ROYSTON TOWN vs RUSHALL OLYMPIC - MATCHDAY PROGRAMME - SATURDAY 11th FEBRUARY 2023

ROYSTON TOWN FC vs RUSHALL OLYMPIC FC

Saturday 11th February 2023

Kick Off: 3pm

Royston Town FC would like to welcome this afternoon's opponents Rushall Olympic FC for their visit to Garden Walk for this Pitching In Southern Football League Premier Division Central fixture.

We wish their Players, Officials and Supporters an enjoyable afternoon and hope that the match will be a keenly contested and entertaining game.

We also welcome today’s Match Officials and hope they too have an enjoyable game.

TODAY'S MATCH IS

Royston Town Football Club Founded 1875

President

Chairman

Secretary

Treasurer

Welfare Officer

Fixture Secretary

Executive Board

Webmaster

Programme Editors

Official Photographer

Football Management Team

First Team Manager

First Team Asst Manager

U23 Manager

U18 Team Managers

Women's Team Manager

Vets Team Manager

Ground

Colours

Alan Barlow

Steve Jackson

Terry McKinnell

9 Valley Rise, Royston, Herts SG8 9EY

07772 086709

email: secretary@roystontownfc.co.uk

Jeff Gill

Angela Baulk

Steve Endacott (07971 512402)

Trevor Burrows, Andy Toovey, Eric Joyce, David Baulk, Angela Baulk, Chris Coote, Duncan Easley, Giles Parnwell, Neil MacLeod, Matt Clowery

Steve Endacott

Angela Baulk, Neil MacLeod

Kevin Richards

Steve Castle

Chris Watters

Dan Evans

Dan Evans/Matt Campany

Lewis Endacott

Lee Wilkinson

Garden Walk, Royston, Herts SG8 7HP Telephone (01763) 241204

First XI

U23

U18

Women's

Vets

White/Black/White

White/Black/White

White/Black/Black

White/Black/White

White/Black/Black

Members of:

The Hertfordshire Football Association

Southern League Premier Division

The Herts Senior County League

Thurlow Nunn Youth League

Eastern Region Women’s Football League

The Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire Ladies League

Royston Town Football Club is Limited by Guarantee under the trading name of Royston Town FC Limited (Company Reg No 14261163)

CLUB HONOURS

WINNERS

Herts County League (Div I) 1969-70, 1972-73

Herts County League (Premier Div) 1976-1977

South Midlands League (Div I) 1977-1978

South Midlands Reserve League (Div II) 1978-1979

South Midlands Reserve League (Div I) 1979-1980

North Herts (Div IV) League Cup, 1978-79, 1979-1980

Herts Charity Shield, 1981-82, 1989-90, 1996-1997

Herts Intermediate Cup, 1988-1989

Chiltern Youth League (Div I) 1989-1990

South Combinations Reserve Floodlight Cup, 1992-1993

Chiltern Youth League Cup, 1992-1993

South Midlands Challenge Trophy, 1995-1996

Eastern Region Women’s League (Div II) 1998-1999

Eastern Counties Youth League Cup, 2001-2002

South Midlands Reserve Challenge Cup 2004-2005

KB Tyres Division III Champions 2006-2007

South Midlands League (Div I) 2008-2009

South Midlands League Cup (Div I) 2008-2009

South Midlands Floodlit Cup 1994-1995 2008-2009, 2009-2010, 2010-2011, 2011-2012

South Midlands Reserve League (Div II East) 2008-2009

South Midlands Reserve Challenge Cup 2008-2009

KB Tyres Division I League Cup 2009-2010

South Midlands Reserve Floodlit Cup 2009-2010

BIS Cambs League Division 2A 2010/2011

BIS Cambs League Divisional Champions 2010/2011

Veterans Cambridgeshire Invitation Cup 2010/2011

South Midlands Premier League 2011/2012

South Midlands Premier League Cup 2011/2012

Suburban League North Division 2012/2013, 2013/2014

Joint Winners of the Hinchingbrooke Cup 2013

Eastern Region Women’s League Plate 2013/2014, 2014/15

Suburban Premier League 2015-16

Eastern Region Women’s League Division 1 West 2015/16

Southern League Div 1 Central 2016/17

Southern League Challenge Cup 2021/22

RUNNERS UP

South Midlands Challenge Cup, 1978-1979

Herts Charity Shield, 1978-79, 1998-99, 2004-05, 2008-2009

South Midlands League (Premier Div) 1979-1980

North Herts (Div IV) 1979-1980

North Herts (Div III) 1981-1982

North Herts (Div II) 1982-1983

South Midlands Res Section Trophy, 1982-1983

Chiltern Youth League Cup, 1986-87, 1988-1989

Herts Intermediate Cup, 1989-1990

Herts County Youth Cup, 1992-1993

North Herts (Div I), 1993-1994

South Midlands Floodlit Cup, 1995-1996

Herts F A Women’s Cup, 1998-99, 2001-2002 2013/14

Eastern Region Women’s League (Div I) 1999-2000, 2013/2014 2014/15

Eastern Junior Plate, 2001-2002

KB Tyres Division I 2008-2009, 2009-2010

South Midlands Reserve Challenge Trophy 2009-2010

South Midlands Reserves Floodlit Cup 2010/2011

Hertfordshire Women’s County Cup 2013/2014

Eastern Region Women’s League, League Cup 2014/15

Southern League Division 1 Central 2014/15 2015/16

SO WHEN DID IT ALL BEGIN?

