The unofficial AFC Rushden & Diamonds messageboard

In terms of best ground...

1 Millenium Stadium
2 Elland Road
3 Upton Park
4 Hillsborough
5 Bramall Lane

In terms of memories both on and off the pitch

1 Rockingham Road - the buzz of anticapation, the nerves, the butterflies in the stomach, the raw, tense edgy feeling, the atmosphere, the results, Lee Tomlins celebration, Dale having to tell us we had scored, Lord Darby....

Then I find it a bit difficult to seperate them Highfield Road, Spotland, Turf Moor, Brunton Park, Aggborough, The Crabble, Christie Park would all have to be in there but so could several others. I find it's more about the memories of the people i went with and the fun we had along the way that the list of grounds associated could get rather long.

In terms of crap places I would have to say Swansea and Hereford - both unpleasant, horrible grounds, never seemed to get a result, uncomfortable places to visit as an away fan. The "big" games especially the play-off final and Chester are vastly over rated in my opinion.

My best away days were, in no particular order

Forest Green (can't tell you why)
Biller-Ricky (again, can't tell you)
Morecambe (great fish & Chips)
Kiddy (great curry)
Kettrin (obviously) 8-)

Im suprised nobody has said the Dripping Pan!

Duke of Wimbourne wrote:My best away days were, in no particular order

Forest Green (can't tell you why)
Biller-Ricky (again, can't tell you)
Morecambe (great fish & Chips)
Kiddy (great curry)
Kettrin (obviously) 8-)

Not to mention the cottage pies and the legendary soup

Think i'll throw a new one out there now ready to discuss over the weekend which will soon be here 8-)

Top 5 'I was there' moments. Make of it what you want, im going by stories I tell people 'I was there when....'

5. Workington away - f.a trophy - 1 of only 7 away fans at a game made me glad I went, friendly club aswell. Was there before the bar opened so was allowed in the 'directors suite' to see big cliff drinking a cup of coffee.

4. Weymouth away - 9-0 - I didnt realise how in the shit they were until we got there and seen the keeper hadn't hit puberty. Harsh on them I know but witnessed our biggest win

3. Oxford away - play off semi - Still going there with a bit of hope, i was inly expecting 500/600 to travel. But seeing 1250+ turn up and show up 7000+ Oxford fans was amazing. The atmosphere was blinding all game!

2. Northampton 3-2 - I remember it like it was yesterday, no need for an explanation. If only we raised the 100k to sign him......

1. Alty away - 3-1 maybe? - Osano scored, enough said.

Other mentions to Cambridge away i think it was where Osano hit a 40 yard screamer so so close. He done it at home aswell but not sure who against.

To be fair, mine were more memories off the field..............I'll let Pigman expalain 8-)

No-one has mentioned Aldershot away - I loved the atmosphere having both home and away fans under the same tin roof.

5.) Eastwood 4-3 RDFC. One of a maximum of 15 Diamonds fans who witnessed an extraordinary game. We may have lost but it was so entertaining. The final kick of ET was a missed penalty from Alan Power.

4.) Darlington 2-0 RDFC. Depressing day, awful RDFC performance, but glad I made the effort to drive such a long way for what was effectively a meaningless game. Of course it turned out to be our last. Aren't too many of us that can claim to have been there at that game. Less than 100 at a guess.

3.) Chester 1-2 RDFC. Just an amazing day.

2.) Setanta Shield Final. Reasons mentioned earlier. A game i'll never forget.

1.) RDFC 3-2 NTFC - THE 'I was there' moment.

carlisle away - we'd secured promotion before the monday game.

orient away - there was a great pic of a yellow army, loads of yellow pages cut up in the air.

oxford away - great support, even if the football on the pitch wasn't the best

kett away - always nervy but we've had some rubbish matches at the rockinghorse but we've also given them some football treats. listening to the radio on the way home as their manager tried to sound upbeat. after we'd torn them to pieces within the first twenty mins. totally out playing them.

west ham away - david james not even flinching, as onandi sent a rocket into the top corner.

Apologies for dragging this up!

Drunken Debanker wrote:1, Kidderminster because of the food (apart from when it ends up all down my leg and all over my shoes)

Three things spring to mind when I saw you put this. 1. That couple couple dogging on the way back from the Setanta Shield game. 2. Drinking that out seriously out of date beer from Strikers and eating pickled eggs! 3.And the best "Not until Monday morning now"

Kidderminster - Always a good day out,nice little with a little rivalry
Stockport - Can't put my finger on why but I've always a good time there,despite some of the late goals :(
Northwich - Great club,real friendly club,great staff and a great piss up
Gravesend - Just a real non league ground another great piss up!
Altrincham - Another great non league ground, always a good laugh on the terrace there and a ground we always seem to do well at.