More 2000 memories

 

Single goal decides cup clash

Brakes faced a challenging away FA Cup match at Bedworth in September 1973, having beaten Redditch away in the opening round. ‘Gerry Baker, Bedworth United’s player-manager, returns to the FA Cup scene tomorrow.  And that could well be bad news for AP Leamington when the teams clash at The Oval.  

For Baker is something of a FA Cup expert.   He scored in the FA Cup for all the First Division teams he played for and netted a hat trick for Nuneaton Borough in his cup debut at Atherstone.   And he holds the Scottish Cup record for goals scored in one game.  He netted 10 times for St. Mirren in their 15-0 win over Glasgow University.   It will be Baker’s cup debut for Bedworth and the impressive AP outfit will be in for a tough match.  Manager Jimmy Knox takes a 13-man squad, but is still without Tom Swinnie.’

‘Tom Sweenie, AP Leamington’s brilliant midfield player, has not kicked a ball this season.  It is a worrying time for Sweenie and AP manager Jimmy Knox.  But this week the little Scot at last reported that his injured knee was feeling “a little easier”.  Sweenie, who played First Division football with Leicester City, had a cartilage operation on July 20. 

Current City skipper Keith Weller had a similar operation at the same time and both players received regular physiotherapy treatment at Filbert Street.   But while Weller is now back in action, Sweenie is wondering when he will be able to start training.  He is suffering from muscle wastage on his thigh and may have to go back into hospital to have fluid drained from his knee.’

‘Trevor Shepherd, the ex-Coventry City striker who packs dynamite in his right boot, fired a great match winner to take Bedworth United into the second qualifying round.  AP won the toss and put United to face the sun.  Hubbard, AP’s centre forward, had to receive treatment after two minutes of play.   United had the better of the opening minutes, but AP went close when Hubbard centred from the by-line and Potter headed inches over the bar.   Hubbard missed a possible chance for AP.  Foster gave him a cross, but the striker fired well over the bar.

 In the first 20 minutes there was little to choose between the two sides, but free kicks were numerous against both teams.  From one, Shepherd fired a terrific strike inches wide as Jones failed to move in goal.    Half time 0-0.  Shepherd netted three minutes from time to settle a tie that seemed set for a replay.  The wonder goal was one of the finest seen at The Oval this season, but there was no celebration for AP Leamington who had the edge for most of the game.  As their manager Jimmy Knox said after the game, “we gave them one chance and they took it.”’

20 facts about the Brakes

From the Courier special supplement in 2000:

FA Cup tie was 'a real test of character'

At the beginning of September 1973 AP Leamington travelled ‘to Redditch for a FA Cup match cursing their luck of the draw and hoping to gain revenge.  The Brakes, dogged by away ties in the FA Cup, went out to Nuneaton in the first round last year.

But AP Leamington have another score to settle in their clash with Redditch.  Last year they were sent out of the FA Challenge Trophy with a 3-0 defeat at The Valley.   Jimmy Knox viewed the FA Cup tie at Redditch United as the first real test of character for his cock-a-hoop AP Leamington squad.  Brakes opened the season in barn-storming fashion by picking up seven points out of eight in their first four League matches.  And in between they threw in a first class 3-0 Southern League Cup win against powerful Kidderminster Harriers.  But they were pulled up in their tracks in Monday’s second leg at Aggborough, when Kidderminster gained a 3-2 success and Knox looks to today’s match at Redditch to prove that his side has the ability to fight back.’

 As it turned out ‘Aggressive AP Leamington proved far too strong for Redditch in the first qualifying round of the FA Cup.   It took only three minutes for AP to make an impression on the weak Redditch defence.  Goodfellow waiting on the edge of the box pounced on a loose ball and gave Blackwell no chance.  However, Redditch were not without their chances.  After 10 minutes Evatt came close when his header whistled past the post.  

Towards the end of the half the game became more and more a matter of kick and rush with both sides taking advantage of the high wind.  It was at this point that Redditch went even further behind with a goal coming from Goodfellow who blasted the ball into the top of the net.  AP almost made it three before half time when a deflected shot from Hubbard went inches wide.  Redditch managed to get one back through Taylor.  But that was that for Redditch for the day.   With minutes to go Hubbard hammered in a shot following a defensive mix up.’

Away at Stevenage in the league, ‘A moment of slackness just before the end of the game robbed AP Leamington of their unbroken record.   It was rough justice on AP who had done their best to entertain in a game that neither side deserved to lose.  Looking to repeat last season’s double over the Brakes Stevenage opened brightly and almost took the lead after two minutes. 

 But Leamington were not without attacking ideas in a fast-moving game and it took a foul to stop Foster as he raced through.   But on 30 minutes Adams took a ball past the advancing keeper and crossed for the unmarked Hatch to head into an empty net.   A swift raid brought the Brakes level, Hubbard firing home after a scramble in the Stevenage goalmouth.     Leamington looked the sharper side after the break and Horne was only inches away from putting them ahead with a pile driver.  AP’s defence failed to spot the danger as Hatch headed into the path of Adams who scored to make it 2-1.’

Mick Brady 2000 interview

In 2000 the Courier published an eight page supplement to mark the return of football to Leamington.  Here is the interview with Mick Brady:

Brakes overcome Kiddy across two legs

AP Leamington were involved in a two leg Southern League cup tie with Kidderminster Harriers at the end of August 1973.   At the Windmill Ground ‘Twin strikers Norman Foster and Trevor Hubbard shared the goals to give AP a deserve 2-0 advantage from the first leg of this cracking Southern League Cup tie.  And Kidderminster will need to show a startling improvement in Monday’s second leg if they are to retain any interest in this competition.   AP, unbeaten in four matches, took time to settle against an uncompromising defence which tackled quickly and offered few opportunities. 

 But once Foster had put them in front after 26 minutes there was only one side in it as the Leamington outfit turned up the heat to threaten a runaway victory.  Foster, who is looking a very fine player this season, took his goal with remarkable coolness.   Hubbard’s persistence prompted the chance and the lanky striker made no mistake with a crushing angled drive which left Hingley clutching at thin air. 

The home side really got their game together in the second half and Kidderminster were fortunate to see snap efforts from Foster and Micky Ross smack against the bar and bounce to safety.  But there was no preventing Hubbard’s goal after 52 minutes after the centre forward turned and rifled a low shot past Hingley from 20 yards.  And the season’s largest crowd of 420 were almost treated to two more goals in the last 15 minutes as first Foster and then Bobby Hart saw shots well saved by the gallant Hingley.’

In the return fixture ‘Kidderminster outplayed AP in the first period and raced to a deserved 3-0 lead.  During the first half AP’s attacks were limited but on one occasion they went close when a shot from Goodfellow crashed against the bar.  After the break, Kidderminster went off the boil and AP wasted no time in accepting their chances to hit back.  They made it 3-1 in the 76^th minute when Foster found enough time to fire the ball past keeper Hingley following a corner.  Then, just when it looked as if the clubs would have to fight it out in a replay, Leamington made it 3-2 in the last minute to give them an aggregate 4-3 victory.’

In the league AP continued their early season form with a 2-1 victory over Witney Town who had joined the league ‘after huge successes in the Hellenic League.    Witney were the first to attack but were generally subdued by the taller Leamington defenders.

 In the sixth minute the visitors nearly took the lead when Hubbard drifted in from the left and fired a first time shot against an upward. Leamington were producing all the better ideas, and it was hardly surprising when Foster headed them into the lead in the 17^th minute.  Horne was given far too much room on the right wing and his cross gave Foster plenty of space and time in which to score.  And it was Foster who assured Leamington full points when he netted in the second half.’