Management Staff History

First Team Manager 2012-14 Mark Starmer. Mark, who holds a UEFA A Coaching License, was appointed as AFC R&D Under 18s manager in July 2011, and after assembling his squad from scratch he led them to a successful first season in the Northants Senior Youth League, capped by winning the Northants Senior Youth League Cup. He had previously managed the successful Rushden & Diamonds FC Youth Team, after earlier being Academy Manager at Nene Park. He was then appointed the club’s first ever First Team Manager in April 2012. He led the senior team to promotion from UCL Division One at their first attempt in 2012-13. He then led the team to successful campaigns in the FA Cup and FA Vase in 2013-14 winning through 4 and 5 rounds respectively. After leading the first team to a top 6 position in their first season in UCL Premier Division he resigned his position on 19^th March 2014, having had a win ratio of almost 70%.

First Team Manager 2014-Feb 2022 Andy Peaks. Andy Peaks had been working as assistant to Mark Starmer when offered the First Team Manager role in 2014. After a period in a caretaker role he took full charge in April 2014. Andy is 8th in the all-time Rushden & Diamonds appearances list with 205 appearances having played for R&DFC between 1992 and 1997 and holds a UEFA B coaching license. He took on the role with the club in the United Counties Premier league and went on to take them to two promotions in four seasons as they reached the Southern League Premier Division in 2018. After an initial full season at Step 3 the following two seasons were affected by the Covid pandemic, but in 2021-22 Andy had steered the club into a Promotion Play-off spot before deciding to take up an offer from Tamworth FC to become their manager in February 2022. He had a win ratio of over 50%, with a loss ratio of under 25%.

First Team Manager February 2022 – October 2022 Andy Burgess. Ex-RDFC player Andy Burgess was appointed in a caretaker role after Andy Peaks departure. In April 2022 he was appointed First Team Manager on a permanent basis, and shortly afterwards signed a contract for the 2022/23 Season. After a run of poor results, with few of the players from the previous season remaining with the club, he left his role at the start of October 2022 with the club in the relegation zone. He had seen just 5 wins in the 24 games he was in charge, with a 50% loss ratio.

First Team Manager October 2022 – November 2022 Richard Maxwell. Richard moved over from the Diamonds Board into the role of First Team Manager in October 2022, He left the club in November 2022 after failing to lift the team out of the relegation zone, losing 7 of the 10 matches he was in charge.

Playing Staff History

The following players are no longer part of the current AFC Rushden & Diamonds Senior Playing Staff and have appeared in a league game for the club. They are listed in the order they first appeared for the club. See the Historic Player Stats here for key dates and stats for each player, including those that have only played in cup games.

This list covers players making their debut prior to the club winning promotion to Step 3 at the end of the 2017/18 season. A second list detailing the remaining Diamonds players can be found here.

Quincy Shorunmu is a goalkeeper who joined the club in the summer of 2012 from Northampton Spencer where he played under AFC R&D Manager Andy Peaks. He is one of the players that started in the historic first game for AFC Rushden & Diamonds against Thrapston Town and in 2012-13 he made 30 starts for the Diamonds, as well as a substitute appearance in the final game of the season. He missed much of the 2013-14 season following a shoulder operation. He moved to Northampton Sileby Rangers in March 2015. He then moved to Oakham United for the start of the 2016/17 season. He started 2018-19 with Peterborough Northern Star, but moved to Huntingdon Town in early 2019.

Joe Merrill can play as a sweeper, full-back or in midfield, and he joined the club from Northampton Spencer in the summer of 2012. Joe made 25(5) appearances during 2012-13, scoring a goal in the game at Rushden & Higham and winning the club Player of the Month award in September 2012. He made 41(2) appearances for the Diamonds in 2013/14, bracketing the season with goals at the start and end of the campaign. His campaign in 2014/15 was affected by an injury picked up during the autumn, but he returned to the side shortly before the end of the season. Shortly after the start of the 2015/16 campaign it was announced he had signed for UCL side Northampton Sileby Rangers on a dual-registration basis. During the 2016/17 season he moved to Daventry Town.

Sam Brown is a defender who was one of the players that started in the historic first game for AFC Rushden & Diamonds against Thrapston Town. He is the Club’s record appearance holder with 331 games, having started at Step 6 level and helping them all the way to Step 3. He had been a junior at the Centre of Excellence at Rushden & Diamonds FC. He joined AFC Kempston Rovers in 2009, aged 16, and helped them to reach the UCL Premier in 2010. Sam made 35(1) appearances during 2012-13, scoring two goals towards the end of the season, and winning the club Player of the Month award in January and April 2013. He also won the Manager’s Player of the Season award in 2012-13. In 2014/15 he reached his century of appearances for the Diamonds. After being a key part of the Diamonds setup he finished the 2015-16 season early in order to travel abroad. He returned for the 2016/17 season, and helped the club to gain a further promotion, playing at a fourth different level for the Diamonds. During the disruptions due to the pandemic he left the club in August 2020 to join Banbury United, where he helped them to gain promotion to Step 2 when a full season was next possible.

Elliot Dent is one of the players that started in the historic first game for AFC Rushden & Diamonds against Thrapston Town as a 19-year-old midfielder. He had been part of the Rushden & Diamonds FC League and Cup winning Under 18 squad in the 2010/11 season, a team also managed by Mark Starmer. Having spent a brief spell at Spalding United in 2011, he signed for Peterborough Northern Star going on to make 14 appearances in the UCL Premier Division. He had an injury hit season for AFC Rushden & Diamonds in 2012-13, and, on finding his first-team opportunities limited he left the club in October 2013 – details here. He made 24 appearances for the club, including 15 league games. He had a brief spell with Kettering Town before joining Northampton Sileby Rangers in December 2013. In November 2015 he moved to Wellingborough Whitworth. He was registered with Burton Park Wanderers in the 2018/19 season, and at the start of the 2019/20 season he was with Desborough Town.

Chris Hope made his club debut in the historic first game against Thrapston Town in August 2012. He was then a 39-year-old centre-back who had started his career as a trainee at Darlington before joining Nottingham Forest. In 1993 he signed for Scunthorpe United where he played over 280 league games before joining Gillingham for £250,000. In July 2006 Chris signed for Rushden & Diamonds FC where he firmly established himself as a pivotal player and firm fans’ favourite at the club. 2009 saw Chris join Corby Town, and he then helped guide St Neots Town to the Southern League Central division title in 2011-12. He was the AFC Rushden & Diamonds club captain during 2012-13 as they won promotion from UCL Division One. Chris made 37 appearances during 2012-13, scoring four goals, recording the most game time of any Diamonds player during the season. He won the Players’ Player of the Season award in 2012-13. He signed UCL terms for Thrapston Town in February 2014.

Aynsley McDonald was team captain in the historic first game for AFC Rushden & Diamonds against Thrapston Town in August 2012. He played at centre-back for the club, aged 20, and was well-known to Diamonds fans having joined the R&DFC Youth Academy at Under 13 level and progressed to earn a place in the R&DFC first team squad, making his debut in April 2010. Aynsley had represented Wales at Under 17 level and was at Blue Square North side Corby Town during the 2011-12 season. He left the AFC R&D in October 2012 after having made 11 appearances for the club, and then played for Earls Barton United before joining Sileby Rangers for the 2014-15 season. During the season he moved to Wellingborough Town. For the 2019/20 season he started with Cogenhoe United.

Jack Wisniewski was a mainstay of the Diamonds team during their 2012-13 promotion campaign. He started in the first AFC Rushden & Diamonds game against his former team, Thrapston Town, aged 23, and he went on to play 36 games in 2012-13, scoring 15 goals including two vital goals in March 2013 that helped him win the Player-of-The-Month award. Although he was in the first choice team for the opening of the 2013-14 UCL Premier Season, he missed a number of games due to other commitments, at a time that coincided with the team having a successful run, and he found his opportunities for first-team football limited, so moved on to Wellingborough Town – details here. He appeared in a total of 48 games for the club, including 34 league games, and at the time he left was third in the club’s all-time leading goalscorer list with 17 goal. After a spell at Thrapston he joined Wellingborough Town in 2016.

Séan McBride joined the club just before the start of the 2012-13 season. He is a 24-year-old ball-winning central midfielder, Séan spent the 2011-12 season playing for UCL Premier Division side Newport Pagnell Town, making 33 appearances and scoring 4 goals for The Swans. In 2012-13 he made 36(1) appearances for the Diamonds, scoring 3 goals, and winning the club Player of the Month award in December 2012. He also won the AFC Rushden & Diamonds Supporters’ Player of the Season award for 2012-13. He made 31(8) appearances for the Diamonds in 2013/14. He joined Northampton Spencer prior to the start of the 2015-16 season. He started 2016/17 with Cogenhoe United. For 2019/20 he started with Wellingborough Town.

