LeamingtonFC.co.uk

With the teams now confirmed in the Southern Premier League Central, we’re taking a whistle stop tour of all of the clubs who we’ll be playing next season with our bite sized info packs! The As have been covered, now onto the next letter of the alphabet - B is for Barwell!

Name: Barwell FC
Founded: 1992
Nickname: The Canaries
Stadium: Kirkby Road

Another village side, Barwell represent the Leicestershire village of the same name - just north of Hinckley. They were founded due to a merger of Barwell Athletic and Hinckley FC in 1992 and took Hinckley’s place in the Midland Combination Premier.

This will be their thirteenth straight season at Step 3 having switched between the Northern and Southern Premier Leagues between 2011 and present. Last season they finished a respectable 8th after being reprieved from relegation the season before.

They play at Kirkby Road, where they are also landlords to Midland League side Hinckley AFC. It has a capacity of 2,500 with 256 seats and has recently seen an artificial pitch put in, lifting the level of the ground so the old covered terracing is in fact under the level of the pitch.

Barwell manager Ian King is a former Brake, having made three appearances in 2012 but also rejoined the club in the 2015/16 season to be part of Paul Holleran’s coaching staff.

Have we met before?

Once again, Barwell a side that we’ve met on numerous occasions, but you’d have to rewind to over a decade for our last league meeting.

The last meeting was in 2015 as Southern League Brakes blew apart their Northern Premier League opponents in the FA Trophy, winning 6-1. On the scoresheet for the Brakes was Jack Edwards against his old club, Lee Chiltern and Ben Mackey both with a brace and Will Green to put the icing on the cake.

Distance - 28 miles
Travel Time - 47 minutes

Give them a follow…

You can find them on Twitter @BarwellFC1992, Facebook /Barwell Football Club and Instagram @barwellfc!

With the teams now confirmed in the Southern Premier League Central, we’re taking a whistle stop tour of all of the clubs who we’ll be playing next season with our bite sized info packs! Third up we make the short hop over to Alvechurch!

Name: Alvechurch FC
Founded: 1929
Nickname: The Church
Stadium: Lye Meadow

Hailing from the quaint Worcestershire village of the same name, Alvechurch are gearing up for their fifth straight season in the Southern Premier League Central but made their name big last season due to an FA Cup run.

The Church were the lowest ranked side left in the competition after beating Cheltenham Town in the First Round Proper, narrowly losing out to League One Forest Green Rovers in the second.

They play at the 3,000 capacity Lye Meadow, with stunning views over the forest covering the River Arrow. There is a 200 seated stand and a covered terrace behind one goal.

Have we met before?

On numerous occasions, but not in a league match since a 2-1 win at home on New Years Day 2007! On the scoresheet that day were Ben Mackey and Jamie Towers.

Fast forward 13 years to our last meeting in a pre-season friendly… watch the highlights below!

Distance - 25 miles
Travel Time - 32 minutes

Give them a follow…

You can find them on Twitter @alvechurch1st, Facebook /Alvechurch Fc and Instagram @alvechurchfc!

With the teams now confirmed in the Southern Premier League Central, we’re taking a whistle stop tour of all of the clubs who we’ll be playing next season with our bite sized info packs! Next up, they need no introduction… it’s AFC Telford United

Name: AFC Telford United
Founded: 2004
Nickname: The Bucks, Lilywhites
Stadium: New Bucks Head

Representing the Shropshire town of Telford and playing in Wellington, AFC Telford United were founded in 2004 following the unfortunate liquidation of Telford United FC. On the same day that it was announced the club would be liquidated, fans announced that a new club would be formed and were placed in the Northern Premier League Division 1.

They play at the 6,380 capacity New Bucks Head, which will be the largest ground in the league next season.

The Bucks have had three seasons in the National League, but spent the last eight seasons in the National League North before relegation in 2022/23, finishing rock bottom of the league. In former Brackley manager Kevin Wilkin, the Lilywhites - like the Brakes - will be looking to get promotion back to the sixth tier at the first time of asking.

Have we met before?

Almost too many times - and even more when you talk about Wellington and Telford United FC! The two meetings between the Brakes and the Bucks last season both ended in draws, watch the highlights of the 2-2 stalemate at Your Co-op Community Stadium below.

Loan man from Burton Albion Tom Hewlett scored twice to give the Brakes a two goal lead against the league's basement side, but the Bucks struck back and earned themselves a point.

Give them a follow…

You can find them on Twitter @telfordutd, Facebook /AFC Telford United - Official and Instagram @telfordutd!

The u23s play their final game of the season on Saturday 20 May as they take on Bedworth United in the Midland League Challenge Trophy Final at The Oval.

Kick off is 1pm, and all details are below. We are hoping to have a big, loud away following!

We have designated the 11:40 train from Leamington Spa to Bedworth as our away travel train, and tickets can be booked now for approximately £9 return without a railcard.

Tickets are priced as follows for pay on the gate:

Adults £7
Over 65 £4
Aged 12-16 £4
Under 12 (accompanied) £0

Let’s travel in numbers and back the lads for one last hurrah!

Please find below a short statement from the Southern Football League in relation to key dates for the 2023/24 season.

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The Pitching In Southern Football League have confirmed that their two Premier Divisions (Central & South) will commence on Saturday, 5th August 2023.

Both divisions will conclude on Saturday, 27th April 2024 with the play-off semi-finals the following midweek and the play-off finals on Monday, 6th May 2024.

The key dates for the 2023/24 season:

Saturday 5th August 2023 – Season Commences
Saturday 27th April 2024 – End of season
Wednesday 1st May 2024 – Play-off semi finals
Monday 6th May 2024 – Play-off finals

The club are delighted to announce that Manager Paul Holleran will remain in post for the forthcoming 2023/24 season.

The experienced manager, who has guided Leamington to promotion twice from the Southern Premier League already, will enter his fifteenth season as Leamington manager having led the Brakes from the dugout in 661 competitive games since he was appointed as manager in 2009.

A serial winner in the Southern Football League, Holleran has played a hand in both Halesowen Town and Solihull Borough's promotions to the Southern Premier League in 2003/04 alongside his two promotions at Leamington, and also guided both Leamington and Rushall Olympic to three and two play-off finishes respectively.

Leamington FC Chairman Jim Scott said, “It was an easy discussion to be had in the boardroom with unanimous support for Paul continuing in his role. With his vast experience and knowledge we fully believe he is the best person for the job. His loyalty to the club has been exemplary throughout his time with us.

"It will be a tough task for the season ahead as he looks to build a competitive squad aimed at giving us an opportunity to gain promotion. With so many local midlands clubs it means that we are all fishing in the same pool for players. Let’s enjoy the challenge. One plus for the season ahead is that with so many local games we should have good support on the road. Everybody was invigorated by the noise and atmosphere created by the young group of supporters of 'Baby Brakes' who joined us and continued to grow in size during last season. More of the same please and more of you!"