Its matchday 19 in the Enterprise National League North at Penydarren Park and The Martyrs host 24th placed Leamington. Merthyr enter this fixture following an emphatic 6-2 victory over Alfreton with goals from talisman Ricardo Rees, Cole Jarvis and Lewys Twamley which helps put Merthyr just 6 adrift from the top spot. Visitors Leamington FC travel to South Wales hoping to bounce back from a 2-0 away defeat at Chester after 2 early goals from Chester proved enough to claim all 3 points.

Previous Encounters:

Since 2010, 'The Martyrs' have met 6 times with 'The Breaks' but they haven't managed to pick up a victory with Leamington winning 5 and the two sides drawing once. The last meeting between these two sides at Penydarren Park happened in the Southern Premier League during the 2016/17 season. The game ended 1-1 at Penydarren Park despite Merthyr Town taking an early lead.

KNOW YOUR OPPONENT | KEY STAFF

Manager | Paul Holleran

First Team Coach | Chris Knott

Manager Paul Holleran took the helm at Leamington FC in November 2009, and he has managed well over 500 games at the club. During his lengthy time at Leamington, he has led the club to a Southern League Title, a playoff win, 3 Birmingham Senior Cup wins alongside leading 'The Brakes' to the National League North. During his playing career Paul Holleran started at Birmingham City as a scholar, who also playing for Alvechurch and Solihull Borough before two knee operations forced Holleran into an early retirement which he saw as an opportunity to move into coaching. Paul Holleran first experience in coaching came as he was an instrumental character in setting up youth and reserve teams at Solihull before his first managerial role came at Kings Norton Town. Paul Holleran guided them to a runners up place in the Midland Alliance League and a cup win before he left to rejoin Solihull where he worked alongside David Busst prior to taking over as manager of the club. Paul Holleran also had a spell at Halesowen Town in which he won promotion with the club in the 2003/04 season after taking over in the latter part of the season. During his tenure at Halesowen, he won the Worcestershire Senior Cup and lead his side to the 1st round proper of the FA Cup. Paul Holleran has also managed Rushall Olympic where he took them to two play-off finishes and the 4th qualifying round of the FA cup for the first time in the club's history.

First Team Coach Chris Knott initially joined Leamington to help assist the creation of the Academy at the club. Knott still leads the Academy programme while also becoming Head of Football Development in 2022 and First Team Coach since 2020. Chris Knott began his playing career at 16 where he was a goalkeeper for Knowle in the Midland Combination League. Chris Knott went on to represent the league in the FA National League System Cup where he reached the final in the 2007/08 season. Unfortunately, Knott was forced to retire at 26 but he went on to become involved in the management team at Knowle, first with the reserve team and then as assistant and manager of the 1st team prior to his decision to leave and focus on gaining his coaching qualifications. He earned his UEFA license in April 2018 and worked at Lowestoft Town and first team coach at Heather ST Johns before joining Leamington.

KNOW YOUR OPPONENT | SEASON SO FAR

'The Brakes' have had a poor 2025/26 campaign so far which sees them sit bottom of the National League North. Their season started with an away trip to Curzon Ashton where they drew 1-1 with Miro Pais scoring the equalizer on the 68th minute to claim a point on the opening day. With hopes to build on the solid away point in matchday 1, Leamington hosted South Shields on matchday 2 but unfortunately, they came up short and were defeated 2-0. Despite this defeat the next 5 games for Leamington saw them pick up valuable points with 3 wins and 1 draw from 5 games which includes a 2-1 victory against Radcliffe, 1-0 victory against Chorley and a 2-1 win over Southport. However, since their home triumph against Southport on the 2nd of September, Leamington have failed to win a league game picking up just 2 points which came against AFC Fylde and Oxford City which were both 1-1 draws. In their last 3 games prior to the Merthyr Town clash Lamington have failed to score a goal as they have lost 2-0 against King's Lynn Town, 1-0 against Marine and 2-0 away at Chester in their most recent fixture. The top goal scorer so far this season for 'The Brakes' has been Ewan Williams who has scored 3 league goals this season.

KNOW YOUR OPPONENT | 2025/26 SQUAD

Goalkeepers | Eddie Brearey, Zander Watson

Defenders | Demico Burton, Archie Crowther, Rob Evans, Dan Meredith, Josh Quaynor, Theo Streete, Max Ram

Midfielders | Hisham Chiha, Joe Clarke, Ethan Hill, Miro Pais, Luke Shaw, Will Shorrock, Adam Walker, Ewan Williams

Attackers | Tim Berridge, Owen Farmer, Ant Lynn, Owen Farmer

Match Details

Date | Tuesday 25th November 2025

Competition | Enterprise National League North

Time | 19:45

Stadium | Penydarren Park