Supporters urged to arrive early for historic FA Cup match

Spectators planning to attend the inaugural competitive match between two local football rivals in nearly 35 years have received a request to arrive ahead of schedule. The FA Cup first round proper will see League One club Northampton Town host non-league team Kettering Town at 17:30 GMT. According to The Cobblers, a “small” quantity of tickets for home supporters was still available for the fixture, which will be broadcast live on BBC iPlayer and BBC Two. The club announced that the Duston Mill car park would be inaccessible for the event because of a fireworks display, but confirmed that the north gravel car park at Sixfields Stadium would be operational. Entry gates will open at 16:00, and supporters are encouraged to arrive at any time from then. Additionally, Northampton Town is scheduled to conduct its yearly service of remembrance at the Walter Tull memorial at 16:30, followed by a moment of silence inside the stadium before the match begins. The teams last competed against each other in 1989, also during an FA Cup fixture, where Northampton secured a 1-0 victory at Kettering’s previous venue, Rockingham Road. 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 material found on external websites. Information regarding our policy on external linking is available.