2006-07 News Archive

Ineffective Rushall Olympic slumped to their fifth successive defeat in all competitions on home turf with a 2-1 reversal at the hands of neighbours Willenhall Town.

An essentially disjointed Pic’s side found themselves behind and playing catch up as early as the 14th minute when Richard Brown inexplicably gave the ball away to Ben Jevons who immediately fired home from outside the area past ‘keeper Ryan Price into the bottom left corner.

After failing to test the visiting custodian at all during a first period where Rushall failed dismally to cope with both the conditions and the opposition, they suffered a further setback on 67 minutes when Willenhall skipper Mark Briggs wrapped up all three points for his side by sending a looping effort from the periphery of the box into the top left corner after being given far too much time and space.

The final 15 minutes saw Olympic belatedly rouse themselves from their stupor as striker Dean Perrow thrice spurned reasonable opportunities to lessen the magnitude of the defeat, while defender Niki Preston also headed wide from close range.

Ultimately the Dales Lane outfit did reduce the deficit in the 88th minute when Anthony Maguire registered a fine individual goal as he latched on to a defensive clearance at ground level and promptly floated the ball over the stranded Dean Coleman from fully 45 yards out. However, it was all very much too little, too late from the struggling Pic’s who are now looking over their shoulders more nervously than ever.

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Rushall Olympic's British Gas Business Football League Division One Midlands game at home to Berkhamsted Town this afternoon has been postponed following an 11.00 am pitch inspection.

Club Secretary Peter Athersmith reported that following early morning rain surface water was holding right through the middle of the pitch from goal to goal and was also spreading out to the wings.

The early decision was taken to prevent the Hertfordshire outfit from making a wasted journey to the West Midlands, especially with the forecast for the day being showers.

The fixture will now take place on a date to be arranged, more than likely as a midweek fixture in March or April.

Meanwhile, the Second team's Midland Football Combination Reserve Division fixture at Rothwell Town also fell victim to the weather.

On the eve of Rushall Olympic's crucial home game with basement club Berkhamsted Town manager Paul Holleran warned his charges that the clash will be a 'must win' affair as his side begin to enter a make-or-break phase of their season. Indeed, the Pic's take on the bottom side in the British Gas Business League Division One Midlands at Dales Lane with their boss admitting that it is a game his side can ill-afford to lose.

Speaking to the Express & Star newspaper he claimed: "You could certainly put the 'must win' tag on this one. They (Berkhamsted) have slipped to bottom of the table with a defeat last week and it's the kind of game we have to win in the position we're in."

However, in addition to the match against the Hertfordshire strugglers, Paul Holleran also believes that the next few weeks will ultimately define the course of the Pics' fight to retain their Southern League status as they take on a series of games against fellow strugglers and local rivals and claimed: "We've gone through a tricky period of fixtures and picked up a decent points total bearing in mind the opposition. Now we have a series of games against local teams and sides who are in and around us and these are the games that will make or break our season. We've got quite a few games at home against teams who are near the bottom and they are games we need to be winning. Performance levels over the last few weeks have been getting there and if we keep on playing like we are then we'll be okay."

Olympic's manager could hand an immediate debut to new signing JAMES FRANCIS and the returning CHAD SHEPPARD. Midfielder Sheppard has made a welcome return to the fold after re-signing from Hednesford Town, while striker Francis, the son of Trevor, has arrived from Halesowen Town. Meanwhile, goalkeeper MARK GAYLE has also now put pen to paper for the Pic's, but at this stage is unlikely to displace current No.1 Ryan Price from the starting line-up.

Manager Paul Holleran continued to use his excellent links to good effect with attacking player JAMES FRANCIS - son of former Birmingham City legend Trevor Francis - completing a transfer from Halesowen Town.

The front runner was previously on Rushall's books as a fresh faced 16-year-old during the 2003-04 campaign and plundered a hatful of goals for the Dales Lane Under-18's Midweek Floodlit Youth League side managed by Melvin Wingfield. However, his talents were soon noted and was snapped up by neighbours Tamworth during the 2004-05 campaign, going on to make his First Team debut in Conference football in November 2004 as a 17-year-old.

Unfortunately, his debut was one to remember for Tamworth who were deducted three points by the Conference for fielding an ineligible player against Leigh RMI as his registration was not received by the Conference in time for him to play in the game. Although the Lambs appealed against the decision, saying the necessary forms were delayed in the post, the penalty was upheld and the club was also fined £250!

After featuring regularly in the Tamworth First Team squad over the next two seasons, following an initial loan spell with Confenerence North side Moor Green, March 2006 saw James link up with Paul Holleran for the first time at Halesowen Town, where he was on loan during March and April 2006. October 2006 also saw him re-sign Southern League forms for the Yeltz.

