Rushden and Diamonds Conference Championship Winning Squad 2000/01
On May 5th 2001 Rushden and Diamonds lifted the Nationwide Conference Championship at Chester City. In the team that day were players that will go down in Rushden and Diamonds history, but where are they now?
On the eve of the new Nationwide Football Conference season, www.thediamondsfc.com takes a look back at the subsequent careers of the triumphant squad of 2000/01.
Paul Underwood
Often described as the best Rushden and Diamonds player of all, Paul Underwood was Brian Talbot's first signing as manager in 1997, a signing
that Talbot still claims was his best for the club. Underwood grew as a player at the club, while his hair finally did the opposite, and was
appointed club captain when Ray Warburton left the club. He left Nene Park less than a year after leading the club to the Third Division Championship
in 2003, joining Luton Town on transfer deadline day. Luton achieved promotion to the Championship in Unders' first full season at the club and he has gone to make 66 appearances in total for the Bedfordshire club. Currently recovering from illness, Underwood is still recognised as a key
player by Mike Newell.
Shaun Carey
Midfielder Shaun Carey joined the club on a free transfer from Norwich City in August 2000 and remained at Nene Park for a season and a half. Carey played 39 times for Rushden and scored one goal. After short spells at Stevenage and Chester, where he made 46 appearances, Carey moved on to big spending Hornchurch, later moving to Weymouth, Droylesdon and is now at Kings Lynn Football Club.
Garry Butterworth
Another Rushden and Diamonds legend, Butterworth was arguably Roger Ashby's finest signing during his time in charge at Nene Park. Garry made over 300 appearances for the club after signing from Dagenham and Redbridge having started his career at Peterborough United. Butterworth scored only six goals for the Diamonds although his late, volleyed equaliser against Rochdale in the home leg of the Division Three Play-Off Semi-Final was particularly memorable. A captain during his eight seasons at Nene Park, Garry joined Farnborough in 2002 before signing for Kettering and is now managing Peterborough Premier League side Whittlesey United.
Duane Darby
Duane Darby was one half of the big money strike force that was signed by Brian Talbot at the start of the championship winning season, arriving with
Justin Jackson. Plucked out of the Football League from Notts County, Darby was the club's top scorer in the 2000/01 season. His performance at
Kettering in March 2001 made him a cult hero with Rushden fans and his interaction with the Nene Park crowd secured his status as an all time
Rushden and Diamonds legend. After 99 appearances and an impressive 47 goals, Darby left the club in November 2003 signing for Shrewsbury. Often partnering Luke Rodgers up front Darby scored 13 goals in 35 games for the Gay Meadow Club. In February 2006 Duane left Shrewsbury to join Roger Ashby's Nuneaton Borough and recently played in a pre-season friendly for the West Midlands club at Wellingborough Town.
Justin Jackson
The original 'Jacko', Justin was the club's record signing when he signed from Morecambe, where he won the Conference Player of the Year Award for the previous season. After scoring 18 goals in the Conference winning season Jackson was deemed surplus to requirements by Brian Talbot as he looked to build a team capable of challenging in Division Three. Doncaster Rovers paid a fee of £150,000 to take the striker to Belle Vue in September 2003 but did not live up to expectations, scoring only five goals in over 30 appearances. He was freed to join Accrington Stanley in October 2003 but made only two substitute appearances before being released. He has since had a trial spell at Chester City and a period at Harrogate.
Ray Warburton
Ray Warburton was installed as club captain by Brian Talbot on his arrival in October 1998. Already incredibly popular at former club Northampton Town, 'Razor' firmly established himself into many fan's all time Rushden and Diamonds eleven. After almost four seasons at the club he dropped back into the Conference to join Boston United. In his first season at York Street Warburton helped Boston to win promotion to the Football League for the first time. After leaving Boston the defender spent a season and a half at Aldershot and has recently rejoined Northampton Town as a coach.
Billy Turley
Billy Turley left the club in June 2005 after a largely successful six-year period at Nene Park following his transfer from Northampton Town when former Rushden manager Brian Talbot signed the goalkeeper for Oxford United. Turley made 32 appearances for the fellow relegated side last year and is again in competition with Chris Tardif for the Number One shirt this season. Turley, along with other former Diamonds players John Dempster, Robert Duffy and Andy Burgess, returns to Nene Park when Oxford visit for the league match on the 9th December.
