Northampton 2026

[IainB]

Welcome to all of their fans... it's only fair they have their own topic thread 👍🏻

[Haza]

Give them a chance but I no what your saying it is a bit of a strange one - has a new track to speedway ( yes they staged speedway years ago ) ever come in to a league cold with no hardcore supporters ever before ? Even Skegness had ex Boston fans not far away and that track didn’t last long . I really hope this is a success not just for the club but all of British speedway 

[Chadster]

2 hours ago, Haza said:

 has a new track to speedway ( yes they staged speedway years ago ) ever come in to a league cold with no hardcore supporters ever before ? 

Reading, Canterbury, Berwick, Peterborough, Workington, to name but five.

[IainB]

2 hours ago, Haza said:

Give them a chance but I no what your saying it is a bit of a strange one - has a new track to speedway ( yes they staged speedway years ago ) ever come in to a league cold with no hardcore supporters ever before ? Even Skegness had ex Boston fans not far away and that track didn’t last long . I really hope this is a success not just for the club but all of British speedway 

I was genuinely setting up a thread to discuss everything now it's official that they exist, although the new fans bit was a bit tongue in cheek, although hopefully they'll come, the other thread did get rather clogged up with all the speculation on whether they'd actually come to the tapes, all the other clubs have their own 2026 section, so it's only right Northampton do 🙂 👍🏻

Edited 2 hours ago by IainB

[IainB]

As most Speedway clubs these days seem to only be able to run with an army of volunteers, I wonder where the volunteers for the Badgers/Cobblers will come from? Peterborough and Coventry maybe?

[thebaron]

I am curious as to why the Promoter(s) have not yet been named. Is it a consortium effort with say Phil Morris fronting the show. Whoever ? must be into it for a six figure sum. 

Its a big gamble to take a "start up" with neglible history into the top league. Possibility for hoovering up fans from defunct tracks ? Peterbo, Coventry, Wolves, Brum, Arena ? 

All seems a bit of a last minute affair, shoe horning it in because its a useable stock car track. If British Speedway had'nt been desperate I dont think  Northampton would ever have been on the agenda.?

But British Speedway is desperate so it has to be seen as positive. If its still open three years from now it will have done well. 

Lets see what happens ?

Oh yes team name ? Got to be "Cobblers" surely ? There would be some local "pay off" by adopting a nickname thats very familiar to the area. 

What do I think of it so far ?....Cobblers 😂🤣👍

 

 

Edited 2 hours ago by thebaron

[piston197]

1 minute ago, thebaron said:

I am curious as to why the Promoter(s) have not yet been named. Is it a consortium effort with say Phil Morris fronting the show. Whoever ? must be into it for a six figure sum. 

Its a big gamble to take a "start up" with neglible history into the top league. Possibility for hoovering up fans from defunct tracks ? Peterbo, Coventry, Wolves, Brum, Arena ? 

All seems a bit of a last minute affair, shoe horning it in because its a useable stock car track. If British Speedway had'nt been desperate I dont think  Northampton would ever have been on the agenda.?

But British Speedway is desperate so it has to be seen as positive. If its still open three years from now it will have done well. 

Lets see what happens ?

 

 

Phil Morris was very vocal about saving Newport Wasps, and was "heading a consortium" to take it over, not sure he was prepared to put his hands into his own pockets though, doubt if anything has changed, Newport could run 7 days a week with no curfew or restrictions, but the "Consortium" could not stump up the money being asked and it became a transport hub for a lorry distribution outfit. Phil may well be heading up the show, but almost certainly it won't be his money ?

[IainB]

14 minutes ago, thebaron said:

Oh yes team name ? Got to be "Cobblers" surely ? There would be some local "pay off" by adopting a nickname thats very familiar to the area. 

Ai goes for Badgers 🦡🦡

I quite like Northampton Nitro's though... may chime with some Santa Pod punters?

 

Since the official nickname is still under wraps, we can have some fun with the local history and culture. Northampton has a surprisingly specific "vibe"—ranging from its world-famous shoe industry to its heavy-metal music scene and folklore.
Here are some options for what the new team could be called, categorized by their link to the town:
1. The Industrial Heritage (The Most Likely)
Northampton was once the shoe-making capital of the world.
 * Northampton Shoemakers: (Or simply "The Cobblers," though that is heavily claimed by the football club).
 * Northampton Soles: A bit punny, but fits the history.
 * Northampton Cordwainers: A "cordwainer" is a historical term for a shoemaker who works with fine leather. It sounds prestigious and unique.
2. Nature & Local Icons
The stadium is located in Brafield-on-the-Green, which opens up some rural and historic options.
 * Brafield Badgers: This is the "legacy" option. It’s what the team was called in the 1960s. Many traditionalists are hoping for this one.
 * Northampton Red Kites: These birds of prey are a common and majestic sight in the skies over Northamptonshire after a successful reintroduction program.
 * Northampton Oaks: Referencing the ancient Rockingham Forest and the county’s floral emblem.
3. Culture & "Edge"
Speedway teams often go for "tougher" sounding names to match the dirt and noise.
 * Northampton Metal: The town is the birthplace of the legendary gothic rock band Bauhaus and has a massive heavy metal scene.
 * Northampton Phantoms: A nod to the (supposedly) haunted history of the town and its many ancient buildings.
 * Northampton Hogs: Referencing the "Northamptonshire Hog," a local nickname for residents that dates back centuries.
4. Speed & Motorsport
Given its location in the "Motorsport Valley" (close to Silverstone):
 * Northampton Nitros: Lean into the high-octane energy of the Premiership.
 * Northampton Gears: A nod to the engineering prowess of the region.

My Top Pick: The Northampton Badgers
In the world of speedway, tradition is king. Since they are returning to the same site where the Badgers once raced, it’s the "sentimental" favorite. However, if they want to sound like a modern Premiership powerhouse, don't be surprised if they go for something sleek like the Northampton Kites.
Would you like me to look into the history of the original Brafield Badgers to see what their old colors and logos looked like?
 

[IainB]

[IainB]