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

PITCHING IN SOUTHERN FOOTBALL LEAGUE - PREMIER DIVISION CENTRAL

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. ent

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

TODAY'S MATCH IS KINDLY SPONSORED BY

Royston Town Football Club President Chairman Secretary

Founded 1875 Alan Barlow Steve Jackson Terry McKinnell 9 Valley Rise, Royston, Herts SG8 9EY 07772 086709

Treasurer Welfare Officer Fixture Secretary Executive Board

Webmaster Programme Editors Official Photographer

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

Football Management Team First Team Manager First Team Asst Manager U23 Manager U18 Team Managers Women's Team Manager Vets Team Manager

Steve Castle Chris Watters Dan Evans Dan Evans/Matt Campany Lewis Endacott Lee Wilkinson

Ground

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

Colours

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

WHO'S GOT WHO? Today's other fixtures SATURDAY 11th FEBRUARY 2023 AFC Rushden & Diamonds v Barwell Basford United v Bromsgrove Sporting Hednesford Town v Coalville Town Hitchin Town v Stourbridge Ilkeston Town v Bedford Town Kings Langley v Tamworth Leiston v Alvechurch Mickleover v Needham Market Nuneaton Borough v Stratford Town Redditch United v St Ives Town

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 1875 2012 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.

SCORES ON THE DOORS! LEAGUE TABLE PITCHING IN SOUTHERN LEAGUE PREMIER CENTRAL DIVISION

https://www.footballwebpages.co.uk/southern-football-league-premier-central-division

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 Dimi Kyriatzis (Goalkeeper) A recent addition to the Crows squad having joined us from Bedfont Sports. Dimi's previous clubs include Brentford and Inter Leipzig.

Ed Asafu-Adjaye (Defender) Versatile defender who re-joined the Crows in 2019 after spending a season at Hayes & Yeading. Started his playing career at Luton Town and broke into the 1st team during the 2008/9 season. In total he made 64 appearances for The Hatters before moving to Forest Green Rovers and then to Hemel Hempstead Town.

Adam Murray (Defender) Adam joined us at the beginning of 2017/18, having spent the previous two seasons at Cambridge City where he made 60 appearances. He quickly settled into the squad and has proved to be a formidable addition for the Crows.

Ronnie Henry (Defender) Signed for the Crows at the beginning of this season after spending a season at Billericay Town. Ronnie was a product of the Spurs youth system, before going on to play 502 games for Stevenage (the club’s all-time record appearances) in two spells either side of two seasons at Luton Town.

Joel Nakatani-Brown (Defender) Joel is a 22 year old left-sided defender who has impressed during pre-season and joins the Crows for their 2022/23 Southern League Premier Central campaign. Joel’s previous clubs include Westfield, FC Romania, Cockfosters and Walthamstow.

James Brighton (Defender) Experienced full-back who joined us in November 2019 from Kettering Town, where he had spent a successful four seasons. James has previously played for Hemel Hempstead Town, Cambridge City & Cambridge United.

Jay Rolfe (Defender) Versatile defender who can play in a number of positions. Joined the Crows this Summer from Welwyn Garden City. Previous clubs include Cockfosters, Colney Heath and Hatfield Town Spyros Mentis (Midfield) Versatile, hard-working and tough-tackling midfielder or defender, Spyros re-joined The Crows in 2018/19 after a season away at Hayes & Yeading, he previously played just under 100 games for us from 2013 during his first spell at Garden Walk.

Alfie Williams (Midfield) Joined the Crows on loan from Stevenage until the end of this season. Alfie joined the Stevenage academy after being released by Tottenham Hotspur and signed a professional contract with Stevenage in April 2021. Made his professional debut for Stevenage in a 1–0 victory at Scunthorpe United in May 2021, coming on as an 83rdminute substitute in the match. Alfie has spent time on loan at Kings Langley, Hemel Hempstead Town and Hayes & Yeading United.

Fernando Bell Toxtle (Midfield) Fernando started his career at Cambridge United and spent time on loan at St Neots Town. Following his release from Cambridge United, he joined AFC Rushden & Diamonds in the summer of 2017. In November 2017 he moved to Basford United in order to pursue his university studies in Nottingham. He then rejoined AFC Rushden & Diamonds and was a key member of their squad last season Isa Rotimi (Midfield) Young midfielder who signed for the Crows at the beginning of season 2019/20, Isa previously spent two seasons at Colney Heath.

