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| Contents | |
| What's
Sixfields Stadium Like? Future Ground Developments Sixfields Stadium (photo) What Is It Like For Visiting Supporters West Stand (photo) Where To Drink? Dave Bowen Stand (photo) How To Get There By Car & Where To Park By Train Alwyn Hargrave Stand (photo) Local Rivals Admission Prices Programme & Fanzine Ground Layout Disabled Facilities Fixtures 2012-2013 Record & Average Attendance Fans Ground Reviews Hotel Accommodation Sixfields Stadium Location Map |
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| What's Sixfields Stadium Like? | |
| The Club moved from their old County Ground to the Sixfields stadium in October 1994. This neat all seater stadium is located on the outskirts of Northampton. Sixfields has three small covered single tier stands, and another larger single tier covered West Stand (capacity 4,000), at one side of the pitch. Away supporters are housed at the South Stand end. The club has received awards for the facilities provided for disabled supporters. A large hill overlooks the ground, where small numbers congregate to watch the game free, even though they can only see half the pitch! | |
| Future Ground Developments | |
| Kevin Dunn informs me; 'Following the Club's successful bid to buy a 150 year lease on Sixfields Stadium, they have announced that the stadium is to be further developed so that the overall capacity will rise to 15,000. This will mean new North, East & South Stands as well as executive boxes being added to the West Stand. Part of the development will also the feature the building of a hotel behind the South Stand of the stadium. The home end at Northampton's old County Ground was called the Hotel End, so it is quite apt that the new stadium will also feature its own Hotel End. It is believed that it will take five years for the plans to be fulfilled.' However, it would appear that the Club do not have the necessary finances in place to go ahead with these developments, so it may be quite a while yet before things come to fruition. | |
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| What Is It Like For Visiting Supporters | |
| Away fans are located in the attractively named 'Paul Cox Panel
& Paint South Stand'
at one end of the pitch, where 800
supporters can be accommodated. If demand requires it,
then an additional 300 seats can also be made
available in the Alwyn Hargrave Stand. One slight pain
about Sixfields is that you can't pay at the
turnstiles. You have to buy your ticket first from a
Portakabin and then you have to queue again. Some away
fans have got caught out by this when arriving late. However, I have received a number of
reports complementing the standard of stewarding,
other club officials and the Northampton fans
themselves. Please note that if you club has a large
away following to make sure that you have a ticket
before travelling as it has not be unknown for away
fans turning up on the day, to find that the away
section has sold out. Food on sale inside the ground
includes: Cheesburgers £3.30, Burgers £3, Hot Dogs £3,
Pasties £3, Various Pies £2.50, Sausage Rolls £2.50,
Pizza slices £2.50 and Chips £2. Having lived in Northampton for a year and watched Northampton Town win the old fourth division (giving away my age now...), I have a soft spot for them. The fans themselves are quite passionate and this makes for a great atmosphere especially at cup games. Robert Dunkley informs me; 'outside the West Stand there is a used programme stall stocking a wide range of programmes from different clubs and seasons'. |
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| The
ground is built on a leisure complex on the outskirts
of Northampton. This consists of a couple of fast food
and eating establishments (including a KFC, McDonalds
and a Pizza Hut), a cinema, a bowling alley and
the stadium itself. There is just one pub on this
site called the Sixfields Tavern, which is part of the
'Hungry Horse' chain so offers meals and is family
friendly. It also contains a Sports Bar, which shows
Sky Sports, but it is primarily for home fans and
bouncers man the entrance on matchdays. A better bet
may be the Tenpin Bowling Alley which contains a bar,
admits away fans and shows Sky Sports too. Carl Brown adds; 'I found myself drinking in a T.G.I. Friday's outlet opposite the Main Stand. Maybe not your stereotypical pre-match watering hole but very convenient for a drink, plus there were a wonderful array of fine waitresses on display, serving the goods!' There is also a Frankie & Benny's nearby. Kevin Roberts informs me; 'For those supporters travelling from the North and leaving the M1 at Junction 16 and taking the A4500 towards Northampton, then you will pass on your left the recently refurbished Turnpike pub, which as far as I am aware is still welcoming away supporters'. Kevin continues; 'In Northampton town centre, there are several notable real ale pubs in addition to the usual Wetherspoons etc. A particular favourite for those looking for a decent pint is the Malt Shovel Tavern, which is possibly the best real ale pub in Northampton, having 14 hand pumps and is also listed in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide. To find this pub from the railway station, cross the road in front of the station and head towards the Carlsberg brewery (easily visible). You will find the pub located opposite the brewery. It is about a ten minute walk. It will probably take you a further 30 minutes to walk to the ground from here heading back in the same direction past the station (see By Train for walking directions)'. You can find out more about the pub on the Malt Shovel Tavern website. |
