Kettering Town v Darlington
Saturday 25th March 2023, 3pm
Vanarama National League North
Kettering
Town FC, Latimer Park, Polwell Lane, Burton Latimer NN15 5PS
Tel: 01536 217006. info@ketteringtownfc.com
History:
The club's history dates as far back as 1872, before it turned professional
in 1891. Kettering became founder members of the Football Alliance. There
was something of a revival in the early 70s under Ron Atkinson, who took
over as manager and took the club back into the Southern League and to
the title in 1973. Another colourful character, Derek Doogan, tried to
make Kettering the first club to have sponsored shirts in 1976, with a
local tyre company, but the FA cracked down after just one game. They
were in the top echelons of non-league - despite a period of administration
in 1992 - until the 2000-01 season, when they were relegated for one season
before promotion as Southern League champions, and then another year in
the Ryman League the season after. Despite being runners-up four times,
they have never won he Conference title. The club received headlines was
Paul Gascoigne was manager for just 39 days in 2005. In 2008, they won
promotion as Conference North champions under one-time Darlo boss Mark Cooper with a huge
total of 96 points. They reached the 4th Round of the FA Cup, losing to Fulha. But then disaster struck. The club switched in 2011 from Kettering to Nene Park, the old home of Rushden and Diamonds. Financial crisis followed and the club was relegated two divisions. Since 2013, the club has shared with Burton Park Wanderers. It won the Southern League Premier in the season before Covid struck and finished a credible 8th last season. Click for Streetmap of ground
Tickets 2022/23: Adults: £15 (advance, £13); Over 60s/students: £12 (advance, £10); child, over 5: £7 (advance, £5). The main stand on Polwell Lane has seating for 500, plus another stand on the same side and covered stands behind The Morrison and Station Road ends. |
Distance from Darlington 189 miles (3hrs 5mins) From the North: Directions, take the M1 until junction 19. It's a 20 minute journey now from the motorway. Take the A14 exit heading for M6/Felixstowe/Corby/Kettering. Then at junction 10, exit toward Kettering/Bedford/A6. At the roundabout, take the 3rd exit onto A6 and then at the roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Kettering Rd. Then at the roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Altendiez Way. At the next roundabout, by Morrison's, take the 3rd exit onto Polwell Lane. Parking: There is some limited parking at the stadium - fans parking in neighbouring streets are asked to be mindful of parking restictions and residents/businesses.
Darlington
FC Supporters' Club Phoenix Cars 01604 216411
|
The stadium is in Burton Latimer, a village to the south of Kettering - 3.5 miles from the railway station. Buses 47, 48, 49, 50 - fae £4.20 day rider, 25 mins journey, leave from London Rd, Kettering by the police station to Station Rd, Burton Latimer, a short walk from the ground. The 49 and 50 go down Polwell Lane past the ground. Map of buses/local streets
The official site is pretty good, if some of the information is a bit hard to navigate to.
|
At the ground:
Near the ground and town centre:
Dukes Arms, 123 High Street, Burton Latimer NN15 5RL. The Olde Victoria
Bakehouse Lane, Burton Latimer, Kettering NN15 5NJ
Alexandra
Arms, 39 Victoria Street, Kettering. Cherry Tree, Sheep Street, Kettering Three Cocks, 48 Lower Street, Kettering NN16 8DJ |
|