NORTHAMPTON SPENCER FOOTBALL CLUB

A BRIEF HISTORY

FROM TOWN LEAGUE TO UCL

Northampton Spencer Football Club can trace its history back to 1936 when a group of lads who had just left Spencer School decided that they still wanted to continue playing football together. With the help of two masters of Spencer School, Mr Jack Newitt and Mr William Mash became president and chairman of the first Spencer School O.B. F.C. along with Mr Cyril Jones another old boy as their secretary. The club consisted of 16 players, among them Eddie Lewis, Don Steers, Bill Sharman, Son Morley, Jack Wilson and Bill Gates. Mrs Wilson, Jackie’s mother, assisted a lot in these early days, they used her house for committee meetings and she washed the team’s kit every week. In the early days the club colours were black and green quarters and to commence with they competed in the Northampton Town League (Lower Junior Section) finishing runners-up in their first season to St Peters YMI Reserves. The club did not have to wait long for their first item of silverware, winning the Pinner Cup in their first season and again the following year 1937/38. Just prior to the outbreak of the Second World War, the club clinched the Division 3 championship in the 1938/39 season.

At the end of the hostilities, the club reformed with a new secretary, Mr Arthur Thorpe and the majority of the former players. The club also attracted new players and one being Gordon Webster, the most prolific scorer in the history of Spencer O.B. He was introduced to the club by his friend and player Bill Sharman, they were in the army together out in Greece and after the war they continued their friendship. Webster scored Spencer’s winning goal in the Gorel Barnes final against Northampton Amateurs in the first post-war final in 1946-47. Almost immediately after scoring this goal he was taken to hospital with a leg injury. Perhaps his ability as a striker was best illustrated when in the 1947-48 season, he scored 127 goals in league and cup football.

Of course, one player does not make a team, and at the time Spencer were one of the most respected in the Town League. Players such as Jack Lyman, Bill Lane, Bill Redley, Ken Baucutt and Walt Birch had joined the team, with of course, many of the original players still doing as well as ever. The Captain of the side was Bill Sharman and he would often be seen and heard driving on his team. He was a shrewd and clever tactician and all his team respected his judgement.

By this time the club had another secretary in Ernie Cave. He helped in the formation of the Reserves, who were an immediate success, winning the Pinner Cup. With this change in the club, so another followed and perhaps a very important one in the appointment of a president, headmaster Mr Smart. Mr Smart had always had a great interest in his old school boys and he was a welcome asset as he had many promising young footballers at his school. The school had a good side, with Mr Lovell Warren as their secretary and it was not long before they joined the Old Boy’s club as a youth side. These lads were the foundation and nucleus of the side for the next 10 years. With the hard working Lovell Warren coaching them, their aim was to get into the first team, and they soon began to prosper.

In 1950/51, they shook Northamptonshire youth football when the club won all their 24 league and cup games. The club picked up the N.F.A. Youth Cup, Town League Youth Division championship and the Northampton Youth Cup, in the process scoring 224 goals and conceding just 24. The team included some very good players, among them goalkeeper Bill Stratford, Brian Nutt, Bob Botterill, Alec Homer, Geoff Boswell, Ray Pittuck and Geoff Ryan. Gradually the older players were retiring and making way for the younger lads to progress into the first team. As the older players moved on so did the committee men, secretary Ernie Cave made way for C Hagan, who in turn was followed by Ken Baucutt, an old player. Eventually Lovell Warren stepped up to club secretary with Mr Robingson taking over the secretary’s role with the Reserves. During the late 50’s some of the original youth side had progressed through to the first team, with players such as Ray Pittuck, Geoff Ryan, Tony Morris, Brian Faulkner and also established ones like Eddie Lewis.

Their best season the senior side had todate was in 1959/60 when the club were Town League champions, winners of the Daventry Charity Cup and the Towcester Charity Cup and also the Long Buckby Six-a-side Knockout Cup.

The following season the club retained the Long Buckby six-a-side Knockout Cup when the “A” side beat the “B” side in the final

The early 60’s saw Spencer Old Boys dominate local football

By the end of the 1966/67 season, the club had won almost all the trophies on offer that term, so they began to look for a new challenge. With the town situated in the heart of the UCL area, they made an application to join the League, but this was turned down and the club was not successful until 1968 when their application was accepted.

