# 2021–22 Northampton Town F.C. season

The 2021–22 season was Northampton Town's 125th season in their history and the first season back in League Two after relegation the previous year. Alongside competing in League Two, the club also participated in the FA Cup, EFL Cup and EFL Trophy. The season covered the period from 1 July 2021 to 30 June 2022.

## Players

    As of match played 18 May 2022.
| No. | Name | Position | Place of Birth | Date of Birth (Age) | Apps | Goals | Previous club | Date signed | Fee |
| Goalkeepers |||||||||||
| 1 | Liam Roberts | GK | Walsall | (1994-11-24)24 November 1994 (aged 27) | 49 | 0 | Walsall | 22 June 2021 | Undisclosed |
| 26 | Jonny Maxted | GK | Tadcaster | (1993-10-26)26 October 1993 (aged 28) | 5 | 0 | Exeter City | 24 June 2021 | Free |
| Defenders |||||||||||
| 2 | Michael Harriman | RB | Chichester (ENG) | (1992-10-23)23 October 1992 (aged 29) | 75 | 1 | Wycombe Wanderers | 4 September 2019 | Free |
| 3 | Aaron McGowan | RB | Liverpool | (1996-07-24)24 July 1996 (aged 25) | 44 | 2 | Kilmarnock | 12 July 2021 | Undisclosed |
| 5 | Jon Guthrie | CB | Devizes | (1992-07-29)29 July 1992 (aged 29) | 50 | 8 | Livingston | 24 June 2021 | Free |
| 6 | Fraser Horsfall (vc) | CB | Huddersfield | (1996-11-12)12 November 1996 (aged 25) | 100 | 12 | Macclesfield Town | 14 August 2020 | Free |
| 14 | Ali Koiki | LB | Kensington | (1999-08-22)22 August 1999 (aged 22) | 50 | 1 | Bristol Rovers | 23 July 2021 | Free |
| 15 | Sid Nelson | CB | Lewisham | (1996-01-01)1 January 1996 (aged 26) | 4 | 0 | Tranmere Rovers | 9 July 2021 | Free |
| 23 | Joseph Mills (c) | LB | Swindon | (1989-10-30)30 October 1989 (aged 32) | 51 | 2 | Forest Green Rovers | 8 August 2020 | Free |
| 29 | Josh Flanagan | CB | Milton Keynes | (2003-06-30)30 June 2003 (aged 18) | 1 | 0 | Academy | 1 August 2021 | N/A |
| 35 | Max Dyche | CB | Northampton | (2003-02-23)23 February 2003 (aged 19) | 4 | 0 | Academy | 12 December 2020 | N/A |
| – | Ryan Nolan | CB | Shannon | (1999-02-17)17 February 1999 (aged 23) | 0 | 0 | Getafe | 28 February 2022 | Free |
| Midfielders |||||||||||
| 4 | Jack Sowerby | CM | Preston | (1995-03-23)23 March 1995 (aged 27) | 69 | 1 | Fleetwood Town | 18 September 2020 | Undisclosed |
| 7 | Sam Hoskins | W | Dorchester | (1993-02-04)4 February 1993 (aged 29) | 296 | 53 | Yeovil Town | 1 August 2015 | Free |
| 8 | Paul Lewis | CM | Liverpool | (1994-12-17)17 December 1994 (aged 27) | 43 | 7 | Tranmere Rovers | 10 June 2021 | Free |
| 10 | Bez Lubala | W | Kinshasa | (1998-01-08)8 January 1998 (aged 24) | 14 | 0 | Blackpool | 31 January 2022 | Loan |
| 11 | Mitch Pinnock | W | Gravesend | (1994-12-12)12 December 1994 (aged 27) | 53 | 9 | Kilmarnock | 8 June 2021 | Free |
| 12 | Scott Pollock | CM | Northampton | (2001-01-22)22 January 2001 (aged 21) | 29 | 2 | Football & Education Programme | 26 March 2019 | N/A |
| 17 | Shaun McWilliams | CM | Northampton | (1998-08-14)14 August 1998 (aged 23) | 157 | 1 | Academy | 30 April 2016 | N/A |
| 19 | Idris Kanu | AM | London (ENG) | (1999-12-05)5 December 1999 (aged 22) | 7 | 0 | Peterborough United | 26 January 2022 | Loan |
| 34 | Liam Cross | W | Northampton | (2003-04-08)8 April 2003 (aged 19) | 2 | 0 | Academy | 30 October 2019 | N/A |
| Forwards |||||||||||
| 18 | Chanka Zimba | CF | Lusaka | (2001-12-29)29 December 2001 (aged 20) | 13 | 1 | Cardiff City | 6 January 2022 | Loan |
| 21 | Josh Eppiah | CF | Brussels | (1998-10-11)11 October 1998 (aged 23) | 16 | 2 | Leicester City | 28 January 2022 | Loan |
| 22 | Benny Ashley-Seal | CF | Southwark | (1998-11-21)21 November 1998 (aged 23) | 42 | 5 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 7 September 2020 | Undisclosed |
| 24 | Louis Appéré | CF | Perth | (1999-03-26)26 March 1999 (aged 23) | 20 | 3 | Dundee United | 31 January 2022 | Undisclosed |
| 32 | Danny Rose | CF | Barnsley | (1993-12-10)10 December 1993 (aged 28) | 87 | 7 | Mansfield Town | 2 October 2020 | Undisclosed |

