As the season has now drawn to a close, I would like to provide you with an update regarding our football pathway, how it is developing, the challenges faced, and how we will look to operatebeneath the first team next season, 2023/24.

We are very fortunate at the football club to have two fantastic sections, offering both boys and girls football opportunities in a community and development capacity to over 500 members per week, led by many very committed volunteers, who we are eternally grateful to.

From age 16 + we have a very different challenge in trying to provide opportunities for aspiring footballers as part of our ‘Elite’ pathway. 

The growing college programmes at Moreton Morrell and Pershore, gives us a sound base to build from and this season has seen the Pershore side win their league and the Tier 1 Moreton Morrell side finish 3rd in the Championship division.

We also have a blossoming partnership with the University of Warwick in place now with myself and other coaches working with the male and female teams in the BUCS leagues, whichthis season included 3 league titles.

Next season, 2023/24, sees me take a supporting role as Men’s Director of Football and LFC coach all 5 men’s teams and support the female programme where required in a bid to build an even bigger recruitment pool for potential players.

Both of the above programmes have had representation in the under 18’s FA Youth cup side and Under 23’s this season2022/23.

The challenges we have from 16 + are predominantly financial (we don’t ask players in our ‘Elite’ / 16+ pathway to pay any subscriptions or monies to play for us) and resources available to us, not to mention the challenge of bridging a gap to first team football, now step 3, previously 2.

The past two seasons have seen the under 23’s play in the Midland Football League Reserve Division from two different homes, at Rugby Borough and Stockton FC respectively, both of whom we are thankful to for their hospitality, but this does come at a cost to us as a football club. 

That said, the under 23’s have in turn won both the League (2021/22) and League Cup (2022/23). A huge thank you to the travelling support recently in the Cup Final at Bedworth United, it was very much appreciated and created a great atmosphere on the day!

We have witnessed 5 first team league debuts from the Under 23’s, 11 players have experienced first team training at some point in the last two seasons and 4 loan moves of players to higher levels within the football pyramid.

We see this as a huge success and credit to all those involved for achieving these milestones to date.The only outstanding performance indicator is a first team regular and/or a player to be sold on to a professional club.

Unfortunately, the gap from Under 23’s to First Team is no less than 6 divisions, a comparison of Premier League to National League North gives context to the gap these young players and our staff are working tirelessly to bridge, it is not as easy as it seems. 

As a first team, unfortunately we have this season experienced relegation and as with any football club in this situation there will be financial implications along the way and we must ensure, even more than ever, that we run a sustainable modelwith the long game in mind.

As a result, we are reluctantly going to reshape our Elite / 16+pathway with the following changes, but, remain excited as to what next season may bring and hope we can build on this even further in time.

‘Elite’ / 16+ Pathway next season, 2023/24:

Aspiring Football Programme:

In summary, they will run effectively as an Under 23’s but without the regular costs and resource issues we have faced weekly over the last two seasons.

Current Under 23’s update

A huge thank you to Scott, Lewis, Matt, Adam and Emma for all their work as part of the management team and extend our thanks to all players and families who have represented our club this season.

Next steps:

Manager – Scott Pheasey – has been offered a loan mentor role within the Aspiring Football Programme
Head Coach – Lewis Marston – is exploring alternative options in the pyramid but will continue to work for the club in his role as PDP lead coach and within the Charity.
Coach – Matt Finnegan – we are delighted to announce Matt will be joining the Charity set up to work in our community sessions and football pathway.
Goalkeeper Coach – Adam Deeley – has been offered to continue his role in our Aspiring Footballers Programme and across our football pathway.

A brief breakdown of the most recent players who represented the Under 23’s:

Pathway Summary

Community – Leamington Brakes FC, Leamington Lions FC
Development – MJPL teams, 7 – 16 Talent I.D. Programme
Elite / 16+ – Further Education College Programmes, Floodlit Under 18’s, Aspiring Footballers Programme
First Team – Male and Female

All of the above programmes will be communicated on social media and the website so we will hopefully see you supporting our stars of the future very soon!

