Historical Football Kits

 

Rushden & Diamonds

Formed 1992

Promoted to Nationwide Division Three 2001. Relegated to The Conference 2006.

Kit History

1992-1994 d g

1994-1995 g

1995-1997 d f g

1997-1998 g

New Olympic

1998-1999 b g

1999-2000 b g

Fila

2000-2002 b g h

Errea

2002-2004 b g h

Errea

2004-2005 e g h

Errea

2005-2006 c h

Vandanel

2006-2007 c g h

Macron

2007-2008 c h

 

Background

This remarkable club was formed by the merger of Rushden Town (formed 1889 and competing in the Southern League) and neighbours Irthlingborough Diamonds (formed 1946 and playing in the United Counties League). It was Diamonds who approached local businessman, Max Griggs to request sponsorship from his company, the R Griggs Group, better known as the manufacturers of Dr Marten's boots. Griggs made a radical proposal - he would provide investment to bring the Diamond's ground up to scratch provided the two clubs merged. Reluctantly this was agreed and in front of 315 spectators, the new Rushden & Diamonds club played its first fixture against Bilston Town in the Southern League Midland Division at the beginning of the 1992-93 season.

One year later, work started on a new 1,000 seater North Stand and the club won the Midlands Division title and Northants Senior Cup. In 1994 brand new function rooms and changing facilities were opened while work started on building the South Stand. In May 1996, 4,664 fans watched Rushden & Diamonds beat Merthyr Tydfil to clinch the Southern League Premier Division title and earn promotion to the Conference.

While investment in the club's facilities continued year on year, progress was made on the pitch as well. In 1998 and 1999 the club finished in fourth position and a year later they held Leeds United to a 0-0 draw at Nene Park in the Third Round of the FA Cup. In 2000-01, the club lost only one of its final 23 matches to win the Conference championship and promotion to the Football League.

After reaching the play-offs in their first season in Nationwide Division Three, Rushden & Diamonds won the division title the following year, only to be relegated back to the lowest division in 2004. In 2005 Max and Stephen Griggs decided to sever their connections and offered to give the club to the newly formed Supporters' Trust. The 2005-06 season proved disastrous: wearing a new, all-red strip without the logo of the Dr Martens that had become firmly associated with the Diamonds' success, they finished last in League Two and were relegated to the Conference.

Sources