Today I'm going back 11 years to 2010 and Leamington's Southern League Premier Division game against Hemel Hempstead Town played at the New Windmill Ground near Leamington in front of 388 people.
For me, Leamington is a handy local ground for a midweek fixture and the team play to a relatively good standard. At the time, Leamington were playing in the Southern League Premier or Zamaretto League Premier if you prefer to recognise the sponsors (the 7th level of English football) but they have since advanced to the National League North (the 6th level). That's not bad considering that Leamington FC were effectively mothballed following considerable success in the 1970's and 80's and had to start again at the very lowest rung of the English football pyramid in the Midland Football Combination Division Two as recently as the year 2000. Since then, Leamington have been promoted six levels to their present position in National League North. In the 21 years since reformation Leamington have remarkably had only TWO managers. The current incumbent and, indeed, the incumbent for the featured game in 2010 is Paul Holleran who took the reins in 2009 and has supervised well over 500 games in charge. Certainly Leamington FC is a byword for managerial stability as well as on the field success and I wonder how many other clubs have employed so few managers in the last 21 years? Viva Holleran! (as the song goes).
In fact Leamington's New Windmill Ground isn't really in Leamington at all being closer to Whitnash and Bishops Tachbrook. The saga of their former stadium, the Windmill, Ground, was the cause of the demise of the original club in 1988. Leamington had it's roots as a works team, most recently as Automotive Products (AP) Leamington but formerly Lockheed Leamington and the stadium was owned by the Company rather than the football club. In the mid-1980's, the Company decided to sell the stadium for redevelopment and, in 1988, Leamington FC played their final match at the Windmill Ground. The pub which gave the ground it's name is still there on the Tachbrook Road if you like visiting historic locations but there is no blue plaque to mark the spot and the old ground is long gone having been replaced by a housing estate. There is a street named Brakesmead on the site however to provide a small link with history. It's also worth pointing out that Leamington have plans to move to a brand new 5,000 capacity stadium off of Europa Way (technically in Warwick rather than Leamington) next season although this may get delayed.
In 2010/11 season, Hemel Hempstead Town were celebrating 125 years of existence having been formed in 1885 although they have only been known as Hemel Hempstead Town since the early 1950's (prior to this they were known as Apsley End FC) and has been involved in more than one merger. Their club badge carries the face of Henry VIII and they are nicknamed The Tudors in recognition of the town having been granted it's Charter status in 1539 by Henry himself.
The game itself was a cracking early season affair. Hemel took the lead through Dennis Fennemore after 21 minutes but Leamington had a lead at half time thanks to goals from Marcus Jackson and Luke Corbett. Immediately after half time back came Hemel with an equaliser in the 48th minute from Ross Lafayette (that name brings back memories of French O-level for me!) and Hemel were to have the final say with another from Lafayette in the 67th minute that proved to be the winner.
CRB Match No. 1759
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