Rushden & Diamonds v Newport County

Blue Square Bet Premier
Saturday 11th September 2010

The Town

Rushden, called Risedene in the Doomsday Book, apparently takes its name from the stream or brook that can be seen in Rushden Hall Park before it disappears under the modern Duck Street. For much of its life it was an agricultural community until Victorian times, when it became noted for its footwear. The redbrick terraces and period factory buildings still to be seen in the town stand testament to this. The former John White shoe factory on the Higham Road, now converted into flats, is a good example of buildings generated by the footwear industry, in a bygone era.  Rushden's population remained static for over a century, but has now increased considerably due to the large tracks of new houses. It does however; boast a number of interesting architectural gems. St Mary's Church dates from the 13th century and the historic Rushden Hall dates from the 14th. The former coach station on the Higham Road was built in the 1930s and is a wonderful piece of period architecture that many would describe as “Art Deco”. Another survivor from this period is the Ritz cinema on College Street. The former Midland Railway station, on the disused Wellingborough to Higham line, has been preserved by a transport preservation trust, it contains many artefacts of 20th century railway life. Rushden is, a bustling town with the usual high street shops, it is now bypassed by the A6, providing good links to the M1 and A14 via the A45. A short drive away is Higham Ferrers with its delightful market square and a number of fine historic buildings.


 

Directions

From the South by car
Leave the M1 at J15 and turn left onto the A508 and head Towards Northampton. Stay on the A508 and after 2 miles this will turn into the A45. Stay on the A45 and travel past Northampton and Wellingborough. Ignore the signs for Rushden and Stay on the A45 until you reach the Chowns Mill Roundabout with the A6. Turn left and join the A6. Go over the bridge and you will see Nene Park on your right. Turn right at the Nene Park Roundabout into Diamond Way and then follow the road down to the car park behind the ground.

From the East by car
Leave the A14 at the A45 junction (just after the Ikea warehouse near Thrapston). Stay on the A45 for 8 miles until you reach the Chowns Mill Roundabout with the A6. Turn right and join the A6. Go over the bridge and you will see Nene Park on your right. Turn right at the Nene Park Roundabout into Diamond Way and then follow the road down to the car park behind the ground.

From the West by car
Follow the A43 into Northampton and then join the A45, follow this around the edge of Northampton following the signs for Wellingborough. Stay on the A45 out of Northampton and travel past Wellingborough. Ignore the signs for Rushden and Stay on the A45 until you reach the Chowns Mill Roundabout with the A6. Turn left and join the A6. Go over the bridge and you will see Nene Park on your right. Turn right at the Nene Park Roundabout into Diamond Way and then follow the road down to the car park behind the ground.

Parking your car
Once you get to Nene Park you can park in the large car park behind Nene Park, the entrance to this is along Diamond Way, be warned though when the car park is full it can be a nightmare to get back onto the A6, it as been known to take over an hour to get out of the car park if you are at the back of it.

Alternatively if you don't fancy long delay's after the game you can park along Station Road which leads into Irthlingborough and walk back across the A6 into Nene Park, also there is a car park at the Cross in Irthlingborough, which to strangers to the area is the roundabout in the center of town, from there it is only a 10 minute walk back down Station Road to Nene Park.
 

Club History

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 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. The first three seasons back in the Football Conference were marred by instability on and off the pitch. Keith Cousins took over the club, and five managers (Paul Hart, Tony Godden, Graham Westley, Garry Hill and Justin Edinburgh) took control of the club at different times. The club failed to break the top-ten, and by the end of the 2008-2009 season the average attendence was less than 50% of what it had been during their last season in the Football League. However, the Diamonds' fortunes began to change 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 lead the club to the Football Conference play-offs - 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 FC. 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.
 

Previous Meetings

The sides met on several occasions in the early 90's as Rushden progressed through the leagues on their way to the Conference. They last met in the FA Trophy 1st Round in December 2008 and nothing could differentiate between the sides over 180 minutes after two even games both drawn 1-1. County lost out on penalties losing 5-3 after Rob Duffy missed his effort.

The Verdict