups, after some excellent football from the Cobbs (actually passing the ball to each other on the ground). The Cobblers pretty well dominated the first half and should have won the match. Poor finishing again though.

Anon at 1:23:42 Monday January 11 99
test

Ray at 0:29:59 Monday January 11 99
Goodo Ian - anyone else need sorting?

Ian at 0:28:36 Monday January 11 99
Thanks Ray, problem solved.

Ian at 0:27:55 Monday January 11 99
Test

Ray at 21:20:27 Sunday January 10 99
I dont know why I bother - I put all the information regarding teams etc on the site - and people say they cant find the information! This site will self destruct in 13.5 minutes........

Anon at 20:54:43 Sunday January 10 99
If what i've heard is correct Woody will not play again for the Cobblers. I must stress this is only hearsay, and is NOT directly from a source close to NTFC. Apparently Atkins confronted Woody about him going with one of the directors wives. Woody replied to Atkins "Well you're no better" or words to that effect, and so Atkins has told him he will NEVER play for the Cobblers again. Might explain why Billy is "definitely" playing next week!

Norwich Cobbler at 19:42:33 Sunday January 10 99
After Stoke surely Atkins has got to recall Woody - if not there must be something going on behind the scenes.As for Thommos departure will someone at the club explain what is going on at Sixfields at the moment?This along with the loss of Razor & Heggs creates an atmosphere of crisis - we must not do what Carrs team did and end up back where we started.Thommo was always in my mind an excellant future replacement for Atkins if he left. Its all very worrying. To Norwich Gas - I'm 35 and live in Taverham - E.Mail me on RMARR1437@901.com - I'll buy you a pint and console you for supporting the Gas.

Norwich Cobbler at 19:41:51 Sunday January 10 99
After Stoke surely Atkins has got to recall Woody - if not there must be something going on behind the scenes.As for Thommos departure will someone at the club explain what is going on at Sixfields at the moment?This along with the loss of Razor & Heggs creates an atmosphere of crisis - we must not do what Carrs team did and end up back where we started.Thommo was always in my mind an excellant future replacement for Atkins if he left. Its all very worrying. To Norwich Gas - I'm 35 and live in Taverham - E.Mail me on RMARR1437@91.com - I'll buy you a pint and console you for supporting the Gas.

Pete at 14:57:43 Sunday January 10 99
Viagra, that was the name of the pill- it helped gain you promotion rather than giving you the 'going down' feeling.

John Mcrirrick at 14:37:37 Sunday January 10 99
The answer to *R*'s question is that no Warner didn't play. Apparently he showed to much skill and flair in midweek. Also Corrazin was dropped again for much the same reason and was only brought on just before half time when Wilkinson was injured.

*R* at 14:9:37 Sunday January 10 99
Does anyone know if Atkins played Warner yesterday? I didn't make it to the match and I can't seem to find this VITAL information anywhere.

Ray at 13:34:26 Sunday January 10 99
Well if you can find a regular supply then let us all know!

T. at 13:32:31 Sunday January 10 99
Pete, I'm in desperate need of happy pills at the moment.

Pete at 13:23:24 Sunday January 10 99
It is back to T last Tuesday- anyone got any good news? I think I'll go and see my doctor and get some of those pills that everyone talks about ( or is it pils?). But should I take them, share them with T.. or give them to the players who played so well in the first half and got nothing in the end? When I have had problems getting on to the page I have found it worked to go via www.ukonline.co.uk and click on to 'soccer', 2nd. div etc.

Ian at 12:49:34 Sunday January 10 99
Test

The Angry Cobbler at 11:22:46 Sunday January 10 99
My team for Saturday v Walsall: (5-3-2) Woody, Gibb, Spedding, Sammo, Howey, Hill, Hunter, Savage, Corazzin, Freestone, Warner. Subs: Wilkinson, Hope, Frain. The reason I haven't picked Billy is because he has made too many clangers and we haven't done much better since Woody was dropped. I also haven't picked Wilkinson because I am still not sold on him. He looks match fit now but I still am not convinced. Hopefully Atkins is reading this now and decides that because he can't pick a team for toffee he should let someone else try.

T. at 8:41:34 Sunday January 10 99
Hmm, did I have a good afternoon watching the Ploppies? Well the ref was shit, Morecambe had a player sent off and there was very nearly a scrap in the second half. As I was with my boyfriend's dad we left 10 mins before the end of normal time (he being a Morecambe supporter), they must have had nearly 10 mins of injury time, well they should have had. As we were walking out of the ground Kettering scored again and I said that by the time we got home the result would probaly be 6-0 or something silly and it was! We then rang boyf for a report of the York v Preston match (boyf is at uni in York and Boyf's dad's other team is Preston) he was happy that at least Preston had won but apparently they were shit as was the ref (are refs ever any good?).

Mick at 23:11:48 Saturday January 9 99
Interesting third hand comments from Vegas Cobbler. First of all about those crowd stats. You brought a reasonably healthy following with you today but it was nothing like 2000, more like 1000 I should say, about the same as Macclesfield (1012) and Wigan (1083) Not bad though that must be around 20% of your home gate. I dont think your source is very reliable because Preston Virtually sold out there allocation on Boxing day (3521) and Man City haven't even been to Stoke yet! Anyway on to the game. You can consider yourself to be hard done by I would say. We were very poor and it took two defensive blunders for our first two goals.There were plenty of chances for you to score too once we took the lead through our own defensive frailties but you didnt get the goal that some of your play deserved, until it was too late to make any difference. You should most definatly have been given a Penalty when your lad was tripped in the second half, but equally we should have had one in the first half when our man was pushed off the ball when he was clean through and about to shoot Not a good game, and nowhere near as entertaining as the match at your place on the first day of the season. Mick.

Ray at 22:57:49 Saturday January 9 99
.....and in Netscape 4......

sid at 22:57:42 Saturday January 9 99
hhmmmmm... This is a test, but that Stokie is being a bit big-headed isn't he!!

Ray at 22:57:27 Saturday January 9 99
Yep - that works fine in IE 3......

Ray at 22:50:1 Saturday January 9 99
testing in Internet Explorer.......

Ray at 22:42:31 Saturday January 9 99
For all those people still having problems with the page not showing new postings - please email directly with what browser you are using (including version) and I'll give you detailed instructions)

Stokie at 22:39:3 Saturday January 9 99
Nevermind about today, just think if we had our full strength team out without injuries we may have scored 6. Take consolation in that you're the first team we have done the double over. You never know you might just survive this season.

Sid at 21:44:56 Saturday January 9 99
If anyone wants to chat about today's and the weeks events, come http://members.xoom.com/cobblers now!

Vegas Cobbler at 20:55:31 Saturday January 9 99
Just made a trans-Atlantic phone call to speak to an old mate who is a Stoke City fan (Pete Hughes). Pete lives next to a NTFC fan and they both went to the game. The comments from Pete (not from me as I don't KCIW(n't)T!!) included: Cobblers were by far the better side in the first half. The Stoke team were booed off at the interval. All the goals except for Lightbourne's (Stoke's third) were poor. Billy dropped the ball for Stoke's first (although Pete was very impressed with Billy's performance overall); a dreadful defensive cock-up (presumably from the comments below between John Frain and Billy) gifted Stoke their second. I asked Pete whether there were many Cobblers supporters there and if those that went made any noise. Pete was impressed by the turnout (estimated 2000) at least as many as Man City and Preston had taken to Stoke and the supporters made a great deal of noise!! Pete also said that we hit the post shortly after Stoke went 1-0 up. We must start to get the breaks soon. Next two games against top sides in the Division will be a test of our resilience and commitment of both players and the fans. Please please get behind the team and roar them to better performances that will see us rise from our lowly league position and put aside relegation worries that I think we all share.