## Pre-season

The Cobblers announced their first pre-season friendly against Birmingham City, as part of the club's open day. This was soon followed by a match against West Ham United. The club announced a number of local games on May 28. A seventh friendly against Cambridge United was announced on 8 June. Nottingham Forest was then confirmed on 28 June.

## Competitions
### Sky Bet EFL League Two
#### League table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Forest Green Rovers (C, P) | 46 | 23 | 15 | 8 | 75 | 44 | +31 | 84 | Promotion to EFL League One |
| 2 | Exeter City (P) | 46 | 23 | 15 | 8 | 65 | 41 | +24 | 84 | Promotion to EFL League One |
| 3 | Bristol Rovers (P) | 46 | 23 | 11 | 12 | 71 | 49 | +22 | 80 | Promotion to EFL League One |
| 4 | Northampton Town | 46 | 23 | 11 | 12 | 60 | 38 | +22 | 80 | Qualification for League Two play-offs |
| 5 | Port Vale (O, P) | 46 | 22 | 12 | 12 | 67 | 46 | +21 | 78 | Qualification for League Two play-offs |
| 6 | Swindon Town | 46 | 22 | 11 | 13 | 77 | 54 | +23 | 77 | Qualification for League Two play-offs |
| 7 | Mansfield Town | 46 | 22 | 11 | 13 | 67 | 52 | +15 | 77 | Qualification for League Two play-offs |

#### Results summary

| Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away |
Last updated: 7 May 2022. Source:

#### League position by match

| Round | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 46 |
| Ground | H | A | H | A | H | A | A | H | A | H | A | H | H | A | H | A | A | H | H | A | A | A | H | H | A | H | H | A | H | A | H | A | A | H | H | A | A | H | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A |
| Result | W | W | L | D | W | L | W | D | D | L | L | W | W | W | W | L | D | W | W | W | W | L | L | D | D | W | L | W | W | D | W | D | L | D | W | L | W | L | W | L | D | W | W | W | D | W |
| Position | 7 | 4 | 10 | 8 | 5 | 9 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 10 | 14 | 8 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 |

#### Matches

Northampton Town's fixtures were announced on 24 June 2021.  Win  Draw  Loss  Postponed

#### Play-offs
### FA Cup

Northampton were drawn at home to Cambridge United in the first round.

### Carabao Cup

Northampton were drawn away to Coventry City in the first round and at home to AFC Wimbledon in the second round.

### Papa John's Trophy

Cobblers were drawn into Southern Group D alongside Brighton & Hove Albion U21s, Forest Green Rovers and Walsall. The group stage ties were confirmed on 1 July 2021.
| Pos | Div | Teamvte | Pld | W | PW | PL | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | L2 | Forest Green Rovers | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 3 | +2 | 6 | Advance to Round 2 |
| 2 | L2 | Walsall | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | −1 | 5 | Advance to Round 2 |
| 3 | ACA | Brighton & Hove Albion U21 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 4 | |
| 4 | L2 | Northampton Town | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | −1 | 3 | |

