All Time Diamonds XI: Centre Back

[wewantourdarbyback]

As we move into the third week of voting for our all time XI we move into the centre of the defence. This is a double vote since we are filling two positions and so you will have two votes to make and 8 nominees to chose from. During the nomination process the 8 chosen were pretty overwhelmingly picked over other possibilities. As usual click on the names for more info:

Andy Peaks was one of the players who joined the newly founded RDFC from Rushden Town in 1992. He was the first player to make over 200 appearances for the Diamonds. A feat he achieved in 1997 shortly before he left to join Nuneaton Borough on loan. He is currently the manager of Northampton Spencer and coaches for the Diamonds academy.

Mark Peters was a member of the Conference winning side of 2001 and the play off final side of the next season. He made 146 appearances for the side and was still a regular in the team during the Third Division winning season until February. The next season he left the club by mutual consent and went on to play for Leyton Orient, Cambridge United and Kings Lynn. He has taken up a coaching role at St Albans.

Barry Hunter joined the club in September 2001 and went on to make 121 appearances for the club. During his time he won promotion to the Second Division and was a member of the team at it's highest ebb. During his time he also won Players Player and Supporters Player of the year awards. He went on to manage the club, helping to save it from relegation out of the league in the 2004/5 season. He left the club after he was unable to repeat his feat from the previous season as the club was relegated to the Conference in 2006.

Jon Flower joined the club in 1992 from the defunct Aldershot. He remained at the club for three seasons making 137 appearances before he joined Raunds in 1995. (at this point I must apologise for not having more info on Jon)

Ray Warburton arrived at Nene Park in 1998 from neighbours Northampton at whom he had already been a fans favourite. After scoring on his début for the Diamonds 'Razer' went on to captain the side to the Conference title in 2001. He left the club in March 2002 after injuries had seen him make just the single appearance during the Play Off season of 2001/02. He joined Boston and promptly led them straight into the league. He currently coaches at Brackley Town.

Jim Rodwell joined the club in 1996 for the Diamonds first season in the Conference from Halesowen Town. Jim made 207 appearances for the club and was part of the 2000/1 season title winning team. Once in the league he found his appearances limited and joined Dagenham & Redbridge on loan before making the permanent move to Boston united where he was eventually joined by Ray Warburton and again won promotion to the League.

Darren Bradshaw moved to RDFC from Blackpool in 1997. He had had a long career in the league before moving to Nene Park with teams including York , Newcastle and Peterborough United. He went on to make 92 appearances for the Diamonds until December 2000. After his last appearance in the 5-1 thrashing of Hednesford he moved to Stevenage Borough in 2001.

Chris Hope Joined the Diamonds in 2006 from Gillingham after the clubs relegation to the conference and picked up the Captains armband straight away. Over his 3 seasons at the club he won multiple Player of the Season awards from Players, fans and the press. During the 2008/9 season he became the first Diamonds player ever to be ever present during a 46 game league season. At the end of that season he left the club and now plays for Corby Town alongside fellow ex diamonds favourite Phil Gulliver. He is also on the management committee of the PFA showing he still holds much respect from those in the game.

There were four other possibilities mentioned who didn't make it onto the short list, Wayne Hatswell, Phil Gulliver, Andy Edwards and Chris Whyte all made well remembered contributions to the club but have just missed out on an appearance in the above list.

[Formic]

Good stuff there WWODB. I know the official line on Mark Peters departure was "mutual consent" but there didn't seem a lot of love lost between him and OBN - despite Rhino's contributions to the club - I remember him having to sit with the Youth team players in a PSF at Boreham Wood and could see then that he was unlikely to feature again.

[BartonRaz]

I can remember him playing up front against Bedford in a friendly shortly before he left.

Surprised Hope is getting as many votes as he is. New fans presumably. Good servant to the club but he only really played with any consistancy in his final season with us.

[CountHermanDeBanker]

Razer and Rodwell for me - Rodwell particularly underrated in my opinion and easily the best centre back we have had in our history.

Razer - awesome sums it up!

[Downsie53]

Darren Bradshaw was quality, he oozed class.
Between him, Razor and 'Knees-Bent-Arm-Stretched-Red-Card-OFF!-Hunter' for me!

[OsanoIsKing]

Rhino and Razor for me. Rodwell comes third with Hunter shortly after. Tough choice I must say, I remember Bradshaw playing a bit but not enough to vote for him.

[Superhans]

hope cannot come above rhino
we won this league with peters at the back!

[Duffman]

Razor and Rhino for me, them 2 were superb. Bradshaw was very close, he was a class act

[davealbon]

Razor and Rhino for me, them 2 were superb. Bradshaw was very close, he was a class act

I completely agree with that. Razor had it all; the ability, the commitment, the leadership qualities and came across as a superb ambassador for the club off the pitch as well. Rhino just gets the nod over Bradshaw as he was so successful here - although Bradshaw was a class act he didn't actually achieve anything of note with the club. Andy Peaks was also very close, but I only ever saw him play a couple of times when I first started supporting the club, which was the reason he just missed out.

[Steve]

Surprised Hope is getting as many votes as he is. New fans presumably. Good servant to the club but he only really played with any consistancy in his final season with us.

That is exactly it for me - i've only seen 3 off them play. I have voted for all the categories so far but i feel like i'm ruining the system abit :roll: