The unofficial AFC Rushden & Diamonds messageboard

I believe the main reason is that most of those players that play in the South Kesteven area are not interested in the additional travel that Step 4 footy demands. If there's an away evening fixture then most would loose half a day's pay in their day job so by and large the better players target the club with the biggest playing budget that particular season.

Trek wrote:I believe the main reason is that most of those players that play in the South Kesteven area are not interested in the additional travel that Step 4 footy demands. If there's an away evening fixture then most would loose half a day's pay in their day job so by and large the better players target the club with the biggest playing budget that particular season.

Agreed - I think players have accepted they aren't going to make a living out of playing football, and since they don't get paid for "travel time" unlike a lot of jobs, they find that even a lower offer from a local club is preferable in terms of compensating them for the commitment they have to make.

We have several players in a similar position, having won the UCL with Long Buckby, Woodford or Daventry, or earned promotion with Kings Lynn, although in most cases they have at least tried Step 4 football before returning to the UCL.

Another agreement. That is certainly true in the case of at least two of Spalding's team from last season who told me that it wasn't financially viable for them to play any higher with more travelling given their family situation and place on the career ladder.

Geography doesn't help either as you are at the southernmost or northernmost tip of the league area.

SouthRushdenJFC wrote: Geography doesn't help either as you are at the southernmost or northernmost tip of the league area.

Exactly, it will be interesting to see what problems Lowestoft Town have this season after the FA decided they would have to play in the Conference North at Step 2 level. Horrendous travelling in time and mileage for the majority of their away games with nearest clubs Boston United and Brackley Town.