Frustrating away draws for Brakes

Brakes faced table topping Burton Albion away in March 1975 and both sides found the 0-0 draw frustrating.   Roger Draper commented: ‘Brakes must be feelng sick at the surrender of so many senseless points this season.   For the brisk performance against the division’s leaders proves they have the pedigree to bring Premier Division football to the Windmill Ground.   And but for their charitable dropping of needless points they would now be entering the finishing straight of the championship race with a great chance of going up.  This was never a classic.’

The report from the Burton paper complained about ‘a tough uncompromising AP Leamington defence.’   They referred to ‘an amazing scene in the Leamington penalty area just before the interval both Annable and the Brake’s Foster could count themselves very lucky not to be sent off.   The incident came after tempers had frayed following several niggling fouls from both sides.’

Naylor and Annable raced to grab a loose ball, Annable just got to it, Naylor fell down with a leg injury and Foster tangled with Annable.  ‘The first blow came from the Leamington player but he came out on the worst side of the deal but recovered after treatment.   Burton were always in command and pushed forward relentlessly against a Leamington side prepared to pull everyone back and to give away a free kick if real danger threatened.’ 

The crowd of 696 started to barrack one of their players who was said to forge forward ‘like a tank’.  However, a loudspeaker announcement revealed that Stourbridge were losing 2-1 at Tamworth and the crowd started to get behind their team.  ‘Then Leamington almost snatched both points when they were gifted a great chance by a dreadful George back pass.   Foster nipped in but Robinson capped a great performance with a fearless drive.’  Burton had held a special training session in the morning, but this was the first time they had failed to score all season.

Leamington also drew 1-1 away at Bury.  Bury goalkeeper Mel Davies ‘jumped around like a cat on hot bricks, scarcely gathered a shot cleanly, mistimed numerous dashes from his goal-line, and altogether conveyed an air of impending disaster.   Not until the closing stages of the game did Davies at last settle down to something of the form of which he is capable, with a couple of useful saves.

Yet he was beaten only once by Ivor Talbot after 30 minutes when Goodfellow’s right-wing corner was headed down by Bowden, and strangely enough it was Davies’ opposite number Dave Jones who made the most serious error of the afternoon.  With 20 minutes left, Jones advanced from his goal to cut off David Smith’s cross from the right, missed the ball completely, and Barry Gray coolly took advantage to score his 16^th goal of the season. 

Until then Leamington had been the more impressive of two-ordinary looking sides.  Now it was Bury’s turn to put on the pressure and they had a couple of chances to record their first win since January 5’, one created by ‘another faux pas’ by Jones.   But overall a draw was a fair result for Leamington – who surprisingly relegated 27-goal striker Norman Foster to substitute – also had their chances.   Lee missed three good ones.’  Leamington were 5^th in the table, 11 points behind second placed Stourbridge but with games in hand over the two teams immediately above them.

Brakes overcome World Cup player

In March 1975 Brakes played Dunstable Town at home.  ‘Chirpy AP front-runner Dave Scriggins stole the limelight from former World Cup striker Jeff Astle with an ice-cool hat-trick.   And as AP extended their remarkable unbeaten run to 21 matches they came of age as a promotion force.  Now you have to believe it, Brakes are poised to surge on to the Premier Division.  

Trailing by two goals after 38 minutes of Dunstable dominance, the Leamington teams clawed back to be on terms at the interval.   They then punished Town with an explosive second half effort to have the club crowd on their feet.   It was a fabulous encounter with third placed Dunstable seemingly intent on putting the smile back into soccer, displaying a refreshing 10-man attacking formation that is bound to win friends. 

For a time this forward thinking influenced AP’s back four as Astle’s talented threat exposed alarming defensive flaws.  The former West Brom star slammed home the first goal with a 20 yard rocket – powered by his left foot – the foot that won the 1968 cup final but failed to stop the 1970 Brazilians.   And 10 minutes later AP fell further behind when leading scorer George Cleary displayed his ruthless finishing.   

But Brakes refused to buckle under the weight of this fluent Dunstable start and only two minutes into the second half they were ahead on their way to a superb victory.   Teenage goalkeeper Dave Ounsworth was sadly at fault for the first and third goals scored by Mick Keeley and Scriggins but he stood no chance against Adrian Stewart’s defensive equaliser. Scriggins’ second goal on the hour was an incredible effort with the home No.10 running half the length of the field with the Dunstable defence hopelessly caught in the AP half.   

Still Town came back with Astle forcing a mistake that saw Lou Adams pounce to attack a fine goal but AP had the perfect answer in the form of Scriggins’s third goal only a minute later.   This time Scriggins took advantage of a shocking back pass and he cheekily walked the ball into the net with the Dunstable rearguard hopelessly exposed.  “It was magic,” said the scorer who doubled his season’s tally in this one match.’  In case you have lost count the score was 5-3.

Unfortunately, ‘Jimmy Knox’s AP juggernaut shuddered to a halt along the road to glory’,  losing 0-1 at home to league leaders Bedford Town.  ‘But this Windmill defeat after a sparkling sequence of 18 wins and four draws stretching their way back to early December, was less than fair.  Bedford were  subjected to tremendous pressure that produced several amazing close shaves, but agonisingly for the “double average” 719 crowd, no AP goals.  

Three times the ball smashed against the ironwork.   And just to rub salt into the wounds the visitors stole away to snatch the points and virtually seal their claims for a rapid return to the premier division.   It was a frustrating ending for an AP side that has scaled the heights in the last four months but manager Knox took the blow in his stride.  “I suppose we had to lose sooner or later and it doesn’t seem so bad going down against the leader.  With Worcester and Cheltenham also losing, the reverse may prove not to be too damaging.”’

