Rushden & Diamonds v MK Dons

Friday, 30 July 2010 18:05

 


Kick Off:
Saturday 31st July at 3:00pm


Address:
Rushden & Diamonds Football Club Nene Park, Diamond Way, Irthlingborough, Northants, NN9 5QF.


Dons Squad:

Goalkeepers; Willy Gueret, Stuart Searle.

Defenders; Adam Chicksen, Tom Flanagan, Dean Lewington, Sean O'Hanlon, Danny Woodards.

Midfielders; Angelo Balanta, Mark Carrington, Luke Chadwick, Stephen Gleeson, Lewis Guy, Luke Howell, Peter Leven, Daniel Powell.

Forwards; Sam Baldock, Charlie Collins, Jermaine Easter, Jabo Ibehre, Aaron Wilbraham.

Capacity:
6,441 (4,641 seated)


Telephone:
Football Club Switchboard Number: (01933) 652000
Ticket Office/Club Shop Number: (01933) 652936
Sports Centre Number: (01933) 650440


Ticket Prices:
Adults - £10
Concessions - £5
Under 16s - £2


Directions:
From Junction 15 of the M1 follow the signs to Northampton and Wellingborough. At a roundabout on the outskirts of Wellingborough, where the A508 and A45 split, keep on A45, travelling east, until you reach the junction with the A6, and turn left (s/p Kettering A6). Cross the river and turn right at the next roundabout into the ground.

35 miles from Milton Keynes
Approximate travelling time: 1 hour


Drinking Establishments:
If you want to have a drink before the match, there are several bars around the ground. Visiting supporters have a designated bar situated in the AirWair Stand when they are situated in that stand. Strikers Bar is open for everyone and is located adjacent to the South Stand


Club History:




Rushden & Diamonds Football Club was formed at the end of the 1991/92 season following a merger between Rushden Town (Southern League) and Irthlingborough Diamonds (United Counties League).

Rushden Town was formed in 1889 and competed in the Midland and Northants Leagues before joining the United Counties League. The club made a brief sojourn to the Central Alliance before returning to the U.C.L. in the late 50s and winning the title in 1963/64 and 1972/73. In 1983 it was elected to the Southern League Midland Division and progressed further in 1990/91 with promotion to the Premier Division. Unfortunately, after finishing 14th in their first season at this level, the Russians were relegated back to the Midland Division, as their Hayden Road ground was not considered up to the standard required. The club had made considerable improvements to the ground and the Social Club, and was devastated when told that the facilities were not acceptable.

Irthlingborough Diamonds was founded in 1946 and began playing competitive youth football in 1947. For the next decade they played as an under-18 side before progressing through local football in the Rushden & District and Kettering Amateur Leagues until 1964. They then achieved senior status with a move to the United Counties League winning the title for the first time in 1970/71. 

In addition to League success the Diamonds had exciting runs in the FA Vase, reaching the semi-finals in 1980/81 and 1983/84 before losing to Willenhall and Stamford respectively. But after the successes of the 70s and 80s, the early 90s saw a decline in the clubs fortunes and Max Griggs, a local businessman, was approached concerning a possible sponsorship

Mr Griggs recognised the problems being experienced by both Rushden Town and Irthlingborough Diamonds and suggested a merger. Despite widespread reservations this amalgamation was eventually agreed and the Irthlingborough Diamonds ground, Nene Park, was brought up to the required standard.

The club's first few seasons were remarkable for the success the team enjoyed, finishing 3rd in the Southern League Midland Division in their inaugural season. The following year they won the division, winning promotion to the Southern League Premier Division, and two years later the Diamonds were again promoted as champions. The team had gained promotion to the Conference after just four years as a club.

The team then spent five seasons attempting to reach The Football League, finishing 12th in the 1996–97 season, and then 4th, 4th and 2nd in the Football Conference before they finally won promotion to the Football League as champions in 2001. In their first season they reached the Division Three playoff final but lost to Cheltenham Town. In 2003, they won the division, pipping Hartlepool United to the Division Three championship on the last day of the season - their third promotion/league title in eight seasons.

During Summer 2005 Max Griggs stepped down as Chairman and owner of the club after announcing his intention to sell the club in October 2003. The Rushden and Diamonds Supporters Trust, made up of supporters of the club, were formed in order to protect the club. In January 2005 Griggs announced his plans to hand over the Football Club, the Nene Park stadium and 22 acres of land - except the sports and exhibition centre - to the Trust. The Griggs family also offered a cash injection of £500,000 for the 2005/06 season, and £250,000 for the 2006/07 season. 

The club was formally handed over to the Supporters Trust at a ceremony at Nene Park on 3^rd June 2005 in a historic gesture, with Rushden & Diamonds becoming the first Football Club owned solely by a Supporters Trust.  The 2005/06 season would ultimately be a season of struggle culminating in relegation to the Football Conference where they have remained since.

On 22^nd November 2006 the Supporters Trust handed control of Rushden & Diamonds over to Keith Cousins who became the new Chairman after investing a substantial sum of money into the club.


Websites:

Official Site and Forum - http://www.thediamondsfc.com/page/Home/0,,10784,00.html

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