Nathan Tshikuna (Midfield) Featured a number of times for the Crows in pre-season and has impressed enough to join Steve Castle’s squad for the coming season. Nathan’sprevious clubs include Bedford Town, Kempston Rovers, Barton Rovers and AFC Rushden & Diamonds. Nathan scored an impressive 11 goals in 44 appearances for Rushden & Diamonds last season.

Matt Bateman (Forward) Re-joined us last season from Hemel Hempstead, where he spent a season after moving from the Crows. Matt signed for the Crows at the start of season 2019/20 and scored an impressive 24 goals in 41 games during that season to earn his move to Hemel. Previous to that Matt played a big part in Berkhamsted’s push for promotion in 2018/19 where he netted 43 times in 54 appearances for The Comrades.

Cole DaSilva (Defender) Recent acquisition, signed from Hemel Hempstead Town. 23-year-old defender joined the Tudors from Oxford City. Capped by Wales at under-15 level, for England at under-16s and then Wales again at under-17, 19, 20, and under-21 level. Bega at Luton Town’s academy before moving to Chelsea, making 2 appearances in the EFL Trophy in 2017.

He joined Brentford’s B team in 2018 and in 2020 spent time with Leicester City under23s. Signed for Croatian First League club HNK Sibenik in 2021, before joining the Oxford City at the end of the 2021/22 season.

Connor Furlong (Midfield) Joined earlier this year from AFC Rushden & Diamonds. Previous clubs include Biggleswade Town, Bedford Town, St Ives Town, Oxford City, Aylesbury United and MK Dons Andrew Osei-Bonsu (Midfield) 23-year-old joined MK Dons academy at the age of 8 and progressed through their age groups making his first-team debut in the EFL Cup at Newport County in August 2016.

Has had spells with Wealdstone, Dunstable Town, Larne (Northern Ireland), St Ives Town (twice), Billericay Town and East Fife Shomari Barnwell (Forward) Recent signing from Southern League Premier South side Hanwell Town. Sham is a towering 6′ 6″, 28-year-old striker who has previously played for Bowers & Pitsea, Dagenham & Redbridge, Bishops Stortford, Solihull Moors, Barking, Brentwood, Grays Athletic and Maldon & 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 the village of Rushall was already being played on a regular basis at least 20 years prior to that time and in fact the opening game for the newly formed Walsall Town team was against a Rushall side at the Chuckery Ground, Walsall on the 3rd October 1874. Indeed, so many players turned up that it was decided to field a 15-a-side format, with the surplus Walsall men being "loaned" out to make up the Rushall team. Rushall, with that extra slice of experience, won the game 3-1, although some argued that the game should have finished 2-2 as one of the Rushall goals was scored by a Walsall player!

As research continues, the early years of Rushall Olympic will slowly be uncovered, but it is known that a thriving club certainly existed just after the First World War, up until the mid-1930's. During this period the team (many of whom worked at the local Aldridge pit) played on the field behind the Miners Arms Public House in Rushall - changing in the pub and enjoying a pint after the game. The team, then playing in old gold and black stripes, was a "good 'un", and won various honours along the way, including: the 1919-20 Lichfield & District League Championship in the first full season following the Great War; the Walsall Charity Cup in 1920-21 (playing the semi-final in the morning and the final in the afternoon), 1921-22 and jointly in 1922-23; the Walsall & District Parks League Championship and Senior Cup double of 1924-25; and the Walsall Junior Cup of 1935-36 - all prior to the club disbanding sometime prior to the outbreak of the Second World War. In 1951, a few local lads - John Edwards, Des Hyde and Graham Wiggin, decided it was time that football made a return to the village. They approached George Hunt, the proprietor of a local fish and chip shop, for permission to use his premises as their headquarters - which was agreed and Rowley Place was decided upon as the Pic's home ground. Other players soon joined, including Don Griffiths, Eric Handley, Sid Yates, Wilf Trow and Ernie Lamb. Sid Whitehouse became their trainer and Jim Trow and Mr Evans joined as committee members. With the help of George Hunt, a playing strip of red and white striped shirts was purchased and entry was gained into the Second Division of the Walsall & District Amateur League, where the team soon began winning trophies. In 1952, Ernie Lamb became the Club Secretary and Arthur Steed (later to become Chairman) joined as trainer; local bookmaker Jim Edge became President; and the headquarters were moved to Rushall Labour Club. Following suggestions from local people with memories of the pre-war club, it was finally decided to revert back to an old gold and black strip - the clubs original colours. The Olympic were back in business.

