Former World Championship contender Frank Bruno spoke to Northampton counselling charity The Lowdown ahead of World Health Day tomorrow (April 7) about how important it is for young people to talk about their worries.

Frank said: "I think that if a young person can come in and let go of their problems in the counselling room then they can walk out feeling freer and with a better understanding of life."

The theme of this year's World Health Day is "depression: let's talk" and aims to raise awareness of all mental health issues.

One in 10 children in Northamptonshire aged between five and 16 is believed to have some form of mental disorder

Frank said: "Young people should know they are allowed to unload their problems and get the hump off their backs, that they can go somewhere and talk about their issues and their baggage. Everyone has issues.

"I've done a course in counselling and I've talked to a lot of kids. They ask me for tips and pointers to help them feel more relaxed, and they use them to go with their lives.

"Early intervention is very important. It's nice that people are more aware of mental health issues and there are special people they can talk to. You don't have to go to a doctor's and get given a tablet and walk out like a zombie.

"Your brain is a very delicate thing so if you can adjust your thinking and get on the right pathway then that is very good.

"Young people should remember, 'fit body fit mind'. Going to the gym and getting involved in sport is important too, instead of sitting on a couch and looking at a computer or your phone. Try running, swimming, walking or yoga to keep active. Also, try getting a massage or doing something that can help take the pressure off and help get you into a nice bubble of enjoyment."

Frank was a patient at Northampton's St Andrew's mental health hospital and has since gone to champion mental health services.

The Lowdown is a Northampton-based counselling charity for 12 - 25-year-olds. They offer free counselling, sexual health advice and STD checks at their office in Kingswell Street, off Gold Street, Northampton town centre.

In 2016, they supported 187 young people affected by depression.

If you or someone you know needs support with dealing with depression, contact The Lowdown on 01604 634385 or visit their website www.thelowdown.info for more details on their services.

World Health Day is a celebration on April 7 to mark the anniversary of the founding of the World Health Organisation.

Traffic is queuing on a main Northamptonshire road after a tractor and a car were involved in a collision.

The AA reports heavy traffic on the A428 in both directions in East Haddon at Tilbury Road, near East Haddon Church.

Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue has been called to assist at the scene, where a tractor and a car have collided.

Sam Astle of Whitehills and Lee Jeyes, formerly of Northampton but now resides in Canada, launched Aubrey & Oakes on March 20 to reintroduce men to goods made out of bamboo material.

Sam said: "We produce premium bamboo underwear that is all handcrafted right here in the UK. Aubrey & Oakes was first established when I was unable to source a luxury pair of underwear that wasn't either, mass produced in the Far East, manufactured from a very poor, very cheap quality fabric."

The entrepreneur boasts the fabric is environmentally friendly, anti-static and "thermo-controlled".

"Most importantly, I couldn't find a pair that made men feel superior or special when they put them on.

"There wasn't a brand that distinguished themselves from the mass consumer market for producing men's underwear."

Sam used to run a shop in Gold Street Mews and has always taken an interest in men's fashion.

Now he has decided to start up a crowdfunding page to urge underwear-lovers to pledge as much as they can to help the pair achieve their £52,000 goal.

All underwear is made at a family-run factory in Leicester and can be bought from the website (below) from £25.

To donate: Aubrey & Oakes

Motorists have been using residential streets to get around the roadworks in Weedon Road, and it has even led to lorries trying to perform U-turns down Glasgow Street.

The residents' association has tried to arrange a crisis meeting with the county council's highways department, but have had no reply.

Residents have even suggested taking the law into their own hands and barricading the Scottish streets to stop the rat runners.

"They are using our streets because they aren't going to wait. The temporary lights don't work together and only let one or two cars through at a time," said Graham Croucher, chair of the St James residents association.

"One resident called me to say it took them fifteen minutes to get from the Thomas Beckett pub to Spencer Bridge Road - that's less than half a mile.

"We predicted this would happen long before the roadworks started, and this week has not disappointed.

"It will be even worse when the schools start up again after Easter."

Northamptonshire County Council began work on the Smart Corridor scheme in January, promising to relieve traffic flow and 'improve commuter journeys'.

