Following the initial postponement of our fixture due to Kettering Town's FA Cup progress, we can confirm that the Poppies will now be visiting Your Co-op Community Stadium on Tuesday 7 November, 19:45 kick off.

Tickets will be released in due course.

Leamington have been drawn at home to Rugby Town in the Second Round of the Birmingham Senior Cup.

All details TBC.

Read more ...

Paul Holleran spoke to the media on Thursday night ahead of his side's FA Trophy Third Round Qualifying tie against Redditch United.

"We've had some good moments in the trophy over years gone by and this year we start with another local derby away from home - it's a bit of a fortress for them. He's done a brilliant job, has Matthew Clarke (Redditch United manager) and it looks like after losing one or two in the summer his recruitment has been good again and they've had some really good results so it's going to be hard.

"If you think of the Trophy in recent years, they've made it more localised which I think makes more sense for fans travelling, for interest and for crowds. It's going to be a really tough game but we're looking to bounce back. We've had two games where we could have easily had a lot more out of the games, but we haven't and that's the nature of football sometimes.

"I just think defensively, I've said to a lot of my teams over the years that if you can keep a 0 or a 1 by your name you tend to do alright but we've sadly, at the other end you need 2, 3 or 4 which there hasn't been but when I look back at the games there wasn't a lot wrong. We needed a bit of creativity and ruthlessess in the final third but our high line was right. 

"Listen, we've just spent this week's training working on a lot of attacking play but first and foremost it'll need to be an energetic, hard working and gritty performance because if you don't start with those ingredients, especially at Redditch, you'll walk away with nothing."

There is certainly some history in Redditch United vs Leamington fixtures, with the play-off semi final in 2015/16 being contested between the two sides, and the gaffer reminisced on that game.

"It was a good night wasn't it? 8 years ago - it doesn't feel like it! Courtney with the late goal, Gitto with the nod down. Then it went to penalties and Mr Breeden was the hero. It was just a good night, a good advert for football on a tough pitch. Redditch had a great season that year.

"If Saturday is anything like that then we'll be in for a treat and a good afternoon. But listen, we've got to go there and put in a really hard-working away performance and hopfully find that final bit of quality that's been missing in the last few weeks."

Tickets can be purchased on Redditch's ticketing site ahead of this weekend's game with most fans selecting rail as their preferred method of transport - train tickets can be booked up until trains leave.

The FA Trophy kicks off for Leamington on Saturday, as they make the short trip to Redditch United in the Third Round Qualifying.
 
This game will NOT be segregated. 
 
Tickets
 
Tickets can be purchased both on the gate or online, online tickets are cheaper than gate tickets so we advise that you purchase in advance on Redditch’s ticket portal.
 
Online Prices:
Adult: £11
Over 65: £8
Student (with NUS): £5
Aged 14-18: £5
Aged 5-13: £2
Under 5: £0
 
Gate Prices:
Adult: £12
Over 65: £9
Student (with NUS): £5
Aged 14-18: £5
Aged 5-13: £2
Under 5: £0
 
Facilities
 
Facilities inside the ground include:

The Club's 1891 Lounge, Sponsors Suite & Directors Room are based within the main stand. The Club has a lift to access all of these facilities that are on the 1st Floor. The Reds Cafe is next the Main Stand Entrance and serves match day food as well as a selection of hot and cold drinks.
 
The stadium also boasts two outside kiosk bars serving alcoholic beverages: The Turnstile Bar – alcoholic drinks only and The Off Side Bar – alcoholic drinks, hot and cold soft drinks, pies and pastries.
 
Car Parking
 
Parking at The Valley Stadium costs £3. The car park regularly fills up by 2:15pm, however there are many other parking locations near the town centre and the train station.
 
Bus Travel
 
The BrakesTrust minibus is running for this fixture, check their website for details, including their need for a volunteer driver.
 
Train Travel
 
Cheap tickets can be bought, especially groupsave tickets, from Leamington Spa station to Redditch station. The route requires a change in Birmingham.
 
See fans groups for plans on train travel.
                 
Live Coverage
 
We have reluctantly had to cancel our scheduled commentary due to Redditch United not allowing Leamington media into their press box. Unfortunately due to the size of our equipment, we would not be able to provide commentary from Redditch’s suggested position inside their main stand amongst fans at pitch level. We’d like to take this opportunity to apologise to our regular listeners from afar and any other fans this may affect.
 
We will still have coverage on our social media sites – X, Instagram and Facebook.
 
Possible Match Permutations
 
The winners of this tie will progress to the First Round Proper of the competition, when Vanarama National League North and South sides enter.
 
Should the tie remain level after 90 minutes, a penalty shoot out will take place to decide the winners of the tie. 
 
Ref Watch
 
The man in the middle will be Nottinghamshire’s James Tewson, who has refereed two Step 3 games this season alongside four Step 4 games – most recently Alvechurch’s win over Long Eaton United on Saturday. He will be assisted by Nathan Charles and Jonathan Price.
 
Ground Directions
 
Exit the M42 at Junction 2 At the roundabout take the first exit onto the A441 dual carriageway for 2 miles. At the roundabout, take the first exit onto Birmingham Road A441 for 1.2 miles. At the roundabout, take the third exit onto Middlehouse Lane B4184 for 0.3 miles. At the traffic lights, next to the fire station, turn left onto Birmingham Road for 0.2 miles. At the garage on the corner (on your right), turn right onto Clive Road for 0.3 miles.
 
At the roundabout take the first exit onto Hewell Road for 0.2 miles. At the ‘T’ junction turn right onto Windsor Street for 0.1 miles. At the traffic lights, next to the bus station, continue straight ahead onto Bromsgrove Road for 0.3 miles. At the brow of the hill, turn right into the drive at the side of the Hill View Surgery and continue down the drive to the ground’s entrance.

We have had confirmed details of Sean Bell's funeral:

Wednesday 11 October 2023
11am
St Joseph's Catholic Church, Murcott Road East, Whitnash