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| Full name | Rushden & Diamonds Football Club | ||
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| Nickname(s) | The Diamonds | ||
| Founded | 1992 | ||
| Ground | Nene Park Irthlingborough (Capacity: 6,441 (4,641 seated & 1,800 standing)) |
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| Chairman |  Keith Cousins |
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| Manager | Justin Edinburgh |
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| League | Conference National | ||
| 2008–09 | Conference National, 11th | ||
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Rushden & Diamonds F.C. is a professional football club based in Irthlingborough, Northamptonshire, England. Formed by a merger of Rushden Town and Irthlingborough Diamonds in 1992, the club currently plays in the Conference National following a short spell in the Football League at the start of the 2000s. Nicknamed the Diamonds the club plays at Nene Park.
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History
The merger and the early years (1992-2001)
Rushden and Diamonds was formed on 21 April 1992 by a merger of Rushden Town and Irthlingborough Diamonds, the brainchild of Max Griggs. 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.
The Football League
The team 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. In their first season they reached the Division Three playoff final but lost to Cheltenham Town. 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 was a difficult for Rushden & Diamonds. Despite hopes of another promotion a run of bad results during the winter saw the club slip down the table, and in March 2004 Brian Talbot left the club after seven years as manager. Barry Hunter took over as caretaker player-manager but due to his managerial inexperience, and financial and footballing ineptitude, they were relegated in 22nd place after losing their last game 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 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 to the Conference. Hunter's contract was not renewed over the summer.
Back in the Conference
2006-2007 - The club's first season back in the Conference was marked by change on and off the pitch. Helen Thompson became chairperson and Keith Cousins took over the club, and four managers (Paul Hart, Tony Godden, Graham Westley and Garry Hill) took control of the club at different times during the season. The club eventually finished 12th.
2007–08 - The season ended with the club in 16th place. However, while the league campaign was disappointing the Diamonds enjoyed their cup campaigns. They reached the 2nd round of the 2007–08 FA Cup and became runners up of the Conference League Cup, losing out to Aldershot after a thrilling 3-3 draw resulted in a penalty shoot-out, and also got reached the FA Trophy quarter-finals.
2008-2009 - Rushden were pre-season joint favourites to win the league. However by the end of October the club were in 12th place. After losing to Evesham FC in the FA Cup, on a day the official site described as "one of the darkest" in their history[1], eight players were transfer-listed [2]. After a 3-0 defeat to Burton Albion and a long winless stretch, Garry Hill resigned on 10 February 2009 with Justin Edinburgh taking over as caretaker manager. The standard of play and the overall entertainment value rose dramatically, and a 1-0 win over rivals Kettering brought some consolation to the season. The team eventually finished 11th.
2009-2010 - Justin Edinburgh began the season as the full-time manager. For the first time since their relegation to the Conference, Rushden were not seriously considered as promotion-hunters. Despite this after 19 games the Diamonds were in 7th place, just three points off the play-offs. They had also progressed to the 2nd round of the FA Cup, having beaten Workington FC and Hinckley United FC.
Rivalries
RDFC-Kettering Town rivalry
Rushden's main rivals are nearby Kettering Town. The clubs have played twelve competitive games together, all coming in the Conference National. The first competitive game between the sides was played out in the 1996-1997 season, with Rushden running out 1-0 winners. The clubs remained in the same division for five seasons before, in 2001, Rushden gained promotion to the Football League, while Kettering were relegated that same season from the Conference. After a seven year gap, in 2008-2009 the teams again found themselves in the same division, after Rushden suffered two relegations and Kettering gained promotion from the Conference North.
