Match Preview

The Royals look to extend their pre-season winning run against local side, Sporting Khalsa, following wins against Cheltenham U18s and Paget Rangers.

The Midland Football League team were established in 1991, and are described as ‘one of the most progressive outfits in West Midlands grassroots football’. Within the last decade, Sporting Khalsa stormed the West Midlands Regional League in 2014/15, with a record number of points and goals scored, as well as winning the Staffordshire FA Vase, only losing once all season. Sporting Khalsa finished third within the Midland Football League last season, accumulating 67 points, obtaining 20 wins, drawing 7 times, and losing 11 times.

Sporting Khalsa are managed by Ian Rowe, who is about to begin his fifth season in charge at The Aspray Arena, and is the only man ever to have led two separate clubs to the West Midlands Premier League title. Throughout his tenure as manager, Khalsa have finished in the top six consistently, as well as winning the JW Hunt Cup, reaching the quarterfinals of the FA Vase, and the fourth qualifying round of the FA Cup.
Sporting Khalsa have, similarly to us Royals, played two pre-season games, winning both. The Walsall-based side beat Dudley Town 3-0 on Saturday, and were victorious away at Darlaston Town on 9TH July, winning 4-2.

Khalsa play their football at the Aspray Arena, located in Willenhall, Walsall, where the club has overseen substantial investments to the ground, including the ‘442 Bar and Lounge’, a community sports facility, as well as a 3G pitch.

Come on you Royals!

BY JACK BLENKIRON