In pictures: Sixfields Stadium turns 30 years old

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Northampton Town's Sixfields Stadium has had several fan favourites over 30 years, of which the latest is Sam Hoskins (pictured)
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Northampton Town moved to the stadium, built on the new Sixfields development, from the County Ground, which it shared with Northamptonshire County Cricket Club
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The first full season at the ground was 1995-96, before which the Cobblers played in a friendly against Aston Villa
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An early famous victory for Northampton Town at Sixfields was in the 1998 Division Two play-off semi-final where they overcame a two-goal deficit to Bristol Rovers
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In 2014 Northampton Town hosted Manchester United in the FA Cup Fourth Round, during which goalkeeper Lee Harper saved a penalty from Diego Forlan
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Manchester United visited again in the EFL Cup Third Round in 2016, this time managed by Jose Mourinho and featuring Zlatan Ibrahimovic (both pictured), Wayne Rooney and Marcus Rashford
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Several future internationals have featured at Sixfields, including Premier League and Champions League winner Kyle Walker (right)
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Another future England player was Northampton's own Ivan Toney (centre)
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Coventry City played their home games at Sixfields during the 2013-14 season
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During the Covid-19 pandemic, cardboard cut-outs of fans were placed on the seats, including one of ex-manager Graham Carr
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The long-running saga of the East Stand could come to an end in the coming months with work progressing on the ground
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Sixfields Stadium is close to another Northampton landmark, the National Lift Tower, as seen from the bank where fans are able to see some of the pitch
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A recent addition is an all-weather community football pitch outside the ground
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Another recent development has been the hosting of Northampton Town's women's team

Pete Cooper

BBC News, Northamptonshire

15 October 2024

Northampton Town's football ground, Sixfields Stadium, is turning 30 years old, having hosted its first game on 15 October 1994.

That was a 1-1 draw with Barnet and was meant to start a "new era" for the club.

The ground has seen promotions and relegations, hosted superstars and future England internationals, and for a period was even home to another club.

It is also 10 years since work first stopped on the East Stand, but the Cobblers hope it will be finished early next year.

The club also announced a project to mark the 30th birthday by allowing fans to have their names in paving outside one of the stands.

Prior to 1994, the Cobblers - founded in 1897 - shared a ground with Northamptonshire County Cricket Club - the three-sided County Ground - which witnessed Northampton's only season in the top flight in 1965-66.

The East Stand has remained incomplete since construction work stopped in 2014 due to a contractual dispute.

Under the club's previous ownership it stalled after building contractors went unpaid.

The £10.25m sum loaned to the club became the subject of a police inquiry that is still ongoing to this day.

But work restarted on the stand earlier this year, with new plans put forward by the club.

Northampton Town's next home match is against Leyton Orient in League One on Saturday.

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In pictures: Sixfields Stadium turns 30 years old

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