The history of Royston Town FC

After some intensive research, the evidence is that the club came into existence in 1875 making Royston the third oldest Club in Hertfordshire after Hitchin and Bishop Stortford.

The Club’s very first honour came in 1911/12 when they won the Creake Charity Shield beating Wisbech 1-0 in extra time

The Club’s first major honour in more recent times came in the guise of promotion to the Herts County Premier League in 1969/70 and they went on to be champions in 1972/73 and 1976/77. In 1978 we rejoined the South Midlands League and won the Division One title at the first time of asking Success continued with a final appearance in the Herts Charity Shield for the first time in 1979 and runners up spot in the South Midlands League Premier Division in 1980 The Herts Charity Shield was won in 1981/82 and two years later the Club joined the Isthmian League Division Two North where we remained for 10 seasons before returning to the South Midlands League in 1994.

After a period in the doldrums that culminated in relegation from the South Midlands League Premier Division at the end of 2006/07, Paul Attfield was appointed manager with ex-Spurs favourite Tony Galvin returning to Garden Walk 1st Team Coach in November 2007.

Paul immediately set about building a new 1st Team squad and a run of 17 games undefeated saw the Club move from the bottom of the table to finish in 5th place in the League

The foundations had been laid for the 2008/09 season and the first team took the South Midlands Division One League title with one of the best sets of stats for any Step 6 Club in the country W33, D4, L3, GF138, GA30, GD+108, PTS 103

The 2011/2012 season will be seen as a watershed in our history with winning the South Midlands Premier Division title and promotion to Step 4 in the shape of the Evo-Stik Southern League Division One Central

In our first season back at Step 4 after an absence of 19 years, it was hard to know what to expect and how we would perform. Most of our supporters felt a mid-table position would be an acceptable target for the season, but we quickly found ourselves exceeding all expectations as our performances propelled us towards the top of the table Four straight wins in the first four games set the tone and a run of nine wins with just one defeat between October and December saw us maintain a play-off position In the very last game of the season a playoff was still a possibility and having gone 2-1 up away at AFC Hayes with just a few minutes of the game left it looked a near certainty. But it was not to be as Hayes scored an 87-minute equaliser and our play-off place was lost.

In our second season at this level, our steady progress to claim a place in the playoff zone was given a severe jolt when Paul Attfield announced his resignation as first team manager due to ill health at the beginning of November The search for his replacement began almost immediately and we were inundated with applications from some very well know and successful managers. After an exhaustive selection process, the Board appointed Steve Castle at the end of November and on Boxing Day Steve officially took over securing a 0 – 0 draw against the League’s form team and eventual champions Dunstable Town

Our 2014/15 season opener was at home against one of the promotion favourites Rugby Town but an impressive team display ensured their threat was stifled and we ran out winners 2 -1. That victory really did set things buzzing but we were quickly brought back down to earth when on the following Tuesday night Bedworth United were the visitors winning the game 3 – 1

As we all know consistency in performances provides the key to long term success and although the early stages of the season produced good results against the likes of Daventry Town and Beaconsfield these were punctuated by dismal performances against the likes of Aylesbury and Egham Town From mid-November to mid-December We really lost our way with six defeats in seven games but our rollercoaster ride saw an incredible run of form over the Christmas period and into the New Year with five straight wins which helped us maintain a position in the playoff places.

On a miserable Tuesday evening in February, we travelled to lowly AFC Hayes and after an abject performance, we lost the game 2 – 0. This prompted our Chairman to tell Steve Castle that he had given up on this team making the play–offs and said that we should start preparing instead for next season That message was conveyed to players and we witnessed a most remarkable transformation in our results with a 14 game unbeaten run during which we scored 29 goals and conceded just seven resulting in us achieving the runners up spot to league champions Kettering Town and securing our place in the playoff semi-final where we met local rivals Barton Rovers. After an incident-packed 90 minutes and extra time the game ended in a goalless draw but it was not to be our night and we lost the shoot out 4-5 and had to suffer the agony of all the emotions which go with being defeated in this way

We started the 2015/16 season strongly and between the end of December and the end of March we produced a rich vein of form with only one defeat in 14 games and this ensured we were sitting on top of the league with just 7 games to go and with the expectation that we could win promotion outright ran high throughout the whole club However, three games in succession proved our downfall when we could only draw 0 – 0 with Bedford and lost to Egham away 3- 1 and Godalming at home 1- 0 and once again we ended up in the play offs against AFC Rushden but we failed to turn up and went out tamely to our opponents 2 - 1. Having finished runners up for two years in succession Steve Castle was determined to make it third time lucky and began to recruit some experienced new blood in the shape of John Frendo and Adam Murray whilst at the same time giving youngsters Gus Scott Morris and Josh Castiglione extended runs in the first team

However, the season didn’t start well and after four games we’d only mustered five points whilst promotion rivals Farnborough just couldn’t stop winning. Although results did improve, defeat in the FA Cup to Heybridge Swifts 4 – 1 and a thrashing by Barton Rovers at home 6 – 3 at the end of September didn’t do a great of good for our confidence.