The third and final phase of the works began on April 4 and saw a set of temporary traffic lights being installed in Weedon Road, by Beacon Bingo, and at Harlestone Road, while Spencer Bridge Road has also been closed off.

However, long queues and tailbacks have plagued Northampton motorists since the lights went up, especially at rush hour.

Mr Croucher said: "We've had lorries and buses using our residential streets to get around the roadworks.

"With Spencer Bridge Street closed off, motorists will just use the back roads as a rat run to get around the problem. It's only a matter of time until someone gets hurt down one of these roads.

"There are other problems. They've moved a pedestrian crossing up the road in St James Square. But the new one is too narrow. There's only room on there for one pushchair or mobility scooter. It's not safe.

"We've had very little communication from the highways department. We've written to them to discuss the dangers the works have caused but we have had no reply. We just want a working relationship."

Councillor Jill Hope, district councillor for Sixfields, said: "What difference is this going to make in the end anyway? They've adjusted some of the bus lanes to make them shorter and smoothed the road over. But with all these estates going up by the A45 and the potentially hundreds of cars that will bring it still won't help

"St James is a funnel for traffic coming from the west of the town. If just pour more and more in, but smooth the funnel a bit, it will still back up."

Councillor Hope had even hinted some residents are willing to stop the rat runners themselves by barricading their streets.

The Smart Corridor roadworks are scheduled to be completed by June.

A recruitment firm in Northampton is on course to complete a charity event this weekend to raise money for the Warwickshire and Northamptonshire air ambulance.

Employees of Alliance Recruitment in Moulton Park Industrial Estate will attempt to climb Ben Nevis, Scaffell Pike and Snowdon to raise £1700, which is the cost of one life-saving mission.

Technical engineer consultant, Andrew Sullivan, 27 of Kingsthorpe is taking part with his director, Marcus and two other colleagues. He was supposed to complete the challenge in January, but due to a serious car crash, in October he had to reschedule.

Andrew said: "The reasoning behind us doing this was that unfortunately five years ago, Marcus’ late wife and partner in the business Michelle, was involved in a serious car accident and it was the air ambulance that attended and tried their best to save her.

"Unfortunately, Michelle died from her injuries, but the air ambulance was a cause that was close to his heart. Marcus felt that as a business who rely on local business to survive, that we should focus on trying to give back to the local community.

"He chose the Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulance, and as I am a keen mountaineer, I suggested attempting the Three Peaks Challenge to raise money."

The foursome is hoping to finish the challenge within 48-hours.

To donate: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Alliance-recruitment?utm_medium=email&utm_source=ExactTarget&utm_campaign=20170406_96877

Andrew Cruden has owned the Mace shop in St Giles Street since 2002, but has decided to end his lease on the premises today because of fears over his and his wife Sharon's safety.

Early on Friday morning, two men took cigarettes and scratch cards worth £3,500 before causing thousands of pounds worth of damage.

But just as the business was recovering from the break-in, two raiders - almost certainly the same men - struck again.

On Tuesday morning, they took £250 worth of alcohol and two collection pots meant for cancer charities.

Now Mr Cruden says enough is enough, especially as the raids come just months after his shop was ram-raided in September.

"It has really worried my wife because she is in there on her own sometimes," he said.

"Yesterday, when she was at work she was always thinking, 'Are they going to do it again in the daytime'?

"We just thought it was time to call it a day there."

Mr Cruden said he enjoyed his time in St Giles Street and though he has a shop in Market Square, which will continue trading, he will miss some "fantastic customers".

But he said that part of town is poorly covered by CCTV, which is partly why he feels he has been targeted so many times.

"There has been a lot of this around town recently.

"Over the past three months there has been eight or nine businesses I know of hit by burglaries.

"I guess it's part of being a business owner now, there is always a chance you will be robbed, you just hope it doesn't happen to you."

A spokesperson for Northampton Borough Council said: “We manage an extensive network of CCTV cameras throughout the town centre, including the St Giles quarter. Of course, we hope that our CCTV network helps to deter crime however, the security of individual premises is a responsibility for business owners.

“CCTV surveillance has remained in operation on St Giles Street throughout, and a non-operational camera is due to be upgraded as part of a wider programme of investment in our CCTV network which will result in a much improved service across the town.”

