Jimmy Knox – RIP.

Paul Vanes writes:

JAMES (Jimmy) HAY KNOX
Born in Brechin 26 November 1935, died in Rugby 24 December 2012

Jimmy played for Raith Rovers in Scotland before moving into the Midlands signing for Coventry City in May 1957. He played twice for the first team making his debut at home to Bournemouth on September 9 but it was no fairy tail ending as the Bantams lost 0-3 and his final appearance was another home defeat, 1-4 against Millwall on 17th November watched by 17,199 fans. By 1959 Jimmy had joined Rugby Town at the start of a very successful and lengthy non league career and Lockheed first came across Jimmy Knox when he arrived with his team mates for an FA cup tie on September 10 1960 which the Brakes duly won 4-0. Jimmy played at left half in this match and the teams met again only in the Birmingham Senior cup on November 12, Jimmy levelled the scores from a penalty and Rugby strode away to record a 4-2 victory. A hat trick of cup matches against the Town was recorded on 9 September 1961 and the visitors triumphed by the odd goal in three in front of 2,033 spectators. In 1963/64 season the teams met three times in the same competition, 1-1 at Rugby, 2-2 at home after extra time and finally in a second replay Brakes won by the odd goal in three.

Manager Sid Ottewell produced the best signing in the close season of 1964 by getting Jimmy to join Lockheed and as skipper, he helped win the Midland Counties League title then Jimmy returned to Scotland helping his brother run a transport haulage company before re-appearing and scoring at Darlaston in a BSC cup game which Brakes won by 9-2 in October 1965. Jimmy made more than 73 appearances and netted over 28 goals for the Brakes.

Jimmy then joined Corby Town in August 1966 for a small fee and the clubs met twice in the Midland Floodlit cup, you do not have to ask, he scored. In 1968/69 season he was with Banbury United and he returned to Rugby to end his playing career making his 650th Southern League appearance against Ramsgate and begin the journey into combining playing football and management with the club which was cut short when Town folded in 1973. He re-joined the Brakes and immediately set out his vision on the future for the club bringing former team mates John Brady, Norman Foster, Doug Griffiths, Dave Jones and Steve Lee. Lockheed had become AP Leamington and won the Southern League cup in the first final to feature two sides from below the premier division and the Brakes climbed to fourth place on the ladder. In 74/75 Brakes won the Championship Shield defeating Premier champions Dartford and reached the first round proper of the FA against Southend United and the final of the Birmingham Senior cup losing to Atherstone Town. That was bettered the following season, the first round of the FA cup was again achieved but the bonus was a runners up spot in the league and promotion to the Premier Division – yet another first for the club whilst Adrian Stewart ended joint top scorer of the Southern League with 39 goals.

In 1977/78 season the Brakes reached the second round of the FA cup losing after a replay to Southend and were knocked out of the semi finals of the Senior cup for the second year running, Brakes also lost star defender Roger Brown who was transferred to AFC Bournemouth for a record sum. The next season was the key one as league positions decided where clubs would play in 1979/80 season, Brakes again got to the second round of the FA cup losing this time to Torquay by a single goal and the club managed to reach the Senior Cup final but lost after a replay to Bedworth United. AP climbed to seventh in the table and were rewarded with a slot in the new Alliance Premier League as the FA started to get the Pyramid system in order.

1979/80 saw AP Leamington in exalted company and the side struggled to make an impact giving the spending power of some of the clubs but ended in the 18th position to guarantee another season at the top of non league football, Nuneaton Borough beat Brakes in the final of the Midland floodlit cup and the semi final of the Senior cup. 1980/81 was to be Jimmy’s last season at the Windmill ground, the club languishing at or near the bottom but the final straw was a home defeat by Isthmian second division side Barton Rovers on 1st November, Jimmy said he was not a quitter and would not resign but some level headed thinking over the week end he reversed his decision knowing he had taken AP Leamington as far as he could.

Waiting in the wings were VS Rugby and over the next eleven years he took the club ever upward securing promotion to the Southern League and then winning the Midland Division with promotion to the Premier division in 1987, he also won – the FA Vase at Wembley, the Southern League cup, twice winning both the Birmingham Senior cup and Midland Floodlit cup. They reached the first round proper of the FA cup losing a replay to Northampton Town in 84/85 and did the same the following season before losing 4-1 against Leyton Orient.

Jimmy continued to live in Rugby and suffered a strike shortly before his wife Mary died then some four months later Jimmy slipped away. His son Steve was also a footballer playing for AP Leamington, Banbury United and VS Rugby amongst other clubs. On behalf of all Brakes Trust members and supporters of Leamington Football Club, we offer our sincere condolences to his children Caroline, Steve, Kate and Jackie and all friends of the family,

Rest in Peace, Jim.

Jimmy Knox’s league management career with the Brakes:

* image – Coventry Evening Telegraph.