Alfie Taylor is a striker with a wealth of experience at both UCL and Southern League levels. Starting his career at Wellingborough Town, Alfie played UCL Premier football for Northampton Spencer, scoring 23 league goals in the 2008/9 season and Cogenhoe United, bagging 30 in all competitions for The Cooks the following year. More recently, Alfie has regularly featured in the Southern League for Brackley Town, Daventry Town and Woodford Utd. He scored the historic first goal for the Senior Team in their first league game in August 2012, aged 23. In 2012-13 he made 29(5) appearances for the Diamonds, scoring 22 goals, and winning the club Player of the Month award in August 2012. Towards the end of the 2013-14 season he went on loan to Burton Park Wanderers, having significant goalscoring success at Latimer Park with a further 14 goals. He scored 28 goals in 38(5) appearances for the Diamonds in 2013/14, becoming the first Diamonds player to reach 50 goals for the club. He also picked up a Player of the Month award for October 2013. He left the club in May 2014 before joining Kettering Town for the 2014-15 season. He moved back to the UCL in 2014-15, first with Wellingborough Town and then with Cogenhoe United. In October 2015 he joined Wellingborough Whitworth, and returned to Wellingborough Town for the start of the 2016/17 season. He moved to Daventry Town during the 2016/17 season. He moved back to Wellingborough Town for the start of the 2017/18 season, but moved on to Sileby Rangers shortly afterwards, before announcing he would be taking a break from the game. He returned to play for Irchester United at the start of the 2018-19 season.

Deven Ellwood is a forward player who had spent much of his career at Wellingborough Whitworth before joining the Diamonds, but had also been with Rothwell Corinthians, Raunds Town and Thrapston Town before moving back to Victoria Mill early in 2012. He also featured for Kettering Town in pre-season games before the start of the 2011-12 season. In 2012-13 he made 15(10) appearances for the Diamonds, scoring 3 goals, and played in the first ever senior AFC Rushden & Diamonds game, aged 25. After a short spell with Burton Park Wanderers he rejoined the Diamonds for a short period from November 2013 to February 2014 before returning to Latimer Park. In total he has appeared 32 times for the Diamonds, scoring 4 goals. He moved back to Wellingborough Whitworth for the 2014-15 season before moving to Wellingborough Town early in 2016. He was back at Whitworths for the 2018/19 season. For the 2019/20 season he started with Cogenhoe United.

George Cox made his debut for the club in their historic first game as a 21-year-old central midfielder. George was with the R&DFC youth set up before joining Southern League Division One Central side Biggleswade Town in August 2010. He then joined Spalding United later in the season before signing for Deeping Rangers in July 2011. He made 9 appearances for the Diamonds, before leaving in the summer of 2013. He then played local league football with AFC Oakley M&DH, from where he represented the Bedfordshire FA in the Inter League Cup in 2017.

Ben Morgan is a striker / winger known for his pace. He has spent much of his career at Thrapston Town, with two spells at the club sandwiching a spell with Northampton Sileby Rangers. In the 2010-11 season he helped Thrapston gain promotion from UCL Division 1 to the UCL Premier. In 2012-13 he made 15(18) appearances for the Diamonds, scoring 9 goals, and winning the club Player of the Month award in October 2012. He had first appeared for the Diamonds at the start of that season aged 29. He took on a role assisting with the Diamonds U21 side in 2013/14, although he still made 3(18) appearances for the senior side, before leaving the club in the summer of 2014 and joining Thrapston Town for the 2014-15 season.

Alex Deakin is a 6’2” Centre Back who joined from Cogenhoe United in June 2012, having also played for Wellingborough Town in the UCL Premier during the 2011-12 season. He had previously played for Northampton Spencer. In 2012-13 he made 29(2) appearances for the Diamonds, scoring 8 goals, and winning the club Player of the Month award in February 2013. He made 21(5) appearances in 2013-14 but other commitments limited his availability from the start of 2014.

Jamie O’Grady was one of the AFC Rushden & Diamonds squad for the historic first game against Thrapston Town in August 2012, making his first appearance as a late substitute. He was then a 23-year-old right back, who spent much of the 2012-13 season on-loan at Winslow United in a dual-registration arrangement. He was in the Northampton Town Academy until he was 16 and then signed and played for Aylesbury United for 3 years. He then went over to Leighton Town for 2 years and during the 2011-12 season was at Olney Town. He made three appearances for the Diamonds before leaving the club in summer 2013. He joined AFC Kempston Rovers early in 2014. By the 2019/20 season he was playing at Buckingham Athletic.

James Allcock joined the club in the summer of 2012, making his sole appearance for the club in their first away game against Wootton Blue Cross in August 2012 as a 24-year-old utility player. He had joined from Northampton Spencer having made 38 appearances for the Millers during the 2011-12 season. He left the club at the start of September 2012 and has since played for several other UCL clubs, including Northampton ON Chenecks and Long Buckby AFC. Most recently he was with Woodford United.

Peter Okechukwu joined the club in the summer of 2012 as a 25-year-old winger from Northampton Spencer. He had made 24 appearances for the Millers in the UCL Premier in the 2011-12 season. He scored the historic first goal in the AFC R&D Senior Team’s first ever friendly game in July 2012. He made 12 appearances for the Diamonds before leaving the club in summer 2013, signing for Cockfosters FC and being on the bench against his old club in the FA Cup shortly afterwards.

Troy Johnston is a midfield player who had played in the Conference North with Corby Town, as well as a spell in the UCL Premier with Spalding United before joining the Diamonds in the summer of 2012 aged 20. He had started out with the MK Dons Academy, moving from there to the Northampton Town youth set-up and then on to Woodford United. He made a single appearance for the Diamonds early in the 2012-13 season and left the club at the start of September 2012, and had a spell with Kettering Town before joining Sileby Rangers towards the start of the 2014-15 season. He then moved to Desborough Town before returning to Sileby for the 2015/16 season. For the 2018/19 season he was registered with Wellingborough Town.

Jamie Gilsenan joined the club at the end of August 2012 from Thrapston Town as a 36-year-old midfielder. He has extensive UCL experience with Desborough Town and Stewarts and Lloyds, as well as playing at Southern League level for Corby and Stamford. He made 16 appearances for the club in 2012-13, scoring two goals, before leaving the club in summer 2013.

Jake Newman is a striker who had two spells with the club. He originally joined the club from Northampton Sileby Rangers in September 2012. He made 37 appearances for the Diamonds during the 2012-13 season, aged 21, scoring 26 goals and winning the club Player of the Month award in November 2012. He left the club before the start of the 2013-14 season to move up to the Southern League level with Kettering Town, playing at Oadby Town and Wellingborough Town in the 2014-15 season. After a successful period with the Doughboys he moved to Spalding United in September 2015, and also had success when moving up to step 3 level at Stamford during the 2015-16 season. He rejoined the Diamonds for the 2106-17 season but left to join Kempston Rovers in February 2017. He had played 57 times for the club scoring 27 times. He moved to Peterborough Sports ahead of the 2018-19 season, but moved to St Ives Town in November 2018. At the start of the 2019/20 season he rejoined Kempston Rovers, but moved to Bedford Town at the start of 2020.

Louis Smith is a young midfielder who came from Denbigh Academy in Milton Keynes. After a successful season with the U18 side in 2011-12 he was rewarded with a place in the senior squad. He made 2(8) appearances for the club in 2012-13 before moving to Burton Park Wanderers to gain first team experience, and then returned to the Diamonds in June 2013. He spent the 2013/14 season with the Diamonds U21 side, with his first team exposure limited to cup games.

Ashley Foulger is a young goalkeeper who had graduated from the AFC Rushden & Diamonds U18 side, having previously spent 4 years at Northampton Town, 2 years at Kettering Town and then was at the Libero Academy of Football for 3 years. In 2012-13 he made 6 starts and 3 substitute appearances for the club. He signed for Wellingborough Town prior to the start of the 2014/15 season. After a spell at Thrapston Town he signed for Desborough Town prior to the start of the 2015/16 season. He is also a Goalkeeper development coach with the Football CV Academy. For the 2019/20 season he was with Raunds Town.

Jake Gillingwater is a utility player who was a prominent member of the youth squad at Rushden & Diamonds FC. After the end of his scholarship, Jake signed for Soham Town Rangers, then went via Northampton Spencer to Irchester United. Jake made 26(4) appearances during 2012-13, scoring four goals. One of those goals, against Basford United in the FA Vase, won the Diamonds Goal of the Season award at the 2012-13 Presentation Evening. He made 12(10) appearances for the Diamonds in 2013/14, including a memorable game playing as goalkeeper in an FA Vase game. After leaving the club at the start of the 2014-15 season to play for Irchester United and Sileby Rangers he returned in March 2015 as cover during the end-of-season run-in. He signed dual-registration terms with Wellingborough Town in September 2015. He played in 53 games for the club, 38 in the league, scoring 5 goals. He started the 2016-17 season with Wellingborough Town. For the 2019/20 season he started with Cogenhoe United.

