Match Arrangements: Brackley Town

Leamington welcome good friends and title chasing Brackley Town to Warwickshire for our final home game of the season on Easter Monday.

This game will NOT be segregated. 

Tickets

You can purchase tickets online and on the gate. We highly recommend using our online ticketing portal to purchase your tickets in order to minimise queues at the turnstiles. On the day one turnstile will be signed for online tickets so you can easily scan your ticket and gain entry and another turnstile will be accepting card and cash payments. 

Adult: £15
Over 60: £11
Student (with NUS Card): £8
Under 18: £5
Under 12: £0

Car Parking

Car parking costs £3 when bought in advance and £5 when bought in cash or card on the day. We ask all supporters to either car-share or make use of our free shuttle double decker service (details below).

Leamington FC season ticket holders get free parking when their ticket is shown at the gate, and blue badge holders must book their free tickets via the ticketing site link above.

FREE Double Decker Bus Shuttle

A free double decker bus shuttle will run from Leamington Station, to our park & ride location at the Windmill Inn, to the ground. 

Park & Ride parking is opposite the pub all along Ashbourne Drive, free on-road parking for a minimum of 200 cars next to the new Wickes store. Find the location on the map below:

Post-match, the service will leave for the station at 5pm, with another journey back scheduled at 5:30pm. 

For those coming to the Your Co-op Community Stadium for the first time, please note that although there is ‘ON-SITE’ parking for approximately 370 vehicles, there is NO alternative ‘on-street parking’, as we are located on a busy country road with no pavements and surrounded by farmland.

Facilities

Your Co-op Community Stadium has facilities to please everyone! There is a burger van in the tunnel corner of the ground, serving hot food and drinks with cash & card accepted.

If you don’t feel like hot food but want something to snack on, then Debbie’s Sweet Shop is the place to go. Hot drinks and cold snacks (including a wide selection of sweets) are all available from the sweet shop which you can find at the Harbury Lane End side of the ground, but please note this is cash only.

Alcohol can be consumed on the terraces at our ground, and you can purchase it from our clubhouse which is situated in between the Harbury Lane End stand and Debbie’s Sweet Shop.

The ground is covered on three of the four sides, as you walk in up from the turnstiles the covered Harbury Lane End behind the goal will be on your right. Straight ahead of you is the joint Main Stand and Car Park Terrace on the west side of the ground, on the Sheepside side of the ground sits the Mick Brady Stand, in honour of our Life President who passed away in 2020 and the North Bank behind the goal is the uncovered side. 

Clubhouse

The clubhouse can be used by both sets of fans and boasts a wide range of drinks, including local Warwickshire Church Farm Brewery products. Our bar has live sports and the players will be present after the game for our awards evening.

Both Leamington and Brackley Town fans are welcome in the bar.

Fanzone

BrakesTrust have launched a brand new fanzone at Your Co-op Community Stadium this weekend located in the top corner by the second set of turnstiles.

This weekend will be Italian week - with a variety of drinks available from the home of our Head of Media Max!

The fanzone will open at 1pm.

Bus Travel

As well as our free shuttle, the 665 Stagecoach bus runs from the town to the ground. The outbound route leaves Upper Parade Stand K at 14:10 and reaches Your Co-op Community Stadium at 14:25. The inbound route leaves opposite Your Co-op Community Stadium at 17:17 and reaches Upper Parade at 17:34.

The closest stop to Royal Leamington Spa Railway Station to the ground is Crown Hotel, which what3words are dairy.legend.pops and the bus leaves at 14:14. Inbound, the closest stop is Charlotte Street (what3wordsmarch.hurt.loved) and the bus arrives there at 17:25. Both stops are within a 5 minute walk to Leamington Station. For other stops, visit the timetable. 

These 665 buses are also available from Long Itchington, Napton, Southam, Bishop's Itchington & Harbury, with all timings and stops on the timetable above.

Awards Evening

We will be hosting our annual awards evening in the clubhouse after the game, aiming for a 5:30pm start. It will be fantastic if as many Brakes fans as possible attend! More details to come on a separate article.

Matchday Magazine

The final ever edition of our official matchday magazine "New Windmill Wonderland" will be available to purchase for £5 just as you enter the turnstiles. In our mega A4 size limited edition copy, read the thoughts of the chairman, manager and captain, learn everything you need to about Brackley Town, read joint editor Max's memories of his six years at the club and much more in our bumper programme.

Turnstiles Opening Time

Turnstiles and all facilities inside the ground including the clubhouse and fanzone open at 1pm, two hours before kick off. 

Live Coverage

Match updates can be found on our X, Bluesky, Threads, Instagram and Facebook pages and there will be live commentary on BrakesLiveFM. Coverage will start approximately ten minutes from kick off. 

Extended highlights and reaction will be available on Leamington FCTV the day after the game. 

Programme Shop

Our programme shop, ran by Andy Protheroe, will be open when the turnstiles do and is a must visit for all!

50/50 Draw

Donna and Yvonne will be making their way around the ground in the first half selling 50/50 tickets. These cost £1 each with half of the takings going to the club and the other half going to the winner. The draw will be made and announced at half time.

We hope everyone enjoys their time at Your Co-op Community Stadium.

On This Day: 12 April

1947 - An away game in the Coventry & North Warwickshire League Division 2 saw Jaguar Cars given a 10-0 hiding! 

1952 - Bromsgrove Rovers were defeated by a Harold Hartley goal at the Windmill Ground in a Birmingham Combination fixture. 