After winning the Walsall & District Amateur League Second Division Championship in 1952-53, and later the First Division Championship in 1955-56, the club eventually gained promotion into the strong Staffordshire County League (South) for the start of the 1956-57 season - and made an immediate impact by winning the Second Division title at the first attempt. Following promotion into the First Division, the club later won three back to back Championships between 1960 and 1963 - but Rushall Olympic's real glory season came in 1964-65 when the club clinched the Staffordshire County League (South) First Division Championship for the fourth time in five years and also won the Lichfield Charity Cup, the Sporting Star Cup and the Walsall Senior Cup. 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 Manager who immediately went on to completely revamp the team and gave the club much needed impetus.

The turning point in the clubs fortunes came during season 1998-99 when they finished in 7th place, while the following season saw the Pic's take 7th place for the second consecutive season, but with an improved points tally. The club also won their first piece of silverware for twenty years when they defeated Rocester at Bescot Stadium in a dramatic penalty shoot-out to lift the prestigious Walsall Senior Cup for the first time since 1965.

Season 2000-01 saw the Pic's surpass all expectations as they just missed out on promotion to the Southern League Western Division by ending the campaign as Midland Football Alliance Runners-Up to promoted Stourport Swifts by the narrowest margin of one single goal. However, during season 2001-02 Manager John Allen moved upstairs to take on the role of club Chairman, while his assistant Kevin Hadley took over and Olympic once more ended the campaign with silverware as the club won the Midland Football Alliance Cup for the first time by defeating Barwell after extra time, in addition to completing the Alliance season in a respectable 5th position.

The club made further progress during season 2002-03 as they went on to record their best ever Alliance campaign, registering their highest ever number of victories and most points achieved by the club, as they finished as runners-up to Stourbridge. Disappointingly, their efforts both on and off the pitch were still not enough to attain their long term goal of Southern League football when the Pic’s were denied a promotion place at the eleventh hour after a crucial vote went narrowly in favour of former Southern League club Yate Town.

August 2003 saw the return of John Allen into the management hot-seat after the club decided it needed a change of direction and parted company with Kevin Hadley and his coaching staff. The club were then able to enter a period of financial consolidation in order to concentrate on ground improvement work during summer 2004 that saw the construction of a Conference standard dressing room complex at Dales Lane. However, even working under such constraints he was still able to guide his charges to the 2003-04 Midland Football Alliance Cup Final, although his side were ultimately defeated 3-1 after extra time by Stratford Town.

John Allen decided to step down from the joint role of Chairman at the end of season 2003-04 and was now more determined than ever to make a sustained championship challenge in his bid to finally take the club into the higher reaches of non-league football. Indeed, after 7 seasons of trying “Mr Rushall” irrefutably delivered the club’s ultimate goal as he led his side to the 2004-05 Midland Football Alliance Championship with 3-weeks to spare and by a commanding 7-point margin. Following an anxious 4-week wait the Football Association eventually decreed that Olympic’s dream had come true as they secured automatic promotion into the Southern Football League Division One West for the first time in their history. To round off what was undoubtedly the best ever season witnessed at Dales Lane, Rushall’s Reserve Team also completed a superlative league and cup double by clinching the Midland Football Combination Reserve Division Championship and Challenge Trophy.

The 2005-06 campaign saw the Pic’s claim a 10th place finish during their Southern Football League debut, while they also lifted the Staffordshire Senior Challenge Cup for the first time by defeating Stoke City at the Britannia Stadium. Meanwhile, the Reserve Team also retained the Midland Football Combination Reserve Division to complete a season that was a marvellous epitaph to John Allen who then stepped down from his managerial role due to increased business commitments and was replaced by the former Bloxwich United, Blakenall and Bromsgrove 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 Leagues Committee met to decide on the allocation of clubs for Steps 1 to 4 of the National League System campaign – which resulted in the club being moved across the non-League pyramid into the Northern Premier Football League First Division South for the 2008-09 campaign.

The Pics debut campaign in the northern section of the non-League pyramid proved to be a successful transition as they reached the promotion play-off’s with another 5th place finish. Unfortunately, they suffered more disappointment losing by a single goal to runners-up Belper Town in the Play-Off Semi Final. However, Rushall did finish their campaign on a high note by claiming the Walsall Senior Cup for the first time in nine years as they grabbed a nailbiting 2-1 victory against Tipton Town at the Banks’s Stadium in front of 550 spectators.