Alex McDonald is a utility player who was still a member of the AFC R&D Youth setup when he earned a call-up to the senior side in October 2012, and after playing in League Cup and County Cup games he made his league debut for the club in November 2012. He previously played for the highly-successful Higham Colts side with whom he won numerous honours, including the under-16 title. He won the U18 Players’ Player of the Season award for the 2012-13 season.

Noah Bryant is an young midfielder who progressed through the Diamonds Youth scheme before signing forms for the senior side in February 2014. He made his debut for the U18 side in their inaugural season (2011-12), and as well as being a regular for that side in 2012-13, he also played around 40 minutes for the senior side as a substitute in their County Cup game. After playing in both the U18 and U21 sides in 2013-14 he made his UCL debut on 29th March 2014 at Harborough Town, making him the youngest player in a Diamonds senior side.

Matt Gearing is an attacking midfielder who joined the club from Cogenhoe United in early November 2012. He started his career in the youth system at Northampton Town before several spells with Rugby Town and a period in Australia. During the remainder of the 2012-13 season he made 24(3) appearances, scoring 5 goals. He made 37(7) appearances for the Diamonds in 2013/14, scoring 17 goals and picking up two player of the month awards as well as the fans’, manager’s and players’ Player of the Season award. In 2014/15 he reached his century of appearances for the Diamonds, scoring a further 16 goals as well as being at the top of the “assist” table. He left the club to join Yaxley FC prior to the start of the 2015/16 season. Towards the end of the 2017/18 season he was playing further down the pyramid with Brampton FC. For the 2019/20 season he was with Raunds Town.

Lance Allen is a forward who joined the club in November 2012 from Bugbrooke St Michaels aged 23, having scored 6 times in 14 appearances for the Badgers in the 2011-12 season. After joining the Diamonds he made 6 starts and 15 further appearances from the bench in the 2012-13 season, scoring 6 times, aged 23. He left the Diamonds at the start of November 2013, having played 32 times for the club, scoring 8 times. He signed for Long Buckby AFC shortly after leaving the Diamonds, but in the following month moved on to Northampton Sileby Rangers. He then moved on to Cogenhoe United before returning to Sileby during the 2014-15 season. He then spent time with the Kettering U21 setup before joining Northampton Spencer. He started the 2016/17 season with Bugbrooke St Michaels, and was at Northampton ON Chenecks at the start of the 2018/19 season.

Jake Reynolds is a striker who was a regular with the Diamonds U18 side in 2012-13, and after two hat-tricks in consecutive NSYL games he signed senior forms with the club in October 2012 and made a single substitute appearance for the senior team during 2012-13, making him the youngest player to appear in a league game for the club. After a series of injury problems during the 2013-14 season he went to AFC Kempston Rovers for a short spell before signing for Rushden & Higham United. After short spells with Wellingborough Town and the Diamonds U21 setup in the 2014-15 season he returned to Rushden & Higham at the start of November 2014.

Brad Harris is a midfielder who made over 200 appearances for the Diamonds – the first player to do so. He originally joined the club from Desborough Town in December 2012, playing in central midfield as well as at centre-back at various stages of his Diamonds career. He started his career at Rugby Town, playing at Daventry Town and Long Buckby before joining Northampton Spencer where he played under Diamonds Manager Andy Peaks. In 2014/15 he reached his century of appearances for the Diamonds, scoring some memorable goals which helped him earn two further Player of the Month awards. Further contributions to the side in the next two seasons saw him become the first Diamonds player to reach a double century of appearances as he played much of the 2016/17 season in a defensive role. He rejoined Rugby Town at the start of the 2017/18 season, returning to the Diamonds at the end of March 2018 as end-of-season cover, although his services were not needed. For the 2018/19 season he was briefly registered with Daventry Town, but spent much of the season away from the game. He signed for Long Buckby AFC prior to the start of the 2019/20 season.

Aaron King is midfielder who was part of the Rushden & Diamonds FC youth set up from the age of 11. In 2009 he was offered a two year scholarship with Liverpool, but he rejoined the Diamonds in 2010 after an injury in the North West. Aaron featured for RDFC on four occasions, then in 2011/12 he joined Woodford Utd before moving to Daventry Town where he had made 27 appearances and scored 3 goals before joining AFC R&D aged 20. After joining the Diamonds he made 14(6) appearances in the remainder of the 2012-13 season, scoring three goals. In March 2014 he signed for Rugby Town on dual registration terms. He then moved to Bedford Town before the start of the 2014/15 season, before moving on to Northampton Sileby Rangers and then back to Daventry Town before joining Woodford United prior to the 2015/16 season. He was back with Daventry Town for the 2016/17 season in UCL Division One. He then signed for Winslow United in 2017/18 before signing for Aylesbury FC ahead of the 2018/19 season, although he continued to play for Winslow United at the start of that season. In November 2018 he joined Kempston Rovers. In the 2019/20 season he made an appearance for Buckingham Athletic before starting the season with Daventry Town.

Arron Parkinson is a Northampton-born centre-back who joined the club early in 2013. He had featured in two UCL winning sides – Daventry Town and Woodford United, as well as being captain with Leamington and also playing at Banbury United and Brackley Town before joining Easington Sports who are also based in the Banbury area. After joining the Diamonds he made 8 appearances in the remainder of the 2012-13 season, followed by a further 23(3) appearances in 2013-14. He signed on dual registration terms with Daventry Town in November 2014 before formalising terms with Daventry in January 2015. He had played 51 times for the club, scoring 4 goals. He became player/manager at Woodford United for the 2015/16 season. He took up the reins at Daventry Town prior to the start of the 2016/17 season.

Tom Cross is a goalkeeper who joined from Evesham United in April 2013, having appeared 21 times for them during their 2012/13 campaign in the Southern League South & West Division. After University he started his career at Corby Town and after spells at Irchester Town, Rothwell Town and Wellingborough Whitworth he spent much of the 2011/12 season as part of Bedworth United’s promotion campaign in the Southern League Central Division. After a short spell with Banbury United he joined Evesham United at the end of October 2012. After arriving at the Dog & Duck aged 25 he appeared the final 7 games of the Diamonds season in 2012-13. In January 2014 he signed for Southam United on dual registration terms. He moved on to AFC Hinckley in September 2015. Form there he moved on to Pershore Town at the start of the 2016/17 season, before joining RC Warwick in the summer of 2017.

Jamal Clarke is a defender who joined the club at the end of July 2013 after impressing during pre-season games. He had spent the previous season with Evesham United. He quickly became a regular at centre-back for the Diamonds first team and made 38 appearances for the Diamonds in 2013/14, despite having two periods of suspension. After an injury during pre-season had limited his appearances in 2014-15 he moved to Daventry Town on dual-registration terms before spending time abroad. On his return he joined AFC Hinckley in the summer of 2016. Prior to the 2019/20 season he signed for Rugby Town.

Russ Dunkley is a striker who joined the club in June 2013, after helping Kings Lynn to promotion in the Evostik Northern Premier League Division One South during the 2012-13 season, whom he joined following a successful title campaign at Long Buckby in the UCL Premier in the 2011-12 season, scoring 35 goals in 39 games. He has also been part of the UCL title winning sides at Woodford United and Daventry Town. Other previous clubs include Newport Pagnell, Cogenhoe United, Leamington, Brackley, Raunds Town, Northampton Spencer, Bedford Town, and Rushden & Diamonds academy. He made 39(2) appearances for the Diamonds in 2013/14, scoring 23 goals and picking up two player of the month awards, as well as the FA Player of the Round award for his five goal tally against Cockfosters in the FA Cup. During the Diamonds title winning season of 2014/15 his appearances were limited by injury, and he left the club at the end of that season, having scored 35 goals in 74 games. He moved to Newport Pagnell Town for the start of the 2015/16 season but a serious pre-season injury meant he was unable to start the season with them.

Fazel Koriya is a striker / wide midfielder who originally joined the club in June 2013. Fazel played for Rugby Town as well as playing at Brackley Town, Rothwell Town, Bedworth and Cogenhoe, as well as Evesham United where he played in the Southern League Premier Division. He has had several spells at Long Buckby, most recently in their 2011-12 UCL Premier title-winning side. He left the club to rejoin Rugby Town in January 2015 before moving to Newport Pagnell Town for the start of the 2015/16 season. He rejoined the club in December 2016, scoring on his second “debut” appearance before picking up a total of four goals in 16 appearances in the remainder of the campaign. He left the club in the summer of 2017 and joined Newport Pagnell Town. He returned to Rugby Town in December 2018. In Autumn 2019 he moved to Sileby Rangers, picking up a joint-manager role there.

Nat Liburd is a wide-midfield player who joined the club in June 2013 from Daventry Town aged 26, having been an “ever-present” player during the 2012-13 season, in their Southern League Division One campaign, scoring 10 goals. He started in the Kettering Town youth system. Before joining Daventry at the start of the 2011-12 season he was at Southern League rivals Woodford Town, whom he joined in August 2009. He left the club at the start of November 2013, having played 18 games, two-thirds of which were cup games. After a short spell with Long Buckby he signed for Wellingborough Town at the start of December 2013. He then signed for the Kettering Town U21 side as an overage player, before joining Oadby Town for the 2014-15 season on dual registration terms. He then played for a series of Northamptonshire Step 6 and 7 teams before appearing for Woodford United at the end of the 2015-16 season. He started the 2016/17 season with Bugbrooke St Michaels, taking on a joint manager role there prior to the start of the following season. He was with Sileby Rangers at the start of the 2018-19 season. Towards the end of that season he moved to play for Lutterworth Athletic. During the 2019/20 season he was with Rothwell Corinthians.