Team: Bill Branston, Cedric Bennett, Dennis Tooze, Frank Grimwood, Ken Hawker, Alf Stubbs, Charlie Stubbs, Hughie Morrow, Harold Hartley, Mickey French, Jack Day. 

In the Birmingham & West Midland Alliance West Section, the Reserves went down 5-0 at nearby Saltisford Rovers, with goalkeeper Mick Brant making one of a number of appearances that season as an outfield player! 

Team: Thacker, Coope, Sneddon, Brant, D French, Baldwin, J Shaw, Hartley, Hughes, F Gardner, Keeble. 

1954 - Gresley Rovers were beaten 5-1 in a Tillotson Cup tie at the Windmill Ground. Norman Brison and Bill Rowstron bagged braces, with Bill Draper scoring the other. 

Team: Bill Branston, Norman Aldridge, Albert Sneddon, Alan Bury, Ken Hawker, Dennis Jennings, Dennis Roberts, Bill Draper, Bill Rowstron, Mickey French, Norman Brison. 

1958 - Burton Albion defeat Brakes in a Birmingham & District League fixture in Staffordshire. 

In the Warwickshire Combination the Reserves won 3-0 away at Ansley Hall Colliery. 

1961 - Bromsgrove Rovers were our opponents on this date for the second time in nine years, and the result was a win for Leamington again, this time by three goals to two in a Birmingham & District League game at the Windmill Ground. George Awde and a Barry Jepson brace sealed the win for Brakes. 

Team: Peter Woodward, Geoff Coleman, Mick Lane, Roy Bradley, Gordon Hancocks, Jack Evans, Ken Cornbill, George Awde, Barry Jepson, Ken Brown, Ernie Ward. 

In the Warwickshire Combination Western Division, the Reserves lost 1-0 at home to that well known Warwickshire outfit Hereford United….. 

1969 - Barton Town were our visitors for a Midland Counties League fixture at the Windmill Ground. 

Team: Bob Steane, David Pyle, Peter Lawton, Ralph Ramshaw, John Roberts, John Anthony, Jim Bryant, Alan Vest, Ray Holmes, Syd Hall (Terry Keen), Richard Gommersall.

1971 - Belper Town were the visitors for a Midland Counties League game at the Windmill Ground. 

1975 - Brakes won 2-0 away at Wellingborough Town in a Southern League Division One North game at the Dog & Duck 

Team: Dave Garratt, Dennis Taylor, John Brady, Doug Griffiths, Roger Brown, Mickey Boot, Neil Armstrong, Steve Lee, Dave Scriggens, Bobby Horne, Mick Keeley. Sub: Anthony Bowden.

1976 - Jimmy Knox’s side won 3-1 at Aggborough against Kidderminster Harriers in the Southern League Division One North in front of a crowd of 461.

Team: John Davis, Alan Jones, Gerry Kavanagh, Doug Griffiths, Roger Brown, Mickey Boot, Dennis Taylor, Steve Lee, Mick Keeley, Adrian Stewart, Ivor Talbot. Sub: John Brady. 

Also in the Courier that week there was news of squad departures, and the costs of promotion, with crowd figures bemoaned - not for the first time. 

1980 - A rare win on the road in the Alliance Premier League - at the Bucks Head of all places, against Telford United. A crowd of 1,006 saw Duncan Gardner’s early second half goal seal the points for Brakes. 

Team: Alan Dulleston, Paul Cooper, Paul Montgomery, Alan Jones, Gary Brown, Tom Kilkelly, Dennis Taylor, Mickey Taylor, Shaun McNulty, Duncan Gardner. Sub: Tommy Gorman. 

1982 - Two years on, and we are at the Bucks Head again. AP Leamington have already been relegated from the Alliance Premier League two games and four days earlier, but Graham Allner is already rebuilding the team. 

Team: Gordon Livsey, Paul Cooper, Paul Montgomery, Alan Jones, Steve Rigby, Malcolm Kavanagh, Mickey Taylor, Phil Griffin (Alan Ollis), Russell Ashenden, Cliff Campbell, Trevor Smith.

1983 - A trip to the north of Warwickshire sees Brakes draw 0-0 at The Oval against Bedworth United in the Southern League Premier Division. 

1986 - This game was what would be Leamington’s final win of their Southern League Midland Division - a 4-1 win over Hednesford Town in front of 201 people at the Windmill Ground. 

Team:  Shaun Hemming, Neil Peebles, Tony Upton, Rob Rennie, Steve Thomas, Ashley Alexander, Ian McConville (Tony Higgins), Mick Hartfield, Albert Johnson, Kenny Trickett, John McDonald.

2003 - Leamington beat Jim Scott’s West Midlands Police side 5-1 at the New Windmill Ground in the Midland Combination Premier Division. Dave Draper made his third debut for the club - 16 years after his second spell. 

Leamington 5 v West Midlands Police 1

Midland Combination Premier Division

Saturday 12th April 2003

By David Hucker

Drapes Brings Down Curtain on Police

Another fine Brakes performance was capped by an eighty-fifth minute goal from Director of Football Dave Draper, making his first appearance for the club in nearly twenty years. This win maintains Brakes challenge at the top of the ICIS MIdlands Combination Premier Division and, with five matches to go, they remain the team to catch.

Former West Brom player Jamie Ball, in only his second appearance, partnered the excellent Nick McFarlane in defence. Darren Timms took over the captaincy in the absence of Steve Thompson and Andy Ellis returned on the bench.

