'Holleran aiming to make it a lucky 13'

Paul Holleran thinks that a new stadium is key to Leamington's future.  In an interview with The Non-League Paper he stated: 'I think that Leamington's ideal would be to get the stadium through and then they would have the incomes streams and resources that they might need to then say we can go into that league and compete.'

After the pain of relegation last season, Holleran says that he has enjoyed life back in Step 3 as the club relish the chance to regroup and prepare for a return to National League North,.   'On a personal level, I am quite enjoying it, not being so intense and less travelling.'

'Realistically, people in the club know we have had a good look at the National League.  It is frustrating to go on there and be setting on the edge of your 18-yard box for most of the season.'

Reflecting on his time at the Brakes, Holleran said: 'At certain times when I thought the end was near, something has happened which has sparked me again. There always seems to be something that comes along that goes right.   When you have got an affinity with the club I have thought, realistically, I know I will be the best person to sort it out.'

''We have lost our top goal scorers for the last five, six, seven years and, thankfully, most of them gone on to do really well.'  The article points to players who have established themselves in the Football League from Holleran's stewardship, including Courtney Baker-Richardson at Crewe, Colby Bishop at Portsmouth and Josh March at Harrogate.

Yesterday Baker-Richardson scored a winning goal for Crewe with a clever back flick.

Courtney scores again

Courtney Baker-Richardson scored for Crewe and provided an assist in their 2-0 win at Doncaster yesterday. Apparently he has the best goals to games ratio in League Two apart from two players.

Colby Bishop is also piling on the goals for Portsmouth, although he didn't score yesterday.

March's fantastic goal

Josh March scored his first goal for Forest Green Rovers yesterday in their 2-0 win over Stevenage.  Taking advantage of the absence of Covid-hit top scorer Matty Stevens he scored with a header on 57 minutes.

Boss Rob Edwards said: 'I'm pleased for Josh. He had Covid early on and he's found it difficult with the front two in such good form.  it was stop-start for him through no fault of his own and he's always the hardest working player.'

'It was a fantastic goal as he came short for the ball.   Kane Wilson's first-time cross was brilliant and March span and got in the box and it was a brilliant header'

Courtney Baker-Richardson was denied a goal at Walsall by a superb save by the keeper.

Baker-Richardson scores Goal of the Day

Courtney Baker-Richardson made it two in two for Newport County on Saturday.   He made a fierce drive into the top of the corner from the edge of the area.   The EFL show said it could well be goal of the day.

Former players score in the EFL

Two former Brakes players scored in the EFL on Saturday.  Courtney Baker-Richardson scored his first goal for Newport County. He fired an unstoppable right-footed shot into the top corner of the net.

Colby Bishop scored in Accrington Stanley's 2-1 win over Ipswich Town.

Courtney goes to The Hive

Courtney Baker-Richardson has joined Barnet on loan from Barrow: https://www.barnetfc.com/news/2021/january/welcome-to-barnet-courtney-baker-richardson/?fbclid=IwAR20j5pXn_FgS8SAuljLFn2RSLuAwE5gPFsB6SAjif-HO6p9_0HMMn8RShI

The Barnet story acknowledges that his greatest success in scoring goals was at Leamington.

Wishing Courtney all the best in this later step in his career.   He has certainly seen a lot of England and Wales!

League Two for Baker-Richardson

After three years at Swansea, Courtney Baker-Richardson has found a new berth at League Two Barrow.  Needless to say, he's delighted.

Baker-Richardson on trial with Charlton

Former Brakes striker Courtney Baker-Richardson played for Charlton for 30 minutes in a practice match at Crystal Palace on Saturday.

The club are currently under a transfer embargo, but could offer him a contract as he is a free agent.

I had mentioned him to my contacts at Charlton.

Former players news

Courtney Baker-Richardson has been let go after three years at Swansea which he says has helped his development both as a person and a player.  Not the easiest time to get a new contract, even in the National League, but wish him well.

He tweeted: 'learnt a lot in my time there and grew from a boy to a man. I walk away happy with what i achieved personally I always put in 110% every time I put the shirt on. I wish nothing but the best for them in the future. So to the staff, the players and the fans, THANKYOU.'

Also news of Jude Bellinngham who is going to join Borussia Dortmund rather than Manchester United.  The Bundesliga club are offering more first team football and £54k a week over five years.

