Frontline fan on Olympic duty

Sapper Pete Aish was guest of honour at Rushall Olympic on Saturday as the Evo-Stik NPL’s clubs backed Non-League Day.

Apart from Rushall’s third versus fourth clash at Dales Lane more than half of Saturday's Evo-Stik NPL Premier Division fixtures took part in Non-League Day with many more from Evo-Stik NPL North and South running tickets offers and events for supporters.

Originally from Bloxwich, the soldier with 30 Armoured Engineer Squadron, 26 Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers, has been a Pics fan since seeing his first Dales Lane game as a boy with his dad and is home from a tour of Afghanistan.

Sapper Aish, pictured, was invited along to Rushall’s NLD fixture after contacting Pics Secretary Peter Athersmith to thank the club for a morale boosting parcel of Rushall merchandise they'd sent to him on the frontline in July.

He'd written home asking for help to lift his unit's spirits while they were operating a small check point in the middle of hostile Helmand province.

He said: "It’s been pretty hectic since I’ve been back sorting all my kit out and getting ready for the medals parade. I would just like to say a massive thank you for sending me so much stuff, I didn’t expect to get that much it was a nice surprise!"

Non-League Day, now a nationwide event supported by clubs up and down football’s Pyramid, was staged for the third year running after the day's previous success in attracting new fans to the Evo-Stik NPL and raising awareness of the Non-League game.

It was launched to encourage Non-League fans to bring along their friends and family who might normally head for Football League or Premier League matches and is staged during the October international football break when Premier League and Championship fixtures aren’t scheduled.

This year's event attracted added attention with Sky Sports football commentator and Kingstonian coach Martin Tyler now the event's official ambassador.

Marine, Rushall Olympic, Ilkeston, Hednesford, Frickley Athletic, Matlock Town, Garforth, Radcliffe Borough, Ossett Albion, Coalville Town and Stamford were among the Evo-Stik NPL clubs with home games who took part.