The versatile forward, who can also play in midfield, began his career with spells on the books of Birmingham City, before going on to try his luck with the likes of Southampton and Plymouth Argyle. With the Blues he signed on as an apprentice and mainly operated within the junior squads, staying there for some three years - last of which his dad Trevor had been relieved of the St Andrews hot seat.

A very warm welcome back to Dales Lane James!

Making a welcome return to the fold has been gifted 21-year-old midfield playmaker CHAD SHEPPARD who has re-signed for the Pic's from Unibond League Premier Division high flyers Hednesford Town.

Chad had originally arrived at Dales Lane during summer 2006 after transferring from Evesham United, but moved to Keys Park in September 2006 after impressing Pitmen manager Phil Starbuck in a pre-season friendly.

He began his career by progressing through the ranks at Birmingham City where he was an Academy player and also featured for the club's Reserve Team, before being released on a free transfer at the end of the 2003-04 campaign and linking up with Tamworth in June 2004. While on trial at the Lamb he earned himself a 12-month deal, but despite featuring in the Nationwide Conference over 20 times and being named as Tamworth's Young Player of the Year he was surprisingly released at the end of the 2004-05 campaign.

During summer 2005 he went on trial with Nationwide North outfit Worcester City, before finally agreeing terms with Willenhall Town and becoming a key figure in the Reds rapid rise up the Southern Football League Division One West table, prior to transferring to Evesham United before the March 2006 transfer deadline.

A very warm welcome back to Dales Lane Chad!

An official statement from Russell Moore (Secretary/General Manager) of Tamworth Football Club has been made upon their web site.

The public declaration appears to suggest that holders Rushall Olympic will now be reinstated in the Staffordshire Senior Cup after Tamworth apparently "withdrew" from the competition following an official protest by the Pic's regarding the eligibility of two of their playing line-up.

However, no official statement has so far been issued by the Staffordshire Football Association, while Tamworth appear to deny they have done anything wrong.

Rushall Olympic certainly have to thank Club Secretary Peter Athersmith for his encyclopaedic knowledge of Football Association rules.

The Pic's lost 2-1 to Tamworth after extra time in the Quarter-Finals but immediately appealed, claiming their opponents had fielded two ineligible players. The Lambs denied infringing the rules but, given their backlog of fixtures and the supposed time it would take for a full investigation into the appeal, they decided to withdraw from the competition.

That means Rushall still have a chance of defending the cup they won last year and will play at local rivals Chasetown for a place in the Final at Port Vale's Vale Park ground against either Leek Town or Kisdgrove Athletic.

Talking to the Walsall Advertiser Rushall's Secretary explained: "We were originally supposed to play the tie on December 5 but it was called off due to a waterlogged pitch and was postponed another couple of times after that. However, only players registered by noon on December 1 were eligible to play and Tamworth included Gary Mills and Michael Briscoe last week, who didn't join the club until this month. We actually knew on the Sunday before the game that Mills was going to play so we just thought 'carry on' - if we win fair enough, if we lose we can put in a protest. I pride myself on being very knowledgeable about the rules and I can tell you precisely which ones Tamworth breached - part three rule 12, 12B and 12C, all on page 64 of the Staffs FA handbook. Basically Tamworth have jumped before they were pushed."

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Rushall Olympic's Second Team gained a very creditable two-all draw at home to high flying neighbours Chasetown in the Midland Football Combination Reserve Division, with the hosts fielding an experienced line-up.

Goals from Solomon Griffiths and Chris Hughes gave the Pic's a share of the spoils.

Dean Perrow's 70th minute penalty strike against his former club Sutton Coldfield Town salvaged a point for Rushall Olympic at Coles Lane in what was essentially a dreadfully dour local derby.

An error by Pic's 'keeper Ryan Price had contributed to the home side taking a 26th minute lead as the stopper missed his punch when attempting to clear Paul Devlin's centre and as the ball rolled out to the edge of the box Nathan Moran made no mistake by curling home into the right side of goal.

Olympic failed to even test their former stopper Chris Gemmell in the Royals' goal throughout most of the contest, but 20 minutes before then end Dean Perrow's run into the right side of the Sutton area was ended with a clumsy trip and the resulting penalty award was confidently drilled straight down the middle by the deadly striker for his fifth goal in nine games.

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Rushall Olympic's Second Team returned to winning ways in the Midland Football Combination Reserve Division with a 3-1 success at Dales Lane against basement club Gresley Rovers.

Joe Ghazanfar gave the home side a 27th minute lead, before a Chris Hughes brace with strikes on 50 and 57 minutes sent Rushall into a commanding 3-0 lead.

The Derbyshire outfit pulled back what turned out to be a consolation goal with 13 minutes remaining, but they couldn't deny the Pic's a victory that sent them up four places in the league standings to 9th.