The first burglary on Friday, March 31, happened at 3.34am and though the two men were masked, one man was wearing a distinct jacket, clearly visible on Mr Cruden's in-store CCTV footage.

The second raid was at 4.55am on Tuesday, April 4 and a man is wearing the same distinct jacket bearing the number "R5204".

If you know of any information that could help police, call the force on 101.

Wheatus are back in the county in May to headline Picturedrome in Northampton.

After spending nine weeks in a van touring the US, the band are in the UK as part of a massive 31 date UK tour.

Last year, Wheatus supported Busted - an experience frontman Brendan B Brown describes as the most astonished he’d ever been on stage.

“I thought it would be good, but I wasn’t prepared for the crazy reception we got,” he explains.

“It was extraordinary for a support act to get that kind of love.”

As for the 17 years since the debut album’s release, for Brendan, it seems longer, but simultaneously, not that long ago; “I keep finding things from that crazy time,” he says.

“I’ve kept a lot of the first album paraphernalia and some of it is as it was.

“The reaction to that record has remained pretty fresh, which is both odd and wonderful.”

As in more recent years, which have included among other things, sales of equipment on eBay, it’s taken some creative funding to get the show on the road, but it’s a reality of the modern music industry.

No drama or panicking, just pragmatism.

“I've only ever felt the need to plan for the worst,” Brendan explains.

“Fortunately, we never got used to having money. Our first album was made on a shoestring and so it goes.

“We entered the music industry as the money exited. Perhaps some new efficiencies will come and make things easier, but, with few exceptions, I think what happened to jazz music has happened to the rest of music – only the people who love it to death can stay in the game.”

The biggest upside of self-funding is the days of being ripped off are over.

“That happened to us a few times with third parties involved,” he says.

“And you also wind up learning how to fix your own engine, so to speak.

“You get to see how the sausage gets made, what's needed and what's not.”

Brendan, always singular in his vision, is also the only member of the line-up remaining, but says he couldn’t be happier with the current situation,

“I spent quite a few years writing and demoing the first album by myself.

“When I consider the line-up changes over the years it's 98 per cent positive memories.

“There was only ever one true falling out.

“Currently, from a musical point of view, we're greasier with Leo Freire and Matthew T Milligan as the rhythm section than we've ever been.

“It's really starting to grow me in good funk mould. Plus we're all adults, so that helps.”

Wheatus are half way through recording album number seven with a retrospective box-set lined up for next year as well as some reissues on vinyl before gearing up for a 20th anniversary tour.

Wheatus play The Picturedrome in Northampton on Thursday, May 11.

Tickets cost £19.25 in advance. Via thepicturedrome.seetickets.com

Report reveals half of all volunteer police officers handed in their badge in Northamptonshire last year despite a major recruitment driver under the previous commissioner.

The initiative proposed by previous police and crime commissioner Adam Simmonds fell well behind its target, today's police and crime panel meeting at County Hall heard.

Since May 2016 there has been a decrease in the number of specials - effectively volunteer uniformed officers - from 722 to 377. PCSO numbers have also fallen, with figures showing the force underspent on its support officer budget by £193,000.

A report to the meeting found there have been no new specials recruits taken on between June 2016 and February 2017 to replenish those leaving the force, while a "review of the programme" was conducted.

But current commissioner Stephen Mold told the Chron the force has not had the resources to cope with training such a large cohort of recruits.

"I am quite happy with where we are as a force at moment," he said. "I have always preferred quality over quantity.

"I didn't want an arbitrary target for the sake of having an arbitary target."

Mr Mold, who scrapped Mr Simmonds target of 900 on entering office last year, said the force's focus now is now on committing the specials to a target of 200 hours work a year and offering different incentives to join the force as a volunteer, rather than simply increasing the number of volunteers.

One suggestion is that specials could soon be attached to cyber and rural crime units. A recent scheme has seen student volunteer officers take part in "warrant Wednesdays" where they execute outstanding warrants alongside senior officers.

Part of the reason the numbers have dropped, Mr Mold said, is because too many of the newest recruits simply "didn't meet the standard".

Out of the previous 744 cohorts, only 150 of them had the training to go on "independent patrol", meaning a vast majority have had to go on patrol with a paid officer.

