# 2020–21 Northampton Town F.C. season

The 2020–21 season was Northampton Town's 124th season in their history and the first season back in League One, after promotion via the play-offs the previous season. Alongside competing in League One, the club also participated in the FA Cup, EFL Cup and EFL Trophy.

## Players

    As of match played 9 May 2021.
| No. | Name | Position | Place of Birth | Date of Birth (Age) | Apps | Goals | Previous club | Date signed | Fee |
| Goalkeepers |||||||||||
| 1 | Steve Arnold | GK | Welham Green | (1989-08-22)22 August 1989 (aged 31) | 22 | 0 | Shrewsbury Town | 5 June 2019 | Undisclosed |
| 13 | Jonathan Mitchell | GK | Hartlepool | (1994-11-24)24 November 1994 (aged 26) | 42 | 0 | Derby County | 4 August 2020 | Loan |
| Defenders |||||||||||
| 2 | Michael Harriman | RB | Chichester (ENG) | (1992-10-23)23 October 1992 (aged 28) | 67 | 1 | Wycombe Wanderers | 4 September 2019 | Free |
| 5 | Cian Bolger (c) | CB | Celbridge | (1992-03-12)12 March 1992 (aged 29) | 31 | 1 | Lincoln City | 21 August 2020 | Free |
| 6 | Fraser Horsfall | CB | Huddersfield | (1996-11-12)12 November 1996 (aged 24) | 47 | 3 | Macclesfield Town | 14 August 2020 | Free |
| 15 | Peter Kioso | RB | Swords, Dublin | (1999-08-15)15 August 1999 (aged 21) | 21 | 3 | Luton Town | 25 January 2021 | Loan |
| 23 | Joseph Mills | LB | Swindon | (1989-10-30)30 October 1989 (aged 31) | 31 | 2 | Forest Green Rovers | 8 August 2020 | Free |
| 28 | Lloyd Jones | CB | Plymouth | (1996-11-12)12 November 1996 (aged 24) | 34 | 0 | Luton Town | 29 December 2020 | Free |
| 44 | Alan Sheehan | CB | Athlone | (1986-09-14)14 September 1986 (aged 34) | 15 | 1 | Lincoln City | 28 November 2020 | Free |
| Midfielders |||||||||||
| 4 | Jack Sowerby | CM | Preston | (1995-03-23)23 March 1995 (aged 26) | 31 | 0 | Fleetwood Town | 18 September 2020 | Undisclosed |
| 7 | Sam Hoskins | AM | Dorchester | (1993-02-04)4 February 1993 (aged 28) | 244 | 40 | Yeovil Town | 1 August 2015 | Free |
| 8 | Ryan Watson | CM | Crewe | (1993-06-07)7 June 1993 (aged 27) | 101 | 17 | Milton Keynes Dons | 3 June 2019 | Free |
| 11 | Ricky Korboa | W | Liverpool | (1996-08-02)2 August 1996 (aged 24) | 22 | 2 | Carshalton Athletic | 1 September 2020 | Undisclosed |
| 12 | Scott Pollock | CM | Northampton | (2001-01-22)22 January 2001 (aged 20) | 23 | 1 | Football & Education Programme | 26 March 2019 | N/A |
| 14 | Mickel Miller | W | Croydon | (1995-12-02)2 December 1995 (aged 25) | 12 | 0 | Rotherham United | 14 January 2021 | Loan |
| 17 | Shaun McWilliams | CM | Northampton | (1998-08-14)14 August 1998 (aged 22) | 114 | 1 | Academy | 30 April 2016 | N/A |
| 18 | Bryn Morris | DM | Hartlepool | (1996-04-26)26 April 1996 (aged 25) | 22 | 0 | Portsmouth | 18 January 2021 | Loan |
| 19 | Morgan Roberts | W | Northampton (ENG) | (2000-12-20)20 December 2000 (aged 20) | 18 | 0 | Academy | 17 May 2018 | N/A |
| 20 | Matt Warburton | AM | Manchester | (1992-05-24)24 May 1992 (aged 28) | 34 | 4 | Stockport County | 7 May 2019 | Free |
| 45 | Mark Marshall | W | Manchester Parish | (1987-05-05)5 May 1987 (aged 34) | 41 | 2 | Gillingham | 25 January 2020 | Free |
| Forwards |||||||||||
| 9 | Harry Smith | CF | London | (1995-05-18)18 May 1995 (aged 25) | 50 | 11 | Macclesfield Town | 17 May 2019 | Undisclosed |
| 10 | Alex Jones | CF | Sutton Coldfield | (1994-09-28)28 September 1994 (aged 26) | 9 | 1 | Partick Thistle | 2 March 2021 | Free |
| 22 | Benny Ashley-Seal | CF | Southwark | (1998-11-21)21 November 1998 (aged 22) | 29 | 3 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 7 September 2020 | Undisclosed |
| 26 | Ryan Edmondson | CF | Harrogate | (2001-05-20)20 May 2001 (aged 19) | 21 | 2 | Leeds United | 14 January 2021 | Loan |
| 29 | Danny Rose | CF | Barnsley | (1993-12-10)10 December 1993 (aged 27) | 44 | 5 | Mansfield Town | 2 October 2020 | Undisclosed |
| 30 | Caleb Chukwuemeka | CF | Northampton | (2002-01-25)25 January 2002 (aged 19) | 28 | 2 | Academy | 4 February 2020 | N/A |
| 31 | Ethan Johnston | CF | Kettering | (2002-06-30)30 June 2002 (aged 18) | 1 | 0 | Academy | 20 January 2020 | N/A |