If anyone would like to sponsor the football pathway in any form, please email chris.knott@leamingtonfc.co.uk

Thank you and best wishes,

Chris Knott
Head of Football Development 
Leamington FC

The club are delighted to reveal that our new Club Secretary is Brakes Chief Scout Josh Field.
 
Josh will take up the duties of Club Secretary alongside his role as Chief Scout, a position he has held now for two seasons at Your Co-op Community Stadium.
 
Leamington Chairman Jim Scott said “We’re delighted that Josh, who’s our Chief Scout, has volunteered to step into the role of secretary. It will be a steep learning curve but we’re certain he’s got all the skills and abilities to fulfil the role!”
 
The incoming secretary commented “Ever since I joined this great club two years ago, I was warmly welcomed by both players and staff alike and felt a real sense of belonging. I love being here and playing a small part in trying to help this club succeed, so I am extremely grateful to be given a lot more responsibility in the day to day running of the club as well as keeping my role on the football side of the club. Up the Brakes!”

Josh will be busy with player forms in the next few weeks so make sure to keep an eye on our social media channels and website for all the breaking news as it happens as we head into the 2023/24 Southern Premier League Central season! 

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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! The As have been covered, now onto the next letter of the alphabet - B is for Barwell! 

Name: Barwell FC
Founded: 1992
Nickname: The Canaries
Stadium: Kirkby Road

Another village side, Barwell represent the Leicestershire village of the same name - just north of Hinckley. They were founded due to a merger of Barwell Athletic and Hinckley FC in 1992 and took Hinckley’s place in the Midland Combination Premier.

This will be their thirteenth straight season at Step 3 having switched between the Northern and Southern Premier Leagues between 2011 and present. Last season they finished a respectable 8th after being reprieved from relegation the season before. 

They play at Kirkby Road, where they are also landlords to Midland League side Hinckley AFC. It has a capacity of 2,500 with 256 seats and has recently seen an artificial pitch put in, lifting the level of the ground so the old covered terracing is in fact under the level of the pitch. 

Barwell manager Ian King is a former Brake, having made three appearances in 2012 but also rejoined the club in the 2015/16 season to be part of Paul Holleran’s coaching staff.

Have we met before?

Once again, Barwell a side that we’ve met on numerous occasions, but you’d have to rewind to over a decade for our last league meeting.

The last meeting was in 2015 as Southern League Brakes blew apart their Northern Premier League opponents in the FA Trophy, winning 6-1. On the scoresheet for the Brakes was Jack Edwards against his old club, Lee Chiltern and Ben Mackey both with a brace and Will Green to put the icing on the cake.

Distance - 28 miles
Travel Time - 47 minutes 

Give them a follow…

You can find them on Twitter @BarwellFC1992, Facebook /Barwell Football Club and Instagram @barwellfc!

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! Third up we make the short hop over to Alvechurch!

Name: Alvechurch FC
Founded: 1929
Nickname: The Church
Stadium: Lye Meadow

Hailing from the quaint Worcestershire village of the same name, Alvechurch are gearing up for their fifth straight season in the Southern Premier League Central but made their name big last season due to an FA Cup run. 

The Church were the lowest ranked side left in the competition after beating Cheltenham Town in the First Round Proper, narrowly losing out to League One Forest Green Rovers in the second.

They play at the 3,000 capacity Lye Meadow, with stunning views over the forest covering the River Arrow. There is a 200 seated stand and a covered terrace behind one goal. 

Have we met before?

On numerous occasions, but not in a league match since a 2-1 win at home on New Years Day 2007! On the scoresheet that day were Ben Mackey and Jamie Towers.

Fast forward 13 years to our last meeting in a pre-season friendly… watch the highlights below!

Distance - 25 miles
Travel Time - 32 minutes

Give them a follow…

You can find them on Twitter @alvechurch1st, Facebook /Alvechurch Fc and Instagram @alvechurchfc!

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