In their first season in the UCL Division Two1968/69 the club finished in second place and were promoted along with champions Bletchley Reserves, in the progress they amassed 123 goals from only 36 games played. Spencer’s first game in their new higher-grade surroundings was an away league fixture at British Timken Athletic, with Curtis scoring the club’s first goal in UCL football in a 2-2 draw.

The promotion saw the club in the top flight of the UCL and they proved their worth by finishing in a creditable sixth place, their first points in Division One came courtesy of a 2-1 home victory over Eynesbury Rovers in the second game of the season, with Bashford and Ellis on target. The rise in status enabled the club to participate in the Northants Senior Cup for the first time, defeating British Timken Athletic 3-0 in the First Round before going out to Rushden Town in Round Three 2-3.levated the club The following season the club moved from their ancestral base of Dallington Park to Duston High School, With the Spencer School not being a far cry from Dallington Park, the whole history of the club had been centred there. Indeed it was often said that when passing Dallington Park the shouts of “come on, the Old Boys” meant just one side to the local people were playing – Spencer Old Boys F.C. The stay at Duston High School was short as the club only played there for a season and a half before moving to our present ground at Kingsthorpe Mill. Initially it was called Painters Field after the local company who used for their works team, at the beginning the ground had no proper approach road and only had pedestrian access, with the pitch running the opposite direct to the present layout. The changing rooms were originally some old church rooms from Long Buckby and were modified over the years to include a stand at the front and small clubhouse was erected behind it.

In the seventies the club finished in mid table security for three successive seasons 70/71, 71/72 and 72/73 before they started to find the going tough in top flight. The club entered their Reserve team in the league for season 1973/74 in what was then a mixed league, with them finishing 15^th. The next six seasons the club hovered around the foot of the table, with only season 1976/77 did they rise out of the bottom three to 15^th, before the club finished bottom in 1979/80. The following season the club was relegated at the end of the 1980/81 after a disastrous campaign, winning only one game and amassing a total of 4 points. During this period the club competed in the newly formed FA Vase, their first opponents being fellow UCL side Kempston Rovers, to home they lost after a replay. The following season they won their first game in this national competition, defeating Royston 3-0, before bowing out to Aylesbury United, the Club continued to compete in the competition until 1980/81. In season 1981/82 the club reach an all time low, when they finished bottom of Division One. At this time the club made one of it’s best ever signings when Graham Wrighting was persuaded to come on board as chairman, a position he still holds.

The arrival of John Petts as manager saw an upturn in results and after four seasons in the lower division the club regained its premier Division status when they won the championship in 1984/85, losing just three games. The following season the club made a return to the FA Vase competition, defeating Smethwick Highfield 1-0 in the opening game. Following the departure of Mr Petts, Gary Sargent took over the reins and began to guide the club to new heights.

The 1987/88 season was one to be remembered for the clubs cup exploits, the FA Cup was entered for the first time in the clubs history with a home game against Southern League Atherstone United in the Preliminary Round, which they lost 2-5. The club had its best run in the FA Vase, reaching the 4^th Round Proper before bowing out to Gresley Rovers 2-1 in thick fog at the Moat Street ground and they also reached their first domestic final since joining the UCL finishing runners up in the League Knockout Cup, losing to Arlesey. However, the following season the club went one better, when they captured their first major trophy since joining the UCL in winning the League Knockout Cup 5 - 1 on aggregated against Ramsey Town.

Floodlights were installed in 1988 and were used for the first time on 24^th February, for a KOC fixture against Irthlingborough Diamonds and the occasion was dully marked with a 1-0 victory with Tony Calvert scoring the goal. The lights were officially opened in a Friendly match the following month against Barry Fry’s Barnet on 28^th March in front of a crowd of 250 who braved the atrocious weather, with the Conference side winning 2-0. The former Northampton Town player and Spencer old boy Wakely Gage completed the ceremonial switch on.

The 1990/91 season saw Spencer climbed to fifth spot in the Premier Division and also captured the Daventry Charity Cup, defeating Southern League outfit Rushden Town 2 - 1 in the final. The following season Spencer completed their most successful campaign when they captured the UCL Premier Division title for the first time in the clubs history and in the process became the first club to record over a 100 points in a season. They also won the Benevolent Cup, defeating Division One champions Harrowby United. In 1992/93 the club finished in runners up position, and the following season finished in third place, but, it was in the cup that the club grabbed the headlines by progressing through to a second Northants Senior Cup final and lifting the League knockout Cup by defeating Raunds Town 5 - 1.

