With the National League North lineup confirmed for next season (subject to FA ratification), we are going to take a look at the new boys in the league. We start with the team alphabetically first out of the new teams who are coincidentally now our closest team in the league distance wise - Banbury United.
Who are ya?
Banbury United were founded in 1931 as Banbury Spencer and represent the Oxfordshire market town of Banbury. Much like Leamington, life for Banbury started out as a works team - for the Spencer Corsets factory in the town. The first league the Puritans played in was the Oxfordshire Junior League in the early 30s before making the switch to the Birmingham Combination and the Central Amateur League later that decade.
Post-war times saw Banbury reach the Southern League and, apart from a ten year or so gap of playing in the Hellenic League after relegation in the 90s, they stayed in the Southern League from 1966 right up until 2022. The Puritans have a good record in the FA Cup, reaching the First Round Proper six times; most recently last season as Barrow defeated them.
Setting the Scene
Banbury have played at the Spencer Stadium - now called the Banbury Plant Hire Community Stadium - since 1934. The ground, located next to Banbury Train Station, has a capacity of 6,500 with 250 seats in the John Nicholls Stand.
Banbury is a 25 or so minute drive from Leamington. Alternatively you could get the trains which run every 20 or so minutes with Banbury just one stop down the station map. The 501 and 502 buses run from Leamington to Banbury and take just over an hour.
The Gaffer
Former Coventry City man Andy Whing will largely be remembered by Sky Blues’ fans for scoring the last ever goal at Highfield Road but Puritans fans will remember him for being the man to lift them to the National League for the first time in their history.
Whing has a rich playing history at the likes of Brighton and Hove Albion, Leyton Orient and Oxford United alongside Coventry and has recently spent time in the backroom teams of Kidderminster Harriers and Hereford.
We’ve met before
There have been plenty of big games between Leamington and Banbury and we’re taking you back to Bank Holiday Monday 2017 where a Jamie Hood goal was the difference in a crucial tie that would set the Brakes well on for a second placed Southern Premier League finish.
