Arctic weather hit matches in 1913

With today's match postponed, here is the 'Way Back Then' article that would have appeared in the programme

Arctic weather interrupted football in Leamington and throughout the country one hundred years ago. An attempt was made to play several matches, but a snow storm brought them to an end. Leamington Town went to Stoke in Coventry for a league match ‘but found that the meterological conditions there were worse than those in Leamington. A plucky start was made in a blinding snow-storm, but it was impossible to continue for longer than twenty minutes.’

Fans were looking forward to the Saturday game against Cradley Heath in the Birmingham Junior Cup. The Courier noted, ‘It is difficult to say what chances the local club have of winning, but it is certain they will give the Black Country team a good game. Both players and officials are keenly desirous of bringing the trophy to Leamington for the first time, and providing the team shows the form of which we know it to be capable, there is no reason why this should not be achieved.’

But the Courier cautioned, ‘Cradley Heath are, without a doubt, a very formidable obstacle to surmount. In the Smethwick League this season, they have lost one match only.’ The game had an outcome which no one had anticipated, ‘ending in a fiasco which will not be forgotten by those who witnessed it.’

‘In the first place, the ground was in a truly wretched state. It reached the absolute limit of muddiness, even for a cup tie. ‘ It was admitted that the FA Cup at Coventry had been played on a ground that was all mud and water, but at least that was flat. On the Old Warwick Road enclosure, we get a layer of thick ooze, combined with a series of pools of water. To reach the stand in the reserved enclosure one had to perform feats on a series of planks which squelched as one trod upon them. If the ground was fit to play, it was hardly so. A large quantity of sawdust had been strewn on the worst parts, but it seemed to make very little improvement.’

Town started to kick towards the Municipal School end and ‘it was one of the toughest struggles we have seen at Leamington this season. It was not a brilliant or scientific game by any means. What was the point of trying to do clever things with a ball that rarely bounced, and utterly failed to respond to those delicate touches necessary for good dribbling?’ The score was 0-0 at half time, but in the second half Town ‘had the better end for shooting’ and their star striker Gathercole pounced to make it 1-0.

Then disaster struck. The outside right for Cradley had a violent collision with Jonas and broke his left leg. An immediate collection was taken for him and raised £3-12-6d which was made up to £4 by Town players. However, Cradley then refused to continue playing and the match had to be abandoned, to the considerable annoyance of the large crowd of spectators. The referee insisted that he had nothing to do with the decision. If the condition of the ground was the problem, it was hoped that Town would be awarded the match as Cradley had declared it playable in the morning.

Let's have Moore of that

Brackley Town are said to have been prepared to pay him £1,000 per week not so long ago and Stefan Moore certainly showed his value with a fine hat trick in Leamington's 6-1 demolition of Bedworth United at the New Windmill Ground this afternoon in front of a bank holiday crowd of 643.

<>Brakes applied early pressure on the visitors and it was from what was their first effective attack on 15 minutes that Bedworth scored their first and only goal, Cooper just getting a finger tip to it as the drive went into the net.

A move that started with a free kick saw an exchange of headers between Leamington players in front of goal with Stefan Moore heading the ball into the back of the net. It was not quite Moore of the same when Lee Moore made it 2-1 on 42 minutes with a shot along the ground. Daly, who had been in some good defensive headers, got booked for dissent and a free kick for the visitors was wasted, Brakes going in 2-1 ahead at the break.

On 58 minutes Chilton made it 3-1 with a great goal, but there was more to come. Stefan Moore's angled strike on 67 minutes was worthy of a former Premiership player. It was one of the best goals I have seen at non-league level. He then made it 5-1 a few minutes later and was subsequently withdrawn to give Tom Berwick some action.

The keeper saved from Lee Moore when he was one on one with him and the energetic Dodd missed a chance to score. Leamington's final goal came in the 94th minute scored by James Mace from a Brakes corner.

Read more about Stefan Moore here: Moore

Christmas 1912

With today's game off here is the Way Back Then article I wrote for the programme

If one wanted to stock up on drinks for Christmas 1912 then wine importer and spirit merchant W R Mann had plenty to offer, including fine old brandies, special old Scotch and Irish whiskies, light old port (recommended for invalids) and champagne. At the cheaper end of the spectrum, there was British wine, cooking sherry and cooking brandy. Beers on offer included Bass, Allsipp and Worthington, as well as Guiness’s Extra Stout, but no Brakes Fluid. In addition, there were Havana and British cigars and Turkish and Virginia cigarettes.

