Bedford Town Ground?

[Easton Diamond]

I am really hoping that a Rushden & Higham or Raunds type option comes up tonight. I agree that it’s absolutely paramount that we stay as local as possible; even if that means dropping down to Step 5 as mentioned. In the long run it would be far more beneficial.

With regards to the Step 5 ground grading, it says covered accommodation for at least 200, 100 of which must be seating. If Hayden Road was at all feasible maybe the Olympic Park seats could be incorporated into a new structure somehow (something similar to the two small seated stands at Daventry)? The barrier around the pitch wouldn’t have to be infilled either I don’t believe. From what I can remember Kiln Park is pretty much up to Step 5 standard now without factoring in the stuff we would take there.

It’s important to bear in mind that we could be at this ground for 5-7 years or more. Sharing with Bedford, Kempston or St Neots will see fans gradually tail off and lose interest altogether IMO. If we struggle to get 300 on a Tuesday night in Wellingborough for example then goodness knows what we’d get at any of those three grounds.

[Bob's Bitch]

It’s important to bear in mind that we could be at this ground for 5-7 years or more. Sharing with Bedford, Kempston or St Neots will see fans gradually tail off and lose interest altogether IMO. If we struggle to get 300 on a Tuesday night in Wellingborough for example then goodness knows what we’d get at any of those three grounds.

This is also my concern, as someone who's been a very irregular attendee in the last couple of years, it has been concerning to see the attendances drop significantly. I think staying as close to Rushden has to be the priority. Raunds would be my vote if it's one of the options.

As for these rumours, do the people involved in creating them not know that the fans make the final decision?!

[mikerd]

What about Wellingborough Whitworths, so many options.

[SouthRushdenJFC]

Oliverrush how do you know how much it will cost to bring up to standard? How do you know for a fact that it isn't already up to standard or very close to being so?

Hayden Road is miles away from being Step 5 standard let alone Step 3/4. To move anything on would you need to demolish the stand and the dressing rooms. R&H tried that a couple of years ago and found it had issues with asbestos. The cost of removing that alone would run to six figures. Good luck with getting 100 people under the covered standing, you'd need to be very friendly.

Trust me the D&D changing rooms are a LOT better than Hayden Road, you can get a full team in there for a start.

[oliverrush]

Oliverrush how do you know how much it will cost to bring up to standard? How do you know for a fact that it isn't already up to standard or very close to being so?

Hayden Road is miles away from being Step 5 standard let alone Step 3/4. To move anything on would you need to demolish the stand and the dressing rooms. R&H tried that a couple of years ago and found it had issues with asbestos. The cost of removing that alone would run to six figures. Good luck with getting 100 people under the covered standing, you'd need to be very friendly.

Trust me the D&D changing rooms are a LOT better than Hayden Road, you can get a full team in there for a start.

Well said, that's what I tried to explain before, before getting stick from it, sometimes I don't know why I even bother when all I get is stick from it.

But where is this money suppose to have come from, where, people need to think about that.

Money can't come out of thin air?

Kindly stating putting our club at financially risk for years and years to come, R & H have had problems with issues, planning, asbestos for years.

That 6 figure sum is just to remove it, that's not including all the paperwork that's included in it, that 6 figure sum isn't included in with new stand, with that taking years and years to do. People need to think of that.

A we don't have that money, putting our club at financially risk, and b when Rushden Sports Association wants to relocate R & H, which means that we would be in the same position as what we're now with D & D, when we have so many good and decent grounds near/next to us.

[Trek]

What about Wellingborough Whitworths, so many options.

It's a Step 6 graded ground, pitch looked a quagmire the other Saturday and they have a reserve team that plays every other week there.

[Formic]

What about Wellingborough Whitworths, so many options.

It's a Step 6 graded ground, pitch looked a quagmire the other Saturday and they have a reserve team that plays every other week there.

Fair points - but the first two would also have applied to Latimer Park before the Poppies became involved.

[Formic]

I hope that the good points raised in this thread are also put forward at tonight's meeting - and those from members who cannot attend can always be submitted in advance - http://www.afcdiamonds.com/members-foru ... -25th-2017 - so hopefully the more detailed debate on this can continue on the members forum from this evening.

[SouthRushdenJFC]

What about Wellingborough Whitworths, so many options.

It's a Step 6 graded ground, pitch looked a quagmire the other Saturday and they have a reserve team that plays every other week there.

Fair points - but the first two would also have applied to Latimer Park before the Poppies became involved.

The question is with UCL clubs that have a ressies team is do they want to give them up?

[Brownie]

Back into Rushden has to be the obvious choice, but if H Rd couldn't be made ready for start of season with possibly a little leniency from FA / whichever league we may be in, would a 1 year share with a Club who's ground is up to standard prior to a move there not be viable. The only way forward is what is best for the Club long term and if the only way forward should happen as some have suggested involve dropping down then so be it, but that would I'm sure result in almost a complete new team which for obvious reasons wouldn't quite be what I am hoping for.