We were deeply saddened this week to learn news of the passing of Brakes supporter Sean Bell, aged 30, after a battle with leukemia.

A popular face at Your Co-op Community Stadium, Sean was also known for his love of music - playing for local band Twisted Minds, recently performing at the Royal Spa Centre. 

He was full of fun and always up for a laugh, the terraces won't be the same without him on them. He loved nothing more as a young boy than joining in with chants on the North Bank.

We would ask all fans, and Bromsgrove Sporting fans, to join us in a minutes silence ahead of kick off at today's game, with some of Sean's family attending. Everyone at Leamington Football Club passes our deepest sympathies to his wife Holly and the rest of the family.

Manager Paul Holleran today confirmed that Ben Usher-Shipway has left the football club in search of regular playing time.

Holleran said "I'd like to thank Ben on a personal level as well as a footballing level, he has moved in order to get more regular game time and we wish him all the best in his future footballing endeavours.

"Ben, as well as all of his family, are always welcome back at Leamington Football Club."

Usher-Shipway made 40 appearances (7 of those coming this season) for the Brakes, scoring one goal in a 2-1 defeat to Alfreton Town. 

We'd like to thank Ush for his efforts, and wish him all the best in whatever is next.

‘It certainly was an eventful afternoon,’ said the manager afterward when speaking to Brian Halford of BBC CWR. ‘I was pleased with the starting line up. I thought the first 15 minutes we were competitive - we’ve hit the inside of a round post and it came out. I thought it had the makings of a good game. They’re a good side here, they really are. 

‘People can just look back and watch the game. I’ve probably had around 1,500 games on the touchline, and I’ve never seen anything quite like some of the things that have gone on today. 

'The sending off of the player - I had a clear view of it, and it did hit Theo on his knee and went up round the chest area because I could just see it from around my angle - then there was a delayed reaction with it, then the whistle was blown. I thought he (The Referee) had given us a free kick for an infringement. He then walked towards Joe Clarke and I thought he was going to send Joe Clarke off. He then walked towards Jack Lane. Because it’s a set play I know where these players are going to be. Jack Lane is marking in sort of the middle of the six yard box, and when you look back at it you will see that. So he’s thought it was Joe Clarke, then he’s decided that it’s Jack Lane, and the reality is that it’s the player who was on the line - it’s Theo Streete, who’s got 15 years experience in the game - and there’s a hell of a difference between Theo Streete and Jack Lane. 

‘Forget everything else that’s gone on today - for all the supporters and the players that have travelled - the game has gone then - it’s just damage limitation really. I’m experienced enough now to keep out of it, but at half time he was calling me Ian - he thought I was the Boston manager, the Referee, Dane. That probably explains it all doesn’t it? I just said look, the common denominator is, the player you’ve sent off is white, and the player on the line was black. He said to me that he was 100% certain he had got the decision right. 

‘I worry a bit for football really because there’s a lot of this happening. At some of the games I have watched this season there’s been players getting sent off left right and centre; there’s strange decisions left right and centre. I and all the players at Leamington fully understand the new directives; I think if they’re implemented correctly they’re probably for the good of the game, no issues at all, but I think that the powers that be really do need to look at who is reffing at certain levels. That’s the bottom line here. 

‘You could see the way the game was going when we went 2-0 down. Boston are a very good home side, a very good footballing side. They’re full time, and 11 v 10 was always going to be difficult for us. We’ve then had some decisions to make. We’ve had to go into a lower block, we’ve had to go 4-4-1. We got Tyrone off the pitch as a precaution - Henry’s then feeling his groin….. I feel a little bit for the fans really, because you think do you go 4-3-2 and try and have a go, but I just thought that where we were, my job was just to try and not get anybody else sent off. 

‘The biggest thing about what’s gone on today, and the circumstances, is that the players have got to show control. You’ve only got to look at the challenges that have gone in on Adam Walker and Dan Baldwin that have gone unpunished. I’ve seen games like that before where teams have gone on to have 8 or 9 players. The day was probably taken away from us, and we’ve just got to make sure that the knock-on effects of today don’t  affect us next week or the week after. 

‘Listen, it’s their day today, we wish them good luck in the next round, and I’m pretty sure the appeals panel won’t take too long rescinding this one!’

