Signed from: Alveston
Brakes debut: 05/08/03 @ Coventry Sphinx - Ron Cooper Trophy - Lost 4-1
Appearances: 63
Goals: 15
2003/04: 37 starts, 16 sub appearances, 13 goals
2004/05: 4 starts, 6 sub appearances, 2 goals
Having faced Brakes for Leamington Hibernian and Alveston in the past, Vernor Sleem signed for Leamington in summer 2003 having been involved during pre season, and over the next season and a bit became something of a cult hero with the supporters, not least for his penchant for more than the odd spectacular goal.
Having scored his first for the club in the third league game of the season at home to Meir Kings Arms, Vernor finished only behind Josh Blake and Paul Nicholls in the goalscoring stakes, and only Blake made more appearances over the course of the season. The third goal in a win at then big rivals Romulus helped endear him to the suppporters, but before that he hit a spectacular late winner at Barrow Town in the FA Vase, a competition he seemed to enjoy as he hit an even better strike in the next round at Alsager Town. Another thunderbolt came in the rearranged league fixture at Coventry Marconi, a game which Leamington were losing 1-0 in the original fixture when the floodlights failed (This was probably the first time Brakes have benefitted from such an ocurrance in the modern era). Thanks to an absolute screamer from Vernor and a second from Josh Blake we emerged from another hard fought local derby with all three points.
Vernor started the following season at Leamington, but with a wealth of striking talent now at Jason Cadden's disposal he only started 4 games in the first half of the season, making six more appearances from the bench and scoring in wins over Alveston and Dudley Sports, but he appeared to have left the club by the turn of the year. His next club is/was unknown, and not many Brakes fans have seen him since...... Nevertheless, Vernor Sleem takes his rightful place in the Leamington Hall of Fame, not least for his song (To the tune of God Save the Queen) :
'God save our Vernor Sleem,
long live our Vernor Sleem,
God save our Sleem!
(da da da da)
We'll be victorious,
when he scores goals for us,
Long to reign o-ver us,
God save ouuurr Sleeeeem!!'
Vernor Sleem goal at Alsager Town in the FA Vase
