Graham Carr enjoyed significant success as both a player and a manager of Northampton Town. In our latest feature, we caught up with Graham to look back and share his memories.
In this second part of the interview, Graham recalls his appointment as Northampton Town manager, and building the side that would eventually go on to win the 1986/87 Division 4 title.
"I was desperate for the Northampton job," he recalled.
"I was actually better paid at Nuneaton but I really wanted the Northampton job. I had some experience as a manager from my time at Weymouth and Dartford and I wanted the opportunity. I stuck my CV in when Tony Barton was appointed. I got a nice letter back from the club but I couldn't really argue as Tony had just won the European Cup! Then Tony suffered a heart attack and I got called down to the County Ground and Derek Banks was there and he offered me the job. This was around 4 or 5 weeks from the end of the 1984/85 season.
"I had seen the Cobblers a lot and I know a lot about non-league and I knew I could improve the side with the better players from non-league.
"I wanted to sign Trevor Morley and Richard Hill. Richard had a lot of potential but hadn't played too many games at Nuneaton. I had seen Phil Chard play and I also wanted characters and Paul Curtis and Mark Schiavi came in. I tried to get Warren Donald, he didn't want to come to start with but agreed in the end. I had seen Keith McPherson play and wanted to sign him and he agreed to come. I had seen Peter Gleasure and Ian Benjamin play well for the club and I was keen to keep them.
"Eddie McGoldrick came in too but a year later. I planned to bring him in and promised him I would but I wanted him to have another year at Nuneaton to develop."
Hear the second part in full below.