Things took a dramatic turn thereafter with 12 successive league wins which ended with defeat 2-1 at Kidlington in early January 2017, interspersed by a magnificent run in the FA Trophy including a victory against Step 2 outfit Hampton and Richmond Borough before in the replay against Dulwich Hamlet we eventually went down 1 -0.

With cup football out of the way, the team put together an incredible run of 16 league games undefeated including a 5 – 0 thrashing of closest rivals Farnborough which saw us maintain the top spot until the end of the season by a margin of 12 points and the highest number of goals scored, 120, across all three Evostik Leagues

Promotion to the Southern Premier League means that the Club was playing at the highest level in its 142-year history!

Season 2017/18 saw The Crows exceed all expectations in our first season at Step 3. Throughout the season we managed to maintain our hopes of a play-off place until they were finally put to bed with two successive defeats against the eventual play-off winners Slough Town and we had to be satisfied with a seventh-place finish The signing of Adam Marriott, a proven goal scorer who had played for Lincoln City, Stevenage and Cambridge United was without a doubt a real coup and he was to play a key role in the progress made by the Club by becoming our leading marksman with 31 goals. A good run in the FA Trophy with wins against Enfield Town and Leatherhead came to an end against Eastbourne Borough when having managed to draw at their place we lost the replay on penalties We managed to get to the final of the Herts Senior Cup where we played Borehamwood from Step 2 and in spite of a brave performance we never really had the power to compete and lost 2 – 1.

Given where we had started from we definitely exceeded our own and many other peoples’ expectations and this has provided us with the building blocks to face this season in the newly constituted Southern Premier Central League.

Season 2018/19 saw us finishing in a respectable 9th position in what proved to be a very strong Premier Division Central. During February/March we recorded six wins out of seven league games to give us a faint hope of a playoff spot, but three straight defeats in April put paid to our chances We suffered another early at AFC Sudbury in the FA Cup and in the FA Trophy we progressed through two rounds before being beaten in a replay at Needham Market

Season 2019/20 will go down in the Club’s history as one of the most successful and exciting but ultimately one which ended in bitter disappointment.

Steve Castle was quick to ensure we had players who were proven goal scorers and the arrival of Matt Bateman, Brandon Adams and Claudio Ofosu did not disappoint Perhaps the only sadness that our young and highly talented left wing-back Joe Newton had created so much interest from EFL Clubs that in the end, it was inevitable he would have to leave us and Joe was signed by Coventry City

No Crows fans will ever forget the team's brilliant performances in both the FA Cup and FA Trophy and although our FA Cup run ended with defeat to the very talented Maldon and Tiptree in front of what was then a record crowd for Garden Walk of 1152. The interest generated in the Crows both locally and beyond was immense and set the scene for what was to come in the FA Trophy It all started with very comfortable wins against Brightlingsea Regent and Haywards Heath and then were drawn away at Step 2 table-topping Wealdstone which for many was one of the games of the season as Royston shot into a 2- 0 lead before Wealdstone hit back to pull the tie level 2-2 In spite of being under constant pressure, the Crows mounted a great counterattack down the left and the cross was despatched by Brandon Adams to give the Crow’s victory 3-2 What followed was truly historic with home wins against Step 2 teams Boreham Wood 2-0, Chester 3-0 and away at National League Ebbsfleet 2-0, to set up a quarter-final tie away at Concord Rangers. In the run-up to the game, the rain had been falling heavily but our opponents declared the pitch playable and the invasion of six coach loads of Royston supporters and a convoy of cars and mini-buses descended on Canvey Island. As we started arriving for the kick-off the match referee declared the pitch unplayable and with a sense of extreme disappointment and also a lot of anger we all returned home The following Tuesday the game went ahead but it was not to be and we were defeated 2-1 There is no doubt the Clubs achievements in the FA Trophy marked a watershed in our history which will be remembered for a very long time

Running alongside the cup success it was easy to forget that we had got ourselves in contention to win the League with a run of only two defeats in 20 league fixtures. With 3 games in hand and only 2 points behind Peterborough Sports and Tamworth and playing some of our best football, we looked nailed on to win the League. Then out of the blue, the Covid crisis hit all levels of football and with what many felt was indecent haste the League decided to null and void the whole season. All our achievements were suddenly for nothing and the taste of bitter disappointment amongst all supporters of the Crows was very hard to swallow

Season 2020/21: As the pandemic took hold it seemed like the chances of seeing a new season start were remote but by summer 2020 there had been a massive improvement and by July the lockdown ended albeit with a host of restrictions in place.