### Appearances, goals and cards

| No. | Pos | Player | League Two | League Two | League Two | FA Cup | FA Cup | FA Cup | League Cup | League Cup | League Cup | League Trophy | League Trophy | League Trophy | Play-offs | Play-offs | Play-offs | Total | Total | Total | Discipline | Discipline |
| No. | Pos | Player | Starts | Sub | Goals | Starts | Sub | Goals | Starts | Sub | Goals | Starts | Sub | Goals | Starts | Sub | Goals | Starts | Sub | Goals | | |
| 1 | GK | Liam Roberts | 46 | – | – | 2 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | – | – | 49 | – | – | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | RB | Michael Harriman | – | 5 | – | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | 2 | – | – | – | – | – | 3 | 5 | – | – | – |
| 3 | RB | Aaron McGowan | 42 | – | 2 | – | 1 | – | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 43 | 1 | 2 | 5 | – |
| 4 | CM | Jack Sowerby | 34 | – | 1 | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | – | – | 2 | – | – | 38 | – | 1 | 7 | – |
| 5 | CB | Jon Guthrie | 44 | – | 8 | 2 | – | – | 2 | – | – | – | – | – | 2 | – | – | 50 | – | 8 | 4 | – |
| 6 | CB | Fraser Horsfall | 45 | – | 9 | 2 | – | – | 2 | – | – | 1 | 1 | – | 2 | – | – | 52 | 1 | 9 | 7 | 1 |
| 7 | W | Sam Hoskins | 44 | – | 13 | 2 | – | – | 1 | 1 | – | 2 | – | – | 2 | – | – | 51 | 1 | 13 | 11 | – |
| 8 | CM | Paul Lewis | 37 | 2 | 6 | 2 | – | 1 | 2 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 41 | 2 | 7 | 8 | 1 |
| 10 | W | Bez Lubala | 5 | 9 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 5 | 9 | – | 3 | – |
| 11 | W | Mitch Pinnock | 44 | 2 | 9 | 1 | 1 | – | – | 2 | – | 1 | – | – | 2 | – | – | 48 | 5 | 9 | 6 | – |
| 12 | CM | Scott Pollock | 1 | 1 | – | – | – | – | 1 | – | – | 3 | – | 1 | – | – | – | 5 | 1 | 1 | – | – |
| 14 | LB | Ali Koiki | 37 | 5 | – | 2 | – | – | 2 | – | – | 1 | 1 | – | 2 | – | 1 | 44 | 6 | 1 | 5 | – |
| 15 | CB | Sid Nelson | 1 | 1 | – | – | – | – | 1 | – | – | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | 3 | 1 | – | 1 | – |
| 17 | CM | Shaun McWilliams | 34 | 2 | – | 2 | – | – | 1 | – | – | 1 | 1 | – | 2 | – | – | 40 | 3 | – | 12 | – |
| 18 | ST | Chanka Zimba | 2 | 10 | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | – | 2 | 11 | 1 | – | – |
| 19 | AM | Idris Kanu | 1 | 5 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | – | – | 2 | 5 | – | – | – |
| 21 | ST | Josh Eppiah | 8 | 6 | 2 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | 1 | – | 9 | 7 | 2 | 1 | – |
| 22 | ST | Benny Ashley-Seal | 1 | 8 | 2 | – | – | – | – | 1 | – | 2 | 1 | – | – | – | – | 3 | 10 | 2 | – | – |
| 23 | LB | Joseph Mills | 10 | 7 | – | – | – | – | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | 2 | – | – | 13 | 7 | – | 3 | – |
| 24 | ST | Louis Appéré | 16 | 2 | 3 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 2 | – | – | 18 | 2 | 3 | 1 | – |
| 26 | GK | Jonny Maxted | – | – | – | – | – | – | 2 | – | – | 2 | – | – | 1 | – | – | 5 | – | – | – | – |
| 29 | CB | Josh Flanagan | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | – | – | – | – |
| 32 | ST | Danny Rose | 14 | 22 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | – | – | – | 1 | – | – | 2 | – | 16 | 25 | 2 | 11 | – |
| 34 | W | Liam Cross | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | – | – | – | – |
| Youth team scholars: |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 25 | CB | Josh Tomlinson | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | – | – | – | – |
| 27 | CM | Peter Abimbola | – | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | 1 | – | – | – |
| 28 | W | Miguel Ngwa | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | – | – | – | – |
| 30 | RB | Courtney Lashley | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | – | – | – |
| 31 | CM | Dylan Hill | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | – | – | – |
| 35 | CB | Max Dyche | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | – | – | – | – | 1 | 1 | – | – | – |
| 36 | GK | Charlie Woods | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | – | – | – | – |
| 38 | ST | Tommy Curry | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | – | – | – |
| Out on loan: |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 9 | ST | Nicke Kabamba | 6 | 15 | – | – | 2 | – | – | 1 | – | 3 | – | 1 | – | – | – | 8 | 18 | 1 | – | – |
| – | CB | Ryan Nolan | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Players no longer at club: |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 10 | W | Dylan Connolly | 3 | 13 | – | 1 | 1 | – | 1 | 1 | – | 2 | – | 1 | – | – | – | 7 | 15 | 1 | 1 | – |
| 16 | CM | Jordan Flores | 6 | 5 | – | – | – | – | 1 | – | – | 2 | – | – | – | – | – | 9 | 5 | – | 2 | – |
| 19 | ST | Kion Etete | 15 | 3 | 3 | 2 | – | 1 | 2 | – | 2 | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | 20 | 3 | 6 | 1 | – |
| 20 | CB | Tyler Magloire | 8 | 2 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 8 | 2 | – | 3 | – |
| 24 | CB | Dominic Revan | 1 | 2 | – | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | 2 | – | – | – | – | – | 4 | 2 | – | – | – |

