Demolition of Nene Park gets under way

The Northants Telegraph reported last month that the owners of Nene Park had submitted an application for prior notification of the proposed demolition of the stadium.

While we have not been able to get a comment from the owners on the future of the site, it appears demolition work has now started.

As these pictures show, a section of the stadium has been demolished in the corner nearest to the A6 and Diamond Way.

Work also appears to be taking place at the old club shop.

After posting some footage of the demolition work on our Facebook page, numerous comments have been made about it.

One reader said: “Heartbreaking and such a huge waste.”

Another said: “Can’t believe they could do this, what a loss.”

The ground was built in the 1960s and for many years was the home of Irthlingborough Diamonds until the early 1990s when the Diamonds merged with Rushden Town.

Rushden Town left their former home at Hayden Road following the merger.

Nene Park was redeveloped after the merger and the off-pitch changes mirrored success on the pitch, as Rushden and Diamonds climbed the leagues and won promotion to the Football League in 2001, where they remained for several seasons.

The club also reached the third round of the FA Cup twice, once hosting Leeds United at Nene Park where they drew 0-0 in front of a record crowd of more than 6,000, before losing out in the replay at Elland Road.

After Rushden and Diamonds were expelled from the Conference in 2011, the ground continued to host non-league football for another 18 months when Kettering Town temporarily moved in.

More recently the site has been the subject of several applications for redevelopment, including an application by Conalgen Enterprises SA to demolish the existing football stadium and associated infrastructure and build a new retail and leisure development including retail, cinema, hotel, restaurants and new community football facility along with access and parking.

The future of the site is not yet known.