Northampton Town Supporters Trust Statement
The Trust is saddened to hear of the death of Cobblers historian and statistician Frank Grande.
Frank, aged 70, attended his last match at Sixfields earlier this season but died yesterday after a long illness.
Although Frank never kicked a ball in anger for his beloved Cobblers, it is true to say he ‘recorded’ more appearances for the club than anyone else!
​
Frank faithfully jotted down appearances, goals scored, transfers in, transfers out and quirky facts about all those who pulled on the famous claret-and-white shirt.
All of it a labour of love, Frank worked on a voluntary basis to ensure the club’s archive was as accurate and up to date as it could be.
He loved meeting up with the club's old players and urged the club on many occasions to maximise the value of matchday reunions with Cobblers legends.
His favourite era was the 1960s and it was fitting that he won the Tommy Fowler Merit Award in 2015 for his services to the club’s matchday programme, to which he contributed on a regular basis since 1983.
In early 2000, he was instrumental in organising a Team of the Century reunion at Sixfields where guests included, among others, Theo Foley, Mike Everitt, the late Tommy Fowler, Trevor Morley and the late Frank Large (whose name was the anglicised version of Frank's, which he loved!).
Frank wrote four history books about the Cobblers, chronicling the side’s progress since its formation in 1897, and also one about club legend Tommy Fowler called Quite Simply A Flash Of Genius.
He has just completed a book on the late Dave Bowen. From one Mr Cobblers to another!
The Trust will be supporting Frank's grandson Ethan in getting the book published, the least we could do for a man who was always a very good friend of the Trust.
We are delighted to hear that grandson Ethan will be keeping Frank's Cobblers archive work in the family.
Our condolences to Frank's wife Tina, Ethan and the rest of his family. RIP Frank.
Northampton Chronicle and Echo
That award was only announced at the back end of last week, and was well deserved for a man who has been a regular at the Cobblers since going to his first game at the old County Ground in 1958.
Despite his illness, Wellingborough-born Grande still attended matches at the PTS Academy Stadium until as recently as last month.
One of his last games watching his beloved club was the 4-0 defeat at the hands of Colchester United in February, but he took that disappointment in his stride.
Indeed, he summed up the feelings of the majority Cobblers fans following that game, when he said: “It’s something we have to get used to as Cobblers fans I’m afraid... It makes the successful seasons more special.”
Statement from Northampton Town Football Club.
Everyone at Northampton Town Football Club was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Club Historian Frank Grande in March 2019. A wonderfully loyal supporter, Frank was a huge help to the club over many years, writing many books on Northampton Town Football Club and contributing to the matchday programme for nearly 40 years.
Chairman Kelvin Thomas said, "Although we knew Frank was poorly, this is an incredibly sad day and all of us at the club are devastated.
"Frank will leave a huge hole in the community of this football club. He has been of great assistance to the club over many years, whether it be writing for the club programme, checking records, helping to arrange for former players to attend games or just helping out in any way he could.
“Frank also did something very special for me personally regarding my grandfather's career when we first took over the club, which I have never forgotten.
"He was very much part of the family. He has shared in the highs and the lows, the ups and the downs of the club and he will be sadly missed by us all. We send our best wishes to all of Frank's family and we will support them however we can."
The news comes just a few days after the EFL named Frank the EFL League 2 Supporter of the Year.