Paul Holleran has confirmed that goalkeeper Callum Hawkins has signed for the club, as he returns from injury.

The 23-year-old shot stopper was released by Burton Albion but continued his recovery with the Brewers throughout the summer. He has been training with Paul Holleran's side this month and now he is back fit, the Hawk has put pen to paper. 

Over his two loan appearances at Your Co-op Community Stadium, Hawkins made 42 appearances, keeping 15 clean sheets. His second loan spell ended following an ACL injury against Blyth Spartans in February 2023.

Callum is available, and will be part of the squad for today's FA Cup game at Boston United, with live commentary on the below player from around 2:50.

It’s a trip to familiar opposition this Saturday as Leamington face off with National League North side Boston United in the Emirates FA Cup.
 
This game WILL be segregated. 
 
Tickets
 
Leamington fans will be housed in the East Stand, where we have been on both of our two trips to the Jakemans Community Stadium. Tickets are priced as following and can be bought on Boston’s ticketing site:
 
Adult: £15
Concession: £12
Under 16: £6
 
Parking
 
A limited number of car park places in the Blue Car Park are available on this link. 
 
Bus Travel
 
The BrakesTrust minibus running for this fixture, check their website for details with tickets nearly sold out.
                 
Live Coverage
 
Match updates will be available as usual on our X, Facebook and Instagram. Live commentary with Craig Barnes and Jack Godbert-Brown will be available on BrakesLiveFM shortly before kick off on the player below.

Alternative Routes to Ground
 
Information kindly provided by Boston United.
 
Matchday car parking at the Jakemans Community Stadium is exclusively for car park season pass holders and club guests in season 2023-2024.
 
Further car parking spaces will become available following the completion of construction works at the Community Stadium in the future.
 
Any disabled supporters intending to attend any of our upcoming fixtures are advised to contact the ticket office on (01205) 364406 to discuss their in-ground and parking requirements.
 
There are still various ways to reach the club's new stadium...
 
SHUTTLE BUSES
Transport will be running from the town centre on matchdays.
 
The cost is £1.50 each way, with Cropley Coaches picking up outside the Len Medlock Voluntary Centre on St George's Road (PE21 8YB) at the following times on Saturdays (3.00pm kick-off):
 
12.00pm
12.45pm
1.30pm
2.15pm
 
The following times apply for midweek evening fixtures:
 
5.15pm
5.45pm
6.30pm
7.15pm
 
Each bus will also subsequently pick up outside Boots in the Market Place and outside the Quayside Hotel on London Road.
 
Coaches will return to the Len Medlock Voluntary Centre (on Saturdays) at:
 
5.00pm 
5.45pm
 
The return times for midweek evening fixtures are:
 
9.45pm
10.30pm
 
All timings are approximate and will depend on traffic conditions on the route.
 
As all the parking spaces are not yet available at the new Jakemans Community Stadium due to ongoing construction works, we would ask as many people as possible to use this service, or consider one of the alternative means of accessing the stadium…
 
ON FOOT
There are a network of footpaths from the town to the stadium, although those using the footpath will have to cross the A16 via the crossing points.
 
CYCLE
Cycle racks are available either end of the Acorn Taxis (West) Stand, with all cycles left at the owner's risk.
 
TAXI
Club partners Acorn Taxis are offering deals for supporters travelling to and from the Jakemans Community Stadium.
 
Departing from their office in the bus station, the cost for journeys to and from the stadium would be £6 (each way) per car and £10 (each way) per minibus.
 
You can book an Acorn Taxi by calling (01205) 358358. Please book well in advance.
 
BUS SERVICES
Brylaine bus services B13 and K58 serve The Quadrant. Further details can be found on the Brylaine website (here) – please note: "The Quadrant" is not listed on the two Brylaine schedules, but we are informed that they drop off and pick up on Wallace Way (on The Quadrant).
 
CAR SHARING
We would ask as many people as possible to consider car sharing to not only help with parking at the stadium, but also to help reduce the travel carbon footprint.
 
PARKING ARRANGEMENTS
Car parking will be for sponsors, club guests and car park season pass holders during the 2023-2024 season.
 
A limited number of car parking spaces will go on sale for each fixture on a match-by-match basis.
 
If parking near the stadium, please consider those living in the area.

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