A letter to Northampton Town FC

Hello Gareth,

I write this email after one of the lowest days I've ever had supporting Northampton Town FC. I'm not after a reply but all I'd ask is that you show this to the players and management of the club....

I chose not to go to the game today, probably for the first time ever I actually decided not to spend my money on going to the match? Why? The pain, the hurt, the inevitable disappointment.

I've been supporting the Cobblers for twenty years now, that is two thirds of my life. The one constant in my life has been going to watch Northampton, when having tough times at school I used to look forward to that weekend release of going to cheer on Cobblers, when having a shit day at work it's the thought of 90 minutes away from reality that keeps me going. I work hard to support my loving family and to enjoy my life, I choose to spend my money following Northampton Town FC as much as possible, it's a choice because I love it. Why do I do it rather than choose to support Man City or Chelsea? I'll tell you why, because it's my home town - I'm proud of my town and I'm proud of my club and it is my club, us supporters make the club, we are the club. We were here before any of you came along and we'll be here after you've all gone. We have formed special friendships with fellow fans, there have been relationships, weddings, babies all thanks to Northampton Town FC. It's one of the greatest clubs in the world - maybe not in stature, money or ability but to us it is without question one of the best. Why do we feel like that? Because we bloody love the club, we've invested our life in supporting the side through thick and thin - this is why we'll never walk away, despite feeling like we want to on numerous occasions.  We're proud of where we come from, we're proud of our home town and we want to spread the word to the world that little old Northampton is our town, our football club and by god we fucking love it.

What does Northampton mean to you? Fuck all? Pay packet? Just another club? None of you have been here long enough to really love the club - maybe apart from Kelvin ' Thundercock' Langmead, who I might add bloody well epitomises everything about Northampton a Town FC - some of you probably don't care what happens to the club, some of you probably don't care about this message - guess what? It's time to care. What does it matter to you if we get relegated? You'll still get a half decent wage with decent working hours and lots of perks, you'll pick up another club if the worst does happen. You'll get over it before you're on the plane to Vegas with your bro's, it won't matter to you. You'll still have money to get another sleeve tattoo or to buy another 9 pairs of trainers. You'll still be able to get that big exhaust on your car. You'll be at another club next season, a new contract, new perks, new start - not a care in the world!

What about us fans of Northampton? Will we get over it? No. Will we hurt all summer and into next season? Yes. Will we shed tears? Yes. Do we wish we could do more to halt this seemingly non stop slide into football oblivion? Yes of course we do.

What's the point of me sending the message? I'll tell you - we've got 6 games left of the season, just 6 games. The cliche is that they're all cup finals but they're not, they're just 6 games against sides of similar ability to ourselves. We need one big unified push to save this football club from relegation. I don't care if you hate the club, your team mates, the manager, the chairman or even Clarence - fuck it. We don't have time for petty things, now is the time to play for each other, to play for the supporters and show some big fucking balls. None of you are bad footballers, hey none of you are great footballers either but you have moments where you make us sit up and think 'fuck me, they have got it in them' - we need those moments more than ever over the next 6 games. Expend all your energy trying to save this football club, chase down every ball, harass and hurry every single opposition player - I saw you do this against Southend with my own eyes, Emile you were a man possessed, get that fucking fight back - grow some fucking balls. All of you, every block, every tackle - throw yourselves into it, defence take the pledge 'thou shall not pass'. Strikers, Don't be afraid to shoot, don't be afraid to miss, don't listen to us if we sound frustrated - it's because we care. You can fucking well do this.

If you, as players, do the above then you will have absolutely 100% support from us supporters - we can save this football club and we can do it together, at the moment it seems only one side cares - Time to change it guys, time to stand up and be counted. We'll be there every inch of the way with you, at every game you'll see us in our numbers, you'll hear us screaming, shouting, singing and willing you to gain the points needed. 

It's time to collaborate and achieve greatness. You've got 6 games to become heroes - in our eyes. Please take that chance with both hands - fuck it if your elsewhere in the summer or next season, I don't give a shit and nor should you - at the moment you're employed by Northampton Town FC.

I ask you one thing, Save my club from relegation to non league, please.

Many Thanks

Neil