The unofficial AFC Rushden & Diamonds messageboard

I think retiring the shirt is a good idea and we will remember Dale through this as it is a very personal and particular gesture to an outstanding player and young man.

But, I do think renaming a stand is possibly a step too far. If we were to rename a stand I would like Max Griggs to be honoured in that way, as if not for him none of the stands would have been built and our club would not exist - high time he was recognised for investment and commitment to our club.

totally agree with this
retireing the shirt is respectful and an honor for dale

if a stand is renamed it NEEDS to have max's name on it

rename the north and south then

I'm undecided on the stand to be honest., however for posterity I must point out that Max Griggs has previously been approached about the idea of renaming a stand after him and has refused IIRC.

Jemfy wrote:I'm undecided on the stand to be honest., however for posterity I must point out that Max Griggs has previously been approached about the idea of renaming a stand after him and has refused IIRC.

max is a very humble man and im sure he would have said he didnt want that, but its an honor im sure he would accept.

as chairman it would seem a little self centered but now hes not so involved im sure the decision wouldnt be his anyway surely you can call a stand whatever you want to!?!
why ask him first? cant we just do it?

Superhans wrote:

Jemfy wrote:I'm undecided on the stand to be honest., however for posterity I must point out that Max Griggs has previously been approached about the idea of renaming a stand after him and has refused IIRC.

max is a very humble man and im sure he would have said he didnt want that, but its an honor im sure he would accept.

as chairman it would seem a little self centered but now hes not so involved im sure the decision wouldnt be his anyway surely you can call a stand whatever you want to!?!
why ask him first? cant we just do it?

Surely it's just plain disrespectful to name something after someone who doesn't want it named after them?

By all means ask again, but I believe he would refuse, again through his own humility. I think he still turns up to game regularly, I doubt he would want to sit in or look at a stand named after himself, as much of an honour as it might be.

Didn't Max say something like ''Stands are normally named after people when they have died'' when he was approached?

I agree with Dukes and Superhans though until now I thought it was a minority opinion. The retiring the shirt was a great and necessary gesture, I personally think that naming the stand is taking it too far.

Max did intimate that stands are normally named after someone who has died, so I don't think it was an indefinite wish to not have a stand named after him. I have always figured that one day one would. On this note I've always felt that stands were named after those that have made a lasting contribution to a club (like Max) and whilst I appreciate it is an emotive issue I don't think it would be appropriate to name a stand after Dale.

Dale seemed like a very modest and unassuming man, and I can't help but feel that renaming an entire stand doesn't really reflect this. With the fans hopefully continuing to sing his name for a long time (plus Stuart's banner hopefully becoming a permanent fixture at NP), I don't think we need to do something as material as renaming a stand to remember him. Of course if it did happen I would not object, I just think that if the board decide NOT to rename a stand, it wouldn't necessarily be an insult to Dale's memory.