Leamington FC continue preparations as National League North kick-off nears

Local side Leamington FC are upping their preparations for the new Enterprise National League North campaign.

Friday night’s 3-2 loss to a Coventry City XI marked a fourth consecutive home pre-season defeat against a Football League opposition for the Brakes, but such results are not to say that their performances have failed to provide encouragement.

Paul Holleran’s side held firm for 53 minutes before conceding to last year’s defeated League Two play-off finalists Walsall in their first outing of the pre-season, before restricting fellow League Two outfit Shrewsbury Town to a few clear-cut opportunities in an eventual 2-0 defeat that weekend.

The visit of an Aston Villa XI on the following Tuesday saw Leamington net their first goals of the new season in a well-fought 3-2 defeat, before netting another two goals in their loss to Coventry.

This summer’s off-season has been marked by a number of key departures for the Brakes

The Shrewsbury fixture saw the return of former Brakes starlet Callum Stewart to Your Co-op Community Stadium. Stewart netted 14 goals in 23 outings across the first half of last season’s National League North campaign to earn himself a move to the professional outfit in January.

This summer’s off-season has been marked by a number of key departures for the Brakes. Goalkeeper Callum Hawkins, who quickly endeared himself as a firm fan favourite after initially joining on loan from Burton Albion in 2022, left for National League North rivals Curzon Ashton, wanting to relocate closer to his Yorkshire home.

Tricky forward Henry Landers, who was chosen by Holleran as the manager’s player of the season last term, also moved closer to home, signing for Southern League Central side Stratford Town.

Long-serving midfielder Jack Edwards’ move to Racing Club Warwick makes it a trio of departures of players who starred in Leamington’s promotion-winning season in 2023/24.

Add to that young centre-back George Ward’s move to full-time outfit Buxton, and the Brakes have been forced into making a number of additions in the transfer market. Max Ram arrives from Hungerford Town as Ward’s direct replacement, and boasts crucial experience playing higher up in the English and Scottish league systems.

Young midfielder Ethan Hill joined from Barwell in June as Holleran’s first signing of the summer, while goalkeeper Eddie Brearey arrives from Oxford United with plenty of experience across the non-league pyramid as Hawkins’ replacement. Wingers Miro Pais and Luke Shaw complete the five new Leamington arrivals – for now.

Four of Holleran’s five additions started against Walsall as the Brakes ultimately fell in a 4-0 defeat, thanks to four second-half strikes by Walsall, but the local side’s all-round performances quickly improved from then on.

It was Joe Clarke and Tim Berridge who netted for Leamington as Aston Villa’s academy came to town, before Berridge and, then, Rob Evans took turns to score screamers as Coventry’s development side came away with the win on Friday.

Leamington wrap up their pre-season preparations with trips to Nuneaton Town and Racing Club Warwick this week

Friday’s game also gave Brakes fans one last opportunity to say goodbye to Edwards after 456 appearances across two spells, as the midfielder captained the side for the last time against his boyhood club.

Leamington wrap up their pre-season preparations with trips to Nuneaton Town and Racing Club Warwick this week, before the real thing gets underway on Saturday 9 August.

Leamington’s second consecutive National League North campaign begins in a fitting fashion with a trip to Hawkins’ Curzon Ashton, before making their competitive return to Your Co-op Community Stadium for the visit of South Shields the following Saturday.