FA CUP NON-LEAGUE AWAY-DAYS: Some banana skins avoided by the Cobblers... and a few too many that weren't!
By Jeremy Casey
Published 4th Nov 2019, 11:25 GMT
It's FA Cup first round week, and the Cobblers are preparing for their trip to non-League Chippenham Town.
It will be the first time the clubs have met, with Town expected to be backed by a 1,000-strong travelling support on their first visit to Hardenhuish Park.Keith Curle's men will be strong favourites to win the game against the National League South outfit, but we all know winning these FA Cup clashes at non-League clubs is easier said than done!Over the years, the Cobblers have probably suffered more than their fair share of slips on those 'potential banana skins' when on the FA Cup road.They were most recently on the end of a 'giant killing' back in 2016, when Rob Page's side were beaten 1-0 at Stourbridge.That club name is one of a few that will send shivers down the spines of Cobblers supporters, with others including Leatherhead, Crawley Town, Yeovil - and of course, Canvey Island.It's not all been slip ups of course.Town have on many occasions secured safe progression, and Curle and his players will be hoping that is going to be the case at the weekend.Here, we take a look back at the Cobblers on the non-League road in the FA Cup, stretching right back to their encounter with the 'Leatherhead Lip' back in 1976.Photographer Pete Norton has been on hand to capture the images from most of those matches, and he has trawled through his archives to show some of them off here.
Carl Heggs celebrates winning the penalty shootout at Basingstoke in 1997
Miserable night for Town boss Rob Page as his team were deservedly beaten by Stourbridge, with Jack Duggan's 86th-minute goal sealing the victory. Only three players (Cornell, Hoskins, Anderson) involved in this are still at the Cobblers
Aidy Boothroyd's team avoided humiliation as they saw off Stortford live on ITV. Goals from loan men Danny Emerton and Luke Norris were enough, despite a late strike from the home side
Hard to imagine it now, but Luton were in the National League when Adam Watkins' 80th-minute goal downed the Cobblers. Gary Johnson was sacked as manager days later
A rare straightforward win ensured this was no banana skin for Ian Sampson's Cobblers, who cruised to victory thanks to efforts from John Johnson, Steve Guinan and Michael Jacobs
Colin Calderwood's team were held to a draw at Broadhall Way, despite goals from Pedj Bojic and Scott McGleish. Town won the Sixfields replay 2-0
Broadcast to the nation live on BBC1, Kevan Broadhurst's Town were humbled and embarrassed as Neil Gregory's 48th-minute goal sealed a memorable win for the Essex non-Leaguers. Goalkeeper Keith Welch was sent-off in the last minute
Grim day for Ian Atkins' third-tier side as Steve Thompson and former Cobbler Warren Patmore scored the goals to seal a Huish Park giant-killing for Yeovil
On a freezing night in Hampshire, the Cobblers - who had drawn the first game 1-1 at Sixfields - squeezed through in front of the Sky Sports cameras. Goalless after 120 minutes, Town won the shootout with Carl Heggs striking the winning spot-kick
Phil Chard (pictured) and Steve Brown ensured there was no cup shock in Somerset, with the Cobblers going on to win the replay at the County Ground 3-0
