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2009/10 PREVIEW: RUSHDEN & D

Posted on: Thu 23 Jul 2009

Today we focus on Rushden & Diamonds in our final preview this week of the Town's opponents next season in the Blue Square Premier.

Nickname: Diamonds

Manager: Justin Edinburgh

Ground: Nene Park

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Last season: Conference 11th

2008/09 average attendance: 1,509

2009/10 BSP title odds: 25/1

Previous meetings:

Luton wins: 5

Rushden & Diamonds wins: 0

Draws: 1

In six meetings between the two sides the Town are yet to taste defeat.

The Hatters have met the Diamonds four times in the Football League, winning three and drawing one. Our last clash was in 2003/04 when we drew 2-2 at Nene Park.

We have also been paired in the FA Cup in 2000/01 and the LDV Vans Trophy in 2003/04, winning both.

Prior to this, we played both Rushden and Irthlingborough Diamonds during our formative years in Victorian and Edwardian times.

Recent history:

It was 1992 when Irthingborough Diamonds and Rushden Town merged to form to Rushden & Diamonds.

Diamonds climbed the pyramid within years of their inception, firstly winning the Southern League Division One Midlands title in 1993/94.

After a season in the Southern League Premier, the club were soon on the move again when winning the title the following season earning the club a place among the non-league elite.

The ambition of Chairman at the time Max Griggs soon saw the success at Nene Park continue when they won the Conference title in 2000/01 earning promotion to the Football League for the first time in the club's short history.

Diamonds' were not intent on staying in Division 2 for long and in their first season in the League they came close to another promotion but lost to Cheltenham Town in the play-off final at the Millennium Stadium.

However, the Nene Park faithful didn't have long to wait to get over the heartache of the previous campaign when in 2002/03 they pipped Hartlepool United to the Division 3 title.

Despite hopes of a further promotion, the Diamonds' couldn't adapt to the step-up to the League's third tier and were subsequently relegated back to Division 3 after one season.

And worse was to follow when the club slid out of the Football League the following season leaving them to face Conference football again for the first time since leaving the division four years previous.

Since heading back into non-league the Diamonds have finished 12th, 15th and 11th in their last three campaigns.

FACT: Boss Justin Edinburgh's first match in charge of the Diamonds' ended with a 9-0 victory over Weymouth. Weymouth had to field a youth team after the first team squad left the club over a pay dispute.

Official website: www.thediamondsfc.com

Next week: Salisbury City, Stevenage Borough, Tamworth.

Previews so far - click the teams below:

Forest Green Rovers