Rushden & Diamonds v Southend United - Wednesday, July 28th; kick-off 19.30
Club Info
So it's off to Irthlingborough, that's in Northants folks, for Southend's fourth pre-season friendly, and another under lights.
This should be an interesting game against former left back Justin Edinburgh's Blue Square Premier side.
NENE PARK
Diamond Way
Irthlinborough
Northants
NN9 5QF
Telephone number: 01933 652000
Nene Park; Top right off Diamond Way
Ticket Prices
The De Banke and South Stands are open: Adult £10, Concessions £5, Under-16's £2.
Last Match Report
Sherwsbury Town 1 Rushden & Diamonds 0
Get an idea of who Justin is going to pick and their playing style in their last pre-season friendly where they gave a good go against one of the Shrimpers League Two rivals the Sherws by going here:
www.thediamondsfc.com/page/NewsDetail/0,,10784~2098779,00.html
How to get there
By Road
Get on the M1 and leave at Junction 15 (s/p Northampton A45 / A508) and follow signs to Northampton and Wellingborough.
At a roundabout on the outskirts of Wellingborough, where the A508 and A45 split, keep on A45 travelling east, until you reach the junction with the A6, and turn left (s/p Kettering A6).
Cross the river and next roundabout into the ground.
The ground is also easily accessed via the A6 from Bedford, with the Clapham and Higham bypasses now open.
From the east there is the A14 route; follow signs to the M1/M6 and Midlands until you reach with the A45 at Thrapston.
Follow the A45 (formerly the A605) southwestwards, following signs for Wellingborough and Northampton (s/p Nene Park) and the ground will be in front of you.
There is a fair sized car park at the ground which did cost £2.
By Rail and Bus
CAN DO £20 RETURN, 2 x £10 singles
The nearest station is Wellingborough, up to 6 miles away, so good luck if you decide to walk!
To be honest, not recommended; but if you can get out early there's a 14.00, in at 14.50, at £10, if not a return could raise to £55.50 if you want to leave after work, expensive out while there is a 22.05, game over at around 21.20, in at St. Pancras at 23.04, and is the 22.32, back to London at 23.38, both of these fares are a tenner.
Get a Travelcard to London if going from Southend and give yourself three hours.
It is a Group Save area so four of you could make it very cost effective to buy that cab!
Of course any railcards would prove usefull as well.
Go to www.eastmidlandstrains.co.uk for all the times and costs.
Plenty of serves out for London St. Pancras for the 50
The last 45 bus to Nene Park we could find is 18.40 but nothing after, so it looks like a cab, book one before.
Contact www.stagecoachbus.com for bus services but the football stadium guide has a recommendation to go to Bedford first and catch a No.50, but the problem will remain getting back, even more so here. 
Pubs and Pies
There are no pubs within the immediate the vicinity of the stadium.
However, for the next few suggestions I've pinched from the archives of www.ciderspace.co.uk who always know where to find a good drink, since it's been five yeras since we were last there, and that an LDV.
General :
Wellingborough, which is about 15 minutes drive away, is full of pubs that left us thinking the last coat of paint they saw was on the windows during World War II.
A couple of miles north up the A6 from Nene Park there was the Dolben Arms at Finedon. When this author was in there before a night game some years ago there were three men, and a large dog, who all, including the dog, looked like they hadn't moved from their stools for twenty years. Virtually every beer was "off", and it was made quite clear that if any food was requested we could open our own packet of crisps, thank you very much.
In Irthlingborough, between fifteen and twenty-five minutes walk from the ground, there are three pubs strung along through the centre of the small town. The Bull is the closest. It was closed down when we visited in 2000, having been trashed by a load of Hereford followers (surprise, surprise) not long before, and although subsequently refurbished it's never been open on any of our subsequent visits.
The Horseshoe (pretty dreadful) and The Oliver Twist (pretty good) are further away along the High Street. There was (allegedly) The British Arms in the back streets somewhere, but we never managed to find it, and have a feeling it has now closed down - if it ever really existed.
The chip shop, Vince's Fish Bar, one of two in the town, a few doors along from The Oliver Twist was good, and the pub, having stopped doing food on a Saturday, allowed us to bring back fish and chips from there and even offered cutlery, ketchup etc.
Club Bar :
Exactly as you'd imagine. New, expensive looking and very well appointed. Much money was thrown at Strikers and the attached restaurant and other facilities and, according to their former Chief Executive, much money was being lost by them. It used to be Members only, though the more cheery of the Rushden supporters would sign you in.
Several reasonably decent real ales, from the Charles Wells stable if we recall correctly from our visits, as well as the usual keg beers and lagers. With their financial needs to the fore normally anyone can spend their money in it now.
There is provision in the AirWair for away fans. An unpleasant concrete bunker, and even more unpleasant keg beer and lager, but it's more than most clubs provide for their visitors to be fair. The Diamond Burgers always used to be some of the best stadium food on the circuit.
Local pubs:
| Horseshoe Inn: Second pub you will come across walking from Nene Park into the town. As bad inside as it looks outside - peeling paint, dirty, smashed windows. May have improved since 2005 but you have been warned. Still if you are desperate for something to drink this might be better than nothing - just. Horseshoe Inn, High Street, Irthlingborough, Northamptonshire, NN9 5PU. Tel: 01933 650344. Map: Click Here. |
Rushden Historical Transport Society, The Station, Station Approach, Rushden, Northamptonshire, NN10 0AW. Tel: 01933 318988. Email: andy@rhts.co.uk. Website: Click Here. Map: Click Here. |
The Bull: First pub you'll come across walking up the hill from the ground into Irthlingborough. As such it is billed as being popular with away fans. Refurbished a few years ago, but closed yet again on our most recent visit with a different excuse posted on the front door. As we recall it has never been open on our visits - coincidence or policy we aren't sure. The Bull, 1, Station Road, Irthlingborough, Northamptonshire, NN7 5UQ. Tel: 01933 650259. Map: Click Here. |
The Oliver Twist: The best of the pubs in Irthlingborough and - as is Sod's Law - the one furthest from the stadium. You're up to about twenty minutes or so walk by now. Food is on from 12.00 - 2.00 p.m. However, it's a very friendly place and there was no problem eating what you've bought from the fish and chip shop a few doors along on the tables outside - they'll even supply you sauces and cutlery if you ask nicely. There are a couple of guest real ales. No problem about children during the day. Also does B&B should you want to stay over in Irthlingborough........though God knows why anyone would in all honesty. The Oliver Twist, 96, High Street, Irthlingborough, Northamptonshire, NN9 5PX. Tel: 01933 650353. Map: Click Here. (Thanks once again to www.ciderspace.co.uk though there is a health warning that this information has not been updated for a while, and the pub could be closed!) |
History
Rushden and Diamonds was formed on 21 April 1992 by a merger of Rushden Town and Irthlingborough Diamonds, the brainchild of Max Grigs.
The club's first few seasons were remarkable for the success the team enjoyed, finishing 3rd in the Southern League Midland Division in their inaugural season.
The following year they won the division, winning promotion to the Southern League Premier Division, and two years later the Diamonds were again promoted as champions. The team had gained promotion to the Football Conference after just four years as a club
The team then spent five seasons attempting to reach the Football league, finishing 12th in the 1996-97 season, and then 4th, 4th and 2nd in the Football Conference before they finally won promotion to the Football League as champions in 2001.
For a full history of the club, go here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rushden_%26_Diamonds_F.C.
(Many thanks to www.thediamondsfc.com and www.conferencegrounds.co.uk/rushden_and_diamonds.htm for their help with this article.)