Northampton Saints A local clergyman, the Reverend Samuel Wathen Wigg, is credited with starting the Saints in 1880. He was curate of St James Church, hence the nickname: Saints.
Bought by local businessman, Keith Barwell, when Rugby Union went professional in 1995, the Saints reached the top of their game in 2000, reaching the Tetley's Cup Final and winning the European Cup Final at Twickenham.
The Saints homes at Franklin’s Gardens was formerly a pleasure gardens and small zoo owned by hotelier, John Franklin. One of the finest rugby grounds in the country boasting a capacity of around 12,000, there is always a great atmosphere when the premiership side are playing at home. www.northamptonsaints.co.uk
Football
Northampton Town FC (The Cobblers) Northampton Town Football Club, nicknamed The "Cobblers" were founded in 1897, when a group of local school teachers got together with a local solicitor to form the Town's first professional football club.
1965-66 is the only season that the Northampton Town FC have ever spent in the top flight of English football. A County Ground record of 24,523 supporters witnessed the penultimate home Division One fixture with Fulham which was lost and relegated the club to Division Two.
The club went into administration in April 1992, with debts of around £1,600,000, ten of the clubs players were sacked and youth players were drafted in to make up the numbers.
Northampton Town Football Club moved to Sixfields Stadium in 1994 and currently play in Coca Cola Football League Two www.ntfc.co.uk
Rushden & Diamonds FC Formed at the end of the 1991/92 season following a merger between local rivals Rushden Town and Irthlingborough Diamonds, the team were Nationwide Division 3 Champions in 2002/2003. Currently playing in Coca Cola Football League Two. www.thediamondsfc.com
Silverstone Race Track - Home of the British Grand Prix Silverstone, a wartime airfield was transformed in weeks to host the 1948 race, won by Luigi Villoresi in a Maserati. The Northamptonshire circuit hosted the opening round of the first ever World Championship, but in 1954 began a share basis for the race with Aintree and then with Brands Hatch. The event has since been held at Silverstone annually since 1987.
Having been announced towards the end of 2004 that Silverstone would not be hosting the 2005 Grand Prix, an agreement was later reached by Bernie Ecclestone and the BRDC to secure the future of the event for the next 5 years.
The racetrack also hosts a wide variety of other amateur and professional motor racing events including The British Superbike Championship, The World Superbike Championship, The Le Mans Endurance Sports Car Series and the Green Flag MSA British Touring Car Championship and offers individual and corporate driving experiences and training. www.silverstone-circuit.co.uk
Santa Pod Santa Pod Raceway in Podington, nr Wellingborough is the home of European Drag Racing and host to the televised FIA European Drag Racing Championships. It's the fastest and loudest motorsport on earth with sensational race action from dragsters and doorslammers to beetles and bikes.
Santa Pod is host to over 50 different events during the race season Jan-Nov. See Top Fuel Dragsters, Funny Cars, Jet Cars, Rocket Bikes, Pro Mods, Monster Trucks and other motorsport events in the heart of Northamptonshire, England. www.santapod.com
Basketball
Northampton Neptunes The Northampton Neptunes are arguably the most well known basketball team in the National Division 2 Basketball league. The Club was formed in the year 2000 after a franchise take over of the men's team formerly known as the Northampton 89ers.
Over the past 2 seasons the club has acquired a reputation on the court for fast, exciting and attacking basketball. The Neptunes home games are played at Lings Forum, Northampton. www.northamptonneptunes.co.uk
Whatever your sporting interest, make sure you pop into The Walnut Tree Inn, Blisworth, Northampton.
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