"We almost had too many," he added. "Those numbers just aren't sustainable in the long term. In five years' time maybe, but I want the specials to be experienced. I want 75 to 80 per cent of our specials to have been with us for four or five years."

"We need to give them a better offer and the key part of that is around independent patrol - that is when offices can go out on the street s on their own.

"That is much more fulfilling for them, but it takes two years to get to that point."

Despite the spate of resignations, Northamptonshire still has double the amount of special constables as Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire.

However he still feels Mr Simmonds strategy of recruiting 900 was the right thing to do at the time, even though he scrapped it on keep.

Whichever party takes over at County Hall in May will face a tough challenge trying to balance the books. Here is how they plan to do it.

The runners and riders for the 2017 county council elections are bidding for your vote, but whoever takes charge will need to be good at managing an ever-decreasing budget. Once you have seen how the main parties plan to keep afloat below - take part in our interactive poll.

Alan Dickens has likened Wasps’ attacking philosophy to that of Kevin Keegan’s swashbuckling Newcastle United side.

But the Saints attack coach insists his men can compete with the Coventry-based outfit on Sunday.

Wasps have racked up a whopping 577 points in 18 league matches this season, putting them top of the Aviva Premiership pile.

And Dickens feels the freedom they show is like the Newcastle United team that threatened to win English football’s Premier League back in the 1990s.

“Wasps are a formidable team,” Dickens said.

“I’m old enough to remember Newcastle United in the late ‘90s and they’re a bit like them in their attacking philosophy.

“They will back themselves to score more than the opposition so we need to go there and implement our game plan this week.

“We know what we need to do to win the game.”

When asked whether Wasps are now the benchmark for Saints, Dickens replied: “I don’t necessarily know if they’re the benchmark.

“We’ve played some decent stuff in the past few weeks, including in the game against Leicester.

“As a coach, I still felt we left a couple of tries out there against Leicester and it wasn’t to be.

“Wasps have got players all the way across their backline who are game-breakers and we’ll have to look after them.”

But Dickens isn’t shy about taking ideas from other teams as he bids to make Saints the best around in the attacking department.

“We’re not insular here at the club and you’ve got to take ideas from elsewhere, whether that’s from the Six Nations, Super Rugby - ultimately we’ll just tweak little things and implement them week to week.”

And Dickens insists Saints, who currently sit seventh in the league, can compete with Wasps this weekend.

“We’ve got some quality players,” he said.

“If we put it together as a 15 for 80 minutes, we can beat anyone in the league.

“We’re under no illusions as to how tough the games are and results will have to go our way, but we’re six points behind Leicester, who are fourth, and if we win all of our games, we put ourselves in a good position.

“If we fall short, it’s our fault in terms of losing some of the games earlier in the season.

“We know what we need to do.”

Cobblers boss Justin Edinburgh says Chris Wilder should be welcomed back to Sixfields ‘with open arms’ on Saturday - but Town have to make sure the club’s former boss ‘leaves with nothing’.

Wilder brings his champions-elect Sheffield United to Sixfields for a big Sky Bet League One clash on Saturday, almost exactly a year on from sealing promotion from league two with the Cobblers.

Wilder of course went on to clinch title success with Town, before moving on to the challenge of managing his hometown club, and taking the Blades into the championship.

Sheffield United still need one more win to seal that promotion, and will be backed by 1,400 visiting fans on Saturday and 1,000s more watching on giant screens back at Bramall Lane.

Wilder has worked his magic in south Yorkshire, just as he did in Northampton, and is set to get a fantastic reception from all four sides of Sixfields Stadium on Saturday.

That is something Edinburgh feels Wilder deserves, but he is also intent on making his return an unhappy one if he can.

“I have a lot of time for Chris, and he did a fantastic job here last season under really difficult circumstances, and that’s what made it such a great achievement,” said the Cobblers boss, who took over from Wilder’s successor Rob Page in January.

“He will be welcomed back into the football club with open arms, and rightly so, but there is a game to be played.

“We need to be thoroughly professional because we want to take as many points as we can between now and the end of the season.

“We want to keep the momentum, and finish as high up the league as we possibly can.

