Ah yes, I know a few facts about them, let me see if I can remember...
The merger and the early years (1992–96)[edit]
Rushden and Diamonds was formed on 21 April 1992 by a merger of
Rushden Town and
Irthlingborough Diamonds. The move was the brainchild of
Max Griggs. On 22 August 1992,
Ollie Kearns scored the first league goal in the club's history, against Bilston Town in the Southern League Midland Division. The club's first few seasons were remarkable for the success the team enjoyed, finishing 3rd in the Southern League Midland Division in their inaugural season. The following year they won the division, winning promotion to the Southern League Premier Division, and two years later the Diamonds were again promoted as champions. The team had gained promotion to the
Football Conference after just four years as a club.
Football Conference[edit]
After their rapid rise to the top tier of non-league football, the club then spent five seasons attempting to reach the
Football League, finishing 12th in the 1996–97 season, and then 4th, 4th and 2nd in the
Football Conference before they finally won promotion to the Football League as champions in 2001. It was within this period that the club had achieved their best success in the
FA Cup, getting to the 3rd Round twice. In 1998–99, the Diamonds held
Leeds United to a famous 0-0 draw at
Nene Park, ahead of a record attendance of 6,431. After taking a shock early lead at
Elland Road in the replay, they went on to lose 3-1. In the following campaign, the club were rewarded with a 3rd Round draw away to
Sheffield United. The Diamonds secured a 1-1 draw at
Bramall Lane, to force a replay. In the return fixture, the match went to penalties following a 1-1 deadlock after extra-time. In the shootout however, it was the Blades who finally edged the Diamonds out 6-5 to go through.
The Football League[edit]
In their first season in new surroundings, the Diamonds reached the
Division Three Play-Off Final. After overcoming
Rochdale 4-3 on aggregate over the two-legged Semi-Final, the club lost to
Cheltenham Town in the final, 3-1 at the
Millennium Stadium. In 2003, they won the division, pipping
Hartlepool United to the Division Three championship on the last day of the season – their third promotion/league title in eight seasons.
The 2003–04 season in
Division Two proved to be one of difficulty for Rushden & Diamonds. Despite a promising early start, a run of bad results over the winter period saw the club slip down the table, and in March 2004
Brian Talbot left the club after seven years as manager. The transfer window saw star players
Paul Underwood,
Onandi Lowe,
Paul Hall and
Marcus Bignot all depart as off the pitch problems mounted, and the club severely struggled for the remainder of the season.
Barry Hunter took over as caretaker player-manager but they were relegated in 22nd place after losing their last three games of the season.
Ernie Tippett was confirmed as permanent manager for the start of the 2004–05 season. However, after a dismal run of results which saw the team the media predicted as promotion contenders fall to 22nd place in the
League Two, he was sacked, and replaced by
Barry Hunter, who was later appointed full-time manager. The club staved off relegation. The following season, after a summer in which
Max Griggs handed the club over to the Supporters' Trust, the club continued to struggle and on 29 April, Rushden were relegated back to the
Football Conference after a 2-0 away defeat to
Boston United. Hunter's contract was not renewed over the summer.
Back in the Conference[edit]
The seasons following the Diamonds' return to the
Football Conference were marred by instability on and off the pitch. Keith Cousins took over the club in November 2006
[2] and resigned in 2011.
[3] He was replaced by Liam Beasant and Gary Calder, the latter of whom himself quit the club just weeks after taking over.
[4] Meanwhile, five managers (
Paul Hart,
Tony Godden,
Graham Westley,
Garry Hill and
Justin Edinburgh) took control of the team at different times.
During their first three seasons back in England's fifth division the Diamonds failed to finish in the top ten. By the end of the 2008–09 season the average attendance was less than 50% of what it had been during their last season in the
Football League.
[5][6] The sole highlight of these three years was reaching the
Conference League Cup Final against
Aldershot Town in 2007. With the scores level at 3-3 after extra-time, the Diamonds lost 4-3 on penalties.
[7]
However, the Diamonds' fortunes changed after the resignation of
Garry Hill in February 2009, and the subsequent appointment of
Justin Edinburgh as manager – initially as caretaker, but then full-time. During his first full season in charge he led the club to the
Football Conference play-offs as a result of finishing in 4th place– their first top-ten finish since 2003. The team eventually succumbed to a 3–1 aggregate defeat at the hands of eventual play-off winners
Oxford United. The Diamonds also progressed to the second round of the FA Cup, having beaten
Workington and
Hinckley United before being knocked out by
Brighton & Hove Albion at the
Withdean Stadium.
