NORTHAMPTON SPENCER FOOTBALL CLUB
03 Jul 2007

NORTHAMPTON SPENCER FOOTBALL CLUB
A BRIEF HISTORY
FROM TOWN LEAGUE TO UCL

Northampton Spencer Football Club can trace its history back to 1936 when Spencer School Old Boys were formed. The team was based on the members of the old school team and at the beginning entered the Northants Lower Junior League. In the early days the club wore black and green quarters and did not have to wait long for their first item of silverware, winning the Pinner Cup in their first season. 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 and soon got back to form, winning the much-prized Gorrell Barnes Cup in 1947.

In the early 1950s the club began to struggle and were nearly relegated, but after a couple of poor seasons, the club's fortunes changed for the better. In 1950 / 51, the club captured the Daventry Charity Cup as well as the League title and also the Towcester Charity Cup.

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 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.

The club proves its worth in the top flight, finishing in a creditable sixth place. The following season the club moved from their existing base of Dallington Park to Duston High School, where they stayed for a season and a half before moving to our present ground at Kingsthorpe Mill. In the beginning the ground had no proper approach road and only had pedestrian access. The changing rooms were originally some old church rooms from Long Buckby and had to be modified to their present shape. Over the years the facilities have been upgraded to meet the UCL ground regulations, with floodlights being added in1988 and a new changing room being added to the complex, which was officially opened by Nottingham Forest in 1993.

In the seventies the club turned in some mediocre seasons and found the going tough in the top flight before being relegated at the end of the 1980/81 campaign. The following season saw 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. Following the departure of Mr Petts, Gary Sargent took over the reins and began to guide the club to new heights. In 1987/88 the club were runners up in the League Knockout Cup, losing to Arlesey, but the following season they went one better, when, they captured their first major trophy since joining the UCL winning the League Knockout Cup 5 - 1 against Ramsey Town.

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. In 1994/95 the club secured fifth place, and this was followed up with 13th 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. Season 2000/01 was dominated by the bad weather, with the club having to play nearly half their fixtures in the final six weeks. A good run in saw the club climb to finish in 8th place. 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.

Bob Tansley was promoted as manager, along with Dave Love as his assistant, where both 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 12th spot. After several seasons of consolidation, where the club finished in 18th and 16th position, the club decided that a complete new impetus was required.

In the close season of 2005/06, 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. The season exceeded everyone’s expectations, 3rd in the league, our best position for eight years, Northants Senior Cup winners after a 1-0 success over Corby Town and semi-finalists in the KOC. The 2006/07 Season was dominated by one thing, the weather. Up until the bad weather came in November the club was in contention for honours, but in the three month spell between December and March only 7 games were played. A hectic end of season run-in saw the club finish in a creditable 6th place.