“I am sure it will be a big crowd on Saturday, Sheffield United will be followed by a big support, but we have been good at home.

“This is another challenge for us, it’s one we look forward to, and hopefully we will send Chris off packing and he’ll have to go and find some points elsewhere to continue what a fantastic job he has done.

“He has done that at the club he supports and it will be a bit of a fairy-tale, having continued the success he enjoyed here last season at Sheffield United.

“We want to make sure we give a good account of ourselves and continue the good form we are on, and I would think over the past six or seven games we are one of the top five or six clubs in this division, and we want to continue that form.

“That’s what we will be focusing on this week.

“We had the return of Ricky Holmes the other week with Charlton, and he was a talisman to the success of last season, but Chris and Alan Knill were at the forefront of that success.

“I am sure they will get a warm welcome, but for the 90 minutes we want to make it as hostile as we possibly can, and make sure they leave here with nothing.”

A 33-year-old woman who has not been seen for over a month is missing and police are growing concerned for her welfare.

Sigita Gerce, last seen on March 3, is a Latvian national and officers believe she may be in Manchester or possibly in the Middleton area.

Officers are urging Sigita, or anyone who may know of her whereabouts, to contact Northamptonshire Police on 101.

A man was robbed of cash and a bank card after being pushed to the floor.

The incident happened in Gordon Street, Kettering at about 1am yesterday morning (Thursday).

A police spokesman said: “The victim was walking along Victoria Street and into Gordon Street where he was approached from behind by two men who made off along Mill Road after the robbery.

“They are described as being in their 20s with local accents.

“They wore dark clothing.”

Witnesses can contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

A woman was hit by a car door after being involved in a row over parking with another woman in Kettering.

Police say the apparently deliberate act happened when a woman pushed a car door into the victim’s back as she was seating her child inside.

The incident happened at about 3.30pm on Monday, March 20, in French Drive.

The two vehicles involved are described as a black saloon car and a silver people carrier.

The offender is described as white with a large build, about 30-years-old, about 5ft 5in with brunette hair tied in a ponytail and dark, oval-framed glasses.

Witnesses can contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

There is just one week left to register to vote and have your say in the Northamptonshire County Council Elections on Thursday, May 4.

Residents who are unsure on whether they have registered to vote can check by visiting www.gov.uk/register-to-vote.

If you haven’t yet registered you have until midnight on Thursday, April 13, to do so.

It’s simple to do, just click on the link above and have your National Insurance Number ready.

Those who do not register to vote by April 13 will lose their right to vote so make sure you register today.

Help decide who represents you in your county and make decisions on the provision of local services - your vote counts!

If you are already registered and think you are going to be away on May 4, now is the time to explore options such as applying for a proxy or postal vote.

For residents who have applied for a postal vote but have not received it by April 27, please contact your local district or borough council’s Elections Office.

If you would like to vote by post, but haven’t yet applied, you have until 5pm on April 18 to request an application form by calling the above number.

The average Brit feels like they need a holiday just 29 days after returning from their last one, a study has found.

Fatigue sets in less than four weeks after getting back from a break as the daily grind starts to affect work performance.

Eating more comfort food than usual was named the biggest sign you are in need of a break, along with being jealous at the sight of a friend’s holiday snaps.

And those who don’t get regular breaks admit to feeling more stressed, being less productive and more likely to make mistakes at work.

But the study of 2,000 adults by Holiday Inn Express also found 60 per cent of Brits are now ditching flip flops for trainers and embarking on micro-adventures instead of boozy weekends, as people look to make the most of their time off work.

Mike Greenup, Vice President Brand Management, Holiday Inn Express, said: “Everyone knows getting away can be restorative and help counterbalance our busy work lives.

“But it’s interesting to see just how often people feel they need to be having a break to remain happy, productive and stress-free.

“We have noticed people are seeking out an increasing amount of adventure getaways and experiences that are affordable and easily achievable.

“Many are also looking to make the most of the UK and explore what is in their back yard rather than venturing too far afield.”

Forty-three per cent of people said not having regular breaks leaves them feeling more stressed, while four in ten feel more tired than usual.

Others say they make silly mistakes at work (13 per cent), become less productive (31 per cent) or feel less enthusiastic about work (36 per cent).

