Knox had his critics 50 years ago

Fifty years ago Jimmy Knox was preparing for his first full season in charge at Leamington, but some had their doubts.

‘Anything Rugby Town Did’ was the headline in the Coventry Evening Telegraph’s preview of AP Leamington’s 1973/4 season.  ‘AP Leamington’s craggy manager Jimmy Knox is sure of one thing – better times lay ahead at the Windmlll Ground.   Knox, a professional who views skill as a bonus to hard work, enjoyed a successful spell at the helm of the now defunct Rugby Town.   And he has made it clear that anything that Rugby did, AP Leamington can do better.   “We have a fine ground, and unlimited crowd potential,” he said.   “So now we have got to provide the sort of entertainment that will get the club back where it belongs.”   AP Leamington  - they dropped the Lockheed title during the close season – have been in the doldrums for a number of seasons.

Many critics claim that Knox’s tough approach will still fail to stop the slide towards soccer obscurity.   Rather than a trouble-shooter, they say the club requires a miracle worker.   But Knox will have none of this.  “We are professionals and, as long as we work to our full capacity, there is no reason why Brakes should not mount a positive challenge this season.   The 37-year old Scot surprised a lot of people when he kept only six players at the end of the season – defenders  Dennis Taylor, Ernie Wilkinson, Keith Shrimpton and Tony Bowden, plus midfield pair Micky Boot and Tom Sweenie. But he knew the men he wanted to improve the team, and although suffering a few setbacks, has signed eight players.   Bowden has since said he will be unable to play this season, but Knox is still convinced that AP are poised for a concerted push. 

Not surprisingly he has relied on the people who did so well for him at Oakfield.   He has signed goalkeeper Daniel  Jones, full back John Brady, defender Doug Griffiths and forwards Steve Lee, Jimmy Goodfollow and Norman Porter.  Add to these Racing Club winger Ivor Talbot, the only Leamington player at the club, and bustling striker Trevor Tubbard from Nuneaton Borough, and it can be seen that AP have the makings of a powerful squad.’

The fixture list saw AP kick off their Southern League Division 1 North campaign with two home games.   They were to meet Wellingborough at the Windmill Ground on August 11^th, followed by King’s Lynn on August 14^th.   They were away at Corby on August 14^th and then were due to play Kidderminster in a home and away fixture in the Southern League Cup.  They had to visit Redditch in the preliminary round of tbe FA Cup and would then go to Bedworth in the first qualifying round.  The winners of that clash could meet Hinckley Athletic, Stourbridge, Alvechurch or Halesowen.   Brakes had a bye in the first round of the Birmingham Senior Cup.

A pre-season friendly against Oldbury United on 4^th August saw Brakes win 2-0.    Jimmy Knox selected from Jones, Taylor, Brady, Shrimpton, Griffiths, Wilkinson. Hood, Lee, Goodfollow, Hubbard, Foster and Yalbot.   Any fans going on holiday were urged in an advert to stop their home being ransacked while they were away by fitting Chub locks, illustrated by a grinning burglar with his bag of swag.