Nene Park
Encyclopedia
Nene Park is a football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...

 stadium situated by Irthlingborough
Irthlingborough
Irthlingborough , originally called Artleborough, is a small town on the River Nene in Northamptonshire, England with a population of 6,179 people according to the 2001 census. It is the smallest town in England to have possessed a league association football team, Rushden & Diamonds. The parish...

, Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire is a landlocked county in the English East Midlands, with a population of 629,676 as at the 2001 census. It has boundaries with the ceremonial counties of Warwickshire to the west, Leicestershire and Rutland to the north, Cambridgeshire to the east, Bedfordshire to the south-east,...

, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...

, along the bank of the River Nene
River Nene
The River Nene is a river in the east of England that rises from three sources in the county of Northamptonshire. The tidal river forms the border between Cambridgeshire and Norfolk for about . It is the tenth longest river in the United Kingdom, and is navigable for from Northampton to The...

, and holds 6,441, with 4,641 seated and 1,800 standing. The car park can hold 800 vehicles. From 1992 until 2011 it was the home ground of Rushden & Diamonds
Rushden & Diamonds F.C.
Rushden & Diamonds Football Club was an association football club based in Irthlingborough, Northamptonshire, England. Formed by a merger of Rushden Town and Irthlingborough Diamonds in 1992, the club played in the Conference National following a short spell in the Football League at the start of...

 football club. Kettering Town
Kettering Town F.C.
Kettering Town Football Club are a football club originating in Kettering, Northamptonshire but currently based in the nearby village of Irthlingborough. The club play in the Conference National after winning the Conference North in 2007–08...

 are now the new occupiers, following the demise of Rushden & Diamonds.

Pre-Rushden & Diamonds

The original ground was built in 1969 as the home of Irthlingborough Diamonds
Irthlingborough Diamonds F.C.
Irthlingborough Diamonds were a football club from Irthlingborough, England. Founded in 1946, in 1992 the club merged with Rushden Town to form Rushden & Diamonds, playing at Irthlingborough's Nene Park.-History:...

, after the land was bought from the water board. In 1978, Nene Park became the first United Counties League stadium to have floodlight
Floodlights (sport)
Floodlights are broad-beamed, high-intensity artificial lights often used to illuminate outdoor playing fields while an outdoor sports event is being held during low-light conditions....

s, which were turned on by Bobby Robson
Bobby Robson
Sir Robert William "Bobby" Robson, CBE was an English footballer and manager, who coached seven European clubs and the England national team during his career....

. He was watched by future Rushden & Diamonds
Rushden & Diamonds F.C.
Rushden & Diamonds Football Club was an association football club based in Irthlingborough, Northamptonshire, England. Formed by a merger of Rushden Town and Irthlingborough Diamonds in 1992, the club played in the Conference National following a short spell in the Football League at the start of...

 manager Brian Talbot
Brian Talbot
Brian Ernest Talbot is an English football manager and former player. His son is Daniel Talbot.-Playing career:...

, who was still in his playing career at the time.

After the merger

Beginning in February 1992 soon after the merger between Rushden Town
Rushden Town F.C.
Rushden Town F.C. was a football club from Rushden, England. Founded in 1889, the club merged with Irthlingborough Diamonds to form Rushden & Diamonds in 1992. Nicknamed "the Russians", the club played at Hayden Road.-History:...

 and Irthlingborough Diamonds, lasting roughly a decade, the ground was vastly redeveloped for an estimated £30 million. The first stage of the project involved the construction of a new all-seater North Stand. With a capacity of 1,000, the new facility was completed in the summer of 1993 ready for the new season. The club then wasted no time in turning their attentions to a brand new South Stand. The existing structure, including dressing rooms and clubhouse were torn down. In their place was built another all-seated stand, with capacity of just over 1,000, similar in design to the North Stand. The brand new Diamond Centre was erected along with new floodlights and a freshly laid pitch, as the stadium continued to take shape. The new structures were officially opened in April 1995 by HRH Prince of Wales
Prince of Wales
Prince of Wales is a title traditionally granted to the heir apparent to the reigning monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the 15 other independent Commonwealth realms...

. The focus then turned to the west side of the ground and the construction of the Peter De Banke (home) terrace, capable of holding 1,800. With three sides of the ground complete and the capacity rising to over 4,000, the east side would form the final redevelopment stage.

