The unofficial AFC Rushden & Diamonds messageboard

When England played Ukraine away recently AFC R & D had a home match that evening and because of TV coverage it affected the gate. For many of us it is a "no brainer" who to watch in such circumstances but not everybody is as dedicated as you and I, and this does financially hit the club.

We have the same situation coming up on 15th October when we are due to play Peterborough North Star or Dover in FA Cup replay.

The England match is particularly crucial this time as qualification for Brazil will depend on the result and more people will want to watch this game.

What are your thoughts on moving the game, whoever our opponents, to the Wednesday evening...when we can celebrate both England and Diamonds success!!

That would be a good idea whether or not Diamonds fans are interested in seeing our National team huff and puff. I notice that Huntingdon Town always play their home games on Wednesday evenings and whilst these clash with Sky televised Champions League matches it does avoid clashes with those Tuesday night televised fixtures broadcast on ITV. Whilst I agree with your proposal in principle there needs to be agreement, obviously, with PNS if our Club decides to go down this route.

It's an interesting point. Given the importance of this England game it's absolutely certain to impact massively on the attendance. If the decision was mine and it was as easy as that i'd say move the game but i'm sure it's more complicated than that.

I think it's more to do with player availability which in our case is Tuesdays AFC Dunstable wanted the cup replay on a Wednesday but we would of had players unavailable (or thats how I understood it).

I understood in the AFC Dunstable situation that both clubs agreed, immediately following the end of the match and considering the short notice in that case, that Tuesday was more favourable for the replay irrespective of the fact that the England World Cup match was televised live on the same evening and would clearly impact on the attendance figure. Obviously we know that our players would by and large be available on a Tuesday evening which is a normal training night.
However, should both clubs agree that a Wednesday evening would be better in this instance for the PNS match (or Cup replay should that be necessary) then there is far more time available to overcome any possible organisational and staffing difficulties.

I'm certainly not suggesting that Wednesday become our regular midweek night. As was stated Tuesday is the best night for players training and we should do nothing that inhibits that, although we have had a match nearly every tuesday so far this season !.

I have no problem with ignoring the useless Champions League group footie, that is only for the diehard fans of those clubs. I'd rather watch the Great British Bake Off or Whitechapel.

All I am suggesting is a "one off" and it is only a suggestion. I have opened this discussion now to give reasonable time for all parties to consider. These clashes only occur very occasionally and the way England play that game may well be meaningless if we don't beat Montenegro.

It's a real difficult one because think it's mainly down to the players and staff of both clubs. Tuesdays seem to be the obvious night to host a replay in any tournament. Think if the players are mainly available on Tuesday then it's how it is.

It's a bit of a lose lose situation though, because whether it's hosted on a Tuesday or a Wednesday there are always people going to grumble either by internationals or champions league football. As important as the game may or may not be, the Montenegro result on the Friday will determine. Should we go to a replay then even 4 days might be too shorter notice to move it to Wednesday. In the modern age there is something called a highlights programme. Perhaps the people who would rather stay at home instead don't know that :lol:

I would just like to add that AFC Dunstable wanted to play on the Wednesday, but we had the choice and Starms quite rightly went for Tuesday, which in hindsight was the right choice.

People have the right to decide which match they want to watch, either a game involving prima donnas, which can be sky+ or an exciting game with ringside seats and soaking up the atmosphere. 8-)

For a home game it's not just players and management that we need to be available. We may have crucial volunteers not available on Wednesdays

Would be nice to change on this occasion but it's unlikely to happen. Tue is a training night so always going to be our game night. Personally not bothered about England until the real bit starts. Though any income is always welcome the Club won't go bust of the back of a 270 gate when we may have had 400, the FA Cup run and assured our existence for another year :lol: so those that want will, and them that don't won't and we get another 3 points & the world keeps turning. See you all on Tuesday.