The visitors set out their stall early on, packing the defence and relying on two strikers in breakaways. It all looked plain sailing for Brakes after twelve minutes when Baz Shearsby's shot came back off the post into the path of the reliable Brian Agar who made no mistake. There were hopes for a penalty on nineteen minutes when Josh Blake tumbled in the area but, instead of increasing their lead, Brakes fell to a counter-punch from Mark Delaney who broke away to level the scores.

Leading scorer Paul Nicholls thought that he had restored the advantage in the twenty-fifth minute but his thunderbolt shot was brilliantly stopped by Police 'keeper Anthony Workman. Ten minutes later, Nick McFarlane met a corner from Nick Mort but Workman was on hand to save the Brakes defender's header. Then, Nicholls stole in on the blind side to head an Agar cross just wide. Just when it looked as if the teams would go into the interval all square, Mort was tripped in the penalty area and Nicholls stepped up to put the spot kick away and give Brakes a 2-1 lead.

The second half saw an improved performance by Brakes who had most of the play. When the Police did break out, James Gettings again looked assured in the home goal. On fifty eight minutes, the industrious Nicholls harried a defender into a mistake and took the ball through to score his second of the match. He followed this up with a fine glancing header from a cross by man-of-the-match Shearsby to secure a well-deserved hat-trick. Agar gave way to Draper who showed the crowd of 453 that he still has the ability to play at this level running onto a through ball from that man Shearsby again to slot home the fifth.

Co-manager Jason Cadden was understandably pleased with the result but added "we were slow to get going and were fortunate to go in at the break in front. We gave the team a rocket at half-time and they controlled the second period, getting the result that we deserved. Paul Nicholls' hat-trick was superb and Dave Draper took his goal well."

Leamington: James Gettings, Ben Adams (Jonny Burgess 66), Harj Dhesi, Nick McFarlane, Jamie Ball, Barry Shearsby, Nick Mort (Andy Ellis 70), Darren Timms ©, Brian Agar (Dave Draper 70), Paul Nicholls, Josh Blake

Team News: Steve Thompson and Chris Hanrahan rested.

2007 - Having already secured the Midland Alliance league title on the Monday against Racing Club Warwick, Brakes travelled into Leicestershire to take on Oadby Town, going down 2-0.

Oadby Town 2 Leamington 0

Midland Football Alliance

Thursday 12th April 2007

By David Hucker

Goal shy Brakes pay penalty at Topps Park

Oadby provided the opposition in the opening fixture at the New Windmill back in August when a late Josh Blake strike secured all three points. They went into this match having won five of their last six outings, a home defeat against Romulus being the only blemish, and duly turned the tables on Brakes who, at times, looked anything but the newly-crowned league champions.

It wasn't a lack of effort that let Brakes down, but a failure to take the many chances that came their way. On a hard and dusty pitch, controlling the ball at speed was never going to be easy but, even the usually razor-sharp Ben Mackey found hitting the post or missing the target altogether easier than scoring. When the woodwork didn't come to their rescue, Oadby had the excellent Laurie Pearson in goal to deny the Brakes forwards.

Those fans who had been waiting to see Jamie Towers in a midfield role got their wish as he exchanged places with Jon Adams who played at right wing-back. Craig Dutton came into the side in place of Morton Titterton, Martin Thompson took over from Avun Jephcott up front and Adam Cooper replaced Adam Knight in the other changes from Easter Monday.

Apart from an early Oadby attack which saw Ainsley Neckles shoot wide after good work by Joe Bishop and Andy May, it was all Brakes. Mackey and Towers hit the post and other chances went begging. Failure to convert at least one of the chances into goals was to prove expensive when, on 20 minutes, the defence played statues and Andy May rounded Richard Morris for the softest of goals.

James Husband got onto a Towers cross five minutes later, but somehow missed from right on the line, and then hit a good shot that Pearson saved well. For all their effort, Brakes went in a goal down and in need of an early strike after the interval.

However, as the second half got underway, it was Oadby that struck in the 49th minute when captain Tyrone Mintus headed home a corner from the right to make it 2-0. This seemed to give the home side belief and they pressed Brakes with both Andy Gregory and Cooper having to defend desperately at times. Martin Hier cleared off the line in the 66th and David Fisher's shot shortly after flashed across the face of the goal.

Just to prove a point, substitute Dave Pearson rattled the crossbar with a shot in injury time and it was one of those nights when the ball just wouldn't go in.

Thanks go to the Oadby officials for their warm welcome and for the players who applauded the Brakes team onto the field, a really sporting gesture. The match was played in a competitive, but fair way and it was a pity that Adam Cooper and Oadby's Ainsley Neckles were booked for a heated disagreement that was over almost as quickly as it started.

Manager Jason Cadden described himself as "disappointed" with the result. He added "we created a lot of chances in the first half and should have gone in at the interval in front, not behind. We just didn't fire in the second half and got what we deserved. We had a good talk in the dressing room afterwards and the players will put it right on Saturday."

Brakes: Richard Morris; Jon Adams; Martin Hier; Adam Cooper; Andy Gregory; Craig Dutton ©; Stuart Herlihy; Jamie Towers; Ben Mackey (Dave Pearson 77); Martin Thompson (Avun Jephcott 61); James Husband (Josh Blake 71).

Subs Not Used: Liam Reynolds; Tom James.

