One-minute conversation sealed Jacobs' Cobblers return
The chance to return to Northampton Town needed only a one-minute conversation, according to midfielder Michael Jacobs.
The 33-year-old is back at the club where he started his career, after agreeing an initial 12-month deal which also includes what the club describe as "various options."
Advertisement
Jacobs made exactly 100 appearances for the Cobblers before leaving to join Derby County in the Championship in 2012 and going on to win promotion from League One three times with Wolves and Wigan (twice).
"I'm still highly competitive and I want to do well, want to be successful - at this level I've been successful three times so I want to come back and just help out," he told BBC Radio Northampton.
"There are familiar faces you worked with 15 years ago, so it's one of those places no-one really leaves, which is a credit to itself, so it was probably a one-minute conversation of asking if I was interested and we got it sorted, as simple as that."
Jacobs made 41 appearances in the Championship for Derby and, as well as his time with Wolves and Wigan, has also played for Blackpool, Portsmouth and Chesterfield but he admits he always believed he would return to Northampton at some point.
Advertisement
He explained: "I've always enjoyed playing here and when I left I probably didn't want to leave, but it was such a great opportunity to go and play for a big club in the Championship I couldn't turn it down and I played two years in the first team and enjoyed every minute of it.
"It's always been the first score I checked every week when I was playing elsewhere and hopefully I can come here with my experience and be part of something that's going to be successful."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Valkyries' Kayla Thornton caps off New York return with long-awaited 2024 championship ring
The post Valkyries' Kayla Thornton caps off New York return with long-awaited 2024 championship ring appeared first on ClutchPoints. While there weren't many positives for the Golden State Valkyries in their 95-67 loss to the New York Liberty, there was one feel-good moment: Kayla Thornton's return to the Barclays Center. Thornton's reception back in New York was fit for a WNBA champion. Advertisement Right before tip-off, Thornton's former Liberty teammates welcomed her at halfcourt and bestowed her with her well-deserved, hard-earned championship ring. It was an emotional moment for Thornton, her Liberty teammates, and the entire arena. Before the game, Thornton talked with CBS News's Matt Lively about the emotions of her homecoming return. 'It's been a lot of emotions. Of course, happy emotions, but it's good to be back. Just heartwarming feelings. Being in this arena brings back so many memories, especially since winning the championship, so I'm just glad to be back,' Thornton reflected. Those emotions go beyond basketball. Thornton's day before the actual game was full of hugs and reunions. She spent a lot of time pre-game talking to old coaches, old teammates, and others involved with the Liberty organization. In the same interview with Lively, Thornton was honest about how she felt seeing her former companions. Advertisement 'It was good. I tried to hold my emotions because I've been kind of crying this whole time since I've gotten to New York,' Thornton said. 'But seeing [my former teammates] just broke something. I'm just happy to see them. Outside of basketball, they're special people, and they have a place in my heart, so that will never change.' Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images Thornton on East Coast vs. West Coast What has changed for Thornton since joining the Valkyries is her role. With New York, Thornton was the team's defensive sparkplug off the bench. But with Golden State, on a team assembled entirely through the expansion draft, her new team is asking her to do a little bit more. Advertisement Post-game, head coach Natalie Nakase talked a little bit about how the coaching staff is pushing for Thornton to shoot more 3s. The Valkyries are relying on Thornton's offense much more than Liberty was because of Golden State's shooting disparity. But at her core, Thornton's still the glue for her team's chemistry and teamwork, as stated by head coach Natalie Nakase after the game. 'What I've noticed is she loves to build really tight-knit relationships with every single person,' Nakase revealed. 'She does a great job, even if it's not even practice, she'll go out of her way off the court and build relationships. That's to me, she's becoming our glue person. I haven't really told her that, but I could just sense it. Every player on our team, when she's around, they're like, 'Where's KT? Where's KT?'' With Golden State, many outside of the team view the Valkyries as a place where Thornton can elevate and become a No. 1 option. But, as she stated in her post-game press conference, Thornton doesn't view the opportunity on the Valkyries in those simple terms. 'I'm very grateful for the opportunity. But I kind of don't look at it like that. I feel like I'm the same player that I was in New York,' Thornton said when asked about the different role she's playing on the Valkyries compared to the Liberty. 'I bring the same energy and stuff. Yeah, I might have to score a little more, but I still do the small things, I don't change who I am.' Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images A thank you to Liberty Fans After a long day of reunions and emotional moments, Thornton took the time to thank the Liberty fanbase for a warm homecoming in her post-game press conference. Advertisement 'I don't even want to get emotional again, but they are amazing. I know I'm on a new team, and my Golden State fans are great too. But New York fans will always have a special place in my heart,' Thornton said on the verge of tears. 'Y'all made me feel like I was back in New York playing for New York. I'm just so appreciative of that, and I'm blessed that I had that type of fanbase, even though I was on the other side, that still supports me. I don't take that stuff for granted, and I've always cherished that. Just know you guys will be forgotten.' While the Valkyries couldn't come up with a win for Thornton, she'll leave this game with lifelong memories of how the fans celebrated her.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Buoyant Wakefield snap Warriors' winning streak
