Jimmy Knox prepared for his third season as Brakes manager in the summer of 1975. The headline in one report in the Evening Telegraph was ‘And Knox hopes for third time lucky.’ The report continued ‘Jimmy Knox has started the countdown for AP Leamington’s blast-off towards the Southern League Premier Division – and this time they do not intend to fail. Fourth two seasons ago and an agonising third last term, Brakes are determined to continue, if not better, the sequence and secure their cherished place in the top grade.
Confirms success-seeking manager Knox, “We have missed the
promotion boat twice, we are working overtime to make it third time lucky.” Knox, who had led Rugby Town and AP
Leamington to the brink of promotion during a mostly-successful five years in
soccer management, dropped a semi bombshell when pruning his ranks at the end
of last season. Four players were
allowed to leave and two more were made available to offer.
But Knox found
pruning to be far easier than replanting and his close season search for new
material has been fraught with problems.
“I know the players I want but signing them is another matter. It all boils down to finance and we are not
well off, so several players have slipped through our net. But I promised that any new talent would be
an improvement on that which I let go and it is a promise I intend to
keep. It’s been a frustrating summer but
I am confident that we should kick off the season with a squad strong enough to
figure in the title race.”
Two new men have joined the Windmill Ground from Atherstone
Town – defender Gerry Kavanagh and striker Bobby Mellor. And Alan Jones has been picked up after
being given a free after a glittering career with Nuneaton Borough. Says Knox: ‘All three have a considerable
experience of Premier Division football and they will do us a power of good.’ So, look for AP to get off to a flying start
and gradually emerge as title favourites.’
The Courier reported: ‘When Brakes manager Jimmy Knox joined
the club two years ago, he asked supporters to wait three seasons for him to
provide a championship side. Success
came early with the Southern League Cup in his first year, and last year AP
missed promotion by two points. Now on
the eve of the new term, Knox is sticking to that prediction. He believes that the side he has built up
– with the addition of four close season signings – is well capable of being
“as near as anyone” at the climax.
His only fear is that he will have enough men on the ground
in the opening weeks for AP to successfully launch their attack on the Southern
League Division One North. Alan Jones,
the ex-Nuneaton defender, is banned for the opening fortnight, and Graham
Adcock, the Loughborough teacher, who is making an attempt to get back into
non-league soccer, is on holiday for the first few days.
To add to Knox’s
problems, three of last term’s recognised team members, Roger Brown, Doug
Griffiths and Steve Lee begin suspensions on September 1st. Brakes were opening the season at home to
Cheltenham Town and Knox was hoping for a crowd of 700 at the Windmill
Ground. Knox was full of praise for the
new AP Leamington Supporters Club.
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