A police stop-and-search team have shared the chilling image of the blade they took off a man linked to gangs over night (March 13).

The team also recovered drugs from the man, who was wanted by police.

A tweet by the Northampton Force Proactive Team posted this morning reads: "This was down the trousers of a wanted male linked to gangs stopped in Northampton town centre last night. The blade was sharp and it hindered his ability to walk!"

It comes as part of Operation Sceptre, which has been rolled out nationwide to tackle knife crime.

With less than three weeks to go until the end of the financial year the Northamptonshire county councillor in charge of finance says he is ‘greatly encouraged’ that the authority will balance its books.

Following last year’s £40m overspend all eyes are on the county authority to see whether it can end the year with its financial outgoings less than its incomings and now usually cautious Cllr Malcolm Longley is sounding optimistic.

The council, which is being overseen by two government appointed officials and new chief executive Theresa Grant, is currently predicting a £900,000 overspend- although the figures are expected to move.

Speaking at yesterday’s cabinet meeting Cllr Longley, who moved into the finance hotseat last summer, said: “Current year end outlook is just a little short of £1m negative,

“We are only three weeks away from year end so we are now very much a lot of clearing up and make sure we get things in good order.

“Expect not to move too much from there but if it does I’m hoping it will go marginally in the right direction.”

In the summer the authority was facing a predicted overspend of £64m for the 18/19 financial year. In November central government allowed the council a £70m capital dispensation, which meant it could use funds from the sale of assets to plug its revenue gap. The sale of its headquarters, which was brought by Canada Life for £64m last summer, has largely funded the gap . The authority also put £20m back into reserves.

Council leader Matt Golby paid tribute to the work of staff in getting the authority on a more stable financial footing.

He said: “Getting anywhere near a balanced budget has been an incredible challenge. It’s down to the hard work, graft and toil of the officers and staff.

“We have still got a bit of a way to go and still two periods to report on, that variance may go up and it may go down. We need to remember that July we were at £64.2m. It is an incredible achievement.”

The 2017/18 budget has not yet been signed off by auditors. This is expected to happen in April.

A 'surrender bin' was opened in St James this morning at 10am where weapons can be thrown away for good.

As of 10.30am, two knives have already been taken off the street.

The knife amnesty will be held throughout Northampton this week where weapons on the street can be handed in and forgotten - no questions asked.

Seven surrender bins will be posted across the town by police where weapons can be thrown away.

The drive to get weapons off the street comes as part of the nationwide Operation Sceptre to tackle knife crime, which some MPs have declared a national crisis.

More than 280 people have been stabbed to death in Britain in the past 12 months. Among them were Northampton's own Louis-Ryan Menezes, 17, and Daniel Fitzjohn, 35.

A knife amnesty is where members of the public can surrender weapons to the police without fear of being prosecuted.

The seven bins will only be available for two hours at a time. They are available at:

Thursday, March 14: 10am-12pm, St James, box on Abbey Street

Thursday, March 14: 2-4pm, South Oval in Kings Heath

Friday, March 15: 2-4pm, Victoria Park on St James Park Road

Saturday, March 16: 10am-12pm, Wellingborough Road, opposite Tesco Express garage

Saturday, March 16: 2-4pm, Bath Street in Spring Boroughs, outside Northamptonshire Partnership Homes

Sunday, March 17: 10am-12pm, Wellingborough Road opposite Tesco Express garage

Sunday, March 17: 2-4pm, Bath Street in Spring Boroughs, outside Northamptonshire Partnership Homes

Rory Hutchinson has handed Saints a big boost by signing a new deal at the club.

The 23-year old, whose form in recent weeks saw him named February’s Gallagher Premiership player of the month, has made 28 appearances for Saints.

He made his debut against Leicester Tigers in 2015 but a frustrating time with injuries limited his chances of making a first-team place his own.

However, since the start of 2019, Hutchinson has been hugely influential, cementing a spot at centre thanks to some dazzling displays.

The former Scotland under-20 international has scored three tries in eight starts, and he is now hopeful he can take his game to a new level with Saints.

“This was a really straightforward decision for me to make and I’m very excited to be staying in Northampton,” Hutchinson said.

