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Rushall Olympic go up to the Premier
Tuesday 3rd May 2011, 8:29AM BST.
Promoting-winning manager Neil Kitching has vowed his Rushall Olympic heroes will aim for more than Premier Division survival.
The Pics will play in the third tier of non-league football for the first time next season alongside Stafford Rangers and Chasetown.
Kitching’s men went up with a 2-0 Evo-Stik First Division South play-off final success against Grantham at Dales Lane yesterday.
And the manager wants Olympic to follow the example of Chasetown, who ended their first campaign in the Evo-Stik Premier as a top-half side.
He said: “We are going up to have a right good go. Chasetown went up and were in with a shout of the play-offs with a few games to go.
“People say try and survive but that’s not what I’m about, it’s not what assistant manager Nick Amos is about or coach Ian Cooper.
“We’ll add some players in the summer and look to try to achieve something.”
Second-half goals from Lei Brown and Matt Lewis earned Rushall victory in front of a bumper Bank Holiday crowd of 751.
And Kitching, who took over the managerial hotseat from Paul Holleran two years ago, is hoping the club can keep hold of their new-found supporters.
The Pics boss said: “It’s fantastic. I don’t think people realise how big an achievement it is. Rushall Olympic are a village side really.
“You drive through Rushall and you’ve got a pub, football ground and a McDonald’s, there’s not a lot to it. We get gates of 100, tops 150, and for us to get into the Premier Division is a fantastic achievement.
“But you’ve seen the gate we had yesterday. We’ve got to try to keep hold of these fans.”
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Just want to say what a fantastic achievement by ‘The Pics’. Well done to all the management, players, everybody behind the scenes and the supporters! A special congratulations to John and Nick Allen for all the hard work and financial support to the club. Good luck in the Premier from us all at Advantage Sports (Worcester).
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Fantastic afternoons entertainment with a bumper crowd and the Pics did not disappoint! Well done to everyone associated with Rushall Olympic.
I hope the people of Walsall get behind the areas top non league club next season as they aim to do us proud in the Northern Premier.
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