W.J. Randall in Regent Street West were offering ‘useful’ Christmas presents which included palm stands; coal boxes; Japanese and Chinese vases, plaques and bowls; and draught screens. In similar vein one could visit Lee Longland in Birmingham for ‘useful and artistic gifts’ which included ‘a nice cushion, pretty table covers, occasional tables, palm stands, book racks and easy chairs.’

Cinderella was the pantomime on offer at the Theatre Royal. As the Courier noted, ‘We look forward to the timely entertainment with as keen an appetite as we look forward to turkey, Christmas pudding, mince pies, and all the other gastronomic bon-touches of the season.’ The Courier spent more time describing the appearance and condition of the theatre, although it was full of praise for the production as well.

The decorations of the theatre received particular attention, in particular a floral design that reflected the spirit of the age by depicting ‘an aeronaut on a monoplane.’ It will be recalled that earlier that year the first heavier-than-air machine had landed in Leamington on the old football pitch. On entering the foyer of the theatre, patrons saw ‘a glorious fully-berried holly tree, groups of the choicest hothouse flowers, in which lilies and poinsettias are conspicuous amidst delicate pink blooms on the staircase, a graceful floral swan under the spreading leaves of a Kentia palm in one corner.’ Further praise was given to the way in which draughts had been excluded, in particular by the installation of a warm carpet.

Over at the Colonade Theatre, the evening’s entertainment started with moving pictures, including ‘The Hand of Fate’, a story of German duelling, and the ‘Physician of Silver Gulch’ which apparently offered a mixture of cowboy and medical themes with the story of ‘a doctor’s temptation’. Other films on offer included the seasonal ‘A Christmas Messenger’ and an ‘instructive’ film called ‘Unique Nature Studies’ (this was believed not to be an early venture into nudism films). Having enjoyed the miracle of moving pictures, the live bill included The Murrati Brothers, ‘a trio of expert clog dancers, including a marvellously clever roller-skater’. The following week offered acrobats and gymnasts and Tyrolean vocalists.

If one wanted more sober entertainment, one could go to the Town Hall to view the portrait of the ex-Mayor, apparently an ‘esteemed and popular figure’. The Courier advised its readers that it was well worth a visit, despite having been hung in bad light.

On Christmas morning, carol singers who have been ‘remarkably quiet’ in the preceding week started to sing at 2 a.m. in the morning and continued to do so until daybreak. One of the wettest years on record ended with a cold, wet and windy Christmas, ‘leading the fireside to hold its traditional place in the esteem of English people at Yuletide.’ A Happy Christmas to you.

Leamington back to winning ways - just

Leamington won a tightly fought encounter at the New Windmill Ground this afternoon, beating 'the pride of North Devon', Bideford Town, 2-1 in front of a depleted pre-Christmas crowd of 429. (I'm assuming the collie dog doesn't count, but he certainly takes a keen interest in the match). There were those who thought that the Brakes rode their luck and that a draw would have been a fair result, but it was a spirited and committed performance in the second half a rather disappointing first half.

Brakes started well and were camped out in the opposition's half for the opening phase of the game, but then the visitors started to apply some pressure. A defensive error by Mace gave the ball away and keeper Niall Cooper had to make the first of a number of excellent saves. Batchelor received a yellow card after he advised the referee where he could put himself.

Bideford went ahead on 25 minutes after a miss kick by Batchelor in front of goal. But then a penalty gave Brakes the chance to level on 38 minutes and it was well taken by Dodd to make it 1-1. In the first half as a whole there was too much hoofing of the ball and not enough getting it down, controlling it and passing it.

Half time: Brakes 1, Robins 1

Bideford were dangerous in their counter attacks throughout the game and Cooper had to make a vital save from one such break. On 56 minutes Jimmy Husband was able to burst through and put the ball in the corner of the net to make it 2-1.

Cooper had to make good save from a corner. The young referee was enthusiastic, but did not always have a grip and there was an outbreak of handbags away from him which led to two yellow cards after consultation with the linesman. Bideford forward Matt Andrew may work for Ambrosia, but he was far from being an example of creamy charm and picked up a yellow card for a foul on Daly.

Leamington then saw the ball come off the inside of the post, allowing the keeper to gather. Not long afterwards Berwick hit the post, possibly he should have done better. The yellow cards continued to be handed out to both teams, including one for Daly: at least the referee by now did not make the mistake he nearly made earlier in the game by showing a green card.

