There is a common misconception that Lockheed/AP Leamington are not the same club as Leamington FC because of the 12 year gap in our playing record, which is emphatically NOT the case.

The origins of Leamington FC are ingrained in Tachbrook Road, which runs out of the town to the South. Just before you pass the Windmill pub (Where a Windmill was once sited where the car park is now) on the left is where The Windmill Ground was sited, and opposite was the enormous Lockheed car parts factory that employed so many of the townsfolk and would become the driving force behind the football club and its many successes until things unfortunately turned sour in the 1980’s. It is here that our club was born, in 1933, as Lockheed, Borg & Beck.

The team first competed in the Warwick & District League in the 1933/34 season, moving into the Coventry Works League the following campaign, where they spent six seasons before a move to the Leamington & District League in 1940/41.

A move back to the Coventry Works League two years later preceded a switch to the Coventry & North Warwickshire League, where the club spent three seasons before being accepted into the short lived Central Amateur League in 1947. It was around this time that the Lockheed company purchased the Windmill Ground from Coventry City, who had themselves brought the stadium in 1937 for use by their ‘A’ team after Leamington Town had folded.

Also during this time the club name was adjusted to Lockheed-Leamington. After two seasons the club successfully applied to join the Birmingham Combination. It was whilst in this league, early in the 1949/50 season, that they turned semi professional. The committee realised the club were heading in the wrong direction by staying purely amateur, and after signing Les Latham as player/manager the club embraced semi professional football.

At this time support was good for the combined works and town team, and the nickname ‘The Brakes’ was adopted by virtue of the car products the company manufactured. It was also around this time that the original club colours evolved - Gold trimmed Royal Blue shirts, Royal Blue shorts, and Gold socks. It was not until the early 1970’s - which has been confirmed by long time supporters - that our current colours originated. Apparently somebody at the club made an error when ordering new kit, and from then on we played predominantly in Gold and Black.

It was during their five seasons in this league that Brakes won the Birmingham Senior Cup for the first time with victory against Hereford United Reserves in 1950/51 - the first season they had entered the competition. In 1956/57, with the club now in the Birmingham and District League the Senior Cup was won for a second time with victory over Redditch United. They were beaten finalists in each of the next two seasons.

The 1960’s proved to be groundbreaking for the club. They began by winning the Senior Cup, thrashing local rivals Rugby Town (reaching the final again the following season), and the Birmingham and District League before becoming the first club to win the renamed West Midlands Regional League the following season. 1963/64 saw a move to the Midland Counties League, where the Championship was won in only their second season.

After eight seasons the club was on the move once more - this time into the Southern League, which at the time was arguably the strongest, most established league outside the professional game. The Birmingham Senior Cup was captured for a fourth time in 1969/70.

The club underwent a name change in 1973 as Lockheed became Automotive Products, and AP Leamington, as we are more widely remembered, entered another boom period in their history.

The Birmingham Senior Cup had been won for the fifth time in 1972 (- Brakes would be beaten finalists four more times during the decade), and the Southern League Cup and the Southern League Championship Cup followed in 1974, both over Premier Division opposition.

Progression to the First Round of the FA Cup was achieved for the first time this year also - Southend United the victors by 2-1 at a packed Windmill Ground. Brakes went on to reach the competition proper five times in six seasons, reaching the second round twice, but were unable to claim a Football League scalp.

1975/76 saw promotion to the Southern League Premier Division (as Runners-Up) for the first time, and Brakes established themselves in a highly competitive league before becoming founder members of the Alliance Premier League (Now the National League) in 1979, as the Non League Pyramid as we know it today began to take shape.

Leamington spent three seasons in this new league before being relegated in 1982, but under young manager Graham Allner, the seeds had been sown for further success, and the following season saw them win the Southern League Championship and with it promotion back to the APL, or so they thought.

Under new manager Jim Watson, Brakes won the Southern League Cup for a second time, making them the first club to hold all three of the League’s trophies at the same time.

The fight to find a new stadium for the club dominated the next few years as the club tumbled down and out of the Southern League. Leamington FC Limited was formed on September 6th 1983 with the intention of purchasing the Windmill Ground.

Our association with Automotive Products ended on July 1st 1985, and the name of the club reverted to Leamington FC.

A simple club crest, the first in our history, was created as the club battled to stay alive, but by 1988, now in the Midland Combination and at its lowest ebb, the decision was made to place the club in mothballs while the search for a new stadium site continued.

A small but determined band of supporters continued to raise money and kept the club’s registration with the FA each year.

In 1990 a field was purchased in Harbury Lane from a local farmer and a rudimentary ground was created. Re-launched in 2000, and playing at the New Windmill Ground, initially under joint managers Jason Cadden and Barry Proctor, Leamington FC did not look back.

The first two seasons saw successive promotions: the Midland Combination Division Two title in the first year and as runners-up in Division One a year later.

Brakes finished third in the Midland Combination Premier in 2002-03, lost out on the final day of the season in 2003-04 (Jason Cadden’s first season in sole charge) and were promoted as champions to the Midland Football Alliance in 2004-05 with a league record 109 points.

In 2005-06 Leamington reached the 1st Round Proper of the FA Cup, their first time in the competition since 1987, losing heroically at Colchester United. The cup run enabled the club to move forward its planned infrastructure development and with continued work and progress over the intervening years it now boasts a modern clubhouse, terracing for 1500 (400 covered) plus seated covered stands for a further 508 spectators and a total capacity of 3,051. In recent years the ground has undergone further improvement ensuring it satisfied National League guidelines.