## Pre-season

The Cobblers announced pre-season friendlies against Leyton Orient and Luton Town

## Competitions
### Sky Bet EFL League One
#### League table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
| 17 | Shrewsbury Town | 46 | 13 | 15 | 18 | 50 | 57 | −7 | 54 | |
| 18 | Plymouth Argyle | 46 | 14 | 11 | 21 | 53 | 80 | −27 | 53 | |
| 19 | AFC Wimbledon | 46 | 12 | 15 | 19 | 54 | 70 | −16 | 51 | |
| 20 | Wigan Athletic | 46 | 13 | 9 | 24 | 54 | 77 | −23 | 48 | |
| 21 | Rochdale (R) | 46 | 11 | 14 | 21 | 61 | 78 | −17 | 47 | Relegation to EFL League Two |
| 22 | Northampton Town (R) | 46 | 11 | 12 | 23 | 41 | 67 | −26 | 45 | Relegation to EFL League Two |
| 23 | Swindon Town (R) | 46 | 13 | 4 | 29 | 55 | 89 | −34 | 43 | Relegation to EFL League Two |
| 24 | Bristol Rovers (R) | 46 | 10 | 8 | 28 | 40 | 70 | −30 | 38 | Relegation to EFL League Two |

#### Results summary

| Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away |
Last updated: 9 May 2021. 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 | H | H | A | A | H | H | A | A | H | H | A | A | H | H | H | A | A | A | A | H | H | A | A | H | A | H | H | A | A | H | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A |
| Result | D | W | L | L | L | L | W | L | L | W | D | L | W | D | W | L | L | L | L | W | D | L | D | L | D | L | L | D | L | D | L | W | W | L | D | L | W | L | W | L | D | L | W | D | L | D |
| Position | 10 | 7 | 10 | 16 | 19 | 22 | 16 | 19 | 20 | 18 | 17 | 19 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 21 | 19 | 19 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 22 | 19 | 21 | 20 | 22 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 22 |

#### Matches

Win  Draw  Loss  Postponed
The 2020–21 season fixtures were released on 21 August.

### FA Cup

The draw for the first round was made on Monday 26, October.

### Carabao Cup

The first round draw was made on 18 August. The draw for both the second and third round were confirmed on September 6, live on Sky Sports by Phil Babb.

### Leasing.com Trophy

The regional group stage draw was confirmed on 18 August. The second round draw was made by Matt Murray on 20 November, at St Andrew’s. The third round was made on 10 December 2020 by Jon Parkin.
| Pos | Div | Teamvte | Pld | W | PW | PL | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | L1 | Milton Keynes Dons | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 5 | +2 | 6 | Advance to Round 2 |
| 2 | L1 | Northampton Town | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 3 | +3 | 5 | Advance to Round 2 |
| 3 | L2 | Stevenage | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 4 | |
| 4 | ACA | Southampton U21 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 8 | −5 | 3 | |

