Rushall Olympic F.C.

THE PICS are looking to cash in on one of the quirky aspects of our recent history to support our long-term ambitions.

Back in 1999 Zat Knight signed for Fulham from Rushall Olympic. The move saw the central defender join the professional football ranks at a club for whom he would notch-up 150 Premier League appearances and gain international recognition being capped by England before moving to Aston Villa in a £3.5 million deal.

Rushall Olympic received 30 tracksuits from the deal, which has become a much quoted piece of football trivia as Knight continues his top-flight career with Bolton Wanderers.

This season The Pics have gained a tracksuit sponsor that supports not only the senior team but also the three junior sides at Dales Lane. Worldwide suppliers of blank recording media, PMD Magnetics, who are based in Stratford-upon-Avon, have taken this opportunity to become associated with the club in a wider deal which includes a range of promotional activities.

Rushall Olympic Club Chairman, John Allen said; “We are delighted to be backed in such a fashion by a company of the standing of PMD Magnetics. We are an ambitious club, and like to think a little bit differently to gain every commercial advantage we can. Thankfully PMD Magnetics can see what we are looking to achieve here and we look forward to a long and mutually beneficial collaboration.”

PMD Magnetics founder and Managing Director, Geoff Dance added: “As a Walsall-born man I am thrilled to be associated with this community football club, not only with the ongoing success of the senior side but also supporting the development of the young footballers and their managers and coaches. The emphasis is on football development and fun - PMD Magnetics share these ideals.”

Some of the young players at Rushall Olympic will be aware of Zat Knight’s rise to fame. They can be forgiven for dreaming of a soccer career that emulates such a success!

Similarly the older heads at the club have seen them seamlessly make the transition to the Evo-Stik Premier Division, at Step 3 of the non-League pyramid the highest level in the club’s history and will be hoping The Pics can continue to make history and compete as highly as possible.

“It’s no secret that these are tough times for football clubs and voluntary organisations,” added Dan Hopley, Youth Development Secretary. “Support like this from PMD Magnetics really helps us in setting up a community-based junior set-up focussed on the ideals of development on and off-the-pitch. We are so very grateful for their support. We want these youngsters to have the opportunity to play at the highest level and hopefully this can be done whilst wearing the colours of Rushall Olympic. ”

The Pics hope that Zat will smile when he learns that his tracksuit fee that he earned for his first club has led on to a larger deal for Rushall. It enables four teams to train and progress their skills in some style, knowing that they are also in the dreams of their sponsors!