“I’m enjoying my rugby at the moment; obviously I had limited opportunities at the start of the season because of my injury, but I’ve loved playing in recent weeks and I’m certain Franklin’s Gardens is the best place for me to develop even further.

“I’ve worked hard to get to this point and I’m learning all the time here from the coaches and a group of really gifted players around me.

“Sam (Vesty) and Chris (Boyd) in particular have really helped me to move my game forwards; they’ve opened my mind up to what’s possible for me on the pitch, and I’m really confident this squad can achieve a lot over the next few years.”

Born in Cambridge, Hutchinson joined the Saints Academy from Shelford before breaking into the first-team squad in earnest during the 2016/17 season – with his try against Exeter Chiefs on his first club start winning Northampton’s try of the season award.

Internationally Hutchinson has represented Scotland at both Under-18s and Under-20s level, playing in both the 2014 and 2015 World Rugby Under-20s Championships and Six Nations competitions to become the joint most-capped Scotland Under-20s player ever.

“We are thrilled to have secured Rory’s signature,” added Saints boss Chris Boyd.

“He’s a very gifted footballer and works extremely hard to improve all aspects of his game.

“He was unlucky with injury at the start of this season, but after coming back he’s made a big impact and seeing how he has progressed in recent weeks is really pleasing for us.

“Keeping good young guys like Rory within our squad is really important to us and I’m very happy to see him sign on again.”

Former Cobblers player, manager, secretary and president Dave Bowen is to be honoured by the club, with a specially commissioned bust that will be unveiled at the PTS Academy Stadium later this year.

Northampton Town have worked closely on the project with the Bowen family, with the club commissioning Sporting Icon to produce a permanent and lasting tribute to the Town legend.

The bust of Bowen, who also captained his country Wales at the 1958 World Cup, is currently in production and will be unveiled outside the stadium later in 2019.

“We are delighted to be paying a permanent and lasting tribute to a Cobblers great,” said chief executive James Whiting.

“This tribute will be a visual reminder to all those arriving at the stadium about Dave and what he achieved for the club.

“We have worked closely with the Bowen family on this and we will officially unveil the tribute later in the year.

“We know members of the Bowen family will be travelling from a number of different countries to attend the unveiling and, working to maximise the availability of family members, we will confirm a date for this unveiling in due course.

“We are a club with a very proud history, strong community links and a bright future and we believe this will be a fitting and lasting tribute to a man who achieved so much for the club.”

Barry Bowen, Dave’s son, has worked closely with the club and Sporting Icon on the production of the bust and he added: “When saying goodbye to friends and fans, our father often said warmly - ‘See you at the Far Post’, and locating this tribute at the stadium leaves a visible lasting memory not far from the far post.

“Family members have been involved with and had input into the production process and we hope it means as much to the fans as it does to the family.

“We are hoping to be able to get the family together later in the year for an official unveiling at the stadium.”

Bowen played for the Cobblers between 1947 and 1950, before being transferred to Arsenal, where he stayed for nine years.

After leaving Highbury, Bowen returned to the County Ground as playere manager, and after hanging up his boots in 1960, he concentrated solely on management.

He steered the Cobblers to the greatest achievement in the club’s history, taking Town from the fourth division to the first in the space of just five seasons.

The 1965-66 season remains the only one in the club’s history that the Cobblers played in the top flight of English football.

Bowen left as manager in 1967, before returning for another three-year stint between 1969 and 1972.

While managing the Cobblers, remarkably Bowen also managed the Wales national team, a post he left in 1974.

After leaving management, Bowen stayed heavily involved behind the scenes at the County Ground and served as serving as general manager, secretary and as a club director, before retiring.

Bowen died in September, 1995, aged 67, and the north stand at Sixfields was initially renamed in his honour.

There is still a pictorial tribute and plaque on the side north stand wall at the PTS, but it is no longer named after Bowen.

Now though, he will have a peremanent tribute at the home of the club he served so brilliantly and loyally.

A girl was grabbed and kissed by in a Corby park by a man with ‘rotten teeth’.

