Northampton 2026

[Normski]

51 minutes ago, topaz325 said:

Many speedway clubs nickname's incorporate the big cat family, Lions, Tigers (many including Sheffield, Glasgow, Mildenhall ) , Wildcats, Panthers, Cheetahs, ...any more?

Look at Berwick there is a bear on town coat of arms but we are called Bandits

[Hamish McRaker]

36 minutes ago, paulnolan said:

The name doesn't really matter, does it? Northampton Foxes sounds good. That's it.

(Although the town crest has lions on it so maybe Leicester could swap if they're that bothered...)

Both Cobblers and Saints are protected commercial properties, and as someone from Northampton, I'm sick of shoes.

I know Northampton/shire quite well.

Has always seemed to consist of multiple identities to me. East Midlands? East Anglia? Greater London? Scots over in Corby. Landowning wealth in rural towns and villages. A mish mash of those plus a growing immigrant population. 

Whichever direction you take when leaving Northampton, youre going into a different area with its own, stronger, identity.

Names of sports clubs do matter, and i suspect those behind this project have very limited knowledge of the East Midlands.

Id advise them to have a rethink!

[IainB]

1 hour ago, Derrickn said:

It's a long time ago,but I think Leicester used to have a horseshoe design on their race jackets.

And used to be called "Hunters" because of the county's association with Foxes and Fox Hunting

[DaveWayne]

11 hours ago, Derrickn said:

Leicester used to be called the "Hunters",as per fox hunters.

 

1 hour ago, Hamish McRaker said:

Best to ask Reg Fearman or Alan Jones why Lions name was chosen in 1968.

Leicester Tigers name goes back to 1880 and the local regiment after which the club was named.

Leicester City FC has had Fox identity for a long time (I'm no football historian) but have used it increasingly in marketing since maybe 40 years ago.

Leicestershire CCC has had Fox badge for as long as i can recall and like LCFC the club has increased its use in marketing and "brand identity".

When Leicester Speedway was reborn in 2011, LCFC and LCCC had the Fox branding well and truly established and so it rightly continued the Lions branding even with a 28 year gap, regardless of why the name had been chosen in 1968.

Leicester/shire is something of a sporting Mecca, and it would be very messy if all of them were called "Foxes"!

But even so, Leicester/shire sport does have a strong Fox identity, and its attempted appropriation by Northampton speedway is a terrible and unbelievable mistake.

Should be Falcons in my opinion

 

7 minutes ago, Hamish McRaker said:

I know Northampton/shire quite well.

Has always seemed to consist of multiple identities to me. East Midlands? East Anglia? Greater London? Scots over in Corby. Landowning wealth in rural towns and villages. A mish mash of those plus a growing immigrant population. 

Whichever direction you take when leaving Northampton, youre going into a different area with its own, stronger, identity.

Names of sports clubs do matter, and i suspect those behind this project have very limited knowledge of the East Midlands.

Id advise them to have a rethink!

So Leicester were called the Hunters at the same time as the Brafield Flying Foxes existed. 😉

Far from it being an 'attempted appropriation' or a 'lack of local knowledge', it is historically accurate in returning to the name of the original team that rode at the same stadium.

Most 'older' stock car fans still refer to the stadium as Brafield rather than Northampton.

[ouch]

Is it really the case that people won’t attend due to the name Foxes? If so I’m either really laid back or out of touch with modern sensibilities. 

I just hope Mark doesn’t bring along his bleedin’ podium. 

[Fortythirtyeight]

On 3/24/2026 at 7:22 PM, Roger Jacobs said:

How do you know he hasn't been named?  Just because they can't be bothered to tell the customers ...

After all, they've announced Northampton as a new team, but it seems that the track still hasn't been approved ... lots of assumptions being made ...

Can’t approve a track that they haven’t finished building yet .

[Fortythirtyeight]

Interesting to read that other Premiership Promoters now have a ‘vested interest’ in the club so which promoter will be named as the ‘Tutor’ as all new promoters are supposed to have one ?

Sounds like going back to the old days when one promoter ran several clubs .

 

Do recall that not being within the rules but that book is simply ‘advice’ these days it seems.

[Hamish McRaker]

1 hour ago, Normski said:

Look at Berwick there is a bear on town coat of arms but we are called Bandits

Sounds logical to me.

In Bandit Country

1 hour ago, DaveWayne said:

 

 

So Leicester were called the Hunters at the same time as the Brafield Flying Foxes existed. 😉

Far from it being an 'attempted appropriation' or a 'lack of local knowledge', it is historically accurate in returning to the name of the original team that rode at the same stadium.

Most 'older' stock car fans still refer to the stadium as Brafield rather than Northampton.

So hopefully all of the fans from the old Flying Foxes days and their descendents will be connecting and turning up in good numbers. 

[THE DEAN MACHINE]

1 hour ago, ouch said:

Is it really the case that people won’t attend due to the name Foxes? If so I’m either really laid back or out of touch with modern sensibilities. 

I just hope Mark doesn’t bring along his bleedin’ podium. 

I just hope mark doesn’t bring himself, too many cooks and all that, ego’s will soon come in to play