The unofficial AFC Rushden & Diamonds messageboard

Do people seriously want to go back there after all that's happened

Not really that much point in talking about it as of course it'll never happen, but I've put that place behind me now, of course I was sad knowing I'd never go back there again, considering all the childhood memories of going there all the time, it was one of my favourite places in the world for many years and I was proud of supporting a club with such a great ground when so many around us played in ancient run down places but that's in the past and I wouldn't want to go back. Plus at NP and proper stadiums you're restricted, having to be in the same place of the ground for the whole match, or even having to sit in the same seat for the whole match and only being allowed a beer in the concourse, whereas at the D&D and most NL grounds you can wonder about all you like, sit or stand, change ends at half time, wander about with a beer in your hand, all for a few quid and you're still watching your favourite team, its great.

If we ever do get back to the BSP or dare I say it the FL, as much as it would be great to be at such a level again, I have to say I'll miss these days. But of course, I like everyone else can't help but dream of the day we move into our own home, it'll be years off of course (I notice even now Scarborough Athletic are still a few years away from getting their own home) and I imagine we wouldn't be able to afford to have such a huge complex and stadium like NP but it will still be a great day

Corby and St Neots have the sort of set up that we should aspire to and with the way they have been built a lot lot cheaper maintenance

st neots would do for me ;) but i also liked lutterwoth,,,,,,,,not sure about corby ,i loved the pdb style terrace but the main stand seems a bit cold to me,,,,,maybe build it lower and wider ;)
at this moment in time id be happy with the irthlingborough diamonds old ground ;) ;)

Put me in the 'St Neots' camp. If you could imagine their ground, with a mirror image of the seated stand on the opposite side, I think that's the perfect scenario in my mind. They've got multiple function rooms, an astroturf pitch and a great playing surface. If only money grew on trees. ;)

I do like Steel Park but it is very exposed, i've frozen my bollocks off many a time up there. Also, i've seen a few people saying what a great set-up it was a Yaxley. Whilst I agree that the new clubhouse and surrounds were nice, what about the rest of it?!

BartonRaz wrote:
I do like Steel Park but it is very exposed, i've frozen my bollocks off many a time up there.

Highest point due west from the Ural Mountains in Russia so when that east wind blows in the winter it's a god forsaken place at Rockingham Triangle. :evil:

I see St Neots is a very clever design, as it is built with expansion in mind, so I like the route they are taking.

For example it currently holds 3500 (seats and two terraces - ideal), which would also suite us, and make the ground look like its got people in it, not like nene park with a 1000 in it!! I see that they can also put seats on the terracing and aswell have planning permission for another seated stand.

I think this is the approach we should follow as it seems a very good way of meeting our needs throughout our life span, which I assume is to slowly plod our way up the levels again.

I also like Telfords, Crawleys grounds, but I think getting people on board from St Neots to help us out would be a really good idea, as they have already done it etc.

One small draw back, we need to find some cheap land that the council will let us build on, by cheap I mean free, over to you Council :lol: (I think I would like to see R&H join us at this community stadium as well)

http://www.stneotstownfc.co.uk/The-Club ... adium.html

ron manager wrote: One small draw back, we need to find some cheap land that the council will let us build on, by cheap I mean free, over to you Council :lol: (I think I would like to see R&H join us at this community stadium as well)

http://www.stneotstownfc.co.uk/The-Club ... adium.html

I was reading an article today in The Times.
West Ham may not move into the Olympic Stadium as they are relying on a £40 million loan from Newham Council, to reconfigure the stadium which is seen as state aid. So I guess that council's are having to tread carefully on this issue. Seems state aid for football is under the spotlight. Though I assume more at the top end as they are businesses and Europe might see aid as uncompetitive.
Whilst it may be argued we are more a club of fans, what happens as we go up the leagues? When do we become seen as a business, if we have full time staff/players?

Maybe with the Rushden Lakes could we go down the lines of Salford Rugby League (you can build the shops, but can you build a stadium or buy NP and make it more user friendly ?) seems the issues with NP even if was vacant is a) the landlord(s), b) too much land, not doing much for any club (wasn't there four training pitches?)

Olly wrote:Do people seriously want to go back there after all that's happened

Seems Alfie Taylor does.

@AlfieTaylor1989: See K*ttering game has been postponed again. Be great 2 get nene park back !!

However, this is probably from a playing perspective and I guess he doesn't have detailed knowledge of the history over the last year or so of RDFC or an appreciation of the cost of that money pit.

I do like St Neots ground although the stand do lack abit of character

ron manager wrote:I see St Neots is a very clever design, as it is built with expansion in mind, so I like the route they are taking.

For example it currently holds 3500 (seats and two terraces - ideal), which would also suite us, and make

The problem is that I can't see that they will improve their crowds. Like Brackley they are struggling to build their fan base. The Saints are currently third in the SLP but only average 320 for their home league matches this season which is poor and a drop of over 22% on last season's average attendance and I'm sure is a major disappointment to their Chairman.