Stewart turns down chance of league football

In February 1976 ‘AP Leamington striker Adrian Stewart turned down the chance of playing League football with Reading.   Stewart, who has notched 41 goals this term, was approached by the Fourth Division club’s manager Charlie Hurley and offered “attractive” terms.  But Stewart, who is a Product Engineer at Jaguar, said a firm “no”.   He explained: “It has always been my ambition to make the Football League, but although flattered by Reading’s interest, the offer was not good enough to tempt me away from my job.  I had a long chat with Hurley, but looking at it purely financially, I did not feel that the move was the right one.”   Stewart, who is 26, has been in brilliant form this season and his goals have jetted AP to within sight of the Southern League Premier Division.  Reading, who are challenging for promotion, have been watching him for weeks.  Hurley is understood to be contemplating making a new offer.’

Brakes faced Gloucester City away and ‘despite a spirited display by the home side were never in danger of losing this match. Once again Adrian Stewart was in top form, adding two goals to his “top of the league” tally.   His first came in the 40^th minute, headed past keeper Stow after almost every member of the team had helped the ball up field in a long sweeping movement.  His second came in the 76^th minute, he coolly pushed past Snow following a long solo run through the heart of the home defence, for his 40^thgoal of the term.  Steve Lee bagged the remaining goal from close range in the 57^th minute.  His shot came from a scramble in the City goal area which had he usually strong defence in complete disarray.  The goal was just reward for Lee, who was in the thick of every Leamington attack.  He was prevented from opening in the 18^th minute by a superb save by Stow.   The ball returned to Lee whose shot rattled off the bar.   Mick Keeley also hit the City bar in the 7^th minute and always looked likely to score before a pulled stomach muscle midway through the second half led to his replacement by Brown.  Gloucester were by no means swamped in this match.  For long periods they drove play into the Leamington half and had a closing tally of five corners to Leamington’s two.  But it’s goals that count , and Davies, Taylor and Kavanagh did well to draw the sting from the City attack.  And there could be little doubt that in the end the better side won.

Leamington’s next match was against league leaders Redditch away who were three points ahead of the Brakes.    The game was billed as the most important league clash of the season. ‘it seems  likely that Knox will name an unchanged side unless injury or illness lead him to do otherwise.   Newcomer Phil Lines keep his place in midfield after pleasing Knox with his show at Gloucester and keeper John Davis who first “stood in” when the team travelled to Redditch in mid-November prepared for his 14^th game with Leamington.  According to Knox, AP were brimming over with confidence.  “If they win then the gap opens up to five points, if we win it narrows to one.  we haven’t  any thoughts of losing at all.”’