Diamonds will travel to Nuneaton on Saturday 19th September (3pm kick-off) for their opening game of the 2020/21 Pitching In Southern League Premier Division Central season.
The match is all-ticket and fans will be segregated. For further ticketing information, click here.
Our hosts play at Liberty Way, Nuneaton, CV11 6RR. To find out more about our opponents, check out their website.
What to expect when you arrive
All supporters need to enter through the single turnstile entrance for Track & Trace purposes. Please note, for health and safety reasons, any supporter who arrives at the turnstile without a valid online or digital ticket will not be allowed into the ground.
Diamonds fans will be directed to the away stand to encourage social distancing, and all facilities will be available in the away area.
Nuneaton have re-energised their away end food and beverage kiosk in order to provide their Covid-19 reduced menu to all away fans. They have chilled soft and alcoholic drinks available to buy at the kiosk. Drinks will be served in a plastic non-returnable cup by the kiosk staff. All drinks are allowed to be taken into any area of the ground apart from toilets.
Pre-season form
Diamonds head into the match having won five of their nine pre-season friendlies. They scored 28 goals in total, with the club’s all-time top goal-scorer Tom Lorraine scoring eight of that overall amount.
They have made eight signings ahead of the new campaign. Richard Walton, Ben Ford, Chris Wreh, Luke Fairlamb, Ryan Hughes, Lorrell Smith, Prince Mutswunguma and Fernando Bell-Toxtle have all joined the club to boost the ranks.
Due to the Coronavirus outbreak, this is Diamonds’ first competitive league match since 7th March when they were narrowly defeated 2-1 at Banbury United.
Previous meetings
Diamonds and Nuneaton have only faced each other twice before, and these were both in the league last season. In August 2019, Rushden won 2-0 at Hayden Road in an action-packed early season encounter. Nuneaton were reduced to nine men, and the hosts capitalised by scoring two late goals through Massiah McDonald and Sam Johnson to send them to the top of the table.
Months later, in January 2020, Diamonds completed the double over their opponents by securing another last-gasp victory. After an excellent team display, they were rewarded with a Ben Farrell penalty one minute from time.
Can’t make the game?
Our Radio Diamonds team will be providing live commentary as the action unfolds – tune in at mixlr.com/radiodiamondsafc. We will also doing live updates on our Twitter account at twitter.com/AFCRD.
Highlights and interviews will be available after the game at youtube.com/AFCRDTV.
Match preview by Ollie Mortimer
