Leamington’s astonishing revival from the verge of football oblivion has soared into the realms of dreamland during this season’s dramatic run to the Fourth Qualifying Round of The FA Cup.
One of the three lowest-ranked clubs still left in the competition, Leamington only started competing again six years ago after remaining dormant and homeless for more than a decade after their old ground was sold.
Three promotions later the Midland Alliance outfit are back in The FA Cup this season – and having already claimed four scalps they are now looking to pull off a shock at Unibond Premier League side Ossett Town on Saturday.
“This is what the romance of the cup is all about,” said Leamington-born club secretary Brian Knibb. “Not so long ago our position looked hopeless. Our old ground had been sold, and we were struggling to get a piece of land for a new one. I’m not sure how we managed to keep it going.
“Now every brick and every blade of grass is ours, and we have money in the bank. We’ll have several hundred supporters going to Ossett on Saturday and although they’re two leagues above us we believe we can win.”
AP Leamington used to be the works team of the Automotive Products factory based next to the club’s Windmill Ground. But the club faced extinction in the late ‘80s when Automotive Products sold the ground for redevelopment.
“A handful of people led by the chairman, Mick Brady, set up a new company and somehow kept it going,” explains Brian. “They held quiz nights and race nights and kept money coming in for the day when we could find a ground.
“We kept getting knocked back, but eventually we were offered a piece of farmland about three miles from the old ground, and the rest is history.”
Based at their New Windmill Ground, the reformed club joined the Midland Combination in 2000 as Leamington FC. Now manager Jason Cadden is eyeing a fourth promotion with his team currently fifth in the Midland Alliance.
Having started their FA Cup campaign in the preliminary round, the Brakes have so far won two penalty shoot-outs in knocking Sutton Town, Kidsgrove, Oadby and Woodford Utd out of the competition.
Those successes have already yielded £13,000 in prize money, and victory over Ossett would be worth a further £10,000 towards the club’s plans for a new stand.
The FA Cup run has caught the imagination of players and supporters alike – especially after 18-year-old winger Alex Rodman’s (above) late two-goal haul against Woodford in front of more than 1000 supporters at the New Windmill saw him guaranteed a seat at the final after he was voted The FA’s Player of the Round.
“That was a big boost for everyone,” said Brian. “It’s wonderful to see the club doing so well. From the moment we won our first tie the confidence of the players has just grown and the support has been phenomenal.”