2004/2005 Preview - Rushden & Diamonds

LAST SEASON

Relegation from Division Two or League One or the old Division Three was the fate for the Diamond Geezers last time around. All that after being promoted as champions the season before (sound familiar)

WHAT HAVE THEY BEEN UP TO THIS SUMMER?

Plenty of changes at Rushden this summer and most of them seem, on the face of it, to weaken their squad. Out went Andy Edwards, Kitson, Roget, Edwards, Hanlon, Daniels, Gahan, Storey and Rodney Jack.

In have come Graham Allen, Kevin Braniff, Rob Gier, Peter Hawkins, Gareth Seddon and Alex Hay.

WHO ARE THEIR FAMOUS FANS?

Take a seat at Nene Park and you could be sitting next to former World snooker champion Peter Ebdon

5 THINGS YOU DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT RUSHDEN

1. You just have to visit the Millennium Sundial - your life won't be complete unless you do

2. Rushden was, until 1995, home to HRH Prince Richard.

3. He was Duke of Gloucester so get the puzzled look of your face

4. Very little to tell you, so this little gem was taken from the Knowhere guide to Rushden "Me hasn't seen any clubs in Rushden, but me likes to get on the bus to evolutions cause there is some nice ponanee there, but there is a few mingers. Once me saw dis bird, she had a face like a rockweilers arse but she had these big babylons, me took her home, me unleashed them and they disappeared, one on the floor, one behind her back, dat is why me finks the wonder-bra should be banned"

5. As was this one "There is this well wicked place called Bay root and ise likes going there to chill out when i is smoking a spliff. Me has to be careful though i, cause there is this well hard boy called John Howard, but i swear the last time we had a fight if i had ov punched him one inch more to the left i would've killed him" Quality.

ARE WE ANY GOOD AGAINST RUSHDEN?

5 meetings and our first win came in the FA Cup last November. In fairness though Rushden have only won one of the meetings as well. Rushden hold the goal advantage 7 to 6. They have never won at the Vetch and we have never won there. For the full list of results, click here

WHEN DO WE PLAY THEM?

Saturday 25 September at the Vetch with the return at Rushden being Bank Holiday Monday 3rd January.

IF I WANT TO FIND OUT MORE WHERE DO I GO?

Pretty uninspiring logo, doesn't tell you much but it's probably enough?

WHAT ARE THEIR CHANCES NEXT SEASON?

Rushden looked a distant memory of the side that won the division when they visited in the FA Cup this season and I see little in their movements over the summer to suggest that they can repeat the success of two years ago. Mid table at best

Why not check out the latest Vetch Verdict on the BBC site?