The unofficial AFC Rushden & Diamonds messageboard

Another Past/Present picture using an image from 1922, a Postcard made post match which celebrated the opening of Hayden Road Stand/Ground in 1922 with a friendly versus Aston Villa. [This original image is from the Rushden Heritage site - https://www.rushdenheritage.co.uk/ - currently am looking to try and source some more images and have contacted them for more details.]

Original Postcard (2d) - I like the main Stand Sponsorship - Swan Vesta Company, which is oddly enough linked to the "Diamond Match Company" per Wikipedia...and now displayed in front of a Diamond(s) Match.
"The Swan brand began in 1883 when the Collard & Kendall match company in Bootle on Merseyside near Liverpool introduced 'Swan wax matches'. These were superseded by later versions including 'Swan White Pine Vestas' from the Diamond Match Company. These were formed of a wooden splint soaked in wax. They were finally christened 'Swan Vestas' in 1906 when Diamond merged with Bryant and May and the company enthusiastically promoted the Swan brand. By the 1930s 'Swan Vestas' had become 'Britain's best selling match'. The brand is now owned by the Swedish Match company." (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swan_Vesta).

Not quite sure what type of flag that is flying above the main stand as well? Anyone have any ideas?

They came for a 1922 Opening match for Rushden Town versus Aston Villa, and saw a 3-1 win for AFC Rushden & Diamonds versus Coalville Town.
I thought there were only 407 there last night? Looks like at least 750 in the main stand...there in spirit.

More focus on the stand - shame that white area to the right of tunnel isn't black as well - make a better contrast for merging the pics.

In this next one, the overlay is of Main Stand in April 2017 before we started main ground works - the yellow hosepipe can be seen, as used by the current Groundsman - but I can see the 1922 Groundsman pretty much the same saying "Do you really have to walk on the pitch? And the wrong way down the light bays? I just spent hours hand mowing that!"


This one more focus on the original 1922 image, with a light overview of current ground - in particular, The Burger Monsters area, and the new turnstiles.
It will be interesting to see what the stand is like, when we get to 2022 - and the 100th Year Anniversary for the stand.

And finally 2 of the source images (my own) of the stand - one from around June 2017 before main works done at ground, and the next daytime October 2018.
Above image - Around June 2017 - pre main works at ground, and removal of one of the old floodlight posts.

Above image - October 2018 0 fairly recent daytime view (boring flat white sky).

A few more fun past/present images to come over the coming days as well.

Great pic. Cheers.
The ground staff spend ages making the pitch look immaculate, it must be hard to watch them put divots in it.

With the grant from Mick George, it seems we can start moving towards building and repairing it.

The Godfather wrote: ↑Tue Oct 30, 2018 4:41 pm With the grant from Mick George, it seems we can start moving towards building and repairing it.

Some preparatory work has already taken place whilst the technical aspects of what is required is, I understand, in hand to get some seating installed to meet the 31st March 2019 deadline to achieve Category C ground grading.

Trek wrote: ↑Tue Oct 30, 2018 7:04 pm

The Godfather wrote: ↑Tue Oct 30, 2018 4:41 pm With the grant from Mick George, it seems we can start moving towards building and repairing it.

Some preparatory work has already taken place whilst the technical aspects of what is required is, I understand, in hand to get some seating installed to meet the 31st March 2019 deadline to achieve Category C ground grading.

I also saw on Twitter that the changing rooms have to be a certain size. It sounds pathetic, but does Hayden Road's meet the required size?

The Godfather wrote: ↑Tue Oct 30, 2018 7:12 pm I also saw on Twitter that the changing rooms have to be a certain size. It sounds pathetic, but does Hayden Road's meet the required size?

18 square metres is the requirement for home and away changing rooms which is slightly larger than the existing rooms at the ground.

Trek wrote: ↑Tue Oct 30, 2018 7:34 pm

The Godfather wrote: ↑Tue Oct 30, 2018 7:12 pm I also saw on Twitter that the changing rooms have to be a certain size. It sounds pathetic, but does Hayden Road's meet the required size?

18 square metres is the requirement for home and away changing rooms which is slightly larger than the existing rooms at the ground.

There's also a minimum size requirement for the officials/ referee room at about 6 square metres?

Three of Diamonds wrote: ↑Tue Oct 30, 2018 7:53 pm There's also a minimum size requirement for the officials/ referee room at about 6 square metres?

Correct.

Trek wrote: ↑Tue Oct 30, 2018 7:56 pm

Three of Diamonds wrote: ↑Tue Oct 30, 2018 7:53 pm There's also a minimum size requirement for the officials/ referee room at about 6 square metres?

Correct.

I would've thought the officials would require a bigger room than that to fit their egos in!