By the time we had assembled a squad, we were without key players such as Matt Bateman who moved to Hemel Hempstead and Claudio Ofosu who joined Hartlepool and with a lot of the momentum and energy generated by the now-defunct season now dissipated we were finding it hard to get going again In the League, we seemed to slip into the habit of conceding goals when in a winning position and a string of draws meant we languished in the lower half of the division The FA cup again promised to provide excitement with wins against Newmarket, Wroxham and AFC Stamford before losing to our old rivals Bishops Stortford. We won our first two ties in the FA Trophy against Hythe Town and Tamworth before going out 3-2 away at Brackley by which time the League season was yet again declared null and void as the second wave of Covid took its stranglehold.

A comprehensive history of the Club can be found in The History of Royston Town FC 18752012 first published in 2013. The book was written by the Club’s President, Alan Barlow following more than five years of painstaking research and can be purchased via the Club.

WHAT'S NEW ON RTFCTV?

THERE’S an old wives’ tale at NLP Towers which continually succeeds in amusing and bemusing us in equal measure

It’s a theory which has haunted us for as long as we can remember, it just won’t go away and it regularly returns to make fools out of anyone who has dared edit, report for or contribute towards our news pages over the years. It’s called The Curse of The NLP.

These days, ‘The Curse’ comes with an acceptance from us all in the office, but in recent weeks it’s returned to bite us on the backside more often than usual.

Take our edition of January 29 for example On page 33 we ran an interview with Ramsgate manager Steve Lovell after he had led the Rams into title contention in Isthmian League South East.

Lovell spoke at length about how much he was enjoying life at the Southwood Stadium and how there was so much more to come from the Kent side for the rest of the campaign That weekend they were surprisingly beaten at Three Bridges which is ironic enough in itself, but two days later Lovell was unceremoniously sacked and later replaced by the defender he brought to the club, Jamie Coyle. Sorry Steve.

In that same edition, we also ran a piece on Altrincham following their recent upturn in form In it, assistant manager Neil Sorvel told how the club’s new full-time model had contributed to a 10match unbeaten run which had propelled the Robins into play-off contention. Granted, that unbeaten run ended with a narrow defeat at Chesterfield in the midweek prior to publication but Alty have lost their last two games since and have slipped back down into the bottom half of the table. Sorry Robins.

This week ‘The Curse’ struck again – and just when we least expected it.

In that same edition of January 29, Hereford boss Josh Gowling, a regular columnist at The NLP, explained about the highs and lows of football management after having watched the heartwarming video of Mark Hudson telling his children that he has lost his job at Cardiff City.

“Management is the best job in the world, but also it can feel the most lonely,” Gowling said “We went through a period in November and December where we didn’t win. I’d just won manager of the month in October. I was miserable. I was in my office every day, away from my family, trying to find ways to fix it

You have to keep working to try and get it right – plus I put the manager of the month award away in my desk under a load of books! We’ve been winning again since I did that so maybe I will keep it out of sight.”

So, imagine our surprise a little over a week later when Hereford parted company with playing favourite Gowling after three straight defeats in National League North. Sorry Josh.

We just hope that Steve, Neil and Josh don’t have second thoughts when the name ‘Non-League Paper’ flashes up on their phone the next time we call for a chat.

But, in the meantime, be warned. If an article appears on your club or your star player and then subsequently leads to a Manager of the Month style voodoo affecting their form, then you know you ’ ve been struck by ‘The NLP Curse’

WHO'S WHO OF THE CROWS

mi Kyriatzis (Goalkeeper)

ecent addition to the Crows squad having joined us from Bedfont Sports Dimi's clubs include Brentford and Inter Leipzig

u-Adjaye (Defender)

defender who re-joined the Crows in 2019 after spending a season at Hayes ng Started his playing career at Luton Town and broke into the 1st team he 2008/9 season. In total he made 64 appearances for The Hatters before o Forest Green Rovers and then to Hemel Hempstead Town.

Murray (Defender)

ined us at the beginning of 2017/18, having spent the previous two seasons bridge City where he made 60 appearances He quickly settled into the squad proved to be a formidable addition for the Crows.

Henry (Defender)

or the Crows at the beginning of this season after spending a season at y Town Ronnie was a product of the Spurs youth system, before going on to 2 games for Stevenage (the club’s all-time record appearances) in two spells de of two seasons at Luton Town.

