Stadium: Sixfields Stadium, Upton Way, Northampton NN5 5QA

Telephone: 01604 757773

Club Colours: Claret and White

Nickname: The Cobblers

Official Club Website: www.ntfc.co.uk

Brief Directions by Road: A nice an easy one! M1 to junction 15a (signposted Northampton (N) A43). Simply follow the signs for the A43. After approx. 2 miles take the 2nd exit at the roundabout, effectively straight on (still on the A43) and you will see the ground directly ahead. Follow this road until you reach the next roundabout adjacent to the Little Chef and TGI Friday and turn right into the stadium complex.

Car Parking: After turning into the complex turn right at the next small roundabout and down the slope to the parking area to your right. There is a £3 charge for parking. In the past I have experienced delays in getting out of the car park and onto the A43 after the game, therefore try and get a space close to and facing the exit gate.

Directions by Train: London Euston trains bound for Birmingham New Street stop at Northampton, journey time approx. 75 minutes. Once outside the station a choice of three buses will take you to the ground, the numbers 1, 27 and 28. A taxi will cost about £6. Walking time from the station to the ground is around 30 minutes and a bit of a trek.

Supporters Coaches: The coach will leave the Pavilion at 12.30pm and the ticket price is £20. The Pav will open at approx 11.00am for pre-journey refreshments.  Discounts on travel are available for season ticket holders and club members.  Bookings for coach travel can be purchased online or by calling 020 8449 6325.

Eating and Drinking Locally: The Magic Tower is a pub/restaurant on the complex which gets full of home fans before the game while the Sixfields Tavern never used allow away fans  – no 100% sure this has been relaxed. The Megabowl, behind the home end has a good range of drinks while TGI Fridays is allegedly where most away fans head for. The best bet is to find a pub in the town centre like my good self get there early enough for a meal and a quiet drink. There are a couple of those fast food establishments which are not to my personal taste in the leisure complex a few minutes walk from the car park but very little else apart from the Old Orleans which is an OK bar/restaurant – inexpensive grills/steaks. Food inside the ground I am reliably informed is OK, fairly varied and of average price.

Ground Description: Northampton Town originally played at the Northamptonshire County Cricket ground, which was only 3 sided as directly opposite the modest main stand was the expanse of the cricket pitch. The fully covered Sixfields Stadium was opened in October 1994 with a full house for the visit of a certain Barnet FC whose goal in the 1-1 draw was scored by Dougie Freedman. The arena, which in my opinion has little character resembles a larger version of the stadium that was constructed for Chester City but is all-seated. The single tiered main stand holds 4,000 while the Alwyn Hargrave Stand opposite about half that number. The stands at either end of the ground (South and North) are identical and do not quite stretch the width of the pitch. These stands are designed to allow for easy extension. The Paul Cox Panel & Paint South Stand is reserved for away fans and can accommodate up to 800 although some seats have restricted views. It does however have excellent facilities for the disabled.

Admission Prices: South Stand – Adults £20 Concessions £16, Under 18’s £8. Disabled £15 (with carer free of charge)

And Finally: I will finish by saying thank you to all those who thanked me for this seasons guides I hope you enjoyed reading them and even found them useful occasionally. Someone suggested they are becoming an institution however someone else said I should be in one! Anyone get lost? Enjoy the summer see you at the Hive! – Come on you Bees!