With the squad gearing up to begin their pre season fixtures manager Paul Holleran has made his first new signing of the summer.

Forward player Kieran Cook joins Brakes having made significant strides up the Non League Pyramid over the last two or three years. He joined Alvechurch as an 18 year old from Wednesfield in May 2018, jumping from the West Midlands League to the Southern League Premier Division in the process, and took to the step up like a duck to water. He was quickly put on a contract by manager Ian Long as the ‘Church had a storming 2018/19 campaign which ended with defeat to King’s Lynn in the Play Off Final.

Kieran followed his manager to Stourbridge the following season, and continued to score goals for the Glassboys. He returned to Alvechurch late in 2019, and also spent time at Rushall Olympic that season, which was eventually cut short, continuing to find the back of the net.

‘Kieran has taken a similar path to Josh March’ (the two were team mates at Alvechurch) , said Holleran. ‘We did actually try to sign him a couple of years ago but it didn’t quite happen.

‘He has played 100 plus games at Step 3 which gives you a good grounding and makes you nice and robust. He’s done well in spells and is certainly somebody who has got the potential to step up to National League North level and perform.

‘He’s a great young lad, has lots of ability, lots of potential, and we’ve probably just got to make him more consistent, and with a few tweaks here and there we think he could be a good Step 2 player, and if you are a good Step 2 player at 20 years of age then anything can happen!

‘Kieran has been in with us for a while now and we can see that he’s got all the ingredients that it takes to be a success at this level, so hopefully with a bit of a mix, bit of a stir, he can do well for us. We’re looking forward to working with him.

‘I can’t wait to get back to playing to be honest,’ said the new recruit after our first pre season game against Worcester. ‘You can see that everybody was lethargic tonight, but that’s what you use these games for, to build up fitness and hit the ground running once the season begins.

‘I’m looking forward to playing at Step 2. It’ll be the highest level I have competed at so far. It was good for me to be able to play with (former Leamington striker) Josh March at Alvechurch, to see how he plays and adapt bits into my own game. Seeing how Kyle Morrison has done too, having taken the same path - it gives me encouragement that I can do the same.’

We would like to welcome Kieran to Leamington FC and hope he enjoys a successful time here.