Dramatic developments towards the end of May 2009 saw manager Paul Holleran step down from his role and only days later was replaced by former Pics player Neil Kitching who returned to Dales Lane from a managerial role at Coleshill Town he had occupied since November 2008. During the 2009-10 campaign the Pics led the First Division South table in both October and January, but they eventually faded out to a 12th place finish, while a second consecutive Walsall Senior Cup Final appearance ended in defeat to lower league Bloxwich United AFC. Summer 2010 saw a further cut in the playing budget as senior player Nick Amos took on the role of player-assistant manager, while Ian Cooper returned to the fold to take up the position of player-coach. However, the backroom reshuffle paid immense dividends as Olympic finished in a best-ever 3rd place in the Evo-Stik League First Division South table with a game to spare and claim a place in the Promotion Play-Off’s for the third time in four seasons.

After accounting for Brigg Town 3-0 at Dales Lane in the Semi-Final they gained home advantage in the Final, where a superb battling display from Rushall saw them surpass all expectations and claim fully deserved promotion to Step 3 of the non-League pyramid for the very first time in their history following a stupendous 2-0 victory against Grantham Town in front of 751 spectators . The Pics also ended a truly memorable campaign with more honours by winning the Walsall Senior Cup for the second time in three years at the Banks’s Stadium, while manager Neil Kitching received a hugely deserved personal honour to crown a brilliant season by being named as the Evo-Stik League “First Division South Manager of the Month” for April/May 2011.

Rushall’s 2011-12 debut campaign in the Evo-Stik League Premier Division was a success as they finished in 8th place. The Pics were also involved in cup action, reaching the finals of The Doodson Sport (League) Cup, Staffordshire Senior Cup and Walsall Senior Cup – but were unfortunately only successful in the latter.

During the 2012-13 campaign Olympic occupied the play-off positions at times during the campaign, but ultimately fell short of a play-off zone finish by five points andd then also had to end Staffordshire Senior Cup disappointment in the final for the second successive season.

The 2013-14 campaign again saw the Pics fall short of the play-off places, finishing in 7th place. There was also some mixed fortunes in cup competitions as they claimed the Staffordshire Senior Cup for only the second time in their history against Port Vale at Vale Park, but suffered a heavy defeat in the final of the Walsall Senior Cup at the hands of lower league neighbours Chasetown. Prior to the Banks’s Stadium defeat in May 2014, in a surprise move the Pics had already announced that Neil Kitching had opted to end his managerial reign after five successful years at 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 Football Associated rules. Despite dropping down to 18th in the standings there was a positive end to the campaign by clinching the Walsall Senior Cup for the seventh time in their history following a narrow victory on penalty kicks against near neighbours Walsall Wood at the Banks’s Stadium.

Following ten seasons as members of the Northern Premier Football League, May 2018 saw Rushall returned to the jurisdiction of the Southern Football League after the Football Association undertook a major reallocation of clubs to increase the previous three Step 3 divisions of 24 clubs to four divisions of 22 clubs, thus allowing for the creation of a “Midlands” division at Step 3 of the National League System for the 2018-19 campaign. Following a slow start the Pics debut campaign gathered momentum during the run in and they ultimately finished just seven points outside the Evo-Stik Southern League Premier Division Central play-off places in 8th position, but suffered disappointment in the Final of the Staffordshire Senior Cup againts Stafford Rangers at the home of Stoke City.

The summer of 2019 saw the end of an era and the beginning of an exciting new future as the Dales Lane turf was finally torn up after 42 years and replaced with a state-of-the-art 3G surface, which will not only help to secure the Pics future, but also allow closer links to be established between the clubs First Team, U21’s, U-18’s, Education & Football Academy, Development Section and local community groups and organisations.

Unfortunately, the 2019-20 campaign was curtailed on Saturday 7 March 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic and all playing records were expunged, which was a major disappointment with the Pics with then sitting nicely in 5th place in the Southern League Premier Division Central standings with 33 games out of 42 played and with Birmingham and Staffordshire Senior Cup Semi-Finals still to be played, plus a Walsall Senior Cup Quarter-Final.

Sadly, season 2020-21 ultimately failed to last past the second month of competition after Southern League Premier Division Central commenced in September 2020 and no more league games were played after a second national lockdown was imposed in early November 2020 with the Pics handily placed in 4th position. Steps 3 to 6 of the National League System were then curtailed with immediate effect in February 2021.

