Nene derby

The Nene derby is the name of the association football local rivalry in England between Northampton Town and Peterborough United, both of which are based along the River Nene. Fans of both clubs consider the other to be one of their main rivals. The first competitive match between the two clubs took place in 1946 but the first professional derby took place in 1960. As of 10 October 2020, there has been 73 competitive matches between the two teams, with 33 wins for Peterborough, 21 wins for Northampton and 19 draws.[1]

Nene derby
LocaleEast of England
East Midlands
TeamsNorthampton Town
Peterborough United
First meetingPeterborough 1-1 Northampton
1946-47 FA Cup
(14 December 1946)
Latest meetingNorthampton 0-2 Peterborough
League One
(10 October 2020)
Next meetingPeterborough - Northampton
League One
(17 April 2021)
StadiumsSixfields Stadium (Northampton)
London Road Stadium (Peterborough)
Statistics
Most winsPeterborough (33)
All-time seriesPeterborough: 33
Drawn: 19
Northampton: 21
Largest victoryNorthampton 8-1 Peterborough
1946-47 FA Cup
(23 December 1946)

The derby has never been played higher than the third tier of English football with 55 league matches, 7 FA Cup matches, 5 League Cup matches and 6 EFL Trophy matches. The most recent game took place in League One and resulted in a 0-2 win for Peterborough.[2]

Northampton play their home games at Sixfields Stadium, while Peterborough play at London Road Stadium. The two stadiums are approximately 37 miles (60 km) apart.

History

Early matches

The first competitive game between the two clubs took place in the second round of the 1946-47 FA Cup. The match took place at Peterborough's London Road Stadium and ended in a 1-1 draw, forcing a reply. The reply ended in another 1-1, forcing a second reply which Northampton won 8-1. This victory still stands as the largest victory in the Nene derby.

Peterborough United won the Midland League five times in a row between 1956 and 1960 before being accepted into the Football League ahead of the 1960-61 season. That season, the Nene derby was played in the league for the first time with the first game ending in a 3-3 draw and the return fixture ending in a 0-3 win for Peterborough. Both teams were promoted to the Third Division as Peterborough won the league and Northampton finished third. Both teams played in the Third Division for the next two seasons before Northampton were promoted as champions in 1963.

The two teams did not play each other in the league again until the 1967-68 Third Division season after Northampton's run in the second and first tier.

1980s

Peterborough were relegated into the Fourth Division ahead of the 1979-80 season. Both teams played in the Fourth Division for eight consecutive seasons until Northampton were promoted as champions in the 1986-87 season. The derby was also played twice in the FA Cup and twice in the League Cup during this period, bringing the total to twenty matches in eight years. The biggest victory over this period was a 6-0 home victory for Peterborough on 24 April 1984. Northampton recorded a 0-5 away victory on 12 October 1985.

Recent years

Northampton's last win in the series came in a League Two match in 2006 when they won 0-1 at London Road, with Northampton's goal being scored by Scott McGleish who had played for Peterborough ten years earlier.[3] Of the nine derbies since, Peterborough have won seven and two have ended in draw.

In the 2019-20 season, Peterborough finished seventh in League One whilst Northampton won the League Two play-offs, meaning that the Nene derby is returned for the 2020-21 League One season. Following Northampton's promotion, Peterborough United chairman, Darragh MacAnthony congratulated them and referred to the derby as "The one real 'local' rivalry I've experienced in 15 years at Posh."[4] The first derby of the season was played two days after the death of Tommy Robson, Peterborough's record appearance maker who started his career with Northampton, and was played behind closed doors due to COVID-19 restrictions. Peterborough won the match 0-2 with goals scored by Nathan Thompson and Reece Brown.[5]

Rivalry

While the proximity of the clubs was the main root of the rivalry between Northampton Town and Peterborough United, other events have fueled the division. Most notable among these are the violent confrontations between fans, famously the "Battle of Abington Park" in April 1974 when approximately 500 fans clashed before, during and after a derby. An eye witness was quoted as saying "It was like a battle scene from a film where everyone converged to carry out personal duels. I have never seen anything like it." Some of the evidence presented in the court case that followed included "Sticks with nails embedded in the end, part of a brick, broken bottles, a large beer can and a pint mug."[6]