Rashid Koriya joined AFC Rushden & Diamonds in September 2013, having played most recently for Wellingborough Town. At home in either defence or midfield, the 29-year-old has also played at Woodford United as well as in Ontario, Canada for Durham College Lords. He was a regular performer in the Diamonds U21 side in 2013-14 as an over-age player, with a positive influence on the Diamonds youngsters in that setup. He rejoined Wellingborough Town at the start of the 2014-15 season. At the end of November 2019 he signed up with Sileby Rangers.

Richard Bunting is a midfielder who joined the club from Kings Lynn Town in November 2013. He had captained the Linnets to the Northern Premier League Division One South title in the 2012-13 season. In the previous season he was captain for Long Buckby when they won the United Counties Premier League title. He played for Cogenhoe United, Raunds Town and Brackley earlier in his career. He made 14(4) appearances for the Diamonds in 2013/14 with his goal at Newport Pagnell picking up the goal of the season award. He became club captain in 2014/15 helping the Diamonds pick up the League and Cup double in the UCL. He missed the latter part of the 2015/16 season due to injury. In 2016/17 he returned to captain the club in 45 games, but again missed the end-of-season playoffs. After 18 appearances in the 2017-18 season, he left the club at the start of 2018 to join Wisbech Town, having appeared in 145 games for the club. He moved to Rugby Town ahead of the 2018-19 season.

Greg Ling is a wide-midfield / wing player who joined the club in November 2013. He had won the UCL Premier Division title in the 2011-12 season with Long Buckby, and then the UCL Division One title playing for Northampton Sileby Rangers the following season. He stepped back up to the UCL level after playing for Kislingbury, and made 20(5) appearances for the Diamonds in 2013/14. He signed for Bedford Town in October 2014 after making 32 appearances for the club. He moved to Newport Pagnell Town prior to the start of the 2015-16 season. At the start of the 2018/19 season he moved to Corby Town in the Southern League.

Joe Henderson is a defender / midfielder who joined the club in December 2013 on dual-registration terms. He is 6’1” tall and started his career with Coventry City. He made a substitute appearance for the Sky Blues in a Championship game in the 2011-12 season, followed by a start and a substitute appearance for them in League One in 2012-13, before going on loan to local clubs Bedworth United and Nuneaton Town. He was also dual-registered with Daventry Town, who he joined at the start of the 2013-14 season, making thirteen appearances for them prior to linking up with the Diamonds. He appeared in 15(3) games in 2013-14, and won the player of the month award at the start of 2014. At the start of October 2014 he left to join Woodford United having made 26 appearances for the club, scoring 3 goals. He moved back to Daventry Town early in 2015, but then returned to Woodford. He started the 2016/17 season with Daventry Town. He was linked with Rugby Borough at the start of the 2017-18 season. For the 2018/19 season he was once again registered with Daventry Town.

Matt Finlay made his debut in goal for the club on 22nd February 2014 after joining the club from Cogenhoe United – he had moved across at the end of January but the poor weather meant he had to wait over three weeks to make his debut. He became a key member of the team that won promotion from UCL Premier in 2015, helping the team to create a new club record for unbeaten games. Although often an “unsung hero”, his performances meant he continued to be a key part of the Diamonds success as they moved up to Step 4, and he won both the Fans’ Player of the Season award and the Players’ Player of the Season award at the end of the 2015-16 campaign. His performances the following season as the the Diamonds “moved North” led to him winning a Player of the Month award earlier in the 2016-17 campaign. In total he appeared 161 times for the club keeping 47 clean sheets before being released in October 2017, signing for Barton Rovers shortly afterwards. He took up the post of Assistant Manager at Daventry Town prior to the start of the 2018/19 season.

Ryan Walker is a central defender who joined the Diamonds on a dual registration basis with Stamford AFC in March 2014, aged 24. He joined the Daniels at the start of the 2013-14 season from Gresley FC. He had played the second half of the 2012-13 season with the Moatmen, appearing 21 times, having joined them from Thurnby Nirvana in November 2012. He appeared 3 times for the club before returning to Stamford and then joining Kettering Town for the 2014-15 season. He then went via Gresley and Bardon Rovers to Rugby Town for the 2015/16 season. He returned to Gresley for the start of the 2016/17 season.

Jack Ashton was a stalwart defender for the Diamonds for several seasons. He joined the Diamonds on a dual registration basis with Stamford AFC in March 2014. He had joined the Daniels in 2013 from Banbury United, with whom he had two spells either side of playing for Oxford City. He originally joined Banbury from Cogenhoe United, having previously had a spell at Long Buckby. He appeared in the final six games of the season in 2013-14, and won the April 2014 Player of the Month award. He picked up two further Player of the Month Awards in 2014/15, and also won the Fans Player of the Season award as well as the Players’ Player of the Season trophy. Despite injury problems during 2015/16 he won two further player of the month awards as well as picking up the goal of the season award for his late winner that clinched the Hillier Senior Cup. After a promising start to the 2016/17 campaign a further knee injury ended his season in November after just 13 appearances that campaign. After a long lay-off, missing almost all of 2017, he returned to the Diamonds starting line-up at the start of 2018, reaching his century of Diamonds appearances during February 2018. After further injury issues he left the club during the truncated 2020/21 season, having appeared 170 times. He has since appeared for Northampton ON Chenecks.

Tom Lorraine is a striker who joined the club from Cogenhoe United at the end of March 2014, where he was registered with Daventry Town on a “dual-registration” basis. He had appeared for Woodford United, Banbury and Bedworth United earlier in his career. He was the club’s top scorer in their promotion winning 2014/15 campaign scoring 19 goals, but showed his flexibility by playing in midfield towards the end of the season to provide much-needed cover in that position. He was also the top scorer in 2015/16 with 15 goals as the club played their first season at Step 4, picking up the Manager’s player of the season award. He became the club’s overall top scorer during the 2016/17 season, passing his half-century of goals during his Diamonds’ career. During that campaign he also picked up two player of the month awards, scoring a further 18 goals. In 2017/18 he repeated that feat as he helped the club to gain promotion to Step 3, scoring 16 goals from 32 starts and being awarded two Player of the Month awards. In 2018/19 he continued his goalscoring form, winning the “Golden Boot” as well as the Supporters’ Player of the Season award. After the various delays caused by the Covid-19 pandemic he reached the milestone of 100 goals for the club in October 2021, the only player to do so. He left in December 2021 to join Daventry Town.

Scott Joseph is a striker who had two spells with the club. He originally joined from AFC Kempston Rovers at the end of March 2014, and scored 5 goals for the club in the remainder of that season before moving back to Kempston. He rejoined the Diamonds in October 2014. He scored 14 goals in 25 appearances during the 2014-15 season, picking up the final Player of the Month award for that season. His appearances were limited during the 2015-16 season and he moved to St Ives Town in December 2015 having appeared 47 times for the club, scoring 24 goals. In November 2018 he signed for Kempston Rovers once more following a spell with Elstow Abbey. He signed for Bedford Town prior to the start of the 2019/20 season, but left to join Biggleswade FC during October 2019.

Liam Dolman is a defender who spent 8 seasons with the club at the heart of their defence, helping them to win two promotions and appearing over 300 times, scoring 50 goals. He joined the club from Daventry Town during June 2014. having started his career with Northampton Town, progressing from youth level to the first team. He then had a short spell playing Conference Football for Kidderminster Harriers in 2009/10 before joining Banbury United and then on to Daventry Town. After joining the Diamonds he had a successful first 2014/15 campaign, picking up the Manager’s Player of the Season award in 2014/15, as well as a Player of the Month award for February 2015 when he scored 6 goals from 4 games from his centre-back role. His goal at Long Buckby was also chosen as goal of the season. He was a mainstay of the side in the 2015/16 season, picking up a player of the month award for his memorable contribution to the Diamonds record run in the FA Cup. The 2016/17 season was also a successful one as he took awards as the fans’ and players’ player of the season, as well as the manager’s player of the season award. He also reached a century of appearances for the club during that campaign, and won the Manager’s player of the season award again in 2017/18. After 8 successful seasons he joined Tamworth to link up with ex-Diamonds Manager Andy Peaks at the start of the 2022/23 season.