In the wake of Rushall Olympic's Staffordshire Senior Cup Quarter-Final exit at the hands of Tamworth on Tuesday 13th February, Pic's officials have immediately lodged a protest with the Staffordshire Football Association as they believe that the National Conference side strugglers fielded at least two ineligible players in their line-up.

MICHAEL BRISCOE, who is currently on loan from Hucknall Town, only signed for Tamworth last week, while manager GARY MILLS only returned to the Lamb about a month ago and both turned out for the Tamworth starting XI.

A club spokesman at Rushall revealed that: "The original date for playing this game was Tuesday 5th December 2006, however it was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch. Under Staffordshire Football Association Competition rules only the players who were registered with their club by 12 noon on Friday 1st December 2006 are eligible to play in this match. It would appear that both the above players could not have been registered in accordance with rule 12 (c) 1, 12 (c) 3 and 12(b). We are now waiting for a reply from Staffs F. A. on the matter."

Manager Paul Holleran has warned his Rushall Olympic side they face a tough test of their survival credentials at Sutton Coldfield having insisted that: "They're as good as anything in the league."

Olympic make the short journey to face their near neighbours looking to put further daylight between themselves and the relegation zone, however the Dales Lane boss reckons that recent positive results have galvanised his troops to win their battle against the drop.

Talking to the Express & Star newspaper he claimed: "When I came here and looked at the fixture list I thought 'oh dear', but the pluses have outweighed the minuses and we could easily have had two or three more points. There seems to be more belief about the place now and with the additions we've made we have got more depth. There are still 40 plus points to play for and we've got another tough one at Sutton Coldfield. But there's no reason we can't go and do a job against a side that on their day are as good as anything in the league. Our priority is to stay in this league and I'm confident we can achieve that."

Rushall will be able to welcome back the defensive trio of Chris Brindley, Lee Barrow and Nikki Preston to the squad for tomorrow's game after they missed Tuesday night's Staffordshire Senior Cup 2-1 defeat by Tamworth because of eligibility rules.

Rushall Olympic’s grip upon the Staffordshire Senior Cup, they so memorably clinched against Stoke City at the Britannia Stadium last April, was wrestled from their grasp by a Nationwide Conference Tamworth side littered with a wealth of First Team talent at Dales Lane.

The Lambs needed extra-time to finally overcome the resolute Pic’s by an extremely narrow 2-1 margin, who had recovered from the set back of going behind on the half hour mark, to deservedly equalise through Dean Perrow with 11 minutes remaining. However, in only the fifth minute of extra time the visitors claimed what turned out to be the winner, despite Rushall arguably enjoying the greater possession throughout the contest.

Olympic manager Paul Holleran’s side were shorn of the services of all of their recent new signings due to eligibility rules, but his patched up performers turned out to be more than a match for their big hitting neighbours.

After Pic’s defender Adam Wood had headed wide early on when well placed, Tamworth skipper John McGrath gave his side the lead in the 32nd minute when the former Aston Villa youngster was singled out with a pin-point pass and given enough time and space to drive the ball into the bottom corner past ‘keeper Ryan Price. Conceding the goal was hardly what Olympic deserved, but apart from the strike Tamworth were shackled extremely well by Rushall’s dogged resistance and only the fine form of visiting custodian Dale Belford kept the home attack at bay on several occasions.

The second period saw the Pic’s step up a gear and they had their guests well and truly on the back foot for lengthy periods, but had to wait until the 79th minute to finally gain just rewards for all their hard work. Five minutes after a double substitution and a subtle tactical change, Dean Perrow picked up possession of a loose ball, after Dale Belford had spilled a corner from the right and duly drove clinically home into the bottom corner from 12 yards.

The Lambs stopper then denied Dean Perrow from 12 yards, who had been picked out by substitute Danny Mason with a slide rule pass, three minutes later. However, Tamworth broke Rushall’s hearts just five minutes into extra time when John Stevenson turned and sent Steve Burton racing clear into the penalty area before the striker fired across Ryan Price into the bottom corner.

Try as they might the Pic’s always lacked that decisive cutting edge to restore parity for the second time as they continued to boss proceedings. Their best opportunity fell on 102 minutes, but once again Dale Belford stood in their way as he parried away Anthony Maguire’s 25-yard strike for a corner.

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As predicted, Rushall Olympic's British Gas Business Football League Division One Midlands game at home to Spalding United has been called off following a 9.30 am pitch inspection.

The game is now likely to take place towards the end of March in a Tuesday evening kick-off.

Rushall Olympic's British Gas Business Football League Division One Midlands game at home to Spalding United tomorrow will be subject of a 9.30 am pitch inspection by a local referee.

