Good start to 1976 for Brakes

The end of 1975 and the beginning of 1976 saw some encouraging results for Brakes.  ‘AP Leamington extended their long unbeaten run in the Southern League First Division North by drawing at promotion rivals Barnet on Saturday.  And if this gritty performance was anything to go by, they are sure to be there or thereabouts by April. 

 One point was as much as they were going to get.  Indeed, their ambition from the outset did not seem to aspire to victory.   But in face of Barnet’s relentless advance, Leamington resisted so stubbornly for so long that one could not begrudge them a major piece of luck near the end.   They began brightly enough, home goalkeeper Barker cutting out a Talbot cross and then clinging to a Boot free kick in the first ten minutes.  

But the rest of the half saw Barnet pour down their slope.   Top scorer Ray Agglo once had Leamington worried by turning and firing into the hands of David Jones and later rounding the keeper, only for a couple of defenders to prevent him getting in a shot.   Leamington must have been relieved to see Agglo helped off after half an hour with a leg injury.  Certainly, Barnet had no one else with his ability to prise open defences.  

For a while in the second half Leamington came more into the picture until Barnet launched themselves into one final all-out assault.    But with Alan Jones and Brown on fine form, the home side could not find a way through, though Meadows headed against the bar in the 94^th minute with David Jones stranded.  Lemington visibly breathed a sigh of relief.  AP: David Jones, Taylor, Kavanagh, Alan Jones, Brown, Boot, Adcock, Lee, Keeley, Stewart, Talbot.  Sub: Griffiths (not used).

On Boxing Day Brakes played Enderby Town at home.  ‘When substitute Graham Adcock fired in AP’s second goal with his first kick of the match In the 46^th minute, Brakes finally relaxed.   For virtually thewhole of the first half, Enderby’s slick and zippy play caught the eye – and only poor finishing and bad luck denied them a commanding interval lead.  However, Adcock’s goal signalled a better display from a strangely lethargic AP oufit.   [Perhaps they had enjoyed Christmas too much?] And at the end the visitors could have had few grumbles about the final result.

Leamington looked only a faint shadow of the side that had humbled Worcester a few days earlier.  They let Town grasp the initiative and had few answers to the visitors’ early pace.    In the 8^th minute their efforts were rewarded when Cooper sliced the home defence apart with a perfect through ball for Paul Dearden to shoot over Davis’s body.   Mee failed to make it two in the 16^thminute after Dearden had weaved his way around the back of AP’s susceptible looking rearguard.  

However, strong running by Adrian Stewart after Talbot had knocked on a header brought Leamington’s equaliser in the 27^th minute.  Adcock’s goal put a different complexion on the game and it was AP who started to work together with their defence stifling what moves the despondent Town side could muster.    Town keeper Satchwell was carried off with torn ankle ligaments in the 70^th minute and four minutes later when stand in Burton failed to hold Boot’s shot, Stewart dispossessed him for Keeley to tap home.

NLP coverage of Holleran departure

 

Viva Holleran

The news that Paul Holleran is standing down was a shock and a blow.   In days of rapid managerial turnover he has served the club for 16 years and his long spell in charge was recently featured on BBC TV.

Paul has a marvellous contacts book and has developed many under rated players who have gone on to greater things, e.g., Colby Bishop at Portsmouth.   Danny Newton writing on X was full of praise for how Paul had rebooted his career.

Danny Newton said: 'The word legend for this man is an understatement  Signed me when I was close to packing it all in.   Gave me belief, advice and endless opportunity to discover my abilities that sparked my career.  What a man!  I am for ever grateful.'

I understand that Paul has some health challenges and I wish him well with those.

We will not see his like again.   I hope that someone on the board is filling in the Cabinet Office forms for an appropriate honour.

What we must now try and do is find a manager who will stay with us for a while.

I might give my Paul Holleran mask one more outing!