Elliott Lamb-Johnson joined the club from Cogenhoe United at the end of May 2014, He can play on either wing, as well as in a more central role. He made 28 appearances for Cogenhoe in the UCL, scoring 5 goals and scooping the “Young Player of the Year” prize at the end of season awards. He played in 34 games for the Diamonds in 2014/15, scoring 6 goals and picking up 16 assists. After a long spell out due to injury in late 2015 he signed dual-registration forms with Cogenhoe United early in 2016. He moved to Bugbrooke St Michaels in the UCL Division One in June 2016. During the 2016/17 season he moved to Daventry Town. He was registered for Sileby Rangers during the 2018/19 season.

Jason Turner is a striker who joined the club shortly after the end of the 2013-14 season, having played for Wellingborough Town in that campaign, scoring 30 goals. He has had success at various levels, including spells at Grantham Town and Stamford Town as well as being part of the Kings Lynn side that won promotion from the UCL Premier in 2012. He left the club after helping them win the UCL Premier title in 2014-15, scoring 17 goals in 40 appearances, joining AFC Kempston Rovers. He moved back to Desborough Town in November 2015.

Adam Confue joined the club from Daventry Town at the start of June 2014. The central midfielder was almost “ever-present” at Step 4 level for Daventry in the 2013-14 season, and was on target 10 times, as well as picking up several man-of-the-match awards at Communications Park. He has spent much of his career in Daventry, apart from a short spell with Banbury United. A successful first season with the club saw him pick up the Player of the Month award for December 2014 as he made 39 appearances in 2014/15. He left the club to rejoin Daventry Town prior to the start of the 2015/16 season. Towards the end of that season he also appeared for Woodford United, but started the 2016/17 season back at Daventry Town.

Joel Gyasi is a wide midfield / forward player who first joined the club in October 2014. He started his career with the MK Dons Academy, After playing 23 games for Kettering Town he joined Bedford Town in 2013, where he made 16 appearances before a move to Northampton Sileby Rangers. After making 9 appearances for the Diamonds he signed for Daventry Town before moving abroad to spend 18 months playing in the third tier of Swedish football. He returned to the Diamonds in Summer 2017. During the successful 2017-18 campaign he made 46 appearances for the club, picking up a player of the month award. He left to join Bedford Town in October 2018 having played 64 games for the club. In January 2019 he moved to Cambridge City, followed by a move to Stratford Town at the start of July 2019, before returning to Cambridge City during the Autumn. In December 2019 he signed for AFC Dunstable, but at the start of February 2020 he rejoined the Diamonds. He appeared a further 16 times for the club before leaving in October 2021, joining Bugbrooke before moving on to Corby Town where a serious knee injury has limited his appearances.

Charlie Butt is a right back / midfielder who joined the club in October 2014. Although most recently signed with Corby Town, he started out with the Peterborough United Academy before moving to Kings Lynn Town, and has also had short spells at Lincoln United and Wisbech Town. After starting as a fringe player he began to get more game-time as the season progressed, and went on to make 21 appearances in 2014/15. Injury and unavailability limited his appearances in the 2015/16 season and he signed for St Neots Town in June 2016.

Alex Pycock signed as a 21-year-old goalkeeper on dual registration terms with Spalding United in November 2014. He had signed for the Tulips in October 2014 from fellow Step 4 team Loughborough Dynamo. He was on junior terms at Boston United before enrolling at Loughborough University. He played twice for the club in UCL Premier games in November 2014 before signing terms with Peterborough Northern Star, but still remaining with Spalding United on dual-registration terms. He then moved back to Loughborough Dynamo prior to the start of the 2015/16 season. He started the 2016/17 season with Deeping Rangers, but was no longer playing in the UCL by the 2018/19 season.

Liam McInally is a midfielder who joined the club from Corby Town in November 2014. He had appeared for Corby against the Diamonds at the Dog and Duck back in July 2014 in a pre-season game, and went on to make 11 appearances for the Steelmen. After a single league appearance as a late substitute, plus a start in a league cup game, his season was curtailed by injury. He went on to play for Desborough Town and was with Thapston Town during the 2018/19 season.

Danny Harmon joined the Diamonds in December 2014 aged 18. He is primarily a right-back, but has also played in midfield, notably when playing for the Northampton Town Youth Team a couple of seasons previously. Most recently Danny had been playing in Sweden for Gottne IF who play in the Central Norrland section of Division 3 (which is the fifth level of Swedish Football). He moved to Cogenhoe United in January 2015. After a brief spell at Kettering Town during the 2015-16 season he returned to Compton Park in November 2015.

Neil King signed for AFC Rushden & Diamonds in January 2015. The midfielder had started the 2014-15 season at Bedford Town, having joined them in summer of 2014 from Daventry Town. He had previously played for Aylesbury United, Brackley Town, Banbury United and Woodford United. He appeared for the Eagles against the Diamonds in the FA Cup earlier in the 2014-15 season – and is the eldest of three footballing brothers which includes ex-Diamond Aaron King. He made four appearances for the club in January 2015. He was registered with Buckingham Athletic for the 2019/20 season.

Declan Rogers had two spells with the club, rejoining in September 2018 having previously played for the Diamonds in 2015. The midfield / forward player originally joined from UCL rivals Huntingdon Town, where he was club captain. He appeared in 18 games for the Diamonds towards the end of the 2014/15 season, scoring 8 goals during the title run-in. He left the club at the end of the 2014/15 season to join Wisbech Town. After a short period there he joined Peterborough Northern Star in September 2015, moving to St Ives early in 2016 before joining St Neots Town for the 2016/17 season. For the 2017/18 season he stepped down to the UCL for a while to play for Eynesbury Rovers, before moving back to Step 3 level with St Ives in December 2017. He quickly established a regular place in the Diamonds side, with a reputation for scoring memorable goals, winning the Player of the Month award in October 2018. He left the club to join Wisbech Town in August 2019, and then left the Fenmen to rejoin St Ives in October of that year. In December 2019 he moved to Corby Town, but left the club early in 2020, prior to joining Soham Town Rangers.

Tommy Berwick is a striker who joined the club in January 2015, having been most recently with Daventry Town, where he has had three spells, including scoring 52 goals for them in the season they won the UCL Premier title. He then impressed at Step 4 level for Daventry in his second spell there, with 30 league / cup goals in the 2010/11 season at Step 4 level. He then had spells at Leamington, Redditch and Stratford Town before joining Corby Town for the start of the 2013-14 season. He quickly became an “ever-present” in the Diamonds side, appearing in 18 games towards the end of the 2014/15 season. He left the club after a year, having appeared in 51 games, scoring 13 goals. He signed for S&L Corby of UCL Division One shortly afterwards. He appeared for Rugby Borough at the start of the 2017-18 season. He joined Burton Park Wanderers early in 2018.

Sam Donohoe  was a member of the Diamonds U21 squad when he made his first team debut in March 2015, four days after first appearing for the U21s, Then aged 23, the midfielder had joined the club from PDFL Premier side Riverside FC. He then went on to make his league debut as a substitute in the game against Long Buckby in April 2015, but his two notable appearances were as a substitute in UCL KO Cup games, including the final. He left the club to join Whittlesey Athletic, and then on to Thorney FC in early 2017 where he plays as a striker.

Joe Ackroyd was a member of the Diamonds U18 and U21 setups when he made his first-team debut in the UCL KO Cup quarter final in May 2015. having recently turned 17. He had graduated through two junior levels of the AFC R&D Academy before joining the AFC R&D / MAA setup. He is a versatile player who has played as sweeper for the U21 side, and in midfield for the U18 side. Still aged 17 he then appeared for the first team as a substitute in their FA Cup Third Qualifying Round victory in October 2015. He went on to score on his league debut, making him the youngest player to score for the club in a senior game. He joined Cogenhoe United on a dual registration basis in March 2016. He was part of the Diamonds Under-21 setup during the 2016/17 season.

Delroy Gordon is a defender who joined the club in July 2015. After starting his career as a junior with Rushden & Diamonds FC, Delroy has played at the highest levels of non-league football, including spells in the Football Conference for Kettering Town and Nuneaton Town. After starting the 2014-15 season with Nuneaton he moved to play for Leamington FC in the Conference North. He has also spent time at Corby Town, Stamford, Oxford City, Banbury United and Rugby Town. He signed dual registration forms with UCL side Sileby Rangers in March 2016. He played 38 times for the club, including 30 league games, scoring twice. He played for Stamford AFC for two seasons, before moving to Bedworth United ahead of the 2018/19 campaign. At the start of December 2018 he moved on to Corby Town. Early in 2020 he was with Sileby Rangers.

Steve Spriggs is a wide midfield player who joined the club just before the start of the 2015-16 season from Kings Lynn. He had a number of spells at The Walks, playing at Step 3 level for them in the 2014-15 season, and he was the all-time top scorer for the reformed club, scoring 80 times in 216 appearances. He started his senior career with Ely City, after being with the Cambridge United Academy, before making his debut for Kings Lynn in 2007. Between his various spells at The Walks he has had significant spells with Mildenhall Town, Wroxham (where he appeared for them at Wembley in the FA Vase final) and AFC Sudbury. He left the club in December 2015 having appeared seven times. He played for Mildenhall Town before joining Newmarket Town in 2017.

