Former Players Anticipate “Showcase” Match Between Northampton Town and Kettering Town

Two former players, who participated in the previous encounter between Northampton Town and Kettering Town, have described their upcoming match – the first in nearly 35 years – as a “showcase for Northamptonshire football”. On Saturday, League One club Northampton Town, also known as the Cobblers, will host the seventh-tier Poppies in the FA Cup first round proper. This fixture marks only the third competitive game ever played between the two teams. Their most recent meeting occurred on 18 November 1989, an FA Cup match where Northampton secured a 1-0 victory at Kettering’s Rockingham Road ground. Dean Thomas, who scored the sole goal in that previous game, stated: “It’s a great chance for these players to do something special.” Thomas scored the winning goal from a distance, beating Kettering goalkeeper Kevin Shoemake in the 69th minute, and mentioned he had “dined out” on it ever since. He remarked: “That goal was 35 yards, but it gets longer with every story!” Thomas further explained: “It was an opportunist goal. The conditions were wet and greasy. I thought I would get lucky. Luckily for me it went in.” He added: “We had to keep the crowd quiet; we couldn’t let Kettering get a head of steam. We thought our fitness would show. We had to win the Northants bragging rights.” Thomas, aged 62, made over 70 appearances for the Cobblers between 1988 and 1990, and his career also included stints at clubs such as Wimbledon, Fortuna Dusseldorf, and Notts County. He commented: “As non-league footballers you want one game you can remember for the rest of your life.” Thomas concluded: “If they can beat Northampton Town, what a wonderful memory that would be.” Kevin Shoemake, 59, who played for numerous clubs including Peterborough United and Rushden & Diamonds, mentioned that Thomas’s goal had “haunted” him, but he also remembered the “friendly rivalry” that existed between the teams. Shoemake stated: “There was a great build-up to the game… all players and coaches knew each other. There was no needle and good camaraderie off the pitch.” Shoemake, currently the chief executive of the Birmingham FA, revealed he received “loads of messages” after the two clubs were drawn against each other again last month. He commented: “The two [towns] are 17 miles away, and Kettering fans will travel in number… the build-up back then [in 1989] was exceptional and the players will be right up for it.” Shoemake added: “It’s good for the county. The gulf between the two sides is bigger than it was back then but it’s a showcase for Northamptonshire football that can only be good for the game locally.” Thirty-five years later, Northampton continues to be a third-tier team, whereas Kettering has fallen from the former Football Conference, now known as the National League, to the Southern League Premier Division Central. Northampton also triumphed in the only other competitive fixture between the teams, another FA Cup tie, securing a 3-0 win at their former County Ground home. The 2024 match is scheduled for live broadcast on BBC iPlayer and BBC Two starting at 17:15 GMT on Saturday, with kick-off at 17:30. Additionally, the game will be available live on BBC Radio Northampton and BBC Sounds. Updates on Northamptonshire news can be followed via BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram, and X. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the content found on external websites. Information regarding our external linking policy is available.