This game caught my eye when I spotted it would be played at Hayden Rd and that Northampton were now sending their 1st team.
Football wise, a good game and Rushden were very impressive and should be looking to challenge for promotion - ground wise - still plenty to do to get Hayden Rd up to the correct grading, excellent ground for the level Rushden & Higham Utd play at. Large crowd of over 800 so the ground can cope - Only 3 car park spaces! But plenty of on street parking close by. Main stand is now closed- shell intact and looks in good condition but the rest of stand is waiting to be ripped out and replaced. A few steps of old concrete terracing on 3 sides of ground, 100 seat small stand on dug out side. Behind one goal has new hard standing and waiting for a stand to be built on that end. New turnstiles fitted but were not operating tonight. Portakabins from Wellingborough in place but not yet open. small club bar.
Small town but ground has a good old fashioned inner city feel, can see Rushden doing well on football pitch and they are hoping to be playing league games here by October (starting season at Kempston). Do worry what will happen to Rushden & Higham Utd in the future, maybe like Kingstonian they will find themselves homeless in the future - or is a merger best plan. Hayden Rd was the former home of Rushden Town who became part of Rushden & Diamonds in 1992.