Dan Quigley is a midfielder who has had two spells with the club. He first joined the club in June 2015 from Kings Lynn Town where he played for them at Step 3 level, having helped the Linnets win promotion from Step 4. He played for Long Buckby during their UCL title winning season in 2011-12. He appeared 37 times for the club during the 2015-16 season before leaving in the close season to rejoin Kings Lynn. In March 2017 he rejoined the Diamonds and made 12 further appearances before leaving in the close season to join Leamington FC. He signed for Northampton ON Chenecks in September 2017. In the summer of 2019 he signed for Bugbrooke St Michaels.

Courtney Herbert is a striker who joined the club in July 2015. He had signed for Northampton Town from Long Buckby in 2009, scoring two goals in four games, before joining Cambridge United on loan. In January 2014 he signed for Corby Town from Cogenhoe Utd before finishing the season back at Cogenhoe Utd. He has also had spells with Banbury and Aylesbury. He played 16 games for the club. He started the 2016/17 season with Bugbrooke St Michaels, taking on a joint manager role prior to the start of the following season. He was with Sileby Rangers in the 2018-19 season.

Ollie Wilkinson is a defender who joined the club in June 2015 from Bedford Town, where he was club captain during the 2014-15 season after rejoining them from Daventry Town, where he had played alongside several members of the Diamonds squad. He has played at Step 3 level with both Bedford and Corby Town. He also played for Long Buckby alongside Bunting during their UCL title winning season in 2011-12. He had spent some time with Rushden & Diamonds during his teenage years. He signed dual registration forms with UCL side Cogenhoe United in March 2016. He appeared 32 times for the club, including 24 league games. He started the 2016/17 season with Newport Pagnell Town. At the start of the 2019/20 season he joined Daventry Town, but early in 2020 he was appearing for Sileby Rangers.

Claudiu Hoban is a Romanian-born midfield player (also known as Claudio), who often plays wide-left, but he can also play centrally or on the right. He originally joined the club in August 2015, and previously had two spells with Corby Town, including at the end of the 2014-15 season. He was a junior with Leicester City, and after an injury problem led to him being released he went to Rugby Town and then on to Daventry Town and Histon. During this period he was a finalist in the Samsung “Win A Pro Contract” competition. Since then he has been with Sutton United and Tamworth before a spell with Kettering Town and then rejoining the Steelmen. After a successful 2015-16 season, appearing in 48 games for the club, he left the club due to relocation prior to the 2016-17 season. He then joined Tooting & Mitcham Utd in the Ryman League Div One South. Shortly after the start of the 2017-18 season he rejoined the Diamonds but only made a limited number of appearances due to other commitments.

Jason Kilbride is an attacking midfielder who joined the club in July 2015 from Peterborough Northern Star. He is an England Futsal international who helped PNS to the Hillier Cup Final in the 2014-15 season, and he has also played at Blackstones and Bourne. He signed dual-registration forms with UCL side Deeping Rangers shortly after the start of the 2015/16 season, after having made a single substitute appearance for the Diamonds.

Dom Lawless is a striker who joined the club from Newport Pagnell Town in June 2015 as a 28-year-old. Before joining the Swans he had played at Banbury United and Bedford Town at Southern League level, as well as successful spells at St Ives Town and Buckingham Town. He was also part of the Rushden & Diamonds Junior setup. After a period with AFC Kempston Rovers on a dual-registration basis he made his Diamonds debut in the FA Trophy, but only then played one more game, in the Southern League Cup, before rejoining Newport Pagnell Town. In the summer of 2017 he moved to Eynesbury Rovers, scoring 40 goals before departing in February 2018, rejoining Newport Pagnell for the end of season run-in. He moved to Crawley Green prior to the 2019/20 season. He then appeared for Buckingham Athletic later in that season.

Andy Hall is a midfielder who joined the club from Stamford AFC in October 2015. Andy is best known as a winger, but can also play in a more central role, and he has had recent success with both Stamford and Kettering Town, helping both clubs achieve promotion from Step 4 to Step 3. As well as two spells with both of those clubs he has also featured for Corby Town, Kings Lynn Town, Hinckley United and Nuneaton after starting out as a junior with Coventry City. After appearing 33 times for the club he left in June 2016 to rejoin Stamford. During the 2016/17 season he spent time with Rugby Town before joining Northampton Sileby Rangers. After a brief period as player-manager with Sileby at the start of the 2017/18 season, he left to join Desborough Town with a dual registration at Stamford in August 2017. After a period away from the game he joined Bugbrooke St Michaels in February 2020.

Tom Liversedge is a striker who joined the club in October 2015. He joined the club from Belper Town having started the season with Rugby Town. During the 2014-15 season he scored 18 goals for Bedford Town in the Southern League Division One Central, after scoring 26 goals in the UCL the previous season. He has previously had spells with Gresley, Sutton Coldfield, Cogenhoe, Stamford, Woodford, Bedworth Utd and Wellingborough Town. After appearing 16 times for the club he had to retire from football, aged 26, due to injury issues. He made a comeback at Step 6 level with Daventry Town during the 2016/17 season, moving up to Step 5 with Newport Pagnell Town in 2017/18. At the end of November 2019 he signed up with Sileby Rangers.

Lynval Da Costa has had two spells with the Diamonds. The wide midfielder first joined in November 2013, but it was in his second spell with the club that he made his first team debut in November 2015 in an away game against Aylesbury United. He listed his previous clubs as Cogenhoe United, Kettering Town and Northampton Spencer, as well as having spent time on the books at Banbury United, Rugby Town and Histon. He also had a stint in the United States where he played for Ocala Stampede. After leaving the club for a short spell with Sileby Rangers he returned to the USA, playing in local leagues in Florida, including a spell with The Villages SC.

Matt Pinder made his first team debut while having a successful first season with the Diamonds / MAA U18 side. While still part of the U18 setup he stepped up to the first team squad in November 2015, and made an immediate impact helping to set up a late goal within five minutes of his debut appearance. After further substitute appearances he joined Cogenhoe United on a dual registration basis in March 2016. With his studies completed and being based in the West Midlands he left the club in July 2016. He then signed for Malvern Town, and moved on to Pershore Town in November 2018.

Lewis Leslie is a midfielder who joined the club from Cogenhoe United in November 2015, making his league debut during that month. Lewis came through the youth ranks at Compton Park to become a regular first-team player for Cogenhoe. Although he missed the 2013-14 season due to a knee injury he recovered to play 41 times for the Cooks during the 2014-15 season, scoring 12 goals. After moving to the Diamonds he ended the 2015-16 season in fine form, picking up the final player of the month award as the Diamonds reached the league playoffs. His opportunities during 2016-17 were limited due to various injury issues, but he still managed 31 appearances. He started the 2017/18 season on dual-registration terms with Northampton Sileby Rangers and moved to St Ives Town in March 2018. He played for Desborough Town during the 2018/19 season. At the beginning of 2020 he signed for Daventry Town.

Edi Appleton is a centre-back who joined the club from Bedworth Utd in November 2015, having started the 2015/16 season with Rugby Town. In 2014/15 Edi was a key member of the Corby Town Southern League Premier promotion winning team. He started his career with the Notts County and West Bromwich Albion Youth and Reserve teams before moving to Thailand to play for Samut Prakarn. He has also had spells with Hinckley Utd, and Hyde. Edi also faced the Diamonds when playing for Oadby Town in UCL Division One at the start of 2013 and went on to captain the Poachers in their promotion winning season of 2013/14. He made his Diamonds debut aged 29 and made 6 appearances for the club in late 2015. He left the club to rejoin Corby Town just before Christmas 2015. He started the 2016/17 season with Rugby Town but rejoined the Diamonds in March 2017 to provide end of season cover. He moved to Melton Town ahead of the 2018-19 season, and after a short spell with Burton Park Wanderers before the end of that season he was back at Melton for the start of the 2019-20 season.

Shawn Richards is a wide midfielder who normally plays on the right wing and can also play in a more forward position. He first joined the club in December 2015, having previously been playing with Stamford at Step 3, He was the Daniels’ longest serving player when he left them, having been a member of the squad which won promotion into the Northern Premier League in 2012/13. His previous clubs include Northampton Town, Rugby Town, Soham Town, Quorn and Loughborough Dynamo. He moved up to higher level football when he joined Brackley Town prior to the start of the 2016/17 season, but rejoined the Diamonds in March 2017. After leaving prior to the start of the 2017/18 season he rejoined prior to the 2018/19 campaign. With limited appearances during that campaign he left in November 2018 to join Stratford Town having played in 37 games for the club.

Connor Kennedy is a full back who joined the club on loan from Corby Town towards the end of December 2015. He can play on either side and had featured against the Diamonds for  Desborough Town, Stewarts & Lloyds and Corby Town. He has previously played for Thrapston Town and Kettering Town along with a loan spell at Daventry earlier in the 2015-16 season. He had a spell as a junior with Rushden & Diamonds. After an initial spell at left back he switched to his more favoured right-back role and became a key part of the Diamonds side that reached the divisional play-off. He returned to Corby Town when his loan expired at the end of the 2015/16 season, having appeared 16 times for the club. In June 2019 he signed for Kettering Town, stepping up to the National League North level.