Crucial win in 1975 at Kings Lynn

Fifty years ago in March 1975 AP Leamington faced ‘their biggest test in recent weeks when they travel to Kings Lynn – a side whose consistency during the last three months has catapulted them on to the fringes of the promotion race.  The Norfolk club, like Brakes, are enjoying a successful spell – and in the last 17 games they’ve only been beaten on three occasions. 

AP manager Jimmy Kmox acknowledged yesterday that the game will be tough: “Obviously, it will be hard one.  But they will all be hard from now on. “ Despite Ivor Talbot’s fine game in midweek for the Youth outfit against Leicester Boys’ Clubs – where he scored both goals – Knox is likely to name an unchanged side, providing all players report fit in the morning.  It’s surely this ability to keep a winning side together that has much to do with Brakes’ surge up the table.’

The Kings Lynn paper reported: ‘On Saturday Lynn met a team who matched them stride for stride – and that hasn’t happened very often.   It was Leamington who struck the killer blow in the closing minutes with the winning goal which gave them two points to continue an amazing surge up the Southern League table. While there can be criticism of Lyn n’s overall performance, nothing should detract from Leamington’s play.  They did not get rattled when falling behind to an early goal, but continued chasing and harrying Lynn into mistakes.

In particular Leamington pulled midfield men Boot and Lee into wide positions to keep an eye of Lynn wing men Easthall and Reynolds.  Not very often did Lynn get behind the defences to test reserve keeper Garrett.  It was in the first quarter of the game that Garrett did look shaky.   In the seventh minute he made a nervous attempt at punching a low centre from Rudd.  The ball went straight to Lindsay whose shot was blocked and when Reynolds tried his luck, Garrett finger tipped the ball away for a corner.  

Lynn did take the lead in the 12^th minute with a penalty following a handling offence.  Then it was Leamington’s turn and there were anxious moments in the Lynn goalmouth before Boot slotted in a 21^st minute equaliser with a high low shot.’   Garrett made an impressive reflex save and ‘Any nerves the goalkeeper may have had before now disappeared and he gave a competent display for the rest of the game.    Centre half Brown was booked for a foul on Rudd.   The longer the game progressed the more unhappy Lynn seemed to get in their inability to score.  The points seemed to be shared until Brown went up for a 87^th minute free kick rom Lee which he met with a powerful header which sizzled into the net.’

In the following week Jimmy Knox announced that he was shelving his ‘controversial rota system for goalkeepers Dave Jones and Dave Garret.  Knox is happy with both goalkeepers.  “Jones has the advantage of far greater experience and in recent matches he has played better that at any previous time with the club.   But Dave Garrett is a tremendous prospect.   It is difficult to separate then but that is a problem I am prepared to live with.  I am lucky to have such strength in a key position.”   Ironically, Jones was out of the reckoning due to injury.’

Knox defends Scriggins

Congratulations to Hollers on his 750th game with the Brakes

Jimmy Knox leapt to the defence of Dave Scriggins when he was questioned by Roger Draper in February 1975.  ‘When Jimmy Knox signed Dave Scriggins during the close season the AP Leamington manager enthused that the former Enderby striker “would score a lot of goals.”  But in 31 games the chirpy Leicester-based forward has managed to find the net just once – and that was in his latest appearance in the 4-1 thrashing of Gloucester City on Tuesday.  

Knox is far from disenchanted, however.  “Dave is doing fine,” he says, ‘He has played a prominent part in our recovery this season.” Scriggins played several games in midfield when Knox was struggling to solve his problem department in the middle of the park.  But since switching back to the front, Scriggins has worked overtime to add zest to an attack that had struggled previously.  And Knox is certain the goals will start to flow from a likeable sort who has emerged as a real character in the AP dressing room.

“David started to do stupid things when he failed to put away the goals and this unsettled him for a time. But there has been a steady improvement in recent matches and now that his confidence has returned he will do us a power of good.   Scriggins is currently keeping the fit-again Ivor Talbot out of the side and Knox believes that this fact alone underlines the striker’s worth.  “Ivor is a great player but Dave is in on merit.  He is doing a marvellous job.”

Unfortunately, Brakes did not shine in a home Birmingham Senior Cup semi-final tie with Coventry Sporting. ‘The 1-1 draw ‘was no fluke result.    The West Midlands League fully deserved ther “success” after an admirable 90 minutes of disciplined defence.   For Brakes the game proved frustrating and they will need to raise their tempo if they are to win next Saturday’s replay at Kirby Corner.  They could be in for a shock. 

Sporting ran, harried and tackled their way in a generally disappointing encounter and proved a well-drilled combination capable of containing Brakes’ jaded raiders.’    On 78 minutes Lee saw the Sporting goalkeeper off his line and put a 30 yard free kick over his head to see the ball nestle in the corner of the net.  But five minutes from time Sporting equalised after a cross struck defender Roger Brown for an own goal.

  In the replay ‘Jimmy Knox pulled off a shrewd tactical move’ to win the game.   With the Brakes 1-0 down at half time against a tight-marking Sporting, Knox decided to switch Mick Keeley from the left to the right flank.  And the move worked perfectly.  Quick-running Keeley gave Sporting defender Bob Mundy a “nightmare” second half.’   On 54 minutes a move by Keeley set up the equaliser for Dave Scriggins. .  Then in the 78^th minute Keeley set up the winner for Horne.   ‘Leamington, with Scriggins and Stewart working hard up front, and Boot and Horne dominating midfield, clinched their place in the Highfield Road final through sheer experience.’

Meanwhile at the AP factory management urged supervisory staff to end their strike.   Members of the Association of Scientific, Technical and Managerial Staff went on strike over pay.   Production and despatch had not been affected, but the management warned that the 6,000 other workers at the plant could be affected if the dispute continued.

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].