Few clubs in NLN have such a sobering up feeling as Leamington. I was a little too gung-ho in my Kidderminster preview, but safe to say it’s impossible to get carried away for this fixture. Their supporters are fine, the programme shop and club bar are excellent (if you can get into them). The depressing factors are the style of football, the limited facilities and (often) the state of the pitch. I was happy to see the Brakes exit our division in 22/23 and dismayed to see them return so quickly. Had Telford’s then main striker Montel Gibson scored in the Final then the outcome for player and both clubs would be rather different.
Average gates here are 644. Their last home game against the then league leaders Curzon pulled in 434. They’ve yet to have a four-figure crowd in 24/25. Leamington expects to rectify that with the help of “400-600” Hereford supporters. Those numbers feel optimistic and no doubt the faint hearted and fairweathers will back out because we’ve lost one game. The match is segregated though you wouldn’t know that when buying “general admission” online tickets from the Leamington website. We also have to pay £5 and pre-book to use the car park. Match details in the link
LeamingtonFC.co.uk – LeamingtonFC.co.uk
If you like contrasts here’s one. Harriers, our previous opponents have won 8 of their last 9 games. Our next opponents have lost 8 of their last 9. Their solitary win was an astonishing 4-1 defeat of Curzon Ashton. Mind you, since Curzon then lost to the dire Farsley Celtic, the results probably say more about the Tamesiders’ shortcomings than the Brakes brilliance. The Warwickshire club were unbeaten at home until November and overall, despite recent home defeats by Scunthorpe and Needham Market, still have a solid home record. We’ll be scrapping for those points.
Antediluvian manager Paul Holleran discovered yet another striker last season in Callum Stewart. The now 23-year-old top-scored in Step 3 last season and has an astonishing 14 goals this term with two hat tricks. Yet he didn’t score in 7 of the last 8 games and Leamington lost all 7. There’s an obvious pointer. Several of Leamington’s “old lags” are still around in a 23-man squad including everyone’s “favourite” Jack Edwards (33). He’s more of an impact player these days. He was booked in 4 of his last 5 appearances which says much about the type of impact he’s making. Right back and every-game regular Dan Meredith (25) lives in Hereford and works in Ludlow and Redditch. He must really like Leamington.
The last encounter here was a dismal 2-0 defeat in Easter 2023, our only loss in five visits. Supporter-player relationship visibly broke down that afternoon. Every Hereford player has moved on since then, although six of the home side remains.
If you can’t make it, Radio Hereford FC will be broadcasting live in a non-shouty way with yours truly summarising alongside Keith Hall. Funny that no-one else is ever available in that role for either Leamington or Alfreton.
Simon Wright