The unofficial AFC Rushden & Diamonds messageboard

Hi folks,
Quick note to say well done so far and enjoy your upcoming cup final against K*ttering . You are in the fan owned review again https://ontheterracesblog.wordpress.com ... -20152016/ and are the only club top of their league.

So, where you lot think you will finish and what is considered a success this season? Play-Offs?

Anyway, let us know how you think it's going and hopefully I will get myself back down to the Dog and Duck at some point.

All the best,

Ed

God willing - I voted Champions based on seeing others in this League, we're good enough to do it and it remains in our hands - but we need to focus and not become compacent like last Saturday. With 9 out of 15 games at home, we should do it !!

Bloody hell you lot are confident, I was expecting you lot to hedge your bets a bit. Would be great to see you come up but feel Step 3 is your limit until their is some movement on the ground front. I know your current average would see you around the top 6 but money wise you may struggle. Still, with Dorchester and Merthyr already there you will be in good company. Can any of you see a return to somewhere in your region inside the next several years?

I think we're optimistic because the team have shown what they're capable of. It's also fact that we always have a dodgy loss in January in season where we get promoted. All of that aside, they're a good bunch of players, some with step 3 capability. I think we're looking for a division to settle in until we can sort out a ground (may take many years) and while this division isn't a bad one, the Southern Premier would be the best option for us to do that in.

ParcelFace wrote:I think we're optimistic because the team have shown what they're capable of. It's also fact that we always have a dodgy loss in January in season where we get promoted. All of that aside, they're a good bunch of players, some with step 3 capability. I think we're looking for a division to settle in until we can sort out a ground (may take many years) and while this division isn't a bad one, the Southern Premier would be the best option for us to do that in.

I agree with you 100%.

I went with heart and put Champions. Without sounding rude, I've always thought we good enough for play offs.

Well you are pulling in crowds at this level which should see you a Step above. Whether the rise in leagues adds many more to the gate is doubtful but perhaps for the first season at least a few clubs will be interested in seeing the new Diamonds set up and a period of stabalisation above isn't a bad shout. Getting a ground which allowsd you to get back to Step 1 really becomes a priority then but if a community share scheme could be launched for the old ground, the size of the clubs in the conference means you might be able to maintain it with a 2,000 ish attendance.

eddyman93 wrote:Well you are pulling in crowds at this level which should see you a Step above. Whether the rise in leagues adds many more to the gate is doubtful but perhaps for the first season at least a few clubs will be interested in seeing the new Diamonds set up and a period of stabalisation above isn't a bad shout. Getting a ground which allowsd you to get back to Step 1 really becomes a priority then but if a community share scheme could be launched for the old ground, the size of the clubs in the conference means you might be able to maintain it with a 2,000 ish attendance.

I can't see us progressing past step 2/3 unless we get a massive financial boost through an owner. I could be wrong but I don't think we'll be able to draw a big enough crowd to be stable in the Vanarama leagues.

I don't see us ever getting crowds of 2,000. I think around 1,000 is possible if we had our own ground and were stable in Step 2/3, but that's the limit IMO. A stadium that held 3,000 would be more than enough for our needs I'd imagine. I don't think the average would rise that much if we went up this season, possibly just adding a few more away fans.

Well the last season before the old club folded it pulled in 1,200. I think the fact that the club is well run and not on a downward spiral means 1,500 could be a reasonable aim. I know other clubs will have more cash but I think you can realistically aim to be a yo-yo team between Step 2 and 1 which should keep it interesting.

A couple of clubs might go past you (Hereford obviously) but otherwise the Conference South looks pretty stable.

I think people around here look at a club 6 miles up the road from the D&D, with considerably bigger attendances, who lose a fortune each season and have to be bailed out by a wealthy owner. Despite their budget they are very average at step 3. As a fan owned club we can't spend silly money and have someone who will cover all losses. Step 3 looks very achievable and sustainable, but in my opinion we will need to grow the membership and support of the club enormously to be sustainable higher than that.