Chris Millington’s Solihull Moors are set to bring their 2026/27 pre-season preparations to a close when they welcome Northampton Town, led by Manager Chris Hogg, to Damson Park on Saturday afternoon. The Moors come into this game having earned a very credible 1 – 1 draw in our most recent friendly against Burton Albion on Tuesday evening. As for The Cobblers, they recently faced fellow League Two outfit Cambridge United at the Cledara Abbey Stadium earlier on this week, where they came away with a goalless draw in the end. Northampton Town are a football club who have an extensive history, having been founded all the way back on 9th March 1897. They were formed when a group of school teachers from the local area, together with solicitor AJ ‘Pat’ Darnell, met at the Princess Royal Inn on Wellingborough Road. They were to be the first football club to be formed in the town. After the local rugby club objected to their original name, the new football club was to change its name to how it is known to this day – Northampton Town Football Club. They began life in the Northants League, where they spent two seasons during which they recorded their first transfer fee - £50 – which was received from Derby County for Frank ‘Hall’ Howard. They won the County Championship in what was their second ever season before then spending a further two years in the Midland League ahead of joining the Southern League in the 1901/02 season. During that campaign, they suffered an 11- 0 defeat to Southampton, which remains the club’s record defeat in a competitive match. Herbert Chapman, one of English Football’s first great managers, managed the Cobblers in the early twentieth century before departing for Leeds United at the start of the 1912/13 season, before going on to win league championships leading the likes of Huddersfield Town and Arsenal before his death in 1934. In the three years prior to the outbreak of the Second World War, Northampton would finish in 7th, 9th, and 17th place respectively in the Division Three (South). Fast forward to 1952/53, they managed to finish as high as third place in this same division, with them just two points off the title winners, who were Bristol Rovers, even after the club had scored an astonishing 109 goals over the course of the campaign. They spent a brief time in the Fourth Division before eventually going on to finally win the Third Division title in the 1962/63 season, scoring another 109 goals. Additionally, a total of five members of their squad were able to score double figures in terms of goals, with Alec Ashworth scoring the most with 25 in just 30 matches overall. He went on to leave the club for Preston North End for a fee of around £20,000. Their 1965/66 campaign stands out in the club’s history as the only season (so far) that the Cobblers have ever spent in the top flight in England. It of course saw them relegated that season, which was confirmed following a 4 – 2 defeat to Fulham in front of what was a 24,523 strong crowd at the County Ground. The club were relegated again, this time down to Division Three, the following season, which was the 1966/67 season. Their only double was against Aston Villa, who are the only club that the Cobblers have a 100% record against, though they have only ever met competitively twice, having not met since the 1960s. They were almost relegated again in the 1967/68 season, finishing in 18th place in the end. Fast forward to their 1969/70 season, they played nine games in the FA Cup that term, which was a run that ended in an 8 – 2 defeat at the hands of the famous Manchester United in the Fifth Round Proper, where George Best scored six goals, a double hat-trick. Graham Carr, who is of course the father of famous Comedian and Celebrity Traitors Winner Alan Carr, became Northampton Town boss for the final seven games of the 1984/85 season, winning six and drawing one, which gave him the permanent job. An 8th place finish was achieved in his first season in the fourth tier before then going on to win the Fourth Division title the following campaign in the 1986/87 season. They accumulated a record total of 99 points whilst scoring 103 goals as a team, with their top scorer being Richard Hill with a grand total of 29. Tuesday 12th October 1994 was the final ever game at the club’s former ground, The County Ground, being defeated narrowly 1 – 0 by Mansfield Town. Subsequently, their first game at their current stadium, Sixfields, was a 1 – 1 draw against Barnet on Saturday 15th October 1994. In 1997, Northampton were playing at Wembley for what was the first time in 100 years, with them beating Swansea City to win the play-off final in the English Capital. After promotion, they then lost at Wembley against Grimsby Town the season after that. They finally returned to Division Two in 2000. After the collapse of ITV Digital, the Cobblers had to launch an appeal so they could see out the remainder of the season. And after failed takeover attempts, including the reported one involving John Fashanu and Giovanni