Lockheed Leamington faced Rugby Town at the Windmill Ground in mid-December 1972 hoping to avenge an earlier 4-0 defeat. Rugby, under manager Jimmy Knox, were in all sorts of trouble. The Rugby Co-operative Society had given them notice to quit their ground at the end of the season. They did not have the cash to fund a ground to Southern League standards, but the town’s Sports Advisory Council accused them of not doing enough to help themselves. All this would have implications for the Brakes later in the season.
‘Lockheed and Rugby are arch rivals of long standing and the game bore the stamp of a typical local derby. Though both sides showed flashes of skill and enterprise, the exchanges were on the whole almost entirely dominated by physical effort. Close passing by Lockheed failed to pierce Rugby Town’s solid defence. Although there was the usual amount of hard running from both sides, the first half failed to produce a goal, Rugby’s early promptings bore the more cultured look and home goalkeeper King was twice called upon to deal with teasing centres.
A brilliant through ball from Archibald then pierced the Lockheed
defence and King had to look sharp to cut out Armstrong’s low cross. Rugby’s early efforts tailed off as Lockheed
managed to get the measure of their opponents.
Rugby’s defence had suddenly taken on a shaky appearance and they were
lucky to survive when Jones missed Cartwright’s centre. There was a lot of aimless kicking entering
the play with Rugby looking a shadow of the side that had started promisingly,
and Lockheed were no better. The game
badly needed a goal and Shrimpton almost did the trick with a drive which flew
inches over the Rugby crossbar.’
‘The second half, in particular, was a furious affair with Rugby making all the running at the start and Lockheed hitting back strongly to finish a shade in the ascendancy. Rugby swarmed into the attack on the resumption and Lockheed were forced into several desperate defensive measures. King made a magnificent save from Lee, turning the ball over the crossbar for a corner when Rugby’s left-winger fired in a tremendous drive from the edge of the penalty area.
Rugby looked like taking command as they
battered away at the home defence, but it stood firm. A point was as much as either side could
have hoped for from this fast, but mostly untidy, Southern League game. 0-0 was a fair result as neither side was
able to establish a clear territorial advantage.’
A report from the Borough Council expressed ‘mounting
concern at the growth of night-time violence in Leamington. The Planning and Works Committee is seeking
support for a move to leave street lighting throughout the town switched on all
night. The majority of lights are
switched off at 11.30 pm. Councillor
John Neville said the committee had considered the issue in view of the
personal attacks that had occurred recently.
There was no conclusive evidence that poor lighting or the lack of it
was a contributory factor, but it was felt that attacks and other crimes, were
less likely to occur if the entire town was lit all night.’ All night lighting would add £2,500 to the
£35,000 to the annual street lighting bill.
(£27,000 amd £379,000 at today’s prices).
