Biography: Josh Blake – Full back, Midfield, Striker, Leamington Legend
Josh Blake – Josh had an excellent couple of seasons, `Mr Versatility, Josh has shown what a great footballer he is by being able to play in a number of positions for Daventry Town, whether at full back, midfield or as a second striker, Josh is a reliable performer wherever he plays! Josh has already started banging in the goals this season!
On 25th August 2012 Josh was enrolled into the `Legends Hall of Fame` at Leamington FC after 406 appearances for the Brakes over nine seasons, during which he scored an amazing 187 goals. Josh is a very worthy candidate for Brakes Legend status. Josh had many highlights during his time at Leamington, but a few that stand out are his four goal haul against Loughborough Dynamo on the day the Midland Alliance title was presented, the winning goal at Margate in the FA Trophy, and in the same season his two goals at Fisher Athletic in the same competition. As a player and a person Josh encapsulates all that is good about non -league football.
Ask any Brakes fan to name a player synonymous with the rebirth of the club and the first 10 years since, and the chances are they will answer with the name Josh Blake. As a teenager he was the first of the new wave of Gold and Black heroes that kicked off our bright new beginning on August 19th 2000, scoring the first league goal at the New Windmill Ground, one of a brace as Leamington defeated Enville Athletic 3-1.
They were to be the first of many for Josh in the Gold and Black, and though he shared the limelight with a number of other talented strikers down the years, he remains one of the most popular players to have turned out for the club. His appearance and goal scoring tally is a record in the new era, and most likely in the whole history of the club too. Josh shared and helped create the buzz around the New Windmill Ground as Brakes rose from the Midland Combination Division 2 back to Premier Division of the Southern League. Each season people questioned whether he was capable of making the step up, and they were answered emphatically every time.
He always has time for a chat, and despite turning out for league rivals Banbury United, the Brakes support still chant 'Walking along, singing a song, walking in a Blakey wonderland.' Joshua Blake - A true Brakes legend.