The Diamonds struggled to replicate their successes the following season. During the summer and throughout the season some of the most influential players of the previous campaign left Nene Park, including
Lee Tomlin,
Mark Byrne,
Jamie Stuart and
Paul Terry. Because of these losses the Diamonds struggled to make a serious play-off push, and by mid-April were 10th in the table, some thirteen points off a promotion spot. Disappointing runs in the
FA Cup,
FA Trophy and
Hillier Cup did little to consolidate the campaign.
Off-pitch events, however, defined the season. Any footballing disappointments were overshadowed by the tragic death of first-team (and
England C national football team 2010 Player of the Year) goalkeeper
Dale Roberts on 14 December 2010.
[8] Meanwhile, chairman Keith Cousins resigned and was replaced by Gary Calder and Liam Beasant.
[9] Little over a month later vice-chairman Helen Thompson resigned from her position also,
[10] while by March - just three months after taking charge - Calder himself quit the club.
[4] As the season drew to an end it was also revealed that the club was under a transfer embargo,
[11] and that only the intervention of the
PFA prevented the Diamonds players refusing to play a game against
Mansfield Town in March due to unpaid wages.
[12] Early in the season the club had also become involved in a very public row with ex-player
Leon Knight, who took to
Twitter to air his grievances against the club.
[13]
Expulsion from the Conference[edit]
The club were expelled from the Conference National on 11 June 2011. This decision was made due to their unstable financial position, meaning they could not guarantee being able to complete all their fixtures in the 2011–12 season. The club faced a winding up petition on behalf of HMRC in the week commencing 13 June 2011, with reported debts of £750,000.
[14] A subsequent move to enter the Southern Football League was unsuccessful.
[15] The club entered administration on 7 July 2011.
[16]
Formation of new fan-owned club[edit]
Fans announced their desire to create a new fan-owned club called
AFC Rushden & Diamonds that would field a senior side in 2012.
[17] The club is currently in its third senior season, competing at step five of the non-league pyramid in the
United Counties League Premier Division.
Club badge[edit]
The club's traditional colours are red, white and blue, which are reflected in the club’s badge. The crest uses aspects from both the respective
Rushden Town and
Irthlingborough Diamonds badges. It is formed by a shield-like shape, with ‘R&DFC’ written in banner form underneath. In the top left corner is the Rampant Lion, representing the Sartoris family, who donated some land on Hayden Road to Rushden Sports Club in 1922.
On the opposite side at the top sit the Crosskeys of St. Peter’s Church in
Irthlingborough. Taken from the old Irthlingborough Diamonds crest, there are two keys, one for heaven and one for hell. Below the Lion in the bottom left quarter of the badge are the ‘Blue Diamonds’, taken from the old Irthlingborough Diamonds logo. Similarly, the three ‘Red and White Hoops’ sitting to the right originate from Rushden Town’s badge. An illustration of the local
River Nene runs through the centre of the badge, whilst the football located between the Diamonds and Hoops is self-explanatory.
[18]
The merger and the early years (1992–96)[edit]
Rushden and Diamonds was formed on 21 April 1992 by a merger of
Rushden Town and
Irthlingborough Diamonds. The move was the brainchild of
Max Griggs. On 22 August 1992,
Ollie Kearns scored the first league goal in the club's history, against Bilston Town in the Southern League Midland Division. The club's first few seasons were remarkable for the success the team enjoyed, finishing 3rd in the Southern League Midland Division in their inaugural season. The following year they won the division, winning promotion to the Southern League Premier Division, and two years later the Diamonds were again promoted as champions. The team had gained promotion to the
Football Conference after just four years as a club.
Football Conference[edit]
After their rapid rise to the top tier of non-league football, the club then spent five seasons attempting to reach the
Football League, finishing 12th in the 1996–97 season, and then 4th, 4th and 2nd in the
Football Conference before they finally won promotion to the Football League as champions in 2001. It was within this period that the club had achieved their best success in the
FA Cup, getting to the 3rd Round twice. In 1998–99, the Diamonds held
Leeds United to a famous 0-0 draw at
Nene Park, ahead of a record attendance of 6,431. After taking a shock early lead at
Elland Road in the replay, they went on to lose 3-1. In the following campaign, the club were rewarded with a 3rd Round draw away to
Sheffield United. The Diamonds secured a 1-1 draw at
Bramall Lane, to force a replay. In the return fixture, the match went to penalties following a 1-1 deadlock after extra-time. In the shootout however, it was the Blades who finally edged the Diamonds out 6-5 to go through.