Nakatani-Brown(Defender)

s a 22 year old left-sided defender who has impressed during pre-season and joins rows for their 2022/23 Southern League Premier Central campaign Joel’s previous includeWestfield,FCRomania,CockfostersandWalthamstow

om Kettering Town, where viously played for Hemel ns Joined the Crows this Cockfosters, Colney Heath efender, Spyros re-joined ding, he previously played at Garden Walk.

his season Alfie joined the Hotspur and signed a his professional debut for 1, coming on as an 83rdn at Kings Langley, Hemel

FernandoBellToxtle(Midfield)

FernandostartedhiscareeratCambridgeUnitedandspenttimeonloanatStNeots Town.FollowinghisreleasefromCambridgeUnited,hejoinedAFCRushden&Diamonds inthesummerof2017.InNovember2017hemovedtoBasfordUnitedinorderto pursuehisuniversitystudiesinNottingham.HethenrejoinedAFCRushden&Diamonds andwasakeymemberoftheirsquadlastseason

IsaRotimi(Midfield)

YoungmidfielderwhosignedfortheCrowsatthebeginningofseason2019/20,Isa previouslyspenttwoseasonsatColneyHeath

NathanTshikuna(Midfield)

FeaturedanumberoftimesfortheCrowsinpre-seasonandhasimpressedenoughto joinSteveCastle’ssquadforthecomingseason.Nathan’spreviousclubsincludeBedford Town,KempstonRovers,BartonRoversandAFCRushden&Diamonds.Nathanscoredan impressive11goalsin44appearancesforRushden&Diamondslastseason

MattBateman(Forward)

Re-joineduslastseasonfromHemelHempstead,wherehespentaseasonaftermoving fromtheCrows.MattsignedfortheCrowsatthestartofseason2019/20andscoredan impressive24goalsin41gamesduringthatseasontoearnhismovetoHemel.Previous tothatMattplayedabigpartinBerkhamsted’spushforpromotionin2018/19wherehe netted43timesin54appearancesforTheComrades

ColeDaSilva(Defender)

Recentacquisition,signedfromHemelHempsteadTown.23-year-olddefenderjoinedthe TudorsfromOxfordCityCappedbyWalesatunder-15level,forEnglandatunder-16s andthenWalesagainatunder-17,19,20,andunder-21levelBegaatLutonTown’s academybeforemovingtoChelsea,making2appearancesintheEFLTrophyin2017 HejoinedBrentford’sBteamin2018andin2020spenttimewithLeicesterCityunder23s.SignedforCroatianFirstLeagueclubHNKSibenikin2021,beforejoiningtheOxford yattheendofthe2021/22season

nnorFurlong(Midfield)

nedearlierthisyearfromAFCRushden&DiamondsPreviousclubsinclude gleswadeTown,BedfordTown,StIvesTown,OxfordCity,AylesburyUnitedandMK ns

drewOsei-Bonsu(Midfield)

year-oldjoinedMKDonsacademyattheageof8andprogressedthroughtheirage upsmakinghisfirst-teamdebutintheEFLCupatNewportCountyinAugust2016 shadspellswithWealdstone,DunstableTown,Larne(NorthernIreland),StIvesTown (ce),BillericayTownandEastFife

Barnwell(Forward)

gningfromSouthernLeaguePremierSouthsideHanwellTownShamisatowering6′ ar-oldstrikerwhohaspreviouslyplayedforBowers&Pitsea,Dagenham&Redbridge, tortford,SolihullMoors,Barking,Brentwood,GraysAthleticandMaldon&Tiptree.

TODAY'S OPPONENTS RUSHALL OLYMPIC FC Club History

Research has discovered that the original Rushall Olympic Football Club was founded at least three years earlier than had previously been thought - with editions of local newspapers found to contain match reports about the Olympic dating back to the 1893-94 season. At this time the club were a very useful junior team who played only friendly matches, but they did go on to join the Cannock & District Football League for the start of the 1895-96 season, finishing as runners-up – before later going on to become members of the Junior (winning the Championship in 1903-04), Amateur, Parks and Senior sections of the Walsall & District League. However, even earlier records have indicated that football in h ill f R h ll l d b i l d l b i l 20 i h i e

The club continued to succeed in the Staffordshire County League (South), but failed to emulate its success of the 1950's and 60's. However in 1975, in order to gain a higher league status, the club decided to move three miles away to the Aston University Sports Ground, just off the main A34 Walsall to Birmingham road Unfortunately, football, after many decades, had left the village - but it was soon to return thanks to Olympic's magnificent seven, namely: Brian Greenwood, Mick Clayton, Graham Wiggin, Ray Wiggin, Johnny Edwards, Brian Humphries and Trevor Westwood; who enlisted the help of Councillor Dick Arkell to obtain the lease of some land in Daw End, Rushall, where trees had to be moved, holes dug, and some filled in, until the new Dales Lane ground was officially opened on Sunday 14th August 1977 The club were then accepted into the West Midlands (Regional) League in 1978, and in their first season they finished in a very creditable fourth place in the First Division. The 1979-80 campaign then saw the club go on to win the First Division championship by a massive 16point margin and gain richly deserved promotion to the Premier Division

TODAY'S OPPONENTS RUSHALL OLYMPIC FC Club History contd.

