'Village club' Rushall relish Accrington cup date

Chairman John Allen (right, with son Nick) is a former Rushall Olympic manager

Rushall Olympic admit they are "essentially a village club" after reaching round one of the FA Cup for the first time in their history in dramatic fashion.

The Pics, who are based just outside Walsall, beat fellow National League North side Peterborough Sports 5-4 on penalties to earn a home tie against League Two Accrington.

The final qualifying round replay had ended goalless following a 1-1 draw at Rushall's own ground on Saturday.

"We just hope the legacy from this is we get the crowds to come in and help us stay at the (current tier six) level - without getting more through the gate, it's impossible," vice-chairman Nick Allen told BBC WM Sport.

"We've got to National League North and the problem for us in an area saturated with some really good football clubs, both professional and non-league, is to get people into Dales Lane at what is essentially a village club.

"What we always say is when people come once, they come again. That's our reputation."

The score went to 4-4 in Tuesday's shoot-out but goalkeeper Paul White saved from Dan Jarvis, giving Ethan McLeod the chance to take Rushall through - and he did not waste it.

"You could taste the tension of what was at stake for both sides," Allen said.

"We lost our left-back this morning with an injury, we lost Keziah Martin who has gone to international duty with Bermuda after Saturday's game, so our backs were against the wall.

"And we had some terrible news just before kick-off that our president's wife Shirley (Venables) passed away so there were lots of emotions swirling around.

"In amongst that was the opportunity for our club to make the first round for the first time in our history."

Rushall next face games against Darlington, Scunthorpe United, Alfreton Town and Southport - three of them former English Football League clubs - as they look to improve on their 21st place in National League North before returning to cup action in early November.

But Allen added: "We're looking forward to a hell of an afternoon against Accrington Stanley.

"We deserve our time in the limelight, it's a great tie against Accrington, (there's) so much history in that club."