The unofficial AFC Rushden & Diamonds messageboard

Started going after my dads mate told me about the set-up, after he had fitted that chanderlier above the winding stairs!

I was never interested in football greatly till my next door neighbour took me to the away game against Hednesford in 2000 and from then on I was hooked to the roller-coaster ride that is RDFC.

I had attended games at both Hayden Road and Nene Park. To be honest I had attended a greater number of games at Northampton and K*ttering, but my previous team was 100% Aldershot. But they went bust, R&D were formed and the rest is history. The only problem is moving to Stafford in 1995!

I started watching the Diamonds when they played on Irthlingborough rec which was at the top of our road (Scarborough street). Then they moved to Nene park and I've still got the souvenir programme from the opening game. I particularly remember players like Barry Ellis, Chris Smith and Peter Phipps........ great days.

straydiamond wrote:I had attended games at both Hayden Road and Nene Park. To be honest I had attended a greater number of games at Northampton and K*ttering, but my previous team was 100% Aldershot. But they went bust, R&D were formed and the rest is history. The only problem is moving to Stafford in 1995!

Ahhhhh! So you're the one I see driving round Stafford with the mini-diamonds kit hanging in his car!!!
A fellow Staffordshire supporter - shall we start a Supporter's club?! :lol:

UttoDiamond wrote:

straydiamond wrote:I had attended games at both Hayden Road and Nene Park. To be honest I had attended a greater number of games at Northampton and K*ttering, but my previous team was 100% Aldershot. But they went bust, R&D were formed and the rest is history. The only problem is moving to Stafford in 1995!

Ahhhhh! So you're the one I see driving round Stafford with the mini-diamonds kit hanging in his car!!!
A fellow Staffordshire supporter - shall we start a Supporter's club?! :lol:

Actually, Phil, you've already met Straydiamond, at an away friendly a couple of years ago - Hinckley, was it, or somewhere like that? When Phart was in charge, anyway.

I also saw him (naturally enough) at Stafford Rangers away, but I can't remember whether you were with me that night or whether it was Mike Claridge.

Well like a few of you I was a bit too young for the pre-merger sides but I do remember staying at the frontier camp with my school when I was 9 and we walked past Nene Park on a hike before it was demolished so at least I can say I saw the original stadium. Anyone got any pictures of the original NP that could be posted on here?

My first game was in April 1997 when we beat Halifax 1-0 at home courtesy of a late Brendan Hackett goal. Hooked ever since.

I don't know what the respective average attendances were of Rushden Town and Irthlingborough Diamonds, but it always struck me as quite odd that there seem to be far more ex-Rushden supporters following R&D than there are ex-Diamonds' fans (as backed up by this vote). Given that we play at the old Irthlingborough Diamonds ground, I would have though that more of their supporters would follow the new club.

I was also a fan of neither club, it wasn't until 1996 when I first attended a game, and about 18 months later before I really got hooked and couldn't keep away from the place!

I wasn't a fan of either club - my first game was in 2005: 2-0 versus Leyton Orient.

Fan of neither. First game FA cup replay v Leeds!

Hooked/Season ticket holder ever since! :roll: :roll: :roll: