AFC Rushden & Diamonds Academy

Do you have a child in School Years 2-6 who wants to improve their football skills?

AFC Rushden & Diamonds are recruiting players for our Pre-Academy programme.

⚽ U7s-U11s
📍 Central Northampton location
🗓️ Fridays, 6pm-8pm (11 months of the year, with a break in August)
👨‍🏫 Fully qualified coaches
✅ Free taster sessions

Our Pre-Academy provides an additional weekly training session designed to help young players develop and improve, whilst continuing to play for their grassroots clubs.

The programme feeds directly into the AFC Rushden & Diamonds Academy at U12 and forms part of the pathway towards First Team football.

For more information:
✉️ [email protected]

💎 U17/18s End of Season Awards 2025/26 ⚽

🏆 Players Player of the Season MJPL - Sean Tsikira

🏆 Parents Player of the Season MJPL - Ryan Chandler

🏆 Coaches Player of the Season MJPL - Monty Brown

⚽️ - Top Goal Scorer - Monty Brown

⚽💙 U18s End of Season Review 2025/26 💙⚽

Another fantastic season comes to a close for our U18 programme!

✅ Ewan Evans, Milad Ehsani & Charlie Seaman represented the First Team at Step 4 level and played on loan at Step 5
✅ A further 5 players gained valuable men’s football experience at Step 7
✅ NSYL side finished 4th and enjoyed a memorable FA Youth Cup run and League cup unbeaten!
✅ MJPL side achieved a 10-game unbeaten run and lifted the MJPL Vase Cup 🏆
✅ New U17/U18 Development Squad provided vital progression opportunities for our U16 & U17 players

A huge thank you to our coaches, volunteers, parents, supporters, and everyone who has played a part in the journey this season.

Special thanks to Ryan Seaman for his outstanding leadership and commitment to developing the Academy pathway which continues to strengthen and to Phil Dale for his huge contribution to player development and support throughout the programme.

Huge thanks also to Darren Brown and Russ Chandler for their continued commitment to developing our young players. We’re delighted they will continue leading the U18 MJPL squad and supporting the NSYL programme next season as we continue to strengthen the pathway into senior football.

A heartfelt thank you to Matt Parker who unfortunately leaves us, but who has tirelessly worked behind the scenes over the past three years and has been instrumental in the growth and success of the Academy. His dedication and commitment have helped create opportunities for so many young players and leave a lasting legacy at the club. 💙

The future is bright. 💎

Thank you for your support throughout 2025/26 — bring on 2026/27! ⚽💙🤍

💎 Charlie was top goal scorer for our U18 in both the NSYL & MJPL ⚽️💎

💎 U18s End of Season Awards 2025/26 ⚽

🏆 Parents Player of the Season MJPL

💎 U18s End of Season Awards 2025/26 ⚽ #

🏆 Coaches Player of the Season MJPL

💎 U18s End of Season Awards 2025/26 ⚽

🏆 Academy Player of the Year
🏆 NSYL Coaches Player of the Year

💎 U18s End of Season Awards 2025/26 ⚽

🏆 Players Player of the Season NSYL
🏆 Players Player of the Season MJPL
🏆 Parents Player of the Season NSYL

Last night, our Under 18s signed off their season in style with a fantastic 4-1 win over Desborough Town in the NSYL. 👏⚽️

Goalscorers:
Milad Ehsani ⚽️ (Pen)
Ash Japajapa ⚽️
Charlie Seaman ⚽️
Ewan Evans ⚽️ – scoring during the final 10 minutes of his youth football journey! 💚

The match featured all of our second-year Under 18 players as they now move on to the next chapter, and we would like to wish every one of them the very best of luck in their footballing journeys.

Milad Ehsani, Ewan Evans and Vadim Naimusin have all represented the First Team over the past two seasons, while Ryan Lock and Ewan have been part of the club since the Under 11s.

Alex Bialecki joined us last season and has enjoyed two excellent years with the Under 18s, while Alex Brown has been a brilliant addition since joining this year.

Kieran Stracey joined the Under 18s as a goalkeeper this season, having previously spent many years within our AFC Rushden & Diamonds community sides since the age of seven.

Every one of these players has contributed massively to this group, and they all have bright futures ahead in the men’s game. We thank them for their commitment, effort and dedication to the club, and we wish them every success as they continue their pathway into men’s football. 💎

MJPL U18 Vase Champions! 🏆🎉💎

Congratulations to our young Diamonds who became MJPL U18 Vase Champions after beating Aylestone Park Youth 4-0! 💎💎💎