Knox scouted Sunday League

 

In December 1973 there was ‘only one local player in AP Leamington’s current first team pool – left winger Ivor Talbot.   But Brakes boss Jimmy Knox Is convinced there is a healthy reservoir of talent in the area and is determined to recruit some of the outstanding local amateurs.  “There are a lot of excellent young players in the town and I want them to be part of the future of AP Leamington,” said the Windmill chief. “I intend to run a youth side next season and I am sure that if we can get such a scheme established we will be able to produce a more effective senior side. “  

Knox built a splendid reputation at Rugby Town where he was operating on a shoestring budget and was forced to lean heavily on local talent.  He moulded them into a promotion challenging side and, although financial pressures finally forced Rugby to fold, he remains confident there is a wealth of players in junior football who are capable of making an impact on the Southern League.  

Knox has been a regular spectator at recent Leamington Sunday League matches – and he has been impressed by what he has seen.  “There is a big gap between junior football and the Southern League,” he said.  “But I have seen several players who could make the grade.  I hope to bring some of them to the Windmill.”

‘Two opportunist goals from AP Leamington’s Norman Foster put them in a strong position against lowly Gloucester City at Gloucester.  Leamington made a fine start and after forcing an early corner went on to take a fourth minute lead.  A long penetrating ball from Steve Lee found Foster and caught the Gloucester defence flat footed.    Foster made ground before neatly slotting the ball home past Stow in the home goal.   

After this early setback Gloucester found more rhythm and went close in the sixteenth minute.     A constructive move resulted in Chris Gardner finding himself with plenty of room in front of goal, but the young striker fired over the bar.  After Gardner had gone close again for the City, with a header following a cross from Hargreaves, Leamington broke away and once again the Gloucester defence were caught napping.   A misunderstanding between Williams and goalkeeper Stow allowed Foster to nip in between them and calmly touch the ball home for his second goal. 

 The opening minute of the second half saw Leamington with two chances of improving their lead.   The first fell to Foster but this time Stowe thwarted his effort to achieve a hat trick.   Then Sweenie went close with a long range shot and with Leamington looking at their most dangerous Trevor Hubbard hit the crossbar with a fierce drive in the 61^st minute.   Near the end Jimmy Goodfellow broke through for the third goal.  

  Gloucester scored a consolation goal through full back Vale in the last minute.   AP will have few easier tasks in their league programme this season than the summary disposal of hapless City who could so easily have been beaten by an ever higher margin.’

Brakes furious with referee who wanted to get home to wife

In November 1973 AP Leamington ‘were still fuming about a last minute penalty decision which gave Darlaston victory in their FA Challenge Trophy clash – but a protest to the FA has been rejected.  Brakes’ defenders claimed that Darlaston right winger Alec Jackson “took a dive” following a Jon Brady tackle outside the area.  And at the weekend angry AP officials alleged that referee K.V. Kelsall had awarded the penalty in order to avoid extra time.  But when the club lodged a complaint against the official, they received a curt reply from the Football Association.  The FA pointed out that Kelsall was on the Football League list until his retirement age last year.  And they said that referees should be judged on their overall performance, not a single incident. 

But Brakes are still convinced that the “single incident” was “a travesty of justice”.  Said manager Jimmy Knox: “The linesman was only 15-yards from the incident and he never flagged, yet the referee was 40 yards away.  He went to the linesman and remarked to two of our players on the way: “It Is going to be a penalty. I don’t want extra time.”  One Windmill official added that Mr Kelsall (from Stafford) had said before the match that he did not want extra time as he was anxious to get home to his wife who was ill.’

At the Windmill Ground ‘Bedworth snatched the lead for a minute, but then AP asserted themselves.  Early in the action, Garnell in the Bedworth goal have to save an awkward shot from Sweenie (back after a long spell out with a cartilage injury, hehad been an unused substitute midweek).  Bedworth survived the opening pressure and for a lengthy spell play was confined to midfield.   Bedworth forced two successive corners, neither of which produced a result and when Leamington broke away on the left. Garnell again saved a dangerous low shot.   It was against the run of play when Karancinski gave Bedworth the lead in the 18^th minute but a minute later Leamington were level when Lee scored with a fine shot after Brady had split the United defence.

  In the 25^th minute Leamington went ahead following a penalty awarded against Harkus for hands.  Brady’s spot kick hit the bar and when the ball rebounded into play Goodfellow raced in to head it smartly into the net.   Leamington continued to dominate the exchanges and Lee scored a third goal after 40 minutes when he raced into head Goodfellow’s corner kick well wide of the goalkeeper. ‘   Brakes ended up hammering Bedworth 5-1.

Meanwhile, the fate of Leamington Town Hall hung in the balance.   ‘A plan to save Leamington Town Hall from demolition was described as “nothing more than a suggestion” by Councillor Tom Nicholson, last year’s Mayor.   The future of the building hangs in the balance.  Plans to pull it down and sell the site for shops to pay for new civic buildings in Newbold Terrace have run into fierce opposition from both the Leamington Society and the Save Leamington Action Movement (SLAM). Councillor Nicholson said the obvious alternative to demolition was to retain the building and build new office accommodation on the council-owned land behind it.’