But there is a shift in the type of breaks people are booking with many moving away from the stereotypical image of the boozy Brit abroad, with the top reasons for choosing a break away to explore the outdoors or complete a physical challenge.

Hiking is the most popular activity to do on a break, followed by cycling, water sports and sailing.

One in twenty have even booked a break to coincide with an elite sporting event such as an iron man or triathlon.

It also revealed nearly one in three (28 per cent) want to focus on improving their overall health and wellbeing during minibreaks away, while less than 15 per cent want a getaway indulging in food and booze.

And it’s not just the older generations who are embracing active getaways - 62 per cent of 18 to 24 year olds and 72 per cent of Brits aged between 25 and 34 would prefer to embark on a micro-adventure.

Experiencing something new and feeling like they’ve accomplished something were ranked as the top two priorities when booking a trip away, while less than 5 per cent view ‘relaxing with a good book’ as the best way to unwind when on holiday.

Mike Greenup, from Holiday Inn Express, added: “Our hotels provide the perfect base for these micro-adventures - offering a great night’s sleep, a power shower to recharge, breakfast included in the price so guests can fuel up for an action-packed day and free Wi-Fi to share those adrenalin-fuelled moments with friends and family.”

To launch its ‘We Know What Matters’ campaign, Holiday Inn Express challenged three well-known vloggers - Steve Booker, Challenge Sophie and Emilie Lovaine - to go on their own micro-adventures across the UK and document their action packed weekends away. Watch their micro-adventure video highlights here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=klDKGeMyqsU

Top ten signs you need a break:

1. Eating more comfort food than usual

2. You get jealous seeing friend’s pictures of their holiday or break

3. You spend more time daydreaming than doing your actual day job

4. You can’t face your to-do list

5. You find yourself looking at old travel pictures over and over again

6. You hit snooze on the morning alarm one too many times

7. You can no longer muster the will to make small talk at work

8. You enter a room and can’t remember what you went in there for

9. You drink more tea/coffee than usual to help you get through the day

10. You oversleep more than once a week

Top ten activities to do on a break:

1. Hiking

2. Cycling

3. Water sports

4. Sailing/boating

5. Mountain biking

6. Climbing/abseiling

7. Skiing

8. Yoga

9. Go-karting

10. Caving

Police have set up a temporary lane diversion on a Northampton town centre street to help motorists avoid a broken drain cover.

The lid of the cover is currently protruding upwards from the southbound lane of Horse Market and is therefore considered a potential threat to vehicles.

A memorial service and evening of talks to remember the Northamptonshire men who perished in Gaza during World War One will be held this month.

Abington Park Museum is hosting the event on Wednesday, April 19 to remember the men of the 4th Territorial Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment, known as The Shoemakers.

The majority of the battalion were local shoe makers and leather workers from Northampton and this year marks the hundredth anniversary of their fall during battle in Gaza.

The service will take place at 3pm and is open to all members of the public.

The evening of talks, delivered in association with the Western Front Association, will begin at 7.30pm.

Rebecca Shawcross, senior shoe curator at Northampton Museum and Gallery, will present alongside David Parish, chair of the Northampton branch of the Western Front Association, and Alison Butler of the Western Front Association who will be launching her new book From the Drill Hall to the Holy Land: The 4th Territorial Battalion.

Tickets for the evening event cost £10, call 01604 837397 to book or find out more at www.northampton.gov.uk/museums.

Chris Wilder makes his first return to Sixfields as a manager on Saturday since leaving the club in the wake of the Cobblers’ Sky Bet League Two title success last year.

Wilder is sure to get a rousing reception from the Cobblers faithful, who are grateful not only for the fact he guided them to some rare silverware and promotion, but also his major part in saving the club from possible extinction.

Cobblers defender David Buchanan knows Wilder very well, having worked with him at Bury and been signed by him for the Cobblers in the summer of 2015, and here he gives an insight into what what makes the 49-year-old from Sheffield such a special manager...

When Chris Wilder took the job at Sheffield United, a lot of people were sceptical about how he would do at a ‘big club’, but not me!

Having worked with Chris in numerous roles throughout my career, I knew he was the perfect man to finally get his beloved Blades back to the Championship.

