This is an article I wrote for the Leamington FC Fanzine Windmill Wonderland. It was distributed at the Retford United FA Vase match last month, and since it’s sold out now, I thought I’d publish the article here as well.
Curzon Ashton knocked us out of the FA Vase this weekend, by the way. 4-1 [...]
I’m a little dazed and confused, because Leamington lost their first League match in 24 games, and I’d forgotten how to handle it.
The match was away to Stratford. Brakes weren’t gelling as well as normal, Stratford wanted it, and the result was “Two nil or not two nil”.
Actually it’s going to make the rest [...]
Steve drove us up to Oldbury, to see Tividale’s amazing sloping pitch, where Causeway share the ground.
As is common, the ground had underestimated Leamington’s travelling support and struggled to cater for all the hungry people. I got some curry and chips (rather nice) just as their frier overheated and threatened to pack in for [...]
It was all very exciting going to Walsall’s proper stadium for the final of the Polymac League Cup against Barwell (a bus stop near Hinckley).
It ended in disappointment. The Brakes didn’t play their best in the first half, and gave away a silly goal as a result. There was still hope, but it faded [...]
On Saturday we assisted Steve into our car (apparently a broken leg means only the front seat will do, even on a 5 door car) and escorted him to the New Windmill Ground for a grudge match against Coalville. Earlier in the season, Coalville made Brakes look like idiots when we visited them — [...]
I wasn’t expecting a lot of excitement from the second leg of the Polymac Cup semi final: with Leamington 3-1 up from the first leg, and with the advantage of their three goals being away goals, I expected the Brakes to put all their effort into a goalless draw.
However, there was plenty of action, [...]
Steve took us to the New Windmill Ground nice and early, as big crowds were expected for the local derby between Leamington and Warwick. Sure enough, the car park filled quickly, and three double-decker buses emptied into the ground, but while impressive at 785, we didn’t quite beat the Boxing Day crowd of over [...]
We don’t usually make the journey to weekday evening away games, but the first leg of the Polymac Cup semi final against Chasetown was a big deal.
Chasetown ran rings around us in the first half, and got a neat goal to show for it, 17 minutes in. At half time, things were not [...]
Rainbow over Knypersley Cricket Club - (Flickr user ukslim).
After showing a great capacity for fuss in the Sainsburys petrol station, Steve drove us up to Stoke — rather a long way — to watch Leamington beat Biddulph; or that was the intention, having thrashed them 5-0 when they came to Leamington.
We braved Stoke’s long [...]
After a stroll into town for lunch, enjoying the warmth and the heat, it was a disappointment for us to get to the New Windmill Ground to find it cooling down and starting to drizzle.
Still, we cheered up when Oldbury fluffed a clearance opportunity in the first five minutes, and Alex Rodman took [...]