Brakes progress under Knox

Brakes were hoping for better times following the appointment of Jimmy Knox as manager in March 1973.  ‘Talk to Jimmy Knox on the field and you will find him soft-spoken with a realistic approach to soccer.  Ask him what he wants from his players, and he’ll tell you in one word – WORK.  And don’t the Lockheed players know it!   

Ever since Knox took over at the Windmill four games ago, the Lockheed players have earned their money – by hard graft.   They have not lost under Knox, and capped a promising fortnight with the midweek win over Borough in the Birmingham Senior Cup.  And they did that by combining their skill with sheer hard running. 

Says Knox: “I insist on fitness and the players are finding it out.  I was pleased with the way they worked against Nuneaton, but they were feeling the effects in the closing stages.  Players should come off the field knowing they have been in a match.   They should work on the field, and if they do, it’s half the battle.”  

Since Knox took over, Brakes have drawn at Bury, beaten Corby and Nuneaton, and drawn at home to Enderby.  And if Tuesday’s match is anything to go by, I am convinced the team have had almost 300 minutes of non-stop running.   For they applied pressure on a Borough side, even though below par, should have been capable of snatching at least a draw.  In reality, they were beaten by a stronger, better, more purposeful side. 

 It’s this attitude, instilled in them by Knox, which might carry Brakes into a far higher position in the First Division table next season.   As Knox says: “It’s no use just consolidating.   We must aim to do as well as we can in every game.”   And that means a lot of hard work in store!’

‘Jimmy Knox’s revitalised s Lockheed side tore Corby to shreds with an impressive showing at the Windmill.  Two goals clear at the interval, Brakes played with pace and fire to put an end to Corby’s promotion hopes.  It was encouraging for the new Lockheed manager, who has seen his side take three points from two games.  They ran themselves into the ground and with a little more steadiness would have doubled their tally.   Leading scorer Dennis Walker put them in front with a fine goal against his former colleagues after 36 minutes.  Walker blasted home after Barry Whitlock’s shot had rebounded from the bar.  And four minutes later Tom Sweenie placed a fine pass in front of John Moreton to hit the target from close range.

 Lockheed remained on top in the second half and Whitlock’s goal three minutes from the end was fully deserved.   The tall striker, drafted in to replace Graham Jessop, took full advantage of Walker’s quick thinking and beat Dennis Hill for a neatly taken goal.  Corby were rarely given a look in against a composed home defence and Sweenie and the aggressive Keith Shrimpston pulled the strings in midfield to lay the foundations for a promising success.’

‘Disappointing Lockheed boobed against Enderby – two penalties in the last four minutes enabling the visitors to snatch a shock point.  Brakes never got going, but were still good enough to ease into a 2-0 lead.  John Moreton rammed them in front on the half hour with a neatly taken goal.  Back-to-form striker Barry Whitlock capped a sharp display with a well-struck goal.  

Peter King conceded the first goal when ending a poor personal display with a rash tackle and injury time brought a second penalty when Mel Davis handled the ball.’

Knox sets out his stall

Prior to his arrival at the Windmill Ground in March 1973 new manager Jimmy Knox set out his hopes and plans   ‘So what made him decide to leave [Rugby Town] and join Lockheed?  “Insecurity more anything,” says the Scot.   “Town could not guarantee anything and if the worst happened, then the players could get fixed up easily.  But I would be left out in the cold.”   And what of the future?   Says Knox: “I hope to do even better with Brakes.  I have a free hand with a budget that’s a wee bit higher, and it’s a new challenge for me.  I believe the club has the potential to do well.”’

‘Any promises?  “None, only that if the players give me 100 per cent, they will have every chance, I can promise them this – that I’m a player’s manager.   I shall be honest with them, and I expect them to be honest with me.  It’s my job to get the players on my side, I stand and fall by them. The lads at Rugby did a lot for me, and I shall not forget it.  Now I start all over again.”

He starts by telling his players that there will be no “settling down” period.  “I don’t believe in it,” he says.  “We shall be approaching every match with the same idea – to win.   I am not going to promise that we shall be gaining promotion next season, but that will be the intention.   I am not a believer in saying let’s aim for a halfway spot and then consolidation.  That’s a defeatist attitude.  You have to reach for the top from the start of the season.”   Knox will spend the next few weeks having a good look at the side before he names his retained list.  “It will be my judgment and no-one else’s.   It’s now up to the players,” he says.’

