There’s a little bit of history to be made when Bristol Rovers play Northampton Town at Sixfields tomorrow, as it will be the 100th league meeting between the sides. Some will say it’s the 102nd meeting, but they include the two play off games played in 1997/98, whereas I haven’t.
Like Rovers, Northampton can also claim to have won the Southern League title; they were winners in 1908/09, Rovers in 1904/05, and both sides were founder members of the Third Division of the Football League in 1920/21.
Last season Rovers won 2-1 at The Mem, on 28th October, when we took a first half lead through Chris Martin after 10 minutes and a 30th minute Antony Evans penalty. Manny Monthe scored what proved to be a consolation goal for the visitors in the 57th minute.
The game was Andy Mangan’s first as caretaker manager following the departure of Joe Barton.
The return fixture, at Sixfields, took place on 17th February 2024 when we were soundly beaten 3-1. Mitch Brough opened the scoring for the home side after only three minutes and Matt Pinnock doubled the lead five minutes before half time. Chris Martin did pull a goal back for Rovers on 79 minutes, but Matt Leonard scored Northampton’s third goal of the afternoon six minutes from time.
On the opening day of the current season we were 1-0 winners against Northampton at The Memorial Stadium thanks to Bryant Bilongo’s late goal.
More than 30 players have represented both clubs down the years and four of them, Chris Carruthers, Craig Hinton, Richard Walker and Paul Trollope were all involved in our tremendous 2006/07 (Trollope in charge of team affairs, of course) campaign when we appeared in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy Final at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff and clinched promotion at Wembley in the play off final against Shrewsbury Town.
The number of players to have made their league debut against The Cobblers is now up to 51 by my reckoning, nine of them coming in the opening game of the current campaign.
Jack Baldwin, who made his Rovers league debut against Northampton, is now in residence at Sixfields, along with two more former Gasmen, Tom Eaves and Ali Koiki.
Northampton have been our companions too close to the bottom four for comfort for a long time this season and both clubs will be looking for points to climb up the table.
Their last game saw them lose 2-0 at home against Wrexham, a result that leaves them in 19th place with 33 points from their 31 games, one place and two points worse off than Rovers who suffered a 2-0 defeat against Wycombe Wanderers on Tuesday evening.
Rovers have won 12 league times in their 49 away trips to Northampton and number 13 would be welcome tomorrow! We usually take a good following to Sixfields and their support will be vital.
We wish all Gasheads travelling to and from the game a safe journey.