The unofficial AFC Rushden & Diamonds messageboard

Just for information, BetVictor have priced up our league and have it as:

AFCRD 5/1
Royston 5/1
Arlesey 10/1
Barton Rovers 10/1
Aylesbury 10/1
Ware 12/1
Hanwell 12/1
14/1 Bar

It is such a tough league to price up because so many teams at the top previously have departed one way or another - K*ttering, Daventry, Bedworth, Rugby

I think our reputation precedes us and 5/1 is very short, they obviously expect to take more money on us through name recognition and so have us short accordingly.

Maybe there is value lower down but just don't know the league well enough. Anyone know anything about Royston and why they might be so well regarded?


If anyone does fancy backing us, if you back us each way you get 5/4 on us finishing in the first three as a money back saver.

Now, back to focusing on who I am backing in Scottish League Two...

I agree and think they've just gone by perceived reputation. A bit of a lazy approach but this far down the leagues it must be hard to gain genuine information. We have bought some players in but we've also lost a lot of quality (I think we'll miss Gearing's guile in particular). It took K*ttering 2 years to get out of this league and that was by spending a huge percentage of their income on player salaries. With our more considered approach to club finances I don't think we'll tear up the league, but certainly a challenge for the play-offs seems realistic at this stage.

Andy Peaks mentioned at the last forum that he'd heard on the grapevine that Royston were spending some money, but he also said he'd heard from other sources that the opposite was the case, so it seems nothing can be taken as certain. Interesting that information on clubs resources is hard to come by for this league whereas in the UCL we knew all about Holbeach, Spalding, Sileby etc

paulg wrote: Interesting that information on clubs resources is hard to come by for this league whereas in the UCL we knew all about Holbeach, Spalding, Sileby etc

I`m sure The Southern League has it`s very own Paul Winston who knows more about each Club and it`s finances than the Chairman and Board of those Clubs do, you just need to find out who he is and where he posts his information/bo..ocks.

paulg wrote:I agree and think they've just gone by perceived reputation. A bit of a lazy approach but this far down the leagues it must be hard to gain genuine information. We have bought some players in but we've also lost a lot of quality (I think we'll miss Gearing's guile in particular). It took K*ttering 2 years to get out of this league and that was by spending a huge percentage of their income on player salaries. With our more considered approach to club finances I don't think we'll tear up the league, but certainly a challenge for the play-offs seems realistic at this stage.

Andy Peaks mentioned at the last forum that he'd heard on the grapevine that Royston were spending some money, but he also said he'd heard from other sources that the opposite was the case, so it seems nothing can be taken as certain. Interesting that information on clubs resources is hard to come by for this league whereas in the UCL we knew all about Holbeach, Spalding, Sileby etc

I almost mentioned in another thread that I was concerned about Royston, I think I maybe read something in the NLP about some signings they had made. Plus they were useful last season. They have a couple of ex-pros in David Theobold (ex Brentford, Swansea & Cambridge) and Gary Hart who made a huge number of appearances for Brighton.

5/1 is very short indeed, I can see us at least challenging for top 5 for sure, teams coming up from step 5 tend to do quite well at this level usually and a few have even gained promotion in their first season (though obviously there may have been money involved at these clubs), but top spot is probably a bit much this season. Losing Confue (although I wonder whether there's any chance with the goings on at Daventry of us tempting him back?) and Gearing is a big blow to the side, but I see no reason why some of the signings we've made, who are all no stranger to this level, can't have a decent impact on this league. Cannot wait for the 8th August!

It does surprise me to see we joint favourites, I suppose it's because SL1C, lost Rugby, Daventry, K*ttering and Bedworth.

5/1 very short, I think we can challenge the play offs (without sounding rude) to me we should be 9/1, 10/1. (At best)

I'm looking forward to the new/football season SL1C, I'm so glad we in the Southern League, not Northern league.

The good old days.

I think it's madness first of all being joint favourites and being such short odds too, I think it's madness if anyone considers this.. It might be well worth reviewing it after 10 matches and then considering the bet. It will give punters and fans and much better idea of how the league will shape up and providing we ain't winning week in week out your more likely to get a much higher price.. But then again knowing the bookies they will only provide this bet before the season starts :lol:

Kinda pointless backing either us or Royston each way, unless you're very confident and have lots of money! Aylesbury seem like a good one each way, having finished in the playoffs last season.

As for us, it's clearly going on name and then other short odds are to do with how their did last season. The league has been weakened a lot though, K*ttering, Rugby, Bedworth gone and North Greenford reprieved again. Quite a lot of dross in the half as well. Top half should be very achievable.

You see that odds checker has us at 7/2 to win the league. That is a ridiculous price, a ridiculous price, we should be no where near that price. Are they on a other planet. :lol:

https://m.oddschecker.com/t/football/en ... ion-winner

Royston was the last game I played in when I was a youth. Away on a frozen pitch in the middle of January/February.