Following the last two days of severe winter weather Dales Lane is currently under a significant layer of snow with the prospect of the game taking place against the Lincolnshire outfit now looking very bleak indeed.

Rushall Olympic's Staffordshire Senior Cup Quarter-Final tie at home to Nationwide Conference neighbours Tamworth has now been brought forward by a week to Tuesday 13th February, kick-off 7.45 pm.

The several times postponed game was most recently scheduled for Tuesday 20th February, but the Lambs have another committment on that particular evening that took precedence and so the tie was rescheduled upon request.

Rushall Olympic slipped down two places in the British Gas Business Football League Division One Midlands table to 18th position on goal difference following a disppointing 2-0 defeat at the hands of Cinderford Town in bitter cold of deepest darkest Gloucesterhsire.

The game was all but over by the interval after the home side had stormed into a commanding two goal lead thanks to a brace from Gascoyne with strikes in the 20th and 30th minutes.

Paul Holleran was able to hand a surprise debut to former Hednesford Town and Stafford Rangers defender LEE BARROW at leaders Brackley Town after the experienced centre back was snapped up on a short term deal, after spells with Unibond League Premier Division strugglers Leek Town and First Division outfit Kidsgrove Athletic, as cover for suspended skipper Richard Brown.

The Belper born 33-year-old began his career as an apprentice with Notts County, turning professional with them in July 1991, although in August 1992 he moved to Scarborough having not yet made his league debut. After only 11 games for Scarborough, he moved on to Torquay United in February 1993, quickly establishing himself as a first-team regular and ended up with almost 200 professional appearances in England to his credit. In September 1997, he moved to League of Wales side Barry Town for a fee of £7,500 and rapidly became a firm favourite amongst the Barry supporters. However, in the close-season of 2000, after three very successful seasons in Wales, where he played in European football and won two Welsh league titles, he moved to Aberystwyth Town remaining with the Parc Avenue side until December 2001 when he joined Hednesford Town. A move to Stafford Rangers followed in June 2002, but in December 2003 he returned to Hednesford and became a key member of the squad that saw the Pitmen win the 2004 FA Trophy Final at Villa Park against favourites Canvey Island, coming on as a second half substitute. A quite brilliant 2004-2005 campaign followed for the Hednesford skipper was also capped by numerous Player of the Year awards. However, after being released in July 2006 he linked up with Leek Town before joining Kidsgrove Athletic in October 2006.

A very warm welcome to the club Lee!

Rushall Olympic top scorer Neil Kitching ended a personal five game goal scoring drought to give his side an interval lead at runaway British Gas Business Football League Division One Midlands leaders Brackley Town. However, the championship favourites fought back to extend their exemplary unbeaten run to 21 league games with an equaliser 15 minutes from full time.

The Pic's were certainly far from daunted by their challenge and with only a couple of minutes on the watch Dean Perrow's effort from the edge of the penalty area had the home custodian scrambling to divert the ball away for a corner.

Brackley replied in the 11th minute when top scorer Matt Murphy hit a 25-yarder marginally over the bar, while two minutes later the same player saw another drive go inches wide of the target.

Olympic rocked the leaders six minutes prior to the interval when debutant defender Lee Barrow whipped the ball in from the left and Neil Kitching powerfully headed home into the bottom corner.

During the second period both sides served up some attractive football for the spectators at St. James Park, but it was The Saints who saved themselves from a rare defeat on 75 minutes when Tom Winters converted a left flank cross at the near post.

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Following last weeks excellent home draw with runaway Midland Football Combination Reserve Division leaders Hinckley United, the Second Team stumbled to a somewaht disappointing 2-0 home defeat to lowly Boldmere St Michaels that saw their neighbours convincingly leapfrog the Pic's in the league standings.

After allegedly offering his own services to several other clubs, midfielder LEON ALLEN has been transferred out of Dales Lane by Rushall Olympic manager Paul Holleran to British Gas Business Football League Division One Midlands neighbours and arch rivals Chasetown.

This season the 28-year-old has struggled to regain anything like his true form following a succession of injury problems and missed most of November and December 2006.

The midfielder, who can also operate in a more advanced role, arrived at Dales Lane in February 2005 after a short spell with neighbours Great Wyrley, where he had been keeping up his match fitness.

He first came to prominence with Wednesfield during the 1999-2000 campaign and was quickly snapped up be Stratford Town, where he remained at Masons Road until February 2004 and transferred to Willenhall Town to become a member of the squad that finished season 2003-04 as Midland Football Alliance runners-up and gained promotion to Division One of the Northern Premier League.

For season 2004-05 he joined Bromsgrove Rovers, but left the Victoria Ground in November 2004 in the wake of manager Joe Jackson's departure to link up with the Pic's and become a key member of the squad who eventually won the 2004-05 Midland Football Alliance championship and gain promotion into the Southern Football League.

