Defender Widdowson says his first Northampton Town season was ‘brilliant’

But the left-back has also promised the Cobblers supporters that he will be a better player in the next campaign.

Widdowson was one of the Cobblers’ most consistent players throughout the 2012/13 season following his signing from Rochdale last summer.

He made 47 appearances and would have topped 50 but for suspension and a late-season injury, and has established himself as a favourite with the Sixfields supporters.

“It has been a brilliant first season,” said Widdowson.

“If we had won at Wembley and gone up it would have been the icing on the cake.

“I have played some good stuff, but next season I will make sure that I play even better, and do better.

“I have really enjoyed my time. It is a good club, with good people from top to bottom.

“It’s just that the loss to Bradford was a sad way to end the season.”

Widdowson was a second-half substitute in the 3-0 defeat to the Bantams, and admitted that losing at the national stadium was ‘no fun’.

But he says the Cobblers players will get over the disappointment over the summer.

“Next season seems a long way off, and we are still getting over the defeat at Wembley, but we will pick ourselves up,” said Widdowson.

“We will regroup, and we will come back stronger next season.”

He also had words of praise for the Cobblers supporters, saying: “The fans have been unbelievable all season, and I am as disappointed for them as I am for myself about the play-off final.

“The support has been excellent.

“They turned out in force at Wembley to support us, and I am just disappointed we couldn’t give them the result that everybody connected to the club wanted to.”