Officers are investigating the sexual assault that happened in West Glebe Park, off Cottingham Road, on Monday (March 11) at about 6.10pm.

Three teenage girls were in the park when they were approached by a man who appeared to be drunk.

He grabbed one of the girls by the wrist and spoke to her, slurring his words, before kissing her on the cheek and starting to pull his trousers down.

The girl and her friends were able to flee before any exposure occurred.

Local people in Corby have become increasingly worried in recent weeks about the vulnerability of young people hanging around on West Glebe Park and in the town centre.

Last month, a 13-year-old girl was taken from the town’s McDonald’s restaurant to a house in Gainsborough Road where she was sexually assaulted.

Police have issued three weekend dispersal orders in recent weeks to try to encourage the youths to go home.

The suspect in the West Glebe assault is described as a white man, 30 to 40 years old, 5ft 10in tall of skinny build. He had brown hair cut in a short buzzcut style and is described as having skinny, rotten teeth.

He wore grey tracksuit bottoms and a darker grey jacket which may have had red detail on it.

Anyone who witnessed the incident or who has information about it is asked to call Northamptonshire Police is asked to call 101. Information can also be shared anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

READ MORE: Third dispersal order issued in Corby

Boss Michael Jolley has called for ‘calm’ among the Grimsby Town faithful as he prepares his side to take on the in-form Cobblers at Blundell Park on Saturday.

The Mariners suffered their third straight Sky Bet League Two defeat when they were thumped 4-1 at Prenton Park, but Jolley felt the scoreline was a harsh reflection on the way his team performed.

And he is confident that if they can produce a similar performance this weekend then they can cause Keith Curle’s men problems.

“I think we need to stay calm,” said Jolley, whose side sit 16th in the table, 15 points above the drop zone, and four behind the 11th-placed Cobblers.

“Tranmere’s goalkeeper won man of the match and we had a number of good chances.

“I also think it’s important that we don’t overreact (to the result).

“Nobody’s more disappointed about the result than me, the players, and certainly the supporters that went to Tranmere on Tuesday.

“It’s a bitterly disappointing result, but sometimes you have to look beyond the result.

“People may choose to think that sounds like an excuse, but my job as a manager is to try and illicit performances from these players, and Tuesday night was ironically an improvement on Saturday’s performance (when Grimsby lost 2-1 at Crawley Town).

“We need to try and build on that, and have another good performance this Saturday against Northampton.”

Highways East Midlands were reporting backlogged traffic and delays of up to 60 minutes while all emergency services attend the scene, between junction 15a and junction 15.

Earlier on this morning two lanes were shut by police but now lane two and three are open, with one remaining lane still shut.

Highways East Midlands are taking reports of multiple low speed collisions on the M1 south in the queues between junction 15a and junction 15.

Drivers are advised by Highways East Midlands to take an alternative route.

READ MORE: Up to an hour delays on Northampton stretch of M1 after multiple collisions

Two lanes were shut by Northamptonshire police on the M1 southbound between junction 15 and junction 15a while all emergency services attended the scene.

AA Traffic News is currently reporting queueing traffic for four miles, from junction 15, after two lorries were involved in an incident.

But now all lanes have been opened, Highways East Midlands have confirmed, and congestion still remains to junction 16 in Daventry.

Highways East Midlands were also taking earlier taking reports of multiple low speed collisions on the southbound carriageway.

Such is the fickle nature of football, it does not take much for a player to go from standout performer one season to scapegoat the next.

As Cobblers defender Ash Taylor has been finding out to his cost, it is often a game of extremely short memories.

It was only 11 months ago when the 28-year-old scooped two player of the year awards for his excellent performances at centre-back, but his form dipped noticeably at the start of this season.

Throw in a couple of injuries, the team’s own struggles and the fact he was captain at the time, and you have a perfect storm.

“I’ve been criticised this season but I’ve just kept my head down,” said Taylor. “I’ve played better in some games than others but it’s all part and parcel of football and I’m happy to keep putting in good performances for this club.

“You can’t get too high when you go on a good run and you can’t get too low when things are going against you. I concentrate on my own game and focus on what I need to do as a player – and that’s to help the club and the team.”

