Beale backs Bucks to prosper
Departing AFC Telford United defender Richard Beale is backing his old team-mates to challenge for promotion to the Blue Square Premier. Departing AFC Telford United defender Richard Beale is backing his old team-mates to challenge for promotion to the Blue Square Premier. Beale - who has just got a new full-time job as a coach at Premiership club Birmingham City's academy - is set to link up with former Telford reserves boss Paul Holleran at Rushall Olympic, though he has yet to sign any deal. But the left-back admits it will prove hard to put Telford behind him after almost two years at the New Bucks Head. "I am very, very sad to be leaving AFC Telford United - I think they are the biggest club in non-League," he said. Read the full story in today's Shropshire Star
But the left-back admits it will prove hard to put Telford behind him after almost two years at the New Bucks Head.
"I am very, very sad to be leaving AFC Telford United - I think they are the biggest club in non-League," he said.
"It's a club that will always hold a special place in my heart. I had a great relatioship with the fans and they were always great to me. I always appreciated that.
"Rob Smith (the Telford boss) obviously doesn't rate me as highly as I'd like but that's fine as football is a game of opinions.
"I'll defeinitely keep an eye on their progress and they'll be the first result I look for along with Stafford, because I had a great time there as well.
"I think potentailly they can go straight up again. My heart says that's what I want them to do, and that's genuine."
Beale revealed he had turned down the advances of several clubs at UniBond League premier division level, with work commitments and his personal relationship with Holleran being his main reasons for favouring Rushall.
"The manager Paul Holleran is a friend of mine and I've known him since I was at Solihull with him," added Beale.
"I played a couple of games on loan for them last year, and then when it was looking like I'd be released he rang me up and was very persistent in saying he'd look after me. I had a few phone calls from clubs higher up, but the swinging factor was my new job as it meant I didn't want to be travelling too far."
By Chris Hudson