The job he did last year for us at Northampton was nothing short of remarkable.

With our great club on the verge of going out of existence, it was the gaffer who led from the front with an inspirational speech following the team’s 2-1 victory at Notts County.

A snippet of what he said that night was ‘I’m so proud of the players, the staff and the supporters, the unity that everybody is showing in backing us is incredible - but we can’t wait too long to get this deal done’

What he said that day at Meadow Lane gave everybody a massive boost, and was the start of the togetherness that typified last season!

The great quality about Chris is that he has a lot of ‘old school’ ethics about what he expects from his players and staff.

If he gives you a job to do, he expects it done wholeheartedly.

He’s not a manager who spends every second out the training pitch with the players, he leaves a lot of the coaching to Alan Knill, especially in the early part of the week.

Then on a Thursday and Friday both Chris and Alan are very meticulous in working on team shape and the strengths and weaknesses of the opposition.

The relationship the ‘Gaffer’ and ‘Knilly’ has, is one rare in football.

Even if they have different titles, I believe they are firmly one.

They have a friendship and a working relationship, where both respect each other’s roles.

Chris enjoys managing players and Alan enjoys coaching them, however they both have the same philosophy in how they want a team to play and what they expect from their players.

My relationship with Chris was very good.

I think we had a lot of respect for each other and we treated each other as human beings first rather than manager and player.

I have a lot to thank him for, firstly for making a better footballer, but most importantly for bringing me to the Cobblers.

I will be the first to congratulate him when Sheffield United are promoted.

Two world premieres have been confirmed for Royal & Derngate’s Christmas line up this year, as part of its Made in Northampton season.

The Royal’s Christmas Show for 2017 will be a vivid new version of The Jungle Book by acclaimed playwright Jessica Swale, directed by Max Webster, with dramaturgy by Indhu Rubasingham.

A world premiere adaptation of Julia Donaldson and Lydia Monks’ The Singing Mermaid will also play in the venue’s Underground Studio with original music by Barb Jungr and puppetry from Little Angel Theatre.

Celebrating the 150th anniversary of Rudyard Kipling’s birth, The Jungle Book is a co-production with Children’s Touring Partnership. This vibrant new musical adaptation of Kipling’s Nobel Prize-winning family classic will take to Northampton’s Royal stage from Tuesday November 28 to Sunday December 31. This world premiere production will then embark on a major national tour.

Jessica Swale’s first play, Blue Stockings, premiered at Shakespeare’s Globe, earning her a nomination for Most Promising Playwright in the Evening Standard Awards 2013. Her acclaimed next play Nell Gwynn transferred to the West End and won the Olivier for Best New Comedy in 2016.

An Associate Director at the Old Vic, Max Webster directed their production of Dr Seuss’ The Lorax, which was nominated for Best Entertainment and Family Show at the 2016 Olivier Awards. Max returns to Royal & Derngate after directing King Lear there last year.

This well-loved tale sees Mowgli the man cub battle for survival in a heart-warming coming of age story about a boy raised by wolves in the Indian jungle. With the help of friends like Bagheera the panther, Baloo the bear and Kaa the python, Mowgli outwits the tiger Shere Khan and learns the law of the jungle.

Royal & Derngate's artistic director, James Dacre commented: "Featuring all its memorable characters and enduring mythology, Jessica’s anniversary adaptation promises to be a thrilling, humorous and touching re-imagining of Kipling’s timeless story."

Furthering their commitment to making work in their Underground Studio to introduce young audiences to theatre, Royal &; Derngate will also be staging another world premiere for Christmas 2017, with an adaptation of Julia Donaldson and Lydia Monks’ The Singing Mermaid, in a co-production with Little Angel Theatre.

The production will feature puppetry designed by Lyndie Wright of Little Angel Theatre, and is directed by Samantha Lane, with original songs by Barb Jungr. Aimed at under 7s and their families, the show will run from Saturday December 2 to Saturday January 13 2018.

For more information about the season or to book tickets, call Royal & Derngate’s box office on 01604 624811 or visit www.royalandderngate.co.uk. Tickets for The Jungle Book are on-sale now and tickets for The Singing Mermaid will be on sale after Easter.