Callum Reynolds

Callum Reynolds

Born 10 November 1989 (Age 16 at debut)

Position: Defender

(Diamonds player #242)

Total appearances 2

(2 Hillier Senior Cup)

Debut:

17 October 2006 (Home Cogenhoe United)

Final game:

31 October 2006 (Away Ford Sports Daventry)

Callum was part of the youth set up at Nene Park, progressing to the U18 squad. The central defender played just two games for Diamonds, both in the Hillier Senior Cup, before being released in May 2007.

He was snapped up by former manager Paul Hart at Portsmouth and became a regular member of the Academy side in 2007/2008 and the following season. He went out on loan to Conference South side Basingstoke Town in March 2009. After returning to Portsmouth, he went out on a half season loan to Conference side Luton Town in August 2009. Callum was released by Portsmouth at the end of the season, and signed non-contract forms with Basingstoke Town on 14 October 2010, eventually signing a contract until the end of the season. He signed for Conference side Tamworth in the summer of 2011, but went out on a one month loan to Conference North side Hinckley United on 31 August 2011, where he made five appearances for the Knitters before returning to Tamworth. Callum went out on a further one month loan to Corby Town on 24 October 2011, which was later extended until the end of the year, returning to Tamworth in January 2012. He continued to struggle to make the Tamworth squad, and went out on another one month loan deal on 9 March 2012, this time to Conference South side Boreham Wood. This was later extended until the end of the season, before joining in the summer on a permanent basis. In July 2016 he moved to Aldershot Town, and after two seasons there he joined Barnet on a two year deal in June 2018. When that contract expired he joined Dagenham and Redbridge for the start of the 2020/21 season.

Appearances

2006/2007 – squad number 22

Anthony Weston

Anthony Weston

Born 27 September 1989 (Age 17 at debut)

Position: Midfielder

(Diamonds player #241)

Total appearances 2

(2 Hillier Senior Cup)

Debut:

17 October 2006 (Home Cogenhoe United)

Final game:

31 October 2006 (Away Ford Sports Daventry)

Anthony was a member of the youth team set up at Nene Park, and got an opportunity for a first team appearance in the Hillier Senior Cup in October 2006. The winger failed to break through into the squad the following year, and was released in May 2008. In July, he joined Wivenhoe Town for a period on trial with the Easrtern Counties Premier League club. No record of his involvement with the game has been found between 2010 and 2018.

Appearances

2006/2007 – squad number =

Ugo Udoji

Ugo Udoji

Born 9 January 1989 (Age 17 at debut)

Position: Defender

(Diamonds player #240)

Total appearances 3

(3 Hillier Senior Cup)

Debut:

17 October 2006 (Home Cogenhoe United)

Final game:

20 March 2007 (Away Woodford United)

A product of the youth set up a Nene Park, Ugo (Emmanuel) made three appearances for Diamonds in the Hillier Senior Cup during the 2006/07 season, playing at right back. At the end of his term in the youth team however, he was released. Following former manager Paul Hart’s appointment at the Portsmouth Academy, he moved to the south coast side to continue his development. He was released by Portsmouth towards the end of the 2007/2008 season and had recent trials with QPR, Lincoln City and Bradford City.

In October 2008, he joined the Glen Hoddle Academy in Spain where he hoped to resurrect his career and joined Stafford Rangers of the Conference North on 18 September 2009. He finished the season with Conference South side Bromley, whom he joined in March 2010, before being released in the summer. He had unsuccessful trials with Torquay United and Weymouth during the summer, before playing for the reserves at Ebbsfleet United. On 12 November 2010, he signed for Conference South side Havant & Waterlooville, before returning to Bromley in March 2011. On 23 January 2012, Ugo joined Conference North side Bishop’s Stortford, but left after just a single game. On 20 February 2012, he joined Conference South side Salisbury City on a non-contract deal, earning a one year deal for the following season amd helping the club to promotion into the Conference. On 22 May 2013 however, he was released by the club. Ugo spent the pre-season for the 2013/2014 season with Conference South side Dover Athletic, but was released before the start of the season. He joined Isthmian Premier side Billericay Town in August 2013 on a non-contract basis. He left after three months, and joined fellow Isthmian Premier side Thamesmead Town on 25 November 2013. After just 4 appearances however, he joined rivals Cray Wanderers on 12 December 2013. He moved back to Bromley but after two seasons there he went on loan to Tonbridge Angels for the 2016/17 season. He then moved to Maldon and Tiptree for the 2017/18 season.