During the 1980's and 90's the club enjoyed fourteen seasons of moderate success in the West Midlands (Regional) League Premier Division, with a highest finish of fifth place achieved in season 1988-89 and a League Cup Final appearance in 1982 However, time moved on, and for the start of the 1994-95 season the club began a new era when it was named as one of the twenty founder members of the Midland Football Alliance Unfortunately, the first four seasons of Alliance football proved to be somewhat traumatic for the club with final placings of 18th, 12th, 16th and 16th achieved under five different managerial regimes. However, despite these set-backs, in September 1997 the Olympic were able to persuade John Allen, Hednesford Town's Assistant Manager, to join the club as their new M h i di t l t t l t l th t d th l b h d d i t

Rovers boss Bob Green However, the new managerial reign lasted only 6 pre-season games during summer 2006, before John Allen was forced to return back to the hot seat in August 2006, quickly followed by former SemiProfessional England International Joe O’Connor in October 2006 Following a sequence of defeats leading into the New Year period the Pic’s decided upon a fourth managerial change in five months when former Halesowen Town manager Paul Holleran was handed the task of maintaining the club’s Southern League status in January 2007 The new man led Rushall to a 15th place finish and the Pic’s also reached the Staffordshire Senior Challenge Cup Final for the second season running, but were comprehensively defeated by Kidsgrove Athletic at Port Vale’s Vale Park

The 2007-08 campaign was an excellent one for the Pic’s in Southern Football League Division One Midlands as Paul Holleran guided his charges to a promotion play-off position Unfortunately, the dream of Premier Division football was not to be realised as Rushall narrowly lost out to runners-up Leamington in the Play-Off Semi Final, but the seasonal statistics were impressive to say the least From the 40 games of the campaign Olympic eventually secured 5th position with 23 victories and as a side conceded only 23 goals in the process, courtesy of keeping 23 clean sheets in the league and 32 in total from 59 games The success was undoubtedly built around almost

TODAY'S OPPONENTS RUSHALL OLYMPIC FC Club History contd.

unrivalled meanness within the defensive ranks that was only bettered in this and higher levels of football by, none other than Manchester United in the Barclays Premiership! Away from league action the Pics competed in a titanic 18 cup games, with a best ever Football Association Challenge Cup run to the Fourth Round Qualifying stage (with the agony of a 6-0 defeat at former Football League York City) and a best ever Third Qualifying Round appearance in the F A Trophy were also very much amongst the tremendous highs of the season

May 2008 saw the Pics presented with a new challenge when in an incredible turn of events, the Football Association L C itt t t d id th ll ti f l b f St 1 t 4 f th N ti l

the club by mutual consent and was quickly replaced as Manager by Richard Sneekes, the former Ajax, Bolton Wanderers and West Bromwich Albion midfield maestro and his experienced assistant Steve Hinks.

The first season under the new managerial regime ultimately saw wholesale changes on the pitch, however an excellent finish of 9th place was achieved The 2015-16 campaign ended with Rushall finishing in 10th position, but they did win the Staffordshire Senior Cup for only the third time in their history and won the Walsall Senior Cup for the sixth time after being awarded the trophy when their opponents unexpectedly withdrew from the competition

Summer 2016 saw a surprise managerial change as Richard Sneekes stepped down and was ultimately replaced by Pics Chairman John Allen, returning to the role he last occupied in October 2006 However, his move back into the Dales Lane hot-set lasted just one term when during summer 2017 the club unveiled a new managerial team headed by former Stoke City, Southampton and Burnley defender Wayne Thomas, assisted by Will Ryder and Trevor Burroughs – allowing John Allen to step aside to focus all of his attention on his role as Chairman once more.

TODAY'S OPPONENTS

RUSHALL OLYMPIC FC Club History contd.

Following a poor start to the 2017-18 campaign the new managerial team were relieved of their duties in October 2017 after 17 games and were replaced by former Redditch United, Hednesford Town and Solihull Moors manager Liam McDonald, ably assisted by his trusted backroom team of Nick Green, David Bridgwater and Trevor Burroughs

The new regime worked wonders and quickly revamped the squad to lift the Pics from joint bottom of the table to a final finish of 8th place

before suffering a 12 point deduction at the end of the campaign for fielding a player in 17 league games whose contract registration was ruled not to have been approved in accordance with the league and F tb ll A i t d l D it d i d t 18th i th t di th iti d t th i n

WHO ARE YA?

RUSHALL OLYMPIC FC Player Pen Pics

Liam McDONALD – Manager.

Appointed by the Pics in October 2017 after leaving Solihull Moors. Began his playing career with Worcester City before moving on Bromsgrove Rovers Spells followed at Boldmere St Michaels, Halesowen Town, Sutton Coldfield Town, Halesowen Town, Cradley Town, Barwell, Stafford Rangers, Kettering Town, Tamworth and Redditch United. He began his managerial career at 28 when named as Redditch United manager. In the 2015-16 campaign he guided Redditch to runners up spot in the Southern League Premier

Swedish club Brommapojkarna In February 2015 he moved to Flekkeroy of the Norwegian Second Division, before returning to the UK and signing for Hayes & Yeading FC in January 2016. The summer of 2016 saw him move to , Redditch United. Prior to the 2017-18 campaign he signed for Stafford Rangers before moving to Stourbridge and then on to Tamworth before joining the Pics

Alex CAMERON – Forward

Arrived at Dales Lane during summer 2022 from Lye Town. Began his career at Stoubridge. Has had spells at Dudley Town, Tividale, Bilston Town and Redditch United Summer 2021 saw him initially link up with Bilston Town, before starting the 2021-22 campaign with Sporting Khalsa However, during October 2021 he returned to Redditch United, but after suffering from injury he made a comeback with Lye Town in February 2022. During the early part of season 2022-23 he returned to former club Tividale, prior to heading back to Dales Lane in September 2022.

