Kettering Town  

2007/08 saw Kettering Town win promotion to the Blue Square Premier Division to cap a hectic few years for the Northamptonshire club who have enjoyed plenty of ups, and a few downs, since their formation in 1872 with the last few years in particular providing plenty of headlines. 

The club turned professional in 1891 playing in the Midland League and winning their first championship in 1895/96.  Shortly afterwards the club moved into a new ground at Rockingham Road; where they have remained ever since.   

In 1924 Kettering Town joined the Southern League (East) making an immediate impact by finishing runners-up in that first season.  Successive championships followed in 1928 & 29.   

In the years following the Second World War the Poppies competed in the Birmingham League.  They won the championship in 1948 and two years later re-joined the Southern League.   

The late 1950s and 60s saw the clubs fortunes see-saw with three promotions and equal number of relegations. 

But, if anything, the 1970s were even more eventful with the arrival of rookie manager Ron Atkinson sparking a period of success that included the clubs third Southern League championship after gaining promotion from Division One North in Atkinson’s first season in charge. 

Ron Atkinson was soon lured away to manage in the Football League but another big name, former Wolves striker Derek Dougan, was soon installed as boss at Rockingham Road.   

Dougan, who made more headlines off the pitch than on it, was replaced by Mick Jones and in 1979 he took Kettering to Wembley where they lost to Stafford Rangers in the final of the FA Trophy. 

A year later Kettering became founder members of the Alliance Premier League finishing as runners-up in 1980/81.  NonLeague Football’s top title also eluded the club in 1989, 1994 and 1999 when they again finished as runners-up in the now renamed Football Conference.   

A Southern Premier League title in 2002 was sandwiched in between two relegations but in 2004 the club were placed in the newly formed Conference North. 

Since then the club have made plenty of headlines off the pitch firstly with the appointment and swift sacking of Paul Gascoigne and the equally brief return of Ron Atkinson.  Many people feeling that both appointments were more about publicity rather than any real anticipation of success.   

But, Kettering Town have, in the last couple of seasons, flirted with promotion but their return to the top flight of NonLeague Football after an absence of five years is now assured.