Penalty save denies Brakes

AP Leamington faced what was thought to be ‘a difficult game’ against sixth placed Bromsgrove Rovers in December 1973.  ‘Jimmy Knox drafted in former Rugby Town striker Adrian Stewart at centre forward having signed him from Nuneaton Borough the night before the game.   The new player was quickly into action with a couple of neat passes and after 10 minutes he helped make a goal for Norman Foster.   Bobby Horne put over a low cross and Stewart challenged the goalkeeper to leave Foster with a simple tap in for his 19^th goal of the season.   Talbot then put Stewart through with a delightful ball and Hooper was forced to make a fine diving save. 

Rovers, who were playing in front of new manager Tom Wainwright for the first time, showed neat touches but their attack lacked bite and they offered little threat.   Most of the play was centred around the Bromsgrove goal and with more aggression AP could have stretched their lead.   Talbot was always quick to get in a shot, however, and Hooper was kept busy.

Foster rammed home his second goal within a minute of the re-start, beating Hooper to Lee’s cross.  Soon afterwards he should have completed his hat-trick but made a hash of meeting Stewart’s centre.  Stewart then got up well to head against a post, as AP continued to press forward.   Bobby Horne was rewarded for an unselfish game with the final goal.  Bromsgrove were a bitter disappointment.   The wonder of it was that Brakes only managed three goals, but it was a comfortable stroll for stylish AP Leamington who now have their sights on promotion from Division 1 North.’

AP Leamington boss Jimmy Knox took ‘his full squad of 18 players to Bletchley for another joust against a club in the top half of the Division 1 table.   There are no injury problems.  Leamington made most of the early running but they found the Bletchley defence in good form.  Adrian Stewart managed to squeeze in a shot after three minutes but he fired the ball well wide of the Bletchley goal.  Leamington forced three corners in the first ten minutes and from the third Norman Foster sent a fierce header flashing wide of the post.

Bletchley hit back immediately with Jeff Weeks nodding the ball down into a crowded goalmouth.  Bobby Horne came back to cut out the threat.  Mike Bailey, making his final appearance for Bletchley before moving to Wales broke though on the left and crossed but Weeks’ header fell safely into the hands of goalkeeper Dave Garrett.  The first worthwhile effort came after 15 minutes when Lines skimmed the top of the Leamington bar with a tremendous shot from 25 yards.

 Bletchley opened the scoring in the second half when Doug Griffin deflected a cross from Lines into his own net.   Leamington fought hard to get back into the game but some desperate defensive work by Bletchley kept them at bay.    

Brakes were back on level terms after 11 minutes when Foster slipped the ball past Weeks and Bletchley defender Graham Wear helped it over the line in an attempt to clear.   Goalkeeper Dennis Wells robbed Leamington of a win with a brilliant penalty save after Adrian Stewart was floored In the box.   Wells came to Bletchley’s rescue by pushing John Brady’s fiercely hit spot kick over the bar.’

'Holleran aiming to make it a lucky 13'

Paul Holleran thinks that a new stadium is key to Leamington's future.  In an interview with The Non-League Paper he stated: 'I think that Leamington's ideal would be to get the stadium through and then they would have the incomes streams and resources that they might need to then say we can go into that league and compete.'

After the pain of relegation last season, Holleran says that he has enjoyed life back in Step 3 as the club relish the chance to regroup and prepare for a return to National League North,.   'On a personal level, I am quite enjoying it, not being so intense and less travelling.'

'Realistically, people in the club know we have had a good look at the National League.  It is frustrating to go on there and be setting on the edge of your 18-yard box for most of the season.'

Reflecting on his time at the Brakes, Holleran said: 'At certain times when I thought the end was near, something has happened which has sparked me again. There always seems to be something that comes along that goes right.   When you have got an affinity with the club I have thought, realistically, I know I will be the best person to sort it out.'

''We have lost our top goal scorers for the last five, six, seven years and, thankfully, most of them gone on to do really well.'  The article points to players who have established themselves in the Football League from Holleran's stewardship, including Courtney Baker-Richardson at Crewe, Colby Bishop at Portsmouth and Josh March at Harrogate.

