On The Road
THEM’S THE BRAKES Team born from car-parts factory can’t finish off 10-man Chasetown
With the greatest respect to Bury, Leamington don’t need to be told about the grief attached to being driven out of existence.
it’s a few decades now since they emerged from what is euphemistically called their ‘ dormant period’: 12 years during which there was no club at all.
it proved the club’s misfortune to have been formed as a factory team by Lockheed Automotive Products, which sold the town-centre ground to property developers as it began scaling back in the 1980s.
No one was remotely willing to find alternative premises for the club with no home.
From 1988 to 2000, fans raised money to buy some remote former potato fields from a farmer. the same fans laid a pitch, built a clubhouse, erected floodlights and by a minor miracle the Brakes — their nickname a nod to that automotive past — have achieved nine promotions to reach National League North.
What wouldn’t they give for a Cup run, though? At 1.30pm on Saturday, manager Paul holleran is reminding his players of the Cup’s curious way of making careers. he tells the story of his run to the first round proper as manager of halesowen town in 2004: being eliminated by hayes and Yeading’s DJ Campbell, whose performance in his club’s third- round tie at Newcastle United earned him a move to Brentford, and ultimately the Premier League.
‘ You don’t need to get to Wembley,’ says holleran, who has just passed 500 games as Leamington manager. ‘ Win two or three games and suddenly you’ve got the profile. it can be the road to somewhere bigger.’
holleran’s knack of finding and ‘polishing’ talent has helped the world go round for Leamington, who have no wealthy benefactor but take the risk of tying several players to a contract, which means paying a weekly wage but accruing a potential transfer fee if they leave.
‘You can’t lose sight of what it’s like to be 18, 19, 20 and to have been released by several teams already,’ says holleran, after he has left the players to change. ‘You have to be a counsellor.’
Matt Stenson headed to Solihull Moors for £25,000 12 months ago and Colby Bishop, who has been released by a few clubs, went to Accrington this summer. the club also exist on that work ethic which saw them come back into existence.
Craig hochkins and Paul Vanes operate a football programme and memorabilia outlet in the ground from a hut the size of a garden shed. they’ve raised £10,000 for the club and have shifted a box of Shoot annuals and a batch of pennants to earn £80 before kick-off.
None of which guarantees anything against Chasetown, who might operate two tiers below in the Northern Premier League First Division, but who tend to make things happen in the FA Cup. this is the second qualifying round. there is an unmistakable sense the big-time is looming.
Leamington provide initial hints of their technical superiority, dominating a bad-tempered first half in which Chasetown’s hopes deteriorate when full back Alex Melbourne is dismissed for an over-the-top challenge on Callum Gittings, who is carried off.
holleran’s players are already ahead by then. Forward Josh March, who is causing problems, draws a foul from goalkeeper Curtis Pond as he is sent through on goal and wins a penalty which he converts.
the afternoon seems over when March seizes on strike partner Jack Edwards’ knockdown to double the advantage.
But while the home surroundings — tV gantry, home team banners and unison chanting — take the FA Cup up a notch on previous rounds, manager Scott Dundas’s side are undeterred. A substitution on the hour — the experienced Danny Cocks for Levi Reid — is pivotal. Within two minutes, Cocks has raced on to a ball from Alex Curtis — one of the pillars of the three ties the club have now played — and draws a penalty which George Cater converts.
Within six minutes, a Cocks corner is navigated in by Ryan Wynter’s head. the home side don’t exploit their one- man advantage by employing the full width of the pitch. the last 10 minutes are an Alamo with Pond, Chasetown’s only contracted player, immense as he deters March and gifted substitutes Ravi Shamsi and Gift Mussa.
Leamington have hopes of a move back to the town centre, which could mean bigger crowds than Saturday’s 395.
the council are prepared to build a 5,000-capacity stadium on newly-bought land, providing they can find developers for a hotel, housing and retail on the site. the fans will believe it when they see it. After Leamington’s 13 shots on goal to Chasetown’s two, they just want natural justice — as they see it — restored in tomorrow night’s replay.