Taylor’s cause, purely on a personal front, was not aided by the team’s success while he was out of action. Sidelined for two months in the autumn with a hamstring injury, Cobblers won six and lost just two of the 10 games he missed.

At one stage, their win ratio dropped to as low as nine per cent with him in the team and as high as 55 per cent without him.

Statistics like those do not help to win fans over.

He added: “I’ve picked up a couple of injuries this season and that’s been frustrating because it’s a bit stop-start.

“They were big injuries as well – hamstrings and that and you can’t rush anything.

“You have to get it out of your system quickly and now I’m just happy to be putting in performances I’m capable of.”

Town’s win rate when Taylor starts has since grown to a more respectable 23 per cent and it is perhaps no coincidence that, as his form has steadily improved in recent weeks, so has the team’s.

Neither is it a coincidence that the Cobblers look more secure and less vulnerable with a flat back four instead of the three-man defence manager Keith Curle had previously opted for.

“As a back four, we know our roles,” continued Taylor. “We’ve played well as a back three at times as well, but a back four is a bit more familiar with everyone else, but we’ve got the players who are capable of playing any position.

“Charlie Goode has come in and slotted in very well at right-back. He’s aggressive and that’s what you’ve got to be as a back four – aggressive and a unit and we have been.

“We didn’t concede too many chances on Saturday. They maybe had two shots and a corner they’ve scored from. It was disappointing not to defend the first phase of the corner better, but that happens sometimes.”

Taylor is referring to Town’s third win on the spin as they continued their resurgence with another accomplished and mature performance against Exeter City last Saturday afternoon.

The Cobblers controlled the first-half and showed astute game management in the second, with goals from Aaron Pierre and Andy Williams, scored either side of half-time, enough to clinch a victory that, remarkably, took them closer to the top three than relegation.

Unbeaten in seven following another win on Tuesday night, it has been some turnaround since losing 4-0 to Colchester.

“It was a massive win on Saturday,” admitted Taylor, who was named man of the match. “It carries on the momentum after the Colchester result. That game didn’t sit well with us and there was a bit of pride on the line.

“We wanted to rectify that and put the record straight and I think we’ve done that with the run we’ve had.

“A few players could have won it (man of the match) because everyone put in a performance and it was a fighting performance. We battled for everything – last-ditch tackles, headers, everything.”

It was also important for the Cobblers to finally win at home again, only the second time they’d triumphed at the PTS since November.

Taylor added: “You want to win your home games and you want to get the crowd up and cheering you.”

And the play-offs? “We don’t look too far ahead – we’ll focus on what we’ve got to do and that’s get three points.

“When you win games of football it always helps. The positivity runs right through the club, the staff, the staff behind the staff, the fans and the players - it helps the whole club.”

Police have an arrest warrant for Patrick John Crawley, formerly of Maidencastle, Northampton.

The 34-year-old man is wanted by police so he can go back to prison for failing to comply with his licencing conditions in relation to burglary offences.

Officers are appealing for anyone with any information relating to his whereabouts to make contact with Northamptonshire Police on 101. Alternatively, they can call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

A lucky penny which saved the life of a Northamptonshire Regiment soldier is to be put up for auction.

Pt John Trickett kept a penny made in 1889 in the breast pocket of his soldier’s uniform, a poignant reminder of home.

It proved to be his lucky penny as during the First World War the coin took the full impact of a German bullet aimed at his heart, bending under the force but ultimately deflecting the danger.

The dented penny, which shows the exact mark of impact where the bullet landed, has been found by Derbyshire’s Hansons Auctioneers’ militaria expert Adrian Stevenson.

He said: “It looks to me like a pistol bullet hit the penny at close range.

“I’ve come across many stories of random objects saving soldiers’ lives but I’ve never seen anything like this before. It’s very poignant.

“Soldiers used to keep objects in their breast pockets in an attempt to protect themselves from enemy fire and explosions. Shrapnel was the biggest killer in wartime.

“It’s likely John Trickett kept the penny there on purpose. When the bullet hit the coin, it ricocheted up through his nose and went out through the back of his ear. It left him deaf and disabled but still alive.