Luke Hipwell is a left full back who joined the club from Wisbech Town in late December 2015 as cover while Sam Brown was unavailable. He started his career at Cambridge United, before joining Soham Town Rangers in 2009. A move to Peterborough Northern Star followed in 2011 before joining Yaxley FC. In the 2015-16 season he followed manager Brett Whalley to Wisbech Town. He returned to Wisbech for the 2016-17 season after making 9 appearances for the club.

Jon Stevenson is a striker who joined the club in January 2016. Jon started his career at Leicester City as a trainee and featured 12 times in the premier league between 2000 and 2003. He has also featured for Swindon Town, Cambridge City, Alfreton Town, Tamworth, Hinckley, Boston Utd, Corby Town, Oadby Town and during the 2014-15 season he was at Barwell. After 17 appearances for the club in the 2015-16 season he rejoined the club for 2016-17, but other commitments limited him to three further appearances before he joined Gresley FC in March 2017. He took on a joint manager role at Melton Town ahead of the 2018-19 season.

Robbie Parsons is a striker who was a junior in the Northampton Town Academy. He joined the club on a dual registration basis with Wealdstone FC  in February 2016. He made his league debut shortly afterwards, and became the youngest player to make a league start for the club in April 2016. He then signed for the club prior to the start of the 2016/17 season. After a short spell with Corby Town in the autumn of 2016, he rejoined the club in December 2016. In total he made 26 appearances for the club, scoring twice before joining Rugby Town in March 2017. He started the 2017/18 season with Daventry Town, but signed for Barton Rovers in late 2017. In the summer of 2018 he moved to Melton Town. In November 2019 he signed dual-registration forms with Corby Town, before moving to Stamford early in 2020.

Jason Lee is a defender who signed for the club from Daventry Town in March 2016. Jason was team captain at Daventry, having previously played for a number of clubs including Kings Lynn and Kettering Town. He can play at left-back or centre-back and won league titles at both the Linnets and Poppies, He left the club to join Rugby Town for the start of the 2016-17 season, but rejoined the Diamonds in October 2016, but after a short stay he moved to Corby Town. He was also on the books at AFC Hinckley before signing for Bugbrooke St Michaels in February 2019.

Elliott Sandy is an attacking midfielder / forward player who joined the club from Kettering Town, in March 2016. He had helped the Poppies to the Southern League Division One Central title in the 2014-15 season, scoring 16 goals after he rejoined the club three months into the season. During three stints with the Poppies he also helped them to the Division One Playoffs, and prior to that Elliot had been with Brackley Town at various levels up to Conference North (Step 2). He started his career as a youth team player at Northampton Town, where he was a teammate of Liam Dolman, before joining Cogenhoe United prior to his time with Brackley. He made 8 appearances for the club before moving to Stamford AFC. During the 2016/17 season he moved to Newport Pagnell Town.  He returned to Stamford for the 2017/18 season, but moved to Banbury United at the start of November 2017. He then went to Corby Town prior to the start of the 2018/19 season.

Tom Manship joined the club in March 2016. The midfielder was previously with Corby Town, who he had joined in February 2016. He had previously played 150 games at Step 1 and 2 level at Hyde United and Hinckley, as well as having a spell in the professional game after being signed by John Ward for Cheltenham Town. He was with West Bromwich Albion and Mansfield Town during his progression through youth football, during which time he had loan spells with Rugby Town and Grantham. He has also had spells with Kidderminster Harriers and Gainsborough Trinity. After 6 appearances for the club he joined Gresley FC shortly after the start of the 2016-17 season. He took on a joint manager role at Melton Town ahead of the 2018-19 season.

James Jepson is a midfield player who joined the club in March 2016, aged 33, having been recently playing at Stamford, following a brief spell during the 2015-16 season with Slough Town. Jepson was on the youth team books at Notts County before spells at various clubs in the East Midlands / Nottingham area as well as Kings Lynn, Kettering Town, Bedworth United and Rugby Town. After a short spell with the club, playing four games prior to the end of the 2015/16 season, he left to rejoin Rugby Town as first-team manager. After a difficult start to his managerial career he returned to playing action after signing for Corby Town. He then moved to Worksop Town for the 2017/18 season. He took over the reins at Hinckley AFC ahead of the 2018-19 season, but left there in November 2018. In February 2019 he became Manager of Eastwood CFC.

Jack Bowen is a striker who initially joined the club on a dual registration basis with Cogenhoe United in March 2016 after scoring 29 goals in 47 games for the Cooks during the 2015/16 season. He made an immediate impact in the Diamonds side during the end of season run-in, including a major role in the first play-off game at St Ives. He moved to Brackley Town at the end of the season, making the move to Step 2 football. He scored 3 goals in his 5 appearances for the club. He started a loan spell back with the Diamonds in March 2017 and made a further 13 appearances before the loan period ended at the end of that season, bringing his goals total to 6 for the club. He joined Biggleswade Town prior to the start of the 2017/18 season. He rejoined the Diamonds prior to the start of the 2018/19 season, but left to join Daventry Town at the end of October 2019. In total he made 74 appearances for the club, scoring 20 goals.

Nabil Shariff is a striker who originally joined the club from Daventry Town in January 2016. Nabil began his career at Rushden & Diamonds FC making his league debut in the 2010-11 season. He was given a first league start in April 2011, scoring three goals in his first two full games in the North East. He started the final game played by R&DFC. Originating from Milton Keynes, he joined the Diamonds Centre of Excellence at the start of his Under 14 year, working through the ranks to Conference level. Since leaving R&DFC he has played for a number of clubs, including spells with Tamworth, Banbury United, Corby Town and Stamford. His debut for the club was delayed due to injury and he was only able to make a number of cameo appearances for the club in the 2015-16 season. During the 2016/17 season he was the club’s top scorer with 26 goals, picking up three player of the month awards. He left the club at the start of November 2017 to join Alfreton Town. After making his debut for the Diamonds in April 2014, Nabil played 73 games for the club, including 57 league games, scoring 40 goals. From Alfreton he went on loan to St Neots Town, before signing for Stratford Town ahead of the 2018/19 season. He returned to St Neots a month into the new season, but at the end of December 2018 he returned to Stratford Town. In November 2019 he rejoined the Diamonds, appearing 19 times in the truncated 2019/20 season, scoring 4 goals before moving to St Ives Town.

Aidan Bradshaw is a right back / right-midfield player who joined the club in August 2016. He had made his debut for the club in the previous month when playing in the Maunsell Cup game against Peterborough United. He had previously been with Desborough Town after he began his senior career at Kettering Town with loan spells at Thrapston Town and Sileby Rangers. He was dual-registered with Desborough Town for much of the 2016-17 season, and made a total of 9 appearances for the Diamonds.

Joe Curtis is a midfielder who joined the club before the start of the 2016-17 season. He had played at Daventry Town and Spalding United in the 2015-16 season, having previously been at Stamford and Brackley Town. He graduated through the youth system at Southampton, having also been a junior with Leicester City before a serious injury saw his release. He picked up an injury during the pre-season, and only managed 16 appearances in central midfield for the club during the 2016-17 season, but returned to play a regular role in the 2017-18 season. After further injury limited his opportunities at the start of the 2018-19 season, he returned to the starting line up of the first team in the latter stages of the 2018-19 season. In September 2019 he moved to Stratford Town, but the following month he moved back east to join St Ives Town.

Taylor Orosz joined the club in August 2016 following a number of impressive showings in pre-season games in a forward role. Taylor has previously been with Cogenhoe United and Kettering Town U21s after starting his senior career at AFC Kempston Rovers. He is now aged 20. He made 49 appearances for the club in a busy 2016/17 campaign, many in a wide role, but he managed to score 8 goals. He left the club in the summer of 2017 to find first-team football at Newport Pagnell Town. He moved on to Daventry Town prior to the 2018-19 season.

Nic Evangelinos joined the club in August 2016 following a number of impressive showings in pre-season games. Nic is a 22-year-old forward player who has been with Banbury United for a number of seasons. During that period he had been away studying in the Manchester area for extended periods, so has also played for teams such as Ashton United and West Didsbury & Chorlton. He began his career as a junior at Rugby Town, and also played for Coventry Sphinx. After appearing in 22 games for the club, scoring four goals whilst topping the “assists” chart he relocated back to the North-West in November 2016, signing once more for West Didsbury & Chorlton. He then moved to Ashton United a year later. In October 2018 he moved to Ramsbottom United in the West Division of the Northern Premier League.

