Brakes boost promotion hopes in 1975

It was a disappointing trip to the land of Gavin and Stacey for Brakes in February 1975 when their promotion bid faltered on a trip to Barry Town.   Perhaps it was the glamour of the setting, but ‘Leamington were far below standard and could consider themselves lucky to gain a point from the lowly Welshmen.   After their convincing midweek game against Cheltenham, no change Leamington expected to pick up at least a point against a team which had notched only three points in the last 13 games. 

 However, several Leamington players took knocks in that fierce encounter and faced late fitness checks.   Far too many of their movements broke down in midfield through faulty passes, but they could perhaps blame to some extent a badly cut-up ground which had dried hard   There was unusual slackness down the centre where Roger Brown could not prevent Barry’s dangerous leader Clive Ayres exploiting the opening. 

But Leamington had the man of the match in goalkeeper Dave Jones , who began with a great save from an Ayres volley in the first minute and was often in motion.    AP soon began to press and a terrific 25 yard drive from Scriggins was only inches over the bar.   At the other end Brady and Brown did well to clear dangerous centres from the left.  In a fast-moving game, there was little to choose between the two sides – but the better chances were coming to Barry. 

There was a measure of luck about AP’s goal in the 35^th minute.  A free kick by Lee was diverted by Bird, Barry goalkeeper Trevor Nott was out of position, and Mickey Boot had only to slam the ball home.  Boot was outstanding in midfield.   Barry deserved the equaliser before the interval from Ayres who easily beat Jones.   AP were unlucky when Stewart broke clear only to hit the bar when the keeper was beaten.’   The game ended 1-1.

On the following Tuesday Brakes ‘bid to extend their unbeaten sequence to 16 matches when Gloucester City visit the Windmill Ground.  Brakes – with 14 wins and two draws behind them – slammed their opponents by three clear goals at Gloucester last month and as well as completing a Southern League double they will be bidding to improve their goal average.’  They won 4-1.  ‘Promotion  seeking AP completed a convincing double with this smooth success last night,  

Brakes also set a club record as they stretched their unbeaten run to a handsome 16 matches – 14 ending in victory.  It is a sparkling sequence and Jimmy Knox’s side are now breathing down the necks of the Division 1 (North) leaders in sixth spot.  Victory was never in doubt from the time Bobby Horne drilled home a powerful shot from 18 yards after only four minutes and despite Gloucester’s brave defence the final margin was fully deserved.    

Horne neatly headed AP’s second goal from a Mickey Boot corner before the interval.  City came back to take advantage of rare hesitation early in the second half but Brakes quickly underlined their command.   Within a minute Dave Scriggins finished off some clever play from John Brady with a far post header.   Six minutes from the end Adrian Stewart met Steve Lee’s inch perfect free kick to place an unstoppable header past Stowe from eight yards fo his 21^st goal of the season.’

Brakes defeat promotion rivals

In February 1975 ‘Brakes shortened their promotion odds with a tireless display which earned them a vital 3-1 verdict over co-hopefuls Cheltenham at the Windmill on Tuesday evening.  And they did it in real style – stunning the visitors with one of the best goals seen by their home crowd all season after ten minutes, and following it up two minutes later with a superb opportunist effort that completely knocked Town out of step. 

 Cheltenham – unbeaten in their last seven league outings – never recovered during the first half, and although they staged something of a revival later on, they rarely shared the same fluidity as Brakes’ frontline.  Mick Keeley repaid some of the record transfer fee Brakes paid Nuneaton Borough with a beautifully-taken goal after ten minutes.  But much of the credit must go to Dave Scriggens, Brakes’ best worker who has received little credit this season – and yet has played an important part in helping manager Jimmy Knox out when injuries have threatened to disrupt AP’s rhythm.   

Scriggens received the ball in his own half, looked around and then reached an inch-perfect 40 yard pass to Keeley, who hit it on the half volley with his left foot into the far corner from 20 yards.   And Stewart’s willingness to chase lost causes saw him notch his 20^th goal of the season 120 seconds later when he chased a cross-field ball with Town defender Julian Lailey, and somehow stretched out his right leg and slammed the ball past a helpless Nigel Berry. 

More than 500 soccer [sic] fans – one of Leamington’s better gates of the term – enjoyed a classic AP team performance.    The goals may have been supplied by Brakes’ lethal striking duo of Stewart and Keeley, but at the back the understanding that has built up between Doug Griffiths and Roger Brown paid immediate dividends especially in the final stages when the visitors threw in everything. 

