The unofficial AFC Rushden & Diamonds messageboard

STAGMAN wrote: Thu May 15, 2025 11:35 am Can someone remind me who,s place Belper and Carlton have taken please, also be nice going back to Bourne , remember going there in the UCL

Sporting Khalsa and Darlaston Town both moved to the NPL west division. Confirmed on both of their x/twitter accounts.

AFCRD_Dan wrote: Thu May 15, 2025 12:10 pm

STAGMAN wrote: Thu May 15, 2025 11:35 am Can someone remind me who,s place Belper and Carlton have taken please, also be nice going back to Bourne , remember going there in the UCL

Sporting Khalsa and Darlaston Town both moved to the NPL west division. Confirmed on both of their x/twitter accounts.

I've just spent 15 minutes racking my brain trying to decide who have gone. I got Khalsa but just could not remember Darlaston. . Good to see St Neots back with us. Although we have played them a few times and I have been to St Neots many times I have never been to a match there.

Nice little ground at St Neots but parking is poor, also at least it is another local derby for the club and one less longer trip for the club, win, win

Any chance we will ever pivot back to the Southern Leagues? I enjoyed our time in them as could make some away games.

Oundle Diamond #2 wrote: Sun May 18, 2025 9:44 am Any chance we will ever pivot back to the Southern Leagues? I enjoyed our time in them as could make some away games.

In the long term we may do, but not as long as there are teams like St Neots in the NPL Midlands.

When we get back to Step 3 then we will most likely revert to Southern League, by far my preference.

Oundle Diamond #2 wrote: Sun May 18, 2025 9:44 am Any chance we will ever pivot back to the Southern Leagues? I enjoyed our time in them as could make some away games.

My guess is that over a decade, even if we remained at Step 4, we'll probably flip-flop between the regions as things are constantly changing.

A few months ago the NPL canvassed opinion on some radical changes to the areas at Step 4 that might have seen us going up to the likes of Bridlington and North Ferriby for league matches. If that had have been pushed through we'd have appealed that and requested a move, I'm sure.

At step 4-6 Northamptonshire clubs are likely to face some flip-flopping as stated. The SSML Division one seemed to be going more Northern and Eastern based but this coming season shows three trips inside the M25 for Northants clubs.

It wouldn't surprise me to see Welly Town in the mix for the title this season, obviously Corby and Anstey as well.

Three of Diamonds wrote: Tue Jun 03, 2025 6:11 am It wouldn't surprise me to see Welly Town in the mix for the title this season, obviously Corby and Anstey as well.

Certainly agree regarding Welly, they have signed some good players from local clubs on the other hand Corby seem to be losing players including top scorer Fletcher Toll.