Pete at 18:46:56 Saturday January 9 99
I feel a really deep depression coming on. Still, I suppose that is one of the privileges of being a Cobblers' fan. See, it's not all bad. If there is one thing crasier than....blah blah usual blah... what is the point.

Sid (with the GTA Results) at 18:45:16 Saturday January 9 99
Oh yeah, Guess the Attendance. Half the people (including me) didn't get anywhere near the actual attendance!!! Which was 11,180 i think. A better game next week though, Guesses for WALSALL (H) can be made from tonight for the rest of the week. Ian, the Poppies won 6-0. (again, i think thats what they said on the radio.)

Sid at 18:42:14 Saturday January 9 99
Did anyone hear what Atkins said about Turley?? He said "He has got to the heart if he wants to be the Northampton no. 1 keeper. He dropped 2 clangers for the first goal. He dropped a ball (again, not for the first time this season) and Wallace scored. The second one, Frain backpassed it, but Turley didn't respond. Thorne nipped in. BUT........ when asked if Turley would be in the side for next weeks game against Walsall, he said "Yeah, Definitely" There was a big long pause from Tim Oglethorpe, who was interviewing him. Anyway, the reason why i'm saying this is because there is no chance that Woody will get back in the team. Something has got to give if we are to stay up............. looking more and more like Atkin's team selection, which wasn't that bad today, may be his downfall. I am glad the Thommo thing has been sorted.

Anon at 17:11:48 Saturday January 9 99
3-1 what do you exspect with a crap team put out Atkins!!!!!

Ian at 17:5:27 Saturday January 9 99
Well this time nothing was here since my last comment(16 02 17) when I used my bookmark to enter the site, but when I hit "reload" all sorts of messages appeared. Curiouser and curiouser.

Ian at 17:2:19 Saturday January 9 99
Very quiet today. At least T had a good afternoon as the Ploppies won 5-0. We lost 1-3 (Howey, 90). Oh dear. That's three away games in a row we have conceded three goals.

Anon at 16:54:51 Saturday January 9 99
Final score 3-1, Howey scored

Vegas Cobbler at 16:51:48 Saturday January 9 99
Oh NO - WE'RE NOW 3-0 DOWN

Anon at 16:51:38 Saturday January 9 99
and 3

Anon at 16:49:27 Saturday January 9 99
now 2-0 to stoke

Anon at 16:22:17 Saturday January 9 99
1-0 dowm after 56 mins

Richard from HK at 16:15:55 Saturday January 9 99
Is anyone listening to the game

Ian at 16:2:17 Saturday January 9 99
Incidentally Ray, I still have to hit "reload" to get this to appear.

Ian at 16:1:21 Saturday January 9 99
Today's team: Turley, Gibb, Frain, Sampson, Howey, Parrish, Hunter, Savage, Wilkinson, Freestone, Spedding; subs: Corazzin, Peer, Hope. In terms of superfluous bs according to the match commentator "Chelsea are unbeaten in nine away games on the road".

Vegas Cobbler at 15:47:3 Saturday January 9 99
It's 0-0 at Stoke City at half time.

T. at 11:28:50 Saturday January 9 99
I'm off to see Kettering play Morecambe today as my boyf's dad supports Morecambe and of course I'll be cheering Kettering on so they keep their place at the top and put more pressure on Diremonds!

Pete at 11:20:17 Saturday January 9 99
Sadly Thommo has gone. Scouting for us today, gone tomorrow. On Wed. NTFC upped their offer and he accepted( when I talked to him)- that other team then upped theirs to an offer he could not refuse( 4 years has been mentioned today with a lot more) . GT has done well out of IA's attempts to keep him, we have done badly.Coaches being offerred shorter contracts than elderly players does not make a lot of sense to me but that is how it goes.

Sid at 10:44:42 Saturday January 9 99
Sorry, I meant thanks to Northampton Gas for the Info, not Norwich! We'll probably hear an annnoucenment over the Weekend. Will he be there for the Arsenal game??

Anon at 1:23:42 Saturday January 9 99
Vegas Cobbler. Hi T I'm up but then its only 5.25pm here in bright sunny Las Vegas. Hope the sun shines on the boy tomorrow!

T. at 1:8:58 Saturday January 9 99
My boyf just rang and woke me up so I thought I'd see if anyone else was about. He's a gooner sso I'm hoping for a good result on Monday night, his hero is Tony Adams and he's supposed to be playing isn't he?

Norwich Gas at 0:29:23 Saturday January 9 99
WE REPEAT WE HAVE KNOWN FOR A FEW DAYS THAT YOUR COACH HAS SIGNED A 3 1/2 YEAR DEAL WITH US. NTFC are NOT pleased and have insisted he works out his weeks notice. I'm not sure if this includes your next game. We are checking your site to get some info about him. IT HAS BEEN confirmed by our Press,Directors, Manager etc. Why have you not been told? seems strange don't you think?

Ray at 22:46:14 Friday January 8 99
No - I dont think he looks anything like you Phil..........

Phil Baron at 22:38:16 Friday January 8 99
Does anyone else think the man that sells the chron outside Abington Street entrance to the Grosvenor centre looks a little like a deranged Jeremy Beadle or is it just me?

Sid at 22:26:29 Friday January 8 99
Thanks Norwich, good info there. So we still don't know hhhhmmmm... I think he will go though. norwich:- Have you phoned up Bristol to confirm this?? Surely they would know whats happening, if anything. Well, we will know if he is not at the Stoke Game tomorrow. Anyone going to that game then?? If so, see if Thommo is there, that should give us some idea. This bit of info will definitely go on my website though?? Thanks!

Norwich Gas at 22:16:20 Friday January 8 99
NTFC FANS = kept in the dark and fed on bullshit!!

Norwich Gas at 22:13:40 Friday January 8 99
NTFC treat you like mushrooms - kept in the dark and fed on bullshit!!

Pete at 19:15:51 Friday January 8 99
It is all rather strange. Can any of you cynics out there(i.e. anyone strange person who thinks that nasty deeds are done in the name of the noble game) see an explanation? Fact - the Echo say GT is going or gone: fact - GT tells a friend he has a new contract at Sixfields. GT was clearly happy to reassure the friend (Wed.), the words used left no room for doubt( not second hand gossip). Clearly GT believed at that point that he was staying. Has GT been lied to- I cannot believe that. I will stay optimistic until I see GT on Monday.

Northampton Gas at 16:34:54 Friday January 8 99
Sorry it's me again. Phoned the Chronicle and Echo 16.30 and they are aware that GT is leaving and there will be an article in tomorrows edition. I will not say what comments were passed to me about IA reluctence to publish this info!!! If there is any other info you require to know about your club, both myself and Norwich Gas will be pleased to assist.

Northampton Gas at 16:22:44 Friday January 8 99
Sid, Pete and ALL Cobblers supporters. I have phoned the press office again at 16.15 and they STILL insist that Garry Thompson is with the Cobblers. However, when I asked 1- if they expect to see him on monday, 2 - if he is working 7 days notice and 3 - he has signed for the Gas they were NOT prepared to make ANY comment. What a shower your management are, yes he is still with the Cobblers until sunday evening, but what is so secret about him leaving - surely you the Cobblers fans have a right to know that one of your management is leaving. But then again, perhaps you do NOT have this right. PS - I suspect that GT cannot leave quick enough in view of what is going on behind the scenes and this must now make sense why so many of your players have left or fallen out with IA.

Northampton Gas at 16:7:39 Friday January 8 99
Sid and Pete. I have phoned the Cobblers press office and they seemed very defensive, but stated that Garry Thompson is still with the Cobblers. This is very strange as he has signed a 3 1/2 year contract with the Gas and has stated in the local Bristol papers that he is looking forward to his new job. The Bristol press have phoned the Cobblers, but your illustious leader has not returned the calls. We, the Gas, look forward to meeting GD on monday as he is supposed to be going to Plymouth on tuesday on behalf of the Gas

Exiled Brighton Cobbler at 16:7:36 Friday January 8 99
Friend of the Poor- I work at JJB in Abington Street and the reason you can never find any Cobblers shirts is because the club won't let anyone else sell them, apparantly because they want to sell them all from the club shop and take the proceedings rather than have to give a percentage of the profit to the various vendors.However Collins Sport in Gold Street do sell them,quite how they got hold of them though I have no idea.Also the Christmas Carol man moved location over Xmas from outside the Market Square entrance to the Grosvenor Centre to opposite the Abington Street entrance,where he sang a medley of popular Xmas tunes including the classic 'Michael row the boat ashore' and the unforgettable 'Santa Claus is coming to (Northampton)Town'.I don't think his profits increased that much, as I think he has relocated again,this time to somewhere in the Market Square.Other cool street characters include the man with the Dog who plays an accordion while Postman Pat bounces up and down on his knee who is always outside the Woolwich, and the man near him who sells the Chron who looks like he is a mad professor with his Don King hair and NHS specs.And a beard that is usually full of toast and/or other variable foodsorts.And I nearly forgot the man who wears a jesters hat and plays a guitar while singing folk tunes.He is usually found nearer Marks & Spencers.

Sid at 14:57:15 Friday January 8 99
Someone ring up the Club about Thommo before 5:00pm, this is doing my head in!! Thommo has to come out now and say if he is leaving or not!

Friend of the Poor at 14:11:22 Friday January 8 99
Thanks, Nod. I was getting a bit worried having not seen them recently. I had heard that 10p man had gone up in the world and is now demanding 20p. Probably priced himself out of the market. I once tried to put Anglia news onto Carol Man's trail for a 'Christmas cheer' sort of news snippet - no interest there though.

Grim Reaper at 14:2:53 Friday January 8 99
Just in from the Luton Echo ! Lost: Paul (Half) Sharpe Age: 8 Distinguishing Features: Talks b######s !! If found, please DESTROY !

Nod at 13:16:14 Friday January 8 99
Friend of the Poor, worry not! Cat Woman and Carol Man are still both plying their trade (sic) in Abington St on a regular basis, though I've no news of 10p Man. (I think it should be pointed out that Cat Woman is actually begging for money to feed cats in her sanctuary, not for herself - donations of Whiskas welcome). Carol Man shows some initiative at least, not like the other scrounging gits who just whine for loose change.... Get a bloody job, wasters.

Paul (Luton Town) Sharpe at 12:54:42 Friday January 8 99
I think Northampton aren't very good and LUTON TOWN F C RULE!!!!1 - 0 1- 0 1-0 1 - 0 1- 0 1 - 0 THANK YOU!

Pete at 12:10:0 Friday January 8 99
Better ask Thommo, Gas, I did on Wed. He tells me he has a new Cobblers contract. Someone somewhere someone is not being honest ( surprise surprise).I believe Thommo.... unless someone is not telling him the truth!

Mark Strugnell at 12:3:53 Friday January 8 99
Keep up the good work lads and lets go for the top half of the table or even a playoff place!

Norwich Gas at 4:44:57 Friday January 8 99
Thommo HAS signed a 3 1/2 year contract with us(Rovers) NT are MAKING him work a weeks notice. THIS IS CONFIRMED BY OUR CLUB.

GRAHAM PATTON at 3:23:7 Friday January 8 99
HELLO IM DONT FOLLOW NORTHAMPTON BUT MY COUSIN ROY HUNTER PLAYS FOR THEM,SO HERE I'AM .SOME GOOD PHOTO'S OF HIM ,NICE ONE MATE,

Newcastle DJ (Stokie) at 1:44:8 Friday January 8 99
Hey there Cobblers! Just thought I write and say have a good day out at the Brit. What the hell has happened to you lot..you were good last season!! anyway, our strikers couldn`t score in the proverbial brothel at the minute so I don`t think you`ve much to fear...having said that I hope Stoke win or we may find ourselves playing you again next season!! Your Corrazzin bloke looks a bit nifty, hang on to him if you can and we may see you in Div one before too long. taraa for now.

Ray at 1:20:10 Friday January 8 99
Of course I could be wrong about this ...... I haven't actually checked - lol!

Ray at 1:18:7 Friday January 8 99
If its any help - the two missing ones are both current.....(talk about making it easy!)

Ray at 1:16:51 Friday January 8 99
hmmm - if we have these two then I guess we have 6 trophies then - like to try for the other 2?

RICHARD at 23:22:47 Thursday January 7 99
re Cup Quiz: Southern League Winners circa 1900 and frozen to death (1908/09): Third Division around the time of the greatest rise of the century (1962/63). I had to cheat for the exact dates by referring to the Mighty Tome, "100 Years of...."

Northampton Gas at 22:23:47 Thursday January 7 99
Sorry Pete, you are in for one hell of a suprise. He is joining the Gas on Monday morning

Ray at 22:18:44 Thursday January 7 99
Well Mr. Cup man - you have two so far - Div 4 winners and play off winners - two to go!

pete at 22:13:55 Thursday January 7 99
Gas, read Wed. afternoon entries- Thommo is not leaving

Northampton Gas at 21:49:3 Thursday January 7 99
Why are the office staff at the Cobblers unaware that Gary Thompson is leaving this weekend. It appears that your wonderous leader has not informed his staff of what is going on. Is there anyone in charge of the lighthouse or is the light on with no one in.

Phil Baron at 21:9:25 Thursday January 7 99
Its a pity Evertons first team do not take a page out of the youth teams and play some football which is not negative and boring!!!!

VANESSA FELTZ at 18:35:43 Thursday January 7 99
MY ARSE IS BETTER LOOKING THAN THE COBBLERS YOUTH TEAM.