Oadby Town: Laurie Pearson; Danny Hodgkinson; Steve Fenton; Tyrone Mintus ©; Gene Carlton; Lee Miveld; Andy May; James Miller; Joe Bishop (Jorge Jiminez 77); David Fisher; Ainsley Neckles.

Subs Not Used: Adam Laywood; Keiron Heaney; Steve Jones.

Attendance: 215

Man of the Match: Adam Cooper

2008 - Another relatively local game in the Southern League Midland Division saw us travel into Northamptonshire to Woodford Halse to take on Woodford United. A crowd of 428 saw Jason Cadden’s men win 3-1. 

Brakes overcome shock goal to clinch points

Saturday 12th April 2008 @ Byfield Road. vs Woodford United (3-1)

British Gas Business Football League Midlands Division

By D Hucker

In front of the biggest crowd of the season at Byfield Road, Brakes made heavy weather of beating a young Woodford side, but ran out comfortable winners in the end.

Brakes could have taken the lead in only the third minute when Chris Jackson slipped and gave Ben Mackey a chance, but his shot came back off the post. A mix-up in the Brakes defence allowed Carl Standen a shot on goal, but Richard Morris easily gathered his intended lob.

Home 'keeper, David Thornton. denied Mackey a second scoring opportunity, getting down well to save his 15th minute free kick at the foot of the post. Then, Thornton almost conceded a sloppy goal when taking too long to clear upfield, only succeeding in kicking the ball against the advancing Martin Thompson but, much to his relief, it went wide of the net.

This was the closest that Brakes came in the opening half, despite all their possession, and they were made to pay within two minutes of the re-start as Standen gave Woodford a shock lead, rolling the ball into the corner of the net unchallenged with the normally reliable defence playing statues.

This seemed to be the spur that Brakes needed and they were back on level terms soon after thanks to a fine solo effort from Man-of-the-Match, Marcus Jackson, who cut in from the left and beat Thornton with a low shot. Then, Mackey was held when about to shoot and Brakes leading scorer took the resultant penalty to beat Thornton and put them ahead for the first time.

The points were wrapped up by former Aston Villa youngster, Shay Morgan, who had come on as substitute for Thompson and opened his account for the club, heading home a Jamie Towers free-kick from the left after Ryan Parisi had been brought down.

Coach Morton Tiitterton said "It was a difficult pitch to play on and they showed little ambition to win the game. In the first half, we weren't smart enough to find a way through their packed defence, but the goal woke us up and we went on to win well enough."

Woodford travel to leaders Evesham United on Saturday and Brakes take on Aylesbury United at the New Windmill. Whilst the gap at the top is now down to four points, there are only two matches left and a win for Evesham, which seems likely on this evidence, will clinch the championship.

Woodford United: David Thornton, Craig Hyde, Anthony Powell, Ross Harris {Capt,}, Gerry Moss, Chris Jackson, Stuart Haynes, Luke Cole (Mickell Wood 81), Chris Davies, Carl Standen, Tom Lorraine

Subs Not Used: Lee Worrell, Ross Atkins, Kai Ridley, Lynton Dindale.

Brakes: Richard Morris, Jamie Towers, Arron Parkinson [Capt.], Guy Sanders, Martin Hier, Marcus Jackson, Scott Hadland, Ben Mackey, Jusitn Marsden (Glen Webb 87), Martin Thompson (Shay Morgan 65)

Subs Not Used: Adam Cooper, Craig Dutton, Liam Reynolds.

Attendance 428 MotM Marcus Jackson.

2014 - A 1-1 draw at Harrogate Town in the Conference North. 

Harrogate Town 1 Leamington 1 

The Skrill North

CNG Stadium

Saturday 12th April 2014

Brakes returned from a long haul to Yorkshire with a creditable point from a Harrogate Town side who required all three to still have a realistic chance of gatecrashing the play off places, but this result has probably limited their chances of doing so. 

Leamington were full value for their half time advantage as they had looked the brighter of the two sides in the opening 45 minutes but the hosts made changes at half time and looked far more purposeful after the break, levelling things up just past the hour mark after Brakes had lost possession in their own half. 

The game got off to a scrappy start with neither goalkeeper threatened by the half chances created. Town saw the ball cleared off the Leamington goal line as they forced a couple of corners but it was the visitors who took the lead with the first clear chance of the game on 27 minutes, the goal coming from an unlikely source in James Mace, the defender crashing in his first of the season from six yards as the ball dropped nicely for him from a corner. 

Reece Flanagan was busy again in central midfield, benefitting from a couple of ricochets to win possession and drive a low shot just past the post. 

Simon Weaver shuffled his pack at half time, replacing Steve Mallory and Liam Hardy with Adam Bolder and Cleveland Taylor, and this seemed to have an effect as Harrogate began to look more threatening. 

For an awful moment it looked as though Mace and Tony Breeden might be about to suffer a repeat of their collision at Vauxhall Motors which led to a goal, as the goal scorer was forced to play the ball back towards his keeper. Fortunately Breeden read the danger and hurdled his team mate before clearing. 

Danny Newton’s driving run saw him shoot low but straight at Craig MacGillivray, while Craig Nelthorpe fired across goal and just wide as Harrogate began to apply some pressure in search of the equaliser. Brakes remained resolute however, but contributed somewhat to their own downfall on 66 minutes when they lost the ball from their own throw-in. It was eventually played in low from the left and Ashley Worsfold swivelled well and fired low into the net.