Di Stefano, a total of £230,000 was raised by the fans in order to save the club. A takeover then took place in what was a consortium led by Andrew Ellis, taking over as majority shareholder in December 2002. In the 2005/06 campaign, Northampton Town won promotion to League One automatically, which was confirmed following a 1 – 0 win over Chester at Sixfields in front of a jubilant crowd on 29th April 2006. The likes of Sean Dyche, Ian Taylor, Eoin Jess, and Scott McGleish were signed ahead of their latest stint in the third tier, with John Gorman taking over from Colin Calderwood ahead of the new campaign, after Calderwood had left for Nottingham Forest. They finished in the top half of League One in 2007/08, before being relegated back to League Two the following campaign. In September 2010, Northampton Town were able to beat Liverpool at Anfield in the Carling Cup, led by club legend Ian Sampson. He left in March 2011 after spending 17 years at the club as player, coach, and manager, with him also the second-highest appearance maker in the club’s history. He was replaced by Aidy Boothroyd. In the 2019/20 League Two play-offs, they beat Cheltenham Town and Exeter City, defeating the latter 4 – 0 to secure their emphatic return to League One football. They were in League Two again under Jon Brady in the 2021/22 season, entering the playoffs after being denied promotion following an astonishing 7 – 0 win for Bristol Rovers against Scunthorpe United on the final day of the season. Brady would leave the club in December 2024, before Kevin Nolan, the former Bolton Wanderers, Newcastle United, and West Ham United midfielder, took charge, steering his new side to safety. Then, in March/April 2025, the club opened the new LCS East Stand following the redevelopment. Last season (2025/26), Northampton Town were relegated back down to League Two, which was a campaign that included a dreadful run of 11 defeats in a row, with the aforementioned Nolan leaving the club in March 2026. They did, though, at least manage to reach the semi-finals of that season’s EFL Trophy, which was the club’s best ever run in this competition. The Cobblers will be hoping to secure their return to League One with promotion from League Two by the end of the upcoming 2026/27 campaign. In the opposition dugout – Chris Hogg Chris Hogg is the current Manager of Northampton Town Football Club, with the former defender having been appointed by the club back on Monday 18th May 2026. The Cobblers’ upcoming 2026/27 campaign will be his first in charge of the Cobblers. This is also Hogg’s first ever season as a First Team Manager. During his playing career that spanned twelve years between 2003 and 2015, playing for the likes of Ipswich Town (2003 - 2005), Boston United (Loan, 2003; Loan, 2003 - 2004), Hibernian (2005 - 2011), Inverness Caledonian Thistle (2011 - 2013), and finally non-league side Needham Market from 2014 to 2015. Key Player – Tom Eaves One of the key players for Chris Hogg’s Northampton Town side is undoubtedly striker Tom Eaves. He was their leading goalscorer in the league last season with 8, with him scoring the most for the club in all competitions with a total of 10 overall. Eaves began his playing career back in 2009 with Oldham Athletic, leaving in 2010. He has since represented the likes of Bolton Wanderers (2010 - 2016), Bristol Rovers (Loan, 2012 - 2013), Shrewsbury Town (Loan, 2013 & 2013 - 2014), Rotherham United (Loan, 2013 & 2022 - 2024), Yeovil Town (Loan, 2014 – 2015 & 2016 - 2017), Bury (Loan, 2015), Gillingham (2017 - 2019), Hull City (2019 - 2022), joining Northampton back on 12th July 2024 on what was an initial two year deal. Opposition Preview written by Adam Holt
Solihull Moors will conclude their pre-season action this weekend as we play host to League Two side Northampton Town at Damson Park. The Moors had a slow start to pre-season with defeats to Knowle and Birmingham City and a draw with Alvechurch. However, back-to-back victories against National League North sides Hednesford Town and Hereford, as well as an impressive display against League One side Burton Albion, has seen a potentially positive end to pre-season. This weekend will see the Moors host Northampton Town in our final match before next week’s season opener against Harrogate Town. Here is everything you need to know for the visit of League Two outfit Northampton Town. —— An overview of Northampton Town: The Cobblers are back in League Two for the first time since the 2022/23 campaign, as a result of their relegation after finishing bottom of the third tier. Last season, the club lost 29 of their 46 matches and as a result have now undergone a busy summer with a plethora of new faces through the door. Northampton have already picked up a draw against Premier League side Coventry City but have lost to both Leicester City and Birmingham City in their respective pre-season. The club have got former Ipswich Town midfielder Grant Ward on trial, whilst adding the likes of Matty Warhurst, Connor