LeamingtonFC.co.uk

Please find below a short statement from the Southern Football League in relation to key dates for the 2023/24 season.

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The Pitching In Southern Football League have confirmed that their two Premier Divisions (Central & South) will commence on Saturday, 5th August 2023.

Both divisions will conclude on Saturday, 27th April 2024 with the play-off semi-finals the following midweek and the play-off finals on Monday, 6th May 2024.

The key dates for the 2023/24 season:

Saturday 5th August 2023 – Season Commences
Saturday 27th April 2024 – End of season
Wednesday 1st May 2024 – Play-off semi finals
Monday 6th May 2024 – Play-off finals

Brakes will make the journey to newly promoted Rugby Town in a pre-season friendly.

The game will take place on Saturday 22 July, 3pm kick off at Butlin Road. Admission is £5 for adults and £3 for concessions.

Current pre-season schedule:

Sat 15 July | Racing Club Warwick | Away
Sat 22 July | Rugby Town | Away

Leamington will travel to Racing Club Warwick as part of their 2023 pre-season schedule.

The Brakes will make the short journey to Townsend Meadow to face off with their Warwick neighbours on Saturday 15 July, 3pm kick off.

The Racers have been laterally moved for the 2023/24 season and will be hoping to follow on from their strong campaign in last season's Midland Premier League to next season's United Counties League Premier Division South season.

Ticket details will be released closer to the game.

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! First up on alphabetical order basis is AFC Sudbury…

Name: AFC Sudbury
Founded:1999
Nickname: The Yellows/The Suds
Stadium: King’s Marsh

Representing the Suffolk market town of Sudbury on the Essex border, AFC Sudbury are newcomers to the Southern Premier League Central having won the Isthmian League North play-off final at the end of the 2022/23 season, beating Heybridge Swifts in extra time. Next season will only be their second ever season in the third tier of non-league football after a season-long spell in the Isthmian League Premier in 2016/17.

The Yellows hold the record for the most successive wins of the Eastern Counties League Premier Division (5) and the most successive appearances in the FA Vase Final (3 - all of which they lost).

They play their home games at King’s Marsh, which has a capacity of 2,500. The distance from Your Co-op Community Stadium is 133 miles, a 266 mile round journey which is the second longest trip that the Brakes will make in the league this season.

Have we met before?

Yes! Brakes have played Sudbury twice in the league before - both in the 2008/09 Southern League Midland Division season.

A 4-0 win away in October thanks to goals from Luke Corbett, Jai Stanley and a Mark Bellingham brace in front of a season record crowd of 509 for the Yellows was cancelled out by a thrilling 5-3 defeat in Warwickshire - Bellingham and Corbett on the scoresheet then too as Leamington fell to their first league defeat of the season… on 31st January!

Give them a follow…

You can find them on Twitter @AFCSudbury, Facebook /AFC Sudbury and Instagram @AFCSudbury_Official!

Photo Credit: AFC Sudbury

One of Manager Paul Holleran’s most accomplished signings and club post 2000 record appearance holder James Mace has made the decision to look for opportunities elsewhere as he seeks to continue his playing career.

James made his debut for the club in August 2011 against Hemel Hempstead Town in the Southern Premier League and in his first ten years at the club was virtually an ever present, who in his initial years at the club operated as a full-back before moving into a central defensive role a few years later. His 436 appearances saw him overtake former club favourite Josh Blake in the modern era of the club during which time he kept up a goal a season average eventually scoring 13 goals in the club colours. No doubt as a Villa fan the one he will remember best of all was his effort in the Birmingham Senior Cup Final at Villa Park versus Stourbridge in 2022.

Manager Paul Holleran stated, ‘James has to go down as one of my best ever signings. Great pace, great attitude and a never say die attitude made him very difficult for opposition forwards to play against. Even in his mid thirties he was still one of the fittest players in the squad and it was testament to his great desire that he recovered fully from an anterior cruciate ligament so late in his career.’

‘It is going to seem strange not having him around anymore as he has been in the dressing room for almost my entire time as manager of the club. I am sad to see him leave and I along with everyone at the club wish him well and every success moving forward.’

James Mace responded, ‘I have had a brilliant time at Leamington. Twelve years is a long time and we have had some wonderful moments. I want to thank all the supporters, management and people behind the scenes who have been great with me. I wish the club all the very best for the future and you never know our paths may cross again.’

Paul Holleran has confirmed that both Kelsey Mooney and Louis Hall have left the club.

We'd like to thank them both for their efforts during their time at Leamington and wish them the best for the future.

The club is exploring ways to increase the use of the clubhouse, on match days and beyond and asked Supporters for their views via an online survey. The ideas have been collated and we are looking forward to making these suggestions a reality.

All replies were entered into a draw to win a Brakes shirt signed by Jack Edwards and a Coventry shirt signed by their first team. The lucky winner was Louie Draper who collected his prize at the final game of the season.

Leamington FC Board Member Oliver Spencer said, ‘The board was delighted with the number of responses to our survey regarding the wider usage of the clubhouse. It reinforces our wish to hear from Supporters on how we shape our club and any changes will include your feedback. In the meantime, well done Louie and thanks to all of the supporters for taking part’.

Leamington Football Club is delighted to announce that local independent builders merchants BPS (Building and Plumbing Supplies Ltd) have passed a landmark twenty years supporting the club as a ‘Main Sponsor’. Their partnership with the club started back in Season 2001-2002 and they have remained steadfast ever since, increasing their support each time the club climbed another step in the non-league football pyramid.

The successful partnership has seen the football team be promoted six times, allied to the development of a stadium that now has a 3000 capacity with covered seating and standing for 500 fans each. Throughout this period BPS additionally supported the club with cost price materials and played a major part in supporting the opening of a new clubhouse and dressing room facility in 2005.

Leamington FC Chairman Jim Scott stated: ‘BPS have been and continue to be wonderful partners to the club. Their Managing Director John Dibble truly believes in supporting community organisations and clubs and they are a local/regional business whose ethos matches our own of aiming to deliver benefit to the wider community. Their support over the years has also included sponsorship of our boys and girls sections and use of our facilities to raise monies for various charities. Quite simply they are a family orientated business with great values that have been an absolute pleasure to deal with’.

John Dibble, Managing Director at BPS said: ‘We are proud to have been involved in Leamington Football Club and believe the sponsorship deal promotes a local family business working with a family orientated club. It gives us immense pride to see our logo on the front of Leamington’s shirt. I’m sure our old Commercial Director, Mick Brady would approve of this long lasting relationship.’

Our long standing Secretary Richard Edy advised the club yesterday that he was stepping down from the role that he has held for the past 16 years. Richard said,’ Sixteen years, a third of my life. I have agonised over it for the last six months and the time is right for me and my family. It’s been an honour to say I am a tiny part of the history of this great club. Thanks for everything and I have no doubt the good times will return soon. I will always keep an eye out for the results.

Chairman Jim Scott said, ‘I interviewed Richard along with David Hucker back in 2007 and it is fair to say that he has made a great contribution since his appointment. We are sad to see him go and will miss his experience and knowledge. He will now have more time for his family and to pursue his other interests. Enjoy Richard and you will always be a most welcome visitor.’

The club held its annual Awards Presentation in the clubhouse following the final game of the season against Southport FC on April 29th at our Your Co-op Community Stadium. Supporters were able to cast their vote for the ‘Supporters Player of the Season’ at the game with voting slips positioned next to turnstiles following entry.

Adam Walker picked up the Players Player of the Season and the Supporters Player of the Season awards to mark his outstanding contribution during the campaign.

Supporters Player Adam Walker with Youngsters 1