Leamington tried to respond, Newton looping a header over the bar from a free kick, but Harrogate continued to create, Worsfold sending a header flashing over the bar from a corner, while substitute Michael Woods’ rising drive was held by Breeden. 

Paul Holleran introduced Peter Till and Matt Dodd late on, and the pair combined after some strong play from Joe Magunda, Till driving towards the penalty area to set up Dodd, only for his shot to lack the power to trouble MacGillivray. 

While Holleran was satisfied with the point, feeling that his side had had the better of the first half while the hosts were on top in the second, his assistant Liam O’Neill believed that it was a marker of how the team had progressed over the season that they were disappointed to come away from such an established club as Harrogate with only a point. 

Harrogate Town: Craig MacGillivray, Dwayne Samuels, Dave Merris, Anton Brown, Matt Heath ©, Matthew Bloomer, Steve Mallory (15 Cleveland Taylor, 46), Craig Nelthorpe, Ashley Worsfold, Liam Hardy (12 Adam Bolder, 46), Dan Clayton.

Subs not used: 14 Michael Woods, 16 Jahmal Smith, 17 Peter Crook.

Leamington: Tony Breeden, Ryan Higgins, Stephan Morley ©, Joe Magunda, Liam Daly, James Mace, Aron Wint (14 Matt Dodd, 77), Reece Flanagan (16 Lee Moore, 89) Danny Newton, Nathan Hicks, Lee Chilton (17 Peter Till, 86). 

Subs not used: 12 Ricky Johnson, 15 David McNamee. 

Attendance: 545

Referee: Mr Paul Blyth

Assistant Referees: My Paul Keogh & Mr Anthony Murphy

Brakes Man of the Match: James Mace.

Team: Tony Breeden, Ryan Higgins, Stephan Morley, Joe Magunda, Liam Daly, James Mace, Aron Wint (Matt Dodd), Reece Flanagan (Lee Moore), Danny Newton, Nathan Hicks, Lee Chilton (Peter Till). Subs: Ricky Johnson, David McNamee.

2016 - Brakes draw 1-1 at Latimer Park against Kettering Town in the Southern League Premier Division. 

Kettering Town 1 Leamington 1

Evostik Southern League Premier Division

Latimer Park

Tuesday 12th April 2016

Poole Town may almost have the title wrapped up but the play off picture below them remains no clearer after Brakes ground out a battling draw at Latimer Park.

Hungerford’s 98th minute winner at Kings Lynn was not particularly helpful to the Brakes cause, and while both they and Kettering have games in hand on Leamington the possibility still remains that all five clubs vying for those four precious positions will have to play right to the final whistle on the last day of the season to confirm one. 

Unfortunately the injury problems continue to pile up, with Joe Magunda leaving Latimer Park with his arm in a sling after dislocating his shoulder, and Connor Gudger also having to be substituted at half time after turning his ankle, the player himself saying after the game that he was hopeful it wouldn’t turn out to be too serious. On the plus side Jamie Hood was at the game and may be involved at Cirencester on Saturday. 

Losing this clash would have made things far more difficult for Paul Holleran’s side as they chase that top five finish, and they began fully on the front foot in front of a raucous crowd, taking the game to Marcus Law’s in form side. Jack Edwards was right in the thick of things, seeing a shot blocked before blazing a good chance over the bar first time from close range. 

Sam Austin fired well over the bar from a loose defensive header, but his dangerous left wing cross saw Liam Bateman almost put through his own net as he headed it inches past the post for a Leamington corner. 

Kettering then took the lead with their first serious attack, Liam Canavan forcing the ball home at the third attempt after Tony Breeden had produced two fine saves to deny him. The goal came completely against the run of play, and knocked Leamington back for a period as the Poppies looked to build on their advantage. Canavan found the side netting from a similar position to the one he scored his goal from as both sides traded blows without really threatening, until moments before half time when Courtney Baker-Richardson was brought down by Chris Carruthers right on the edge of the penalty area, the Poppies players vehemently protesting that the offence took place just outside the box but the Referee, having immediately signalled a penalty, stuck with his original decision after consulting his assistant on that side, and up stepped Sam Austin to net his second spot kick of the week, sending Craig Hill the wrong way as he found the bottom right hand corner of the net. 

This was the perfect pick me up for Brakes, having lost their momentum after the Kettering goal, along with the injuries to Magunda and Gudger, but with Ben George and Rob Elvins proving more than able deputies, they set about repelling the Kettering onslaught in the second half. James Brighton’s rising drive was beaten away by Breeden as the Poppies began to build up a head of steam. The Leamington keeper was the subject of constant abuse from the home crowd behind his goal throughout, but it did not affect his game in the slightest as he denied Canavan again, beating away a powerful shot before being fouled as he scrambled to collect the ball. 

Brakes looked to threaten on the counter attack but their final balls were letting them down a little at times. Joe Halsall’s shot looked to have struck an arm inside the box but there was nothing doing. Wilson Carvalho’s free kick whistled inches over the Leamington bar, while Callum Gittings shot was well blocked by Poppies skipper Brett Solkhon as Leamington tried to snatch a late winner. A shot blazed over the bar by Herve Pepe-Ngoma was the final chance for either side as it finished honours even, the nail biting for both sets of supporters will continue for at least another week or so yet. 

Attendance: 696

Kettering Town: Craig Hill, Liam Bateman, Dominic Langdon, Brett Solkhon ©, Chris Carruthers, Herve Pepe-Ngoma, Wilson Carvalho, Liam Canavan (16 Silvano Obeng 82), Rene Howe (17 Ben Stephens 86), David Popa (15 Will Grocutt, 70), James Brighton. 