Bit annoyed with the report in The Times this morning, since when has East Thurrock been in the Midlands and why not mention Leamington?: 

His father Mark is a police sergeant who had a non-League career, scoring more than 700 goals playing for the likes of East Thurrock United and Paget Rangers in the Midlands leagues.

Villain of the week?

Former Leamington player Courtney Baker-Richardson has been named Championship villain of the week by The Times after he was sent off after five minutes on his first team league debut against Millwall.

The chastened player tweeted, 'A day full of emotions for me. Thank you all for your support. Not how I pictured my debut, I let myself and everyone down No malice intended on the challenge, was just eager to get stuck in. A mistake I will learn from!

A long, hard season

Brakes went down 2-0 at Kidderminster Harriers last night. I had hoped to get to Kiddy, but was feeling a bit under the weather yesterday.

In the second half the hosts were awarded what some who were thought was a soft penalty, possibly even diving. Then later Breeden went up for a corner and Kiddy seized their opportunity and scored from 40 yards.

I enjoy watching Tony Breeden, he reminds me of my boyhood hero Sam Bartram who was also a bit of a showman who liked to play out of his goal, but I think that Breeden needs to calm down a bit.

Leamington are now 17th. I think the one hope this season is that there are a few weaker sides in the division. Village team North Ferriby United are still on zero points after four games.

Unofficial Brakes commented, 'Just as you'd expect. We worked hard, hard to break down, never looked like scoring. We HAVE to sign a goal scorer, else we will go down. Simple as that.'

Courtney Baker-Richardson came on for Swansea City in the Checkatrade Trophy and provided the assist that led to the winning goal.

So, farewell then, Courtney Baker-Richardson

His departure is a big blow, although I understand that he has to take his chance. Here is the Coventry Evening Telegraph report: From non-league to Premiership

Home defeat

I had hoped that Tamworth at home was one match Leamington could win, but the Brakes went down 1-2 at the Phillips 66 Community Stadium tonight. We didn't deserve to win the match. There were far too many aimless long balls. Possession was surrendered too easily.

We went behind on four minutes to a rather fluke own goal which bounced down off the crossbar. Tamworth's No.9, charm merchant, Reece Styche, was establishing himself as the pantomime villain and did eventually get a yellow card later in the game.

Junior English drew Leamington level on 24 minutes, taking advantage of a corner. Tamworth continued to threaten, a fierce shot from distance coming off the post.

Both teams had chances in the second half, but Tamworth looked more of a threat. Leamington seemed to spend most of the time clearing their lines and it was no surprise when they sneaked the ball into the net on 74 minutes. A double substitution for the Brakes, featuring Walsall loan player Milan Butterfield, made no real difference.

Obeng had a good game.

I didn't hear the attendance, but it looked like a good crowd for a wet Tuesday night.

Paul Okey has tweeted that Courtney Baker-Richardson's move to Swansea City is just awaiting for the result of heart scans. Apparently, there should be a decent cash sum in it for Brakes.

4-3 win for Brakes

Brakes continued their impressive run of pre-season preparations with a 4-3 win over a youthful Birmingham City side at a chilly and wet Phillips 66 Community Stadium this afternoon. It was 4-1 at half time, but the visitors replaced hapless keeper Jake Weaver by Conal Trueman who was much more impressive while Leamington faded a little in the second half. Indeed, they probably would not have won if it was not for a number of impressive saves by Tony Breeden throughout the game which won praise from Birmingham fans around me.

A rather soft penalty allowed Rob Thompson-Brown to open the scoring for the home side on six minutes. The visitors started to come to the game a bit more, but then Courtney Baker-Richardson made it 2-0 on 24 minutes. McDonald replied for the visitors, but Brakes then went 3-1 ahead through Junior English who worked well throughout the game. Good work by Ahmed Obeng on the wing set up Baker-Richardson to make it 4-1 before the break.

The visitors made it 4-2 with what was probably the best goal of the matches and then on 80 minutes the ball crept in from a corner.

Stefan Moore came on a sub, but I don't think he touched the ball once, ghosting around the pitch. It was an entertaining match.

We are going up

Chairman and manager with the trophy

Leamington beat Hitchin Town to win promotion to tier two of the non-league pyramid in front of a record ground crowd of 2,108 and two dogs this afternoon.