### Appearances, goals and cards

| No. | Pos | Player | League One | League One | League One | FA Cup | FA Cup | FA Cup | League Cup | League Cup | League Cup | League Trophy | League Trophy | League Trophy | Total | Total | Total | Discipline | Discipline |
| No. | Pos | Player | Starts | Sub | Goals | Starts | Sub | Goals | Starts | Sub | Goals | Starts | Sub | Goals | Starts | Sub | Goals | | |
| 1 | GK | Steve Arnold | 11 | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | 12 | – | – | 1 | – |
| 2 | RB | Michael Harriman | 22 | 8 | – | – | – | – | 2 | – | – | 5 | – | – | 29 | 8 | – | 2 | – |
| 4 | CM | Jack Sowerby | 26 | 2 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 2 | 1 | – | 28 | 3 | – | 5 | – |
| 5 | CB | Cian Bolger | 26 | – | 1 | – | – | – | 2 | – | – | 3 | – | – | 31 | – | 1 | 7 | – |
| 6 | CB | Fraser Horsfall | 37 | 3 | 3 | 1 | – | – | 2 | – | – | 4 | – | – | 44 | 3 | 3 | 6 | – |
| 7 | AM | Sam Hoskins | 44 | 2 | 7 | 1 | – | 1 | 1 | – | – | 1 | – | – | 47 | 2 | 8 | 6 | – |
| 8 | CM | Ryan Watson | 33 | 6 | 8 | – | – | – | 2 | – | 1 | 4 | – | – | 39 | 6 | 9 | 9 | – |
| 10 | ST | Alex Jones | 4 | 5 | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 4 | 5 | 1 | – | – |
| 11 | W | Ricky Korboa | 5 | 11 | 2 | 1 | – | – | 1 | – | – | 2 | 2 | – | 9 | 13 | 2 | 2 | – |
| 12 | CM | Scott Pollock | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 13 | GK | Jonathan Mitchell | 35 | – | – | 1 | – | – | 1 | – | – | 5 | – | – | 42 | – | – | 3 | – |
| 14 | W | Mickel Miller | 11 | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 11 | 1 | – | 2 | – |
| 15 | RB | Peter Kioso | 21 | – | 3 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 21 | – | 3 | 6 | – |
| 17 | CM | Shaun McWilliams | 30 | 2 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 3 | 1 | – | 33 | 3 | – | 10 | 1 |
| 18 | DM | Bryn Morris | 19 | 3 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 19 | 3 | – | 5 | – |
| 19 | W | Morgan Roberts | – | 2 | – | 1 | – | – | – | 2 | – | 1 | 2 | – | 2 | 6 | – | – | – |
| 22 | ST | Benny Ashley-Seal | 7 | 16 | – | 1 | – | – | 1 | – | – | 3 | 1 | 3 | 12 | 17 | 3 | 1 | – |
| 23 | LB | Joseph Mills | 27 | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | – | – | 3 | – | 2 | 31 | – | 2 | 5 | – |
| 26 | ST | Ryan Edmondson | 13 | 8 | 2 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 13 | 8 | 2 | 3 | – |
| 28 | CB | Lloyd Jones | 27 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 27 | – | – | 4 | – |
| 29 | ST | Danny Rose | 23 | 16 | 4 | – | 1 | – | – | – | – | 4 | – | 1 | 27 | 17 | 5 | 5 | – |
| 30 | ST | Caleb Chukwuemeka | 2 | 20 | 1 | 1 | – | – | 1 | – | – | – | 4 | 1 | 4 | 24 | 2 | 2 | – |
| 31 | ST | Ethan Johnston | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | – | – | – |
| 32 | CB | Max Dyche | 1 | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | 1 | – | – | – |
| 34 | MF | Liam Cross | – | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | – | – | – |
| 44 | CB | Alan Sheehan | 12 | 2 | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | – | – | 13 | 2 | 1 | 2 | – |
| 45 | W | Mark Marshall | 18 | 11 | 1 | 1 | – | – | – | 1 | – | 2 | – | 1 | 21 | 12 | 2 | 1 | – |
| Out on loan: ||||||||||||||||||||
| 9 | ST | Harry Smith | 13 | 3 | 3 | – | 1 | – | 1 | – | 1 | 2 | 1 | – | 16 | 4 | 4 | 1 | – |
| 20 | AM | Matt Warburton | 4 | – | 1 | – | – | – | 1 | – | 1 | 1 | – | – | 6 | – | 2 | 2 | – |
| Players no longer at club: ||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | LB | Joe Martin | 5 | 1 | – | 1 | – | – | 1 | – | – | 2 | 1 | – | 9 | 2 | – | 2 | 2 |
| 10 | W | Nicky Adams | 10 | 4 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 2 | – | – | 12 | 4 | – | – | – |
| 14 | CM | Chris Lines | 1 | 3 | 1 | – | – | – | – | 2 | – | 2 | 2 | – | 3 | 7 | 1 | 1 | – |
| 15 | CB | Luka Racic | 4 | 2 | – | 1 | – | – | 2 | – | – | 1 | – | – | 8 | 2 | – | 2 | – |
| 21 | W | Ricky Holmes | 5 | 4 | 1 | – | 1 | – | – | – | – | 1 | – | – | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | – |
| 24 | ST | Joe Nuttall | – | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | – | – | – |
| 26 | LB | Jacob Ballinger | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 27 | DM | Christopher Missilou | 11 | 4 | 1 | 1 | – | – | 2 | – | – | 1 | 1 | – | 15 | 5 | 1 | 3 | – |

