Darren Bradshaw

Darren Bradshaw

Born 19 March 1967 (Age 30 at debut)

Position: Defender

(Diamonds player #89)

Total appearances 93

(76 League, 10 FA Cup, 4 FA Trophy, 1 League Cup, 1 Hillier Senior Cup, 1 Maunsell Cup)

Debut:

1 November 1997 (Home Slough Town)

Final game:

16 December 2000 (Home Hednesford Town)

Darren started his career with Sheffield Wednesday, but was released as an apprentice. He joined Matlock Town, but was spotted by Chesterfield, and joined them on loan in 1987, making 17 League appearances. He had spells with York City and Newcastle United before joining Peterborough United in August 1992. In two seasons at Peterborough, he made 83 appearances, scoring twice, before going out on loan to Plymouth Argyle. Darren signed for Blackpool in October 1994 for a £35,000 fee and played 81 games during his stay. In October 1997, Brian Talbot brought him to Nene Park after the poor start to the season. He immediately went into the side, initially in midfield to replace the injured Garry Butterworth. He soon became first choice centre back on Butterworth’s return, playing regularly during the 1997/1998 season and the following season, before various injuries from the autumn of 1999 onwards restricted his chances in the first team for the remainder of his Diamonds career.

He left the club in January 2001, spending a brief period with Stevenage Borough before dropping down to play for Worksop and Balper Town and retiring from the game in 2005.

Appearances

1997/1998

1998/1999

1999/2000

2000/2001

Malcolm Ndekwe

Malcolm Ndekwe

Born 26 December 1978 (Age 18 at debut)

Position: Forward

(Diamonds player #88)

Total appearances 9

(4 League, 1 FA Trophy, 1 League Cup, 3 Hillier Senior Cup)

Debut:

18 October 1997 (Away Kidderminster Harriers)

Final game:

1 May 1999 (Home Kettering Town)

Born in Northampton, Malcolm was a product of Diamonds youth set up. The young striker made five substitute appearances in the 1997 / 1998 season, and went out on loan to Aylesbury United in February 1998, to gain some first team experience. The following season, he had another loan spell, this time with Stamford. Although Malcolm made 9 appearances, only once was he in the starting eleven, playing In the Hillier Senior Cup Final win at Raunds Town in April 1999. He had his fair share of injuries, which restricted his chances of gaining a first team place.

He was released, and joined former Diamonds assistant manager Billy Jeffery at Stamford, where he remained until the summer of 2003. He spent the following season at Kings Lynn, before moving to Corby Town, where he helped the Steelman to gain promotion in the 2005/06 season. In August 2006, he joined UCL side Cogenhoe United, before joining Nick Ashby at Wellingborough Town in November that same year. The following season was spent back at Cogenhoe United, and was named in the squad which played Diamonds at Nene Park in the Hillier Senior Cup tie. He announced his retirement in August 2008 at the age of 29.

Appearances

1997/1998

1998/1999

Mark Smith

Mark Smith

Born 2 January 1973 (Age 24 at debut)

Position: Goalkeeper

(Diamonds player #87)

Total appearances 59

(50 League, 3 FA Cup, 4 FA Trophy, 2 Hillier Senior Cup)

Debut:

18 October 1997 (Away Kidderminster Harriers)

Final game:

25 January 2000 (Away Kettering Town)

Goalkeeper Mark had started his career at Nottingham Forest, although after progressing through the youth system, he failed to make a first team appearance. He joined Crewe Alexandra in 1992, and went on to make 63 League appearances in three years at Gresty Road. He achieved notoriety on 12 March 1994 when he was dismissed after just 19 seconds in a League game against Darlington for a professional foul. It was the fastest ever dismissal at the time – a record he held for over five years. He joined Walsall, but was restricted to reserve team games and left in 1997 in order to get some first team football. He arrived at Nene Park in September 1997 to replace Steve Cherry, who had been released, and join local keeper Darren Watts to contest for the No.1 position. He made his debut at Kidderminster Harriers on 18 October 1997, and quickly establishing himself as a fans’ favourite. He established himself in the first team and was an ever present in the first team (apart from a couple of Hillier Senior Cup games) for the remainder of that season. A combination of injuries and off-the-field issues meant that his opportunities were limited in the following two seasons however. With Mark Gayle taking over the number 1 jersey for a while, and then the arrival of Billy Turley, it meant that Mark had to be content with a regular place on the subs bench until he left the club in May 2000.

