LeamingtonFC.co.uk

We will host Bedworth United in the Third Round of the Birmingham Senior Cup on Tuesday 16 January, 7:45pm kick off.

Further details will be released shortly. The winner of this tie will advance to the Quarter Finals.

Happy New Year and wishing all Brakes fans a successful and prosperous 2024.

We thank you all for your continued support throughout 2023. The disappointment of relegation is now behind us with the team currently occupying a play-off position as we enter the second half of the season with us all looking upwards rather than downwards. The remainder of the season will be challenging but working together we hope to be in the promotion mix at the end of the campaign.

A massive thank you to all the volunteers and my fellow directors who contribute so much to our club and also to the management team and players under the stewardship of Manager Paul Holleran who continue to give their all for our club and make us proud.

Once again best wishes to you all in the New Year.

Jim Scott
Chairman

After his side's 2-1 loss at Needham Market, Leamington manager Paul Holleran spoke to the media.

"It was watchable for different reasons than second vs third," the Leamington manager said. "We'll look back and be disappointed at the first 20 minutes and the first goal - our defensive shape for it. We then get back into the game with a great free kick and then we're disappointed with the build up to the free kick for their second. The free kick, I don't know. You didn't know what the man in the middle was going to do all game, so I don't know. I think it's an indirect free kick, and we could've managed it better. I think we then finished the half stronger.

"We then had a really good spell from when we made the change when Tyrone came on. In that 20 minute spell we played some good football, and had some golden opportunities. It was a difficult surface because of the weather but we can't miss two or three opportunities in the six yard box. The keeper did well but we've got to be more ruthless. The game then became stretched, Needham edged the second half but we were far far better in the second.

"There are lots of reasons we didn't get something out of the game - the way we managed the early stages, the missed opportunities, but sadly the biggest reason was one person. They need to get this guy in the Premier League running round - he'd be great there, God knows what was going on. I don't know what he was doing - I was lost for words.

"It's another good performance, and it was a tough weekend for us with Hitchin and Needham Market - especially with the travel problems getting here. There wasn't a lot wrong with the performance. I would've taken two points out of the weekend, delighted with four and elated with six so I'm not too disappointed with three. The only sour note is it's another player going down - first Connor and Junior and now Jack Lane. It just leaves us a little bit stretched but we'll need to address it."

After a precautionary pitch inspection, Hitchin have confirmed that our game today will go ahead!

See you at Top Field for 3pm!

Leamington meet Hitchin Town on Saturday for the first time since the 2017 Southern Premier League Play Off Final.

This game will NOT be segregated.

Tickets

This match is an ALL TICKET match, you will need to purchase tickets on this link.

Adult: £13
60+: £9
Students aged 20+: £9 (with ID)
Aged 13-19: £4
Under 13: £2
Over 80: Free

Should the game be postponed, Hitchin have confirmed that as a replay would be played on a Monday night, refunds will be accepted by emailing the club. We will share this contact if the game is postponed, however Hitchin have made it clear they do not expect the game to be off.

Programme

Programmes are available from the club shop for £2.50 and contactless payment is preferred, with correct cash payments also accepted.

Facilities

Kindly provided by Hitchin Town as below:

Onsite facilities: Snack hut, shop & bar (cash & card accepted)
Dogs allowed but must be kept on a lead

The bar facilities are outside of the ground and will be open throughout the duration of the game, before and afterwards. Once you enter the ground for the game, if anyone wishes to leave the ground to go to the bar, you will need to go to the side gate by the turnstiles and have a hand stamp. You will need to show this to gain re-entry.

Address: Fishponds Road, Hitchin, Herts, SG5 1NU

Car Parking

For those travelling by car, there is an adequate amount of free Car Parking at Top Field, but should the car park become full there is limited street parking close to the ground or car parks in the Town Centre which are a 10-15 minute walk to the ground. Local Car Parks can be found as follows:

Lairage Car Park, Bedford Road, Hitchin, SG5 1GB
Bancroft Car Park, Bancroft, Hitchin, SG5 1NJ

Bus Travel

The BrakesTrust minibus running for this fixture, check their website for details.

Live Coverage

Match updates can be found on our social media sites as well as live commentary courtesy of HTFC Radio.

Hitchin Town will undertake a precautionary pitch inspection at 9:15 tomorrow morning ahead of our scheduled Southern League Premier Division Central fixture.

As soon as we know the result of the pitch inspection, we will advise our supporters.

Find the met office forecast for Hitchin here.

We were saddened to hear of the death of former Brakes captain Roy Bradley last week.

Roy played for Lockheed between 1959 and 1964, making at least 207 appearances (10 goals) with a number of gaps still to fill in the archive, and captained the side during the successful 1961-62 season, lifting both the Birmingham League and the Birmingham Senior Cup.

Roy's family have shared details of his funeral that will be held at Oakley Wood Crematorium North Chapel on December 4th at 1pm, followed by a wake at the Heathcote Pub. There will be a number of pictures and press cuttings from the time on display.