Stanley’s next action is tomorrow when Northampton Town make the trip to the Store First Stadium.

As kick off approaches, the official website takes a look at all the things you need to know.

History

Northampton Town were formed in 1897 and joined the Northants League and won the championship in their second season. The following season the club joined the Midland League, before joining the Southern League in time for the 1901-02 season.

The club then won the Southern League in the 1908-09 season before joining the football league in Division Three (South) in time for the 1920-21 season.

The Cobblers then finished in 13th place in the 1957-58 season and were elected to Division Four. The club only spent three seasons in Division Four before being promoted after finishing in third place in the 1960-61 season. The club were then crowned champions of the Third Division two seasons later, before the club finished as runners up of Division Two in the 1964-65 season.

The 1965-66 season was the only season in the Cobblers history that they spent in the top flight of English football. A dismal run of relegation followed, and by the end of the 1968-69 season the Cobblers were relegated back to Division Four.

Success returned for the Cobblers as they were promoted back to the Third Division at the end of the 1975-76 season, before the club were relegated the following season.

The 1996-97 season saw the Cobblers reach the Division Three play-off final at Wembley. Promotion was sealed with a 1-0 victory over Swansea City. The club then reached Wembley again the following season, but couldn’t achieve back to back promotions after a 1-0 defeat by Grimsby Town.

The following 11 seasons saw the Cobblers achieve two promotions and three relegations to leave the club In League Two. Last season the club suffered defeat at Wembley in the League Two play-off final against Bradford City.

Something You Might Not Know…

In the 1969-70 season the club hosted Manchester United in the FA Cup Fifth Round. The visitors won 8-2 with George Best netting six times.

Chris Wilder

Chris Wilder was appointed Northampton manager in January, with the former Halifax boss making the switch from Oxford United.
He began his managerial career at Alfreton Town in October 2001 after a long and distinguished playing career which started at Southampton and concluded at Halifax Town 15 years and 11 clubs later, including a brief loan spell at Sixfields under Ian Atkins.
He returned to Halifax as manager in July 2002 and led the club to the Conference play-off final despite their well-documented financial problems.
He moved to Oxford United in December 2008 following a six-month stint at Bury. He immediately turned around the club’s fortunes, taking the club back into the Football League via the Conference play-off final win over York City at Wembley at the end of his first full season.

Darren Carter

Northampton Town signed former Birmingham City, West Bromwich Albion and Cheltenham Town midfielder Darren Carter on a 2 year contract in August 2013.

Carter, who has made more than 250 senior appearances, started his career at St Andrews with Birmingham before moving to West Bromwich Albion for £1.5 million in 2005.

He later enjoyed four years at Preston, playing more than 100 times for North End before spending the 2012/13 season at Cheltenham Town, playing 38 times ahead of his switch to Sixfields.

The sides have met on eleven previous occasions, with the head-to-head record standing at six Northampton wins, three Stanley victories and two draws.

The Cobblers are unbeaten in the last three meetings between the teams, winning 1-0 at Sixfields in October.

Stanley’s last victory came at the Store First Stadium in March 2012 when Jamie Devitt and Craig Lindfield scored in a 2-1 win for the Reds.

Stanley are unbeaten in their last four games and have gone five matches without defeat at the Store First Stadium.

James Beattie’s men are 15th in the League Two table, nine points better off than the visitors and just two behind eleventh placed Cheltenham Town.

The Cobblers are without a victory in five games and lost 3-0 at home to Bury in their last outing.

They are 23rd in the table, four points ahead of bottom club Torquay and three points behind Wycombe who currently sit 22nd in League Two.

Laurence Wilson and Marcus Carver remain Beattie’s only confirmed injury absentees with full back Adam Buxton likely to be fit for the first game of his initial month’s loan following a rib problem.

Northampton defender Joe Widdowson is likely to miss out with an ankle problem but Gregor Robertson could return from illness.

Stanley Top Scorers

Peter Murphy 9
Kal Naismith 9
Lee Molyneux 6
Kayode Odejayi 6
James Gray 4
Danny Webber 3
George Bowerman 3

Northampton Top Scorers

Darren Carter 5
John Marquis 4
Matthias Kouo-Doumbe 2
Ian Morris 2
Emile Sinclair 2

The Man in the Middle

Fred Graham (Essex)

This Season: 28 games 98 yellow cards 2 reds
Last ASFC Game: 28/09/13: Plymouth 0 ASFC 0

Website

www.ntfc.co.uk

Twitter

@NTFC

Admission Prices

This is a category B game, meaning adult admission is just £15 – MORE INFO