Brown, who stuck to Cheltenham’s ace goal getter Lewis better than an Elastoplast, won virtually all the high balls and Griffiths swept up perfectly.  Yet Town must have thought they might have saved a point at least when – despite losing goalkeeper Nigel Berry in the 71^st minute after a collision with Brown – Casey pulled them back to 2-1 in the 83^rd minute when he cashed in on a slip up.   Steve Lee conceded valuable possession with a terrible pass, Lewis fastened on to the chance to put in a shot which Dave Jones parried and Casey happily helped home. 

For a spell AP looked jittery, but they gradually raised their game and Town ran out of steam – and the excellent cover they had given to Paul Crowley who donned the keeper’s shirt when Berry left the field, finally crumbled.  By the third minute of injury time, Dave Scriggens set Crowley his first real test with a near point-blank header – but the midfielder rose to it.   

However, two corners later, Keeley was given all the time in the world to set the seal on a tremendous performance with a header into the near corner of the net.   This tussle was a real four pointer against a Town side also poised for a late title run and the action was fast and furious for 98 splendid minutes – referee David Johnson adding to the suspense with a generous helping of injury time.’

Are Oxford City 'southern softies'?

‘There is surely one thing we can all agree on: Oxford is in the south,’ writes Matt Slater in The Athletic.

Yet last season, Oxford City were relegated from the National League (English football’s fifth tier) into the National League North, alongside Brackley Town and Needham Market, two other places on nobody’s list of northern football towns.

“It is weird for a lot of people when they hear we’re in the National League North,” says Mark Neal, the Oxford City supporter behind the Headington Hoop fansite and a committed groundhopper, before pointing out that this is not Oxford City’s first north/south rodeo.

“When we were promoted from the Southern League Premier in 2012 we had to head to the Conference North (the precursor to the National League North) for a few seasons as there were loads of southern teams already at step two.

“I appreciate that there’s a line drawn every season by relegations and promotions, and it’s generally around the Oxfordshire area, but opposition fans do joke about us being ‘soft southern bastards’. And having clubs from South Shields to Oxford City in the same regionalised league is a bit strange.”

Neal and his fellow Oxford City fans have their cost-benefit analysis to make.

"I haven't missed an Oxford City match since 2016 — it's coming up to 500 games now. It's very addictive. Most of our fans were unhappy when we were put in National League North again but, from a purely selfish point of view, I was delighted as it meant new grounds to visit. We had been in the National League South for eight years before our promotion in 2023.

"But being in the North is definitely harder for our club, as we will have one of the lower budgets in the division anyway, and the travel and hotel costs don't help."

But let us finish where we started. With vibes. Are northern clubs different to southern ones?  "Chalk and cheese," says Neal. "The northern clubs are much better supported and they are also much friendlier. This season, we have really enjoyed being in the clubhouses at all these grounds."   [Hopefully Leamington earlier in the season despite the resuky].

Brakes seen as one of three title contenders in 1975

In January 1975 Brakes faced ‘a tough task at Alvechurch in the quarter finals of the Birmingham Senior Cup.  The Leamington club have a proud record in the county’s senior cup competition and are again determined to make the final.  But Alvechurch, great cup fighters and current leaders of the West Midlands League, are a match for most non-league sides in the Midlands.’

 In the event Brakes scored ‘a fine win.  In a superb first half performance, AP banged home two goals in the space of five minutes to send the amateur side reeling.   A Roger Brown header in the 22^nd minute from a Micky Boot free kick put AP one ahead and Adrian Stewart hit home a beautiful 25 yarder five minutes later to stamp the visitors’ authority on the game.’   Alvechurch did get one back in the 47^th minute, but ‘Brakes held out with Jones making a couple of fine saves to thwart the home attack.’

In the league ‘the onus is still on Brakes to keep banking the points.  And manager Jimmy Knox – completely happy at his side’s gritty performance in overcoming West Midlands League pacesetters Alvechurch to progress into the semi-finals of the Birmingham Senior Cup – selects the same side for tomorrow’s encounter against Kidderminster. 

“The team that was good enough against Alvechurch will be good enough against Kidderminster,” said a determined Knox.  Once again it is unlikely that he will decide risking striker Ivor Talbot – who is still suffering the after effects of the gashed ankle he received at Enderby on New Year’s Day.  

Despite the defeat of league leaders Bedford by contenders Worcester, Kmox still rates them along with Cheltenham – and of course AP – as real promotion contenders.  “I told the committee a couple of weeks ago that at the end of the day it would be between Bedford, Cheltenham and ourselves.”  