The 2021-22 campaign effectively saw football return to normality, despite the ongoing threat of Covid-19. However, it was an extremely successful one for the Pics as they recorded the highest ever finish in their history by ending the season in 4th position in the Southern League Premier Division Central standings on the back of a 21 game (15 league game) unbeaten run between November 2021 and February 2022. At one time the Pics occupied 2nd position, only to fall away to fourth place after only recording two wins in their final 10 league games. However, a play-off place was achieved, although Rushall fell at the first hurdle against Coalville Town. The season still finished on a high note as Olympic claimed the Walsall Senior Cup for the eighth time in their history with victory over Sporting Khalsa at the Banks’s Stadium.

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 Division, but having reached the play-off semi-finals the Reds ultimately lost on penalties to Leamington. In May 2016 he took over at Hednesford Town. In November 2016 he left Keys Park to join Solihull Moors.

During his time at Moors he helped the club avoid relegation during their first season in the top flight of non-league football and guided them to the Second Round proper of the FA Cup where they were eventually knocked out by Luton Town. After 11 months in charge of The Moors he left the club by mutual agreement and took over at Rushall. At the end of his first full campaign at Dales Lane he had guided the club to an excellent 8th place finish just seven points outside the 2018-19 Southern League Premier Division Central play-off places. The Covid-19 pandemic curtailed and expunged 2019-20 campaign that effectively ended on Saturday 7 March 2020, with the Pics in 5th place in the Southern League Premier Division In 2021-22 he steered the Pics to their highest ever finish - 4th in the Southern League Premier Division Central standings - only for Rushall to fall at the first play-off hurdle against Coalville Town.

Nick GREEN – Assistant Manager.

Teamed up with Liam McDonald for the fourth time when he was appointed by the Pics in October 2017 as their new Assistant Manager. A versatile defender or midfielder who began his career as a youngster with Aston Villa. Upon being released he joined Redditch United, before going on to have spells with the likes of Stourport Swifts, Racing Club Warwick, Quorn, Barwell, and Solihull Moors. He spent nine seasons coaching at youth team level at Aston Villa. Has followed Liam McDonald from Redditch United to Hednesford Town and Solihull Moors before rejoining his managerial partner at Rushall.

Richard BATCHELOR – Midfielder.

A combative midfielder and skipper with a real winning competitive streak, who predominantly plays centrally but who can also fill in out wide and even up front, he arrived at Dales Lane from Mickleover Sports. He began his career at Birmingham City, but left without making a first team appearance. Joined Alvechurch in the summer of 2006 before moving on to Romulus, Chasetown, Leamington and Hednesford Town. Following the Pitmen’s relegation back to the Southern League Premier Division he transferred to Brackley Town before spells at Worcester City, Stafford Rangers and Leamington. In January 2018 he transferred to Stourbridge, but left the War Memorial Athletic Ground after just 10 days without playing a game and signed Highgate United. After spending the early part of the 2018-19 campaign with Highgate United, in November 2018 he made the move back up into Step 3 of the non-league system by linking up with Redditch United, before moving on to Mickleover Sports during the close season of 2019. A fans favourite, at the end of the 2021-22 campaign he was named as Supporters’ Player of the Year.

Jordaan BROWN – Defender.

Powerful left-sided defender equally at home at centre-back or full-back, he arrived at Dales Lane in March 2022 from Tamworth. Began his career at AFC Wimbledon and following the 2010-11 campaign he left on a free transfer and joined Chipstead, before a move to Conference South outfit Staines Town during summer of 2012. In the spring of 2014 he opted to head off to Finland to link up with Vaasan Palloseura (VPS), where he featured in the Europa League for his new club, making his debut in a 2-1 victory over 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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13 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 1 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21

Dimi Kyriatzis (GK) Ed Asafu-Adjaye Joel Nakatani-Brown Will Hall Adam Murray (c) Ronnie Henry Nathan Tshikuna Jay Rolfe Kian Harness Matt Bateman Freddie Hinds Sean Keane Louis Chadwick (GK) James Brighton Fernando Bell Toxtle Isa Rotimi Cole DaSilva Spyros Mentis Connor Furlong Archie Cane Shomari Barnwell

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Jake Weaver (GK) 1 Liam Daly 2 Reece Mitchell 3 Jourdain Masidi 4 Miguel Ngwa 5 Jordaan Brown 6 Sam Whittall 7 Will Shorrock 8 Sam Mantom 9 Andre Carvalho-Landell 10 Kieran Cook 11 Jermaine Hylton 12 13 Alex Cameron 14 Richard Batchelor 15 Alex Fletcher 16 Tyrese Hughes 17 Callum Coyle 18 Kristian Green 19 Declan Riley 20

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