Callum COYLE – Midlfielder.

Arrived at Dales Lane during summer 2021, from Stafford Rangers As a youngster he was part of the Walsall F C Academy system and upon being released at 16 he linked up with Solihull Moors In November 2017 he went out on loan to Romulus and in April 2018 made his full debut for Solihull. Whilst at Moors he had loan spells at Nuneaton Borough, Hednesford Town, Halesowen Town, Grantham Town and Redditch United He was released by Solihull in summer 2020 and rejoined with Stafford Rangers Enjoyed an excellent debut campaign with the Pics by finishing as third top scorer with 8 goals in the 48 games he featured in and quickly became one of the fans favourites.

Liam DALY – Defender

Tall, central defender who arrived at Dales Lane in September 2022 from Ilkeston Town, whom he had joined from Kettering Town. Began his career at Romulus, having previously been on the books of Birmingham City as a youngster. He later moved to Evesham United and had spells at Corby Town, Redditch United, Solihull Moors, Halesowen Town, Leamington, Barwell before rejoining Solihull Moors. After three years he moved to Kidderminster Harriers during the summer of 2017 His spell at Aggborough was short-lived, and he returned to Solihull for a third time early in season 2017-18 In November 2019 he signed for Gloucester City and his performances secured a move to National League Barnet in January 2021. Released by the Bees in Summer 2021 he joined Stourbridge before quickly moving on to Nuneaton Borough and then again moved on to Conference North outfit Kettering Town in March 2022

Alex FLETCHER – Midfielder.

Arrived at Dales Lane during summer 2022 from Stafford Rangers. Began his career by coming through the ranks with Shrewsbury Town Following a brief spell with Ross County, he joined AFC Telford United in April 2015 before signing for Tividale in September 2015 He joined Redditch United in December 2015

In the Summer of 2016 he joined Newtown AFC before joining Southport in June 2017. In October 2017 he signed for Stafford Rangers before rejoining Newtown. In 2020 he signed for Stourbridge before returning to Newtown again Summer 2021 saw him return to Stafford Rangers for a second spell

Kristian GREEN – Defender.

Vastly experienced defender who transferred to Dales Lane during summer 2021 from Stourbridge. He first came to prominence in the non-league scene with Gornal Athletic during the 2010-11 campaign, operating at that time as a front runner In 2013-14 he joined Halesowen Town before Summer 2015 saw him transfer to Stourbridge During the dying stages of the 2015-16 season he linked up with Sporting Khalsa. In January 2017 he signed for Solihull Moors. Summer 2018 saw him leave Solihull and join Tamworth and then in the summer of 2019 it was announced that he had agreed a return Stourbridge.

Andre CARVALHO-LANDELL – Forward

Returned to Dales Lane in August 2022 from Hednesford Town for his third spell at the Pics. He first arrived at the club during summer 2012 from Hednesford. Began his career with the Wolves. At Molineux he spent two years in and youth squad and reserves Upon his release he signed for Bath City just after the start of the 2011-12 campaign Finding opportunities limited he signed for Hednesford in December 2011 Spent the 2012-13 at Dales Lane before moving to the USA to attend Tiffin University. In 2016 he joined Michigan Bucks in the Premier Development League (PDL) before returning. Summer 2017 saw him return to Dales Lane to begin a second spell with the Pics, however in October 2018 he transferred to Alvechurch The Summer of 2019 saw him follow manager Ian Long to Stourbridge During summer 2021 he transferred to Southern League Premier Division Central rivals Hednesford Town.

Tyrese HUGHES – Forward.

A highly rated attacking player who successfully progressed through from the Pics high-flying U-18’s side in the Midland Floodlit Youth League Northern Premier Division during November 2022 and has since gone on to firmly establish himself within the First Team squad at Dales Lane.

Jermaine HYLTON – Forward

Experienced goalscorer who made his Pics debut in December 2022 Began his career at Birmingham City Also spent four years at Kidderminster Harriers. Moving into non-league he featured for the likes of Continental Star and Redditch United. In January 2015 he joined Swindon Town signing a two-and-a-half year contract with The Robins During October 2016 he joined Guiseley on loan until January 2017 During July 2017, he joined Solihull Moors and then in May 2019 he made a surprise move north of the border to link up with Motherwell on a free-transfer. He made 41 appearances for the Steelmen before joining Ross County in October 2020. However, in May 2021 he was one of ten players who were released In June 2021 Newport County AFC completed his signing on a one-year deal, however, despite making his debut during August 2021 in the starting line-up for the 1-0 League Two win against Oldham Athletic, his contract was cancelled by mutual consent in January 2022, having made just five appearances.

