Oogi Nights

[DJ]

Leamington visit the Grove on Tuesday for the first time in a league match since 2010 and are currently managed by former Yeltz 2004-2006 manager Paul Holleran (Oogi). Remarkably he was also in charge on their last visit almost 13 years ago, having clocked up over 660 games in the manager’s role at Leamington.

There’s plenty to get stuck into here when we look at the last two games the Brakes played at the Grove. On Saturday 10th October 2009, Halesowen won 3-0 with David Blenkinsopp hitting two goals and Tom Bates added a late third goal. In a bizarre scene, potential new Halesowen owners landed in a black helicopter on the pitch (although I have the photos, some things once seen are then probably best left unseen). Also bizarrely, talented young Leamington manager Jason Cadden paid the price for the defeat and was unceremoniously sacked on the Yeltz car park after the game.

Oogi took over shortly afterwards in early November 2009 and his assistant was named as former Yeltz player and Halesowen-based Lee Williams.

The scoreline was reversed at 3-0 to Leamington in the following season at the Grove clash on 25th September 2010 in the last league meeting between the teams. Former Yeltz striker Matt Lewis bagged a hat-trick for the Brakes to inflict a fourth successive league defeat for the Yeltz in a woeful September. A weak and largely unmemorable home line-up attracted just 376 fans. New shirt sponsor Domino’s Pizza were unveiled at the game although as I reported at the time it was the Halesowen defence that ended up being neatly sliced with Leamington boasting six former Yeltz players as well as a former Yeltz manager. Can anyone name them from the Leamington line-up as follows?: Leamington team: Breedon; Lycett, Cowley, Downes (c), Hood, Daly, Jackson, Husband (Faulds 84), Lewis (Wilding 79), Corbett, Batchelor (Tuohy 90). Unused Subs: Williams, Murphy.

In another link between the clubs, Leamington purchased the old Grove floodlights in 2002, originally won by the Yeltz in the 1983 Thorn-EMI six-a-side competition and they remain in use at Leamington’s New Windmill ground to this day. The refurbished lights were unveiled in a friendly between the two clubs on 23rd July, 2002 in front of 403 fans. Halesowen ran out winners 3-1 with manager’s son Kelvin Phillips curling home to give the Yeltz a 7th minute lead and Gareth Holmes, previously of Derby County, steered home to make it 2-0 just five minutes later. Defender Richard Adams turned the ball past Yeltz first-half goalkeeper Mark Garvey to make it 2-1 after 16 minutes before Jimmy Quiggin headed Halesowen 3-1 ahead in the 43rd minute. The official floodlight switch-on came at the half-time interval, together with a firework display. Here’s a pic from the second-half and a quiz for anyone who recalls those days: 1) Name the Halesowen numbers 3, 4 and 5 from the picture. Even more difficult and worth a million points: 2) Who was Halesowen’s goalkeeper during the second half?

Tuesday’s clash promises to be another good game, not least – “‘cause Oogi nights are always the best in town”.

[HalesowenHarry]

Lycett, Cowley, Hood, Daly, Lewis, Williams but not certain, as don't know if a couple of the others may have played for us............

as for the Leamington game, I know the goalkeeper (relative-ly) well, but will let others get that...... Ross Collins must be number 5.......... 3 and 4 would be pure guesses on my half..........

[andy]

Great post! Cheers Dave.

[Laurel Lane Lamper]

This lunchtime’s BBC Football Focus included a feature on Oogi who completes 700 games in charge at Leamington. What an achievement!!