Micky Boot was the hero against MK City

No MK Dons in 1975 but in December Brakes faced cash strapped Milton Keynes City in a league game.  ‘Micky Boot’s sheer class paved the way for AP to pick up a win against Milton – but two defensive lapses almost cost Leamington their fifth home win.  Even those lapses of concentration would not have mattered had they finished in the same sparkling fashion as Boot had provided the opportunities. 

His first pass – six minutes after McCarty had fired in a shock sixth minute opener for Milton – was perhaps the most stylish of all.   After a one two with Talbot, the former Arsenak player hit a superb through ball with the outside of his foot, which swerved into Stewart’s path.  Unfortunately, Brakes’ leading scorer smashed his drive against the upright and was unable to direct his header from the rebound. 

After the break, AP kept up the pressure and in the 51^st and 59^th minutes Stewart displayed his pace to out-run Milton’s defence and blast Boot’s passes into the net.  Stand in keeper Keith Batchelor, signed only hours before kick off, had no chance with Milton’s second from McCormick six minutes from time.    But two minutes later Boost hoisted a curling corner for Brown to nod home the winner. ‘

‘One to forget’ was the headline as Brakes made a midweek trip to beautiful downtown Wellingborough, Kettering’s rival for the title ‘rose of the shires’.   ‘The memory of his dull, scrappy encounter won’t linger on for Brakes – but they’ll certainly not forget the valuable two points they earned in their quest for promotion.   

Adrian Stewart slotted in his 23^rd goal of the term to bring his tally to a remarkable seven goals in the last five games, ensuring that Leamington didn’t follow the way of Oswestry and Kidderminster in Town’s mini-revival.    The goal popped up the pace slightly after the break after a lacklustre first half, yet with defences dominant, there was little to enthuse over. 

On a greasy surface, mistakes were legion.  Little went right for either side in the opening half with no one able to get in an on target effort.    In the 47^th minute, Stewart slotted home from six yards Boot’s free kick after Brown had headed on.   Wellingborough hit back, but their finishing denied them an equaliser.  

As the game progressed into the last 30 minutes, Brakes’ extra stamina and especially Stewart’s pace began to show.   Talbot came close with an intelligent shot in the 83^rd minute, and Keeley too had a narrow miss from a Lee free kick.  

AP, though, had a fright four minutes from time as a Kavanagh and Davis mix up almost let in one of Town’s front runners.  Burnham hit the side netting in the 89^th minute as Town desperately strove for an equaliser, but in the final seconds it was Talbot who fired wide after Stewart had set up one of the best chances of the game.

Bailey’s had a big advert in the Courier pressing their fine furniture and tableware.   Shoppers were urged to ask Gary about an account.  I rather liked their coffee shop which was a nice space for meeting young women on a Saturday morning.   Rackhams had an even bigger advert offering the chance to visit Father Christmas in the toy fair.   For ‘his gift to her’ (lingerie) male customers were invited to ask for Sally on the second floor.

Victory over Bedworth

A personal welcome to Rochdale fans today. (Programme notes for FA Trophy game).  On 11 January 1947 Charlton Athletic played Rochdale at The Valley in the FA Cup (winning 3-1).  I still have a copy of the programme.  My father went to the game and then walked up to the hospital in nearby Greenwich where I was born at 7.30 pm.  In those days, of course, fathers were allowed nowhere near the birth and had to wait in a smoke filled room with other expectant dads.  Better, then, to enjoy the relatively fresh air at the football.

At the beginning of December 1975 ’Leamington shook off the disappointment of their FA Cup defeat by Stafford Rangers to score a hard earned Southern League win at Bedworth.   Adrian Stewart clinched the points that kept them among the promotion contenders with a goal two minutes before half time.  

