The unofficial AFC Rushden & Diamonds messageboard

Odd question this, which I imagine some rival fans might ridicule. I'm not sure it's been discussed yet, apologies if it has.

As a club, are we (AFCRD) claiming RDFC's history, at least unofficially? Can we think of the Division 3 title, for example, as ours? AFC Wimbledon claim the original Dons triumphs as their own (and I think they have even been given the trophies etc.), although obviously the circumstances are different.

I guess the mentality will change from person to person. I'm not quite sure what I think - I'm split. AFCRD offers is a fresh start - a chance to shed ourselves of the people and mentalities that marred the last few years of RDFC's history. But if we do that, then surely we have to disassociate ourselves with the good times - we can't pick and choose. Or can we?

I think it's a very interesting point, and certainly worth some discussion. AFC R&D exists because of R&DFC, and we want to embrace all that was good about the old club, leaving behind only the negative things. Hence the name, the badge design, the links to former players etc.

We as fans can certainly claim R&DFC's history as ours, but I don't know if anyone can officially say that we as a Phoenix club can or cannot claim the same.

Of course we can lay claim to the history/heritage. As I've said time and time again, a football club is all about the people, the fans, the community. Max's legacy was us, the community he helped to create over the last 20 years. We lived and breathed all the successes on the way up and cried the tears as we went back down - who else can lay claim to all of that?

I haven't started to support a new football club, AFC R&D is, to all intents and purposes, the same club, its certainly the same community. Okay it has a new identity, a new set of rules and is a new business, but its the same people who breathed life into it !! Thats why it was so important to celebrate the heritage in the badge, the colours etc - its our identity, its who we are !

The history is ours, we shouldn't feel ashamed to claim it.

ChorltonV wrote:The history is ours, we shouldn't feel ashamed to claim it.

Amen.

but, it is just that HISTORY.

What we ahould concentrate on is the FUTURE 8-)

Rankine's Nose wrote:AFC Wimbledon claim the original Dons triumphs as their own (and I think they have even been given the trophies etc.), although obviously the circumstances are different.

I don't think AFC Wimbledon did claim Wimbledon FC's triumphs as their own. Their argument was that MK Dons were not entitled to claim them either and in fact Winkleman relented and their FA Cup replica was handed over to The Borough of Merton (where Plough Lane was based) for their safekeeping.

Duke of Wimbourne wrote:but, it is just that HISTORY.

What we ahould concentrate on is the FUTURE 8-)

AFC Rushden & Diamonds should be dedicated to the future, but give honour to the past.

Three of Diamonds wrote:

Duke of Wimbourne wrote:but, it is just that HISTORY.

What we ahould concentrate on is the FUTURE 8-)

AFC Rushden & Diamonds should be dedicated to the future, but give honour to the past.

.........and use that past to aspire to