‘As Knox moves in committee man Bill Branston steps down after four “reasonably successful” months as caretaker manager.  Branston, a former Aston Villa goalkeeper, who has stood in between Windmill managers before, took over from Geoff Coleman in October.   And he has guided Brakes out of trouble with quiet, sincere leadership that has placed the club on a much firmer platform.  Coleman’s 17 matches this season produced a grim record of two wins, five draws and 10 defeats. 

Branston took over and immediately ended a seven match losing run when his first team selection drew at Banbury United.  His full record is played 24, won 10, drawn 4, lost 10.   And Branston thinks it could have been a lot better: “Some of our defeats should have been avoided but I really think we have made progress during the last four months.  Team spirit has definitely improved and Jimmy will be taking over a first class set of lads.” 

Now Knox faces a comfortable run in of 10 matches – seven of them at the Windmill.  And Branston is confident that Brakes can win all the home games and end the season in a respectable position.   “I am pleased to be handing over to Jimmy.   He is a great bloke, a first class professional and a man who could bring about an immediate improvement.  I have enjoyed my spell in the manager’s chair but it will be nice to sit back and watch from now on.”’

 

Jimmy Knox appointed manager in 1973

Would Jimmy Knox join Brakes as manager?   That was the big question fifty years ago.  At the end of February 1973 it was reported:  ‘Jimmy Knox, the man at the centre of a tug of war between Rugby Town and Lockheed, was keeping a discreet silence this week as the fight for his services went on.  Knox is currently player-manager of Southern League Rugby, but Lockheed revealed that he is the man they want to take over at the Windmill ground.  

The Brakes have been without a manager since Geoff Coleman resigned in October and since then committee man Bill Branston has been responsible for training and selection.  When Lockheed asked for permission to interview Knox they claimed that Rugby placed a “prohibitive fee” on his head, and the only comment from Knox was that “I am going to leave the two clubs to work it out between them.  Other than that I am not saying anything.”  But with Town’s football future very much in doubt – they have to quit their Oakfield ground at the end of the season – it may be that Knox will be interested in a move to Lockheed who have no such fears. 

Meanwhile the signing of Micky Boot from Kidderminster Harriers has pleased caretaker manager Branston.  The Brakes paid a “substantial fee” for the former Nuneaton Borough midfield man.  Said Branston: “We can now claim to boasting a superb midfield department in terms of skill and experience.  If Micky and Tom Sweenie can click, I am convinced that Lockheed will start to buzz.  We will have the best engine room in the Southern League.”    Neither Sweenie nor Boot fulfilled the potential they displayed at Leicester City and Arsenal respectively, but they are outstanding players by non-league standards and Branston is convinced they can lead Lockheed into the Premier Division.   Boot’s capture means a stylish boost for Lockheed’s newly-tried 4-2-4 system and Branston said, “I am happier now than at any time since I took over from Geoff Coleman.”’

In early March it was announced that ‘Rugby Town boss Jimmy Knox is leaving Oakfield for the vacant manager’s chair at Lockheed.  He takes charge of his last match for Town in Saturday’s vital Southern League clash with Atherstone at Oakfield, and will join Lockheed on Monday.   The move was announced today by Town director Peter Lutkin who said: “It is a big wrench for us to lose Jimmy Knox, but Lockheed will be gaining a tremendous asset.  He will do well.” 

There has been speculation over Knox’s future since Lockheed parted company with Geoff Coleman before Christmas, but he stayed with Rugby and kept them in the promotion hunt.  But their chances have faded recently, and if they do not beat Atherstone on Saturday, their hopes will have virtually died.’

‘Knox takes over at Lockheed on Monday with the pledge: “Every player at the Windmill will get a fair crack of the whip.” And so ends speculation – for the time being anyway – that half the current Town side will follow their boss to play for the Brakes.    Said Knox: “I have seen Brakes several times this season, but I am not going to prejudge them.    Everyone will be assessed on their merits.   If they come up to my standards, they will continue to play for Lockheed.  I am going with an open mind, and I shall not be bothered with reputations.”’