Pete at 18:35:39 Thursday January 7 99
An interesting developement on the ' can the injures not be picked up before signing' question is that the FA recently demanded that clubs wanting to sign a player be allowed access to the 'past histories of injuries' of players before the players are signed. In the past this was not allowed- it was regarded as a breech of medical confidentiality. I don't know how they have got round it but they do appear to have done soin the last few weeks. I once heard a talk given by the Forrest doc. in times of Clough. It was clear that Cloughy made a lot of medical decisions too.

BAKA at 18:32:23 Thursday January 7 99
The mighty Everton youth team march on, they will retain the FA youth cup maybe Atkins should look into getting a few of them on loan. Francis Jeffers and Leon Osman are especially good and are both members of the England U-18s.

Betty Rubble at 17:41:22 Thursday January 7 99
Some of the youth team are nice looking blokes aren't they? (see official site)

Orville man at 16:39:47 Thursday January 7 99
I wish i could score and try not to bore but I can't, you can, I can't , you can!

the bird man of Northampton's Nurse at 16:36:16 Thursday January 7 99
Come back you naughty man and leave that goose alone. Time for your pills

Hartwell Cobbler at 16:21:21 Thursday January 7 99
I have to agree with you, Jacks. Hill is a class player. He is, after all, an international and vastly experienced. He may be somewhat over the (excuse the pun) hill but he's in a different class to his peers, the Howeys,Wilkinsons etc. Regarding the injury situation - I can't recall it ever being so bad. While some of it must be down to misfortune, so many of the injuries have been to recent singings. Which makes me wonder whether we've checked sufficiently into their medical histories before shelling out hard-earned cash? I also wonder if some of it isn't also down to Atkins tactics, which must place a very high level of physical demand demands on the players. There may be other reasons. But one thing's for sure - questions ought to be asked especially as Atkins has blamed the poor league form squarly on the injury situation. Personally I think he's been making a rod for his own back. And he's had a proverbial army of replacements. Not to mention his refusal to give Warner (probably one of our most technically gifted players)any opportunity to make his mark in the league. Cambridge was just another in an increasing line of unacceptable performances away from home. No wonder many fans have given up travelling. While I remain optimistic that we won't be relegated, we have to face the fact that if our present defensive frailties, lack of any significantly creative midfield play, and lack of goals remain the norm it's going to be a scrap to secure the necessary number of points.

SBJ at 16:10:38 Thursday January 7 99
I'm bored and it's raining but I'm going to the Fulham vs. Northampton match soon so that's OK.

the Bird man of Northampton at 15:58:34 Thursday January 7 99
Beautiful game? Hmm... I was always rather taken by the loveliness of the ring necked pheasant. But the red legged partridge isn't bad either. Sorry, oops, yes nurse? Is it time for more dried frog pills already?

Atkins knows nothing so go society!!! at 14:30:42 Thursday January 7 99
Mr Atkins, if you are reading this could you tell me why, when you are a goal down, you took the best player that we have off and replaced him with another defender? Do you know anything about the beautiful game.

Cup man at 14:3:53 Thursday January 7 99
OK Ray what are the four cups in our Trophy Cupboard, Play Off Winners, Play off losers?, Division Four Champions x 2? Or is it the set of 4 that Texaco were giving away with 20000 tiger tokens on their 25th aniversary?

Tim at 12:33:38 Thursday January 7 99
To join the Nationwide mailing list and discuss views with other Nationwide teams fans sent a blank email to: Nationwide-football-subscrib@egroups.com

Friend of the Poor at 10:48:32 Thursday January 7 99
Do any of Northampton's excellent street characters still hang out in Abingdon Street? I'm particularly thinking of Cat Woman (the old lady 'playing' keyboards outside M&S for cat food), 10 pee Man (clearly pessimistic old & thin beggar who'd demand "Got 10p?" but leg it before giving any opportunity for response) and Christmas Carol Man (oldish bearded chap who sings a succession of carols, with great gusto and much animation, bag for cash laid out in front of him). It's possible the names are wrong; genuine concern - used to always look out for them and gave generously when possible. Also, why is it not possible to buy Cobblers shirts in Abington Street?

TRB Mark at 10:46:48 Thursday January 7 99
I dreamt last night that I was talking to Razor and he told me he hated it at R&D and that he wanted to come back to the love of his life, the Cobblers. I'll have to stop shovelling down the soon to be out of date blue cheese before I go bed!. T, no the baby has'nt appeared yet. What was the attendance last night Ray?

Jacks at 10:22:8 Thursday January 7 99
Cambridge..well, we we're dreadful..I don't know what game anyone else was watching. Basically we were simply not up for it and Cambridge gave it everything they had and deserved to win. The news that Hill won't be playing for us again, from The Insider, is a little premature - or maybe there was little othe option! - However, I STILL and will always maintain that Colin Hill is a class player and until he came on our defence was unconfident and weak, I see Howey on loan for a 3rd month, so maybe we won't part will a ridiculous £50k fee for him. The match was full of players who appeared desperate to get rid of the ball without any concept of where a team-mate was (or generally wasn't). We were never 1st to the ball, won very little in the air and didn't appear to care anyway. I love my team, but a display such as Tuesday night is not on, I don't care if as some say "Oh, it's only the AW" we should want to win EVERY match. Colin Hill should certainly regain his place, isn't it ironic that ever since Atko's short-sightedness over "that" sale our defence has turned into one of the weakest - rather than improve on our previous reputation as one of the best. Is there anyone motivating the team? The crowd was woefully quiet on Tues, however - Saturday will see a change in fortune. COME ON COBBLERS!!

Paul S at 8:43:46 Thursday January 7 99
When Hill came on Howey went up front.

Ray at 1:37:58 Thursday January 7 99
I actually amost went tonight (record attendance I see) but the wind and rain put me off (yeh - not for first team matches though). I'll try and struggle along to see the reserves trash Arsenal next Monday (KO 7:00 pm)

T. at 22:38:52 Wednesday January 6 99
Just seen that we lost 1-0 on the official site

T. at 22:37:47 Wednesday January 6 99
Someone please post the result of the Youth Team Cup match please.

Sid at 21:22:49 Wednesday January 6 99
When I was listening to the commentary, we went 3-2 down and Hill came on for Savage, who they said was one of Northampton's best payers up till then. The Formation then changed to a 4-4-2, with Hill, Sammo, Howey and Hopeour 4 defenders. Midfield was Frain, Spedding, Peer and Warner with Carlo and Chris up front. That is very negative when chasing a goal. I cannot understand why he does that!

Anon at 20:52:5 Wednesday January 6 99
C'mon Leeds C'mon Stevenage C'mon Kettering (yes Kettering)

Gaz at 18:7:3 Wednesday January 6 99
I thought we looked pretty good last night until Cambridge's first equaliser. We were passing it around confidently...perhaps too confidently. The biggest plus of the night was Michael Warner. His first half performance was superb. His vision and passing was great, and as a defender he looked tougher and cannier than Ali Gibb. I think he tired towards the end though. The biggest negative point was Sammo. He had a stinker of a game, but unlike Billy (who also had a 'mare) Sammo didn't look like he could be bothered. Defensively we looked a shambles in the second half, and what a surprise that we conceeded goals from corners! How many times have we seen that this season? The scoreline could have been worse if Warner hadn't headed the ball off the line from a first half corner. 5 goals, but not a particularly entertaining game. Cambridge were better than us and they deserved to win. Apart from Carlo silencing the barracking Cambridge fans, my highlight was probably both sets of fans singing "Cheer up Barry Fry" when it was announced that Boro were losing badly.

