The unofficial AFC Rushden & Diamonds messageboard

Well considering the SL bent over backwards for them in October, I would expect them to allow them to stay in the SLD1 next season. Even without floodlights!

Sara Pascoe wrote:Well considering the SL bent over backwards for them in October, I would expect them to allow them to stay in the SLD1 next season. Even without floodlights!

It does seem odd that the Southern League did everything they could for them earlier in the season, when others in the same League are not so fortunate.
http://nonleague.pitchero.com/news/bedw ... n-20147/#_

I have it on good authority from one of the board members at BPW that everything has been fully agreed with the Southern League and everything is set for KTFC next season! Don't know how they've managed to work that one??

BPW people seem very bullish that it's all cut and dried but they still have to get Grade C approval for the ground and there is an awful lot of work and money required to get it that standard.

Trek wrote:BPW people seem very bullish that it's all cut and dried but they still have to get Grade C approval for the ground and there is an awful lot of work and money required to get it that standard.

Surely they'd need to put some perimeter fencing around the pitch for a start? Plenty of room for a stand similar to ours at the D&D behind one of the goals. It's doable but it's going to take a serious amount of money.

BartonRaz wrote:
Surely they'd need to put some perimeter fencing around the pitch for a start? Plenty of room for a stand similar to ours at the D&D behind one of the goals. It's doable but it's going to take a serious amount of money.

£100k I reckon. Has RJ that amount?

That's what I thought too but they seem to be very confident that the deal has all been agreed with the league and everything which is very weird! Why be so confident and say it's all done when so much work seems to still be needed!

Here's the regs. You've all seen the state of the ground and what needs to be done.

http://www.thefa.com/Leagues/NationalLe ... adeC09.pdf

Was a nice little ground I thought, but would cost a fair bit to get it up to Southern League standard. Especially if you compare it to St Neot's ground (which is Southern League Standard or above).

diamondgeezer1 wrote:Was a nice little ground I thought, but would cost a fair bit to get it up to Southern League standard. Especially if you compare it to St Neot's ground (which is Southern League Standard or above).

I'd echo that - it would take far too long to list all the work that would need to be done to bring it up to that standard - but many of them are pretty fundamental structural things, such as floodlights, walkway width, turnstiles, seating, boundaries, lack of segregation etc. It makes you appreciate why we chose the Dog and Duck, and all of the efforts the team made during the summer on the walkway / terrace etc.

I'm afraid Latimer Park looks as inappropriate for the Poppies at Southern League level as Nene Park did.