He went on to join Morecambe the following season, and played 42 games for them. He spent a short period (loan?) at Eastwood Town before moving to struggling Scarborough in November 2001. His first appearance for Scarborough in a 1-0 win against Farnborough Town on 24 November 2001 was marred in controversy as his registration had not been processed and he was still officially a Morecambe player. They were docked three points for the indiscretion. He is believed to have hung up his gloves after leaving Scarborough at the end of the season.

Appearances

1997/1998

1998/1999

1999/2000

Guy Branston

Guy Branston

Born 9 January 1979 (Age 18 at debut)

Position: Defender

(Diamonds player #86)

Total appearances 22

(21 League, 1 Hillier Senior Cup)

First spell

Debut: 11 October 1997 (Home Hereford United)

Final game: 1 January 1998 (Away Stevenage Borough)

Second spell

Debut: 20 March 1999 (Away Morecambe)

Final game: 1 May 1999 (Home Kettering Town)

Guy started his career with his home-town club Leicester City. The central defender went out on loan to several clubs in order to gain first team experience, and Diamonds were the first club to take on the young defender. He signed in October 1997, initially for one month, but this was extended to three months. He made 12 appearances before returning to Leicester. He had further loan spells with Colchester United and Plymouth Argyle, before returning to Nene Park in March 1999. until the end of the season. Guy made an additional 10 appearances before returning to Leicester once more.

At the start of the 1999/2000 season, he went on loan to Lincoln City before a loan spell with Rotherham United in October 1999 which eventually led to a permanent move the following month when the Millers paid a £50,000 transfer fee. He made over 100 appearances, before loan spells with Wycombe Wanderers and Peterborough United, followed by a free transfer to Sheffield Wednesday in June 2004. A further loan period at Peterborough United followed, before a short term deal at Oldham Athletic and a permanent move to Peterborough in July 2006. There were loan deals at Rochdale (August 2007) and Northampton Town (November 2007), before he was released in January 2008. He joined Notts County on a short term deal before signing for Kettering Town in February 2008. A move to Burton Albion followed in the summer of 2009, but he found himself on loan again in January 2010 when he went to Torquay United – the move being made permanent on 21 July 2010 when he signed a one year deal. He left the Gulls at the end of the season, and joined League Two side Bradford City on 13 June 2011. He made 13 appearances for the Bantams, but went on a three month loan deal to Rotherham United on 14 October 2011, receiving a red card in his first game back with the Millers on the same evening. During June 2012, his contract with Bradford City was cancelled by mutual consent after just 19 appearances during the season, and he joined League Two side Aldershot Town on 25 June, on a one year deal. On 22 November 2012, Guy went out on a loan deal to fellow League Two side Bristol Rovers until 1 January 2013, but returned to Aldershot just prior to the New Year having scored 1 goal in 4 appearances for the Pirates. He was released by mutual consent on his return, and joined League Two strugglers Plymouth Argyle on 11 January 2013 until the end of the season. He remained at Home Park for the following season, before announcing his retirement from the game in July 2014. In total, he made 503 appearances in his career, scoring 25 times, for 19 different clubs.

He became chief scout at Notts County in 2015, followed by a backroom role with Nuneaton Town before he was appointed as Director of Recruitment and Development at Chesterfield on 2017, a role he held for a short while until a management change at the club. He spent a period involved with grassroots football in the Leicester area before taking a role with Leicester City as an Academy Coach and also as their Youth Loans Manager from 2018 onwards.

Appearances

1997/1998

1998/1999

Mark Rawle

Mark Rawle

Born 27 April 1979 (Age 18 at debut)

Position: Forward

(Diamonds player #85)

Total appearances 16 – 1 goal

(10 League, 3 FA Cup, 1 FA Trophy, 1 League Cup, 1 Hillier Senior Cup)

Debut:

20 September 1997 (Away Yeovil Town)

Final game:

1 December 1998 (Away Rothwell Town)

Mark Rawle started his professional career with Diamonds after playing junior football in Leicestershire. After impressing in the Under-18 side, he was named on the bench on many occasions, gaining most of his appearances as a substitute. He struggled to gain a place in the starting eleven however, and was released at the end of the 1998/1999 season.