The Football League[edit]
In their first season in new surroundings, the Diamonds reached the
Division Three Play-Off Final. After overcoming
Rochdale 4-3 on aggregate over the two-legged Semi-Final, the club lost to
Cheltenham Town in the final, 3-1 at the
Millennium Stadium. In 2003, they won the division, pipping
Hartlepool United to the Division Three championship on the last day of the season – their third promotion/league title in eight seasons.
The 2003–04 season in
Division Two proved to be one of difficulty for Rushden & Diamonds. Despite a promising early start, a run of bad results over the winter period saw the club slip down the table, and in March 2004
Brian Talbot left the club after seven years as manager. The transfer window saw star players
Paul Underwood,
Onandi Lowe,
Paul Hall and
Marcus Bignot all depart as off the pitch problems mounted, and the club severely struggled for the remainder of the season.
Barry Hunter took over as caretaker player-manager but they were relegated in 22nd place after losing their last three games of the season.
Ernie Tippett was confirmed as permanent manager for the start of the 2004–05 season. However, after a dismal run of results which saw the team the media predicted as promotion contenders fall to 22nd place in the
League Two, he was sacked, and replaced by
Barry Hunter, who was later appointed full-time manager. The club staved off relegation. The following season, after a summer in which
Max Griggs handed the club over to the Supporters' Trust, the club continued to struggle and on 29 April, Rushden were relegated back to the
Football Conference after a 2-0 away defeat to
Boston United. Hunter's contract was not renewed over the summer.
Back in the Conference[edit]
The seasons following the Diamonds' return to the
Football Conference were marred by instability on and off the pitch. Keith Cousins took over the club in November 2006
[2] and resigned in 2011.
[3] He was replaced by Liam Beasant and Gary Calder, the latter of whom himself quit the club just weeks after taking over.
[4] Meanwhile, five managers (
Paul Hart,
Tony Godden,
Graham Westley,
Garry Hill and
Justin Edinburgh) took control of the team at different times.
During their first three seasons back in England's fifth division the Diamonds failed to finish in the top ten. By the end of the 2008–09 season the average attendance was less than 50% of what it had been during their last season in the
Football League.
[5][6] The sole highlight of these three years was reaching the
Conference League Cup Final against
Aldershot Town in 2007. With the scores level at 3-3 after extra-time, the Diamonds lost 4-3 on penalties.
[7]
However, the Diamonds' fortunes changed after the resignation of
Garry Hill in February 2009, and the subsequent appointment of
Justin Edinburgh as manager – initially as caretaker, but then full-time. During his first full season in charge he led the club to the
Football Conference play-offs as a result of finishing in 4th place– their first top-ten finish since 2003. The team eventually succumbed to a 3–1 aggregate defeat at the hands of eventual play-off winners
Oxford United. The Diamonds also progressed to the second round of the FA Cup, having beaten
Workington and
Hinckley United before being knocked out by
Brighton & Hove Albion at the
Withdean Stadium.
The Diamonds struggled to replicate their successes the following season. During the summer and throughout the season some of the most influential players of the previous campaign left Nene Park, including
Lee Tomlin,
Mark Byrne,
Jamie Stuart and
Paul Terry. Because of these losses the Diamonds struggled to make a serious play-off push, and by mid-April were 10th in the table, some thirteen points off a promotion spot. Disappointing runs in the
FA Cup,
FA Trophy and
Hillier Cup did little to consolidate the campaign.
Off-pitch events, however, defined the season. Any footballing disappointments were overshadowed by the tragic death of first-team (and
England C national football team 2010 Player of the Year) goalkeeper
Dale Roberts on 14 December 2010.
[8] Meanwhile, chairman Keith Cousins resigned and was replaced by Gary Calder and Liam Beasant.
[9] Little over a month later vice-chairman Helen Thompson resigned from her position also,
[10] while by March - just three months after taking charge - Calder himself quit the club.
[4] As the season drew to an end it was also revealed that the club was under a transfer embargo,
[11] and that only the intervention of the
PFA prevented the Diamonds players refusing to play a game against
Mansfield Town in March due to unpaid wages.
[12] Early in the season the club had also become involved in a very public row with ex-player
Leon Knight, who took to
Twitter to air his grievances against the club.
[13]
Expulsion from the Conference[edit]
The club were expelled from the Conference National on 11 June 2011. This decision was made due to their unstable financial position, meaning they could not guarantee being able to complete all their fixtures in the 2011–12 season. The club faced a winding up petition on behalf of HMRC in the week commencing 13 June 2011, with reported debts of £750,000.
