After the conclusion of Leamington's fourth pre-season friendly - a 1-1 draw with Leicester City u21 - Brakes' Press Officer, Paul Edwards, and Head of Media, Max Passantino, sat down with Paul Holleran to speak about a variety of topics.

With the chat taking place straight after the Leicester game, the manager now in his fourteenth season at Leamington spoke about the match his side had just played, saying: "It was a really good pre-season game, we try to get a mixture of games in pre-season and these (Leicester City) are a really good side to play. Ben (Petty, Leicester u21 coach) will get great benefit from his boys playing us and we’ve got great benefit from playing them - the way they try and move it through the lines quickly and their change of shape in play, you’ve really got to work hard to stay connected.

"It was a real good game and I thought we played our part in it, especially the first half performance that was really encouraging against a strong side with some really good players and it feels as if we’re gradually getting there. We’re changing personnel and shape and it’s encouraging, we’ve had to dig in and work at times but all in all it was a really good pre-season workout." 

Adam Walker's 79th minute equaliser cancelled out an opener from the young Foxes to notch a second draw of pre-season, adding to the 2-2 draw with Coventry City u21 where Leamington came from behind again to salvage a draw.

The summer has seen six new additions to the Brakes squad. Joining were Callum Smith from Walsall Wood, Jiah Medrano from Shepshed Dynamo, Josh Quaynor from Halesowen Town, Tyrone Barnett from Hereford, Callum Stewart from Coventry Sphinx and Henry Landers from Banbury United.

Speaking about the new signings and team dynamic, Hollers commented: “The new signings have been pulling their weight and more, what we went through last season was difficult and we needed a bit of a face lift. What I’m trying to do is get the lads more adaptable, we played two different shapes (against Leicester) and it helps them get used to playing different systems. We’ve brought a few young lads in who are adapting to the level and then we’ve also brought experienced players in like Tyrone and Josh and they’re all settling in well.

“It’s early days but it’s encouraging signs. At the same time you’re trying to keep our Leamington DNA but it’s pleasing and I’m especially pleased with the younger players coming in, Callum Smith and Cally (Stewart) and you can see Jiah and Josh have both settled in well too so there’s lots of pluses at the moment.”

Step 3 has changed considerably since Leamington last played at this level in the football pyramid with the split of the Southern League into the Southern Premier League Central and the Southern League Premier South, with Brakes poised to play in the former for the 2023/24 season.

“It’s a good league, quite exciting," Holleran noted. "The reality is the National League North - we all aspire to play there but it has been difficult for us, the central league will also be tough… there are some good players in that league but maybe a change, a few more local games and something different for everybody - the players, fans and club. It’s something to look forward to and hopefully we can go and give a good account of ourselves, that’s the aim."

Fans may have noticed that both Dan Meredith and Henry Landers have been missing for the last couple of pre-season games, and Hollers offered an explanation into why.

“Henry got an ankle injury against Coventry so that’s knackered him up for the last few games," the manager disclosed. "Dan Meredith’s back in training next week, he’s a teacher now so you have to balance that. He broke up from term time and had his spell to have a little holiday so that’s why I got a couple of 90 minutes into him early doors, so over the next two games both Dan and Henry will be involved, more to the Rushall game.”

After Saturday's trip to Rugby Town AFC, newly promoted Rushall Olympic wait to be the final test of pre-season and the former Rushall gaffer made it clear he wanted to play his old side in preparation for the league campaign.

The Pics achieved promotion to the National League North last season for the first time in their history with a penalty shootout win against Nuneaton Borough at Liberty Way in the play-off final. Former Leamington custodian Jake Weaver was the hero of the show, saving two penalties - much like his heroics at Wrexham in the FA Trophy for Leamington. 

“I always try and pencil Rushall in, it’s realistic and tough. If you look through all the pre-seasons that last game we want something that will test us and they (Rushall) have momentum, we’ve had that momentum on more than one occasion, and it’s great when you’ve got that feel good factor and that’s what I’m trying to do is build that feeling back up here again. How do you do that? Well I’m trying to give the players something else to think about on the pitch, some new faces around the place and it gives everyone a bounce. It will give us a chance, it all comes back to the scenario that the Leamington DNA doesn’t change.

“I’m working in a changing room where I feel we’ve got good people who’s work ethic and desire would never be in question, we’ve then brought in these young players into this system and say ‘these are the standards at the football club and that’s what I want’ and they buy into it. There’s a little bit of work to do with one or two of them but we’re all getting there. When people like Tyrone Barnett come in and you look round the changing room and see Theo (Streete), Jack Lane, Jack (Edwards), Joe Clarke, Adam Walker Junior (English) - you see them all and they set the standards and we all follow.

“If you do things properly, get a good work ethic, get organised and add a bit of quality then you’d hope we might just do okay!”

Brakes start their league campaign on August 5 at home to Long Eaton United, who have won successive promotions to reach the Southern League Premier Central and despite coming from an opposite trajectory to Leamington last season will provide a stern test in Leamington's first game under the Southern League banner in over six seasons.

“I’ve had a glance at the fixture list," Holleran admitted. "Long Eaton are new but two promotions in two years tells you all you need to know really. They’re obviously ambitious and we’ll no doubt get eyes on them ahead of the first game. There’s an element to the league - there’s no ifs and buts that the National League has been tough and demanding for everyone at the football club but you look at this division and it’s not as demanding, especially in terms of travel so we’re looking forward to the games.

“We’ve been where teams in this league want to be and we’ve been there for a long time. We’ve sustained it and built our reputation which is now very high for this league and rightly so - you’ve got Kettering and Telford in the same position regarding club size but listen, we’ve got to deal with the pressure and the reality is whatever wins we get this season we’ve got to work hard and that’s exactly what we’ll do."