Tarkan Mustafa
Attacking right back Tarkan Mustafa was signed on a free transfer from Kingstonian immediately prior to the Conference winning campaign. An ever present in the side that season, he found starting appearances hard to come by following the signing of Marcus Bignot in summer 2002. Mustafa left the club initially on loan to Doncaster in January 2003 and subsequently joined Dagenham and Redbridge on a free transfer a month later. He made 48 appearances for the Daggers over a season and a half before joining big spenders Hornchurch in July 2004 and is now on the books at Worthing, where he signed from Aldershot.
Jon Brady
Jon Brady, known as 'Skippy' due to his Australian nationality, made a total of 102 first team appearances for Rushden and Diamonds. He left on a free transfer to join Woking after the club's first season in the Football League, in which he scored a terrific free kick against Oxford United. However, he lasted only two months at Woking before joining Chester City in October 2002, where he played 30 times and scored two goals. Now at Cambridge United after spells at Stevenage and Hereford, Brady has combined playing duties with a role as an Arsenal Youth Development Officer over recent years.
Michael McElhatton
Due to a series of injuries 'Macca' made only 43 appearances for Rushden and Diamonds but scored an impressive 15 goals. Often regarded as the most complete midfielder to play for the club he was forced to retire through injury in 2002 after a brief spell at Chester City. He made his final first team appearance for Chester against Forest Green Rovers. His benefit match at Nene Park in November 2002 was greatly attended by fans appreciative of his effort during his time at the club. McElhatton is now pursuing a career in the building trade in Bournemouth, after starting his career at the South Coast club.
Jean-Michel Sigere
Jean-Michel Sigere was a French forward who had previously been on the books at Bordeaux and signed on loan at the end of the 1999/00 season. The move was made permanent that summer and 'Siggy' went on to make a total of 23 appearances, mostly coming off the bench. After his release by Brian Talbot in October 2001 Sigere signed for Stevenage, where he scored 13 goals in 36 appearances. The forward left Broadhall Way in December 2002 when Margate paid a transfer fee of £7500. He was released by Margate at the end of the 2003/04 season and last appeared at Gravesend during the end of the following season. Now at Lewes in the Conference South, 'Siggy' scored twice ion their recent pre season friendly against Worthing.
Andy Burgess
A product of the youth set up at Nene Park, Burgess made his debut during the 1999/00 season and played a key role during the successful Conference campaign the following season. After making over 200 first team appearances for the club, including 178 league starts, Burgess was signed by Brian Talbot at Oxford United in January 2006 in a double transfer involving John Dempster. Now back in the Conference, Burgess will once again be playing at Nene Park this season.
Gary Mills
Another youth team talent that went on to become a first team regular at Nene Park, Gary Mills was the longest serving player at the club when he was released by Barry Hunter towards the end of last season. Now at Crawley Town, there is a chance he could be the first former player to play against the Diamonds this season. He recently had a trial period at Yeovil Town before arriving at Crawley.
Mark Peters
Known as 'Rhino', Peters was an uncompromising defender during his time at Nene Park after signing from Mansfield in 1999. After over 100 starts for the club he joined Leyton Orient in September 2003. He made 41 league appearances over two seasons at Brisbane Road and spent a month on loan at Aldershot in November 2004. He is now captain at Cambridge United in the Conference where he plays alongside former Rushden players Jon Brady and Ritchie Hanlon.
Stuart Gray
After spells at Celtic and Reading Stuart Gray, the son of Leeds legend Eddie Gray, joined the club towards the end of the Conference winning season. In later seasons he was captain at Nene Park before signing for Oxford in May 2005. However, he made only 10 appearances last season due to injury.
Jim Rodwell
The ever popular Jim Rodwell famously appeared on Carol Vorderman's 'Britain's Brainiest Footballer' alongside Barry Hunter during his time at Nene Park. A stylish defender, Rodwell left Nene Park in February 2002 to join Boston United after a loan spell at Dagenham and Redbridge. Brief spells at Farnborough, Aldershot and Tamworth followed before he returned to Boston in 2004. He is now Chairman of the League Two side after previously holding the post of Director of Football.
Simon Wormull
Wormull was a 'Nationwide Conference Player of the Year' at Dover before Brian Talbot paid a large fee to bring the right-sided player to Nene Park. He started only 16 games before leaving in October 2001 to join Stevenage, where he spent a successful three seasons. He was last known to be playing for hometown club Crawley, who he joined in November 2004 after a brief spell at Hornchurch. Last season Wormull was made Caretaker Manager of Crawley until John Hollins was recruited, winning 11 out of 31 games in charge.
By Mark Taylor
