The Trust is saddened to hear of the death of Cobblers historian and statistician Frank Grande.
Frank, aged 71, 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.