Jack Chapman RIP
The Championship Winning Team
Former Brakes trainer/coach Jack Chapman has recently passed away.
This loveable Irishman started his sporting career as a jockey mixed in with his love of boxing and cricket but it was football that give him an edge becoming a FA qualified coach, trainer and physiotherapist. He was appointed as coach for his County Boys club representative eleven.
Jack coached – in alphabetical order – AP Leamington, Bromsgrove Rovers, Burton Albion, Highgate United, Kidderminster Harriers, Knowle, and West Midlands Police. He was also the physio at Stratford Town and assisted Les Beasly in the youth team for 3 years. Jack thought he was going to fulfil one ambition with Burton Albion, only ten minutes from Wembley when Matlock scored to clinch the game by three goals to one.
Jack also managed a successful reign at Chadwick End FC in the Leamington Sunday League, where they won numerous league titles and cups
Jack arrived at the Windmill ground answering a call from the legendary Graham Allner to help the team regain their place in the Conference and the Brakes won the Southern League premier division title. That fateful weekend the club received two body blows, the ground was rejected by the Conference and the factory owners put the place up for sale.
Mr. Allner left to join Kidderminster Harriers in late 1983 and Jack followed in the close season months later and soon realised the ambition of going to Wembley as Harriers played a goalless draw with Burton Albion then winning the FA Trophy replay at the Hawthorns.
He was physio to West Midlands Police from 1994 to 1997 when current Brakes chairman Jim Scott was manager who described Jack as fantastic to work with and there was never a dull moment in his company. Jack and his wife Jane lived in Stratford-on-Avon when Jack retired from full time work.
At the age of 75, Jack and Jane moved to Spain spending a decade over there then deciding to return home to join his daughter Sue and her family in Poole and sadly his wife preceded Jack in June last year.
Rest in Peace Jack.
There will be a memorial service at St. Laurence church, Old Warwick Road, Rowington CV35 7AA on March 28th at 2pm. With refreshments after at Rowington Club (not Social club).
We sincerely hope that Jack’s children, Eddie, Robert and Sue plus their families and relatives; and all the many friends of Jack will accept the deepest sympathy and condolences of the members of the Brakes Trust and all fans of Leamington Football Club.
