Match Preview | Leamington (H)
Paul Holleran faces the side he managed for 16 years as his first game at home as interim manager
Head to Head
The last two meetings have come in the Birmingham Senior Cup, both of which we lost. The most recent league game was also a defeat, in March 2024 at Leamington’s Your Co-op Community Stadium. We have a poor record against the Brakes, as we have failed to win any of our last seven games against them. Our last victory was at home in October 2009 – a 3-0 win in front of an attendance of 606.
The most recent match between the two came in January, when we travelled to the then National League North Brakes in the Senior Cup, while they were under the interim management of Chris Knott – who’s now at Racing Club Warwick. Leamington’s opener on the night came with just 90 seconds on the clock through now Barrow forward Seb Thompson. The hosts doubled the lead through Tim Berridge just after the half hour mark. We failed to salvage a penalty shootout, as Jim Kellermann’s early second half penalty was saved, before we eventually found a consolation through Ty Barnett in stoppage time.
Opposition Overview
Manager
Scott Easterlow
The Brakes boss joined the club as manager in March this year, replacing interim Chris Knott who had taken charge following Paul Holleran’s departure after 16 years last December. Easterlow is at just his second club in management, having been the manager at Racing Club Warwick from May 2017-June 2019 & July 2021-March 2026. The latter spell was the most successful, as he won two promotions in three seasons, leading the Racers to ninth at step 4 upon his departure from the club.
The Leamington born manager joined the Brakes when they were 13 points from safety at step 2, and was unable to save them from relegation in their remaining 10 league games. This season hasn’t started much better for Leamington either, picking up the two wins in 13 league matches.
Goalkeepers
Brian Okonkwo
The 20 year old joined last month on loan from West Bromwich Albion. The young keeper left Arsenal’s academy in the summer of 2025, and spent time on loan at Hitchin Town in step 3 in February 2023 & February-May 2025. He has started all six games since his arrival.
Cian Tyler
The 24 year old signed in the summer after a year away from football. The former Coventry City academy keeper has had a spell in the National League North with Hereford previously in his career. He had started the first seven league games for the Brakes this season, but is now unavailable through injury.
Defenders
Callum Cockerill-Mollett
The 27 year old signed in the summer from step 1 Tamworth. The left back and former Wasall academy defender featured eight times last season in the National League due to injury. He has started all 13 of Leamington’s league games this season.
Josh Flanagan
The 24 year old signed earlier this month from Leighton Town. The right back featured in 37 league games for Banbury United last season, before joining Leighton this summer where he made eight league appearances. He has started all four of Leamington’s league matches since his arrival.
Ruben Freeman
The 24 year old signed in the summer from step 4 Sporting Club Inkberrow. The central defender made 26 league appearances for the Eagles last season, also having a 11 game spell at step 3 with Stourbridge. He has made seven league appearances for Leamington this season, all but one of which in the XI.
Jahdahn Fridye-Harper
The 29 year old signed in the summer from step 4 Barwell. After a very successful time at Barwell in the 2024/25 season, the defender joined AFC Telford United in February of that season, and ended up scoring in their play-off final win. The right back who has also play in the centre of defense, made seven National League North appearances last season, before rejoining Barwell at step 3 in February and making 12 league appearances. He has featured six times this season in the league for Leamington, four of which in the XI.
Nathan Kabeya
The 21 year old signed in the summer from step 4 Rugby Town. The versatile defender and former Wolves academy man, featured 37 times last season for Rugby. He has made 10 league appearances for Leamington this season, six of which in the XI.
Nat Kelly
The 31 year old signed in the summer from step 4 Chasetown. The central defender spent two years at the Yeltz from 2021-2023, and has had five different clubs in the last three years. The former Birmingham City academy defender featured for Bedworth United, Stratford Town & Chasetown last season. He has started all 13 of Leamington’s league games this season.
Byron Wilson
The 21 year old signed in the summer from step 2 Oxford City. The young fullback made 16 NL North appearances last season, and had also played for Alvechurch, Bromsgrove Sporting & Brentford’s academy. He has made six league appearances for Leamington this season, all of which in the XI.
