Brakes snap up keeper as first new face
BOSS Paul Holleran says Leamington have signed “one of the brightest young goalkeepers in the area” after making Callum Smith their first signing of the summer.
Smith was a title-winner with Walsall Wood last season, helping them to win the Midland League Premier Division championship.
The highly-rated 21-year-old joined Wood from Nuneaton Borough last summer and previously appeared for Wolverhampton Sporting Community.
“We are really looking forward to working with Callum,” said Holleran.
“He is one of the brightest young goalkeepers in the area, and he will have had an excellent grounding at Walsall Wood with Harry
(Harris, manager and former
Brakes striker).
“‘He has done what a lot of young players don’t do, in dropping into the lower leagues to gain experience, and has followed a similar path to some of youngsters we have signed in the past who have gone on to better things. We hope that Callum has a happy and successful time at the club.”
Smith added: “I’m absolutely delighted to be signing for Leamington, a massive club that I’m over the moon to have joined.
“It’s a great opportunity for me to play for a manager that I have a lot of respect for in football, and I can’t wait to get started and show the fans what I can do.”
The Brakes also confirmed midfielder Adam Walker and defender Dan Meredith have agreed terms to remain at the club for the forthcoming season.
Walker has been a mainstay of the midfield engine room since signing from AFC Telford United back in January 2022, captaining the side of a number of occasions in the absence of Jack Edwards, and has made 65 appearances to date, scoring four goals last season.
Right-back Meredith passed 100 appearances in the gold and black of Leamington last season as he featured in all 50 fixtures, and was named the Manager’s Player of the Season.