Aside from fan violence, animosity has arisen over transfers between the clubs with Northampton fans accusing Peterborough of poaching players. It has been said that "Northampton fans have never forgiven Peterborough for taking star strikers Tony Adcock and Bobby Barnes when the Cobblers were cash strapped."[7] This, however, has not stopped players from crossing the divide. Gabriel Zakuani, for example, signed for Northampton in 2016 after making 252 appearances for Peterborough.[8]

List of derbies
# Season Date Competition Stadium Home team Result Away team Attendance
1 1946-47 14 December 1946 FA Cup London Road Peterborough United 1-1 Northampton Town
2 19 December 1946 Sixfields Northampton Town 1-1 Peterborough United
3 23 December 1946 Sixfields Northampton Town 8-1 Peterborough United
4 1960-61 8 October 1960 Fourth Division London Road Peterborough United 3-3 Northampton Town 22,959
5 25 February 1961 Sixfields Northampton Town 0-3 Peterborough United 21,000
6 1961-62 28 October 1961 Third Division Sixfields Northampton Town 2-2 Peterborough United 17,324
7 17 March 1962 London Road Peterborough United 0-2 Northampton Town 17,009
8 1962-63 1 September 1962 Sixfields Northampton Town 2-3 Peterborough United 16,064
9 11 May 1963 London Road Peterborough United 0-4 Northampton Town 17,518
10 1966-67 14 September 1966 League Cup Sixfields Northampton Town 2-2 Peterborough United
11 26 September 1966 London Road Peterborough United 0-2 Northampton Town
12 1967-68 23 August 1967 Sixfields Northampton Town 3-2 Peterborough United
13 23 April 1968 Third Division Sixfields Northampton Town 3-1 Peterborough United 8,934
14 4 May 1968 London Road Peterborough United 4-0 Northampton Town 6,658
15 1969-70 17 September 1969 Fourth Division London Road Peterborough United 1-0 Northampton Town 8,557
16 14 April 1970 Sixfields Northampton Town 2-2 Peterborough United 6,732
17 1970-71 10 November 1970 Sixfields Northampton Town 2-0 Peterborough United 8,190
18 20 February 1971 London Road Peterborough United 1-0 Northampton Town 8,066
19 1971-72 5 February 1972 Sixfields Northampton Town 1-1 Peterborough United 5,186
20 8 April 1972 London Road Peterborough United 1-0 Northampton Town 5,484
21 1972-73 28 August 1972 London Road Peterborough United 1-2 Northampton Town 3,628
22 18 November 1972 FA Cup London Road Peterborough United 1-0 Northampton Town
23 28 April 1973 Fourth Division Sixfields Northampton Town 1-3 Peterborough United 2,411
24 1973-74 17 November 1973 London Road Peterborough United 3-0 Northampton Town 10,351
25 13 April 1974 Sixfields Northampton Town 0-1 Peterborough United 11,378
26 1976-77 2 November 1976 Third Division Sixfields Northampton Town 2-2 Peterborough United 7,483
27 12 April 1977 London Road Peterborough United 3-1 Northampton Town 8,944
28 1979-80 22 September 1979 Fourth Division Sixfields Northampton Town 1-0 Peterborough United 3,680
29 9 February 1980 London Road Peterborough United 0-0 Northampton Town 4,960
30 1980-81 22 November 1980 FA Cup Sixfields Northampton Town 1-4 Peterborough United
31 26 December 1980 Fourth Division London Road Peterborough United 3-0 Northampton Town 6,265
32 21 April 1981 Sixfields Northampton Town 2-2 Peterborough United 3,800
33 1981-82 28 November 1981 London Road Peterborough United 1-0 Northampton Town 5,293
34 24 April 1982 Sixfields Northampton Town 1-0 Peterborough United 4,975
35 1982-83 30 October 1982 Sixfields Northampton Town 0-0 Peterborough United 3,284
36 12 March 1983 London Road Peterborough United 2-0 Northampton Town 3,778
37 1983-84 27 December 1983 Sixfields Northampton Town 2-1 Peterborough United 6,464
38 24 April 1984 London Road Peterborough United 6-0 Northampton Town 3,481
39 1984-85 26 December 1984 Sixfields Northampton Town 0-3 Peterborough United 4,350
40 2 April 1985 London Road Peterborough United 0-0 Northampton Town 2,482
41 1985-86 21 August 1985 League Cup London Road Peterborough United 0-0 Northampton Town
42 3 September 1985 Sixfields Northampton Town 2-0 Peterborough United
43 12 October 1985 Fourth Division London Road Peterborough United 0-5 Northampton Town 3,901
44 15 March 1986 Sixfields Northampton Town 2-2 Peterborough United 3,332
45 1986-87 14 September 1986 Sixfields Northampton Town 2-1 Peterborough United 5,517
46 16 November 1986 FA Cup Sixfields Northampton Town 3-0 Peterborough United
47 31 January 1987 Fourth Division London Road Peterborough United 0-1 Northampton Town 7,911
48 1988-89 21 December 1988 League Trophy London Road Peterborough United 0-2 Northampton Town 1,754
49 1990-91 22 September 1990 Fourth Division Sixfields Northampton Town 1-2 Peterborough United 5,549
50 5 February 1991 London Road Peterborough United 1-0 Northampton Town 5,952
51 1994-95 12 November 1994 FA Cup London Road Peterborough United 4-0 Northampton Town
52 1995-96 16 October 1995 League Trophy London Road Peterborough United 0-0 Northampton Town 3,045
53 1997-98 27 January 1998 London Road Peterborough United 2-1 Northampton Town 5,516
54 1999-00 14 August 1999 Division Three Sixfields Northampton Town 0-1 Peterborough United 6,253
55 15 January 2000 London Road Peterborough United 1-0 Northampton Town 9,104
56 2000-01 23 December 2000 Division Two London Road Peterborough United 1-2 Northampton Town 9,868
57 27 January 2001 Sixfields Northampton Town 0-0 Peterborough United 7,079
58 2001-02 7 October 2001 London Road Peterborough United 2-0 Northampton Town 8,101
59 19 February 2002 Sixfields Northampton Town 2-1 Peterborough United 6,064
60 2002-03 28 December 2002 London Road Peterborough United 0-0 Northampton Town 7,767
61 25 January 2003 Sixfields Northampton Town 0-1 Peterborough United 5,906
62 2003-04 9 December 2003 League Trophy Sixfields Northampton Town 2-1 Peterborough United 4,290
63 2005-06 31 December 2005 League Two Sixfields Northampton Townn 0-1 Peterborough United 7,023
64 1 April 2006 London Road Peterborough United 0-1 Northampton Town 8,637
65 2008-09 13 September 2008 League One Sixfields Northampton Town 1-1 Peterborough United 6,520
66 14 March 2009 London Road Peterborough United 1-0 Northampton Town 8,881
67 2016-17 18 October 2016 London Road Peterborough United 3-0 Northampton Town 9,157
68 19 November 2016 Sixfields Northampton Town 0-1 Peterborough United 7,675
69 2017-18 26 August 2017 Sixfields Northampton Town 1-4 Peterborough United 6,685
70 3 October 2017 League Trophy London Road Peterborough United 1-1 Northampton Town 2,745
71 2 April 2018 League One London Road Peterborough United 2-0 Northampton Town 8,613
72 2019-20 3 September 2019 League Trophy Sixfields Northampton Town 0-2 Peterborough United
73 2020-21 10 October 2020 League One Sixfields Northampton Town 0-2 Peterborough United 0
74 17 April 2021 London Road Peterborough United Northampton Town

Statistics

As of 10 October 2020

Below are the overall statistics for games between Northampton Town and Peterborough United in official matches.

Competition Played Northampton wins Draws Peterborough wins
League55141328
FA Cup7223
EFL League Cup5320
EFL Trophy6222
Total73211933

References
  1. "Peterborough United football club: record v Northampton Town". www.11v11.com. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  2. "Northampton Town 0-2 Peterborough United". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
  3. "Peterborough 0-1 Northampton". 1 April 2006. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  4. "Peterborough United congratulate Cobblers on promotion (and not just because Posh usually beat them)!". www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  5. "Northampton 0-2 Peterborough: Posh see off Cobblers". Sky Sports. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
  6. Nicholls, Andy; Lowles, Nick (12 June 2007). Hooligans 2: The M-Z of Britain's Football Hooligan Gangs. Milo Books Ltd.
  7. "Gripped by the Cobblers: MK match is no local derby – you need history for a derby". The NeneQuirer. 18 October 2018. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  8. "Gabriel Zakuani: Northampton Town close to signing ex-Peterborough defender". BBC Sport. 23 June 2016. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
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