Surprisingly Knox doesn’t believe that Worcester – whom many Windmill fans reckon to be the best outfit they have seen all season – have enough consistency about their game to really push for the top.  “If any side can get any degree of consistency they’ve got to have a shout when it matters.  It took us 12 games to inject some consistency into our play, but now the players are completely confident.   We know we have to win tomorrow at Kidderminster.  And we have to keep winning, especially when we meet Cheltenham at home a week on Tuesday,” said Knox. 

Already Knox is thinking ahead – and evidence of that was provided when he told me: “If I feel we’re in with a shout in the last nine or ten games, then I will approach the powers that be to see about a player just in case of injuries.   I don’t think that would be the time to start blooding youth team players, although John Woodhouse served us well not so long ago.  I can’t get an experienced player because the club can’t afford it.  But if we get a spate of injuries then another man would be handy

‘Playing in a tricky wind, Brakes won 1-0 at Aggborough, their goal coming in the 44^th minute after slack defending enabled ‘Mick Keeley to run in and ram the ball firmly into the net.’   Kidderminster keeper Keith Ball prevented Roger Brown scoring in the closing stages with a fine save.

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Journos see weaknesses as Brakes make good start to 1975

Brakes made an impressive start to 1975 building on success in the festive season, although doubts continued to be expressed by reporter Roger Draper.  Bedworth United were beaten 3-1 on Boxing Day and this ‘win at the Windmill did Brakes’ league position a power of good, but despite the profit of two more, very valuable points, the way in which it was achieved was far from impressive.’ 

Roger Brown put the home side ahead from the penalty spot on 13 minutes but seconds later an effort from Stewart hit the post.   ‘The home side then entered a sticky phase, and almost allowed their punchless visitors to grab the equaliser.    Dave Garrett had to work hard to make the save.   After shooting straight at the keeper, Bobby Horne made amends in the second half by chipping the ball over him to make it 2-0.   

‘With Leamington again hitting a barren pitch, ex Coventry City and World Cup star Gerry Baker put Bedworth back in the hunt with a well-executed goal 13 minutes from time.’   However, seconds later Stewart made it 3-1 for the Brakes, taking advantage of a neatly headed pass from Lee.

Brakes then faced Stevenage at home.  ‘Two goals down within a mere 13 minutes, Brakes staged a superb recovery to storm to their most impressive win of the term at the Windmill on Saturday.  High-riding Stevenage boasted one of the best records in the league – just 19 defeats in two outings – and indeed shook AP to their roots in the opening spell with some fine soccer in near gale-force conditions.’ 

 The visitors took advantage of the ‘hopelessly exposed home rearguard’ to go 2-0 ahead ‘and things were beginning to look very black for AP.  But Brakes then began to pull themselves together and 12 minutes from the interval managed to reduce the deficit.  A superb right-wing cross from Ivor Talbot found centre forward Adrian Stewart, who smacked a first time attempt into the back of the net. 

Eight minutes into the second period Stewart struck again to put AP back on level terms, and just on the hour Brakes forged ahead with Keeley tapping home a fine Dennis Taylor centre.  The closing phases were then furiously contested as the visitors battled to salvage the result, but with Brown, Taylor and Griffiths superb at the back, and Adrian Stewart having the game of his life, Brakes hung on deservedly to take the points.’

Brakes then went on to beat Wellingborough 1-0 with a ninth minute goal from Stewart to extend their unbeaten run into double figures.  ‘Brakes ruthlessl y laid bare Wellingborough’s defensive limitations – and then conspired to fritter away a bunch of chances with slip-shod, almost farcical finishing. 

And although manager Jimmy Knox was pleased with the result, he must be dismayed by the reckless finishing that allowed Boro’ to stay in the hunt after being given a right Royal run around.   This finishing slackness must place a large question against AP’s right to demand a promotion interest.  But they again underlined their claims with a sound defensive action dominated by powerful Doug Griffiths.   And with Mickey Boot putting in a tremendous 90 minutes, effectively backed by Steve Lee and Bobby Horne, they had a classical dominance in midfield that promises to breathe late life into AP’s challenge for honours.’

The car parking dilemma

There are good arguments on either side about charging for car parking, but I do think it should not have been introduced mid-season at very short notice.  It would have been better to consult the fans on a number of alternatives and then introduce the agreed one in August.

The free bus from 'town' is actually from the station which means that I would have to pay to park there to use it (my mobility is a bit limited but not really Blue Badge).   It also doesn't help the fans who come in from surrounding villages such as Harbury.

I take the point about damage to the training pitch and in the longer run a bus may help with attendances (I am assuming it can't run down The Parade for logistical reasons).

The board may well be right on the substantive issue, but I think that the process could have been handled better .