RUSHDEN & DIAMONDS
Tuesday 8th April 2008, Kick-Off: 7.45pm
Rushden & Diamonds FC, Nene Park, Irthlingborough, Northamptonshire, NN9 5QF. Tel: 01933 652000
Directions by Car: Take the A14, following signs for M1/M6, before exiting at the A45 Thrapston Junction. Follow the A45 (signposted Wellingborough, Northampton) until the A6 junction. Here, turn right (signposted Kettering), over the river, and right again at the next roundabout (signposted Nene Park) and the ground will appear ahead. The journey should last no more than an hour.
Parking: Park at the ground for £2, or indeed on local streets - up the hill into Irthlingborough. The grass verges of the A6 are also frequently used.
Train: The nearest station is Wellingborough, some five-six miles away. Trains serve Wellingborough from London Kings Cross, St Pancras International and Leicester. Twice hourly buses run to Irthlingborough (where Nene Park is located), but there are no return services after the game, so a taxi looks the order of the day. Train travel is far from the best option when travelling to Rushden & Diamonds.
The Away Travel Club will be running a coach to the game, priced at £10 for members, £8 for non-members and £5 for Under 16's and Junior U's, leaving Ely at 4.45pm and The Abbey at 5.30pm. Contact the club on 01223 566500 to book your place.
Admission: Adults £16, Concessions £11, Under 16's £5, Under 8's free when accompanied by an adult.
Programme: £2.50
The Ground: Nene Park, as a large number of U's fans will (begrudgingly) remember, is a fairly new construction, seated on three sides, and fully covered. United followers will be allocated, once again, the Airwair Stand behind a goal. It is a fairly steep affair offering a good view of the action, and able to comfortably house 2,000 supporters.
Pre-Match Refreshment: The club bar - Strikers - tends to be open to away supporters, and is located beneath the South Stand. Alcohol is also served in the concourse of the Airwair Stand, along with the usual selection of food and soft drinks, and as a rare treat, televisions. Further a field; there are a couple of pubs up the hill in Irthlingborough - a five-minute walk. There is also a Tesco Express, or something of similar ilk, if you fancy.
Local Attractions: Just to be clear, Rushden & Diamonds play in the town of Irthlingborough, not far from the town of Rushden, whereas Diamonds are a girl's best friend, allegedly.
In the days before even Rushden & Diamonds Football Club, the dissolution of the monasteries, Black Wednesday and the film Titanic, travellers trekking from town to town would need the assistance of beacons and suchlike. Without GPS to call upon, these hardy souls were aided by the lantern tower of Irthlingborough Parish Church. It was particularly helpful in foggy weather, as the Nene Valley was, and remains, notoriously inhospitable for ramblers. The mere existence of a lantern tower is a rarity for Northants churches, which is a shame.
If you're looking for something to fill some time pre-match, why not try taking some crayons along and having a go at some bark rubbings.
Henry Milward
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