Martin Aldridge

Northampton Town

Northampton-born Aldridge joined Coventry City as a schoolboy but was released in 1990. As a 16-year-old, he then played for Ford Sports Daventry (UCL first division), and joined Sunday League side Braunston Rangers on to play with his brother Pete. He began his professional career as a trainee with his local side, Northampton Town, joining them from Braunston, leaving school in the summer of 1991, and turning professional in August 1993. The "Cobblers" finished bottom of the Football League in 1993–94. On 15 October 1994, he scored the first-ever competitive goal at Northampton's new Sixfields Stadium in a 1–1 draw with Barnet. Northampton rose to 17th in the Third Division in 1994–95 under Ian Atkins's stewardship. He moved to Dagenham & Redbridge on loan in December 1995. Later that month, he moved to Oxford United on a free transfer, where he was intended to replace Wayne Biggins.

Oxford United

Oxford won promotion as runners-up of the Second Division in 1995–96, with Aldridge scoring nine goals in 18 Division Two games before missing the final few games of the season with injury. He scored nine goals in 38 appearances in 1996–97, including a hat-trick in a 4–1 win over Sheffield United at the Manor Ground on 14 December. Aldridge, along with the goals of fellow strikers Nigel Jemson and Paul Moody, helped the "U's" to retain their Division One status with a 17th-place finish. However, they had been in the playoff places earlier in the…

Oxford United

Football League Second Division second-place promotion: 1995–96