While with the Pic's the playmaker made 68 full appearances, featured a further 10 times on the bench and had netted on 11 occasions.

Naturally we thank Leon for his efforts at Dales Lane and wish him all the best in his future endeavours within football.

A deadly double from striker Dean Perrow fired Rushall Olympic to an excellent 2-1 victory against fifth place Dunstable Town at their Creasey Park Stadium home as the Pic's hauled themselves six points clear of the British Gas Business Division One Midlands drop zone.

During the early stages of the contest both defences were well on top as each side struggled to break one another down, however on 9 minutes Olympic's Dean Perrow tried his luck from 25 yards as the Dunstable stopper handled comfortably.

On 14 minutes Rushall crucially broke the deadlock when Dean Perrow was recklessly scythed down from behind within the confines of the Blues penalty area by a clumsy defensive challenge and the front runner promptly picked himself up and clinically dispatched the resulting award into the bottom corner, sending the custodian the wrong way.

As the half continued the game remained dominated by the strength of the two defences, but a minute before the interval Dunstable were awarded a somewhat dubious looking free kick on the left flank and as the ball was looped into the danger zone Burfoot was allowed to head home unchallenged to restore parity.

The second period saw Olympic go more on the offensive and in the 73rd minute their perseverance finally paid ample dividends when Dean Perrow single handily picked up possession just inside Dunstable territory, before haring past three defenders and ultimately firing inside the right hand post from 20 yards with a low stinging drive.

Rushall's goal scoring hero almost made it hat-trick heaven for himself a minute after giving his side the lead as his pacy shot went inches wide of the upright, but all-in-all it was another superb day for the Pic's on their travels under the tutelage of new manager Paul Holleran.

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Rushall Olympic's Second Team secured an excellent 1-1 draw at home to runaway Midland Football Combination Reserve Division leaders Hinckley United.

The Pic's took the lead five minutes after the commencement of the second period as top scorer Ahmet Bilgimer netted his 17th goal of the campaign in all competitions.

However, with Rushall looking on course to snatch a hard earned victory over the division pace setters, their guests eventually netted an 80th minute equaliser, but Olympic extended their unbeaten league run to 5 games.

Manager Paul Holleran is on the trail of a third Halesowen Town old boy as he looks to continue the shake up his squad.

Having already added CHRIS BRINDLEY and welcomed the return of KARL JOHNSON he was hoping to wrap up the signing of the tremendously experienced goalkeeper MARK GAYLE.

The Dales Lane boss wants back-up and, more importantly, competition for current first choice 'keeper RYAN PRICE and he sees the former Walsall and Crewe Alexandra man as the ideal candidate - who could also offer some goalkeeping coaching to boot.

Paul recently commented prior to the excellent win at promotion chasing Dunstable Town at the end of January: "We've played two games now and we know that we need to add a couple of new faces just to freshen things up a bit. We've already brought 'Brinner' in and I'm confident that will be a big boost for us. And we've got Karl Johnson in training and we're hoping to get him involved sooner rather than later. He's has a nasty eye injury that has kept him out for quite a while now, but we'll get him, fit then hopefully we'll get him involved. He's already signed as a Rushall player so it's just a case of getting him fit. We're also looking to get Mark Gayle on board because we need some experience and some cover for Ryan Price. I've already spoken to Mark and hopefully we can get his transfer sorted out from Halesowen."

Arguably one of the most experienced custodians currently on the non-league circuit, 37-year-old Mark began his career as a Trainee with Leicester City, before moving on to Blackpool during summer 1989. Summer 1990 saw him briefly enter the non-League game with Worcester City and during the following pre-season campaign was snapped up by Walsall for a fee of £15,000 after impressing against the Saddlers in a friendly.

During his 2 ½ years at Bescot Stadium he made almost 100 appearances for the First Team, missing only one game between January 1992 and October 1993. During December 1993 he transferred to Crewe Alexandra for a fee of £35,000, where he remained until the end of season 1997-98 and during that time made over 100 appearances for Dario Gradi's side. Whilst with the Railwaymen he was almost immediately signed on a one month loan by then Liverpool manager Roy Evans during February 1994 in what at the time was an amazing move, featuring on the Anfield bench on three occasions in Premiership matches. Similar loan spells with Birmingham City (February 1997), Hereford United (September 1997), Chesterfield (October 1997) and Luton Town (March 1998) followed, prior to joining Conference outfit Rushden & Diamonds for the start of the 1998-99 campaign on a free transfer.

