Ten things...

Northampton
1 The place became home for Anglo-Saxons when they got a close win there versus local visiting tribes of midlanders.
2 In 1460 York came down to contest for the title against Lancaster in a neutral venue. At the death, it had been a right battle and Edward IV only seized victory in the last minute.
3 Cromwell liked the town and modelled his new army on their well-drilled first eleven. He also got 'em properly suited and booted er, to boot.
4 Napoleon said, 'an army marches on it's stomach' but at Northampton it was in their early leather football style boots by the millions.
5 Some teachers from District Elementary Schools decided to start a football club at the County Ground in 1897. It might have seemed rudimentary but just wasn't cricket to other uneducated types.
6 At the turn of the 19th century young Herbert Chapman was an engineer who played football. Town offered a pro contract and he probably said cobblers to all that minimum wage stuff.
7 Between the world wars Northampton were a third division south outfit, trying to get up to play dirty northern b's, parented by a countrywide league. Perhaps they didn't feel very legitimate among inbred southern softies.
8 1958 changed everything - Town ended up in division 4, failing to beat the administrative drop-off.
9 Within seven years Northampton reached division 1 by mid sixties. But yeah, you guessed - they went back down to div4 double quick.
10 Town had to move when safety regs condemed the old County Ground. In 1994 they were facing Conference footy but survived because the upcoming team's stadium didn't meet standards. It's sometimes better to be lucky than incredibly talented and successful.