He joined Boston United on 15 June 1999 and in just a season and a half, scored some 32 goals in just over 50 appearances. He quickly became the target of Football League sides, resulting in his £60,000 transfer to Southend United in February 2001 on an eighteen month contract. His strike rate of 20 goals in 89 games for Southend led to his release in June 2003, and he joined Oxford United on a free transfer. Again, he struggled to find his earlier form, and went on loan to Tamworth in January 2005, before making a permanent move to Kidderminster Harriers in February until the end of the season. He joined Woking at the start of the 2005/2006 season, but went on an end of season loan to Gravesend & Northfleet in January 2006. He joined Alfreton Town of the Conference North for the 2006/2007 season, and then joined Kettering Town in July 2007. A loan to Redditch United followed, with a view to a permanent deal, but he was recalled by Kettering in November 2008. A hamstring problem led to his release in January, and he went to Tamworth for a short period. In February 2009, he joined Southern League Premier side Brackley Town. He retired from the playing side of the game and joined Leicester Nirvana as a coach in 2016, and was still in that role for the 2018/19 season.

Appearances

1997/1998

1998/1999

Warren Kelly

Warren Kelly

Born 18 April 1968 (Age 29 at debut)

Position: Defender

(Diamonds player # 84)

Total appearances 17

(15 League, 2 FA Cup)

Debut:

20 September 1997 (Away Yeovil Town)

Final game:

2 May 1998 (Home Telford United)

Warren had started his career with Hemel Hampstead and St.Albans City in the late 1980’s, before some nine seasons with Hayes. He was a successful utility player at non-league level, playing in defence or a midfield role if required and helped Hayes to the Ryman League Premier title during his time at the club. He moved to Stevenage Borough and played a part in their Championship campaign in the 1995/1996 season. He joined Diamonds on loan from Stevenage Borough in September 1997, a move that was made permanent the following month, when an £8,000 transfer fee was agreed. The number of appearances were limited due to injury midway through the season, and he was released in May 1998.

After leaving the Diamonds, he moved to Aylesbury United, before returning to St.Albans City. In January 2000, he moved to Hendon where he had a role as player / coach for several years. He then had a coaching role with AFC Wimbledon until the end of the 2006-07 season.  No record of his involvement with the game has been found between 2010 and 2018.

Appearances

1997/1998

Chris Whyte

Chris Whyte

Born 2 September 1961 (Age 36 at debut)

Position: Defender

(Diamonds player #83)

Total appearances 65 – 1 goal

(53 League, 3 FA Cup, 3 FA Trophy, 2 League Cup. 4 Hillier Senior Cup)

Debut:

20 September 1997 (Away Yeovil Town)

Final game:

18 April 1999 (Away Raunds Town)

The veteran defender joined Diamonds on loan from Oxford United in September 1997 after the team had made a poor start to that campaign. With a long and distinguished career, Chris started at Arsenal, before going on loan to Crystal Palace. After a short spell in the USA, he returned to join West Bromwich Albion in 1988 and joined Leeds United in 1990 for £400,000 where he won a League Championship medal in 1992. After some 147 appearances for Leeds, he had joined Birmingham, before spells with Coventry City, Charlton Athletic, Detroit Neon and Leyton Orient before joining Oxford United. He made his Conference debut in a 2-1 victory at Yeovil Town in September 1997, and his despite his age, the class and composure in defence won him many friends at Nene Park as he helped shore up a leaky defence. The 1998 / 1999 season started well with six straight wins, but an injury at Farnborough Town in October led to a six week break. With the likes of Darren Bradshaw, Jim Rodwell and Ray Warburton all in contention for a first team spot, his days were numbered. Manager Brian Talbot did bring him off the bench at Elland Road, where he received a standing ovation He moved to Harlow Town on 4 November 1999 and played for part of the season, before spending some time back in the USA.

Appearances

1997/1998

1998/1999

Andy Chapman

Andy Chapman

Born 6 September 1978 (Age 19 at debut)

Position: Defender

(Diamonds player #82)

Total appearances 2

(2 League)

Debut:

6 September 1997 (Away Cheltenham Town)

Final game:

29 November 1997 (Home Hayes)

Born in Peterborough, Andy was a member of Norwich City’s youth team squad during the 1994/1995 season, winning England Schoolboys honours. He was released by the Canaries without making a first team appearance. He initially joining Kettering Town briefly, before moving to Nene Park for the 1997/1998 season. He played mainly reserve football, and appeared on the subs bench for several games before being given his first team debut on his 19th birthday, when he came on as a second half substitute. Unfortunately, he gave away a free-kick which led to Cheltenham’s winning goal. Nicknamed “Boris”, the highly rated youngster made just one other substitute appearances for Diamonds some ten weeks later. After his release at the end of the season, he joined Raunds Town and went on to play for a number of non-league sides including Bedford Town, Stamford, Baldock Town and Spalding United. He was playing for UCL side Yaxley in September 2002, and spent several years with the club, before joining Deeping Rangers in 2007. After a year at Deeping, he is believed to have retired from the game.

