Former Lincoln City Man Is ‘Best In The League’

A former Lincoln City winger has been described by his current boss as the best player in his league.

32-year-old Bruno Andrade, a Baller League winner last season, is currently plying his 11-a-side trade with AFC Rushden and Diamonds in the Northern Premier League Midland Division. They were in bother, hovering around the relegation zone, but our 2019 League Two title winner is absolutely flying.

He’s got 21 goal involvements, and this weekend hit a brace to go into double figures for goals. He’s even missed a penalty as he continues to impact a level he is clearly far too good for. Boss Elliot Sandy, who saw his side climb to 14th after the recent win, was simple but effusive in his praise for Andrade.

“Bruno is probably the best player in the league and we are lucky to have him in the side,” said the former Spalding manager.

Imps fans of a certain vintage will remember the original Rushden and Diamonds, who burned bright and hard at the beginning of the century. Formed by a merger of Southern Football League side Rushden Town and United Counties League side Irthlingborough Diamonds in 1992, they were taken over by Max Griggs of Dr Martens’ fame, and soon flew.

In 2001, they earned promotion to the Football League, and in 2003 were in the third tier. By 2006, they were back in non-league, and they went bust in 2011, with AFC Rushden and Diamonds taking their place.

As for Andrade, he joined the Imps in May 2018 after a prolific spell with Boreham Wood, where his 20 goals had fired them to the National League play-off final. He settled quickly, striking his first EFL goal against Notts County and becoming a key part of Danny Cowley’s attacking plan, using pace and sharp movement to complement John Akinde.

A red card against Swindon in early 2019 forced him to regroup, but he responded well and earned the PFA Player of the Month award.

He played 50 games as we won the League Two title, then adapted to League One before leaving in January 2020. He finished with 73 appearances, 13 goals and eight assists. Later spells included Salford City, Stevenage, Boreham Wood, Maidenhead United, Chesham United and Kettering Town, plus brief moves to Maidstone United and Bedford Town.

He also featured in the Baller League, winning the title in its celebrity run format, although that isn’t going well – his team Rukkas FC have lost five in a row and, managed by Idris Elba, sit second bottom of the division.