The east stand was to be the focal point of the ground. Initially without a roof, the new Airwair Stand was completed in December 1996 holding a total of 2,372. In the following summer the roof was finally installed. The original plans also included the addition of a second tier should the club reach the Football League, however this was never added. Although thought to be too big when built, the North Stand underwent some significant improvements. The press box was relocated further east along the stand to make room for brand new corporate boxes at the back of the structure. Behind the stand, new offices and administration facilities were built, as well as a 150 square-metre club souvenir 'Doc Shop'. The new complex was opened on 16 July 1998, by club chairman Max Griggs
Max Griggs
Max Griggs is the president of the R Griggs Group, current owner of the Dr. Martens shoe company, and one of largest shoe manufacturers in the United Kingdom. The company moved all factories etc...

. Away from the stadium itself, during the 1997/1998 campaign improvements were made to the training ground. New dressing rooms were constructed beside pitch two, with two entirely new training pitches (three and four) added to the Nene Park portfolio. Some years later shortly before the 2000–01 season, the Dr. Martens Sports and Exhibition Centre with gymnasium, recreational facilities and offices was opened. An all-weather pitch was developed later on in the season to complete the work.

Modern Day

In more recent years the stadium's biggest stand, the Airwair Stand (see below) was closed. This was in response to the falling attendances, which meant that the cost of keeping the stand open had become uneconomic. The all-seated Airwair is however opened when large numbers of travelling fans are expected, with a potential 2,372 if required. For teams with smaller followings, a section of the South Stand is allocated. An unusual feature of the stadium is the model owls in each corner, to deter birds from nesting in the roof.

Future plans

Nene Park has permission to build a three-star, 150-bed hotel on its grounds. Strategic Director at Rushden & Diamonds, Helen Thompson said,

Nene Park is to be used as a training camp for athletes ahead of the 2012 London Olympics. The sports to be hosted are archery, fencing, football, judo, table tennis and wrestling.

Average crowd sizes

Season Ave. Attendance +/- ave. on prev. season Competition Occupier
1992–93 322 N/A Southern Football League
Southern Football League
The Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...

Rushden and Diamonds
1993–94 966
644
Southern Football League
Southern Football League
The Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...

Rushden and Diamonds
1994–95 1,521
855
Southern Football League
Southern Football League
The Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...

Rushden and Diamonds
1995–96 2,166
645
Southern Football League
Southern Football League
The Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...

Rushden and Diamonds
1996–97 2,514
348
Conference National
Conference National
Conference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...

Rushden and Diamonds
1997–98 2,552
38
Conference National
Conference National
Conference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...

Rushden and Diamonds
1998–99 3,041
489
Conference National
Conference National
Conference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...

Rushden and Diamonds
1999–2000 3,298
257
Conference National
Conference National
Conference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...

Rushden and Diamonds
2000–01 3,876
578
Conference National
Conference National
Conference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...

Rushden and Diamonds
2001–02 4,403
527
Third Division
Football League Third Division
The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...

Rushden and Diamonds
2002–03 4,323
Third Division
Football League Third Division
The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...

Rushden and Diamonds
2003–04 4,457
134
Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...

Rushden and Diamonds
2004–05 3,321
League Two
Football League Two
Football League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system....

Rushden and Diamonds
2005–06 3,162
League Two
Football League Two
Football League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system....

Rushden and Diamonds
2006–07 2,045
Conference National
Conference National
Conference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...

Rushden and Diamonds
2007–08 1,586
Conference National
Conference National
Conference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...

Rushden and Diamonds
2008–09 1,509
Conference National
Conference National
Conference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...

Rushden and Diamonds
2009–10 1,678
169
Conference National
Conference National
Conference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...

Rushden and Diamonds
2010–11 1,255
Conference National
Conference National
Conference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...

Rushden and Diamonds
2011–12 1,511 Season in progress Conference National
Conference National
Conference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...

Kettering Town

Stands

The South Stand includes the Diamond Centre and hospitality suites. Away fans, if travelling in small numbers, are situated in a block of this stand. There are 1,224 seats.

The North Stand is home to the press box and more hospitality suites. It holds 976 people (all seated).

The Airwair Stand is the biggest stand in the stadium. Holding 2,372 fans, it is situated behind one of the goals. Originally home to Rushden fans it has since been closed, only being used when a large number of away fans travel.

The Dale Roberts Terrace (Formerly the Peter De Banke Terrace), is named after the late former Rushden & Diamonds goalkeeper and fan favourite Dale Roberts, who died aged 24 in December 2010. It was opened in late-1994. Holding 1,800 fans, it is an all-standing covered terrace. Within two years of Max Griggs taking control of the club, the terrace was constructed, replacing temporary dressing rooms and offices.

Record attendance

  • 6,431 Rushden & Diamonds vs Leeds United
    Leeds United A.F.C.
    Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system...

    , FA Cup
    FA Cup
    The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...

    Third Round, 2 January 1999

External links

  • Nene Park on Rushden & Diamonds official website
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