One player that especially stands out is Ivan Toney, who came through the Northampton youth ranks in 2012 before blasting his way to the Premier League and the England squad.
Some players have done that in reverse as they drop down the leagues, with Marco Gabbiadini being one such player of note.
Here we take a look at 19 top ex-Cobblers who tasted life at the top of the game.
Did these guys stand out as being a cut above when they were at Northampton? Share your memories via our social media channels.
Get the latest Cobblers news, here.
17. John Gregory
John Gregory started his football journey at Northampton Town. He played 187 games between 1972–1977 before moving to Aston Villa. Gregory was a considerable success at Aston Villa. Despite playing two divisions higher than he had ever done before, he adapted well to First Division football Photo: Jamie McDonald
18. Trevor Morley
Morley captained Northampton as they won the 1986/87 Fourth Division Championship. After scoring 39 league goals in 139 appearances for Northampton, Morley was signed by manager Mel Machin for Manchester City in January 1988. He went on to play 178 times for West Ham United during a six year spell. Photo: Mike Hewitt
19. Bradley Johnson
Bradley Johnson played 53 times for Cobblers between 2005/08. He played three seasons for Leeds United before joining Norwich City in 2001. He made his Norwich debut in the club's first home match of the Premier League season. Photo: Pete Norton