Paul Holleran spoke to BBC CWR's Brian Halford after Leamington's disappointing 5-2 defeat to the bookies' promotion favourites Coalville Town.

"Coalville bossed it in the early stages," Holleran said. "They're a good outfit with lots of good players. We found our way back into the game, then. We tinkered with our system a bit to try and give us a bit more control in the middle of the park. I don't think we were great all afternoon but we've shown a bit of character to come back twice and got in the game, which was evenly balanced at that point.

"The facts are the facts though, we're 2-2 with 86 minutes and you're 5-2 down at the end of the game, I think it tells its own story. I think what we've got in the changing room and the calibre of some of the players, that shouldn't happen. It's been a poor afternoon for us all round, we haven't been good but when you get to late in the game against one of, if not the best side in the league you'll take it and go again. But it's really concerning and something we need to resolve."

Callum Stewart scored his first competitive Leamington goal, and the gaffer commented "Yeah (it was a good goal). At that point, we had the upper hand but on the whole they looked more leggy than us, passed the ball better than us and of course you'd have taken a draw but it's very hard for me to stand here with 2-2 at 86 minutes and try and explain what I've just seen. Some of the individual errors we've made and how we've not reacted to the space. Some of our decision making was mindblowing, it hasn't been good all afternoon but the injury time period is a period where coaches up and down the country could use to show their sides how not to defend.

"When we've been in this league before, we've come away to places that are hard to win at and grind out a result, keep a clean sheet. There's plenty for us to think about, to work on and some realisation for one or two people."

Halford then asked Holleran about the new players creating a "work in progress", which Holleran replied "Yeah I'll accept that and I know the first ten games will be interesting but I've just told the players that I know we've got a bit to do and in some of the games so far there's been some really good performances and good periods. I'll accept there's some teething problems but not that. What's happened at the end today is nothing to do with the system or new players. That's to do with not defending properly, not being switched on, being too easy to hop around, skip around and that ten minute period will take a bit of explaining."

Brakes Press Officer Paul Edwards and Head of Media Max Passantino took time out of photographing on media evening to have a chat with Brakes boss Paul Holleran ahead of this Saturday's game against Long Eaton United.

Hollers looked back on pre-season, saying "I think most people will be generally pleased with pre season, it’s a process. From our point of view we’ve been able to regroup, introduce some different people, a new system. From that point of view it’s been a good six week period for us, pre season doesn’t count for a lot - I mean what can you do in pre season? It’s all just preparation of how we want to play to get what we want to achieve.

"Everybody is the same with pre-season, everyone just wants to start, we’ve put the work in and some years we’ve started well and some years not bur the Leicester and Rushall performances here were strong and we need to bring that into Saturday as if we want to be in the areas of the league where we want to be, performances at Leamington and getting points at home are going to be absolutely vital for us.”

Brakes host Long Eaton United this weekend in their opening Pitching In Southern League Premier Division Central game and the Leamington gaffer was full of praise for this weekend's opponents, noting "Looking in from the outside, there’s a lot of momentum there because of the successive promotions and we’ve watched them a couple of times. They’re a very efficient team who’ve got a good mixture of players both experienced and youth. So looking in from the outside, they’ve been together a long time and had this journey together. If you can get that hard working team, togetherness and spirit in non league, it gets you a lot of points. They tick a lot of boxes.

 “I know there’s been a little bit of upheaval this week and I don’t know a lot about it but it’s like any game - step 2 or 3 where the teams are equipped and organised. They’ve got players who can turn a game and score goals so we’ve got to make sure that we implement our game and make sure come Saturday 3pm we are ready to go full steam ahead and get three points.

It's always interesting heading into a new season, and Paul Holleran was next asked about targets. "We sometimes set realistic short term targets over a two or three week period with a little bonus - in terms of a night out or something like that," he said. "Little achievable targets along the way of the season are more practical. I’ve always been a massive believer of not talking and just doing it, and that’s what this group have got to do. 

“We’ve licked our wounds, regrouped and are ready to put in some encouraging performances and see where they take us.” 

It's an action packed first month of the season with Leamington facing six sides, and Paul Holleran made sure to note that just because his Leamington side had played 8 seasons all together in the National League North they did not have a right to come in and underestimate the new lower league.

He said "I think the first month gives you a taste of the league. Coalville have been if not the best team for the last three years and whether it’s been a couple of goals, a couple of points they’ve just missed out.

“When you look at the games, there’s three local ones, a couple of tough away ones - one on 4G, promoted sides. Every month you look at the fixtures and it’s a tough league.

“I know there’s a feeling that we’ve been around the National League for a long time, I don’t want to keep going back to it but the Southern League is still really competitive. I honestly think for the club, supporters, staff and players it’ll be a good league for us - something different and we’re going to have to be at our best to do well like we have in the past, but I think everyone’s looking forward to it.”