He joined Kingstonian at the start of the 2018/19 season.

Appearances

2006/2007 – squad number 21

Andrew Rigby

Andrew Rigby

Born 9 January 1987 (Age 19 at debut)

Position: Midfielder

(Diamonds player #239)

Total appearances 4

(2 League, 2 Hillier Senior Cup)

Debut:

30 September 2006 (Home Burton Albion)

Final game:

31 October 2006 (Away Ford Sports Daventry)

Andrew started out his career in the youth team at Nottingham Forest but was not retained following the end of the 2005/2006 season. Diamonds manager Paul Hart had previously been at Forest and brought him to Nene Park on non-contract forms on 28 July 2006. With relatively few chances in the first team, he went out on loan to Rugby Town in December 2006, and was released on 8 January 2007.

He remained at Rugby Town following his release, but departed to FC Windisch in the Swiss Inter-regional League (4th level) in the summer of 2007 for a short period. He returned to register for Eastwood Town, but then went across the Atlantic to play for Canadian side Ottawa Fury in the USL Premier Development League for the 2008 season. On return to the UK, Andrew signed for Long Eaton United of the Northern Counties East Premier Division on 27 March 2009. No record of his involvement with the game has been found between 2010 and 2018.

Appearances

2007/2008 – squad number 17

Leo Fortune-West

Leo Fortune-West

Born 9 April 1971 (Age 35 at debut)

Position: Forward

(Diamonds player #238)

Total appearances 6

(6 League)

Debut:

12 August 2006 (Away Crawley Town)

Final game:

23 September 2006 (Away Woking)

Leo started out in non-league football as a teenager with Tiptree United playing various roles including striker. At 18, he joined Bishop Stortford before moving on to play for Dartford during the 1992/93 season (when the club folded). A successful season with Dagenham followed and he eventually signed for Stevenage Borough in the summer of 1994. After a successful season at the Conference side, he was sold to Gillingham at end of season for £5,000 and was their top scorer in the 1995/96 season. While at Gillingham, he went on loan to Leyton Orient in March 1997, before joining Lincoln City on a free transfer in June 1998. Another loan took him to Rotherham in October 1998 where he scored 4 goals in 5 games. In November 1998 he joined Brentford for £60,000, but after failing to make an impression, went back to Rotherham for £35,000. After a successful period with Rotherham, Cardiff paid £300,000 for his services in September 2000 and he achieved two promotions with the Bluebirds. He was released in the summer of 2003, and joined Doncaster Rovers on a free transfer.

Leo joined Rushden & Diamonds from Doncaster on 23 June 2006 and played six times at the beginning of the season, before falling out of favour. He went on loan to Torquay United on 28 September 2006, but was recalled on 2 November due to several injuries in the squad. Loaned out again on 6 November to Shrewsbury Town until the end of the season. He was transfer listed in May 2007. After being unable to find a new club, he was allocated the squad number 26 for the 2007/08 season, but eventually left by mutual consent on 3 August 2007, joining Cambridge United the following week.