Lemonheigh-Evans and Harvey Saunders to try and seal an immediate return to League One. —— Head-to-head: The two clubs have met in youth football and women’s football, but there hasn’t been a competitive, senior fixture between the two sides. —— Tickets: Tickets for Saturday’s clash against Northampton are available to purchase online here and are available on the gate. The prices are as follows; Adults: £9.00 Under 18s: £6.00 There are no additional fees when purchasing your tickets, as the £1 booking fee is already included in the ticket price (£8 to £9). Reminder that children U14 need to be accompanied by an adult as per National League stadium regulations. —— Getting to the Stadium: The stadium is located just three miles (10 minutes) from Solihull station, or 4.8 miles (13 minutes) from Birmingham International station. Similarly, local taxi services from either station are available, as is on-site parking, though spaces are limited and on a first-come, first-served basis. Alternatively, the x12 bus service will be running both before and after the game – available to catch from either of the two train stations mentioned above. —— In the dugout – Chris Hogg: The man in the hot seat for the Cobblers this weekend is former Ipswich Town and Hibernian defender Chris Hogg. The 41-year-old retired from playing back in 2015, and immediately took on the role as a youth coach with Ipswich Town – managing their U18s and U23S sides, before moving on to Newcastle United. His work continued with assistant managerial roles with Bristol City, Oxford United, MK Dons and Norwich City – but stepped into the managerial role for the first time this summer – tasked with trying to bring the Cobblers back into League One. Though he hasn’t taken charge of a competitive fixture yet, the club have picked up a couple of impressive results under his guidance so far. —— We hope to see as many of you as possible ahead of Saturday’s clash with Northampton Town. COYM 🟡🔵 Match preview written by Callum Moseley
TICKETS Season Tickets Season tickets are not valid for this fixture. All tickets can be purchased here Opening times and turnstile access The car park will open at 11:00 am The box office for ticket collection will be open from 11:30am The turnstiles will be open from 11:30am for home and away supporters to gain entry into the stadium. When you purchase a match ticket, you must sit or stand in the area where you bought your ticket. The main bar will open at 11:30am. Hospitality/Executive Boxes Hospitality doors for this fixture will open at11:30am. Junior Tickets 14-year-olds and under must be accompanied by a full-paying adult on the day of the match; otherwise, U14 ticket holders may be refused entry to the venue: to turn up to the match without a full-paying adult is a safeguarding issue. SAFEGUARDING RE ADMISSION: Note for reference, those supporters aged 14 and under MUST be accompanied by an adult to enter the ground, i.e. individual must be 14 or over. 3G ACTIVATIONS REFRESHMENTS Supporters can purchase alcohol and refreshments from the Main Bar/ There will be food available at: Hot Food Bar in the old reception GETTING HERE PARKING The Car Park is open from 11.00m Please do not park on the Damson Parkway dual carriageway – this is a red route and parking here is strictly prohibited. Supporters will receive tickets for parking illegally, so we stress the importance of utilising the NCP Car Park and planning your journey well in advance. If fans forget to pay before leaving, they will still be able to pay via Post Pay within 24 hours of exiting the car park however this will charge them the original tariff. Failure to pay will result in a Parking Charge. To learn more, including tariffs and PostPay, please visit: https://www.birminghamairport.co.uk/parking/freeport-car-park . Any supporters' coaches must drop fans off at the NCP parking point, as the Damson Parkway dual carriageway is a red route. It is at the coach driver’s discretion to drop supporters off on the red route; supporters must then walk from the NCP Car Park to the stadium. Travel by Bus The X12 bus runs to the ground every 15/20 minutes from Solihull Town Centre, the NCP and Birmingham International. In night matches, this increases to every 30 minutes. Click here to view the X12 bus route, stops and full timetable . Travel by Train Solihull Railway Station is served by trains from Birmingham Moor Street and London Marylebone. The ground is situated two and a half miles away from the station in a roughly north-easterly direction. Birmingham International Station is roughly one and a half miles from the ground and is on the Euston to Birmingham New Street line. Kick It Out You can report an incident of discrimination via the Kick It Out App, which can be used on iPhone and Android devices. Phone – 0800 169 9414 Twitter - @kickitout , or by contacting the organisation’s Reporting Officers on @kickitoutreport. Solihull Moors Supporters Association Click here to find out more about the Solihull Moors Supporters Association.