It's typical to end a chat ahead of a game with Hollers on the fans, who have turned out in their numbers this pre-season - making noise at every single game. On our supporters, he added "You’ve only got to look at the last game of the season and with the exception of two or three games they’ve turned up in numbers and seen hard working performances. They know they’re not standing watching players who are cheating them or not putting the leg work in.

“If you’re a player, what do supporters fall in love in? A player who works extremely hard, cares about the football club and works hard every week. I remember Steve Clarridge at the Blues - those kind of players. 

“We’ve got a lot of good, honest players. Whether at times we were good enough, but their application and effort last season was non questionable. It was the quality of the league that was too much for us at times and that’s happens.

“The most important thing is your home form, it’s what the majority of fans see. What we’ve got to do with tinkering with the system is to make us more creative, hopefully score more goals with more goal mouth action and that’s worked in pre-season. We’ve just got to bring that into the league and see where that takes us.

“Probably expecting us to be a little more open at times but I’m hopeful, at the end of the day when you’re getting large numbers turn up to watch us, we want them to be entertained and as well as being supportive to their club they want to see some excitement and that’s what we’re going to try to do and certainly pre-season we’ve looked more a goal threat and scored more goals. 

“There’s always a blip along the way and that happens in pre-season when people fall into the pre-season mode but we’re doing things properly. There’s enough experience in the side, and the beauty of it is that there’s a couple of younger players who have stepped up from lower league football and I think we’re all excited to see how they do. Then you’ve got the tried and trusted that are here, and your Tyrone and Landers around the pitch who will look to add more up top of the pitch.” 

The Southern Premier League central kicks off this weekend, and Long Eaton United are the visitors to Warwickshire as the recently relegated Brakes welcome the newly promoted Blues.

This game will NOT be segregated. 

Tickets

You can purchase tickets online and on the gate. We 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: £14
Over 60: £10
Student (with NUS Card): £7
Under 18: £4
Under 12: £0

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. 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.

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 is able to be used by both sets of fans and boasts a wide range of drinks, including local Warwickshire Church Farm Brewery alcohols. Our bar has TNT Sports live, with Rochdale vs Ebbsfleet United in the National League kicking off at 5:15pm. 

Car Parking

We have free car parking at the ground for 450 cars. Parking is first come, first serve and there will be stewards to guide you to a place. 

Bus Travel

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 what3wordsare 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. 

The BrakesTrust minibus is a low-cost shuttle bus between town and the ground, check their website for details.

Programme

Our new look official matchday magazine ‘New Windmill Wonderland' will be available to purchase for £3 just as you enter the turnstiles. Read the thoughts of the chairman, manager and captain, learn everything you need to about Long Eaton United and much more in the programme that was voted best in the National League North and second best in the whole of non-league last year.

Turnstiles Opening Time

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

Live Coverage

Match updates can be found on our X, 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. 

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.

Read more ...

After the conclusion of Leamington's fourth pre-season friendly - a 1-1 draw with Leicester City u21 - Brakes' Press Officer, Paul Edwards, and Head of Media, Max Passantino, sat down with Paul Holleran to speak about a variety of topics.

With the chat taking place straight after the Leicester game, the manager now in his fourteenth season at Leamington spoke about the match his side had just played, saying: "It was a really good pre-season game, we try to get a mixture of games in pre-season and these (Leicester City) are a really good side to play. Ben (Petty, Leicester u21 coach) will get great benefit from his boys playing us and we’ve got great benefit from playing them - the way they try and move it through the lines quickly and their change of shape in play, you’ve really got to work hard to stay connected.

"It was a real good game and I thought we played our part in it, especially the first half performance that was really encouraging against a strong side with some really good players and it feels as if we’re gradually getting there. We’re changing personnel and shape and it’s encouraging, we’ve had to dig in and work at times but all in all it was a really good pre-season workout." 

Adam Walker's 79th minute equaliser cancelled out an opener from the young Foxes to notch a second draw of pre-season, adding to the 2-2 draw with Coventry City u21 where Leamington came from behind again to salvage a draw.

The summer has seen six new additions to the Brakes squad. Joining were Callum Smith from Walsall Wood, Jiah Medrano from Shepshed Dynamo, Josh Quaynor from Halesowen Town, Tyrone Barnett from Hereford, Callum Stewart from Coventry Sphinx and Henry Landers from Banbury United.

Speaking about the new signings and team dynamic, Hollers commented: “The new signings have been pulling their weight and more, what we went through last season was difficult and we needed a bit of a face lift. What I’m trying to do is get the lads more adaptable, we played two different shapes (against Leicester) and it helps them get used to playing different systems. We’ve brought a few young lads in who are adapting to the level and then we’ve also brought experienced players in like Tyrone and Josh and they’re all settling in well.

