Well done you Brakes

There is a bigger report in today's Times on Leamington's game at the weekend than there is about Charlton. The step five non-league club (their players fortified by the infamous 'Brakes Fluid') have won their way through to the 1st round proper of the FA Cup and face League 1's Colchester United away. They may not be as easy meat as Colchester supporters expect as Leamington have a number of players with league experience.

Leamington's story has similarities with that of Charlton. At one time AP Leamington was a conference club in what was then known as the brake and clutch capital of Britain. Thousands worked at the AP. But as the motor components industry declined, AP sold off the ground for housing and the club went out of business.

It took thirteen years to re-start the club, involving years of effort by a small band of volunteers. Now there is a well drained pitch, floodlights, an excellent clubhouse and a squad of 33. The club fought its way up through the Midland Combination leagues into the Travel World Midland Alliance. Crowds are in four figures for top games which is a lot for that level of the non-league.

As a Leamington vice-president, I shall be going to Colchester rather than Blackburn on the first weekend in November.

Read the match report at:

Brakes