The unofficial AFC Rushden & Diamonds messageboard

1353 at Brackley today, so more than us in the end (I presume, didn't look like over 1000 at Spencer). Well done to them anyway.

Bit of a problem emerging for the final. Brackley's ground is set at a capacity of 3,000 (minimum for that level) but it's been cut to 2,500 for the final on police advice because of the need for segregation.

I've looked at some of the footage from Saturday and it looks rammed with 1,353 in there. Halifax are only getting 1,000 tickets apparently! I'd be really gutted if we got to a play-off final and I couldn't get a ticket!

www.altyfans.co.uk/index.php?topic=17063.0 - Jon etc. take note, hardcore cameramen! ;)

An Alty Fan wrote:Crowd was 1,300, superb numbers from Alty, advised to piss behind the stand due to lack of toilets, people walking around the ground drinking beer purchased both in their bar and cans people bought in.

Tedious selection of knobs spending 90 minutes trying to antagonise the travelling supporters rather than getting behind their team. Couldn't see how they could fit many more in as that grass down the side cannot be part of the capacity, we didn't show up and were comprehensively beaten.

Maybe we should move our games to Hale Country Club and sink everything into the team as the rules don't really seem to matter all said and done. I hope Halifax go there next week and smash it to pieces.

At least Max built us a stadium fit for the higher levels whilst bankrolling us! Luton etc. will have a lot of fun there, especially since it would be very difficult to stop away fans buying tickets for the home end...

you wouldn't get me anywhere near the roof of a portacabin!!!

bozzer wrote:you wouldn't get me anywhere near the roof of a portacabin!!!

You (we ;)) was higher than that at Yaxley!

TwinkleToesTomlin wrote:

bozzer wrote:you wouldn't get me anywhere near the roof of a portacabin!!!

You (we ;)) was higher than that at Yaxley!

i know mate, but it was slightly safer!! (at least it had a ladder!)

Only 10 years ago they where in the helenic legauge, same level as us now, the ground is not much better than a UCL ground, similar to Raunds, but with a new terrace and stand behind one goal.

It appears the money man has only ever put money into the playing squad and no where else. Also the board is still stuck in the ways and act like that are still a Helenic league.

Its all a bit weird when you go, as the team on the pitch is top class, but off it is like any other UCL club, is really strange.

The ground in my opion to stay at the current level even, news massive investment in seats and stands, it really is out of its depth currently, and it will be horrible when/if the big away support teams turn up there.

According to comments on the Alty fans forum, Brackley just weren't organised for a crowd. The bloke at the turnstile was trying to take gate money and sell programmes at the same time, there were poor and inadequate toilets and the comment was made 'heaven help them if they gain promotion when Luton Town visit them'.

i like going to Brackley a good club all round & they are spending money on the ground with new changing rooms & club house, people forget that the town of Brackley is not much bigger than Rushden & the support they get isnt that bad for the size of the town, i hope they win on Sunday it will good for the area to have a club in the top flight of non league football.If any of you are thinking of going will have to buy a ticket before hand as it is all ticket

mackemcobbler wrote:i like going to Brackley a good club all round & they are spending money on the ground with new changing rooms & club house, people forget that the town of Brackley is not much bigger than Rushden & the support they get isnt that bad for the size of the town, i hope they win on Sunday it will good for the area to have a club in the top flight of non league football.If any of you are thinking of going will have to buy a ticket before hand as it is all ticket

Wrong actually -

Population of Rushden/Higham and Irthlingborough combined = 42,589 (source Wiki)
Pop of Brackley = 14,378

So actually far less, so you're right about the size of their support.

But that's not the argument, we're saying that clearly the club off the pitch isn't prepared for Conference Premier football. It's essentially a UCL ground with some small terraces.

Since I live in Brackley it would have been rude not to go, so now got my tickets, sold over 500 in the first two hours (only leaves about 1000 left). Pretty sure its going to be sold out pretty soon.

Halifax have been given the whole new terrace end, and Brackley fans have run of the rest of the ground (I still cannot see how you can get 1500 fans around the other sides of the pitch but hey), there's no reserve seating, so its a case of survival of the fittest for the seats and small terrace behind the goal.

so... if you thinking of going best sort it out now.