Sam MANTOM – Midfielder.

Returned to Dales Lane for a second spell after ending a two-season spell at Hemel Hempstead Town. Played over 150 times for Walsall engine room and became a firm favourite amongst The Saddlers’ faithful Began his career at Walsall's academy before being spotted by WBA, with the Baggies reportedly paying £20,000 to take him to The Hawthorns Joined Icelandic side Haukar in May 2010 on loan Upon returing to the UK he made his debut for WBA in a Football League Cup game against Orient at Brisbane Road in August 2010.In November 2010 he joined Tranmere Rovers on loan and also had a loan spell at Oldham Athletic In March 2012 he signed for Walsall on loan, and was instrumental in helping the Saddlers narrowly avoid relegation He later returned to Walsall on loan in November 2012 and in January 2013 his move was made permanent. In June 2016 he signed a three-year deal with Scunthorpe United. In January 2018 he joined Southend United on loan until the end of the season and then joined on a permanent deal In June 2020 he left Roots Hall having being released by Southend and signed a shortterm deal with Rushall Olympic In November 2020 he joined Hemel Hempstead Town until the summer of 2022 saw a move back to the Midlands.

Jourdain MASIDI – Midfielder

Transferred to Dales Lane during November 2021 from Bromsgrove Sporting He originally came through the ranks of Romulus, progressing from the youth set-up to the first. For the 2019-20 campaign he joined Littleton. Summer 2021 saw him make the move up to Step 3 of the National League System by joining Bromsgrove Sporting, who had been tracking him for a couple of seasons

Reece MITCHELL – Defender

Signed for the Pics from Boldmere St Michaels in July 2019. He first came to prominence in non-League circles with Cadbury Athletic, but moved on to Boldmere in February 2018. During the 2018-19 campaign he really shone for the Mikes and was a key member of the side who won the Walsall Senior Cup at the home of Walsall FC against their neighbours Sutton Coldfield Town in May 2019 He ended the 2021-22 campaign by being named by his peers as runner-up in the Pics Player’s Player of the Year awards.

Declan RILEY – Forward

Highly regarded and talented front runner who successfully progressed through from the Pics high-flying U18’s side in the Midland Floodlit Youth League Northern Premier Division during October 2022 and has since gone on to firmly establish himself within the First Team squad. Currently the U-18’s top goalscorer, he netted his first senior goal in November 2022 during a Walsall Senior Victory against Lye Town

Will SHORROCK – Midlfielder.

Transferred to Dales Lane in summer 2022 from Bromsgrove Sporting. Began his career at Walsall, featuring for both the U-18’s and U-21’s Made his first-team debut for the Saddlers as a substitute in an EFL Trophy group stage victory over Sheffield United at Bramall Lane in October 2016 At the end of the 2017-18 campaign, he found himself released from Walsall just days after making his League One debut for the Saddlers. During summer 2018 he linked up with Bromsgrove Sporting and in August 2018, he signed for the Rouslers on a one-year deal.

Sam WHITTALL – Defender/Midfielder

Arrived at Dales Lane during summer 2016 after ending the 2015-16 campaign with Stourbridge. Began his career at Wolves where he progressed through the Academy system to secure a professional contract in March 2012 and was a regular in both the reserves and Under 21 Development squad side In the spring of 2014 he was released by Wolves and joined Cambridge United on a 6-month contract However, after making just a couple of appearances he joined Brackley Town on loan in September 2014, a move that was made permanent in December 2014. In January 2016 he signed for Stourbridge before linking up with the Pics

Jake WEAVER – Goalkeeper.

Arrived at Dales Lane during summer 2022 following a three season spell at Leamington. Began his career at Birmingham City and in May 2017 he signed a one-year contract with a further year's option for the Blues' In September 2018 he joined Hungerford Town on a short-term loan before another loan spell at Kidderminster Harriers and then another at Hednesford Town. He signed a new one-year deal at St. Andrews in May 2019, and on the eve of the 2019-20 campaign he joined Leamington on a season-long loan deal. He was released by the Blues at the end of season 2019-20 and opted to return to Leamington on a permanent basis, having already proved a hit with the Brakes supporters, who had voted him as their Player of the Season He was once again ever-present during season 2020-21 and was one of the Brakes’ most consistent performers, playing a starring role in a penalty shoot out 3rd Round FA Trophy win at Wrexham as Leamington were eventually knocked out by Hereford just prior to the Quarter-Final’s. After the season was once again frustratingly curtailed by Covid-19, during season 2021-22 he took his Leamington appearance tally to 99 games and in May 2022 was between the sticks as the Brakes won the Birmingham Senior Cup against Stourbridge at Villa Park in front of 3,000 fans.

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