RUSHALL OLYMPIC VS STOCKTON TOWN PREVIEW
COMPETITION: Pitching In Northern Premier League Premier Division – Matchday 5
DATE: Saturday 23rd August, 2025
KICK-OFF: 15:00
ENTRY: £14 Adults, £10 Concessions, £6 Under-18s, £2 Under-12s
GROUND: Dales Lane, Rushall, WS4 1LJ
LIVE UPDATES: @stockton_townfc – Twitter/X
LIVE COMMENTARY: Anchors Radio (mixlr.com)
Stockton Town begin their Bank Holiday weekend with their longest trip of the league season to take on Rushall Olympic.
The Anchors put in an uncharacteristically below par performance in Tuesday’s 2-0 defeat at Gainsborough Trinity.
Goals either side of half-time from Lewis Butroid and Jonanthon Margetts handed the home side the three points.
Stockton had stand-in goalkeeper Harry Christy between the sticks for the game. The former Leeds keeper performed admirably in the absence of Nathan Harker.
Christy will once again be in net with Harker ruled out over the Bank Holiday weekend. Jake Petitjean requires a fitness test after picking up a knock in midweek. Amar Purewal and Adam Nicholson are still serving their suspensions. Glen Butterworth is also away.
THE OPPOSITION
Following a two-year stay in the National League North, Rushall Olympic were relegated last season in 22nd with 35 points.
Most would have expected the Pics to have been placed in the Southern League, but Farsley Celtic’s demise saw them become a surprise inclusion in the NPL. It was a decision they did appeal to no success.
Despite their grievances, Rushall have made a strong start on their return to Step Three taking ten points from their first four games to become the league’s pacesetters. After starting with a 1-1 draw at home to Warrington Rylands they have strung together three-straight wins. Their last two have been against two of last season’s Play-Off teams in Guiseley and Ashton United.
It’s an impressive start for manager Ian Long who made a return to management after leaving Walsall Wood last Autumn due to their difficulties which saw them resign from the NPL.
FORM GUIDE
Rushall Olympic (1st): D W W W
Last match: Rushall Olympic 1-0 Ashton United
Stockton Town (13th): D W D L
Last match: Gainsborough Trinity 2-0 Stockton Town
PRE-MATCH QUOTES
Looking ahead to the contest, Michael Dunwell said:
“We’ve watched them (Rushall) last couple of games, and we’ll work on things to get at them.
“It’s a long journey and we’ll travel with a similar squad as to what we had tonight (2-0 defeat at Gainsborough).
“We go there looking to get a reaction.”