Solihull Moors Foundation enjoyed a fantastic afternoon in Mell Square as the team brought football fun into the heart of Solihull town centre. Families, supporters and members of the local community put their football skills to the test in the Foundation's keepy-uppy challenge, competing for prizes while finding out more about the Foundation's work and the opportunities it provides across the local community. The event also gave supporters the opportunity to meet Solihull Moors first-team midfielder Joe Sbarra, who spent time chatting with fans, signing autographs and posing for photos. Former professional footballer Tyrone Williams was also in attendance, meeting supporters and helping to create a brilliant atmosphere throughout the afternoon. The activation formed part of the Foundation's ongoing commitment to engaging with the local community, encouraging participation in football and inspiring the next generation of players and supporters. A huge thank you to everyone who came along to get involved, and to Mell Square for hosting us. We look forward to bringing more community events to supporters throughout the season.
Solihull Moors can confirm that Damson Park will become a fully cashless stadium from the Club's first home National League fixture of the 2026/27 season on Saturday 15th August. The move follows the successful introduction of cashless payments within the Jerroms Suite last season and forms part of the Club's continued efforts to improve stadium operations, enhance security and transition towards a fully electronic payment system. Supporters attending home fixtures will be able to make purchases using contactless, Chip & PIN, Apple Pay and Google Pay across the stadium. Please note that American Express (Amex) cards will not be accepted. The move to a cashless system will apply across the entire stadium. This includes all food and beverage outlets, bars, the Club Shop, match ticket purchases and parking. Supporters can continue to purchase tickets online in advance or by card on the day of the match. Supporters will still be able to use cash as normal during the Club's remaining pre-season home fixture against Northampton Town, before the cashless system comes into effect for the opening home league fixture. The decision has been taken following a review of the Club's matchday operations and will help improve security while supporting a more efficient payment process throughout Damson Park. Solihull Moors appreciates supporters' understanding as the Club introduces this change and looks forward to welcoming fans back to Damson Park for the start of the new National League season.
Tonight Solihull Moors welcomed Burton Albion to Damson Park for the first home pre season fixture ahead of the 2026/2027 campaign, which gets underway on Saturday, August 8th away to Harrogate Town. After a composed start to the game, Burton Albion scored the first goal on the 8th minute, with the first effort on target for either team. Kyran Lofthouse collected the ball in the middle of the park, advanced towards the Moors box and hit a fine right footed effort into the bottom left corner. Moors 0-1 Burton Albion. On the 35th minute, Albion had a throw which eventually was passed back to the goalkeeper, Corey Addai. On clearing the ball, it went straight to Ben Worman, who had an easy job of tapping the ball into the empty net. Moors 1-1 Albion. A minute into the second half, and the Moors came out lively with the Albion keeper keeping himself big and making a fine double save to deny the Moors from scoring again. In the final minute, a slick one two put through the Albion centre forward who hit a hard low effort in which the Moors keeper made a great save. The follow up effort from 20 yards sailed over the bar. The match ended Solihull Moors 1 Burton Albion 1. Next up for the Moors is the last pre season fixture against League Two side Northampton town on Saturday, August 1st kicking off at 13:00. You can purchase your tickets here Match report written by Bryan Connolly