Appearances

1997/1998

Adrian Foster

Adrian Foster

Born 19 March 1971 (Age 26 at debut)

Position: Forward

(Diamonds player #81)

Total appearances 56 – 25 goals

(44 League, 5 FA Cup, 2 FA Trophy, 2 League Cup, 3 Hillier Senior Cup)

Debut:

6 September 1997 (Away Cheltenham Town)

Final game:

10 April 1999 (Home Cogenhoe United)

Adrian had begun his career at West Bromwich Albion, where he had played under Diamonds boss Brian Talbot. He moved to Torquay United in the summer of 1992 where his goalscoring abilities came to the fore. In two seasons, he scored 28 goals for the Gulls in some 91 appearances before spending the next two seasons at Gillingham. In March 1996, he went on loan to Exeter City, before moving to Hereford United in August 1996. Following relegation at the end of the 1996/1997 season, the Bulls agreed a transfer fee of £35,000 at the end of August 1997 and the striker arrived at Nene Park to team up with manager Brian Talbot again.

He made a memorable home debut (and first start) when replacing Carl Alford in the starting line-up for the 5-5 draw against Farnborough Town – “Fozzie” scoring 4 goals in that game. Injury at the beginning of November restricted the number of games he played that year, making only seven starts during the remainder of the season. He started the 1998/1999 season in fine form, with his goals helping the Diamonds to win their first seven league games, but then faced another injury layoff missing six weeks during November and December. It was perhaps a lack of match sharpness that caused him to miss what looked like an easy chance to break the deadlock between Diamonds and Leeds United in the FA Cup game at Nene Park, and from then on his Diamonds career was in decline.

He was released in May 1999, and joined Yeovil Town for a one year, before spending the following season at Forest Green Rovers. In the summer of 2001, he dropped down a level, joining Bath City before enjoying a period in the Wessex League. He joined Frome Town briefly in 2003, before spells with Taunton Town, Street, and joining Chard Town in September 2005. In July 2007, Adrian took up the role of player/manager at Toolstation Western Division One side Gillingham Town in Dorset, and won promotion in his first season with the Gills. At the age of 39, was still playing (and scoring) regularly, but after six years, Adrian left on 23 December 2013 to become manager at Southern Premier side Frome Town. After steering them away from the relegation zone to a 14th place finish, he agreed a further two year contract on 16 May 2014. He then returned to Gillingham Town in Setptember 2015 to take up the reins there, and was still in charge at the start of the 2018-19 season.

Appearances

1997/1998

1998/1999

Glen Fuff

Glen Fuff

Born 7 March 1976 (Age 21 at debut)

Position: Defender

(Diamonds player #80)

Total appearances 6

(4 League, 1 League Cup, 1 Hillier Senior Cup)

Debut:

2 September 1997 (Away Slough Town)

Final game:

18 November 1997 (Away Brackley Town)

Glean had started his career with the Peterborough United youth system, but failed to break into their first team. The central defender had a short spell with the Diamonds towards the start of the 1997-98 season, signing from the Posh in August 1997. He played some six games at the start of the season, but when Diamonds signed the more experienced Chris Whyte, he was unable to get back into the team and moved was released at the end of the season. He joined Kings Lynn in July 1998 and spent some six seasons with the Linnets – winning the clubs’ player of the season on no less than four occasions. In 2005, he joined Cambridge City, and enjoyed a similar cult status in his time with them. In October 2007, he suffered a severe injury, breaking his leg in four places. Although the injury was so severe it was feared he would never play football again, in just over a year, he returned to first team action. He then joined Soham Town Rangers in January 2009, before moving on to UCL side St.Neots Town in March 2009, where he became club captain the following season, guiding them to promotion into the Southern League. On 9 June 2011, he decided to remain at the same level, and joined Spalding United, who had just dropped down from the Southern League into the UCL. He had left the Tulips by 2013. No record of his involvement with the game has been found between 2014 and 2018.

Appearances

1997/1998