Stewart struck after Bedworth had neutralised a 21^st minute goal by Gerry Kavanagh.  But AP were forced to weather heavy pressure before becoming the first side to win at Bedworth in the league this season.  In defeat, Bedworth complained bitterly that AP were given a goal start by Kavanagh’s penalty.   It was awarded for hands against back four defender Ray Phelps.   But Phelps protested afterwards, “It was never a penalty.  I brought the ball under control with my body.” 

The incident happened a yard within the penalty area, and with no AP player within yards.  But, at that stage, AP had mustered six goal attempts to Bedworth’s one and Kavanagh stepped up to give them a deserved lead from the spot kick,   AP’s lead was short lived as Bedworth equalised after 27 minutes through ex-AP player Tom Sweenie.   Minutes later, only a fine save from Davis denied a further Bedworth goal.  Davis flung his body at a point blank shot from left winger Les Sanders.

Then in the 43^rd minute Stewart stepped into secure AP’s winner. Full back Dennis Taylor made it.  He broke down the right and crossed to the far post where Stewart came rushing in to shoot into the net.  Bedworth lost centre half Clive Lyons early in the second half but AP were content to sit back. 

Alan Jones and Roger Brown were commanding figures at the back, and Davis was called on to save only twice despite the pressure.  And his most anxious moments came in the last minute when he was forced to save at the feet of striker Mark Neale, his team mate in Coventry Sunday Football with Arley Rectory.

Jack Charlton had some rather harsh and patronising things to say about Rochdale in his newspaper column, although there was a more than a kernel of truth what he had to say.  For example, he pointed out that the arrival of the motorways had put the big, glamorous Manchester clubs within easy reach of fans in Rochdale.   

He also noted that north Lancashire was a depressed area.  The cotton industry had dwindled, so there wasn’t a lot of money to spare.  He argued, ‘Progress in soccer today needs money and that comes mainly from crowds, and crowds don’t go to the little clubs for a variety of reasons.    They haven’t a prayer, really, the brave little Rochdales of this world.  Whatever way they turn they run smack into a brick wall: they are the victims of change, trends, modernisation, big business, broadening horizons.’   Rochdale have had their ups and downs, but they are fighting for promotion back to the EFL.

3,200 attend gripping cup clash

Considerable excitement accompanied the build up to the FA Cup game between AP Leamington and Stafford Rangers in November 1975.   Roger Draper wrote: ‘AP Leamington’s match with Stafford Rangers sees the Leamington side attempting to make history by clinching a place in the second round of the FA Cup.  And following last season’s disappointment against Third Division Southend United, everyone connected with the Leamington club feels this could be “their” year.  I am happy to go along with them.   To my mind AP have so far failed to produce the football that saw them going 28 games without defeat during that exciting title race last term.’  

He continued elsewhere:   ‘AP Leamington are looking for “noise” when Stafford Rangers visit the Windmill on Saturday.  Stafford, who went out in the fourth round of the FA Cup last season in front of 31,000 spectators are rumoured to be bringing 1,000 fans.  AP Secretary Bill Patrick said: “We have been told that Stafford are organising a special train as well as 12 coaches.  They promise to out shout our fans.   We must obviously be thinking in terms of a 1,500 gate and I would like to see the Leamington public rally round and make as much noise as possible to cheer the lads into the second round.’ 

Draper also reported, ‘Unwanted striker Bobby Mellor or defender Doug Griffiths could make a return to the AP Leamington side for the FA Cup tie with Stafford Rangers.  It is an intriguing situation and Brakes manager Jimmy Knox said: “Regardless of their respective positions with the club if called upon they will not let us down.”  

Knox admitted that he has told Mellor that he is free to find another club.  He joined AP from Atherstone Town in the summer and has notched three goals.  And former England Schoolboys’ captain Griffiths, kept out of the side by Alan Jones, has said that he is unhappy and will not settle for a regular place on the sidelines.’