In January 2008, he went on loan to York City for the remainder of the season, although he returned to play for Cambridge United in the Conference play-offs. He was released at the end of the season and signed for Conference North side Alfreton Town on 11 June 2008, before joining North Ferriby United AFC of the Northern Premier League Premier Division in March 2009 for the remainder of the season. In August 2009, he joined NPL Division One South side Goole AFC, but left the following summer. Leo continued his travels, and joined Northern Counties East League Premier side Armthorpe Welfare on 3 November 2010, scoring on his debut three days later. After increasing his interest in the coaching side of things during the following season, he was appointed Manager on 4 May 2012, but left the club less than a year later on 4 April 2013. He then retired from the game.

Appearances

2006/2007 – squad number 9

Michael Rankine

Michael Rankine

Born 15 January 1985 (Age 21 at debut)

Position: Forward

(Diamonds player #237)

Total appearances 145 – 40 goals

(116 League, 6 FA Cup, 10 FA Trophy, 3 League Cup, 8 Hillier Senior Cup, 2 Maunsell Cup)

Debut:

12 August 2006 (Away Crawley Town)

Final game:

26 April 2009 (Home Woking)

Michael began his career in the youth set up at Doncaster Rovers, during which time he went on work experience with Armthorpe Welfare. He failed to make the Rovers first team and was released in the summer of 2003 to join Barrow where he made over 50 appearances, scoring ten times. The following season, he had a trial at Scunthorpe United, and signed non-contract forms in September 2004, scoring on his debut. He signed a six month contract the following season, during which time he went back to Barrow on a two month loan. After a trial at Altrncham, he joined Conference North side Alfreton Town in January 2006.

Michael signed for Diamonds on 24 July 2006 after playing in several pre-season friendlies as manager Paul Hart prepared for life in the Conference. After the appointment of Garry Hill as manager, he agreed a 2 year deal on 7 March 2007 (with an option for another two years) to keep him at Nene Park until the summer of 2011.

After 12 goals in his first season, he netted 19 times the following season in all competitions, followed by a further 9 goals in 2008/2009. Although his two years extension had been agreed, he was transferred to York City on 12 June 2009, in a deal that brought Craig Farrell to Nene Park, plus an undisclosed fee, reported to be £10,000. He scored 24 times in 103 appearances for  the Minstermen. On 12 May 2011, he joined League Two side Aldershot Town, but his appearances were limited after damaging ankle ligaments midway through the season. Despite returning to the starting line-up the following season, poor form saw him drop down to making appearances off the bench. On 22 November 2012, he went on a loan deal to Conference side Grimsby Town, until 2 January 2013, returning to Aldershot on 3 January after just three substitute appearances. Michael returned to League Two side York City on 12 February 2013 on another loan deal, this time until the end of the season, but he returned to Aldershot on 4 April 2013 after a change of management at York. He was released by the Shots in the summer, and signed a one year deal with Conference side Hereford United on 30 July 2013. The club however were demoted at the end of the season, and after 7 goals in 32 appearances, Michael joined Conference side Gateshead on 30 June 2014 on a one year deal. From Gateshead he moved to Altrincham in June 2015 in order to get more first team action, and after a season there he signed for Guiseley also in the Football Conference. He spent 2017-18 at York City in Conference North before being released, and he then became a Football Consultant.

Appearances

2006/2007 – squad number 8

2007/2008 – squad nmber 14

2008/2009 – squad number 14

Chris Hope

Chris Hope

Born 14 November 1972 (Age 33 at debut)

Position: Defender

(Diamonds player #236)

Total appearances 152 – 11 goals

(128 League, 7 FA Cup, 8 FA Trophy, 4 League Cup, 2 Maunsell Cup, 3 Hillier Senior Cup)

Debut:

12 August 2006 (Away Crawley Town)

Final game:

26 April 2009 (Home Woking)

Chris began his career at Darlington as a trainee, before signing a professional contract prior to the 1989/90 season. After failing to make an appearance that season, he signed for Nottm Forest in July 1990 where he stayed for two years, again failing to break into the first team. It was during his time at Forest that he went on loan to Kettering Town during the 1992/93 season, scoring 3 times in 23 appearances. His form attracted the attention of Scunthorpe United, and he moved to Glanford Park in the summer of 1993 for a £50,000 transfer fee. He made some 336 appearances in seven seasons, including 177 successive games. In May 2000, he was lured away by Gillingham, who paid a £250,000 fee for his services. In five years with the Kent side, he notched up 264 appearances taking over the captaincy for the 2005/06 season. The following year was marred by injury, and he was released in May 2006, joining Diamonds on 7 July on a two year deal.