Yesterday Baker-Richardson scored a winning goal for Crewe with a clever back flick.

Glass game was promotion test

In December 1973 AP Leamington ‘took the lead against Kidderminster Harriers at Aggborough after 36 minutes through winger Talbot in front of a crowd of just 281.  AP were awarded a free kick in the first minute but Brady’s centre was easily gathered by Harriers’ young keeper Marl Hingley.   AP forced their first corner a minute later.  Goodfellow took the kick but the ball was cleared.   Kidderminster suffered an early setback when Pat Lynch limped off and was replaced by substitute Wayne Jentas

In the 26^th minute AP broke the deadlock.   Slack defensive play by Kidderminster enabled Talbot to collect the ball and fire in a low shot which Hingley could only partially stop before it trickled over.  AP were doing their fair share of attacking and Hingley was called on to make a couple of fine saves.    AP forced two successive corners in the second half but both proved fruitless.    

After the break they allowed Kidderminster to come more into the picture.  Kerton Masterton equalised for the home side in the 67^th minute and Brendan Wassall put them in the lead eight minutes later.  Leamington, however, were stunned back into action and they began to search for an equaliser.  They were rewarded three minutes from time when a cross shot from Mick Boot found its way into the net with the help of a deflection.’

A home fixture against Stourbridge was seen as a test for Leamington’s promotion ambitions. ‘Unbeaten Stourbridge took a strong hold by netting two goals without reply during an entertaining first half against AP Leamington at the Windmill Ground today.  Stourbridge opened at a lively pace and quickly put the home side under pressure.  After only three minutes Hayward put in a teasing shot which Jones did well to push over the top.   The centre forward then burst on a through ball and Jones was forced to dash from his line and collect at the second attempt.

 Leamington were looking nimble in midfield and Boot twice put over fine cross balls to cause concern.  And when the little wing half hammered over a head high centre, Moore clutched at it under pressure from Foster.   Talbot flashed into the picture with a snap drive which beat Moore but swerved into the side netting.  

But it was Stourbridge who eventually broke the deadlock with a superb goal after 20 minutes.   Left back Davies was the scorer, his 25-yard shot giving Jones no chance.   Two minutes later Bates tapped in a second when the home defence failed to clear a loose ball.  Stourbridge were shaping as a talented outfit and the home defence looked quite shaky against some organised attacks.   Only Talbot was proving dangerous on the home front but his bright wing play failed to inspire his colleagues

Classy Stourbridge increased their lead seven minutes in the second half when Bates rose to head home from Booth’s pin-point centre.  Leamington then survived a hectic moment when Stourbridge forwards failed to put the ball home as Jones and Bowden lay injured after colliding in midair.’   Leamington got a late consolation, but the Glass went top of the table.

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.’

 

Brakes unbeaten 50 years ago

‘AP Leamington had to wait until the last minute of the opening half for a goal against a Dunstable team given an 8-0 drubbing the previous week by Bromsgrove.   The visitors looked likely to score in the second minute when Talbot was left clear but the angle proved too narrow and his cross shot was put behind for a fruitless corner.

For a while it was Dunstable that called the tune.  Full back Taylor cleared a Whitaker shot off the Leamington line.    The visitors were soon back on the attack and Dunstable goalkeeper Barr made two good saves from the ever threatening Talbot.  But in the end it was a mistake by Barr that gave Leamington the lead.   He failed to hold on to a fairly harmless shot from Palmer and as the ball rolled loose, Hubbard was there to crack it home. 

Leamington lost some of their grip on the game in the early stages of the second half and Dunstable looked threatening.  The home side produced the best move of the match in the 55^th minute.   Player manager Thear started it in midfield and finished when he headed just over from a cross by Davis.’

‘Compact AP made no mistake in this Southern League Cup replay to earn themselves a tough away draw with Tamworth in the Third Round.   Meeting Enderby for the fourth time this seasion, Brakes gained their first victory with confident ease.  And disappointing Town, so vigorous in previous clashes, were a well-beaten side long before the end.  

