By Mark Delia

Seventeen Go To Cadbury (A Tale of Different Bars!!!!)

"Lets all go to an away game on the train." My mates had been going on about this since the start of the season; we had been to the Wilmcote match the week before, mainly in cars, so this was it - the big one! At The Exchange at half-eleven we told everyone who cared to listen and those who did not. No pre-journey refreshment here for us however as it was shut! So we walked up to the station to see who was about, we knew it would be a good day when we saw Mr Kelly with his away day bag. We then went into The Jug and Jester where a few more faces greeted us. A quick pint and back up the station, where more faces greeted us, seventeen to be exact. This was a great turn out (well we aren't Man Utd).

To the buffet car thus went some hardy souls; myself and my lads (Des Marshall, Martin Cotter, Andy Feighoney and Neville Billington), as well as Geordie and The Windmill crew. Three cans at two quid a go, they must have seen us coming! At the bar we picked up two more; Mr Bigley and his lady but lost one as Des went to see Villa v Derby (mug!). By now we were a bunch of merry souls mixing with the Brummie shoppers, bet they enjoyed that! At the Cadbury club we had lost Jim and his lot, but Toby and The Tachbrook boys (well it beats counting sheep?) had made it. To the Cadbury bar then. (Oh come on! I've put off this pun for long enough!!!)

The steward's comments on the size of our away support led us to warn him about the imminent arrival of the supporters' coach, and he thought we were joking! When the coach load arrived he was gobsmacked - poor bloke had to phone for help! Something we all needed at this stage I believe! On to the game then and a viewing position behind the goal, not before buying one of those new badges, classy or what? Better than those old shields, you could have gone into battle with one of those! Goalie baiting time then and didn't we do just that!

First goal of the game then, if my memory serves me right Baz Shearsby, top corner, what a screamer. Didn't last long though as they hit back quite quickly with an equally fine strike. Up steps Baz again with an identical goal however to restore our lead, some great stuff ensued from the Brakes and then came the chant of the day "no noise from the Quaker boys" - classy from Mr. Feighoney. Just to shut us up though, Cadbury drew level again with a scrappy goal to cries of "You're just a bunch of wOnkers" which was nice. Up the other end then and a bit of terracing, lovely! 250 loyal Leamington souls, what a great bunch, urging the lads on in the second half to no avail. A disappointing and disjointed second half saw us pumping in high balls with a monotonous regularity which just seemed crass when they had two giants in defence?

Cadbury then put the Willie Wonkas up the Leamington support by hitting our bar twice, and thus the only way to recover our nerve was to hit their bar for a second time, which we were starting to look forward to as the game drew to a close! But before it was club time again, and a reaquaintance with the shell-shocked club steward, Rugrat headed over, and also should have gained us a penalty toward the end, great character that lad! That was it then, bar the shouting at Mr Neal Leach (Cadbury's barracked goalie!), and thus back to the club again where you've guessed it - we sat next to the aforementioned goalie's dad! He proved to be a top man though as was the goalie himself when he arrived and got more stick from his new 'Fan Club'! All in good fun though I think!

Back to the station now where Mr. Kelly poured the fifteen remaining drunkards a glass of wine each. Classy! New Street again and an after-Cadbury Bar. The bouncer's "No football fans" rebuff momentarily betrayed his lapse in concentration before looking at our new badges, and proclaiming "Oh Leamington lads - in you go then..." Fame indeed. Last stop then for the gang was The Exchange, where seventeen said goodbye until the next time. This much fun had not been had by a midlands football club supporters, involving chocolate and away trips, since Coventry City provided everyone with a laugh by playing away in a chocolate-coloured strip in the late 1970's!

After only getting a draw, Brakes may have been knocked off the top of the table, but for this reporter it was a top day. Fond memories of Bars then; whether they be of the goalpost variety, filled with drinks for sale, or just of the plain chocolatey type (or should that be milk? - eh!) this Bournville bash could hardly have been bettered (Bar 3 points gained of course!!!).

Leamington Paul O'Keeffe; Tim Romback (Jon Burgess 67m); Ian Billington (Darren Timms 68m); Will Payne; Kevin Ariss; Adam Ball; Barry Shearsby; Guy Rippon, Josh Blake; Brian Agar (Haydon Proctor 90m), Darren Timms