The unofficial AFC Rushden & Diamonds messageboard

I agree. I wouldn't want to travel all the way to St Neots, every 2 weeks for a "home game".

SouthRushdenJFC wrote:St.Noets is a different county. Playing there would be totally alien to everything AFC are trying to achieve.

We have to improve the facilities in Rushden, when I say improve I should say create, and when I say we I mean everyone with an interest in football in the town as well as the Councils who perhaps don't have an interest

I agree. Having been born and bred in Cambridge, I associate St.Neots more with Huntingdon and Cambridgeshire rather than Rushden and East Northamptonshire.
In the short term Raunds is the best option. However, unless there is a will, with ENC and Rushden Town Council, to assist with the provision of a suitable community facility in the Rushden area this is going to be major hurdle for AFC to overcome.

Despite the bad publicity Corby seems to attract from other parts of the County, it is clear that the movers and shakers on their Borough Council have always recognised the value of providing excellent sporting facilities for their council tax payers. I don't know the terms of Corby FC's lease on Steel Park but it wouldn't surprise me if they only pay a peppercorn rent.
I think that is important for the new AFC to think about a plan to campaign ENC/ Rushden Town to do likewise. ;)

I think whatever we do will only be a temporary measure, the longer term aim will always be a home in Rushden or the immediate area. I don't think we should rule it out of hand personally, it makes far more sense to look at various options and keep an open mind.

My preference? A redeveloped Hayden Rd, right at the heart of Rushden, but its very unlikely to happen and even if we could strike a deal, it'd be far too impracrtical. We're a long way off even having a field of our own to play in so lets not get ahead of ourselves. In the meantime we have to be guests somewhere, all I'm saying is we should look at the options and go with whichever one will deliver the best deal for us, and that may not be Raunds.

We need a ground, where the Club hasn't got a Reserve Team.

I don't usually read these St Notes threads, but I'm horrified by this one. If anyone want's to support them fine, fair enough it's a free country, but don't suggest any club with Rushden & Diamonds in the title should play there. We'd have to start a phoenix club. AFC AFC Rushden & diamonds anyone :lol:

St Neots have been drawn away to Billericay in the next round of the Trophy.

PigmanRDFC wrote:My preference? A redeveloped Hayden Rd, right at the heart of Rushden, but its very unlikely to happen and even if we could strike a deal, it'd be far too impracrtical.

It's a non starter really. Unless you are going to start knocking down houses there is nowhere to redevelop. Rushden & Higham themselves have outgrown Hayden Road and some of their youth teams have to play on Spencer Park because there aren't enough hours in the day. Add into the mix that R&H (I think) own Hayden Road, so why would they want to share it with anyone else.

Apart from Spencer Park there literally is no where in Rushden that has even the most basic of facilities to satisfy the Weetabix League. Regardless of what ENDC/Rushden Town Council think they have duty to the people of Rushden to provide a facility for all the community. We, as the community, need to keep on to them. From our (SRJFC) point of view AFC could be the best thing to happen in football in Rushden for years because we are just banging heads against walls at the moment, standing side ny side with AFC makes us both stronger

The only way AFC playing at St. Neots would work would be if there was a 100% definite plan, with it having already been agreed, to have something to come back to after 1 or 2 seasons in the Rushden area.

Nene Park pitch 2 anyone

Spencer Park. End of.