Subs not used: 12 Ben Baker, 14 Perry Cotton.

Leamington: Tony Breeden, Richard Taundry, Connor Gudger (17 Rob Elvins, 46), Joe Halsall, Jamie Tank ©, Joe Magunda (12 Ben George,  22), Lee Moore, Callum Gittings, Courtney Baker-Richardson (14 Ben Mackey, 74), Jack Edwards, Sam Austin. 

Subs not used: 15 Rob Ogleby, 16 Ross Oulton.

Referee: Mr Wayne Porter

Assistant Referees: Mr Vincenzo Byatt & Mr Nicolae Manolescu

Brakes Man of the Match: Tony Breeden. 

2018 - Our THIRD game in Telford on this date - this time at the redeveloped New Bucks Head against AFC Telford United, in the National League North. 

AFC Telford United 3 Leamington 2

Vanarama National League North

New Bucks Head

Thursday 12th April 2018

It is becoming increasingly clear that Leamington are not going to cement their National League North status the easy way as they came out on the wrong end of a five goal scoreline at the New Bucks Head. 

AFC Telford United must wish they could play at home every Thursday as they battled back from behind after taking an early lead for the second week running, lifting themselves out of the bottom three in the process and giving their own survival hopes a massive shot in the arm. 

Once again Brakes found themselves chasing the game early on, this time with six minutes on the clock as Kane Richards pounced on a weak defensive header to nudge the ball into space for Bucks top scorer Marcus Dinanga to crash an unstoppable shot across Tony Breeden into the net. 

The difference this time was how Paul Holleran’s men responded and they were level inside three minutes as Kieran Dunbar’s right wing corner was cleared only as far as Junior English, who controlled and thumped a close range shot into the net. 

The playing surface still bore heavy scars from the recent wet weather despite the best efforts of the ground staff, and the pitch was very heavy in certain areas, hindering and helping both sides at times. 

Leamington benefited greatly from dragging themselves level so quickly, and things improved further with 23 minutes played when they added a second goal, the first time in 10 matches they had scored more than once in a game. Daniel Udoh chased a ball down the left channel into the penalty area, beating Connor Johnson to the ball before advancing and firing through the legs of keeper Ben Wilson into the net. 

It probably should have been three soon afterwards. A free kick into the Telford penalty area was picked up by Udoh, whose shot was blocked behind for another corner from which Jack Edwards placed a close range header over the bar when he should at least have hit the target.

This gave Telford fresh hope, and after Richards had blazed a shot over the bar the hosts levelled things up once more on 34 minutes, skipper Shane Sutton looping what looked a hopeful looking header towards goal as the ball was played back in following a corner, but the Bucks skipper had judged it just right, the ball dropping down into the net out of reach of Breeden. 

Former Telford man Dunbar chested down and threaded a good pass forward for Udoh to chase, Wilson haring off his line to get to the ball inches ahead of the striker. Sutton then saw two efforts blocked on the edge of the box before the ball was cleared by Joe Clarke, a volley coming back in from way out that Breeden had to watch all the way before it landed in his arms. 

Richards felt he had a claim for a penalty as he went to ground just inside the box with English challenging, however Referee Sam Mulhall was unmoved. 

The sticky pitch almost aided Brakes in their search for a third goal early in the second half as Udoh darted on to a back pass that held up in the mud, beating the chasing defenders for pace only to be denied by a good block from Wilson as he attempted to steer the ball past the goalkeeper. It would turn out to be Leamington’s only real chance of the half as they found themselves behind for the second time in the game six minutes in, Breeden appearing to punch the ball straight to Dominic Smith as he attempted to punch clear from a corner kick, the Telford defender bundling the ball home to put his side back in front.  

Sutton almost added a fourth, left inexplicably unmarked at the far post to power a header back across goal from a right wing corner, the ball dropping just wide. 

The giant bearded centre back threatened once more following two blocked shots as he was left unmarked once more, this time heading against the bar. Johnson followed up and saw his shot cleared away from the goal line. 

A superb sliding challenge from Jamie Hood denied the lively Wolves loanee Ryan Giles as he looked to skip towards goal in the penalty area on the left with Telford looking to make the game safe, and in all honesty the home side looked the more likely to add to their tally in the closing stages with Brakes defending resolutely whilst pushing plenty of men forward when attacking, but their efforts counted for nothing, and they will now go into Saturday’s home game with a Curzon Ashton side level on points with them in the table, knowing that a win could almost see them safe. Telford meanwhile, have leapfrogged both Tamworth and Alfreton and now sit level on points with Leamington with a game in hand. 

Attendance: 977

AFC Telford United: Ben Wilson, Ross White, Connor Johnson, Dominic Smith, Shane Sutton ©, Ellis Deeney, Jordan Lussey, Henry Cowans, Kane Richards (14 Amari Morgan-Smith, 57), Marcus Dinanga (15 John Marsden, 67), Ryan Giles (12 Paul Bignot, 90). 

Subs not used: 13 Jasbir Singh, Elliot Newby. 

Leamington: Tony Breeden ©, Junior English, Connor Gudger, Joe Clarke, Jamie Hood, James Mace, Matt Dodd (15 Ahmed Obeng, 65), Callum Gittings (12 Liam Canavan, 87), Daniel Udoh, Jack Edwards, Kieran Dunbar (17 Kurtis Revan, 78). 

Subs not used: 14 Joe Magunda, 16 Richard Taundry. 

Referee: Mr Sam Mulhall

Assistant Referees: Mr Richard Cattell & Mr James King

Brakes Man of the Match: James Mace. 

2022 - 

Southport 1 Leamington 1

Vanarama National League North

The Pure Stadium

Tuesday 12th April 2022

This game was a tale of two injury time goals, as a ninety third minute penalty from top scorer Dan Turner ended a wretched four game losing streak for Brakes as they put a dent in Southport’s play off ambitions at Haig Avenue.

The late second half substitute was calmness personified as he stepped up to slot home the pressure kick after combining with fellow sub Devon Kelly-Evans, who was tripped as he shaped to shoot. The Southport players were crestfallen but there were no complaints, and Turner sent Cam Mason the wrong way to spark joyous celebrations between the players and the two man media team behind the goal. 

Previous trips to this corner of the North West have yielded nothing other than heavy defeats, so to leave with a point in this manner felt like a victory. 

With a paper thin squad due to injuries and with the final run of fixtures being close together, Paul Holleran rotated his squad to full effect, making six changes to his starting eleven following Saturday’s long winded journey to Spennymoor, bringing in Jake Weaver, Melis Bushaj, Connor Taylor, Callum Gittings, Junior English and Charlie Williams. 

This was a meeting of two out of form sides, with Southport having won only one of their last eight games, with Brakes winning two of theirs, so perhaps understandably the first half was largely an edgy affair with neither giving much away. 

English put himself about in typical bustling fashion, and almost got through on goal with 11 minutes played, only for a defenders boot to poke the ball out of play for a corner. 

A menacing black cloud hovered ever closer to the stadium in the opening quarter, and when the heavens opened they did so with full force. Weaver was forced to push Southport’s first corner of the evening behind.

Leamington registered the first serious effort on goal of the evening when Jack Lane’s fierce effort was deflected behind, while a contentious free kick awarded to the hosts to the right of the penalty area sailed over everyone and out of play. 

The two number sixes exchanged yellow cards, with the Referee perhaps not fully taking into account the sudden change in conditions. The booking for Lane resulted in a free kick which Josh Hmami directed straight at Jake Weaver. 

Good work on the right from the tireless Dan Meredith saw him earn two strikes at goal, the second of which appeared to be blocked by keeper Mason. Southport were unable to fully clear their lines, and Jack Bainbridge gave away a free kick in a decent position with which Williams was narrowly off target.

Bushaj sent a first time drive into the Jack Carr Stand behind the goal from a loose defensive clearance, while the ball was driven into the back of the Sandgroudners net by Joe Parker following a slow, deliberate build up down the left as Brakes picked their moment to find an opening, but Parker was adjudged to be offside from Williams’ cross. 

As the first half entered its final throes the Southport pressure began to build, and from the second of successive corners struck the inside of the far post before clipping the crossbar as the follow up was driven in. 

It was from another flag kick that Tharme powered in a header almost on the stroke of half time to give the hosts the lead - a punch in the guts for Leamington as they had arguably been the better side until the closing minutes. 

The opening twenty minutes or so of the second half passed without any real incident. Niall Watson’s dangerous low ball across goal was nudged behind by Weaver, who gave a confident display between the posts. 

With time beginning to trickle away Devon Kelly Evans was introduced, and he floated an inviting free kick into the box which was begging to be finished off, but nobody got close enough to make the connection. 

Williams saw a left wing corner headed off the line as Leamington pushed forward once more, but the home side came close through Chris Doyle’s shot which needed to be cleared off the Leamington goal line. 

Jack Edwards and Dan Turner were brought on to beef up the Brakes forward line as the game entered its final stages, and Kelly Evans almost immediately played Turner in on goal - a timely intervention from Dylan Vassallo denying him the chance to shoot. 

Meredith’s half volley was deflected behind as it looked for all the world that Leamington were about to suffer a fifth straight one goal defeat. Southport had the chance to seal the points as they countered in injury time. Substitute Jack McGowan was involved, with Hmami squaring for Bainbridge, who fired horribly high and wide. 

He was left to rue that miss as Leamington finally won themselves a break, and Turner stepped up to bag his fifteenth goal of the season. 

‘I thought it was a really good game - really open,’ said Holleran afterwards. ‘Southport and Leamington have had a fairly similar pattern to our season; albeit they have a few more points on the board. We’ve both got young squads; both have lost players; both have suffered with injuries.

‘Their deliveries from set plays were tremendous and they probably could have put us to bed with one or two other chances they had, but we kept playing, we kept probing. ‘We’ve made a few changes tonight to try and utilise the squad and give those players coming back from injury a little bit of a breather, because playing Saturday-Tuesday-Friday is difficult at this stage of the season. 

‘I kept harping on after the last few games how well the boys have done, and just when you think they’re down and beaten they come back. They did fantastic tonight. The boys coming in did really well - the two young boys, Melis and Charlie - you’ve got Junior up there on a high line who was fantastic; and Connor coming in on the right. Jake Weaver gave a good accomplished performance in goal. The boys coming on off the bench gave us a different dimension. I think Southport will be disappointed that they didn’t win the game, but there’s an argument that our performance probably deserved something as well. 