Described as a leader on and off the pitch, Hope played a major role in his first season at Nene Park, winning players player of the season, and continued as club captain in 2007/08, earning a place on the retained list for 2008/09 which will allow him to combine playing duties with a coaching role. In his career with the Diamonds prior to the 2008/09 season he had appeared in 101 games, scoring 6 times. During the 2008-09 season he started all 46 league games, the first player in Diamonds history to achieve that feat in a 46 game season, and completed the full 90 minutes in 45 of these games. His performances during that season, including 5 league goals, won him the Evening Telegraph Player of the Season award, the Press Box player of the Season award and the Internet Forum’s Player of the Season. He also remains on the Management Committee of the Professional Footballers’ Association.

He was released in May 2009, and was going to join Dover Athletic before deciding to remain in the Northants area. He joined Conference North side Corby Town on 1 June 2009, but was released by the club on 1 March 2011. Although he planned to join Oxford City for the rest of the season, the move never took place. On 24 July 2011, he joined Southern League Division One Central side St.Neots Town after playing in a couple of pre-season friendlies for the Saints, helping them to promotion at the end of the season. On 21 July 2012, Chris joined the newly formed UCL Division One side AFC Rushden & Diamonds. After helping Diamonds to promotion into the UCL, Chris took a break from the game to concentrate on coaching, before joining UCL Division One side Thrapston Town on 28 February 2014, scoring twice on his debut the following day. He continued playing beyond the age of 42 before concentrating on his coaching role.

Appearances

2006/2007 – squad number 5

2007/2008 – squad number 5

2008/2009 – squad number 5

Jon Ashton

Jon Ashton

Born 4 October 1982 (Age 23 at debut)

Position: Defender

(Diamonds player #235)

Total appearances 45 – 2 goals

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

Debut:

12 August 2006 (Away Crawley Town)

Final game:

28 April 2007 (Away Burton Albion)

Jon joined the Leicester City Youth Academy at the age of 12 and progressed into the first team to make several Premier League appearances for the Foxes in the 2001/2002 season. Although the club were relegated that season, he was offered a three year contract. A powerful centre back, he struggled to keep his place in the side however, and went out on loan deals to Notts County (November 2002) and Oxford United (August 2003). He eventually joined Oxford United on a permanent basis in September 2003, making over 100 appearances in three seasons before being released in May 2006.

Paul Hart brought Jon to Nene Park on 15 June 2006 on a two year deal. He was originally played in a defensive holding midfield role, but eventually moved back into defence to cover for injuries.through the course of the season. Despite gaining recognition in the England ‘C’ side, he was transfer listed on 11 May 2007, joining Grays Athletic on a free transfer on 30 May.

Following financial difficulties at Grays, Jon rejoined Graham Westley at Stevenage Borough in January 2009 for an undisclosed fee and enjoyed success, winning the Coinference title at the end of the 2009/2010 season. In May 2010, he secured a two year deal to remain with Stevenage, staying with them until the summer of 2015. He had a season with Crawley Town before joining Braintree Town. In 2017 he moved to Nuneaton as player / assistant-manager in the summer of 2017. He then returned to Stevenage as their Fitness Coach prior to the 2018-19 season, before taking a similar role with Ipswich Town. His Wikipedia entry is here.