The new changing room the complex was added 1993 and were officially opened with a match against the former European champions Nottingham Forest. In 1994/95 the club secured fifth place, and this was followed up with 13^th in the next two seasons 95/96, and 96/97, with the Daventry Charity Cup and league KOC finals also being reached. In 1997/98 the club had arguably its most successful season since winning the championship when they finished in runners up spot in the Premier Division scoring over a 100 goals, and, also appearing in our fifth KOC final. The 1998/99 season saw the club finish in fourth place, with the reserves winning the Reserve Division Cup defeating Burton Park Wanderers in the final.

In the 1999/2000 season Spencer had its best run in the F.A. Cup before bowing out to Grantham and finished the season in fifth position. The proceeds from the Cup sponsorship went to ground improvements, which saw a concrete hard standing and fixed barriers installed around the perimeter of the pitch and a new tractor and store room added

Season 2000/01 was dominated by the bad weather, with the clubhouse completely flooded twice and the club having to play nearly half their fixtures in the final six weeks. A good end of season run of results in saw the club climb to finish in 8^th place. Further ground improvements took place on 2001 when with the help of Football Foundation funding and new 6ft palisade perimeter fence was erected. The 2001/02 season saw the club under achieve and finish in the lowest position since returning to the top flight, it also saw the departure of long serving manager Gary Sargent, who had guided the club through one of their most successful periods.

In 2004 the old stand an changing rooms were demolished and a new 100+ seater stand erected, with the help of a Football Foundation grant, this officially opened by Councillor John Gardener and called the Graham Wrighting stand before a commemorative present versus past players match.

Bob Tansley was promoted as manager, along with Dave Love as his assistant, both previously had a successful spell with the reserves especially in promoting through the youngsters to senior football. After a poor start which saw the club hover just above the relegation zone, results gradually picked up and in the second part of the campaign a resurgence saw the club rise to 12^th spot. After several seasons of consolidation, where the club finished in 18^th and 16^th position, the club decided that a complete new impetus was required.

For the start of the 2005/06 season, a new management team was put in place right through the club, Steve Jelley ex-player and manager of successful Sunday League side Duke of York took control, assisted by another ex-player Mick Heath. There arrival saw the return of several experienced players who had departed for higher-grade football, with a sprinkling of new faces.

 

There first season exceeded every ones expectations, with the club finishing in its highest place for eight seasons of 3^rd only 3 points behind champions Woodford United, Northants Senior Cup winners for the first time in the clubs history – defeating Southern League Corby 1-0 and Semi-finalist of the League Knockout Cup. The club also had mini-runs in both the FA Cup and FA Vase.  

The 2006/07 season was dominated by the weather, but despite a

hectic end of season fixture back log where the club had to play nearly

half its fixtures in the final two and half months the club finished in a respectable 6^th place. The club also participated in its first Maunsel

Cup final, where they took on Football League outfit Peterborough

United at the Mill in the preseason. The following, Steve Jelley’s

last as manager the club finished in 13^th position and reached the

semi-finals of the Northants Senior Cup, losing to Rusden & Diamonds.

The 2008/09 season commenced with a new manager, Rob Gould being given his first opportunity in management after a successful playing career in top non-league football was cut short with a serious knee injury, he was assisted by the experienced Nick Verity and also Scott Carling who was the only backroom staff left from the previous season. With many of the previous seasons players departed for pastures new Rob set about complete rebuilding program with only four of the previous season squad taking the field on the opening fixture away a Blackstones. The club finished in a respectable 12^th position and also had a mini run in the FA Vase before bowing out narrowly to the previous season’s semi-finalist Needham Market away 1-0. The club also boasted on of the leagues hot shots with Alfie Taylor’s 24 goals putting him in 5^th spot the Leagues top Scoring Charts. In the close season unexpectedly Rob and Nick decided to take up the challange at Wellingborough Town and the club moved quickly to fill the gap with Andy Peaks taking up the hot seat for the 2009/10 season.