DAVID MONTGOMERY born 8 March 1925, died 6 June 2017.

Once again, I have to advise you of another death in the Brakes family, David Montgomery died in hospital on Tuesday morning following a massive heart attack. David was in the latter stages of dementia.

Dave was born in Old Town as it is now called, the youngest of seven children, went to Shrubland Street School and then on to the Central, both hives of football, he was a big strapping lad and stood out in schoolboy football and as he got towards school leaving age, he turned out for various junior sides. His two brothers were talented footballers, Frank played for Leamington Town, Banbury Spencer and other local clubs while Dennis played for Leamington Southend.

Around 1940 Dave met up with Mr. Bill Camkin who not only owned a hotel in Leamington, but also had a business in Birmingham. Together with Inspector Gibbs of the local Police department, they founded the Leamington Boys club in Gloucester Street who produced future Brakes Norman Brison and George Burrows amongst others. By now, Dave was turning out for Leamington Victoria.

Mr. Camkin who was also connected to Birmingham FC – City was not added until 1945 – and he took the 15 year old Dave along with local lads Derek Butters and Ted Eden for trials with the Blues. Dave played several games for the Reserves and made his solitary first team appearance at Northampton Town in 1943/44 season shortly after he was called up.

He served in the Fleet Air Arm based in Paisley and was much sought after by professional clubs, Bury and Rochdale among them, however he joined Arbroath playing many games for the Scottish team and following his demob, returned to live in Leamington. Dave swore that it was so cold in Arbroath that tossing the coin was done in the dressing rooms.

In 1946/47 he played for Lockheed either at centre forward or centre half where he was equally at home with his all action style of play picking up more than his fair share of broken bones. Towards the end of that season, the Windmill ground was the setting for the Whitnash Charity cup final watched by around 1,800 fans, the game had an explosive start with Dave netting for the Brakes and brother Frank levelling for Saltisford Rovers inside the opening five minutes but Lockheed triumphed by the odd goal in three.

The programme notes for the cup tie against Oakfield on December 6th 1947 stated, ‘It is significant that until Dave joined us last season we had only won one league game and after that, we only lost one. Playing at centre forward he scored in every match bar one’. Both Ted ’Tich’ Eden and Dave had trials with Derby County soon after the Oakfield game.

Brakes moved up through the leagues, joining the Central Amateur League which conferred senior status to the football club in 1947/48 and 48/49, then the biggest jump of all into the semi- professional Birmingham Combination with Dave still playing his part. Dave moved on to Warwick Town as a player whilst taking his FA coaching badge to become the area's first ever fully qualified coach and on the same course was future England manager, Walter Winterbottom. Dave joined Birmingham City as Youth team coach before returning to Warwick Town as manager.

In 1951 Dave married local girl Beryl after meeting at school getting to really know each other through dancing – on the way home she tripped him up, and there is a beautiful colour picture of them in the Courier dated 24th June 2011 which featured their diamond wedding. They had one son, Steve who also turned out to be a very talented sportsman as have Beryl and Dave’s grandsons, Gary and Ross.

Dave worked for Lockheed then Automotive Products for many years and after giving up football, he switched to golf winning competitions for Leamington and County Golf Club. He was presented to the fans at the New Windmill ground at half time and was also featured in the programme for his 90th birthday.

Sadly Dave developed dementia and as it got progressively worse was moved into a nursing home where he had a massive heart attack from which there was no chance of a recovery.

To Beryl, Steve, Gary, Ross and their immediate families, John Akerman and family plus all their many friends, would you please accept the sincere and deepest condolences on behalf of the Brakestrust.com membership and all at Leamington Football Club.

The funeral is at Oakley Wood, South Chapel at 11.30 on Monday 3rd July.
Rest in Peace, Dave.

The Boys.

Son Steve followed in his Dad’s footsteps playing football at 17 for Southam United under the watchful eye of Bobby Hancocks senior, and he was on the books of Coventry City. He played for the Brakes under three separate managers, Bill Branston, Graham Allner and finally Paul Smyth in that fateful last season at the old Windmill ground. He had three spells with Banbury United, Moor Green, Rugby Town, Stratford Town and Racing Club Warwick. Steve also spent four seasons in Australia with Sydney Croatia nowadays known as Sydney FC whose rivals include Manchester City backed Melbourne FC.

Steve has two sons, Ross and Gary, who were the apple of Beryl’s and Dave’s eye.
Ross was a promising youngster with Leamington Juniors and then several seasons with St. Peters Celtic until severe knee problems forced his retirement at an early age. Ross also played age group cricket for Warwickshire and Northamptonshire plus the Midlands at school.

Gary played professional football keeping goal as a youth for Coventry City making 8 first team appearances then 2 for Kidderminster while on loan, 33 plus 2 sub for Rotherham United and finally Grimsby Town playing 4 games and one substitute appearance. Like Ross, he loved cricket captaining Warwickshire at every age group when at school. He signed professional forms for Lancashire County cricket team, then playing rugby for Warwickshire.