### Clean sheets

Includes all competitive matches.
    As of match played 18 May 2022
| No. | Nat. | Player | Matches Played | Clean Sheet % | League Two | FA Cup | League Cup | PJT | TOTAL |
| 1 | | Liam Roberts | 49 | 43% | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 |
| 26 | | Jonny Maxted | 5 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Totals | Totals | Totals | 52 | 40% | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 |

### Scores overview

Northampton Town' score given first.
Win  Draw  Loss
| Opposition | Home score | Away score |
| Barrow | 0 – 1 | 3 – 1 |
| Bradford City | 1 – 1 | 0 – 0 |
| Bristol Rovers | 0 – 1 | 1 – 2 |
| Carlisle United | 3 – 0 | 1 – 2 |
| Colchester United | 3 – 0 | 1 – 0 |
| Crawley Town | 0 – 1 | 0 – 0 |
| Exeter City | 1 – 1 | 2 – 1 |
| Forest Green Rovers | 1 – 1 | 0 – 1 |
| Harrogate Town | 3 – 0 | 2 – 1 |
| Hartlepool United | 2 – 0 | 1 – 2 |
| Leyton Orient | 1 – 0 | 4 – 2 |
| Mansfield Town | 2 – 0 | 0 – 1 |
| Newport County | 1 – 0 | 1 – 0 |
| Oldham Athletic | 2 – 1 | 2 – 0 |
| Port Vale | 1 – 0 | 0 – 0 |
| Rochdale | 1 – 3 | 0 – 1 |
| Salford City | 1 – 0 | 2 – 2 |
| Scunthorpe United | 2 – 0 | 0 – 0 |
| Stevenage | 3 – 0 | 2 – 1 |
| Sutton United | 0 – 2 | 0 – 0 |
| Swindon Town | 1 – 1 | 2 – 5 |
| Tranmere Rovers | 3 – 2 | 2 – 0 |
| Walsall | 1 – 1 | 1 – 0 |

## Awards
### Club awards

At the end of the season, Northampton's annual award ceremony, including categories voted for by the players and backroom staff, the supporters, will see the players recognised for their achievements for the club throughout the 2021–22 season.
| Player of the Year Award | Liam Roberts |
| Players' Player of the Year Award | Liam Roberts |
| Academy Player of the Year Award | Peter Abimbola |
| Goal of the Season Award | Aaron McGowan (vs. Stevenage) Mitch Pinnock (vs. Leyton Orient) |

### Divisional awards

| Date | Winner | Award |
| Season | Jon Guthrie | EFL Awards Team of the Season |
| Season | Liam Roberts | PFA League Two Team of the Year |
| Season | Jon Guthrie | PFA League Two Team of the Year |
| Season | Fraser Horsfall | PFA League Two Team of the Year |

