LeamingtonFC.co.uk

Paul Holleran has further bolstered his attacking options for the new season with the signing of Henry Landers from Banbury United.

The 23 year old striker has spent the last three seasons at the Banbury Plant Hire Community Stadium, scoring 19 goals in 92 appearances and helping the Puritans to the Southern League Premier Division Central title in 2022, and then consolidation in their first season in the National League North last time out. He became something of a fans favourite for his knack of scoring crucial goals.

Prior to signing for Banbury in July 2020, Henry came through Oxford City’s youth system, but his first season in senior football came at North Leigh in the Southern League Division 1 Central, where his 24 goals played a big part in helping the village side stay in the division. This brought him to the attention of National League side Maidenhead United, who snapped him up for the 2019/20 season. He spent time on loan back at North Leigh, hitting double figures in the goals column once more, and also at Cheshunt.

I’m delighted to get this signing over the line,’ said the manager. He’s a young, exciting player with lots of potential. I think he needs to nail down a position; we need to invest a little bit of time into that, and I think we’ll have a really exciting player on our hands. We are looking forward to working with Henry.’

The player himself had this to say: ‘I am delighted to have signed for Leamington. After the first conversation I had with the gaffer I knew it would be the right move for me. It’s a club with a lot of history. I hope I can help the team to have a really positive season, and I can’t wait to get started and enjoy my football here.’

We would like to welcome Henry and his family to Leamington Football Club, and hope that he enjoys a successful time with us.

*Thanks to Glenn Alcock for the use of his photos.

Leamington's last pre-season test ahead of the 2023/24 Southern Premier League Central campaign will be against newly promoted National League North side Rushall Olympic.

The Pics will be plying their trade at Step 2 for the first time in their history and will be a valuable test for Paul Holleran's side, having gained promotion out of the league that Leamington will be playing in next season after a win against Nuneaton Borough in the play-off final, former Brakes' keeper Jake Weaver the hero.

The game will take place on Saturday 29 July, 3pm kick off, and ticket details will be released closer to the game.

This announcement now concludes our pre-season friendlies list for 2023, see the full updated lost below.

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Full Pre-Season Schedule:

With the teams now confirmed in the Southern Premier League Central, we’re taking a whistle stop tour of all of the clubs who we’ll be playing next season with our bite sized info packs! Brakes fans should be familiar with the next club, it’s K and an E and a T and a T, E and an R and an I N G, T and an O and a W N - Kettering Town FC.

Name: Kettering Town FC
Founded: 1872
Nickname: The Poppies
Stadium: Latimer Park

Joining Leamington as relegated from the National League North, Kettering Town FC represent the town of the same name but are based in the small town of Burton Latimer.

This next season will be the first time since 2018/19 that Kettering have played in the Southern Premier League Central, having been champions in the league’s inaugural season. Famous for their FA Cup history, the Poppies are in constant battle with Tottenham Hotspur to become highest FA Cup goalscorers.

Fresh off the press, Kettering have recently appointed Andy Leese as manager. He spent six years at Enfield Town before leaving by mutual consent at the end of the season, eventually making the move to the Poppies.

Have we met before?

This could be the longest section ever, just based off of the drama! Goals and red cards are a feature of games between the Brakes and Poppies, Theo Streete was the man shown red in the last meeting - a 3-0 defeat in Northants.

Dan Turner got the only goal of the game in the return fixture at Your Co-op Community Stadium earlier in the season, and you can watch highlights of that below courtesy of Leamington FCTV.

Distance - 51 miles
Travel Time - 1 hour 12 minutes

Give them a follow…

You can find them on Twitter @KetteringTownFC, Facebook /Kettering Town FC and Instagram @ketteringtownfcofficial, as well as on TikTok @ketteringtownfcofficial!

Leicester City will be bringing their u21 side to Your Co-op Community Stadium on Wednesday 19 July, 19:30, in pre-season.

The side recently relegated from the Premier League last visited the home of Warwickshire football in 2017, as Leamington beat a Leicester XI 3-1. Their visit before then was in 2013 with a Foxes side that featured players such as Jamie Vardy, Wes Morgan, Richie De Laet, Jeff Schlupp and Anthony Knockaert with the visitors' goals in a 2-0 win coming from Chris Wood and Martyn Waghorn.

Kick off for Leamington vs Leicester City u21 on Wednesday 19 July will be at the slightly earlier time of 19:30, with ticketing details released closer to the fixture.

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Current Pre-Season Schedule:

With the teams now confirmed in the Southern Premier League Central, we’re taking a whistle stop tour of all of the clubs who we’ll be playing next season with our bite sized info packs! We’ve got a memorable last meeting with the next club: Hitchin Town!

Name: Hitchin Town FC
Founded: 1928
Nickname: The Canaries
Stadium: Top Field

Representing the Hertfordshire market town of the same name, Hitchin Town FC are gearing up for their thirteenth consecutive season in step 3, looking to beat their 12th placed finish last season.

In the past, the Canaries have got close to promotion to step 2, having lost in play-off campaigns. Despite having the year 1865 on their badge, this actually relates to the founding date of Hitchin FC - the first team to beat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge - not Hitchin Town FC who were founded in 1928.

They play their home games at Top Field, which has a capacity of 4,554. It has been their ground since the foundation of the club back in 1928. Mark Burke currently holds the reigns, he first joined the club in 1985 from QPR as a player and made over 700 appearances until his retirement in 2005. The club legend was only away for 10 years and joined as manager, where he guided Town to two play-off spots in his first two seasons.

Have we met before?

You bet we have! Promotion was achieved after a 2-1 extra time win at Your Co-op Community Stadium.

An early Hitchin goal unsettled the Brakes, and it seemed like the Hertfordshire side would see the game out to gain promotion to the National League South, but 90th minute drama ensued with a penalty awarded to Leamington - Hitchin’s captain sent off in the process. Rob Thompson-Brown converted to send the game to extra time where Courtney Baker-Richardson popped up with a winner, securing a return to the National League North.

Distance - 72 miles
Travel Time - 1 hour 34 minutes

Give them a follow…

You can find them on Twitter @HitchinTownFC, Facebook /Hitchin Town FC and Instagram @hitchintownfc!