A return to Chesterfield was then on the agenda during summer 1999 where he was first choice custodian during the Spireites Division Two relegation campaign, before being released during summer 2000 and linking up with Hednesford Town - where he went on to be named as Player of the Year for season 2000-01, despite the Pitmen's wretched season that saw them relegated from the Nationwide Conference.

After being released from the Keys Park outfit in October 2002, having made over a century of appearances, he was snapped up by Solihull Borough. A transfer to Halesowen Town followed during summer 2003, prior to rejoining Solihull Borough in October 2003, before returning to The Grove for a second spell in March 2005.

A surprise move to Tamworth came about during summer 2005 when he signed for the Lamb based Conference and also acted as a coach for the club's goalkeepers, before rejoining Halesowen Town in May 2006 for a third time.

Having already secured striker DEAN PERROW on a one month loan from AFC Telford United, Rushall Olympic manager Paul Holleran has since made a second raid on the Bucks Head to sign midfielder BEN TWIGGER on a similar short-term deal and went straight into the starting line-up for the game at Dunstable Town.

The manager also revealed that the signing of Twigger marked the end of a long personal chase for the highly rated player and beamed: "He is a player I tried to sign when I was at Halesowen but at that stage he chose to sign for Telford instead. Of late he has found himself on the fringes there so we asked the question and we were delighted when he agreed to join us on a temporary contract. We've lost a couple of midfielders because of injury in the last couple of weeks and Ben has come in to help us out."

The highly rated 23-year-old began his career by coming through the ranks at Hinckley United, featuring for both the Youth and Reserve sides, before making just one appearance for the First Team during season 2003-03. After a spell with his local side Bedworth Ex-Service, he was snapped up by Bedworth United and during season 2005-06 his form soon alerted the attentions of some Conference clubs, before eventually opting for a move to AFC Telford United in February 2006.

Despite beginning the season as a First Team regular at the New Bucks Head, he had latterly mainly featured in Central Conference football for the Reserve Team.

Welcome to the club Ben and we hope that you enjoy your stay at Dales Lane!

Rushall Olympic manager Paul Holleran was delighted to see one of his former Halesowen Town charges recently return to the Rushall training ground after not kicking a ball in anger all season.

Rushall supporter's may recall that KARL JOHNSON joined the Pic's in the summer under the short-lived Bob Green dynasty, but was laid low by an eye injury and has only now been given the all-clear to resume training. Paul recently confirmed that: "'Karl is back in training. He was with me at Halesowen as well but joined Rushall in the summer and picked up an eye injury in pre- season. He's just had the all-clear to start training again and we're looking forward to getting him back involved."

The versatile and pacey 25-year-old right sided player is equally at home at right back, wing back or even in central defence. He began his career as a youngster with Aston Villa prior to progressing through the Youth and Reserve Team ranks at Tamworth. He later broke into Tamworth's First Team during their 2002-03 Southern Football League Premier Division championship winning and FA Trophy Final appearance campaign and also featured on a number of occasions throughout the next three seasons of Conference football following promotion.

He signed a new deal to remain at The Lamb during May 2004, but joined Moor Green on loan in October 2004 with a view to a permanent move. Upon being given a free transfer by Tamworth in January 2004 he linked up with Bromsgrove Rovers, ignoring the overtures from Conference North side Nuneaton Borough.

A transfer to Halesowen Town followed in March 2005, where he signed contract terms and remained at The Grove until the end of the 2005-06 campaign.

New manager Paul Holleran was given a stark reminder of the huge task he has on his hands as his inherited Rushall Olympic side ultimately collapsed to an emphatic 3-0 beating by promotion chasing Aylesbury United at Dales Lane after an essentially promising start.

The blustery wind made life difficult for both sides throughout the contest, but the Pic's gave as good as they got during an encouraging first half display, despite finding themselves one down at the interval.

On 31 minutes the visitors launched arguably their first worthwhile attack of the opening period and from a harmless looking centre across the face of the area, Ducks skipper Enzo Silvestri, the smallest player on the pitch, jumped highest to loop a 10 yard header into the left side of goal past 'keeper Ryan Price, who appeared to be blinded by the bright winter sunlight.

Although Tim Jackson and Leon Allen both had chances to restore parity either side of the break, as the second half progressed Rushall's game plan gradually began to unwind as the Pic's work rate deteriorated alarmingly.

On 74 minutes they paid the price for their increased slackness when Luke Melisi was allowed to carve his way through the home rearguard and past the last man. Although Olympic's custodian did well to narrow the angle and make a partial block, the front runner regained his composure to pick up the loose ball and rolled confidently home into an empty net from just inside the area.

Worse was to follow three minutes later when Kevin Mealor found himself in space on the left bi-line and had time to somehow lift the ball over 'keeper Price into the back of the net to claim the softest of goals. Unfortunately, Rushall's Jackson made matters worse when during the aftermath he appeared to berate the assistant referee for not flagging for an offside decision and was immediately shown the red card.