RICHARD at 16:53:50 Wednesday January 6 99
According to the boy, Chris, losing in mid-week is a good omen. Expect a positive result for the Claret and White at the weekend! We're staying on Friday night with friends in Cheshire, where we used to live, near J18 on the M6, the Holmes Chapel turn-off. My friend, who is a Stokite, met his wife their - she was also known as the Holmes Chapel turn-off! (Only kidding, Al, if you read this. Gill's a lovely woman - everybody in the town says so!) We'll be having plenty of curry and ale on Friday night, followed by plenty of ale and ale on Saturday before the game - a case of 'Ale and Farty!

Paul S at 15:45:0 Wednesday January 6 99
Andy, The fall-out is so gloomy you just can't see it! Usually there is some saving grace shining brightly to emphasise how bad the rest actually was. However last night was like attending a methodist funeral - not even a decent wake to look forward to. We were bad, Billy Turley's supporters are remarkable by their silence, Hunter seems to be crocked for a few months yet, Atko doesn't seem to know his best team, and in spite of promising to play a back four persists in playing 5 back and consequently our midfield is overrun. We have no width so our attacking options seem to consist of a hoof from defence to our attackers who are either lightweight but pacy, or short but with control and shooting power, or a past it target man. All of them prefer a cross from the byeline or the ball played to feet. Still at least Stoke and Walsall are a bit out of sorts. Top 3 in the league in consecutive matches, what perfect timing when we're playing like donkeys. Oh well, I'll be at Stoke (2-1 for Cobblers, mindless optimism undimmed) Come on the Town. Oh yes Hill came on in the final minutes when we were chasing a goal - such a positive move bringing on a defender!

Andy C at 15:16:7 Wednesday January 6 99
Not much info here about last night's game; I must admit I was rather looking forward to some more gloomy fall-out. (Being a Gills fan I rather miss all the moaning now that we're on such a roll.) After the message below, did Hill play? More importantly, should the Gills be worried about Cambridge if we draw them in the next round? One small feather in the Cobblers' cap: you were the last team to beat us in the League.

Pete at 15:4:21 Wednesday January 6 99
Speaking to him at lunch time- a happy Thommo....and happy us!

Sid at 15:0:49 Wednesday January 6 99
yaaaaaaaaayyyyyy Thommo isn't going?!?!?!? Someone gives me confirmation of this! Where can i find it!?!?

Pete at 14:40:58 Wednesday January 6 99
Yes- horse's mouth stuff!

Ray at 14:34:8 Wednesday January 6 99
Really Pete? Is this true? Good news if it is...

Pete at 14:4:35 Wednesday January 6 99
Someone asked for good news? OK- I can squash the "Thommo is leaving story". He isn't- come and see the good football with Thommo on Monday night, 7 pm.

The Hand of Death at 13:34:1 Wednesday January 6 99
See, I told you Cambridge are good.

Ray at 10:48:43 Wednesday January 6 99
What Millwall information would you expect on a NTFC site?

Barrie Fullbrook at 10:23:59 Wednesday January 6 99
Do you have any Millwall information??

Friend of Kingfisher at 9:20:38 Wednesday January 6 99
Pearson will be outed if any more scare stories appear, If you are a true Cobbler get on side.

Bob Robb at 5:41:12 Wednesday January 6 99
a great little site gives the so called big boys a run for there money

Cobbler Down Under at 4:54:47 Wednesday January 6 99
Here's some good news about the Cobblers.They have just been voted the # 1 team in the history of the Football League by the Associated Ex Pat Piss Pot Association Of Australia.This does not mean another Wembley appearance but it gains another trophy to go in the non existent trophy cabinet at Sixfields Stadium.

Norwich Gas at 2:37:27 Wednesday January 6 99
To Norwich Cobbler, Fancy a pint sometime. I live near the station and NCFC.How old are you?

Ray at 0:2:27 Wednesday January 6 99
If I hear any T - you'll be one of the first to know....

T. at 22:17:56 Tuesday January 5 99
Someone please give us some good news about the Cobb's.

Norwich Cobbler at 21:43:24 Tuesday January 5 99
3-2 to Cambridge - bugger! No hat trick of Wembley appearances this time.Still at least there is the consolation of Fat Boy Fry getting stuffed 5-1! well done you Cherries!

Norwich Cobbler at 21:42:47 Tuesday January 5 99
3-2 to Cambridge - bugger! No hat trick of Wembley appearances this time.Still at least there is the consolation of Fat Boy Fry getting stuffed 5-1! well done you Cherries!

Sid at 21:38:44 Tuesday January 5 99
Cobblers lose again, Cambridge 3-2 Cobblers. Corazzin and Freestone scored, but Walker, Benjamin and Butler scored for Cambridge. My verdict, We definitely need a new defence. They were all over us throughout the second half. Corazzin and Freestone partnership seemed to work. But NO WEMBLEY TRIP THIS YEAR. Why do we seem to lose at the vital times!?!?!?!

Norwich Cobbler at 21:1:56 Tuesday January 5 99
Norwich Gas - if I knew a Rovers fan lived here I could have told you all about the playoff 2nd leg!3-1 and you ****** it up!

John Mcrirrick at 19:20:37 Tuesday January 5 99
Does anyone know the team for tonights match yet ?

Sid at 19:6:49 Tuesday January 5 99
I'm disappointed about Thommo leaving, because he was good for the club. It would be nice if he could replace him with someone that can persuade Atkin to "tweak" his tactics slightly, not that i am knocking his tactics, they need to be reformed slightly. Cambridge tonight, so COME ON COBBLERS!! get us on another Wembley trail again!

Ray at 18:26:36 Tuesday January 5 99
Dont forget Youth team v Chelsea - 3rd round Youth Cup tomorrow (wednesday at 7 oclock at Sixfield - £3 admission.

Hartwell Cobbler at 15:59:48 Tuesday January 5 99
I am disappointed to learn about Thommo's departure. If the way the stiffs play reflects his approach to the game then I think we have lost a good coach. Watching the reserves and the first team it's clear his and Atkins approaches to the game are poles apart. The reserves play a more controlled game. I've always thought it is perverse in the extreme to have your own teams playing diverse styles. Perhaps that's got something to do with it. As for the story about Hill and Woodie being singled out by Atkins - if these rumours are to be believed Atkins appears to be falling out with just about everyone. There does appear to be a lot going on behind the scenes, none of which (if true) bodes well for team morale. Ray - were you referring to the They Think Its All Over clip ? Hope so - although my brother in law taped it and has promised to pass it on as well.

SBJ at 11:37:16 Tuesday January 5 99
Yeah, I've seen the East Anglian footie mag - "It's A Goal!" I think it's called. In all of 30+ pages of the issue I read there was almost no mention of Cobblers at all. Still, it could eventually be interesting, and it's quite a good idea really.

Ralph at 8:11:42 Tuesday January 5 99
Hmmm! Thommo, hmmm! More to this than meets the eye. Hmmm.

