Wyn Grant
‘During the early weeks of the 1972-3 season Lockheed seemed
almost frightened of playing on their own Windmill Ground. The Leamington fans became frustrated with
some below par displays and Brakes simply weren’t getting the encouragement
normally afforded to home teams. But they
finally broke the ice on November 16 – their 10th home match of the
season – when they beat Tamworth 3-2 and their confidence has soared in the
last few weeks. They have not lost a
Windmill match since then and following a 2-2 draw with Rugby Town have rattled
off four successive victories. And news
of their revitalised form has spread.
Gates are gradually picking up and caretaker manager Bill
Branston is convinced the best is yet to come.
“We are a changed side these days,” he said. “One certainly couldn’t blame the crowd for
losing faith in the team, but I think that the players have now shown what they
can do and have earned the right to much better support.”
Lockheed’s committee are delighted with the side’s form at
the moment and are in no hurry to appoint a new manager. They feel that they can now afford to wait
for the right man to appear. When the
job was first advertised following Geoff Coleman’s resignation in October,
several of the best-known names on the Midlands non-league scene displayed an
interest. And interviews were held with
six men as Brakes tried to fill the vacancy with some urgency.
But the three-man
selection panel did not make an appointment and it was agreed to shelve their
plans until the ideal personality could be attracted. Says Branston: “We honestly feel that we
have turned the corner. When an
appointment is made the new man will be the best we can afford – everything is
geared to putting Lockheed back on the soccer map.”
Three goals after the interval redeemed hard-pressed Brakes
against Cheltenham Town at home on 20th January 1973. Lockheed spent most of the first half penned
in their own half but still managed to be on terms at the interval. Conditions were appalling when first half
heavy rain developed into a snowstorm.
Town opened in bright fashion and were unlucky when a delightful
four-man move ended with Williams powering his shot wide. And in a bombardment on the Lockheed goal
Taylor and then goalkeeper King managed to block shots from Gladstone when a
goal seemed certain. Town continued to
cut out most of the running with some neat approach play.
Lockheed’s first serious raid almost brought them a goal,
however, as Jessop crashed in a shot which Townsend dived to flick out for a
corner. Casey then weaved through only
to see his left foot shot skidded off the post and rebounded into play. But Jessop almost broke the deadlock with a
fabulous volley which goalkeeper Townsend helped out with a fabulous save that
brought the smallest crowd of the season to its feet. Brakes resumed with Salmon on for
Sherry. The newcomer quickly made his
presence felt in a driving raid down the right.
But he put his cross into the side netting.
However, Lockheed were not to be denied and Walker crashed
in two goals within two minutes as the Town defence fell apart – an incredible
transformation. In the 70th
minute Moreton put the issue beyond doubt when he ran on to a long downfield
ball from Cartwright to score a third goal for Brakes.’ Lockheed were 15th in the table.
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