Better Pew

Anstey Nomads 3-2 Rushall Olympic (Southern League Central Division)

Whisper it quietly, but I’m back at Anstey. After saying I might not be that keen to come back here (in my last blog visit) anytime soon, I return less than 3 weeks from making my Cropston Road debut, this time in search of a better pew.

It’s not that it’s a bad ground, it has lots of character and is very likeable on the eye, a bigger plus is that it’s easy for me to get to, but venues lacking side on seats are up there in the ‘bad’ category for me, ranked lowly along with stadiums with running tracks around them, I want to be comfortable and covered as well as up close to the action, so let’s see how tonight goes.

Things have been going ok for Rushall Olympic this season. A National League North side as recently as 2025, they have been recently switched to the Southern League Central Premier (which has been 'unofficially' called by some as the Birmingham League this year), the Walsall based outfit have been going well, fourth in the division they have won their last two and are managed by Ian Long.

The ‘Rushall Olympic’ name dates back to 1893 with football in Rushall said to have been played long before that (Rushall Rovers were apparently an arch-enemy of Aston Villa in the 1870’s) but the version we now know of Rushall Olympic was re-established in 1951, long playing in the Walsall & District Amateur League and Staffordshire County League before stepping into the West Midlands Regional League in the 70’s.

A Midland Alliance regular in the 1990’s they gained promotion to the Southern League before switching to the Northern Premier League and back to the Southern Premier League (geography is always an issue in these parts) before securing promotion to their highest ever run on the ladder in 2023 (step 2), they survived the National League North drop the following year, just, but couldn’t avoid second season syndrome and relegation, last season the Pics finished 16th in the Northern Premier League and have since moved again from North, to South, where they feel more at home amongst many West (and some East) Midlands rivals.

Anstey of course are of the East, Leicestershire based they gained promotion from the Northern Premier League Midlands to play in the Southern Premier League Central for the first ever time and are sixth so far in their first outing at step 3. Since last watching against Alvechurch, Conrad Logan’s side beat Ilkeston Town in the FA Trophy and Gainsborough Trinity in the FA Cup as well as a draw and defeat in the league. The Nomads are looking forward to a trip to Macclesfield on Saturday afternoon, with a place in the first round of the FA Cup at stake.

First though, let’s get through this, on the plus I can take the A46 and leave my home in South Nottinghamshire no earlier than 6pm (which is a rather nice lie-in for a change), calm along the route towards Anstey in North Leicester, I pull off the Leicester Western Bypass and onto the Leicester Road and into the small town centre where I turn right along the Cropston Road.

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The Venue

Hidden by hedgerows along the side of the lane I pass the ground dimly lit in the darkening skies and pull up on a side street to park my car. The walk is short, as I hear feint music from the tannoy ever loudening, a few folk heading in the same direction as I say ‘hello’ to a steward who guards the gate.

Tin roofs and portacabins are the order of the day. I check in via a tight turnstile in the corner of the ground and walk around the back of the goal past where one or two folk are already sitting in red plastic chairs in one of two small, seated stands.

I’m standing half way on the opposite side to where I stood last time I was here, the clubhouse to my right, the tunnel to my left, a couple of unused portacabins behind me.

No cover, luckily my wife told me the weather is ok tonight, warm with a breeze, above average for this time of year, but it is after all October, so the woolly hat keeps me re-assured.

The Game

I saw a goal after 40 seconds at Boston on Saturday, Rushall in changed sky blue say ‘we’ll beat that’. They kick off and go straight down the left wing, centre low to Liam McAlinden who tucks away, as a lad stood with his mates says “that’s fucked my bet up. I had Anstey to win 2-0 tonight”.

Despite the goal, Anstey in all red look more of the dominant force. They have former Leicester City forward Martyn Waghorn in midfield. Apparently he played (and scored) in Baller League last night (don't ask me what it is). Tonight he’s bossing things, caressing the ball around like a blonde haired Andrea Pirlo. Nobody can get near him, they say the top tier pros are two and three steps ahead.

Waghorn’s efforts are tested by the snappy Aurio Teixeira in the Rushall midfield. He’s about 5ft4in but formerly of West Brom, is some player for the level, rattling around with tempo and tenacity.

Another player I like for Rushall is their leggy centre half Osaze Okuonghae. He’s only eighteen but is about 6ft6 with legs up to his armpits. His spider like defending has him running past opponents and forward into midfield, they can’t get near him, I doubt he’ll be at this level for long.

Rushall break on the odd occasion and create danger down the sides with a couple of half chances but it’s Anstey with most of the possession, they have little luck until their forward Tendai Chitiza finds himself in the left back position, he switches a delightful ball over to the right wing where Hartmann runs forward and pulls back to Bastos who blasts home a leveller.

