Paul Holleran has pulled off something of a coup by bringing attacking midfielder Sam Osborne to the club.

The Nottingham born 21 year old left National League Notts County recently after deciding to pursue regular first team football in order to further his career, and the persistence of Holleran, coupled with a glowing reference from our former striker Colby Bishop, persuaded Sam that Leamington was the place to do that.

Spending the formative years of his career at Nottingham based side Dunkirk and then Burton Albion, Sam’s first taste of Senior football came in the Midland League at Dunkirk during the 2015/16 season. He was snapped up by Notts County in 2016 on a 2 year scholarship and quickly impressed, winning the Player of the Year in 2016/17. He made his first team debut for the Magpies early in 2017 and also spent successful spells on loan at Basford United and Grantham Town.

After excelling for the Under 23’s Sam signed professional with Notts, and appeared 28 times in total for them, scoring three goals. He also scooped the club’s Young Player of the Year award in the last two seasons.

Sam agreed that speaking to former Brakes striker Bishop had been a big factor in his decision making, along with talking to the manager, saying ‘I spoke to Paul quite a while back now, initially for a bit of advice mainly, but Colby couldn’t recommend him highly enough, especially coming from a full time club to a club like Leamington - it’s just full of opportunities.

‘I’m very eager to get going - it’s been a while now obviously with lockdown, not playing, so I just want to get on the pitch and do what I do really. I’m looking forward to getting regular games.’

The manager was understandably pleased to land a player who was very well thought of at his previous club, saying ‘Sam Osborne is a player that came on the radar during the summer. He’d been at Notts County for four years, and is a player that was recommended to us by Colby Bishop. We had some initial chats; I probably thought that he was going to take one of the other options he had… but I think he sees Leamington as an environment that he’ll enjoy and could thrive in. I think he’s seen what’s happened to some of the other young players at the football club, and has chosen to come and join us so we’re delighted to get him on board.

‘I think people will enjoy his directness; he makes things happen, he can go either way, and I think that with so many of the other young players we’ve signed this year I think he could be an exciting prospect.

‘He got involved straight away in his brief appearance against Solihull Moors last Saturday when his challenge to win the ball led to our goal. You could see what he will bring to us, and along with some of the other young lads like Danny Waldron and Dan Meredith, gives us lots of energy, which is something, with the National League North looking as strong as it’s been for a few years now, that we are going to need in the forthcoming season, so I’m delighted to wrap this signing up. Sam has a fantastic attitude. I’ve actually enjoyed the last month of dealing with him and I’m looking forward to working with him. I think he will be a really good asset to the squad.’