It’s Saturday lunchtime on 18th September 1971. I am about to leave the house to watch Lockheed Leamington v Stourbridge. It’s the FA Cup 1st Qualifying Round. I’m heading up to the old Windmill Ground.
I have fond memories of my childhood visits to the Windmill. In particular the club had a golden period in the FA Cup regularly reaching the 1st Round proper. The League games tend to blur together a bit with a mix of Stafford Rangers, Northwich Victoria, Rugby, Hendnesford Town & Frickley Colliery swarming into one shady memory.
The FA Cup though was different. I particularly remember in 1977 the delights of Southend Utd visiting and taking them to a reply in the 2nd round after a 0-0 at the packed Windmill. This, of course, meant we were in the hat for the 3rd Round on the Monday morning. This also meant following the older kids with the Radio at school lunch time. Not just a question of who Liverpool would be playing – who would the Brakes get? I remember the Coventry Evening Telegraph describing Tommy Docs reaction to the draw. Derby County at home to Southend or AP Leamington “what are they – an Italian team?” Sadly we lost the reply 4-0 so the dream was over. Southend went out 3-2 at the Baseball ground so Tommy Doc would be happy. At least he had known where the opponents had been from.
But every few years we would get through the long autumn slog and reach the 1st round proper. We lost at home to Torquay in 1978 0-1. The following year 79 we had a visit to Tranmere where David Coleman, reporting on the teleprinter at quarter to five, announced a cup shock – I stood ready to cheer until he said Tranmere 9 AP Leamington 0! We later lost 0-1 at home to Gillingham in 1983.
Of course, the new club gave me and my son a wonderful more recent trip to Colchester although another heavy beating away from home ensued (9-1). Still we featured on Match of the Day and the closing credits replayed the bit when a Leamington Idiot in a Yellow wig clutching an inflatable Doll invaded the pitch slaloming through the mud. Pride in Mid-Warwickshire.
But back to the early 70’s. The year before we had lost at home to Bromsgrove Rovers so I was determined to see Brakes have a cup run. Our opponents Stourbridge had beaten us 1-0 at the Windmill in 1967 at the same stage so a chance for revenge. We just had 4 qualifying rounds to get through before we joined the League Teams.
The big game of the day featured Don Revie’s Leeds hosting Bill Shankly’s Liverpool. I would have to man mark Yampi for the latest scores on his transistor.
I left the house into the pale autumn light with the sun flitting between moody clouds. Walk up from Ranelagh Street past Flavells Factory (home of the Gas Cooker) turn left onto Brunswick Street past the blocks of flats where local legend has it that a suicide victim once plunged to his death actually shouting Geronimo as he went (Leamington Morning News 2d). Up to the Jet & Whittle Pub. Turn right into Tachbrook Street and then turn left into Tachbrook Road. Pace quickening as I approached the ground.
The first sight of the floodlights (passed on by Man City – I wonder if the Al Mansour is aware of that?. Through the turnstiles and past the refreshment shed. Shall I stop for a hot polystyrene cup of Oxo? Yes! After all it is the FA Cup. Stock Cube immersed in boiling water and I am off to stand behind the covered terrace waiting for my friends.
The teams run out with the smell of liniment strongly wafting across the lush green late summer grass hitting my nostrils. Bright Gold shirts of Leamington and the Red and White of Stourbridge illuminated against the sharp green turf. The Brakes run towards the Home end to the cheers of the faithful. “Come on the old five”. Then spying the manager screaming advice to the team the old chant goes up “Jimmy Knox is in the box”.
1st half we attack the home terrace and me, Stokesy and Yampi stand together among a hundred or so other regulars behind that goal. Some rowdy older boys loudly and rhythmically kicked the corrugated panels at the back of the stand causing splinters to float down across the other fans.
A small group of Stourbridge fans cheered as they took the lead. Damn another season and another cup run going to pot.
At half-time I crouch in closer to the Radio as Yampi tunes into Radio 2 to get the football latest scores. Liverpool drawing 0-0 away at Leeds – not bad I thought.
At half time could we afford a round of Wagon Wheels? I don’t remember but we strolled around past the Cemetery Stand and into the small grassy/muddy bank behind the Windmill end. Would we try and sneak into the main stand. That was easier at night games under cover of darkness. For now we wanted a bird’s eye view of the Lockheed attacks.
The shrill whistle launches the second half with the Gold shirts pouring forward. Lots of pressure now but time running out. Brakes getting closer and closer until into the last 10 minutes. Then Barry Whitlock, veteran centre forward, bundles home after a melee in the sticky goal mouth. Yes. 1-1. Maybe we could get the players coach to the replay. Would the coach leave before school ended though? As Lockheed push for a late winner suddenly a red shirt breaks away towards the far goal. Deep breaths as the shot fires in but thuds against the mud stained olive green jersey of Davy Jones. The goalie clears downfield and the pierce of the whistle signals a home free kick. Could be our last chance. Referee military marching out the 10 yards as though he learnt it on the parade ground. Ball clipped into the box.
Another scramble – time slows as Barry Whitlock swivels in the mud and bobbles the ball with his left foot. We stretch forward straining to see – would one of the Red shirts on the line hoof it away – it dribbles through the defenders and nestles into the far corner. 2-1 Brakes. YESSS. Leaping celebrations among the Windmill end followed by a chant of “We shall not be moved” – the team that’s going to win the FA Cup? Game over and the most of the jubilant crowd arrowed towards the social club behind the main stand. We headed for the exit gates.
The dreams of landing a big game lasted until we hosted Highgate Utd in the 2nd Qualifying Round and lost 0-2. Other notable cup results that day – Abergavenny Thursdays beat Barry Town 1-0 in the Welsh derby while Bromley were beating the Civil Service 10-0.
Liverpool had lost 1-0 at Leeds in the big Division 1 game but that didn’t stop me skipping home, Tachbrook road, Tachbrook Street, Brunswick Street and into Rangelagh Street down past the cooker factory and open the front door where the smell of my Mum’s freshly served mashed potato, mince, onions and carrots met me like a warm embrace.
Heaven – the magic of the FA Cup.
leamingtoninthe70s 