Clarets and Blues: Northampton Town vs Birmingham City.

Words: Tom Reed

Images: Quentin (thefootballglobetrotter)

We met a Northampton Town supporter on the hill at the Sixfields stadium.

He’d supported the claret and whites since the Sixties, which is a story in itself. One solitary season in the sun in 1965/66 when Northampton were in the top division. Then a slide down to the fourth division and life in the relative shade of the lower leagues ever since.

No glory but plenty of guts and a very nice scarf around his neck.

Town played City on Saturday when Northampton faced off against Birmingham City in League 1.

Two very working class clubs with supporters who have stuck their clubs through thick and thin.

©Quentin/ Terrace Edition. Northampton Town vs Birmingham City.

Blues fans look likely to be fattened up with a bit of glory soon as they are favourites for the title and with American investment and Premier League ambitions.

Northampton’s East Stand had finally opened, completing a stadium three sided for too long. The gate of 7947 was the club’s highest since 1987.

Indeed, the Cobblers set about getting the home fans on their feet, aiming to break up the opposition play and they did that to great effect, forcing the opener through sheer will of pressing.

The bookies were laughing all the way to the bank, even with Keshi Anderson’s equaliser for the Blues. Few would have put a 1-1 draw on their coupon.

Bar the gent on the hill maybe, who understands its not the size of the dog in the fight, it’s the size of the fight in the dog.

The sun shone on Northampton and gleamed on cherry red Dr Martens on Cobblers’ well shod feet.

Northampton Town in heart and sole.