“He was honourably discharged from the Northamptonshire Regiment on September 7, 1918, shortly before the 1914-18 war ended.”

The penny is part of a collection of war-related ephemera belonging to Pt Trickett which includes his British War Medal and Victory Medal.

The collection will be sold at Derbyshire’s Hansons Auctioneers on March 22 with an estimate of £30 to £50.

The items are being sold by Mr Trickett’s granddaughter Maureen Coulson, 63, of Derbyshire.

She said: “Everyone in our family saw the penny and heard the story of how it saved my grandfather’s life – his two brothers, Horace and Billy, both died in the First World War. My grandad was the only survivor.

“My grandad was born in 1899 would have been around 19 years old when the incident happened. He had to come home because of the injury.

“It damaged his left-hand side and left him deaf in his left ear. It also affected his balance.

“We think it’s likely he signed up to serve in the Army when he was under age as he looked older than he was.

“Many soldiers were under age, they were so keen to serve their country.

“He was a great big guy from a farming background but as soft as a brush.

“He worked with horses back home and couldn’t bear to see the way they were treated on the battlefield.

“When he returned to the UK, he married my gran, Clementine, and they had eight children.

“He had various jobs after the war including working as a postmaster and as a switchboard operator at Barnburgh Colliery in South Yorkshire.

“He collapsed at work day and died at the age of 63 in 1962. I assume it was a heart attack. I was only six when he died.

“I do remember him. It’s strange to think that, but for that penny, his children would not have been born and I wouldn’t be here.”

Mr Stevenson added: “I hope a keen militaria collector will buy and treasure these items.

“The penny is a poignant reminder of the fine line between life and death, particularly in wartime.

“I’ve heard about random objects deflecting bullets before but never had the opportunity to examine items like this at close quarters.

“Strangely, just after the John Trickett’s penny came into Hansons, two more First World War items that may have saved lives arrived – a hip flask damaged by shrapnel and a soldier’s belt buckle with a piece of shrapnel still wedged in it.”

Private Trickett’s war memorabilia will be sold in The Medals and Militaria Auction, Hansons Auctioneers, Heage Lane, Etwall, Derbyshire, on March 22.

Officers have made an appeal for help in tracing the whereabouts of a convicted burglar from Northampton.

Shekoduka Katampe, aged 32, formerly of Kenmuir Avenue, Northampton, is wanted on recall to prison for failing to comply with the conditions of his licence.

He was originally sentenced on August 28, 2015, at Northampton Crown Court for aggravated burglary, where he was sentenced to six years and eight months in prison.

Since being released on licence in June 2018, he has failed to attend probation appointments and failed to reside at an agreed address.

Anyone with any information relating to his whereabouts can contact Northamptonshire Police on 101. Alternatively, they can call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

The actor, who plays Albert Square's Lee Carter, will start on the left wing in the Sellebrity Soccer match at the PTS Academy Stadium on April 28 with a squad of other celebs.

He will step onto the pitch with his on-screen dad Danny Dyer, Calum Best, and Love Island's Jack Fowler and Alex Bowen.

The charity game is in aid of Archie's Fund, an organisation set up to help Duston's-own six-year-old Archie Kambanis fight a rare muscle-wasting condition called spinal muscular atrophy type II.

At the PTS stadium today (March 14), Danny-Boy spoke with Archie's mum Kay to learn more about the little boy's condition, who he met last month.

Danny-Boy told the Chronicle and Echo: "I think it's always heartbreaking to see kids like Archie in these situations.

"I've met Archie. he's got a great sense of humour. He makes you want to work a bit harder on the pitch.

"What really matters is we raise as much as possible for Archie."

The upcoming game follows the success of last April's Sellebrity Soccer match at the PTS Academy Stadium, which saw the likes of Alan Carr, Katie Price, Kerry Katona and Shayne Ward help raise funds for Northamptonshire charity Niamh's Next Step.

West Ham fan Danny-Boy has been playing charity games for Sellebrity Soccer for six years and has helped organisers raise more than £1.2million for good causes in that time.

Pupils at Caroline Chisholm, Duston Eldean and Wootton Park primary schools have had the chance to meet Danny-Boy this week to raise awareness for the match.

