Brakes earn promotion 50 years ago

Happy times for Brakes 50 years ago as they secured promotion to the Southern League Premier Division.   Writing in the Coventry Evening Telegraph, Roger Draper noted: ‘AP Leamington have come a long way in a short time – now they intend to move “Heaven and high water” to make further progress. 

Brakes will play in the Southern League Premier Division next season.  This prospect does not frighten them.  From ambitious club president Bill Garner down to the youngest fan the message is loud and clear: “We are in the Premier Division to stay.” 

And manager Jimmy Knox feels that the optimism surrounding the Windmill club is well founded.  After years of near misses Knox finally achieved his managerial life’s ambition at the weekend when Witney lost and opened the door to the top grade. 

He can see nothing but blue skies from now on.  “We are not kidding ourselves.  There is a terrific difference between the best Premier Division sides and the top six in Division 1 North,” he says.  “But I have built the present AP side with the Premier Division in mind.  We do not need to sign many more players to ensure that we will finish in the top half.”

 Now free of the worry surrounding his possible move to Nuneaton Borough – “it is a relief to know that it is all over” – Knox can get down to the job of completing the squad.  [Knox was considered by many as the favourite for the vacant Nuneaton Borough manager’s post.]  “I know who I want,” he says.  “Premier Division status will be a great lever as I attempt to fill in the remaining gaps.  I am confident 1976-77 will be a fabulous year in the continued development of AP Leamington.”

Tenacious chairman Gerry Lock mirrors his manager’s optimism.  “I have laid it down on a line what I want.  We are on course and not going into the Premier Division to make up the numbers.”  

Lock was the driving force behind Knox’s move to Leamington from Rugby Town.  His confidence in the Scot’s managerial ability has been totally justified.  “I have never made any secret of the fact that in Jimmy we have the best manager in non-League football.  I really mean that.  He will lead us even further and it is up to everyone interested in the club to give him their fullest support.”

AP officials estimated that Premier League soccer would cost the club an additional £5,000 a year in increased costs such as higher wages and greater travelling costs.  That would require a break-even gate of 1,000 to 1,200 which was unlikely.  Hence the club decided to appoint their first full time commercial manager.  

The post went to 32-year old Roy Maiden from Radford Semele who had been an industrial engineer at AP for 10 years.   Maiden, who had joined the AP committee in the season ending, set himself the task of raising £500 a week to keep the club afloat.  As well as raising cash by selling weekly bingo tickets throughout the area, he planned to publicise the club itself with well-known players such as Derek Dougan and Geoff Hurst coming to play at the Windmill.

  The Courier noted that news of the appointment would please manager Knox who was looking to begin negotiations with the players he hoped to re-sign.   Knox took the view that one of the main assets of the promotion-winning side was its stability and he was anxious to keep the players together.

 

Brakes chalk up three more wins in promotion chase

At the end of March 1976 Brakes played middle of the table Milton Keynes City away.  ‘Despite strong opposition in the early stages AP Leamington showed their superiority to take the points.  Leamington have lost only one of their last 26 games, this was to league leaders Redditch.  And after the match Leamington manager Jimmy Knox said: “I am delighted with the result, although we had a very sticky first quarter-of-an-hour.”   

City were without the services of goalkeeper Brian Robinson, who is also the player-manager.  Leamington were first into the attack when Mick Keeley crossed to Mick Boot, who fired just wide of a City upright.   City came back immediately and Malcolm McCormack went on a good run, but that was blocked by Roger Brown.  

After further pressure from City, Leamington gained the initiative and took the lead after 26 minutes.  A free kick by Steve Lee went to Brown, whose header was saved by City keeper Beaumont, but Dennis Taylor got hold of the loose ball and crossed for Brown to head in.  

The match failed to live up to its first half promise after the break – but nevertheless Leamington made most of the running and deservedly increased their lead.   Stewart made sure of the points in the 62^nd minute when he homed in on a Talbot cross with a neat headed goal.   

The result brought AP’s points tally to a remarkable 42 from their last possible 50.  The goals also re-established Leamington in second place in Division One North as Witney slipped again – and now it looks as if Worcester City, who this Saturday meet leaders Redditch, are Brakes’ main threat to promotion.’

‘Slick AP Leamington moved closer to promotion last night.  They gained an impressive Southern League First Division win over highly-placed Tamworth last night thanks to two goals from Ivor Talbot.  

Second placed AP soaked up long periods of pressure from sixth-in-the-table Tamworth and cleverly countered work with swift breakaway moves that brought them a goal in each half.  The visitors opened brightly and then came under heavy pressure.  

But AP snatched the lead two minutes before half time when a speculative forward pass beat full back Dave Reardon, and there was wing man Ivor Talbot to score a fine goal.   AP’s patience was the deciding factor.  Their ability to break quickly from defence finally clinched the match after 84 minutes when Adrian Stewart sent Talbot racing clear.  With the home defence split, Talbot took the ball into the penalty area and calmly shot past a stranded keeper in the home goal.’

Next up were Barnet at the Windmill and ‘Roger Brown exploded the perfect header to register two more points in AP’s committed promotion drive.  Timing his run to the inch, Brown met a 31^st minute centre from Alan Jones at the far post and bulged the netting with a stunning finish.  It was a goal of absolute quality – a moment to savour in a game that was otherwise easy to forget.  

Brakes, determined not to repeat last year’s disappointment, when promotion was passed up by a single point, were obviously happy with the result.   They can be excused for adopting a “professional” stance.  But this dull encounter was a bitter pill for the Leamington fans to swallow.  A bumpy pitch made life difficult for both sides.  But this does not entirely disguise what rapidly became an enormous bore.’