In 1983 the club were promoted to the Southern League after finishing as runners-up for the third time in six seasons.

The merge was the brainchild of Max Griggs, the owner of Dr. Martens, and saw the new club play at Irthlingborough's Nene Park.

[1] The new club assumed Rushden Town's place in the Midland Division of the Southern League.

With stadium improvements and significant investment in the playing squad, the club advanced to the Football Conference by 1996, and into the Football League in 2001, but were relegated back to the Conference in 2006[2] and went out of business in July 2011.

[3] Following the dissolution of Rushden & Diamonds, a "phoenix club," AFC Rushden & Diamonds, was formed, which as of the 2018–19 season competes in the Southern Football League Premier Division Central (Level 7).

The 750-capacity main stand at Hayden Road football ground was opened in 1922.

After the merger, Hayden Road was taken over by Rushden Rangers of the Northampton Combination.