The unofficial AFC Rushden & Diamonds messageboard

we must remember that PSF are not really for the fans, they are for the team.

This will be our first senior team, so it's important that we test ourselves against teams that will be at our level for next season 8-)

Oh dont get me wrong, I'm not for one minute suggesting that we mustn't prepare in the right way, which of course is playing teams of a similar standard and style as to those we predict we'll face when the league commences. I'm just of the opinion that there is an opportunity to get a 1000+ attendance given the right opposition, something no team at this level can afford to pass up on.

Out of interest, how is the team shaping up, have there been any announcements yet regarding the playing staff? Have I missed this?

ChorltonV wrote:Out of interest, how is the team shaping up, have there been any announcements yet regarding the playing staff? Have I missed this?

Behind 'closed doors' trials currently taking place. No news/rumours of any potential signings apart from the four lads from last season's youth squad.

I honestly couldn't give a stuff who we play in pre-season, just seeing our senior side run out will do for me. I feel like a kid waiting for Christmas - I can't wait !!!

A year without senior/Saturday afternoon football has been awful - roll on the new season I say.

TwinkleToesTomlin wrote:Without wanting to sound negative.. any chance we can get some bigger games? Its a good chance to make alot of money for the club!

One of the biggest problems all non-League clubs face nowadays is that League clubs won`t play on pitches that are not like carpets!
A few years back I had the general manager of Rochdale look at the D&D pitch with a view to playing a friendly and he said his team manager wouldn`t even get off the bus, never mind play a match!
So if a team like Rochdale (with due respect) won`t play at the D&D, we`ve little chance of many other League clubs!
With many Conference Premier clubs now recent ex-League teams, the same applies to the majority of them.
With a managerial hat on, playing against `bigger` teams is very nice for the fans (and club coffers) but of no use at all to team building - and remember - we are starting a team from scratch, so similar-level or maybe a level just above is much more beneficial for us at this stage of the club`s development.

I can understand that big clubs wont want to play here, thats not really what Im getting at. In terms of team preparation, its not the best, im talking about financial benefits. Was playing Arsenal, West Ham, Newcastle, Pompey, Spurs etc the best game scenario preparation for diamonds? Probably not, but they were good for the club's coffers.

Im not really talking about getting big clubs down here, maybe clubs who can share our ideology, clubs like Chester, FC Utd, an AFC Wimbledon Xl? or even teams like a Cambridge Utd Xl? They'll bring fans.

At the end of the day, I dont care who we play. I'll still be there.

I think its also important to remember the level we will be at next season. We'll be five steps below Conference level, so in effect there's a bigger gap than between the Premier League and the Conference.

When R&DFC played Halstead they were an Eastern Counties Division One team - Step 6 of non-league equivalent to the level we'll be next season - and it was a total mismatch.

http://www.thediamondsfc.com/page/NewsD ... 44,00.html

...and RDFC were hardly a draw with only 50 home fans bothering to take in the action.

Personally, I won't be bothering with any pre-season friendly matches, a decision I took a few years back when I considered that the way these games were played out was of limited attraction to me. Matches even at international level leave a lot to be desired with all the substitutions.
I can, however see that they will be of immense benefit to our management team in sorting out the wheat from the chaff. ;)

There are some clubs on this page seeking Pre Season Fixtures; http://nonleague.pitchero.com//pre-seas ... s/seeking/

Not many interesting teams, but something might pop up!