Bideford continued to threaten and my heart was in mouth as a free kick was driven across the front of the Brakes goal. The Bideford keeper then made an excellent stop from a strong shot from distance which would have gone in. The referee found plenty of time to add on, but then the whistle was blown and Paul Holleran bowed to acknowledge the chants of the Harbury Lane end.

Brakes hunt down Stags

Leamington secured an emphatic 2-1 victory over AFC Totton in front of a crowd of 554 on an icy afternoon at the New Windmill Ground.

Totton threatened just after 10 minutes but the ball was kept out and Brakes raced up the other end, Chilton scoring the opener on 12 minutes. Then a Daly header went just wide and Batchelor got injured and required attention.

Cooper then gave away an avoidable penalty, but redeemed himself by saving the shot. Magunda and Batchelor picked up yellow cards from the referee who was well up himself. Brakes created some pressure from two successive corners, but the score remained 1-0 at the break.

Shortly into the second half there was an outbreak of pinball in front of the Totton goal with shots by Leamington being blocked three or four times. Then on 54 minutes Chris Mason equalised for Totton with a strong shot from distance.

On 60 minutes Jimmy Husband put in a first rate cross and Dodd sent the ball skimming along the bar as Leamington sought to restore their lead. Eventually Dodd scored for the home side on 66 minutes, the move starting with a free kick for offside. Totton charm merchant Jonathan Davies charged in and was shown the red card.

Totton continued to play fluently and always looked as if they might equalise, but Brakes stood firm and launched a number of attacks.

Liam Daly was my man of the match, always stalwart in defence.

Job done

Leamington cashed in one of their games in hand with a 2-1 victory over Kettering Town in a front of an attendance of 418 at the New Windmill Ground last night.

It was by no means an easy victory. Financially troubled Kettering had brought along a young side with plenty of pace who looked strong on the counter attack. Their keeper Yannick Nlate, who has played for Staines Town, made some outstanding saves. For our part we hit the bar in the first half and missed an outstanding chance to score in the second. The Poppies picked up three yellow cards in the first half through needless indiscipline such as kicking the ball away.

The visitors went 1-0 ahead on 18 minutes, but Berwick replied in a move from a corner on 25 minutes. Chilton scored our winner on 72 minutes.

The game against St.Neots on Saturday promises to be a cracker. The visitors have lost only one match away. They can score goals, but look weak defensively, having conceded 25. To my annoyance, I have to chair a meeting on Saturday afternoon and will miss the game.

Brakes tough it out to secure points

Leamington secured a 1-0 victory and an important three points in a tough match against Chippenham Town at the New Windmill Ground this afternoon. Starved of home football for seven weeks, 621 turned out to see the game.

The teams changed ends with Brakes playing towards the Harbury Lane end in the first half: they usually play towards the North Bank. There was bizarre incident at the beginning of the team when Chippenham charm merchant Alan Griffin (the former Swindon Supermarine ace) kicked the ball out of the hand of keeper Niall Cooper and put it in the back of the net. The referee was facing towards what he assumed would be the direction of play and did not see what happened so he had to run over to consult the smiling lino on the Sheepside and the 'goal' was ruled out to the great indignation of Griffin who lived up to the Costcutters brand on the back of his shirt.

Chippenham were indulging in some agricultural clearances, but some real skill by Jimmy Husband nearly resulted in an opener for the Brakes. As tempers flared, there was an outbreak of handbags which was smoothed over by the referee. Then just after the half hour Johnson scored the only goal of the game for Leamington.

Chippenham stepped up the pressure in the final quarter of an hour, winning their first corner. Cooper made a good save by kicking the ball away from danger to preserve Leamington's lead.

H-T 1-0

Chippenham came out of the blocks at a furious pace at the beginning of the second half and Cooper had to make a great save. Johnson put the ball just over when he had a scoring chance and Chippenham's keeper also had to make a great save. Mouthy James Guthrie got a yellow card and was taken off immediately as he was always looked like a candidate for a second.

In the last minute of play Brakes foolishly gave away a free kick in a dangerous position, but the visitors were unable to take advantage and the ball sailed over the goal. Cooper was my man of the match for two fantastic second half saves, but honourable mentions for Husband who was substituted and captain Stephan Morley.

Hemel Hempstead won at Frome and St.Neots drew at Bashley meaning the Brakes stay in second place, five points behind the Tudors but with four games in hand.