Excellence in Galvanizing
East Anglian Galvanizing has played its part in the construction of a brand new spectator stand for a fan-owned football club that has risen from the ashes.
The Sawtry-based plant has teamed up with Northamptonshire-based Beamhouse Engineering Ltd, to help create the Peter de Banke Terrace for phoenix club AFC Rushden and Diamonds, which supporters launched in 2011 after Rushden and Diamonds was liquidated.
Beamhouse Engineering called upon East Anglian Galvanizing to provide its specialist hot-dip galvanizing treatment to four tonnes of steel components used to create the main supports for the 500 spectator capacity terrace at the Dog and Duck Stadium, which the new club shares with Wellingborough FC.
Selwyn Parish, Commercial Manager of East Anglian Galvanizing, commented: “This was a fantastic project to work on, especially as it helps with the total re-birth of AFC Rushden and Diamonds. We’re thrilled that such a great team has come back to life, and are sure that the community club will have great success in the years to come.
David Harris, Director of Beamhouse Engineering Ltd, explained: “Much work went into the new terrace, which included many different aspects, two of them being the aluminium tread as the flooring and the main galvanized stand support. We chose to galvanize our steel components because of its longevity and ease of maintenance, which means that there is no need to keep re-painting the structure.”
After the financial fall of Rushden and Diamonds FC in June 2011, following a 19 year existence that saw a five-year spell in the Football League, a group of the club’s supporters took the decision to try and ensure the name lived on, and launched a phoenix team playing in the lower echelons of the English football pyramid.
After initially concentrating on fielding an under 18s in the 2011-2012 season, this season’s campaign has seen AFC Rushden and Diamonds registering a senior side that plays in the United counties Football League Division One, with the new terrace completed in time for kick-off in August.
