Thursday, July 31

Clare rushed to hospital

Striker Daryl Clare is set to miss the start of the season after suffering a suspected fractured jaw in Rushden & Diamonds' 2-0 defeat to an Arsenal XI.

Wednesday, July 30

Hill's squad setting in well

Rushden & Diamonds boss Garry Hill admitted his new-look squad are providing plenty of selection issues ahead of the Blue Square Premier kick-off.

They lost 1-0 at home to Derby County last night after leaving five of Hill's summer signings on the bench while Andy Burgess and Marcus Kelly were not even part of the squad.

Tuesday, July 29

Poppies sign defender on loan

Kettering Town boss Mark Cooper signed giant defender Exodus Geohaghon on a month's loan from Blue Square North side Redditch United to take a closer check before deciding over a permanent move.

He made his debut as the Poppies drew 3-3 at Halesowen Town. Gareth Seddon (2) and Chris Beardsley were on target after being 2-0 and 3-2 down.

Four freed by Steelmen

Corby Town boss Graham Drury released Wayne Diuk, Robbie Maddox, Tom Bonner and Michael Lawson ahead of the BGB Southern League Premier Division campaign.

The Steelmen also drew 2-2 at Rothwell Town in a pre-season friendly.

Monday, July 28

Sam's surprise at new deal

Last season's youth-team top scorer Sam Smith admitted to being surprised after agreeing a new three-year contract at Rushden & Diamonds.

Saturday, July 26

Diamonds name two captains

Rushden & Diamonds named midfielder Curtis Woodhouse as the new team captain with Andy Burgess becoming club captain and vice team captain.

Garry Hill's side also lifted the NFA Maunsell Cup by beating Peterborough United 2-1 at Nene Park with goals from Jon Challinor and Dean McDonald.

Poppies lose to Foxes

Kettering Town suffered a 4-1 home defeat to a full-strength Leicester City side with Brett Solkhon scoring the Poppies' first-half consolation.

Friday, July 25

Transfer target rejects Poppies

Kettering Town missed out on the signing of Cambridge City striker Michael Gash who decided to instead join FA Carlsberg Trophy holders Ebbsfleet United.

Beecroft signs new contract

Teenage midfielder Jake Beecroft signed a new three-year contract at Rushden & Diamonds and set his sights on a regular role in the first-team squad.

Thursday, July 24

Bell's move earns £50,000 bonus

Rushden & Diamonds are set to receive £50,000 through a sell-on clause following youth-team product David Bell's £600,000 move from Luton Town to Norwich City.

Wednesday, July 23

Kettering set to sign Gash

Kettering Town emerged as favourites to sign Cambridge City striker Michael Gash after the clubs agreed a transfer fee. He scored 27 times last season, including one against the Poppies to knock them out of the FA Carlsberg Trophy.

Tuesday, July 22

Steelmen call for support

Corby Town manager Graham Drury called on local people to give his new-look side the backing he feels they deserve ahead of the BGB Southern League Premier Division season and help the Steelmen in their ambitious plans for the future.

Potter to join Poppies

Manager Mark Cooper revealed that Alfie Potter is set to finally link up with Kettering Town's squad at the end of this week.

The 19-year-old winger has already agreed a season-long loan spell from Coca-Cola League One new boys Peterborough United. He will join the Poppies for Saturday's home game against Leicester City.

Kettering lost 2-1 at Worcester City - despite taking the lead through Darren Wrack.

Monday, July 21

Another double for Diamonds

Rushden & Diamonds signed defenders Sagi Burton and Gareth Jelleyman following pre-season trials, taking this summer's arrivals into double figures.

Meanwhile midfielder Tom Shaw - who was handed a free transfer from Nene Park last week - joined Mansfield Town on trial along with ex-Diamonds striker Robert Duffy.

Bones beaten at Boston

Rothwell Town suffered their first defeat of pre-season after going down 3-2 at UCL side Boston Town. Chris Difante and Kevin Byrne both scored for the Bones but the hosts won it with a last-minute goal.

Saturday, July 19

Poppies ease to home win

Kettering Town claimed a 2-0 home win over FC United of Manchester with goals from Guy Branston and trialist Chris Hanna.

Meanwhile Corby Town lost 2-0 at Eastwood Town, Rothwell Town won 2-1 away to Cogenhoe United and Wellingborough Town saw off Leyton 2-0 in other warm-up games.

Friday, July 18

Beardsley chuffed at Seddon's arrival

Chris Beardsley welcomed the signing of Gareth Seddon as the new striker gets ready to make his Kettering Town debut. Seddon, who joined from Hyde United for an undisclosed fee earlier this week, linked up with his new team-mates for the first time today.

Thursday, July 17

Cobblers starting to click

Leon Constantine, Jason Crowe and Alex Dyer were all on the mark as Northampton Town passed their sternest test of the summer by ending the trip to Germany with a 3-1 win over Kleve.

Wednesday, July 16

Striker light for Poppies

Kettering Town manager Mark Cooper revealed that he is still trying to bring one more striker into his squad. A deal is close to being struck with a target man - but the Poppies boss ruled out a deal for Trevor Benjamin who had been training with the squad.

Meanwhile the Poppies lost 4-2 at Cambridge City after taking the lead through Chris Beardsley. They were 3-1 down when Tom Kemp pulled one back.