Mick Boot slammed AP in front from close range after 10 minutes and Trevor Hubbard quickly made it 2-0 with the neatest of headers.  But Town managed to reduce the arrears before the interval when Neil Matthews bunled in a corner at the near post.   Leamington were rarely threatened in the second half, however, and with Ivor Talbot sparkling on the left wing they were able to clinch victory with goals from Talbot and Hubbard.  Injury hit AP played local amateur David Garrett in goal, and although at fault when Enderby scored, the youngster did a useful job and made two very fine saves in the second half.’

In the FA Trophy, ‘After dictating matters for an hour, AP all but allowed gritty Darlaston to snatch a shock victory.  But Brakes managed to hold in the face of determined raids and will start tomorrow’s replay as red hot favourites.   Attacking down the pronounced slope in the first half, the visitors established a 2-0 lead through a couple of goals from leading scorer Norman Foster.  Home centre half Keith Warhurst was unwittingly involved in both, his back pass setting up the first and a lack of pace allowing the second.  

But the change of ends brought about a dramatic change of fortunes.  Darlaston suddenly got their game together and AP’s defence were run ragged for a spell.  Veteran Les Cocker cut the arrears on the hour.  And five minutes later Graham Bevan slammed home the equaliser from close range.  And in the final analysis Leamington must have been happy with the draw as their West Midlands League rivals got a little too close for comfort.’

'Sticky patch' for Brakes in October 1973

Although AP Leamington had been ‘going through a sticky patch’ in October 1973 ‘Norman Foster has emerged as one of the most consistent scorers in the Southern League.  Foster, one of seven ex-Rugby Town men who joined manager Jimmy Knox at the Windmill, has hit 11 goals in his 15 outings to date.  And Knox is confident that the lanky front runner will make an even bigger impact when the current midfield problems have been ironed out. 

  Says Knox: “Adrian Stewart was the main striker at Oakfield, Norman filled a secondary role.  But he never gave less than 100 per cent and I had no hesitation in bringing him to the Windmill when I was appointed manager of AP.“ And Foster has repaid this confidence with some exciting displays that have established him as a firm favourite with the Leamington crowd.  In recent weeks AP’s midfield men have failed to produce their early season form and Foster’s chances have been strictly limited.   But he has maintained his enthusiasm and aggression and Knox is certain that Foster will be among the division’s leading scorers at the end of the season.’

Another report stated that ‘AP Leamington manager, Jimmy Knox, is battling to overcome one of the most frustrating problems a manager can face.  He is convinced that he has a good side, but knows that they are not playing well at the moment.  Most regular supporters agree that Knox has assembled the strongest playing pool at the Windmill for several years and team spirit is high.  

But Knox is far from satisfied with the results this season, especially at home games.  “We have had numerous problems in the past six matches and it has been a worrying time for myself, the trainer and the players,” he said.  “I have had quite a lot of criticism in the past three weeks and I have criticised the players in the proper place – the dressing room.”   But Knox is not despondent about the future.  “I have been entrusted with the task of making AP a force in the world of non-league football.  I will endeavour to do this, and a few setbacks does not mean the end of the world.”’

However, Leamington banished their blues in ‘a most emphatic manner with a splendid second-half performance against Redditch United.  Going into the game with a string of lacklustre home displays behind them Brakes came good with four brilliant goals in an exciting last 45 minutes.  Redditch, who crashed 3-1 to the Leamington outfit in an earlier FA Cup tie, offered genuine resistance during the opening period.  They took a 10-minute lead with a Nicky Ingram penalty and caused repeated problems in the AP rearguard. 

But Bobby Horne slammed a great equaliser just before the interval and from then on there was only one side in it.   Left winger Micky Boot, given an orthodox role down the flank, ran riot with his most impressive display of the term.  He laid on four goals equally shared between Horne and Norman Foster and finished off the scoring with a firm right footer just before the end.  It was a solid display that saw United off.’