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Manager Paul Holleran has warned his Rushall players he won't allow them to let their standards drop when he takes charge of his first home game tomorrow at Dales Lane when promotion chasing Aylesbury United are the visitors.

The Pic's new boss, who puts last weekends winning start on the line, was delighted with the way his side ended a four game losing streak by grinding out a 1-0 victory at Rothwell Town, and is determined his charges produce a repeat performance hosting a side he got to know well from his time in charge at former club Halesowen Town.

Speaking in the Express & Star he reflected: "Aylesbury are a good side. I've come across them in the Southern Premier at Halesowen and they were unlucky to go down last season. They are a decent footballing side. It will be a tough game for us, but we can look after ourselves. If we can maintain the levels of last weekend we will be okay. The players set a standard last weekend and if they stick to it we will be fine. They won't be allowed to drop it."

The only injury doubt for Olympic is midfielder Leon Allen who has suffered a recurrence of a recent knee.

New Dales Lane manager Paul Holleran certainly worked the oracle in his first game in charge of Rushall Olympic as he guided his new charges to an excellent hard fought single goal victory at 12th placed Rothwell Town in the British Gas Business Football League Division One Midlands.

The only goal of the game arrived in the 26th minute from new loan signing Dean Perrow who deftly headed home Tim Jackson's free kick at the far post to earn the Pic's first victory for six weeks and to put to an end a nightmare four game losing streak.

The result saw Rushall rise back up in the league standings to a relatively comfortable 16th place with mid table stability now well within their reach.

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Rushall Olympic's Second Team romped home to an emphatic 6-1 success at Dales Lane against Barwell in the Midland Football Combination Reserve Division as manager Kevin McCorry gave debuts to four new signings.

The Pic's surged into a 4-0 lead at the interval thanks to a 2nd minute opener from new signing Lee Thorp, while former Stourport Swifts forward Chris Hughes, regaining his match fitness for First Team duty, doubled his sides advantage on 18 minutes.

Two goals in two minutes from top scorer Ahmet Bilgimer and Adam Edmunds in the 27th and 29th minutes gave Rushall an essentially unassailable advantage at the turn around.

Five minutes into the second period Ahmet Bilgimer netted a brace with his 16th goal of the campaign, only for the hosts to see their Leicestershire guests pull a goal back on 62 minutes from the penalty spot following a hand ball offence.

However, Joe Ghazanfar wrapped up a resounding six goal success for Olympic with 17 minutes remaining from the penalty spot.

Rushall Olympic's new manager Paul Holleran has made his first move in the transfer market by snapping up UniBond League Premier Division leaders AFC Telford United's striker DEAN PERROW on a one month loan. The 22-year-old returned to Dales Lane for a third spell this season after two previous abortive moves ended in just one game apiece in September and October after the front runner was prematurely recalled to Shropshire. The move has been engineered by Rushall's boss, who is apparently a close friend of Telford chief Rob Smith and prior to arriving at Dales Lane had been helping to run the Bucks' Central Conference reserve side.

Utility man AARON BISHOP also returns to the fold in a move that turned out to be the last transfer activity of former Pic's boss Joe O'Connor, who planned the signing prior to his surprise departure. The 23-year-old rejoins the club for a third spell and after previously leaving Dales Lane during summer 2005 had seen service with Willenhall Town, Tipton Town and Bustleholme. A former F.A. County Youth Cup with Birmingham County U-18's in 2002 he initially made a cameo appearance for the Rushall back in April 2002, before rejoining the club towards the end of season 2003-04 after a spell with Darlaston Town after joining from Olympic's reserve team just after the start of the 2002-03 campaign. He signed contract terms with the Pic's in October 2003 and was named by his colleagues as Players' Player of the Year for season 2003-04, but by November 2004 dropped out of the Saturday game. Still possesses a tremendous amount of ability and could yet make the grade at higher levels of the game with the right application and guidance.

Paul Holleran also strengthened his backroom team and playing squad in a single swoop by snapping up the tremendously experienced CHRIS BRINDLEY as player-coach from British Gas Business League Division One Midlands rivals Stourport Swifts. The 37-year-old was also player-assistant manager to the new Dales Lane boss at Halesowen Town after being appointed at the end of the 2005-06 campaign, but left The Grove last month on a one month load to Stourport. One of the best known and most decorated players in the non-league circuit, he started out with Hednesford Town before moving to Wolverhampton Wanderers, making 7 appearances at Molineux before being sold to Telford United. With the Shropshire outfit he won the 1989 F.A. Trophy and in 1993 moved to Kidderminster Harriers, where he won the 1993-94 Conference title and was a runner-up in the 1995 F.A. Trophy Final, before eventually returning to first club Hednesford in early 1998. Upon being released in June 2000 he move to Stafford Rangers, before rejoining the Pitmen for a third spell in June 2002 and eventually working his way up to the role of assistant manager. After scoring the winner in the 2004 F.A. Trophy Final he was then appointed Hednesford manager in June 2004, leading the club to promotion via the Southern Premier League play-off in May 2005 - but departed Keys Park by mutual consent in December 2005 and returned to a playing role with Gresley Rovers, before joining Halesowen Town in May 2006.