He said: "I always get a good go at the ball, but I'd say I'm more of a 'hit and hope for the best' type.

"It's the best family day out going in Northampton with something for everyone.

"Every family that comes to a Sellebrity game leaves with a smile on their face."

For more information on the match to to purchase tickets visit the NTFC website.

A burglar fled from a Kettering house after being disturbed by the homeowner.

The incident happened on Thursday, March 7, between 4am and 5am at a property in Hodge Way.

An unknown offender attempted to gain entry into the property via the front door.

A police spokesman said: “They were then disturbed by the householder and left the property.

“The offender is described as male, 5ft 11in and wearing a dark coloured heavy padded jacket.

“Witnesses, or anyone with information, are asked to call Northamptonshire Police on 101. Alternatively, they can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.”

All five men have broken the conditions of their release agreements and are wanted on recall to prison.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of the five men can contact Northamptonshire Police on 101.

They are:

- Patrick John Crawley, 34, formerly of Maiden Castle, Northampton, wanted on recall to prison after failing to comply with licencing conditions in relation to burglary.

- Shekoduka Katampe, 32, formerly of Kenmuir Avenue, Northampton. He was originally sentenced in August 2015 to six years and eight months in prison. Since his release in June 2018 he has failed to meet his release conditions.

- Derry Crowshaw, 28, formerly of Briar Hill, Northampton. He was originally sentenced to two years and two months in April 2018 for driving offences. Since he was released on licence in February he has failed to attend probation appointments.

- Miles Connors, of West Drayton. The 22-year-old is known to frequent Northampton and is wanted on recall to prison for driving and theft offences.

- Miles Luke Connors, 19, formerly of Goldcrest Court, Northampton. The 19 year old is wanted on recall to prison in relation to burglary offences after failing to comply with his licence conditions.

A scheme called the 'Book End Project' has been rolled out at St Christopher's Care home, in a bid to build friendships between the older and younger generations.

The five-week project will include the same 10 children, aged four and five years old, and 10 care home residents, aged between 84 and 99 years old, so they can build up a relationship.

This week children from Bridgewater Primary and Nursery School threw a party for one of the care home residents, Tony Austin, who was celebrating his 84th birthday.

SEE MORE: Pictures show old and young uniting for new school project at Northampton care home
Sarah Clarke, manager of St. Christopher's Care Home, said: "Last year Tony did not even want to celebrate his birthday. He said 'what's the point? It's just another day'.

"But this year, when I told him about celebrating it with the children he said 'that would be nice' - it just lifted his mood.

"All the residents love to see the children, and animals, they just benefit greatly from it. It makes people residents more animated, more chatty and more social. There's so much energy in the room and they thrive off it."

Week one of the scheme began with everyone making name tags together. The children then introduced themselves to the residents by singing the 'Hello' song and by playing games the residents would remember from their childhood.

Today (Wednesday) was week two of the project and the children and residents threw a birthday party with balloons, played pass the parcel and ate jam sandwiches, biscuits and cakes.

The school also gifted Tony with a teddy bear and a Colin the Caterpillar cake.

Birthday boy Tony, originally from Church Brampton and who once worked for Phipps Brewery, said: "They have all done very well for me, it's absolutely brilliant. I feel very special that's for sure."

The Book End Project - which gets its name from the different ends of the age spectrum - will be evaluated for both groups from beginning to end.

There will be three stages of evaluation for the St. Christopher's residents. There will be a questionnaire to complete, for those who are able to, and the care home will evaluate how their answers change over the five-week period. For those who cannot fill in a questionnaire, their progress will be reported by observation by the care home manager, Sarah.

The primary school will be completing entry and exit observations to feed back how children have engaged with their language and communications.

Manager Keith Curle says he has been so impressed by Northampton’s ‘infrastructure’ and ‘organisation’ behind the scenes that he wishes he joined the club ‘two seasons ago’.

Curle came in at a time when the Cobblers were just about rock-bottom on the pitch, languishing near the wrong end of the Sky Bet League Two table just three months on from a torrid season in League One which ended in relegation.