Winger Tom Johnstone (right) scored the third Wakefield Trinity try against Wigan Warriors [ Betfred Super League Wakefield Trinity (10) 16 Tries: Faatili, Griffin, Johnstone Goals: Jowitt 2 Wigan Warriors (0) 10 Tries: Keighran, Field Goals: Keighran Wigan Warriors squandered their chance to close the gap on Super League leaders Hull KR as they were stunned by an impressive Wakefield Trinity at Belle Vue. Trinity weathered an early spell of pressure before opening up a 10-point lead at half-time through tries by Caius Faatili and Josh Griffin. Advertisement The sluggish Warriors failed to find their rhythm and, although Adam Keighran reduced the deficit to four points early in the second half, Trinity cemented their advantage with another score from Tom Johnstone. Wigan eventually pulled back a late try through Jai Field, but it was not enough for them to stave off a third defeat of the campaign. The result lifted Daryl Powell's side into the top half of the table and ended second-placed Wigan's nine-match winning run. Heading into the game on the back of successive defeats, Trinity were immediately under pressure from the champions and spent most of the opening 15 minutes penned back near their goalline. Advertisement But the home side held firm, repelling Junior Nsemba's dive for the line before maximising their first genuine attack of the evening as Harvey Smith set up Faatili to spin his man and power over. Josh Griffin (second from right) scored just before half-time to extend Wakefield's lead [ That score injected confidence into the Wakefield ranks, with Johnstone denied at the last by Liam Farrell, and Mason Lino's crafty kicking helping to trigger a series of defensive errors from the Warriors. It was Lino's boot that enabled Trinity to extend their advantage before the interval as the scrum-half's kick split the Wigan line and Griffin eagerly gobbled up the opportunity, with Max Jowitt adding the extras to make it 10-0. Advertisement Wigan responded straight after the turnaround, winning two early penalties before Bevan French set up Keighran to gallop through on the right and dive across, and he followed it up with a successful conversion. However, a mistake by Nsemba shortly afterwards gifted Trinity another set of tackles, and Jake Trueman's looping pass teed up winger Johnstone to score in the corner and restore his side's 10-point lead. Jowitt, who had missed a routine conversion earlier in the game, was off target again with a penalty kick after Wigan were penalised for obstruction. But it made no difference to the outcome as the Warriors - who had overturned a half-time deficit to triumph at Huddersfield last weekend - found the recovery job beyond them on this occasion. Advertisement Full-back Field narrowed the scoreline with seconds remaining after he collected Harry Smith's chip and raced away to cross the whitewash, but it was no more than a consolation for the champions. Wakefield Trinity: Jowitt, Walmsley, Hall, Pratt, Johnstone, Trueman, Lino, Cozza, Smith, Faatili, Nikotemo, Griffin, Pitts. Interchanges: Scott, Hood, Vagana, Croft. Wigan Warriors: Field, Eckersley, Keighran, Wardle, Marshall, French, Smith, Byrne, O'Neill, Thompson, Nsemba, Farrell, Ellis. Interchanges: Havard, Mago, Leeming, Dupree. Referee: Aaron Moore.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Tyrese Haliburton available for Pacers-Thunder NBA Finals Game 6
The post Tyrese Haliburton available for Pacers-Thunder NBA Finals Game 6 appeared first on ClutchPoints. The Indiana Pacers host the Oklahoma City Thunder in a must-win Game 6 of the NBA Finals on Thursday night. Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton finds himself on the injury report alongside Jarace Walker and Isaiah Jackson. Haliburton was been listed as questionable due to a right calf strain, while both Walker and Jackson are out, with a right ankle sprain and an Achilles injury, respectively. Here is everything we know about Tyrese Haliburton's injury and his playing status vs. the Thunder. Advertisement *Watch NBA games LIVE with fuboTV (Get Access | Save $30) Tyrese Haliburton injury status vs. Thunder Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images Tyrese Haliburton was initially listed as questionable for Game 6 against the Thunder. His possible absence would undoubtedly have been a huge loss for the Pacers in their most important game of the season. The guard has struggled with the strain since Game 3 and appeared to land awkwardly in the first quarter of Game 5. However, he was ultimately made available before the game, per Tomer Azarly of ClutchPoints. Haliburton has been crucial for the Pacers' run until the Finals, but has struggled in the last 2 matches. He had only four points and made zero field goals during his 34 minutes on the court, visibly struggling due to injury in Game 5. Head coach Rick Carlisle has suggested that Haliburton remains a game-time decision for the Pacers. Advertisement Over the past two games, Haliburton has gone 1-11 from the 3-point range while converting just seven of his overall 21 shots. That has translated to two easy wins for OKC. Now, the Pacers aim to force a Game 7 at home territory. For that, they need Haliburton to not only be fit, but also produce a big performance. In his limited presence, Pascal Siakam and Bennedict Mathurin have taken on more offensive load. Averaging 17.9 points, 9.1 assists and 5.8 rebounds per game in the postseason, Haliburton's numbers have dropped from the regular season. However, he remains the Pacers' biggest hope in arresting OKC's momentum. All signs point to OKC landing the Championship at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Thursday. That would have been more likely if Haliburton was deemed unfit to play a part. As things stand, when it comes to the question of if Tyrese Haliburton is playing tonight vs. the Thunder, the answer is yes. Pacers injury report Tyrese Haliburton – Available (Right Calf Strain) Advertisement Isaiah Jackson – Out (Right Achilles Tendon Tear) Jarace Walker – Out (Right Ankle Sprain) Thunder injury report Nikola Topic – Out (Left Knee Surgery) Related: Doctors share tough Tyrese Haliburton injury outlook beyond NBA Finals Related: Alex Caruso gets 100% real on his Thunder role
