Northampton Saints cancel planned memorial wall for fans' ashes

Northampton Saints said on 18 September 2026 they have cancelled the Saints Memorial Wall, a proposal to inter supporters' ashes at Franklin's Gardens that formed part of a wider plan to enhance the club's fan village, after reporting insufficient interest.

The club had proposed the memorial wall as an addition to the fan village at its Franklin's Gardens ground, with ashes to be interred for 50 years and prices quoted between £4,000 and £8,000. Saints said initial demand "was not sufficient to support the long-term viability of the development" and confirmed supporters who have already paid will receive a refund.

In a club statement, chief executive Julia Chapman set out the organisation's original intentions, saying: "When we launched the Saints Memorial Wall, we did so believing it could provide a meaningful and lasting tribute for supporters and their loved ones at the heart of Franklin's Gardens." She added that the decision followed a review of demand: "Having carefully reviewed the level of demand we concluded that it was not right for us to proceed with the project."

Chapman also acknowledged the reaction the cancellation would prompt: "This was not a decision we took lightly and we recognise that it will be disappointing for some supporters. "While that is a source of genuine regret, we hope they will understand the reasons behind our decision," she added.

The club said it will look for other options to allow fans to leave a mark at the ground, noting that "alternative ways for supporters to 'create a lasting legacy' at the ground will be explored, it added."