What is perhaps most notable about this rivalry is the one-sided nature the results outline. In the 12 league games, and over 1000 minutes of league football played between the two sides, Kettering have won just once, while Rushden have won seven times. In the same number of games Rushden have scored 20 goals to the Poppies' 6 goals.[3] The most recent game between the sides saw Rushden again run out winners, beating Kettering 1-0, with a Sam Smith 81st minute winner.[4]
During a friendly match between the match in 2005 two flares were thrown onto the pitch.[5] In another game between the two sides at Rockingham Road on Shrove Tuesday eggs and flour were thrown over the wall at the Rushden fans. In the most recent game between the two teams at Nene Park a flare was thrown from the pitch from the Rushden section, prompting an investigation. That game also saw nine arrests, the use of 60 police officers, and a police helicopter.[6]
A league table made up of league matches between the two sides.
| Rank | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rushden & Diamonds | 12 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 20 | 6 | +14 | 25 |
| 2 | Kettering Town | 12 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 6 | 20 | -14 | 7 |
RDFC-Northampton Town rivalry
The rivalry between the Diamonds and the Cobblers occured during 2004-2006, when the two clubs played in League 2 together. Eight games have been played between the sides - four competitive league games and four pre-season cup games. The Diamonds have recorded a sole league victory over NTFC, a famous 3-2 win.[7]. They have also beaten their rivals in two pre-season Maunsell Cup games. Overall Northampton lead Rushden 13-7.[8]
Other local rivals
Rushden also held a rivalry with a number of other teams, including Peterborough United and Luton Town. Past rivalries from the club's younger years were enjoyed with Cheltenham Town FC and Yeovil Town. These rivalries, however, have diminished in intensity since Rushden's relegation from the Football League, and subsequent lack of games between the sides. However, due to Luton Town's relegation from the Football League in the 2008–09 season, the mild rivalry between the two sides may set to be re-introduced. Rushden recorded their first ever win over Luton on 31 October 2009.
Managers
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Players
- As of 23 November 2009.
Current squad
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Out on loan
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Management
- Chairman: Keith Cousins
- Strategic Director: Helen Thompson
- Manager: Justin Edinburgh
- Assistant Manager: Michael Stone
- Goalkeeper Coach: Geoff Warne
- Physio Simon Parsell
Most appearances
Only eight players have made over 200 appearances for the club:
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Most goals
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Notable former players
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The neutrality of this section is disputed. Please see the discussion on the talk page. Please do not remove this message until the dispute is resolved. (September 2009) |
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This list of "famous" or "notable" sports persons has no clear inclusion or exclusion criteria. Please help to improve Wikipedia by ensuring that there is consensus on the inclusion criteria on the talk page. |
This section is a list of former Rushden & Diamonds F.C. players of note who in one way or another had a profound affect upon the club. This includes fan’s favourites as recognised by the club in official sources, in the club record of their career. In addition it includes players who have gone on to a greater career at a higher level who were a part of the club at one time or another during their careers.
- Duane Darby
- Tarkan Mustafa
- Garry Butterworth
- Paul Underwood
- Darren Collins
- Billy Turley
- Tim Wooding
- James Rodwell
- Andy Peaks
Barry Hunter
Onandi Lowe
David Bell- Billy Sharp
- Caleb Folan
Simeon Jackson
Honours
League
- Football League Division Three Playoff Finalists (Runners-up) 2001-2002
- Football Conference Champions 2000-2001
- Southern League Premier Division Champions 1995-1996
- Southern League Division One Midlands Champions 1993-1994
Cups
- Conference League Cup Runners up 2008
- NFA Hillier Cup Winners Winners (4): 1994, 1999, 2007, 2008
- NFA Maunsell winners Winners(4): 1995, 2000, 2006, 2008
- Conference Shield Winners Winners(1): 2001
- Southern League Championship Cup Winners(1): 1997
References
- ^ http://www.thediamondsfc.com/page/MatchReport/0,,10784~46611,00.html
- ^ http://www.thediamondsfc.com/page/NewsDetail/0,,10784~1436174,00.html
- ^ http://www.thediamondsfc.com/page/Stats/0,,10784~1646947,00.html
- ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_conf/7982041.stm
- ^ http://www.thediamondsfc.com/page/NewsDetail/0,,10784~688210,00.html
- ^ http://www.thediamondsfc.com/page/NewsDetail/0,,10784~1628559,00.html
- ^ http://www.thediamondsfc.com/page/MatchReport/0,,10784~26071,00.html
- ^ http://www.thediamondsfc.com/page/Stats/0,,10784~1646947,00.html
External links
- Rushden & Diamonds F.C. on BBC Sport: Club News – Recent results – Upcoming fixtures – Club stats
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