Brakes enjoyed a magnificent season in 2006-07, returning to the Southern League after 20 years by winning the Midland Football Alliance title and the League Cup, becoming the first club in the League’s history to complete the double; and also reaching the quarter finals of the FA Vase.

2007-8 saw a Southern Football League Midland Division Play Off final defeat to Stourbridge after a Runners-Up finish.

2008-09 saw the team win the title by 9 points from Nuneaton Town, sealing a return to the Southern League Premier Division after a gap of 24 years.

The club’s first season back in the Premier Division saw a managerial change in October, with Paul Holleran leading the team to a comfortable 10th position. 2010-2011 saw a strong finish securing fifth place on the final Saturday. A tough Play-Off semi-final at Hednesford Town unfortunately led to a 3-1 defeat.

2011-2012 saw Brakes narrowly miss out on the play-offs, despite finishing with a twelve match unbeaten run.

The start of 2012-13 saw a further 14 matches unbeaten and despite some fierce competition from old rivals Stourbridge, Hemel Hempstead Town and also Gosport Borough in the second half of the season, Brakes won 10 and drew 2 of their final 12 matches to win the Southern League Premier Division for the second time, 30 years after their previous triumph. The return to South Warwickshire of Football at Step 2 of the Non-League Pyramid, and more importantly, back in the Football Conference, presented a brand new set of challenges for the club.

The inaugural season in the Conference North contained many highlights, but was tempered by several lengthy injuries including three cruciate ligament injuries which ruled players out for the season. Points were difficult to come by and fans’ relegation concerns were only quieted by a fantastic festive period with a competent 13th place achieved by the end of the season.

The second season in a new league can often be difficult, which Brakes found to their cost. The loss of players (especially goalkeepers) throughout meant relegation became a reality in the penultimate game of the season.

Back in the Southern League Premier Division, an up and down season still resulted in a play-off place. Brakes reached the final, but suffered a 2-1 loss at Hungerford Town.

Key players were added to a mixture of youth and experience for 2016-17, and the team made a very good start, topping the table for some time. They were finally toppled by eventual and deserved Champions Chippenham Town at the end of January, but finished the season strongly to secure the runners-up spot. Slough Town were defeated in the play off semi final, before an eventful final in front of a new record crowd of 2,102 saw Brakes finally taste play off glory with a 2-1 victory over Hitchin Town, a late equaliser and a red card for the visitors taking the game to extra time before a spectacular winner from top scorer Courtney Baker-Richardson, who went on to sign for then Premier League Swansea City as a result.

The Birmingham Senior Cup was also added to the trophy cabinet for the first time in 45 years as a young Wolverhampton Wanderers side were beaten on penalties at their Molineux stadium after a 1-1 draw.

Competing in the National League North once more in 2017/18, Brakes achieved safety by a single point, defying their tag as relegation favourites.

‘Second season syndrome’ did not materialise again, as a storming start to 2018/19 kept us away from the bottom three, and despite a wobble mid season, the sparkling form of striker Colby Bishop helped Leamington to a comfortable 13th place finish once more, and a second Birmingham Senior Cup win in three seasons. The young striker then sealed a move back to the Football League with Accrington Stanley.

Paul Holleran replaced him with Josh March from Alvechurch, and the latest young striker surpassed all expectations - 24 goals in 27 games securing him a move to the professional ranks with Forest Green Rovers by the turn of the year.

Brakes finished in 18th place by the Points per Game system after the 2019/20 season ended prematurely in March due to the outbreak of COVID 19. The following campaign turned out to be even shorter, ending in February with the club having played 20 games in all competitions, but the supporters watched from afar with pride as Brakes lost only three of their 15 league games, and looked to be on course for their highest finish in the Pyramid since 1983.

Paul Holleran celebrated 600 games in charge by leading his side to Birmingham Senior Cup glory once more in 2021/22. A 15th place finish saw consolidation again, but last season, despite an excellent start, we were relegated on the penultimate Saturday, bringing to an end six consecutive seasons in the toughest of leagues.

The majority of the squad remained, with some exciting additions as we looked to reset back in the Southern League in 2023/24, but as the manager passed 700 games at the club, he masterminded an instant return to the National League North as Ewan Williams’ second half goal secured promotion at AFC Telford United after a third place finish.

Back at Step 2 in 2024/25, Brakes rode out the loss of local lad and top scorer Cally Stewart half way through the campaign as he became the latest Leamington player to realise his dream of becoming professional when he signed for Shrewsbury Town. Our National League North status was consolidated with several games of the season remaining, along with achieving a record points tally in the division.

Last season was one of contrasting emotions. With Brakes rooted to the bottom of the table, Paul Holleran stood down after just over 16 years and 789 games in charge - truly the end of an era. Chris Knott and Lewis Marston took interim charge for two months, before former Leamington player Scott Easterlow moved across town from Racing Club Warwick to take charge of his hometown club; too late to prevent the drop back to the Southern League, but the Birmingham Senior Cup Final was reached for the fifteenth time. A real changing of the guard took place over the close season with the whole squad bar one moving on, as Easterlow constructed his own squad for the challenge ahead.


13	Leiston	12	10
14	RC Warwick	11	11
15	Bishop's Stortford	10	10
16	Leamington	9	10
17	Banbury Utd	9	10
18	Stratford Town	9	10
19	Worcester City	7	10

Leamington

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