On This Day - January 13th

1940 - New Hippodrome were our visitors for a Rugby Chamber of Commerce Cup tie, which Brakes won 6-1. 

1951 - Brakes travelled to Marston Road to face Stafford Rangers in the Birmingham Combination, going down 2-0. 

Team: Derek Spencer, Eric Dobbs, Cedric Bennett, Fred Keeble, Les Latham, Ken Hawker, Jack Kirkaldie, Bill Draper, Walter Soden, Frank Gardner, Hughie Morrow.

1962 - Bromsgrove Rovers were our visitors at the Windmill Ground for a Birmingham & District League fixture. On loan Coventry City man Colin Holder scored both goals in a 2-0 win.

Team: Peter Woodward, Geoff Coleman, Mick Lane, Roy Bradley, Gordon Hancocks, Brian Bradley, Ernie Ward, Barry Shorthose, Colin Holder, Keith Jepson, Syd Hall. 

1965 - Wellington Town were the visitors to the Windmill Ground for a Midland Floodlit Cup tie which Brakes won handsomely by 5 goals to 1 thanks to goals fro, John Connolley, Ernie Ward, Syd Hall and Ray Holmes. 

Team: John Crosby, Ray Lockton, Gordon Hancocks, Colin Davis, John Connolley, Bernard Jones, Ernie Ward, Cyril Parry, Ray Holmes, Barry Shorthose, Syd Hall.

1969 - We made the trip to the Lamb Ground to face Tamworth in a Midland Floodlit Cup tie. The home side won by a single goal in front of a crowd of 1,171. .

Team: Bob Steane, David Pyle, Bill Tedds, Bill Salmon, John Roberts, John Anthony, Geoff Skellington, Richard Gretton, Ray Holmes, Alan Vest, Syd Hall. Sub: Neil Unwin.

1970 - Burton Albion’s Eton Park was the destination for a Midland Floodlit Cup tie, which Brakes lost 3-1 despite going ahead through a 30 yard strike from Dennis Taylor. 

Team: Bob Steane, Mel Davis, Peter Lawton, Keith Shrimpton, John Roberts, David Pyle, Jim Cassidy, Bobby Palmer, Ken Whitehead, Dennis Taylor, John Brady.

1974 - AP Leamington faced Gloucester City in a Sunday afternoon fixture at the Windmill Ground in the Southern League Division 1 North. Goals from Adrian Stewart and Norman Foster (2) overturned a half time deficit to see Brakes take the points. 

Team: Dave Garratt, Dennis Taylor, John Brady, Tony Bowden, Doug Griffiths, John Goodfellow, Ivor Talbot, Steve Lee, Mickey Boot, Norman Foster, Adrian Stewart. Sub: Keith Shrimpton.

1976 - Corby Town were the visitors to Tachbrook Road for a Southern League Midland Division game, as Jimmy Knox’s AP Leamington side looked to build on a 14 game run without defeat in the league. 

2001 - Chelmsley Town were our visitors for a Midland Combination Division 2 fixture at the New Windmill Ground. Brian Agar, Jonny Burgess and Darren Timms were our goalscorers in front of a crowd of 423. 

Team: Richard Morris, Jonny Burgess (Kevin Ariss), Guy Rippon, Will Payne, Liam McGovern, Adam Ball, Stuart Hepburn, Darren Timms (Barry Shearsby), Ian Billington, Brian Agar (Josh Blake), Steve Thompson.

2007 - Causeway United were the visitors to Harbury Lane for a Midland Alliance fixture. Jamie Towers, a brace from Josh Blake, Ben Mackey and Dave Pearson were the Brakes scorers in front of a crowd of 606. 

Team: Jason Pearcey, Jamie Towers (Tom Bates), Tom Cudworth (Adrian Fuller), Adam Knight, Adam Cooper, Craig Dutton, Stuart Herlihy, Jon Adams, Martin Thompson, Ben Mackey (Dave Pearson), Josh Blake. Subs: Andy Gregory, James Husband.

Leamington 5  Causeway United 1
Midland Alliance
Saturday 13th January 2007

By Roger Vincent

Record Brakers

Brakes took the MFA record for consecutive unbeaten games from Shepshed Dynamo’s 1995-96 campaign with this comfortable win despite playing all but the first 20 minutes with 10 men after Martin Thompson was sent off for the first time in his career.

Although Brakes were only 1-0 up at the time, from a Towers drive three minutes earlier, Causeway still played cautiously and a late consolation goal from Jones after Blake, Mackey and Pearson had made it 4-0 was their only real shot on goal after which Blake added another in stoppage time to score five for the first time this season.

Adrian Fuller came off the bench for a confident debut and looks to be a classy signing by Cadden to add to his already solid defence and at the risk of tempting fate Brakes are looking to have the title in their grasp after Romulus’s defeat at Stratford.