Chris Wreh initially joined the club in Summer 2016 as a triallist, going on to play in the Maunsell Cup Final. Born in the USA, Chris had played as a striker with Stony Stratford Town shortly before joining the Diamonds aged 20, having also spent time with Barton Rovers. He signed NPL forms for the club at the start of September 2016. He made a single start for the club, in an FA Trophy game, plus eight other substitute appearances, scoring once. He left the club in 2017, and signed for Newport Pagnell Town. He started the 2018/19 season with Dunstable Town. Prior to the 2019/20 season he joined Stratford Town. Early in 2020 he moved to Rushall Olympic. He returned to the Diamonds for a second spell prior to the start of the 2020/21 season, and made a further 9 appearances, scoring 4 goals, before departing at the end of the truncated season. He helped Banbury United to gain promotion to Step 2 before stepping up to Conference level with Southend United.

Kyal McNulty signed NPL forms with the club at the end of July 2016 aged 25. He is a defender who can also play in midfield, having played at Aylesbury United, Leighton Town, Banbury Utd, Arlesey Town, Biggleswade Town and Bedford Town. He started the season in midfield, but made the majority of his 40 appearances for the club at right back. He left the club in the summer of 2017, signing for Kempston Rovers. In December 2018 he moved on to AFC Dunstable.

Ross Oulton is a midfielder who joined the club in August 2016 having most recently been with Leamington FC. Prior to his time with the Brakes he was with Bedford Town and Rugby Town, having begun his career with Northampton Town. After picking up an injury in an FA Cup game early in the season he missed most of the 2016-17 campaign, making just 16 appearances. He was sidelined due to further injury issues for the first part of the 2017-18 season, returning early in 2018. He moved to Stratford Town in September 2018, having played 33 games for the club. In early 2020 he moved to Barwell FC. In September 2020 he returned to Hayden Rd, and played a further 5 games for the club.

Ruairidh (Rory) Winters is a defender who can play in various positions at the back. He joined the club in September 2016 after a previous spell with Gloucester City, having studied football coaching locally, following time in the USA playing for the AFC Cleveland Royals, and in Canada for FC London. He started his career in his native Lancashire after being with Oldham Athletic as a junior, playing at Lancaster, Morecambe and Kendal Town. He also had a short spell on the Wirral playing for Vauxhall Motors. He made 21 appearances at centre back for the club before picking up a season ending injury. He moved to Singapore to work as a personal trainer, and out there he has played games for 1TM Latini FC in the Cosmoleague.

Jordan Holmes is a right-midfield player who joined the club in September 2016. He has played for a number of clubs in the South Leicestershire area, including Oadby, Hinckley United, Loughborough Dynamo, Atherstone and Shepshed Dynamo, as well as Sutton Coldfield Town. He has also represented English Colleges. He made two substitute appearances in cup games for the club in the 2016-17 season.

Lewis Jackson is a left-sided defensive player aged 26 who joined the club in August 2016. He was with Corby Town before playing at Desborough Town and Stamford. He had begun his career in the Mansfield area, spending time with several clubs in that vicinity. He was dual-registered with Desborough Town during the 2016-17 season and made a single FA Cup start for the Diamonds.

Ash Deeney is a defender who signed for the club in October 2016. After being in Luton Town’s youth system, he played for St Neots Town, Kings Lynn Town and Slough Town, followed by a brief spell with Kettering Town before making over 60 appearances for Daventry Town at Step 4 level. He was club captain for Daventry, playing in either a right-back or wing-back role. A serious knee injury interrupted his 2016/17 season, and although he was able to make 3 appearances in mid-season he returned to the treatment table shortly afterwards and took no further part in the 2016/17 campaign.

Lewis Wilson is a forward player who joined the club in October 2016 on a dual-registration basis whilst also playing at Step 4 level for Arlesey Town. Lewis started his career as a junior with Rushden & Diamonds FC, and after impressing at Newport Pagnell Town he was signed on Northampton Town’s books during the 2012-13 season. After appearing for the Cobblers in League Two he was loaned out to Kettering Town, joining the Poppies directly in the following season. Since then he has been with St Neots Town and Oxford City before joining Arlesey. After 13 games for the club during the 2016-17 season he moved to St Neots Town in March 2017. He joined Cambridge City for the start of the 2017-18 season. He started the following season at Stratford Town. He then moved on to Banbury United in January 2020,

Ben Ford is a midfield / utility player who joined the club at the end of October 2016. He was part of the Rushden & Diamonds FC youth setup before transferring across to the Kettering Town system, prior to getting first team experience at UCL level with Newport Pagnell. He then signed professional terms at Kettering, playing in the Football Conference for the Poppies, before earning a deal at Nuneaton Town. This was followed by spells with Hinckley United, Bedworth United, St Neots Town, Biggleswade Town and Arlesey Town. He signed for Chesham United in September 2015, and appeared 16 times for the Southern League Premier side. After joining the Diamonds he was dual-registered with Newport Pagnell Town and played a part in their FA Vase campaign. In total he appeared 21 times in either a wide left role or at left back in 2016/17, and started the 2017/18 season in a left back role. He left the club to join Bedford Town shortly before the start of the 2018/19 season, having played 49 times for the Diamonds. Prior to the 2020/21 season he returned to Hayden Road, and played a further 3 times for the club.

Ben Heath is a goalkeeper who joined the club at the end of October 2016, after a spell with Rugby Town, having also played at Step 4 level for Daventry Town. He made his Diamonds debut the following day in a dramatic game at Spalding, then continued to impress when deputising for the club’s regular stopper Matt Finlay during the 2016/17 season. He assumed first-choice keeper status for the 2017-18 season, and had an impressive campaign as the club conceded only 25 league goals and he recorded 22 clean sheets in the 42 league games. He was an “ever-present” in the Diamonds side during their first League season at Step 3 in 2018-19. During that season he reached his century of appearances for the club. He reached 148 appearances for the club by the time the 2019-20 season was suspended by the pandemic. He did make a number of appearances in pre-season games in the 2021-22 season, signing as goalkeeper cover for a while, but joined St Ives Town during that season.

Ben Farrell is a midfielder who joined the club from Bedford Town in December 2016. Ben has had several spells with Bedford Town, and earlier in his career made the step up from the Eagles to play Conference football with Cambridge United. He then had spells with Weymouth, Cambridge City and St Neots Town along with Arlesey Town before rejoining the Eagles. He impressed in the Diamonds midfield in the 2016/17 season, appearing 30 times as well as scoring the club’s goal of the season. His successes with the club continued in the 2017/18 season, winning three Player of the Month awards as well as Supporters’ Player of the Season and Players’ Player of the Season award. He was the club’s top goalscorer in the 2017-18 season, scoring 19 goals. During 2018/19 season he reached his century of appearances for the club, playing at the Step 3 level of Non-League Football. He continued with the club until the latter part of the 2019/20 season, which ended early, reaching a total of 150 games for the club. He was playing for AFC Dunstable in later seasons.

Callum Westwood is a right back who signed for the club on dual registration terms with Kettering Town in January 2017. He was previously dual registered with the Poppies and Rugby Town. Before signing for the Poppies he was with the Northampton Town Youth Academy. After an impressive debut was cut short by injury he was able to make 10 appearances for the club in 2016/17. In the following season he signed full terms with the club and made a further 30 appearances. He signed dual registration terms with Melton Town in October 2018. Prior to the 2019/20 season he joined Corby Town.

Ollie Brown-Hill is a forward player who joined the club from Stamford AFC in January 2017.  He had previously been with Leicestershire clubs Oadby Town and Barwell FC. He was employed in a wide role for most of the 15 games he played for the club during the remainder of the 2016/17 campaign. He left the club in the summer of 2017 to find first-team football, signing for Corby Town shortly afterwards. He left Corby to rejoin Stamford at the start of 2018. For the 2018/19 season he was registered with Daventry Town.

Chris Dillon is a striker who had played at a number of clubs at Step 2, 3 and 4 levels, notably Arlesey Town where he scored 47 times in 111 games and Chesham Town where he scored 27 goals in 51 games. He left Arlesey to join Royston Town two seasons ago. He had previously been with Hitchin Town and Histon, as well as Bedford Town, Hemel Hempstead Town and Nuneaton Town. He joined the club in the summer of 2017, but left in October 2017 after 11 appearances, scoring a single goal.

Luke Fairlamb initially signed for AFC Rushden & Diamonds in January 2015 but moved on to Bedford Town without making a first team appearance. Luke is a midfield / forward player who was born in Northants and was on junior books with several local clubs, playing in various positions including left back and left midfield. he was playing college football in the USA for Saint Peter’s College in New Jersey. He rejoined the club in July 2017, and signed a contract with the club for the 2017/18 season shortly afterwards. During the successful 2017-18 campaign he made 43 appearances for the club, picking up a player of the month award. In the summer of 2018 he signed for Brackley Town at Step 2 level. In the middle of February 2020 he joined Banbury United on a one-month loan. He made a further 9 appearances for the club during the short 2020/21 season before joining St Ives Town and then Tamworth for the 2022/23 season.

The summaries for those players who made their Diamonds debut from the 2018/19 season onwards can be found here.

Pictures courtesy of Malcolm Swinden Photography and Matt Hawkins. Copyright HawkinsImages ©2018-22