Appearances

2006/2007 – squad number 4

Paul Watson

Paul Watson

Born 4 January 1975 (Age 31 at debut)

Position: Defender

(Diamonds player #234)

Total appearances 51 – 2 goals

(44 League, 3 FA Cup, 3 FA Trophy, 1 Maunsell Cup)

Debut:

12 August 2006 (Away Crawley Town)

Final game:

4 September 2007 (Home Crawley Town)

Paul joined the club on 26 June 2006 as Paul Hart began to build a squad after Diamonds relegation to the Conference. He arrived from Woking on a free transfer, but had a wealth of League experience spanning back thirteen years. Paul had started his career with Gillingham, making some 80 appearances in four years. Fulham signed the young left back for £13,000 in the summer of 1996, before joining Brentford in December 1997 for another five figure sum. He moved to Brighton & Hove Albion in July 1999 for the most successful period of his career, and he made 221 apprearances in six years. After a brief period at Coventry City, he had moved into non-league football with Woking in November 2005, but rejected a new contract in favour of the two year deal at Nene Park.

Paul proved to be an ever present player at Nene Park at the start of the 2006 / 2007 season, however, as the season progressed, he found his starting opportunities limited, and only played a handful of games at the beginning of the following season. As a result, he went on loan to Crawley Town on 4 October 2007 on an end of season loan, and his contract was cancelled by mutual consent after he agreed terms with the Red Devils the following January. He was released by Crawley in the summer, and spent a short period with Havant & Waterlooville, before joining Bognor Regis Town of the Conference South in July 2008. That was to be his final season as a player and after completing a phsyiotherpy course, he was appointed assistant physio at Brighton & Hove Albion on 11 June 2009. In July 2017 he moved to Sheffield United as their Physio, working with them up into the Premier League before a more freelance role.

Appearances

2006/2007 – squad number 3

2007/2008 – squad number 3

Glenn Wilson

Glenn Wilson

Born 16 March 1986 (Age 20 at debut)

Position: Defender

(Diamonds player #233)

Total appearances 38

(31 League, 3 FA Cup, 2 FA Trophy, 2 Hillier Senior Cup)

Debut:

12 August 2006 (Away Crawley Town)

Final game:

28 April 2007 (Away Burton Albion)

Glenn had begun his career as a trainee with Crystal Palace, but failed to break into their first team. He was released in the summer of 2006 and the 21 year old right back became one of Diamonds new manager Paul Hart’s first signings, replacing the departed Rob Gier. His versatility allowed him to also play in a midfield role. During the later half of the season however, he went out on a one month loan to rivals Kidderminster Harriers on 21 March 2007 before returning.

He was transfer listed by manager Garry Hill in May and joined Crawley Town on 10 July 2007. After more than four years at the Broadfield Stadium which included promotion to the Football League, he went out on a three month loan deal to Conference side Fleetwood Town on 12 October 2011, but was recalled in December after 5 appearances. On 21 March 2012, he went on a further loan to Conference South side Woking, until 28 April. Glenn made 157 appearances in total for the Red Devils before being released at the end of the 2011/2012 season, joining Conference side Gatesheadon 28 June 2012. On 31 January 2013, it was announced he would be joining Conference South side Salisbury City on a season long loan deal. He was released by Gateshead on 25 April 2013, but continued his loan spell at Salisbury City, helping them win the Conference South Play-Off Final in May 2013. On 2 August 2013, he agreed a deal to keep him with newly promoted Conference side Salisbury City. He was ever-present during the following season, making 48 appearances, before leaving at the end of the season following the club’s demotion. On 24 June 2014, he joined Conference Premier side Aldershot Town on a one-year deal. He stayed with the Shots for a season, then spent a season with Margate before switching to Greenwich Borough in 2016. From there he signed for Wealdstone FC in 2017. Spells at Grays and AFC Hornchurch preceded a move to Enfield Town, where he started the 2019/20 season. He then moved to East Grinstead Town prior to the start of the 2020/21 season. His Wikipedia page is here.

Appearances

2006/2007 – squad number 2