As for the game itself ‘Jones was the name on everyone’s lips after this gripping cup tie at the Windmill.  Lanky Roger Jones was Rangers hero with two goals and a hand in the third; AP keeper Dave Jones, still suffering from the painful ankle injury he sustained in training would surely have stopped Rangers’ last goal had he been fit; and Alan Jones was the pick of a Brakes’ back line with his best performance yet for the club.  

Rangers’ Jones exploded into the limelight on three occasions to steal the right to progress into the FA Cup second round with a home tie against Halifax.’  After two headed goals from corners in the 68^th minute he picked up the ball in midfield ‘to let fly with a dipping 35-yard drive which somehow crept under Dave Jones and into the corner of the net. 

That was really the goal which set the 3,200 crowd talking in this thrilling cup tie.  The other name that sprung to fans’ lips was Mick Keeley.  After a spell in the goal scoring wilderness earlier this season, Keeley poached both AP goals in the 13^th and 86^th minutes and could so easily have had a hat trick.    Had Keeley touched in a Brady cross five minutes before the interval in what was Brakes’ best move of that half the game would have certainly taken on a different complexion.    Brakes’ supremacy early on in the second half always lacked finishing.’

Struggling striker turns keeper to save Brakes

‘Struggling striker Bobby Mellor turned in his most effective AP Leamington performance so far at the Windmill’ in November 1975 reported  Roger Draper. . ‘But it was a stand-in goalkeeper that the chirpy Mellor finally produced the goods to help smooth Brakes into the next round of the Senior Cup’, beating Halesowen 3-1. 

Taking over in goal after 37 minutes when Dave Garratt had been carried off with damaged knee ligaments, Mellor pulled off two amazing saves to deny hot-shot John Henderson goals during a forlorn Halesowen rally.   Henderson finally hit the target with a third time lucky attempt that swerved and dipped viciously to leave Mellor no chance.  But by then AP were coasting home by three goals after a comfortable outing against below average opposition.

Given a ninth minute lead by Graham Adcock’s swift turn and deadly aim, the Southern League outfit survived the loss of Garratt and raged further ahead with two goals in the space of two minutes.  After 56 minutes, John Brady calmly side-footed a defender before beating Colin May and then Adrian Stewart notched his 16^th goal of the term with an amazing effort.   Played clear as Halesowen’s loose offside trap was left in shreds, Stewart cleverly lobbed the ball into the empty net from 35 yards as May desperately charged out to meet him on the touchline.

In the league ‘Midfield man Micky Boot rifled in his sixth goal of the season to give AP Leamington a more than worthy away point against league leaders Redditch on Tuesday evening.  Anything less would have been an injustice as Brakes ridiculed the home side’s top of the table spot by serving up their best soccer to date.  

However, a glut of missed chances early on – and a misunderstanding between Gerry Kavanagh and last minute replacement keeper John  Davies – meant that Brakes remarkably turned around one goal adrift.  Boot’s 70^th minute goal put paid to the league leaders gathering both points – and in the final minutes of this interesting, open match the result could have swung either way.   And to the end, a point from the ordinary looking pace-setters – who have only let four points slip previously – will do much to boost morale in the Windmill camp and augurs well for the FA Cup game against Stafford next week.  

Brakes could easily have been four ahead before Redditch moved into a shock lead with their first attempt on goal.   Their keeper Ward brilliantly parried a Stewart rocket to safety in the eighth minute and from the corner did well to keep out Brown’s header. 

After the Redditch goal Brakes carried on undeterred to completely control midfield with Adcock, Lee and especially Boot in control.  Adcock narrowly missed by inches after the restart and in the 52^nd minute United had their biggest let off when a curling Stewart centre skimmed off the bar as Brady was running in below.  

At the other end Davies began to show his skills before Boot screwed the ball home after Brady had mesmerised Redditch’s right flank defenders.   As AP pressed forward for the winner, Redditch conspired to perform their best-looking moves that brought the best from Davies.  Three times in the last 15 minutes he saved well fro Shaw to earn Brakes the point.’