[14] A subsequent move to enter the Southern Football League was unsuccessful.
[15] The club entered administration on 7 July 2011.
[16]
Formation of new fan-owned club[edit]
Fans announced their desire to create a new fan-owned club called
AFC Rushden & Diamonds that would field a senior side in 2012.
[17] The club is currently in its third senior season, competing at step five of the non-league pyramid in the
United Counties League Premier Division.
Club badge[edit]
The club's traditional colours are red, white and blue, which are reflected in the club’s badge. The crest uses aspects from both the respective
Rushden Town and
Irthlingborough Diamonds badges. It is formed by a shield-like shape, with ‘R&DFC’ written in banner form underneath. In the top left corner is the Rampant Lion, representing the Sartoris family, who donated some land on Hayden Road to Rushden Sports Club in 1922.
On the opposite side at the top sit the Crosskeys of St. Peter’s Church in
Irthlingborough. Taken from the old Irthlingborough Diamonds crest, there are two keys, one for heaven and one for hell. Below the Lion in the bottom left quarter of the badge are the ‘Blue Diamonds’, taken from the old Irthlingborough Diamonds logo. Similarly, the three ‘Red and White Hoops’ sitting to the right originate from Rushden Town’s badge. An illustration of the local
River Nene runs through the centre of the badge, whilst the football located between the Diamonds and Hoops is self-explanatory.
[18]
The merger and the early years (1992–96)[edit]
Rushden and Diamonds was formed on 21 April 1992 by a merger of
Rushden Town and
Irthlingborough Diamonds. The move was the brainchild of
Max Griggs. On 22 August 1992,
Ollie Kearns scored the first league goal in the club's history, against Bilston Town in the Southern League Midland Division. The club's first few seasons were remarkable for the success the team enjoyed, finishing 3rd in the Southern League Midland Division in their inaugural season. The following year they won the division, winning promotion to the Southern League Premier Division, and two years later the Diamonds were again promoted as champions. The team had gained promotion to the
Football Conference after just four years as a club.
Football Conference[edit]
After their rapid rise to the top tier of non-league football, the club then spent five seasons attempting to reach the
Football League, finishing 12th in the 1996–97 season, and then 4th, 4th and 2nd in the
Football Conference before they finally won promotion to the Football League as champions in 2001. It was within this period that the club had achieved their best success in the
FA Cup, getting to the 3rd Round twice. In 1998–99, the Diamonds held
Leeds United to a famous 0-0 draw at
Nene Park, ahead of a record attendance of 6,431. After taking a shock early lead at
Elland Road in the replay, they went on to lose 3-1. In the following campaign, the club were rewarded with a 3rd Round draw away to
Sheffield United. The Diamonds secured a 1-1 draw at
Bramall Lane, to force a replay. In the return fixture, the match went to penalties following a 1-1 deadlock after extra-time. In the shootout however, it was the Blades who finally edged the Diamonds out 6-5 to go through.
The Football League[edit]
In their first season in new surroundings, the Diamonds reached the
Division Three Play-Off Final. After overcoming
Rochdale 4-3 on aggregate over the two-legged Semi-Final, the club lost to
Cheltenham Town in the final, 3-1 at the
Millennium Stadium. In 2003, they won the division, pipping
Hartlepool United to the Division Three championship on the last day of the season – their third promotion/league title in eight seasons.
The 2003–04 season in
Division Two proved to be one of difficulty for Rushden & Diamonds. Despite a promising early start, a run of bad results over the winter period saw the club slip down the table, and in March 2004
Brian Talbot left the club after seven years as manager. The transfer window saw star players
Paul Underwood,
Onandi Lowe,
Paul Hall and
Marcus Bignot all depart as off the pitch problems mounted, and the club severely struggled for the remainder of the season.
Barry Hunter took over as caretaker player-manager but they were relegated in 22nd place after losing their last three games of the season.
Ernie Tippett was confirmed as permanent manager for the start of the 2004–05 season. However, after a dismal run of results which saw the team the media predicted as promotion contenders fall to 22nd place in the
League Two, he was sacked, and replaced by
Barry Hunter, who was later appointed full-time manager. The club staved off relegation. The following season, after a summer in which
Max Griggs handed the club over to the Supporters' Trust, the club continued to struggle and on 29 April, Rushden were relegated back to the
Football Conference after a 2-0 away defeat to
Boston United. Hunter's contract was not renewed over the summer.
