The unofficial AFC Rushden & Diamonds messageboard

My first game was in 1994 Rob, so I've been lucky to see the best, and worst, of times - trust me, Championships and promotions are very over-rated ;)

I feel your sadness and loss mate, I can't sleep tonight, its eating away at me - if I win the Euro Millions tomorrow we're sorted mate - I can but live in hope eh (better buy a ticket now !!).

Well reality is really kicking in now, I remember seeing other clubs go through this and imagined us having to go through all this but it just doesn't feel right that now we're actually in this position with the prospect of losing our club. Don't think I could ever really explain how I'm feeling to anyone but a hardcore football fan, I know my Man Utd and Chelsea supporting mates won't ever understand at all but it really feels like losing a best friend to me even though I'm sure people would tell me its just a football club. I wasn't fortunate enough to witness much of our glory days like most (although I did see the bus trophy parades in Rushden ;) ) and only started supporting in 2003, but as soon as I saw my first Diamonds game in October 2003 (2-3 defeat to Wrexham), I wanted to come back time and time again and had a ST from the next season onwards and ever since rdfc has been stupidly important to me, as much of my childhood was supporting rdfc and being obsessed with all things rdfc. One of the most enjoyable times in my life I have to say was helping out at the club in my gap year last year as well so its going to be tough maybe never going back to NP again.

Yeah it hasn't been easy the whole time, there's been a lot of frustrating games (and managers for that matter) over the last several years but as frustrating as it got at times, it makes me realise its far better to have a football team to moan at than nothing to moan at all and I just wish I could go back in time to the middle of any season no matter how bad, just so the only thing to worry about was whether we could win our next game rather than whether we'll ever play a game again.

And for anyone who wants a trip down memory lane like I'm doing now, I was pleased to see http://www.rdfcnet.co.uk/ still exists.

I too started in 1994 a cold night against Dorchester!

Have such great memories and met such great people, I will support a new phoenix club.

When we know there is a club reforming, We should look at perhaps having some RDFC fans meet ups over the coming season, perhaps going to see different matches in our RDFC colours to raise our profile/money, we could theme it by following ex players, jacko, belly, tommo, in the higher leagues and teams like brackley, in fact wherever there's an ex diamond.

Just put on one of my old tee shirts, across the front it reads ...

"Choose life choose Diamonds"

These are very sad times for all the fans that have followed us over the years and I'm sure something positive will come out of this mess. I have some great memories following them around the country and have probably only missed a handfull of games since I started watching them in 1996. The friends that have been buit up over the years whether at Diamonds or at away grounds will be sorely missed, but not forgotten. They have become and feel like an extended part of my family, and its these moments I will treasure for rest of my life.

I for one want to see Diamonds playing football again, no matter at what level and I'll be there to help out where I can to help achieve this.

Mal

Truely gutted about what i've been reading on here, not just today, but over the last few weeks. I had pretty much everything crossed that when I next returned home I would be able to take my son to watch his first football match at a proper club in fantastic surroundings. The very thought that our biggest rivals will be there instead just riles me.

I can only take away great memories from following a team grow from the Beazer Homes Midland Division, travelling to stadiums as far away as Dorchester and Morcambe, and also working for a couple of years behind Strikers bar.

As I no longer live around the area i'll be watching from afar, but I hope AFC RDFC goes on to achieve great things and if ever i'm back i'll be there to see them play.

I'll echo other peoples sentiments on here, it feels like it'll be impossible to be as passionate about another football team as I will be about Rushden. Maybe time will heal some wounds, but there will always be a scar.

All the best for everyone,

Mark

Redsnapper wrote:Just put on one of my old tee shirts, across the front it reads ...

"Choose life choose Diamonds"

These are very sad times for all the fans that have followed us over the years and I'm sure something positive will come out of this mess. I have some great memories following them around the country and have probably only missed a handfull of games since I started watching them in 1996. The friends that have been buit up over the years whether at Diamonds or at away grounds will be sorely missed, but not forgotten. They have become and feel like an extended part of my family, and its these moments I will treasure for rest of my life.

I for one want to see Diamonds playing football again, no matter at what level and I'll be there to help out where I can to help achieve this.

Mal

Fame at last - Mal. Your message was read out by Jon Wilkinson on R Northants. I didn't realise the press were excluded from the meeting last night.

nor did i, they even asked if there were any reporters in!!

The Chron has lead with the headline 'Rushden return for Griggs is ruled out'. It went on to say that there had been rumours that Stephen Griggs wanted to takeover the club.

That was the first I had heard of that.

BartonRaz wrote:The Chron has lead with the headline 'Rushden return for Griggs is ruled out'. It went on to say that there had been rumours that Stephen Griggs wanted to takeover the club.

That was the first I had heard of that.

link to the article:

http://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/sport ... _1_2782835

ill never forget my first game in 1999,my grandad took me to a home game v northwich victoria, sat in the airwair, and we ended up winning 8.0 , think we was 5.0 up at half time tho, from then on, ive seen the highs and lows of this football club, i remember i was buzzing my tits off for the first game in league 1, and then it all fucked up, and its been downhill from then :( ,league 1,league 2, conference.and now were fucked, and it makes me feel sick that ketty are going to put there scummy name all over are ground.,but its been a blast, got sum crackin memories, and il will be there to support the new club,

siy.