It’s deserved but it doesn’t last long as Yates pulls back to Anderson inside the area to help Rushall home with a second ahead of half time. Martyn Waghorn by now has had enough, he’s hobbled off with an innocuous injury as play restarts, Bastos blasts again, this time off the post, and at the break the visitors have a slender lead.

The Score

It’s an ok view but a bit cramped standing against the fence as folk around me natter whilst drinking beer so I’m off to find somewhere quieter in the second half, I head over to the opposite end where under the small covered stand I notice not too many in attendance, it’s also closer to the gates for a quick exit strategy post-game.

The second half starts with more of the same, Rushall have the lead so it’s in Anstey’s interest to get themselves back in it. They dominate large parts, Rushall every now and again break forward, but I’m disappointed in the away side who I expected more from as a side with promotion ambition, there’s not much in between the teams but Anstey have much more of the ball, and the later it goes you feel the closer they are to getting something.

It takes a good half an hour for that goal to eventually come. Oscar Tonge has made a difference as a second half sub down the left, he’s won a corner and from the resulting set play Anstey bombard the Rushall box, the ball bouncing around looks to have been cleared off the line but Wauchope is on hand to head home from a couple of yards out, a scrappy second has the match back all square.

And there’s still time to win it. The 90 minute mark ticks over and I have no idea how long is left, I didn’t see the board and there’s no announcements for substitutions, scorers or anything for that matter at this place, a long hopeful ball towards Corey Grantham is latched onto by the substitute striker who pokes home, a chap in a Leicester City jacket punches the air beside me as the local fans go wild on the far side, there’s Anstey officials running past their opponents dugouts to celebrate arms aloft onto the pitch, a late victory that claws them within grasp of the playoff placed pack above.

The Stars

Despite the home victory which was indeed a collective, I found one or two nuggets in the Rushall side that shown moments, but probably didn’t have their best collective night of the season.

Both full backs Alcock and Lycett got forward well, whilst there’s a lot to like about the centre half duo, the experienced Jordaan Brown giving orders besides young teenage sensation Osaze Okuonghae who I’ll be surprised if still here next time I see the Pics play. Brown actually off injured when Anstey levelled from their set play ahead of snatching a winner, how they missed him in those later moments of the game.

Teixera is another player at 24 who I really like, he is decent for this level and perhaps one above, whilst out wide both Lewis Corbett and Liam McAlinden had a lot to offer, I needed more from their strikers though, Kaiman Anderson scored, but his hold up play was quickly barged down by big bullying Nomad defenders. Jordan Annable was one did very well on the night.

Whilst Martyn Waghorn gave us 42 minutes of some good stuff in midfield, his replacement, Tobias Liversidge probably provided more legs and work ethic. Kevin Bastos lively on the right, although even he doesn’t know what he’s going to do next on the ball, talented, but frustrating. Tendai Chitiza the best player in red for me, oozing class as he pops up all over the place from his supposed left of a front three role, whilst Oscar Tonge is a player to keep your eye on if ever in town, a neat left winger with a nice touch, him being on the field gave Anstey a more balanced attacking dimension as they clawed themselves from defeat to victory.

The Verdict

Will I be back here again this season? Well, I’m not going to completely right it off. And I don’t fully want to say, ‘I hope not’. Maybe a (reasonable) side on seat with cover, maybe some better lighting (and some white numbers on the red Anstey shirts instead of black) so I can see what I’m watching? Maybe the odd tannoy announcement to tell me who’s coming on and who’s scoring goals and how longs left, it’s not a bad place, but I think it can do better in a few neglected departments.

As for the team, well they are certainly more organised than perhaps the rest of the set up at Cropston Road? They now face Macclesfield with a chance to be in the famous FA Cup hat for round one, where Leicester City come in to the equation, now that is the tie around these parts, that everybody wants!

The Teams

Anstey Nomads: Harley Price, Elliot Hartmann, Darien Wauchope, Jordan Annable (Jonty Bouch 82), Lewis Gibbens, Martyn Waghorn (Tobias Liversidge 42), Kevin Bastos (Corey Grantham 72), Henry Bestwick, Harvet Kirby-Moore, Tendai Chitiza, Luis Rose (Oscar Tonge 62).

Rushall Olympic: Ollie Taylor, Todd Alcock, Carter Lycett (Sam Oliver 90), Aurio Neto Teixeira (Charlie Lutz 90), Jordaan Brown (Luke Benbow 69), Osaze Okuonghae, Lewis Corbett, Sam Wilding, Kaiman Anderson (Jack Concannon 85), Luke Yates (Tyler Roberts 66), Liam McAlinden.

7:45pm Kick Off. Tuesday 13th October 2026, Cropston Road, Anstey (att 286).