Brakes needed 612 to reach the 10,000th through the turnstiles in league and cup this season and despite strong blustery wins fell only six short on a day so gloomy that the officials requested that the lights were on from the start. An award will be made next Saturday to the 6th person through the gates but please note that hot soup will not be provided for those queuing all night for the honour.

Strong winds rattled the panes and snapped the corner flags towards the North Bank with Brakes kicking towards Harbury Lane in the first half. Though Causeway broke quickly through Cox, leaving Cudworth on the ground, his cross cum shot sailed harmlessly wide and Brakes had the early chances with Towers and Thompson running powerfully into the wind before Towers rounded a defender to drive an unstoppable shot into the net from 30 yds for 1-0 in the 17th.

But Brakes’ dominance  seemed to be threatened four minutes later when Thompson received a straight red for pushing Causeway’s Aston after receiving an elbow for which the Causeway no. 4 was cautioned. It was the bustling forward’s first ever sending off and introduced a niggling element that never completely disappeared.

But Causeway, whether through fear of Brakes’ strength or lack of confidence in their own ability, never seized the initiative offered them by this advantage to push forward and it was Brakes who seemed to have the extra man.

In the 25th Brakes were further ahead, 2-0, when Blake, reacting quickest to a Mackey thunderbolt from 20 yds that came back off the bar, sent a diving header into the net. Herlihy was lucky to receive only a yellow when he reacted to another niggling tackle as Brakes threatened to take control.

A Towers cross after a superb run down the right was well-controlled by Mackey who was denied by the keeper who turned his shot round for a corner before a third excellent goal from a now-rampant Brakes. Adams ran across the pitch to release Blake down the left. His excellent cross was controlled beautifully by Mackey who turned inside and smashed the ball joyously into the roof of the net for 3-0 in the 37th. Mackey could have made it four when he rounded two defenders minutes later but his powerful drive was turned away for a corner.

At half time Mick Brady presented a cheque for £300 to Anita Burrows of Myton Hamlet Hospice, money raised by the raffle at the Romulus game over Christmas, and Brakes received the MFA team of the month award for December presented by MFA vice-chairman Michael Penn on behalf of sponsors Moldwel Products Ltd.

Knight became the third Brakes player to be carded when he received a yellow in the 53rd as tempers flared once more but Brakes, now playing with the still-strong wind, continued to dominate. Adams' dipping shot was just over from fully 35 yds and Mackey, having done the hard work, tried to break the net in the 57th when his more delicate touch may have paid dividends.

New signing Fuller came off the bench for his first appearance as a full-time Brake and Blake was unlucky not to welcome his appearance with a goal two minutes later when his shot was deflected by a defender for a corner off the Causeway post with the keeper well beaten.

Now Causeway entered their only period of ascendancy as the missing man took its toll but although Brakes were finding it difficult to break out of their own half the defence was still in control with Fuller and Knight supreme. Causeway, disheartened perhaps by making no inroads into Brakes’ lead despite their numerical advantage, gave away a loose ball to Pearson who rounded the keeper but was denied by a defender tackling back, forcing his shot onto a post. But Pearson reacted quickest and forced home the rebound for 4-0 in the 87th.

In the 90th minute a looping drive from Andy Jones gave Causeway some consolation at 4-1 but Bates sped down the left and crossed for Blake who showed superb control to score his second and Brakes fifth when he made it 5-1 in the 90+4th minute.

Leamington: Jason Pearcey; Jamie Towers (Tom Bates 66); Tom Cudworth (Adrian Fuller 62); Adam Knight; Adam Cooper; Craig Dutton ©, Stuart Herlihy; Jon Adams; Martin Thompson; Ben Mackey (Dave Pearson 72); Josh Blake.

Subs Not Used: James Husband; Andy Gregory.

Causeway United: Matt Sidaway; Hugh Sproston; Matt Hollis ©, Matt Aston; Stuart Attewell; Lee Billingham; Simon Dixon (Andy Jones 62); Nathan Williams (Danny Priest 72); Chris Bladen; Ross Casey; Danny Cox (Gavin Winsper 39).

Subs Not Used: Sam Yafai; Mark Smith.

Attendance: 606

Match Sponsor: Wyn Grant

Match Ball Sponsor: Fred Holloway

Mascots: Aaron Mulgrew attends Coten End Primary School and is 10 years of age

2018 - Leamington travelled north to face Southport in the National League North, going down to a 2-0 defeat. Striker Daniel Udoh made his debut in this game on loan from Crewe Alexandra. 

Team: Tony Breeden, Richard Taundry (James Mace), Connor Gudger (Kaine Felix), Joe Clarke, Jamie Hood, Junior English, Kieran Dunbar, Callum Gittings (Kurtis Revan), Daniel Udoh, Jack Edwards, Ahmed Obeng. Subs: Liam Canavan, Joe Magunda.