Welcome to the club one and all!

In a statement issued by the club it was announced that the new Manager of Rushall Olympic would be former Halesowen Town boss PAUL HOLLERAN, who recently left The Grove back in November after two and a half years in the hot seat and after previously being in charge of Solihull Borough.

At Halesowen Town Paul took over from Brendan Phillips in March 2004 and managed to get the Yeltz promoted into the Southern League Premier Division following a 4th place finish in the Western Division at the end of season 2003-04 as a result of the implementation of the Conference second tier.

Since then Paul had maintained the Black Country outfit on the verge of the Premier Division play-offs, with a 9th place finish in 2004-05 and, 8th place finish in 2005-06 and until his departure from The Grove his side were again only 3 points off the play-off positions.

Paul has now been charged with the high priority task of maintaining Rushall Olympic's Southern League status with a view to pushing on next season and mounting a sustained challenge for honours.

On behalf of everyone at Dales Lane I would like to offer Paul a very warm welcome to the club and wish him a long and successful career with the Pic's!

On the afternoon of Saturday 6th January 2007 Rushall Olympic Football Club co-benefactors John Allen and Gary Cooper called meeting with Joe O'Connor in order to discuss the First Team's recent poor run of form that had seen the Pic's lose their last four games and slide precariously into 19th place in the British Gas Business Football League Division One Midlands table, leaving them just 3 points outside the relegation zone.

As a result of lengthy discussions with the clubs hierarchy it was mutually agreed between all parties that Joe O'Connor would relinquish his role of First Team Manager with immediate effect.

Naturally, everyone at Rushall Olympic would like to thank Joe O'Connor for his sterling services as both a player and a manager during the past two and a half seasons at Dales Lane and wish him the very best of luck in his future career within football.

Rushall Olympic's British Gas Business Football League Division One Midlands game at home to Stourbridge this afternoon has been postponed following a 2.00 pm pitch inspection by the match referee.

Once again the pitch conditions were still such that a ball would not run freely on the waterlogged surface and with more rain forecast this afternoon the match was obviously called off.

The fixture will now take place on a date to be arranged in the New Year, more than likely as a midweek fixture.

Rushall Olympic's British Gas Business Football League Division One Midlands game at home to Willenhall Town this afternoon has been postponed following a 10.00 am pitch inspection by local referee Alan Sheffield.

The pitch conditions were still such that a ball would not run freely on the waterlogged surface and with more rain forecast this afternoon the match was obviously called off.

The fixture will now take place on a date to be arranged in the New Year, more than likely as a midweek fixture.

Rushall Olympic found themselves subjected to a wasted journey down the M6 to face Warwickshire neighbours Bedworth United for a game that was abandoned during the half time interval due to an increasingly heavily water logged pitch.

In hindsight the fixture should never have commenced in the first instance with The Oval already substantially soddened by persistent precipitation before the game had even began.

The Pic's had already lost top scorer Neil Kitching just after the quarter hour mark with an arm injury that owed much to the deteriorating conditions under foot, before finding themselves behind against the run of play via a real sucker punch goal on the stroke of half time courtesy of Greenbacks skipper Jae Martin.

The match officials rather sheepishly called time on the proceedings during the break after paddling into the centre circle and confirming that indeed a ball failed to roll without obstruction by the mud and surface water.

Click here for the match report

Rushall Olympic's Second Team's Midland Football Combination Reserve Division home game with Friar Lane & Epworth was called off due to a water logged pitch.

Rushall Olympic slumped to their fourth consecutive defeat as neighbours Chasetown became the latest chief beneficiaries of the Pic's recent poor run of form, although in the end the victory was only by the narrowest of margins of a single goal scrambled home within 90 seconds of the commencement of the second period.

Fortunately for the visitors they were able to put the weekend's shocking home defeat against basement outfit Leighton Town well and truly behind them as during the first period they pushed promotion chasing Chasetown on to the back foot for long spells.

However, Rushall's Achilles heel of the inability to turn superiority into goals once again came back to haunt them and just after half time Chasetown surged into the lead as Duncan Horler stabbed the ball home, despite frantic attempts by Olympic's rearguard to hook the danger clear off the line.