The unofficial AFC Rushden & Diamonds messageboard

Bumped into a group of Hereford lads (hard not to) up on the District Line this morning. Despite one of them associating R&D with a punch up outside Edgar Street, was interesting to hear all about them and their reform compared to ours.

Some of the attendances they get are staggering (over 3000), guess that's what's possible when you base a football club in its home town. What's the current situation regarding AFCRD and the ground? Or is discussion of such only allowed in members forum?

They managed to get promoted at first time of asking into the same level as us, so that might be a tasty game once we both get promoted.

I've been following their progress all season. Alvechurch ran them really close for promotion before falling away at the end. A bit like what happened with ourselves and
Holbeach.

I don't think it's just a case of having a ground in your own town although of course that helps. They key seems to be getting your old ground back. Hereford, Chester, Halifax and Salisbury have retained similar attendances since reforming having retained their stadium, if not better in some instances. The likes of ourselves, Darlington, Scarborough have struggled to hit the same heights attendance wise which is understandable.

I saw Hereford play last month. They looked a good side at Step 5 as you'd expect, but they weren't THAT good. Perhaps marginally better than we are currently. They have a winger called Mustapha Bundu who is a really exceptional player but can't play above Step 5 as he only has an educational visa.

BartonRaz wrote:I've been following their progress all season. Alvechurch ran them really close for promotion before falling away at the end. A bit like what happened with ourselves and
Holbeach.

I don't think it's just a case of having a ground in your own town although of course that helps. They key seems to be getting your old ground back. Hereford, Chester, Halifax and Salisbury have retained similar attendances since reforming having retained their stadium, if not better in some instances. The likes of ourselves, Darlington, Scarborough have struggled to hit the same heights attendance wise which is understandable.

I saw Hereford play last month. They looked a good side at Step 5 as you'd expect, but they weren't THAT good. Perhaps marginally better than we are currently. They have a winger called Mustapha Bundu who is a really exceptional player but can't play above Step 5 as he only has an educational visa.

Yeah, apparently Alvechurch had a better team, with lots of players who had stepped down a level or two. They also said Bundu is out of this world, I told them I'd rather Hoban any day ;)

Interesting point about it being about the original ground, seems bang on. I definitely think we'd get more at Nene Park but I'm sure the extra couple of hundreds fans in no way provides us with the extra revenue needed to cover the additional costs of such a move. The Rushden & Higham away game in season 1 showed what having football in Rushden would do.

Shock, Horror 4-1 to Morpeth
Hereford scored after 95 secs but Morpeth equalized on 34 when keeper drops ball, sounds like Tom Cross at Dover

two early second half goals put Morpeth in charge and goal in stoppage time.