Steve at 3:40:24 Tuesday January 5 99
Has anybody else seen that dodgy magazine about 'East Anglian football'? Atko is asked what one player he'd sign if he could sign anybody, and he says David Ginola !! Although quite how happy he'd be with a place on the bench at Sixfields is anybody's guess.

Ray at 0:46:38 Tuesday January 5 99
Its about time some more people purchased books.........

Ray at 0:36:49 Tuesday January 5 99
Well I wouldn't have described Thommo as "our coach".....

T. at 23:8:54 Monday January 4 99
TRB Mark, I agree about Rushden getting all the name checks, it was mentioned on local news tonight, loads of people had rung/written in to complain. Has the baby appeared yet?

Steve at 22:50:51 Monday January 4 99
Just checked on the Bristol Evening Post site, and this story appears to be true. Thommo has gone to Bristol Rovers. He was due to arrive today, but the Cobbs are holding him to a weeks notice. Which suggests the Cobbs aren't happy that he's leaving. And the question is 'Why is he leaving ? ' Strikes me as bad news.

Norwich Gas at 21:33:34 Monday January 4 99
Your coach HAS joined US(Bristol Rovers) but is working a weeks notice. We have given him a 3 1/2 year contract.

TRB Mark at 21:22:57 Monday January 4 99
These are intersting days for Northamptonshire football with the national spotlight falling on the county. The Christmas after Sunday's mail had quite a big bit about Diamonds which said how "annoyed" Cobblers fans were abot the sale of heggs/Warburton . Also that their great rivals up the A6, having spent zero cash were dissapearing over the horizon in the conference. I'd feel pig sick f I was a Poppies fan because this time last year they were bottom, and now they are top and all the media can think about is Griggsy money! Anyway, had Nick Hanckock's new football vid for Xmas and it contained two Cobblers moments. The own goal away to Luton and Carlo's acrobatic goal celebration (V Stoke). We even got two mentions on Match of the Day , and none in connection with Diamonds. Atkins is right when he says the profile of NTFC has never been higher. Living in Irthlingborough, I can't get away from Diamonds at the moment but alot of people in I'boro are really pissed off because Rushden are getting all the name checks.

The Insider at 20:46:40 Monday January 4 99
PC crocked for 2 weeks over Chrimbo, taken time to catch up. Hadn't heard about the Corazzin/Forest link, but what I can say is that at half time against Fulham, Colin Hill told my excellent source that he and Woodman had been singled out by Atkins as dressing room troublemakers and that certainly the former will never play for The Cobblers again. His words. PS. I am cancelling me Chronicle for its sycophantic fair weather coverage of Diremonds.

Norwich Cobbler at 19:41:25 Monday January 4 99
Rosey do you support Pooborough or the Dim ones? because you certainly don't support the Claret & White - perhaps you should go and find the Man.utd.site The Town are staying up - well up!

rosey at 19:24:47 Monday January 4 99
Play offs!! You are joking. Wilkinson and Howey are old men past their best, Turley isn't a patch on Woodman and theCobblers are going down...down...down...

Ray at 18:21:45 Monday January 4 99
Well, hopefully, if Steve Church has kept the tape and I can rake together a bit of cash, you will be able to see the clip on this site shortly!

Ray at 18:20:37 Monday January 4 99
The Trophy Room? The only time I have seen trohpies on display were when they were in the cabinet in the shop - and this said cabinet has now disappeared. I think the 4 trophies we currently hold are somewhere on someones sideboard :-) (OK any guesses which 4 trophies we have?)

Hartwell Cobbler at 16:20:55 Monday January 4 99
I had videoed They Think It's All Over and my son and I were especially keen to run it back after we'd read here that footage of the Cobblers featured on the show. We had programmed the video to tape this and several other progs and had it in PDC. We couldn't believe our eyes when we ran the tape...only to find the bloody machine had switched on just after the Cobblers clip! So much for modern technology!

SBJ at 15:50:38 Monday January 4 99
At Sixfields, is there a trophy room? I've only been to a handful of home matches (away matches in the South-East are my thing) and haven't ever really looked around the ground: presumably there's somewhere where our handful of trophies / awards are kept for fans to pay respects to?

The Hand of Death at 15:28:52 Monday January 4 99
OK, Christmas is over and now the Hand of Death can announce who is going to be kicked out of division two at the end of the season: it'll be Lincoln City, Macclesfield, Notts County, and Burnley. See, Wycombe will be OK when they start scoring again (quite a tight defence), Cobblers will stay up after consolidating on their recent upturn of results and performances, and Wrexham and Oldham will be just fine - just a hunch really. Notts County will have to drop so that some wise guy like Gerald Sinstadt can talk about "the oldest league club playing the newest league club" when they meet newly-promoted Rushden. Next season Northampton will be playing new away games at Cardiff, Cambridge, Brighton, and Rotherham (rising), and Crewe, Portsmouth and Bristol City (falling). "It's too early for such predictions!" you may cry, but the Hand of Death has passed judgement and yea it shall all come to pass. Oh, and it shall also come to pass that Lawrie McMenemie shall be struck down for that rusty old Quasimodo / flat back four gag on Football focus this week.

Ray at 14:25:9 Monday January 4 99
Mid table? I still have us down for the play offs!!

Jacks at 14:19:27 Monday January 4 99
Razor, when did you move to the USA...........

Simon at 13:55:13 Monday January 4 99
Dont worry we will make it this year, We will finish mid table!

Ray Warburton at 13:48:32 Monday January 4 99
Hi to all the fans back therer in Northampton. Thanks for all of your support over the past years I hope you all relalise that I and Heggsy had to move on its a great set up here at Rushdon and we will see you in the premiership in 4 years time!

Jacks at 12:13:11 Monday January 4 99
I do hope Colin Hill will be back in defence - we quite obviously have missed his steadying influence and superb experience desperately.

Gary at 11:40:31 Monday January 4 99
What about Cambridge. Woody in goal, Warner playing in midfield, hill as well. I think so.

SBJ at 11:6:27 Monday January 4 99
Back to the office after 2 weeks' holiday, and having prioritised (ie. pushed to one side) the pile of work on my desk I've just read all the Christmas correspondence here (about an hour's work!). Good to 'see' plenty of new 'faces' on the guest book. Terrible shame about Dougie H, both for the team and especially for him; not too disappointed with the Christmas footie results; quite convinced that we have turned the corner now (though Stoke on Saturday may provide a bigger obstacle than we can currently overcome) and that the relegation battle will shortly be Somebody Else's Problem. Spoke to some very young West Ham fans over Christmas who are similarly convinced that we're well equipped to finish mid-table (and kids often know best . . . )

Jacks at 10:26:4 Monday January 4 99
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!Sorry I know i'm a bit late...but I mean it anyway - and we are going to be fine..not going to get relegated. Quick surmise of the Christmas period - went to Notts Co. and left feeling VERY worried - we WERE awful - terrible conditions but I have to say that although Howey scored a consolation goal, he looked very poor - I now see we have bought him for 50k ! which seems ridiculous for a player from the 3rd who couldn't even make the 1st team..still Mr A had made such a song and dance about him previously he couldn't surely admit he might have made a mistake (aka Wilko). Desperately sorry about Dougie Hodgeson - I wish you all the VERY best for whatever you do in the future - thanks for what you were able to do in your short time with us - it was recognised. Fulham - see we CAN play - c'mon Cobblers- this is the fighting spirit we have. Delighted for Freestone to have scored - let's hope it has boosted his confidence. Oh, by the way to all the North standers who persist on Seal's magnificence, i'm afraid I thought he looked right off the pace and sluggish, just trotting around again with little exhibition of the passion that was once there....sorry. I'm going to Cambridge tomorrow - anyone else? Carlo going.....no..he's not

Ray at 1:16:3 Monday January 4 99
When any names are mentioned I try to pick them up - Ive actually deleted quite a few....

Pete at 22:39:12 Sunday January 3 99
Given the amount of nonsensical rumours that have been manufactured recently, I am beginning to wonder if some one is trying to sabotage this fine page. If the rumour monger cannot help him or herself, at least have the decency not to name women- that is totally unacceptable. If a 'lad' is getting extra rations, it boosts his street credibility, if a woman is named she is regarded badly- unfair but true. |Have some honour, rumour monger! It probably also unsettles players to hear ( false) rumours about players having been transferred. Chairman Ray, please try to restore decent standards of behaviour by rubbing out ungentlemanly attacks on women, even if you have reason to believe them- this is a 'fans' page, not an unsavory gossip notice board for ungenlemanly creeps to display their perverse inclinations in such a cowardly fashion. By the way, Carlo is still a Cobbler.

Amanda at 21:6:0 Sunday January 3 99
Carlo's contract isn't up till 2001 he can't have gone on a free.

T. at 20:16:16 Sunday January 3 99
Nadge, what you been upto?

nadge at 19:57:21 Sunday January 3 99
No gossip on here anymore! Missed you xx

John Mcrirrick at 17:16:43 Sunday January 3 99
Carlo can't have left for nothing. Atkins is astute enough to have secured at least $10 000 for him the great wheeler dealer that he is. I wouldn't be suprised if he wanted out though. Atkins doesn't seem to appreciate him and to be honest the crowd don't get behind him that often, instead they have this strange affinity for Seal who again played a match on Monday without making a single challenge. The chants of Ooh Carlo Carlo. Carlo Carlo Carlo Corazzin should be ringing out at the start of every Cobblers game. If Atkins picks the right side on Saturday we'll get at least a point.

Sid at 17:9:38 Sunday January 3 99
Carlo to Forest?!?!!? I haven't heard anything about that.

Sid at 17:8:48 Sunday January 3 99
I listed my site about a month ago and forgot about it! I looked earlier after you mentioned it, Ray. Wasn't on there though. But the second time I was 56!! (yaaaayyyy!) Just looking again...... no its not there now.

Vegas Cobbler at 16:43:34 Sunday January 3 99
Surely Carlo hasn't deserted us. As everyone says he is probably the the best player we have at present. Whilst I appreciate that you don't have to like someone to work for them (although it helps) I cannot believe that NTFC would release Carlo or that he would simply walk out. Whatever, if he was to go to Notts Forest surely he is still under contract and therefore our club should receive a fair fee for this gifted, talented footballer? Has anyone else got definite news on Anon's earlier comment?

Ray at 14:6:3 Sunday January 3 99
.. and Sid's site is also listed....

Sid at 13:52:20 Sunday January 3 99
Just been to Soccer-sites, this site is now number 5.

Anon at 13:48:47 Sunday January 3 99
I've just heard that Carlo has gone on a free to Notts Forest. He has fallen out with IA and so wanted out.

Sid at 13:26:5 Sunday January 3 99
Diamonds did excellent yesterday, I was hoping they would score. Was it me or did Carl Heggs look out of sorts on the left side of midfield?!?!?! That Ian Feuer's still good. I dont think they will buy Woody now.

*R* at 12:52:18 Sunday January 3 99
Did anyone see 'They Think It's All Over' on New Year's Eve?

*R* at 12:34:41 Sunday January 3 99
I agree, Atkins is crazy for not playing Warner and Corazzin!

Nick at 12:12:31 Sunday January 3 99
I couldn't agree more about Corazzin, and what about Warner also. Does Ian Atkins have an aversion to playing footballers that can dribble and pass a ball.

Anon at 11:2:5 Sunday January 3 99
I am suprised that so little has been made on these pages of Carlo missing again. For me he has been far and away our bestplayer this season with his football mind thinking much quicker than most others in this division (usually our forwards as well). What chance do we have of putting a run of form together when IA refuses to pick his best players. He was fit enough to be on the bench and the amount of time he spent warming up he was obviously bursting to play. Atkins arrogance and excuses amaze me. Have we really not seen a team better than us this season. At times we play good football and look dangerous and incisive but we have to be losing to do it. Will we have to tolerate IA forever ?

Baldy Cobbler at 7:51:16 Sunday January 3 99
Cobblers Old Boys did well today against Leeds.The defence closed down all the angles,like the Cobblers of old.So sorry to hear about Dougie.He looked like the bargain of the season and would have grown in strength as our new squad came back from injury and began to gel.All the best for a 100% successful operation Dougie and may luck and good fortune follow you the rest of your years.Well,Woody.What have you been up to.Or should that read who?Hopefully she wore white stockings and you mistook her legs for the goal.What else do you tell the missus?Whatever the case,we miss you Woody and we miss your humour.I'm sure the dressing room does too.As for Ray Warburton's signing on fee,what the hell is going on behind the scenes at Sixfields?Atkins didn'nt want him to go.The fans didn't wont him to go.Why did the directors let him go for an undisclosed fee? and why did Ray recieve a sum,which is not far off what we got for him and Heggsy combined?I thought we were an "open club" after our almost fatal recent history.Events of this season have a certain deja vou about them.IT DOESN'T FEEL LIKE THE LAST FEW SEASONS AND I DONT MEAN ON THE PITCH.Let's have a bit more openess from the club.We can take it.We've been to deaths door and back.We know we can shift mountains when club and supporters work side by side.There isn't anything we wouldn't do for our club.To continue we need to know what is going on when only confusion,rumours and the like abound.I think we deserve it and NTFC deserve it.So please,in future,keep us fans informed, whatever is going on.WE ARE ONE.Well that was an unexpected rant and after leaving it for 30min's I've concluded that I agree with myself.This is sad.I'm sad.I'm going to bed.

martin widdowson Martin@widdowsonm.freeserve.co at 0:8:39 Sunday January 3 99
Keep up the good work, I'll keep popping in. From Stuart and Martin (Northstand season ticket holders)

Ray at 21:44:33 Saturday January 2 99
Personally I would like to extend warm congratulations to R&D - I listened to the commentary on Radio Nonothing and they, to all accounts showed guts, spitir and skill. Taking all this with a pinch of salt I then watched the match on Sky and can assure everyone that the commentary was fairly accurate. Well done also to Yeovil on taking their lives into their hands and coming away with a draw from Cardiff.

Ray at 21:40:16 Saturday January 2 99
The "Top 100" is averaged aver the last 2 hours ...... You'll all have to come back here on a more regular basis :-) Still - School and Uni starts soon - that'll get the hits rolling round again.

ben at 21:20:7 Saturday January 2 99
sorry im wrong, kettering are 17th

Ben at 21:17:38 Saturday January 2 99
right now this site is no. 30 in the top 100... well done ray! kettering are in the top 10?!? not bad r&d i guess they wil probably try to sign another cobblers player before the replay...