‘There’s going to be a lot of tired legs and tired minds going into the last few weeks and we’ve just got to keep going, but I think the most pleasing thing tonight is how well the lads who haven’t been playing regularly for us have done. You have to trust them, and it shows character from us to make those changes after our recent run. I’m looking forward to the game (against Brackley) on Good Friday - it will be a great occasion. 

‘Our problems on the road have been well documented. I could give a number of excuses, but I don’t look for them. You just keep working hard, keep trying to do the right things. I’m a big believer in hard work rewards. There were some big performances tonight and I'm really really pleased. We’re looking forward to the next few weeks, putting in a big effort, and trying to get a few more points on the board.’ 

Attendance: 779 (23 Brakes)

Southport: 1 Cam Mason, 6 Doug Tharme, 14 Chris Doyle, 5 Adam Anson ©, 2 Charlie Oliver, 16 Dylan Vassallo, 18 Jack Bainbridge, 15 Josh Hmami, 11 Tyler Walton, 9 Jordan Archer, 17 Niall Watson (21 Jack McGowan, 68).  

Subs not used: 4 Russell Benjamin, 13 Tony McMillan-Snelson, 19 Michael Carberry, 20 Ryan Corrigan. 

Leamington: Jake Weaver, Dan  Meredith, Melis Bushaj, Joe Clarke ©, James Mace, Jack Lane, Connor Taylor (12 Devon Kelly-Evans, 65), Callum Gittings, Junior English (15 Dan Turner, 84), Joe Parker (14 Jack Edwards, 78), Charlie Williams. 

Subs not used: GK Callum Hawkins, 16 Stephan Morley. 

Referee: Mr Kristian Silcock

Assistant Referees: Mr Michael Johnson & Mr Shaun Taylor

Brakes Man of the Match: Junior English.

Passantino to leave Brakes - Pathway Opportunities

After six years, Leamington FC Head of Media Max Passantino will say goodbye to his hometown club in search of pastures new, writes Kian Claydon. 

Initially joining the Warwickshire outfit as a 14-year-old, Passantino soon took over the club’s social media channels – boosting their following five-fold over the six year period.

The period has seen a transformation in the Brakes’ social output, launching on different social media such as Instagram and TikTok – sites that the club previously didn’t utilise prior to 2018 – in addition to huge growth the usual sites of X and Facebook and most recently launching a club app with Element16Media.

“Harbury Lane has been my home since I was five,” said Passantino. “I’m just happy to say I’ve been able to give something back to the club that’s given me so much.

“Jim (Scott, Chairman), Kevin (Watson, Director), Paul (Edwards, Press Officer) and Nick (Leek, videographer) took a huge gamble back in 2018 in taking me on – and I’d like to think they’re happy with the progress we’ve made.”

The proof is in the pudding - with over 120,000 followers across social media now all familiar with the brand built over that period, the hashtag #BackingTheBrakes - penned by Passantino - now synonymous with the club. 

That brand has been constructed over time, with Leamington having a common typography and colour scheme across all social media and print media output, and with Passantino sharing programme editing duties with partner-in-crime and Press Officer Paul Edwards, the club are now setting their sights high and aiming for the Programme of the Year award in their division, given by the National League at the end of the campaign.

Max joked “I look back to what I was doing in 2018 and think ‘How did I get away with that in this league!’. It’s been a long journey with everything being self-taught from graphics and post style all the way to stream producing in the Covid curtailed season. 

“Comparing it all now, from when I started to what we produce across social media and in the programme – it feels a bit unreal! We’ve been able to build a clear brand, and maintain the high standards even with producing our 60 page programme, the longest in the league, which fits perfectly alongside our social media.

“I’ve had a great team to work with. Paul’s been my right hand man through it all, Nick (Leek) and Scott (Hanna) produce the best non-league highlights and were brilliant to me especially during the Covid season with streaming. Matt (Delaney), Shaun (Cashmore) and Craig (Barnes) have all equally chipped in so much help, as well as our two additions this season in Ethan (Gardiner) and Rachel (Gore) have done.”

His journey at the club, however, has taught him a lot more than just basic media principles.

He added “While at Leam, I’ve grown as a person. Not just the thick skin I need for some comments and the ability to bite my lip and not say something, but the people skills – communicating with everyone at our club as well as at other clubs and the external media. It’s been brilliant to build relationships with the local press, no more so than rebuilding a connection with the Warwick University paper – The Boar.

“I feel like I’ve matured at the club, which I guess is natural given how old I was when I joined, but spending time with everyone in some tough situations as well as joyous moments has taught me how to react to problems well and the ability to improvise and deal with challenging circumstances calmly.”

While Passantino will be leaving the club at the end of this season, his legacy will no doubt live on in the core principles of Leamington’s social media which now have an incredibly strong base.

Brakes chairman, Jim Scott, added “As the club has developed, we have tried to increase pathway opportunities for young people both on and off the pitch. These include coaches and volunteers working within our community schemes; volunteers on match day roles; volunteer roles behind the scenes that help drive the club. The aim is to develop their life skills and experience making them an asset to employers in the wider world.

“Max has been a striking success for us, developing our social media and wider media platforms to a level where we are the envy of many a club. He finishes at university at the end of the educational year and will enter full time employment with a fantastic resume to flash in front of prospective employers. 

“We thank him massively for his efforts and wish him every success, but true to his commitment to the club, it will not be the last we will see of him as he has made the commitment of training up and advising his replacements.”

The club will be releasing more information on www.leamingtonfc.co.uk regarding media positions for next season in due course.

(Cover Photo: David Airey)