Ex-Cobblers boss thanks 'shoe army' marathon fans

Jon Brady thanked fans for their support after crossing the finish line

A former football manager has thanked fans who supported him on a charity run.

Jon Brady, who left Northampton Town in December, praised supporters who shouted "shoe army" as he completed the London Marathon.

He covered the 26.2 mile (42.2km) course in four hours and three minutes in aid of the British Forces Foundation (BFF).

The 50-year-old said he could not believe that so many Cobblers fans would turn up to support him.

Brady, from Australia, spent three and a half years managing Northampton, and took the team to League One in 2023.

He resigned in December 2024 after the Cobblers went six matches without a win and dropped into the relegation zone.

Jon Brady celebrated with his family after completing the London Marathon

Brady told BBC Radio Northampton he thought he had recorded a quicker time than the official one at the event because he had been following one of the pacing runners who wore flags showing their expected finish time.

"I was aiming for 3 hours 45 minutes and I followed the flag-bearer who had [that time on their flag], and I was about 30 seconds behind him all the way in," he said.

"But I think even some of the guys with the timed flags flagged themselves.

"I was thinking, 'I'm right on time here,' coming in, and I came in at four hours and three minutes."

The British Forces Foundation organises entertainment for military personnel from people such as singer Katherine Jenkins, a trustee of the charity

He said that he had chosen the BFF as his charity because the army had helped him to build leadership at Sixfields when he managed Northampton.

The BFF provides morale-boosting entertainment for British service personnel around the world.

Brady thanked "so many Cobblers supporters who sponsored me, and my family and friends - that was amazing really".

He added: "I could not believe the amount of supporters shouting out 'shoe army' on the way round."

After his run, Brady celebrated with a meal: "I went for a family Nandos and ate as much as I could."