Northampton Saints Foundation is delighted to announce the award of funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund to support the development of a new, collaborative heritage strategy in partnership with Northampton Saints.
This exciting project marks a significant step forward in preserving and sharing the rich history of the club, while strengthening its connection with the wider community.
The funding awarded to Northampton Saints Foundation has enabled relocation of the heritage office and part of the club’s archive to Delapré Abbey, following ongoing stadium redevelopment works at cinch Stadium at Franklin's Gardens. This move provides a more accessible and inspiring setting for both staff and volunteers, not only safeguarding important historical materials during this period of change but also creates new opportunities for public engagement and future programming.
Richard Clinton, Chief Executive Delapre Abbey Preservation Trust, said: "Delapré Abbey has always been a place where history is kept alive. As the former home of Northamptonshire's county records office, it is entirely fitting that Northampton Saints Foundation has chosen the abbey as a new base for part of the club's archive. We have worked alongside the Foundation for a number of years and this move deepens that relationship, opening up new possibilities across heritage, wellbeing and learning. This is exactly the kind of collaborative, people centred heritage work that Delapré Abbey exists to support."
A key outcome of the funding is the expansion of volunteer involvement within the heritage department. Over the past two years, 69 dedicated volunteers have contributed their time and expertise across a wide range of roles. These include digitising and cataloguing archival materials, conservation work, historical research, and recording oral histories that capture the lived experiences of players, supporters, and the wider Northampton Saints community.
The new space at Delapré Abbey allows for increased volunteer capacity, supporting a more inclusive and collaborative approach to our heritage work. Volunteers remain at the heart of the project, playing a vital role in uncovering, preserving, and sharing the stories that define Northampton Saints.
Clare Clarke, Heritage Lead, said:"This funding is a hugely important milestone for our heritage work. It not only allows us to develop a clear and ambitious strategy for the future, but also creates the space and capacity to involve more people in preserving and sharing the club’s history. Our volunteers are at the heart of everything we do, and this support enables us to grow that community while ensuring the stories of Northampton Saints - past and present - are protected and celebrated for generations to come."
The forthcoming heritage strategy will guide future activity, ensuring that the club’s history is not only preserved but actively used to engage audiences, support wellbeing initiatives, and inspire future generations. This project reflects a shared commitment between Northampton Saints Foundation and Northampton Saints to celebrate their heritage in meaningful and accessible ways, ensuring it continues to be a source of pride for the community.
Anyone interested in volunteering with the heritage team is encouraged to register their interest by contacting Clare Clarke at heritage@northamptonsaintsfoundation.org or by calling 07933 185364.
