The old five with a Lance Smith hattrick

Leamington beat St. Ives Town 5-0 at the Community Stadium in the FA Trophy tonight, earning an away fixture at Wrexham.   Lance Smith scored a hattrick.   It was the tenth match unbeaten in all competitions for Leamington.

It was an assured performance from the Brakes, but the visitors were competitive and looked threatening in the first ten minutes of each half.

It was a blustery, cold evening at Harbury Lane, but thanks to the streaming service I was able to watch the game from the comfort and privacy of my own home.

It was a cagey and somewhat lacklustre start for Leamington while St. Ives showed some composure and confidence.  Former Leamington player Nathan Hicks looked like a potential danger man.  Weaver had to make a couple of early saves.

Osborn flashed the ball across the face of the goal, but there was no one there to connect.  A good ball from Waldron saw Smith's effort go just wide.

The first goal on 31 minutes was a Route 1 effort. A free kick from Weaver was picked up by Waldron who made it 1-0.  A few minutes later Smith made it 2-0 with a poacher's goal.

Clarke had to defend well.   An Osborne header hit the outside of the post.  Weaver made a good save from Richards.

HT: 2-0

Meredith came on for Martin and had a good half.  Brakes had a lot of defending to do in the opening minutes.  St. Ives had plenty of attacking impetus, but there was no end product.

On 62 minutes Osborne turned provider for Smith who made it 3-0.  Osborne was then replaced by Anderson and three cars left the car park.

Brakes hit the post twice, the second time from Anderson.   English replaced Edwards.   On 76 minutes Waldron's shot squirmed through the keeper to make it 4-0.  A Waldron header was just off target.

On 87 minutes Smith made it 5-0 to claim the ball.

In the second half, Leamington's passing was accurate and fluent and the ball was moved well from one side to another.

Six figure sponsorship for non-league club

Fan owned non-league club Lewes FC have attracted a six figure sponsorship from a fashion brand: https://www.soccerex.com/insight/articles/2020/lewes-fc-announces-groundbreaking-partnership-deal-with-fashion-brand-lyle-scott 

Scouts target Osborne

Sam Osborne scored another great goal at the Community Stadium last night and it is no surprise that he is attracting the attention of scouts.  Accrington Stanley (for whom we are almost a nursery club) and Derby County are among those said to be interested.

Although the late equaliser last night by Brackley Town was frustrating, I will take the point.  They are a well-organised side as we saw against Tranmere Rovers last Friday and pose a considerable attacking threat.   Their keeper also made some great saves. 

Scouting report from tomorrow's opponents

AFC Fylde take an in depth look at Leamington ahead of tomorrow night's game: https://www.afcfylde.co.uk/get-to-know-leamington-fc/

AFC Fylde are also known as 'little Blackpool' and attracted support from Tangerines fans when their club went through years of turmoil.

Football in Leamington curbed drunkenness

This account of the early history of football in Leamington appeared in the virtual programme for Alfreton Town:

In September 1920 the Courier ran a special feature article on the history of football in Leamington.  It noted: ‘The popularity of Association football with Englishmen – a popularity becoming greater each year – is not be wondered at.  It is a game full of interest from start to finish and, given a b right afternoon, a day spent watching a thrilling game is a fine antidote for the man who has been hard at work or cooped up in a factory or office all week.   It has been alleged by “spoil sports” that football leads to gambling, drunkenness and other evils.  The late Mr F.J. Brabner, a well-known former chief constable of Leamington, and a keen supporter of the game, in a conversation with the writer said he remembered the time before football was so popular with the crowd, when the working man on leaving work went straight to the public house, and very often stayed there until his wife fetched him out in the evening in a half-drunken condition with what was left of his wages.  Since the passion for football has developed, he went on to say, the man on Saturday rushed home from work, had his dinner, a wash, and was off to the game.’

‘There he sat or stood in the invigorating air for a couple of hours or more, thoroughly enjoying himself.  Then home to tea with a keen appetite.  And if he did go out of evening, it was often with his wife and children.  “No”, said Mr Brabner, “football does not lead to drunkenness; it does a great deal to prevent it.’

‘The writer came to Leamington just over 50 years ago, and saw the beginning of the association game in the Royal Spa.  The handling code – Rugby – was ending a fitful existence.  It had its supporters, but did not appeal to the public fancy as the Association game does.   The town club was running when I came here as a youth.   At this time Mr H.P. Hordern, dentist of the Parade, was secretary of the club.  Contemporary with the Town the Leamington Albions ran a team, and later on the Town club ceasing to exist, most of the players threw their lot in with the Albions .  The Town played up the Tachbrook Road, where the site of the new housing scheme is; the Albions on the old Warwick Road.  It was the taking of their ground later by the new Association club which led to the passing of the Albions.   The players were mostly working men, but they formed a good team and won the Coventry and District Junior Cup two years in succession.’

‘In 1891 Association - which was booming all over the land - began to make its impress in Leamington, and the very first club to be formed was in connection with St. Paul’s Church.   Many of my older readers will remember the singular sporting event that took place between them and the Albions.  It was decided that one half should be rugby, and the other association.   The Albions were successful at both codes!   At the beginning of the 1891 season, in addition to St. Paul’s Club, two new clubs made their appearance – the Parish Church club and the Alliance.’

League Two for Baker-Richardson

After three years at Swansea, Courtney Baker-Richardson has found a new berth at League Two Barrow.  Needless to say, he's delighted.

Jim Scott interview

Brakes chairman Jim Scott does not believe than an arbitrary U-turn away from 'elite' status would fix National League North's Covid quandary - even if it might suit Leamington.

Scott told The Non-League Paper that most of the Brakes regulars would fit in under the capacity restrictions, but it was not a case of one size fits all.   'We have eight ex-Football League clubs, five with gates that sit at around 1,500-2000 per match.  Then you come down to smaller clubs like Brackley Town and Leamington at around 500-600.'

If elite status was removed, a lot of clubs with smaller fan bases would be very happy, but the larger clubs wouldn't be.  'They would have to make up their money through streaming and no one really knows how much can be made from that over a season.  It is another unknown added to the mix.'

'I always felt a return on October 3rd could be in danger with people going back to schools and workplaces.  That's why we held off selling season tickets.'

'Communication with clubs could have been better.  But it is easy to be critical, anyone can throw stones in these times, but things are very difficult for all concerned.'