“It’s early days but it’s encouraging signs. At the same time you’re trying to keep our Leamington DNA but it’s pleasing and I’m especially pleased with the younger players coming in, Callum Smith and Cally (Stewart) and you can see Jiah and Josh have both settled in well too so there’s lots of pluses at the moment.”

Step 3 has changed considerably since Leamington last played at this level in the football pyramid with the split of the Southern League into the Southern Premier League Central and the Southern League Premier South, with Brakes poised to play in the former for the 2023/24 season.

“It’s a good league, quite exciting," Holleran noted. "The reality is the National League North - we all aspire to play there but it has been difficult for us, the central league will also be tough… there are some good players in that league but maybe a change, a few more local games and something different for everybody - the players, fans and club. It’s something to look forward to and hopefully we can go and give a good account of ourselves, that’s the aim."

Fans may have noticed that both Dan Meredith and Henry Landers have been missing for the last couple of pre-season games, and Hollers offered an explanation into why.

“Henry got an ankle injury against Coventry so that’s knackered him up for the last few games," the manager disclosed. "Dan Meredith’s back in training next week, he’s a teacher now so you have to balance that. He broke up from term time and had his spell to have a little holiday so that’s why I got a couple of 90 minutes into him early doors, so over the next two games both Dan and Henry will be involved, more to the Rushall game.”

After Saturday's trip to Rugby Town AFC, newly promoted Rushall Olympic wait to be the final test of pre-season and the former Rushall gaffer made it clear he wanted to play his old side in preparation for the league campaign.

The Pics achieved promotion to the National League North last season for the first time in their history with a penalty shootout win against Nuneaton Borough at Liberty Way in the play-off final. Former Leamington custodian Jake Weaver was the hero of the show, saving two penalties - much like his heroics at Wrexham in the FA Trophy for Leamington. 

“I always try and pencil Rushall in, it’s realistic and tough. If you look through all the pre-seasons that last game we want something that will test us and they (Rushall) have momentum, we’ve had that momentum on more than one occasion, and it’s great when you’ve got that feel good factor and that’s what I’m trying to do is build that feeling back up here again. How do you do that? Well I’m trying to give the players something else to think about on the pitch, some new faces around the place and it gives everyone a bounce. It will give us a chance, it all comes back to the scenario that the Leamington DNA doesn’t change.

“I’m working in a changing room where I feel we’ve got good people who’s work ethic and desire would never be in question, we’ve then brought in these young players into this system and say ‘these are the standards at the football club and that’s what I want’ and they buy into it. There’s a little bit of work to do with one or two of them but we’re all getting there. When people like Tyrone Barnett come in and you look round the changing room and see Theo (Streete), Jack Lane, Jack (Edwards), Joe Clarke, Adam Walker Junior (English) - you see them all and they set the standards and we all follow.

“If you do things properly, get a good work ethic, get organised and add a bit of quality then you’d hope we might just do okay!”

Brakes start their league campaign on August 5 at home to Long Eaton United, who have won successive promotions to reach the Southern League Premier Central and despite coming from an opposite trajectory to Leamington last season will provide a stern test in Leamington's first game under the Southern League banner in over six seasons.

“I’ve had a glance at the fixture list," Holleran admitted. "Long Eaton are new but two promotions in two years tells you all you need to know really. They’re obviously ambitious and we’ll no doubt get eyes on them ahead of the first game. There’s an element to the league - there’s no ifs and buts that the National League has been tough and demanding for everyone at the football club but you look at this division and it’s not as demanding, especially in terms of travel so we’re looking forward to the games.

“We’ve been where teams in this league want to be and we’ve been there for a long time. We’ve sustained it and built our reputation which is now very high for this league and rightly so - you’ve got Kettering and Telford in the same position regarding club size but listen, we’ve got to deal with the pressure and the reality is whatever wins we get this season we’ve got to work hard and that’s exactly what we’ll do."

Newly promoted Long Eaton United will visit Warwickshire on the opening day of the 2023/24 season with the Southern League fixture schedule released.

Paul Holleran's side will start and end the season at Your Co-op Community Stadium with AFC Sudbury visiting in April to bring the curtain down on the campaign.

Leamington fans will have two sets of Warwickshire derbies to look out for. El Warwicko against Nuneaton will be a complete 2024 affair with Jimmy Ginnelly's side making the journey south to Leamington on New Year's Day before the return on Easter Monday. Stratford Town are the other Warwickshire side, however it would be a push to call the Stratford games a rivalry as the history between the sides doesn't go as far back as games against Nuneaton - with only 20 competitive games being played between the two sides in a 50 year period. We will welcome the Bards on Monday 28 August with the highly anticipated return at the Arden Garages Stadium on Boxing Day.

Berkhamsted, Leiston, Needham Market and Royston Town have never played the Brakes before with the games between the sides this season making history and adding to the number of teams that Leamington have played.

See below the full fixture list for the 2023/24 season.