A sight for sore eyes: claret seats back in Northampton Town's East Stand

Claret seats are being installed in the East Stand at Sixfields today.

Back in February, Cobblers chairman Kelvin Thomas announced that 1,924 permanent seats were due to be put back into the stand as part of “phase one” of the ground redevelopment.

Builders Buckingham Group have been back on site for a number of weeks and white seats spelling out NTFC were put in place over the weekend. Today more than 400 of the plastic claret seats have been installed.

It has nearly been two years since supporters last sat in the East Stand, but the new seats show the club is on course to have supporters back in place there for the last four home games, as announced in February.

Speaking on Friday, Mr Thomas said the installation of the plastic seating would give the ground a visual lift.

He said: “It changes the scenery quite a bit, not having to look at that cold concrete any more.”

The club will announce details in due course. However, if the stand can be opened this season fans will not be able to use the upper level disabled platform because lifts will not have been installed.

They will feature in the final design, Mr Thomas says, and the disabled area at the front of the East Stand will be available on completion of “phase one”.