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.