Amanda at 20:2:55 Saturday January 2 99
Oh and its a pity about R&D but at least lincoln got beat!!

Amanda at 20:2:7 Saturday January 2 99
I have just got back from the Oxford game at Crewe and i was very impressed with the away fans. Throughtout the whole 90mins i did not here one complaint about players, the management, the chairman or anything the were behind the players from the very start despite all their problems. Perhaps the Cobblers fans can learn from this. If anyone didn't know they beat The Alex 3 - 1. I was very impressed with Oxfords number 6 , Mark Watson. Anon - (u know who u r) please pass my thanx on for the tickets

Philip Hudson at 18:22:36 Saturday January 2 99
Come on Cobbblers. We're gonna win the AWS this year.

Anon at 17:39:42 Saturday January 2 99
Vegas Cobbler. Reasonable set of results from Div 2 today involving teams around us in the league - Colchester, Burnley and Wycombe all played at home and none of them could win. Strangely Soccernet had Burnley losing 1-0 to Walsall until late in the second half and yet it ended up as a 0-0 result!!??*!

Vegas Cobbler at 17:36:46 Saturday January 2 99
Excellent result for R&D in the Cup today and no doubt a big money spinner for them (as if they needed the extra cash!). However, they may find that these extra games may rebound on them in the long run in the Conference. Although they have several games in hand on Kettering (who won again today), many teams in the past have struggled when a fixture pile-up occurs.

Northampton Gas at 15:25:15 Saturday January 2 99
According to the local Bristol papers, Garry Thompson is considering a move to Bristol Rovers. I beleive he is your reserve team trainer, is he an advocate of "route one football" - I hope not. PLEASE provide any info on his ability as a member of your training staff.

Anon at 14:4:58 Saturday January 2 99
For those out of towners you can listen to the demolition of Max's boys on www.virgin.net!! NB Woody will not sign for R&D as they have signed ex Luton keeper Ian Feuer from USA!

Sid at 13:46:51 Saturday January 2 99
Actually, Richard, it was £98,000, I saw it in the Sun. I just cant believe that! Northampton haven't even spent that on one player's fee!

Amanda at 11:6:51 Saturday January 2 99
I am just about to leave for crewe...they r playing Oxford. COME ON LEEDS!!! COME ON LEEDS!!! COME ON LEEDS!!! COME ON LEEDS!!! COME ON LEEDS!!! COME ON LEEDS!!! COME ON LEEDS!!! COME ON LEEDS!!! COME ON LEEDS!!! COME ON LEEDS!!! COME ON LEEDS!!! COME ON LEEDS!!! COME ON LEEDS!!! COME ON LEEDS!!! COME ON LEEDS!!! COME ON LEEDS!!! COME ON LEEDS!!! COME ON LEEDS!!! COME ON LEEDS!!! COME ON LEEDS!!! COME ON LEEDS!!! COME ON LEEDS!!! COME ON LEEDS!!! COME ON LEEDS!!! COME ON LEEDS!!! COME ON LEEDS!!! COME ON LEEDS!!! COME ON LEEDS!!! c ya

Richard from HK at 3:17:6 Saturday January 2 99
Big article in one of the local papers here today covering the Rushden/Leeds game. According to this Warburtons signing on fee was 97000 pounds. Happy new year to everyone.

Ray at 1:36:22 Saturday January 2 99
hmmmm - that didnt take long - we are already in the top ten....

Ray at 0:7:11 Saturday January 2 99
You will see a new link above - lets make this site NUMBER ONE!!!

Ray at 23:32:47 Friday January 1 99
hmmm - someone sneaked in before me and was number 61000....

Ray at 23:30:40 Friday January 1 99
Amanda - thank you - at least someone agrees with me!

Amanda at 19:46:20 Friday January 1 99
Ray - the new millenium doesn't begin till the year 2001

Amanda at 19:45:22 Friday January 1 99
I'm not surprised that neither Sunderland or Lincoln want Danson to ref their FA Cup tie, he has to be THE worst ref i have ever seen! Oh well. Good luck for 1999 hope u all have a good one.

Sid at 18:41:52 Friday January 1 99
Ray, I have a version of Opera (3.5 i think) and that doesn't support Java, because it never displayed my chat room. However, it is faster for browsing the net, so get it if you want. We have to get that Heggsy celebration in movie format though! (haven't seen it yet)

Vegas Cobbler at 16:41:39 Friday January 1 99
I read in today's (Electronic) Telegraph a report about the referee for the Sunderland v Lincoln FA Cup tie being replaced at both clubs request. He was the official that 'controlled' our home game against Lincoln and reference is made to IC's broken leg and Carlo's stitches.

ben at 15:3:39 Friday January 1 99
ray: i have no idea..... ive not tried it.... looks to me like carlo is gonna be this yeares player of the year.., but savage is doing quite well considering he is a relatvely recent signing, and billy id making his way up the table too

Ray at 14:14:21 Friday January 1 99
Does Opera support Java yet Ben?

Ben Sturgess at 13:52:43 Friday January 1 99
Happy 1999 everyone, peaople having problems with browsers.... go to www.operasoftware.com and download opera, the future of internet browsing!

Steve at 12:35:39 Friday January 1 99
HAPPY NEW YEAR! Staggered out of bed this morning to watch a video of last nights 'They think it's all over'. So proud to see the world's finest team at last recognised by the media. For those unfortunate to have missed it, we were featured in the bit where the teams have to guess the explanation behind eccentric goal celebrations. There we were, at home to the Gasheads and Heggsy controls Corazzin's header, spins and smacks the ball into the back of the net. James Hunt then kneels in front of him at which Heggsy kicks him across the side of the head. This is followed by an interview and an action replay involving the two heroes. Ray - is there any way this unforgettable slice of sporting history could be immortalised forever on the website? Steve

Eddie at 12:16:12 Friday January 1 99
Ian , To find 'refresh every time' go to preferences then click on advanced and cache . HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL YOU COBBLERS OUT THERE .

Ray at 11:2:5 Friday January 1 99
The Millennium? Whens that then?

RICHARD at 1:22:0 Friday January 1 99
Ray: What will you be doing for the Millenium?

Ray at 1:20:34 Friday January 1 99
... and I don't have time for parties - too busy doing web sites :-)

RICHARD at 1:20:8 Friday January 1 99
re 1999 early postings: BUGGER! Missed it again!!

Ray at 1:19:32 Friday January 1 99
Too late Richard! LOL!

richard at 1:18:21 Friday January 1 99
At the risk of appearing naf and having no friends, I would like to be the first message of 1999! Actually, I've secretly sneaked away from a raving party to post this and now I'm sneaking back again!

Anon at 1:12:32 Friday January 1 99
. and it may be shown as "compare document to cache"..

Ray at 1:11:54 Friday January 1 99
Ian - depends on the version you are running - in version 4 its in "advanced" "cache" at the bottom...

Ray at 1:10:24 Friday January 1 99
Ray dashes in and makes the first posting of 1999!!! HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE! (Dont forget to book your coach for Wembley!)

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