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From
The South: Steve
Riches adds; 'If Northampton Saints rugby club are
also at home at the same time as Northampton Town,
then the parking can get critical as the Saints
play just down the road, so allow extra time on
those occasions'. |
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| By Train | |
| Northampton
train station is over two miles from the ground, so it
is probably best to hire a taxi. However if you feel
like braving the 25-30 minute walk then Dave Brown
provides the following directions; 'Come out of the
main station entrance, go across the car park, up the
steps and then turn right onto Black Lion Hill. Go
over the railway bridge, and straight on along St
James' Road. At the HSS Hire outlet (and the handily
placed Thomas A. Beckett pub on the opposite corner)
turn left onto St James' Mill Road. After about 400
yards turn right at the Fabric Warehouse (opposite
Jewson) onto Harvey Reeves Road, which further on
becomes Edgar Mobbs Way. After about a mile this road
brings you out at Sixfields Stadium, with the South
(away) Stand over on your right. Liz
Williams adds; 'From the
railway station you can take the D2 bus towards
Daventry, which also goes by the Sixfields
retail park and stops about 200 yards from the
stadium. The buses go from the bridge over the
railway at the south end of the station. To return,
get on at the same stop, but make sure to check
which direction the bus is heading as the same stop
serves both directions. The trip takes 10-20 mins
depending on traffic (which can be heavy if there is
a Saints rugby match on the same day)'. A timetable
can be downloaded from the Stagecoach
website (PDF file).
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Alwyn Hargrave Stand |
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| Local Rivals | |
| Peterborough United, Rushden & Diamonds, Milton Keynes Dons. | |
| Admission Prices | |
| Home Fans West Stand: Adults £20, Concessions £16, Under 18's £8, Under 7's Free Dave Bowen Stand: Adults £20, Concessions £16, Under 18's £8, Under 7's Free Alwyn Hargrave Stand: Adults £19, Concessions £14, Under 18's £7, Under 7's Free Away Fans South Stand: Adults £20, Concessions £16, Under 18's £8, Under 7's Free Concessions apply to
over 65's. Under 21's can also
be admitted at the concessionary price, providing
that they first become members of the club. |
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| Programme & Fanzine | |
| Official Programme £3 HotelEnders Fanzine £1 |
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| Disabled Facilities | |
| For details of disabled facilities and club contact at the ground please visit the relevant page on the Level Playing Field website. | |
| Fixtures 2012-2013 | |
| Northampton Town FC fixture list (takes you to the BBC Sports Website) | |
| Record & Average Attendance | |
| At the County Ground; 24,523 v Fulham, Division One, April 23rd, 1966. At Sixfields Stadium; 7,557 v Manchester City, Division Two, September 26th, 1998. Average Attendance: 2011-2012: 4,809 (League Two) 2010-2011: 4,605 (League Two) 2009-2010: 4,375 (League Two) |
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| Fans Reviews Of Sixfields | |
| Nick Murphy (Dagenham
& Redbridge) 24/9/11 Tim Sansom (Neutral) 11/9/10 Andy Saunders (Shrewsbury Town) 25/4/10 Jack Douglas (Southend United) 13/4/09 Andrew Willock (Leicester City) 31/1/09 John Hubble (Birmingham City) 20/1/09 |
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| Hotel Accommodation | |
| If you require hotel
accommodation in the area then first try a hotel
booking service provided by Late Rooms. They offer all
types of accommodation to suit all tastes and pockets
from; Budget Hotels, Traditional Bed & Breakfast
establishments to Five Star Hotels and Serviced
Apartments. Plus their booking system is
straightforward and easy to use. Yes this site will
earn a small commission if you book through them, but
it will go to help with the running costs of keeping
the Guide going. The Hotels listing also includes
details of how far away the accommodation is located
from Sixfields Stadium. Access their Northampton Hotels and Guest Houses page. Remember that you can use the above link or panel below to book any other hotels that you may need for business or leisure, either in the UK or abroad. |
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| Map showing the location of Sixfields Stadium, railway station and listed pubs | |
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Instructions for using
the map: |
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Feedback |
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| If
anything is incorrect or you have something to add,
please e-mail me duncan@footballgrounds.net and
I'll update the guide. |
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