Saturday, 30th August 2008

News Archive

- Andy Parker - Burton Mail

26th August 1988
Big Steve Astley spent two seasons making the short trip from his home in Bilston to Oldbury United’s Cricketts Ground to pursue his dream of winning a Banks’s League championship medal.

This season, though, it’s a different story for the soccer-mad carpenter who has the boots to fit any position on the park bar goalkeeper.

Having thrown in his lot with last season’s runners-up, the 28-year-old Astley, who on Tuesday inflicted maximum damage on his old team mates by scoring in new club Gresley’s 2-1 away win, reckons a move to pastures new could take him that vital one place higher in the final table this term.

“I think we’re definitely going to be up there this time,” predicts Astley, who has turned out at centre half, in midfield and up front in just a handful of appearances for his new club.

“We’ve got real strength in depth at Gresley and we’re all confident that we can lift the title this season.”

Astley admits that it was a wrench to leave United but says: “It’s a very similar set-up at Gresley. Oldbury is a tremendous club, but they look after you equally well at the Moat Ground and the people here are tremendous. It’s a bit of a jaunt for me and a long way to go for training, which isn’t my favourite way of passing the time, but I’ll survive – it’s not too bad.”

The former Harrisons, Wolverhampton United and Smethwick Highfield campaigner rates his former Oldbury colleagues and tomorrow’s visitors Halesowen Harriers as the greatest threat to Rovers’ title aspirations and admits: “Halesowen will make it tough for us.”

But after finishing so close last time, Astley will not be satisfied with second place this time around.

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