It was only in 2016 when Chris Wilder led Town to a famous title triumph, but it’s been all downhill since as managers have come and gone with increasing regularity, at least until Curle steadied the ship following his appointment in October.

A recent run of seven games unbeaten and four wins in a row have, at the very least, ensured the Cobblers will be playing EFL football again next season, but Curle believes the club have everything in place behind the scenes to aim much higher.

“We’ve only had five defeats in 27 league games,” said Curle. “There’s been a few draws in there but we’ve joined a football club that’s got a very good structure in place and the organisation behind the scenes is very good.

“What they’ve allowed me to do is gradually put my stamp on the philosophy that I need in the changing room.

“There wasn’t a winning mentality in the changing room but we had to create a mentality that we don’t get beat and I think that’s been adhered to.

“The longer we stay together, the playing philosophy will grow. But it all starts with solid foundations at the club and that’s allowing a manager and the coaches to do their job and that’s all in place here.

“It’s not until you’ve been a manager at a few clubs that you are understand the foundations but this club gives you the opportunity to do your job. Some of the other jobs I’ve had, the other issues you’re dealing with can distract you.

“What I’m enjoying about here is focusing solely on performances and that’s massively important. The football club has a solid foundation and now we want the footballing department to match that and build from there.”

Asked if he wished he joined the Cobblers at the start of the season instead of 10 games in, Curle replied: “I wish I had been here two seasons ago!

“But I’m enjoying it. There was a challenge laid down because the club were operating at the wrong end of the division, but there’s an infrastructure in place that can see the club operate up a division again.”

Curle has not always had the complete backing of supporters during his tenure at the PTS, particularly during a wobble either side of Christmas, but Town’s fine recent form has lifted spirits again.

“The supporters have been excellent,” Curle continued. “I’m not the most animated on the side of the pitch because I try to keep my focus but at the end of the game, that’s when I have that slight release and I want that connection with the supporters.

“The work I do with the football club is for the benefit of the club and the team but also the supporters. There’s a lot of work that goes on behind the scenes and a lot of good work that probably doesn’t get mentioned.”

But what do you do if your partner voted differently to you?

Dr Leigh Longhurst, PHD, is a chartered psychologist and has looked at the impact it could have on your relationship.

She said: “Brexit has created chasms bigger than the Grand Canyon not only on dating sites but across the country as couples and families tear into one another.

“In love relationships, is Brexit the root cause of the schism or is it a symptom of a wider malaise in us as individuals and in society? Is it not a trigger for the eruption of our repressed emotions, a big stick that pokes at our own insecurities?

“It’s so much easier to judge and blame our partner than to challenge our own beliefs and emotional wounds.

“The shocking truth is that all the judgments we make about the ‘other side’ in the Brexit divide are secretly judgements we have against ourselves.

“It might feel good to win a battle with your partner in the short term but the feeling won’t last. Lasting peace and happiness results when each partner takes responsibility for his or her own internal battles. Then they might find, under all the anger dressed up as Brexit and projected on to their partner, repressed anger against themselves.

“They realise how cruelly they have judged parts of themselves as being unacceptable or unlovable. This insight helps heal splits and divisions within themselves and within their relationship.

“When love becomes more important than being ‘right’, each partner can commit to open, non-judgmental communication and learn to forgive. When each feels accepted and is given the right to speak openly, they can stop shouting about politics and shout about the truth of what’s really going on which might be something like: “I’m afraid to show you how vulnerable I am: I feel unsafe when my beliefs are challenged; I want you to love me regardless, I want to feel connected to you”.

“From this mutually vulnerable sharing, understanding grows.

“Let’s take back the power of politicians to divide us. When we can lighten up, embrace our superficial differences and extend more love and forgiveness, divisions start to heal. Then we re-connect at a level beyond the childish rhetoric and self-aggrandizing posture of the politicians.

“This is love.”

READ MORE: Old and young unite for new school project at Northampton care home. The five-week project will include the same 10 children, aged four and five years old, and 10 care home residents, aged between 84 and 99 years old, so they can build up a relationship.This week children from Bridgewater Primary and Nursery School threw a party for one of the care home residents, Tony Austin, who was celebrating his 84th birthday.