Corby claim home win

Corby Town recorded a 3-1 victory over Coca-Cola League Two side Grimsby Town at Rockingham Triangle with goals from Mark Warren, Steve Diggin and Tony Battersby.

Diamonds draw in Portugal

Rushden & Diamonds were forced to settle for a 3-3 draw against Algarve hosts Portimonense - despite taking the lead three times through Michael Rankine, Daryl Clare and Curtis Woodhouse.

Tuesday, July 15

Double deal for Steelmen

Corby Town signed Jon Stevenson and Dean West ahead of their BGB Southern League Premier Division campaign which will kick off with a home game against Yate Town on August 16.

Bones kick off against new boys

Rothwell Town will start the Division One Midlands campaign with a trip to Arlesey Town followed by the first home game against fellow new boys Soham Town Rangers.

The Bones began their pre-season programme with a 3-0 home win over UCL Premier Division newcomers Rothwell Corinthians in the Peter Johnson Memorial Trophy.

Monday, July 14

Unlucky break sparks a striker search

Mark Cooper stepped up his search for two new strikers after his preparations for Kettering Town's Blue Square Premier campaign suffered a devastating blow.

Summer signing Nathan Smith looks set for an eight-week lay-off after breaking his foot in a freak training incident. The Poppies brought in former Rushden & Diamonds forward Gareth Seddon from Hyde United.

Shaw handed a free transfer

Midfielder Tom Shaw was released by Rushden & Diamonds on a free transfer while manager Garry Hill also signed former Luton Town youth-team winger Jamie McGuinness.

Saturday, July 12

Poppies off the mark

Kettering Town recorded a 2-0 win at St Neots Town in their first pre-season friendly with goals from Jean-Paul Marna and trialist Chris Hanna from Walsall.

Friday, July 11

Benjamin has chance to be the local hero

Mark Cooper is hoping to persuade Trevor Benjamin that his immediate future lies with Kettering Town. The striker – who once cost Leicester City £1.5m when he signed from Cambridge United in 2000 – has been training with the Poppies after being released by Coca-Cola League Two side Hereford United at the end of last season.

Seven up for Diamonds

Rushden & Diamonds kicked off their pre-season programme with a 7-0 win at Halstead Town courtesy of goals from Dean McDonald (3), Lee Tomlin (2), Scott Mitchell and Michael Rankine (penalty).

Thursday, July 10

Gilbert goes to Foxes on loan

Leicester City bolstered their defensive ranks with the signing of Arsenal's Kerrea Gilbert on a season-long loan deal. The 21-year-old full-back became manager Nigel Pearson's fifth signing of the summer.

Wednesday, July 9

A double deal for Diamonds

Rushden & Diamonds announced a double deal to take Garry Hill's summer signings up to seven.

The new number one at Nene Park is former Tottenham Hotspur trainee Alan Marriott who spent the last nine years at Lincoln City before being handed a free transfer this summer.

Another arrival is ex-Arsenal youth-team striker Dean McDonald who returns south after just seven substitute appearances last season for Scottish Premier League side Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

Tuesday, July 8

Three more signings for Hill's squad

Rushden & Diamonds boss Garry Hill set his sights on three more signings - a goalkeeper, centre-half and left-back - to finish off his summer transfers.

Monday, July 7

Cooper targets a striker

Mark Cooper revealed he was hoping to sign a target man to complete his Kettering Town squad for the new season.

Tunchev joins Leicester

Leicester City made their fourth summer signing by completing a deal for Bulgarian international defender Aleksander Tunchev.

The former CSKA Sofia captain signed a three-year contract for an undisclosed fee.

Friday, July 4

Osborn joins the Steelmen

Corby Town announced the arrival of former Kettering Town goalkeeper Mark Osborn from BGB Southern League Premier Division rivals Halesowen Town.

Bones boss shapes new squad

Rothwell Town manager Rob Dunion is close to completing his squad for the start of the new campaign in Division One Midlands.

The new Bones boss has already re-signed 10 of last season's squad at Cecil Street and has brought in 13 new faces as he bids to turn around the club's fortunes.

Thursday, July 3

Wrack signs for Poppies

Kettering Town completed the signing of Darren Wrack following his release from Coca-Cola League One side Walsall - where he spent 10 years as a player.

Wednesday, July 2

Derby date set for third weekend

The Blue Square Premier fixture list featured the derby date between Kettering Town and Rushden & Diamonds on the third Saturday of the season.

The Poppies kick off at home to Forest Green Rovers while Diamonds start their campaign at Eastbourne Borough.

Deal secured for Osano

Rushden & Diamonds sealed a permanent deal with former Reading right-back Curtis Osano on a two-year contract folloiwng his loan spell at Nene Park last season.

Tuesday, July 1

Swindon offer deal to ex-Cobblers winger

Former Northampton Town winger Josh Low could be on his way to Swindon Town after manager Maurice Malpas confirmed he was interested in signing the wide man. Low left Sixfields in 2006 for Leicester City and then moved on to become part of Peterborough United`s League Two promotion squad last season.

Foxes sign up trio

Leicester City boss Nigel Pearson made his first signings with the arrivals of Milton Keynes Dons winger Lloyd Dyer on a free transfer plus Cambridge United defender Michael Morrison and Bury midfielder Nicky Adams for undisclosed fees.