Back in the Conference[edit]
The seasons following the Diamonds' return to the
Football Conference were marred by instability on and off the pitch. Keith Cousins took over the club in November 2006
[2] and resigned in 2011.
[3] He was replaced by Liam Beasant and Gary Calder, the latter of whom himself quit the club just weeks after taking over.
[4] Meanwhile, five managers (
Paul Hart,
Tony Godden,
Graham Westley,
Garry Hill and
Justin Edinburgh) took control of the team at different times.
During their first three seasons back in England's fifth division the Diamonds failed to finish in the top ten. By the end of the 2008–09 season the average attendance was less than 50% of what it had been during their last season in the
Football League.
[5][6] The sole highlight of these three years was reaching the
Conference League Cup Final against
Aldershot Town in 2007. With the scores level at 3-3 after extra-time, the Diamonds lost 4-3 on penalties.
[7]
However, the Diamonds' fortunes changed after the resignation of
Garry Hill in February 2009, and the subsequent appointment of
Justin Edinburgh as manager – initially as caretaker, but then full-time. During his first full season in charge he led the club to the
Football Conference play-offs as a result of finishing in 4th place– their first top-ten finish since 2003. The team eventually succumbed to a 3–1 aggregate defeat at the hands of eventual play-off winners
Oxford United. The Diamonds also progressed to the second round of the FA Cup, having beaten
Workington and
Hinckley United before being knocked out by
Brighton & Hove Albion at the
Withdean Stadium.
The Diamonds struggled to replicate their successes the following season. During the summer and throughout the season some of the most influential players of the previous campaign left Nene Park, including
Lee Tomlin,
Mark Byrne,
Jamie Stuart and
Paul Terry. Because of these losses the Diamonds struggled to make a serious play-off push, and by mid-April were 10th in the table, some thirteen points off a promotion spot. Disappointing runs in the
FA Cup,
FA Trophy and
Hillier Cup did little to consolidate the campaign.
Off-pitch events, however, defined the season. Any footballing disappointments were overshadowed by the tragic death of first-team (and
England C national football team 2010 Player of the Year) goalkeeper
Dale Roberts on 14 December 2010.
[8] Meanwhile, chairman Keith Cousins resigned and was replaced by Gary Calder and Liam Beasant.
[9] Little over a month later vice-chairman Helen Thompson resigned from her position also,
[10] while by March - just three months after taking charge - Calder himself quit the club.
[4] As the season drew to an end it was also revealed that the club was under a transfer embargo,
[11] and that only the intervention of the
PFA prevented the Diamonds players refusing to play a game against
Mansfield Town in March due to unpaid wages.
[12] Early in the season the club had also become involved in a very public row with ex-player
Leon Knight, who took to
Twitter to air his grievances against the club.
[13]
Expulsion from the Conference[edit]
The club were expelled from the Conference National on 11 June 2011. This decision was made due to their unstable financial position, meaning they could not guarantee being able to complete all their fixtures in the 2011–12 season. The club faced a winding up petition on behalf of HMRC in the week commencing 13 June 2011, with reported debts of £750,000.
[14] A subsequent move to enter the Southern Football League was unsuccessful.
[15] The club entered administration on 7 July 2011.
[16]
Formation of new fan-owned club[edit]
Fans announced their desire to create a new fan-owned club called
AFC Rushden & Diamonds that would field a senior side in 2012.
[17] The club is currently in its third senior season, competing at step five of the non-league pyramid in the
United Counties League Premier Division.
Club badge[edit]
The club's traditional colours are red, white and blue, which are reflected in the club’s badge. The crest uses aspects from both the respective
Rushden Town and
Irthlingborough Diamonds badges. It is formed by a shield-like shape, with ‘R&DFC’ written in banner form underneath. In the top left corner is the Rampant Lion, representing the Sartoris family, who donated some land on Hayden Road to Rushden Sports Club in 1922.
On the opposite side at the top sit the Crosskeys of St. Peter’s Church in
Irthlingborough. Taken from the old Irthlingborough Diamonds crest, there are two keys, one for heaven and one for hell. Below the Lion in the bottom left quarter of the badge are the ‘Blue Diamonds’, taken from the old Irthlingborough Diamonds logo. Similarly, the three ‘Red and White Hoops’ sitting to the right originate from Rushden Town’s badge. An illustration of the local
River Nene runs through the centre of the badge, whilst the football located between the Diamonds and Hoops is self-explanatory.
[18]