## Transfers
### Transfers in

| Date from | Position | Name | From | Fee |
| 22 June 2021 | GK | Liam Roberts | Walsall | Undisclosed |
| 1 July 2021 | RW | Dylan Connolly | St Mirren | Free transfer |
| 1 July 2021 | CB | Jon Guthrie | Livingston | Free transfer |
| 1 July 2021 | CF | Nicke Kabamba | Kilmarnock | Free transfer |
| 1 July 2021 | CM | Paul Lewis | Tranmere Rovers | Free transfer |
| 1 July 2021 | GK | Jonny Maxted | Exeter City | Free transfer |
| 1 July 2021 | LW | Mitch Pinnock | Kilmarnock | Free transfer |
| 9 July 2021 | CB | Sid Nelson | Tranmere Rovers | Free transfer |
| 12 July 2021 | RB | Aaron McGowan | Kilmarnock | Undisclosed |
| 23 July 2021 | LB | Ali Koiki | Bristol Rovers | Free transfer |
| 6 August 2021 | CM | Jordan Flores | Hull City | Free transfer |
| 31 January 2022 | CF | Louis Appéré | Dundee United | Undisclosed |
| 28 February 2022 | CB | Ryan Nolan | Getafe | Free transfer |
* ↑ The transfer was announced on 15 June, and would become official on July 1 once his St Mirren contract expired
* ↑ The transfer was announced on 24 June, and would become official on July 1 once his Livingston contract expired
* ↑ The transfer was announced on 1 June, and would become official on July 1 once his Kilmarnock contract expired
* ↑ The transfer was announced on 10 June, and would become official on July 1 once his Tranmere Rovers contract expired
* ↑ The transfer was announced on 24 June, and would become official on July 1 once his Exeter City contract expired
* ↑ The transfer was announced on 8 June, and would become official on July 1 once his Kilmarnock contract expired

### Loans in

| Date from | Position | Name | From | Date until |
| 1 July 2021 | CM | Jordan Flores | Hull City | 6 August 2021 |
| 2 August 2021 | CF | Kion Etete | Tottenham Hotspur | 4 January 2022 |
| 31 August 2021 | CB | Dominic Revan | Aston Villa | January 2022 |
| 6 January 2022 | CF | Chanka Zimba | Cardiff City | End of season |
| 18 January 2022 | CB | Tyler Magloire | Blackburn Rovers | End of season |
| 26 January 2022 | RW | Idris Kanu | Peterborough United | End of season |
| 28 January 2022 | CF | Josh Eppiah | Leicester City | End of season |
| 31 January 2022 | LW | Beryly Lubala | Blackpool | End of season |
* ↑ Jordan Flores later signed permanently following his release from parent club, Hull City.

### Loans out

| Date from | Position | Name | To | Date until |
| 5 August 2021 | DF | Max Dyche | Kettering Town | |
| 13 August 2021 | MF | Liam Cross | St Ives Town | September 2021 |
| 13 August 2021 | DF | Josh Flanagan | St Ives Town | September 2021 |
| 27 November 2021 | DF | Josh Flanagan | Corby Town | 1 January 2022 |
| 29 November 2021 | CM | Liam Cross | Tamworth | |
| 4 January 2022 | DF | Josh Flanagan | St Ives Town | February 2022 |
| 21 January 2022 | CF | Nicke Kabamba | Woking | End of season |
| 28 January 2022 | CM | Liam Cross | St Ives Town | 26 February 2022 |
| 4 February 2022 | CB | Max Dyche | Brackley Town | |
| 26 February 2022 | CM | Scott Pollock | Boston United | 26 March 2022 |
| 9 March 2022 | CB | Ryan Nolan | Kidderminster Harriers | End of season |

### Transfers out

| Date from | Position | Name | To | Fee |
| 30 June 2021 | GK | Steve Arnold | Southend United | Released |
| 30 June 2021 | CB | Cian Bolger | Larne | Rejected Option |
| 30 June 2021 | CF | Ethan Johnston | Banbury United | Released |
| 30 June 2021 | CB | Lloyd Jones | Cambridge United | Rejected Contract |
| 30 June 2021 | LW | Ricky Korboa | Sutton United | Released |
| 30 June 2021 | RW | Mark Marshall | Crawley Town | Released |
| 30 June 2021 | LB | Alan Sheehan | Oldham Athletic | Released |
| 30 June 2021 | SS | Matty Warburton | FC Halifax Town | Released |
| 30 June 2021 | CM | Ryan Watson | Tranmere Rovers | Rejected Contract |
| 7 July 2021 | GK | Dylan Berry | Norwich City | Undisclosed |
| 7 July 2021 | CF | Harry Smith | Leyton Orient | Undisclosed |
| 16 August 2021 | CF | Caleb Chukwuemeka | Aston Villa | Undisclosed |
| 31 January 2022 | AM | Dylan Connolly | Morecambe | Undisclosed |
| 31 January 2022 | CM | Jordan Flores | Bohemians | Contract cancelled |