For the uninitiated, the very name Rushden & Diamonds requires some explanation. The club was created at the end of the 1991-92 season following a merger between Rushden Town and Irthlingborough Diamonds, two clubs both possessing a proud history and tradition.
In 1992, Rushden Town FC, originally founded in 1889, was a member of the Southern League Midland Division, having been demoted from the Premier section at the end of the 1990-91 season when their outdated Hayden Road ground failed to meet the required standard for the top division.
Irthlingborough Diamonds FC was formed in 1946. By 1992, after achieving considerable success as members of the United Counties League, the club's fortunes had begun to decline.
Amalgamation followed lengthy discussions between representatives of the two clubs and local businessman, Max Griggs, and plans were drawn up to develop the Irthlingborough Diamonds ground at Nene Park. This had been originally acquired from the local water board back in 1969, standing next to the River Nene (pronounced "Nenn" not "Neen" at this point in the river's length), and was adjacent to the A6 trunk road, on the edge of Irthlingborough.
The first set of floodlights were installed in 1978 and the ground was officially opened by Bobby Robson who brought along Brian Talbot to play in an exhibition match. Enthusiastic players and committee had developed the site members who worked tirelessly over the next 20 years to make the facilities at the ground among the best in the United Counties League.
In February, 1993, the northern side of the ground was the first area to be re-developed and the pitch was re-laid as part of a multi-million pound programme to transform Nene Park into a purpose built, state-of-the-art stadium, reflecting the new club's stated primary ambition to achieve Football League status.
The old covered terracing was demolished and a new North Stand, built to accommodate 1,000 spectators and incorporating turnstiles, refreshment room and toilet facilities, was ready for the opening of the 1993-94 season.
The cynics had a field day. Who an earth was going to fill it? Only twice during the previous season had attendances exceeded 400 and that was largely due to travelling support from Nuneaton and Gresley.
Development had also begun elsewhere on the site. On the south side, the Irthlingborough Diamonds stand, dressing rooms and clubhouse had been demolished in readiness for the erection of the South Stand and Diamond Centre, while a re-laid pitch and new floodlights added to the metamorphosis.
The Diamond Centre was formally opened during the summer of 1994 and the South Stand fully ready for the start of the new season.
This enabled the temporary dressing rooms and office buildings at the west end of the ground to be dismantled and the site cleared in readiness for the construction of a covered terrace. This eventually opened in December 1994 and was named after a popular club stalwart, Peter De Banke.
In the summer of 1996, work began at the East End, by then the only undeveloped part of Nene Park. The extra capacity provided by the AirWair Stand would enable the club to attain the minimum 6,500 capacity to be eligible for promotion to the Nationwide League.
Initially roofless to ensure completion by December 31st, just in case the club attained the one promotion place, the building was eventually completed some months later.
Meanwhile, throughout the 1997-98 season, work continued on the re-modelled North Stand. In the same season, developments to the complex saw major improvements to the Training Ground, now known as Pitch 2, with portable dressing rooms installed and floodlighting on the 6-a-side area. This meant Youth and other matches could be played on Pitch 2 at the same time as those in the stadium.
With the advent of full time playing staff and the Football Academy, Pitches 3 and 4 have been laid at the West and East of the area.
Pre-season 2000/2001 dawned with the opening of the Dr Martens Sports and Exhibition Centre adjacent to Pitch No.2, including the base for the playing staff complete with gymnasium, management offices and recreational facilities. During the 2000/2001 season, part of the 6-a-side area was re-developed into an all-weather pitch.
Originally thought by many to be ambitiously over-large when constructed four years previously, it had been transformed from a ground worthy of United Counties League Champions to that of Division Three Champions in less than ten years, attracting capacity crowds at Conference and Football League levels as well as for the FA Cup game versus Leeds United.
Although the Diamonds are now back in the Football Conference, and the Griggs family are no longer in overall control, the ground remains one of the best at this level of football.
