New Kettering Town owner has EFL ambitions

George Akhtar is a football coach from Watford

The new owner of Kettering Town Football Club says he has ambitions to take the side into the English Football League.

The Poppies, who currently play in the South League Premier Division Central, have a rich history and still hold the record for the club with the most goals scored in the men's FA Cup.

George Akhtar bought the Northamptonshire side from previous owner Ritchie Jeune earlier this year.

Mr Akhtar said: "I just love the fact that the club stands for something. It means something."

He added: "It's an absolute monster of a club and what really spurred me on was the league that they're in.

"I just thought, wouldn't it be great to get them back to where they belong? That would be amazing."

Kettering Town play at Latimer Park, Burton Latimer

"This club belongs in the Conference [now known as the National League]. Without getting ahead of ourselves, wouldn't it be amazing to become the first owners to get them into the EFL?" Mr Akhtar said.

The Poppies have not played home matches in Kettering since leaving Rockingham Road stadium in 2011 for an ill-fated move to Nene Park in Irthlingborough.

They now play at Latimer Park in Burton Latimer.

Mr Akhtar said the club was "in discussions" about a return to playing in Kettering but added: "we are very realistic that if it doesn't happen we need to make Latimer Park our home.

'Back on the map'

"Rockingham Road is gone," he said, "as much as it breaks a lot of people's hearts.

"I just hope people don't disown Kettering Town. Who knows where we might be in a couple of years?"

The Poppies, who last played in the top division of non-league football in 2012, have had a number of well-known managers over the years, including Ron Atkinson and Paul Gascoigne.

They also made history by becoming the first British club to play with a sponsor on their shirts in 1976.

Footballer director Fabian Forde said: "The history of Kettering Town is very appealing to players, we just want to run as professionally as possible and put the town back on the map in footballing terms."

Paul Gascoigne during his brief spell as Poppies manager in 2005