All Time Diamonds XI: Centre Back
Posted: Mon Jan 18, 2010 3:45 pm
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.
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.