Kevin's Story

Kevin was taking part in NTFC CT’s pan-disability group, Every Player Counts, when he heard about the disability friendly Volunteer Coach Academy (VCA) that was being run by the Trust. He wanted to take part because of his love for football and thought it would help him build his confidence and develop some useful transferable skills that will help him in the workplace and his personal life.

 

“I wanted to change my life and not feel stuck in the same spot anymore.”

 

Kevin lives with a mental health condition that he feels has been very up and down. He also has ADHD, saying he can struggle with focussed learning and finds paperwork a challenge – one he oftens puts off because he is nervous of making a mistake.

 

Taking part in the VCA alongside other people living with health conditions and disabilities helped him feel at ease joining a new group. The adaptions and support from staff with reading, completing forms and general comprehension meant he felt able to take part at his own pace and learn in his own way.

 

“My confidence often lets me down. I’m trying, but it’s not easy. I want to be more focussed, not be so quiet – if I become a coach, I need to be able to speak up. Volunteering with NTFC CT, and knowing there are people there to support me, has helped.”

 

The group environment allowed Kevin to benefit from peer support and group discussions with staff and the other participants; sharing experiences and different ways of tackling challenges.

 

“I knew some people there already, but it’s been good to meet everyone else. It’s good to get different views on tactics, warmups, how to change a session if the weather changes, things like that.”

 

Since completing the initial training, Kevin has applied to volunteer with NTFC CT – supporting with the groups he once took part in as a participant so that he can help other people. He’s enjoyed shadowing and supporting experienced staff and has been working on his confidence and communication – particularly when it comes to speaking up with any questions he has. He’s also seeking our support to continue his learning – applying for online courses to further build up his knowledge, which he feels will help him be more confident.

 

“I’ve really, really enjoyed the VCA. Meeting everyone has been great. I’ve made new friends and gained experiences I never had before. It’s been absolutely brilliant.”

Izzy's Story

Izzy started with the Girls PDC (Player Development Centre) programme at Northampton Town in 2024. She settled in quickly and developed into a dedicated and positive team player. In the summer of 2024, Izzy was recommended by her coach to attend trials for the ETC (Emerging Talent Centre) programme. We saw straight away she had tenacity and had the willingness learn and develop technically.  

After a successful trial Izzy was accepted into the ETC programme for the 24/25 season. She settled in with the group immediately and instantly made friends. You can tell whenever she is at the ETC it is her happy place and she loves it here. Her coaches, Toby and Harry have built a really good coach-player relationship with her where she is even willing to stay behind and help with equipment. Izzy has engaged well with the ETC practices and also attended the recent NTFC Community Trust Girls Football event at Goals Centre, where the player stated she won "Player Award from her Team". 

 

 

 

 

 

2025 EFL AWARDS: NORTHAMPTON TOWN WIN EFL GREEN CLUB AWARD

Northampton Town have won the EFL Green Club Award, sponsored by IMG, at the 2025 EFL Awards ceremony in London.

The EFL’s Green Club Award recognises a club that has developed an environmentally conscious campaign, project, or initiative. This could be a matchday initiative, an internal staff project or a community programme.

Northampton Town’s ‘Cobblers Tackle Food Waste’ - a community driven initiative led by Northampton Town Community Trust and supported by the Eat It Up Fund – saw them take home the accolade. 

The project aims to improve people’s understanding of how to reduce levels of food waste across Northamptonshire. It reached thousands of participants through blended education, gamification and community outreach. 

The project has had a positive environmental impact on the local area having generated an 11% rise in food caddy usage since launching. 

On winning the award, Lorna Stockwell from the Northampton Town Community Trust said: “I’m speechless to be honest but it was an amazing project. It was a groundbreaking project, we went into schools and across a 12 month period the impact was huge.”

COMMUNITY TRUST AND FAN ADVISORY BOARD LOOKING TO FACILITATE FORMATION OF AN LGBTQ+ FAN GROUP

The Northampton Town Community Trust and the club's Fan Advisory Board are looking to help facilitate the formation of an LGBTQ+ Cobblers Fan Group.

The idea is to put supporters who wish to be members of the group in touch, for the group to then become a fan led organisation that will feed in to and form part of the Fan Advisory Board.

If you are interested in becoming part of the group, please complete your details here.