NORTHAMPTON, England — No sooner had the final whistle blown than the public-address system crackled to life. Most fans were already out of their seats, donning hats and gloves, preparing to head out into the night, steeling themselves to face the bitter cold and the driving rain.
Over the previous 90 minutes, a Northampton Town team composed largely of reserves had played out a 1-1 draw with West Ham United’s under-21 squad in the group stage of the Checkatrade Trophy. It had been entertaining enough, but essentially meaningless: Both teams had been eliminated from the competition before the match had started.