Webb's Olympic boys would be stars today

Star, who played through the 1960s to the late 1990s when they folded, were an iconic side in the Stourbridge and Lye area – and one of the most feared amateur outfits in the country.

The club's remaining players met at a local Stourbridge pub to mark the occasion, and for some it was the first reunion in decades.

Former manager and West Midlands non-league football guru, Alan Webb, told the tale of the club and how they rose to prominence.

"I got married and moved in 1963 where there was a team called Swinford Rangers," said Webb.

"They played at Swan Pool Park and were part of the Coronation League in Birmingham.

"They weren't really going anywhere and the club took a bit of a hiatus, we went in and changed things. I became the manager.

"People regularly ask me why we were known as Olympic Star. We were sitting and deciding on a name – we wanted 'star' in it because it was the name of a local pub.

"We decided on Star Olympic, but another club had that name, so the now deceased Peter Baggott instantly piped in with Olympic Star."

Webb led the club to great success, they were three-times winners of the Kidderminster Sunday League before moving on to the more competitive Festival Premier League.

The club's home moved to The Plough in Wollaston and later to Lye Town.

The evergreen Webb still finds himself helping out with Lye under current bosses Martin Thomas and Darren Goodall.

Star went on to appear in numerous finals and claimed a haul of trophies.

Webb's association ran through to the early 1980s, when he stepped into Saturday football and spells with Gornal Athletic, Halesowen Town, Stourbridge and Worcester City.

"I was born in the Lye and it's great to still work there. It's a lovely little club," the retired BT worker and school bus driver said.

"I still sit and look at the photos. There are a few members of the club that have since passed on but you couldn't pick out one that lived more than three miles from the South Road.

"Harry Hill was our physio before going on to be at Lye for 37 years. I had Bob Sidaway from when he was 16, Alan Harper and many others.

"There were the Clinton brothers, Mick and Pat, and the full-back Patrick Willis.

"But Bob was our star. He was a tremendous footballer and is very well renowned."

Webb had long since left the fold when Star caused a stir by going all the way to claim the FA Sunday Cup in 1998 – beating a St Jospeh's (Luton) side that included ex-England and Chelsea striker Kerry Dixon in the final at Peterborough's London Road.

Sadly for all involved, Star folded not long after.

Webb has strong opinions about the club's ending, but his passion and memories for the club he led throughout the 1960s and 1970s overrides those ill-feelings and will remain with him forever.

"At one point we were voted in the top six Sunday teams in the country," he said.

"I'm not blowing it out of proportion or being stupid but I'm confident that our side, back in the day, would be comfortable against any of the bigger semi-pro sides around now.

"I'm not saying we'd beat them all but we'd do well.

"Sunday football isn't what it was back then. The standard is poorer now.

"You still have young kids going with their teams but you don't have groups of mates going for a kickabout.

"There is too much emphasis on winning and losing and that isn't always good.

"I coached and I used to tell parents 'don't worry on the outcome' and not to be too hard on the kids."

The remaining members of the Olympic Star's glory era met to mark the 50th anniversary of the club's formation at The Gigmill pub in Stourbridge.

Despite not seeing several of the players in over 30 years, it was almost like no time had passed.

Webb added: "Some of them had grey hair and were overweight. Their sons and daughters would be married but back then they didn't even have girlfriends.

"I barely recognised the goalkeeper but he said 'I haven't got my gloves with me'."