## Transfers
### Transfers in

| Date from | Position | Name | From | Fee |
| 27 July 2020 | DM | Christopher Missilou | Oldham Athletic | Free transfer |
| 8 August 2020 | LB | Joseph Mills | Forest Green Rovers | Free transfer |
| 14 August 2020 | CB | Fraser Horsfall | Macclesfield Town | Free transfer |
| 21 August 2020 | CB | Cian Bolger | Lincoln City | Free transfer |
| 1 September 2020 | CF | Ricky Korboa | Carshalton Athletic | Undisclosed |
| 7 September 2020 | CF | Benny Ashley-Seal | Wolverhampton Wanderers | Undisclosed |
| 18 September 2020 | CM | Jack Sowerby | Fleetwood Town | Undisclosed |
| 2 October 2020 | CF | Danny Rose | Mansfield Town | Undisclosed |
| 27 October 2020 | CB | Alan Sheehan | Unattached | Free transfer |
| 2 November 2020 | W | Ricky Holmes | Unattached | Free transfer |
| 29 December 2020 | CB | Lloyd Jones | Unattached | Free transfer |
| 2 March 2021 | ST | Alex Jones | Unattached | Free transfer |

### Loans in

| Date from | Position | Name | From | Until |
| 4 August 2020 | GK | Jonathan Mitchell | Derby County | End of season |
| 21 August 2020 | CB | Luka Racic | Brentford | 3 January 2021 |
| 31 August 2020 | CF | Joe Nuttall | Blackpool | End of season |
| 14 January 2021 | CF | Ryan Edmondson | Leeds United | End of season |
| 14 January 2021 | CF | Mickel Miller | Rotherham United | End of season |
| 18 January 2021 | DM | Bryn Morris | Portsmouth | End of season |
| 25 January 2021 | RB | Peter Kioso | Luton Town | End of season |

### Loans out

| Date from | Position | Name | To | Until |
| 26 September 2020 | DF | Jacob Ballinger | St Ives Town | October 2021 |
| 26 September 2020 | FW | Ethan Johnston | Redditch United | October 2021 |
| 8 October 2020 | SS | Matty Warburton | Yeovil Town | End of season |
| 12 December 2020 | FW | Ethan Johnston | Kettering Town | January 2021 |
| 12 December 2020 | AM | Morgan Roberts | Brackley Town | January 2021 |
| 21 January 2021 | CF | Harry Smith | Motherwell | End of season |

### Transfers out

| Date from | Position | Name | To | Fee |
| 2 July 2020 | AM | Paul Anderson | Free agent | Released |
| 2 July 2020 | GK | David Cornell | Ipswich Town | Released |
| 2 July 2020 | RB | Reece Hall-Johnson | Wrexham | Released |
| 2 July 2020 | CB | Ryan Hughes | AFC Rushden & Diamonds | Released |
| 2 July 2020 | GK | Bradley Lashley | Cogenhoe United | Released |
| 2 July 2020 | CM | Alan McCormack | Southend United | Released |
| 2 July 2020 | RB | Camron McWilliams | Cardiff City U23s | Released |
| 2 July 2020 | CM | Jack Newell | Free agent | Released |
| 2 July 2020 | CB | Jordan Turnbull | Salford City | Released |
| 2 July 2020 | CF | Billy Waters | Torquay United | Released |
| 2 July 2020 | CF | Andy Williams | Cheltenham Town | Released |
| 2 July 2020 | CB | Jay Williams | Wealdstone | Released |
| 2 July 2020 | RM | Sean Whaler | Free agent | Released |
| 5 August 2020 | CF | Vadaine Oliver | Gillingham | Rejected Contract |
| 19 August 2020 | CB | Charlie Goode | Brentford | £1,000,000+ |
| 29 December 2020 | LB | Jacob Ballinger | Free agent | Released |
| 5 January 2021 | CM | Chris Lines | Stevenage | Undisclosed |
| 22 January 2021 | RM | Nicky Adams | Oldham Athletic | Undisclosed |
| 29 January 2021 | LB | Joe Martin | Stevenage | Undisclosed |
| 1 February 2021 | DM | Christopher Missilou | Swindon Town | Undisclosed |
| 18 February 2021 | LW | Ricky Holmes | Southend United | Free transfer |