13/06/23: AFC Rushden & Diamonds are delighted to announce the signing of 21-year-old striker Ethan Johnston from Southern League Premier Central side St. Ives Town. Ethan began his career with Northampton Town, progressing through their youth system to earn a professional contract in February 2020. Brief loan moves to Redditch United and Kettering Town followed before his release by The Cobblers 18 months later. Ethan then joined Banbury United and featured for The Puritans during the first half of their impressive 2021/22 promotion season, scoring 5 times in 17 appearances. Midway through that season, Johnston switched to St. Ives Town, where he has remained for the past 18 months with the exception of a brief spell at Northern Premier League Division One Midlands side Harborough Town sandwiched in-between. Diamonds fans will be thrilled to hear that Ethan is Rushden born and bred and lives so close to Hayden Road he could walk to games! Manager Chris Nunn was understandably delighted to get his first ‘new’ signing of the summer across the line: “Ethan’s exactly the sort of player I’m looking to attract to the Club. He’s local, very local in fact and he’s got a point to prove. I knew he wasn’t getting a lot of game time at St. Ives and he’s at an age now where he needs to kick on. It’s like a singer, if you’re not on stage singing, nobody’s going to know if you’ve got a voice. I’m sure he’ll thrive for us this season with the environment we’re looking to create here.” Ethan spoke to AFCRDTV following his decision to join the Club and had this to say: “I’m happy to get the deal done early so I can focus on getting ready for the season. It’s a local club, I live just around the corner and what Chris has got planned here is exciting. I’m a number 9, I like to run in behind and I’d describe myself as a poacher really. I know there’s a lot of people that come to watch our games and I’m looking forward to getting started.”

24/06/24: He gave us a number of incredible moments last season and Ethan Johnston will be back to do it all again in 2024/25. The Rushden-born striker has committed to the Club for another year and had this to say: “It was a poor start last year both individually and collectively, but after the way in which the season ended for us all, and after conversations with the gaffer, it was a no-brainer to stay on. He’s got the Club moving back in the right direction and hopefully we can give the fans the season they deserve this year.”

Manager Michael Harriman commented: “I’m delighted to bring Ethan back for another season. I felt towards the end of last season we started to see what he can do and what he’s capable of. He scored vital goals to ensure our survival and if he can take those performances and that level of confidence into the new season, we should all be excited.”

02/06/25: The Club confirmed that Ethan Johnston has been retained for the forthcoming 2025/26 season.