Midfielders
Koby Arthur
The 30 year old signed in the summer from step 4 Darlaston Town. The midfielder spent most of last season with Bromsgrove Sporting, where he made 21 league appearance. He joined Darlaston in March, and ended the campaign with four league appearances. He has played seven times for the Brakes this season, only one of which in the XI.
Kyle Belmonte
The 27 year old signed in the summer from Worcester City. The attacking midfielder scored four goals in 28 league games for the Blues last season, also scoring once in 10 league appearances on loan at Bromsgrove. He has featured in all but one of Leamington’s league games this season, nine of which in the XI.
Cam Eubank
The 20 year old signed in the summer from Birmingham City’s academy. The young midfielder spent time in non-league last season at Maidenhead United, making six National League South appearances at the end of the campaign. The majority of the season was spent with the Blues U21’s, where he played 15 times in Premier League 2. He has scored once this season for the Brakes, and featured in all but one of their league games, nine of which in the XI.
Kyle Finn
The 27 year old signed in the summer from the Yeltz. Having already played for us in the 2021/22 season, the former Coventry City academy midfielder scored three goals in 39 league appearances last season for us. He is Leamington’s joint highest league scorer this season with four goals, and he has started all 13 of their league games.
Iddriss Fuseini
The 22 year old signed in the summer from step 4 Rugby Borough. The midfielder, who has played in Ghana & Serbia in his young career, featured in every league game for the Worcestershire side last season. He has made nine league appearances this season for the Brakes, three of which in the XI.
Rajdeep Palit
The 22 year old signed in the summer from step 4 Shepshed Dynamo. The versatile midfielder made 22 league appearances for the latter in the best part of last season, before ending the campaign with two goals in seven league games for step 5 Hinckley AFC. He has made 10 league appearances for Leamington this season, seven of which in the XI.
Luke Pennell
The 30 year old signed earlier this month from step 4 Newport Pagnell. The midfielder who can also play across the backline, ended his over three year stay at the Buckinghamshire based side to join the Brakes. He has featured in two league games since his arrival, one of which in the XI.
Forwards
Owen Farmer
The 21 year old signed in January from Wolves academy. The young striker scored three goals in 16 Nl North games on loan at Rushall Olympic in the 2023/24 season, before scoring two in 21 on loan at the Brakes in 2024/25 campaign. He made 35 last season for them, has scored once this season, and featured in all but one of their league games, seven of which in the XI.
Kai Tonge
The 29 year old signed in the summer from Stamford. The striker scored 10 goals in 39 league games for the Daniels last season. Alongside Finn, he is Leamington’s joint highest league scorer with four goals in six league appearances, all of which starts.
Chris Wreh
The 30 year old signed in the summer from step 2 Bedford Town. The striker has a long list of non-league clubs to his name, including Hereford, Bedford, Hartlepool, Tamworth, Southend United & Scunthorpe United to name a few. He made five league appearances in the NL North across Bedford & Hereford last season, but enjoyed most of the campaign on a successful loan at Banbury United, scoring six goals in 33 league matches. He has scored three times for Leamington this season, and featured in all 13 of their league matches, all but one of which in the XI.
Andre Wright
The 29 year old signed last month from Rushall. The forward who can play all the way along the frontline, is at his 19th club having started out at the West Brom academy. He spent time at the Yeltz at the Yeltz for the first half of 2019, and featured for both Stratfors Town & Evesham United last season. He made five league appearances for Rushall at the start of this season, and has since made six for Leamington since his arrival, one of which in the XI.
Tickets
Tickets for the game can be purchased on the gate with cash or card, for the following prices:
🎟️ £14 Adults, £11 Concessions, £8 U18’s, £4 U12’s
To speed up the process of getting into the ground for this fixture, and helping us out on the turnstiles, tickets can also be purchased online ⤵️
🔗 https://ht-fc.ticketco.events/uk/en/e/leamington2627
Played for Both Clubs
Yeltz: Rob Evans, Dan Meredith & Ty Barnett
Leamington: Nat Kelly, Kyle Finn & Andre Wright