Cod Almighty | Article

by Andrew Lumbard

15 July 2010

Well, hello there, Rushden & Diamonds. Let's talk about you.
As every specialist in the sports round of the pub quiz knows, Rushden & Diamonds came about as a result of a merger in 1992 between Rushden Town and Irthlingborough Diamonds, which was the brainchild of Dr Martens owner Max Griggs. Before their merger Rushden Town had been in the Southern League, but had been relegated to the midland division as a result of 'ground conditions'. (Town's old Hayden Road ground is still there and was taken over as the home ground for Northants Combination side Rushden Rangers, who subsequently merged to form Rushden & Higham United, a United Counties League (UCL) side, with near neighbours Higham Town.)

The football heritage of UCL club Irthlingborough Diamonds was set to continue within the merged R&D. Development of their ground on the banks of the River Nene began shortly after the merger, and was completed in 1996. The site is one to envy for many clubs, with two training pitches, administration offices, commercial offices, conference centre and warehousing. Initially the commercial properties were used by the Dr Martens and Griggs industrial empire, but commerce moved on, and in 2003 the Yen was able to produce your 12-hole cherry reds for less money. The Nene Valley Way long-distance path passes through the car park and along the side stand. I will be forever grateful to the well-stocked club shop, and my Rushden & Diamonds replica socks purchased within, which cushioned my blisters when walking from Wellingborough to Thrapston. It was also where I discovered the fans' admiration of the current manager.

Football ground or footwear emporium? Photo: Peter Bonnett (cc by-nd 2.0)

With the Griggs vision of creating a football league club, Rushden & Diamonds took the place of Rushden Town and began their rise up the pyramid. After a poor run of results and stagnation in the Conference, Brian Talbot was installed as manager in February 1997, and the dream was achieved in 2000. Sadly for the ambitious, and the loyal local fans, their stay was ended by a 2-0 defeat at Boston United in 2006.

In the summer of 2005 and after trying to sell the club for 18 months, 13 years after his initial vision and investment, Max Griggs and his son Stephen sold the ground, £20m of assets and 22 acre of land to the supporters' trust for one of your English pounds, and subsequently handed the leadership baton to lifelong fan Helen Thompson. The fairytale was over, but the legacy remained. The trust reduced the annual operating losses, but when still faced with losing £600,000 a year they sought a new owner to avoid administration. That help came when former Peterborough vice-president Keith Cousins became chairman, taking over the club and its assets. However, further legal wrangles regarding 'loans' from Mr Cousins ensued and the club continued with an uncertain future. In February 2007 they read the fine print and the trust agreed that a business figure would make better use of the Nene Park facilities. Ownership of the land was transferred from the trust to the chairman, and Max Griggs resigned his life presidency.

Kettering is the obvious target for local rivalries as they have been kicking around the same patch for most of Diamonds' history. One could question how a rivalry can be built up in 18 years of existence, but Kettering may have the jealousy factor behind them, as their nearest neighbour. Cobblers can't really be bothered with that sort of thing, and some say Peterborough are a rival, but this may be news at London Road!

Former Spurs favourite Justin Edinburgh is the current man in charge, and is very popular with the fans. His current tenure has given the club a period of stability which is beginning to be built upon. Away from the politics, he has breathed a new life into the club and is starting to attract the fans back.

Do you come here often?
Between their formation in 1964 and cessation, Irthlingborough Diamonds spent their entire life in the United Counties League and won the premier division four times. Their other highlights were two FA Vase semi-final appearances. Similarly, since 1889, Rushden Town were in the UCL from its formation and its predecessors. They rose to the Southern League in 1990 for one season, but had already been relegated to the lower division at the time of the takeover.

Rushden & Diamonds spent their first two seasons in this Southern League midland division, exiting as champions in 1994, having lost just two games. The pattern was repeated in the Conference South, and they entered the Conference Premier for 1996-97, finishing 12th. After three seasons of near misses they gained promotion in 2001 with Brian Talbot in charge. Two seasons later they pipped Hartlepool on the last day of the season to gain their fourth promotion in 10 years. It was a short stay of one season in the third flight, and two seasons after that there was a quiet, dignified slide back into the Conference.

Sam Smith wrong-foots Billy Turley and slots the ball between three defenders for Diamonds' second goal at Brackley Town, 13 July 2010. Photo: Andy Lumbard

Haven't I seen you somewhere before?
The Mariners first came up against the Diamonds in November 2003, in the latter's first and only appearance in the third tier of English football. Both sides were relegated that season, and there were a further two years of meetings before Rushden's return to the Conference. It has been a very even contest of won 2 lost 2 drawn 2. I probably went to the Nene Park games, but struggle to bring any abiding memory of the two Town losses and draw.

Of course, there was Daryl Clare. But also Nigel Clough's right-hand man Gary Crosby and professional boxer Curtis Woodhouse can all say that they have played for both clubs. (Woodhouse, incidentally, is now listed on the books of Sheffield FC.)

What can we do when the sun goes down?
With Nene Park being based on the outskirts of a village of 7,000, hopefully you'll accept my suggestion to make up your own entertainment, but the Oliver Twist and the Horseshoes will provide you with pre-match sustenance.

For the nature lovers, however, and not recommended when the sun goes down, just down the road at Irchester Country Park there is the newly built Jungle Parc. This is a series of zip wires, trapezes, rope bridges and cargo nets built high up in the treetops. The twitchers among you will also enjoy spending some time around Stanwick Lakes, which backs right up to Diamonds' training ground and car park. For a decent meal afterwards drive over the A45 into Higham Ferrers and look for the Griffin, or negotiate the quaint one-way system in Rushden and hunt down the Curry Garden opposite the church.

A regional BBC report on the first leg of last season's play-off semi with Rushden and Oxford

Vital statistics
Last season
Rushden & Diamonds finished fourth in last year's Conference. In the play-offs, having held Oxford United to a 1-1 draw at home, a 2-0 defeat thwarted their Wembley plans. After a poor start and eighth place at Christmas, they lost just two games in 2010. They had the best away attack, and second best away defence.

League placing: 4th, Conference Premier, P44 W22 D13 L9 F77 A39 Pts79
Home and away rankings: 6th and 4th in the division
Average attendance: 1678 (rank: 9th in the division, 103rd in England)
Mileage travelled: 2,439 (three miles less than Kettering)

This season
Squad size: 22 (as at 15 July)
Odds on winning the league: 12/1 (Blue Square; joint fifth favourites)

Rushden & Diamonds used 21 players on Tuesday night in their 2-0 away victory at Brackley Town of the Southern League. Both squads used their first games of July to blow the holiday cobwebs off, and introduce new members into their squads... and to each other. Of particular interest to the visiting fans was the first-half debut of this season's Brackley goalkeeper, a certain Billy Turley. A torrent of abuse rained down on him from the 40 odd visiting fans behind the goal, who had made the short trip down the A43. First-half goals from Ryan Charles and Sam Smith gave the advantage to the visitors. They made 10 half-time substitutions, and Brackley introduced their more senior squad to keep the second half even.

Do say
"That Griggs fella seems like a really nice man. Such a shame it ended in the way it did."

Don't say
"Is this where the Irthlings come from?"

Do you know the area around Irthlingborough? We want your recommendations for local pubs, cafés or B&Bs, to feature in our pre-match factfiles during next season. Use the Cod Almighty feedback form to send them in – or to share any other thoughts you might have about our Rough Guide to the Conference.