Hitchin went ahead after ten minutes with a soft goal when a free kick was scrambled in at the far post. The Leamington players looked nervous and their efforts were somewhat disjointed, while the antics of charm merchant Brett Donnelly provided a constant and intended distraction. The Hitchin keeper was not really tested.

Brakes looked more invigorated after the break, but it was still difficult to work out where a goal was going to come from and the couple beside me left a few minutes before the end of normal time. Then, in the 90th minute Brakes won a penalty and Hitchin had a player sent off for a second yellow card. Rob Thompson-Brown stepped up to put the ball decisively in the back of the net.

The concern then was that the game might go to penalties but Courtney Baker-Richardson scored in the 114th minute, an excellent goal that looped into the top corner of the net.

It still required a great save from Tony Breeden and a Hitchin failure to take advantage of an open goal before the celebrations could begin.

The old five

Leamington completed a clinical 5-0 demolition of Dunstable Town at the Phillips 66 Community Stadium this afternoon. Unfortunately, Chippenham beat Merthyr 3-1 to maintain their lead at the top of the table.

An early stinging shot from the visitors tested Tony Breeden who made a good save at the expense of a corner. The antics of young visiting keeper Jack Smith drew shouts of 'Tony Breeden' from the crowd as he played outside of his area.

Courtney Baker-Richardson opened the scoring with a shot that looked as it might have been a cross, but it found the back of the net. Brakes were then awarded a penalty calmly dispatched by Rob Thompson-Brown. An own goal by hapless Dunstable No. 3 Gedeon Okito then made it 3-0 before the break.

An error by the keeper allowed Jack Edwards to make it 4-0 into an empty net. A shot from distance by Richard Taundry from distance that scythed along the ground then made it 5-0.

Jamie Hood put in some excellent defensive work and new signing Kurtis Revan put in some excellent passes when he came on as a substitute.

When Dunstable's Harry Bean had to go off after a coughing fit his replacement did not look at all keen to come on. Dunstable had only brought three substitutes and it was joked that it was the coach driver.

The Old Five

Some fluent and fluid play by Leamington saw them defeat Dorchester Town 5-0 at the Phillips 66 Community Stadium this afternoon. Unfortunately, results elsewhere mean that they stay in 4th place.

Edwards headed down for Obeng to open the scoring. Powell then made it 2-0 from close range after some good build up play. Obeng scraped the upright and if it hadn't been for a couple of good saves by the Dorchester keeper, Brakes could have been further ahead at half time.

On 57 minutes a long run from Courtney Baker-Richardson into the box saw him put a low shot into the corner of the goal to make it 3-0. Mace headed in from a corner to make it 4-0. Thompson-Brown then made it five with a long low shot.

On a raw afternoon, Brakes fans were sent home with a warm feeling inside them. Attendance 405 plus two dogs.

A game of two halves

Leamington beat King's Lynn Town 3-0 tonight at the Phillips 66 Community Stadium, all the goals coming in the second half. With England on tv, there was a depleted attendance of 345 and one dog, but a fair sized contingent had made the long journey from Norfolk.

In the first half the ball was played in the air far too much and the visiting keeper was only tested once.

Ahmed Obeng opened the scoring for Brakes on 59 minutes and he almost scored again immediately afterwards when he burst through and was one on one with the keeper.

Nerves were settled on 84 minutes when Courtney Baker-Richardson made it 2-0 and, then with the keeper out of his goal, Jack Edwards, who had come on as a substitute, scored the third.

One is enough

I was hoping to have an opportunity to use the historic 'Two nil or not two nil' chant tonight at the Phillips 66 Community Stadium, but in the end I had to be satisfied with a 1-0 victory for Leamington over Stratford Town in a highly competitive match.

In the first half, the Brakes engaging in some fluent play with some accurate passing and good balls forward. An early effort by the energetic Sam Austin was just over. It started to rain heavily, although it later stopped. In a move that started with a free kick, Courtney Baker-Richardson scored the winning goal for the Brakes on 37 minutes.

Leamington nearly scored a second early in the second half when the ball went just over from Lee Moore after two attempts on goal. Breeden nearly sacrificed the slender lead in the second half when he came charging out of his goal in his customary manner, but the effort by the Bardsmen was wide.

The visitors were more impressive in the second half and their vociferous supporters thought they deserved a penalty. Brakes start to play too deep, but they held on for the vital three points.

Attendance was 434 plus the usual dog who looked particularly alert. Leamington are now 6th.