On Saturday, October 5th, Kelvin Langmead announced his retirement after 22 illustrious years in the game. Kelvin started his career as a trainee at Preston North End, who played in the second division of English football, and made a solitary appearance off the bench for the Lilywhites in a 1-1 draw against Millwall. However, due to limited first-team action, Langmead went on to represent 12 different clubs across both the Football League and the non-league pyramid, playing in six different leagues before reaching his final destination at step 4 side Racing Club Warwick. Despite the number of clubs he played for, Langmead had a remarkable ability to win over fans wherever he went. He became a fan favourite at several clubs, especially at Northampton Town and Shrewsbury Town, where he made a combined 356 appearances and scored 32 goals. Yet despite the impact he made at those football league clubs, the Puritans faithful love for Kelvin Langmead is unrivalled, as he was an integral part of the Banbury United squad during their most successful era.
Langmead arrived at OX16 at the age of 36 in the midst of the COVID pandemic; however, his hunger and desire were still rife. This is what attracted newly appointed Banbury United manager Andy Whing to Kelvin, and he swooped in to make him the first signing of his reign—a signing that has proven to be one of the most important and impactful in the club’s history. During his three-year spell, Langmead featured in 75 games for the club in all competitions, scoring 10 goals in the process, showcasing his prowess and impact in both boxes and cementing his place as a key figure. Despite being plagued with injuries at times, Langmead, aided by the trusty foam roller (as his former teammates joked upon his retirement), helped the club achieve a centurion league title, appear in back-to-back FA Cup first rounds, and attain their highest-ever league finish in the National League North.
To honour his remarkable career and time at Banbury United, this blog dives into Langmead’s top five individual moments in Red and Gold. You might think we’re talking about a striker, given his knack for scoring crucial goals, but Langmead was a defender who made an impact at both ends of the pitch. So without further ado, let’s count down his top five goal-scoring moments.
Let’s begin in reverse order:
5) Banbury United versus Barwell – 21st August 2021
The Puritans started the Southern League campaign strongly, collecting 4 points from their first two games. During the opening fixtures, it was evident that Banbury United had a dynamic style of play, pressing from the front with a blend of experience throughout the core of the team. This style of play was no different when Banbury played host to Barwell and raced out of the blocks with a quickfire 2-0 lead. However, as the sporting cliché goes, a 2-0 lead is the worst lead in football, and this became true as Barwell leveled the score just after the hour mark.
As the game drew to a close, it seemed Banbury’s positive start to the campaign would be dampened as the team threw away a 2-0 lead at home. Yet in the 90th minute, Banbury earned a corner in front of the Town End, with Giorgio Rasulo standing over it. As the out-swinging corner was whipped in, Kelvin Langmead rose highest and guided a fine header looping over the goalkeeper and defender on the line, scoring his first goal of the season. When the going got tough, Banbury relied on Langmead’s experience to pull them through and secure all three points. This last-minute winner gave the team confidence and marked the beginning of many late goals that season, which helped them toward their league title victory.
4) Leamington v Banbury United – FA Cup 2nd Qualifying Round 2020
After a solid home win against Carlton Town in the FA Cup First Round Qualifying, Banbury United faced a tough challenge, drawing higher-league opposition in Leamington FC. Historically, the Puritans’ FA Cup record had been less than eye-catching, often struggling to make it beyond the early qualifying rounds. Many feared this draw would bring the same disappointment. However, with the magic of the FA Cup and a new wave of belief instilled by manager Andy Whing and veteran player Kelvin Langmead, there was a sense that Banbury could finally break their 46-year absence from the First Round Proper.
On a gloomy, overcast afternoon, the weather may have been bleak, but Banbury’s performance was anything but. The Step 3 side took a deserved lead in the 17th minute when former Leamington striker Ricky Johnson headed a lofted ball into the box, where central defender Kelvin Langmead rose to nod it past a helpless Weaver. Langmead’s crucial goal proved to be the match-winner, sending Banbury through and putting the ‘brakes’ on Leamington’s FA Cup journey. More importantly, it paved the way for Banbury United’s first appearance in the First Round Proper since 1973, a historic breakthrough for the club.
3) Banbury United v Leiston – 19th October 2021
Leiston made the 312-mile round trip on a Tuesday night, hoping to end Banbury’s excellent start to the season. Goals had been free-flowing, and with six clean sheets in their first 15 games, Banbury had become a formidable force. This game looked like no exception as Morgan Roberts opened the scoring early on. However, an injury to Banbury goalkeeper Jack Harding shifted the momentum, and Banbury soon lost their lead and found themselves in the rare position of being behind.
Facing their first defeat in 15 games, Kelvin Langmead turned into a fox in the box in the 63rd minute, leveling the game with a proper striker’s movement to side-foot the ball into the net. This goal reignited Banbury’s energy, and they peppered the Leiston goal to no avail. Then, in the 94th minute, in a moment of déjà vu, the center-back once again found himself in the box, stabbing home a winner to keep Banbury’s unbeaten record intact. A brace from a center-back sounds unlikely, but keep reading for number two.
2) Hereford v Banbury United – 28th January 2023
Kelvin Langmead was such an integral part of Banbury’s Southern League title campaign that he persevered through the pain, regularly having injections to drain fluid from his knee to keep playing. However, this took a toll, and the thought of retirement crossed his mind. Yet, Langmead decided to stay on for another year with the club. Unfortunately, his knee injury kept him unavailable until New Year’s Day.
By the end of January, Langmead was back in the line-up, starting away at Hereford in Banbury’s first National League North venture. The threadbare squad struggled in the early stages, going 1-0 down, and the Bulls could easily have tripled their tally. The second half, however, was a completely different performance, with Langmead at the heart of it. Banbury’s personnel changes and change of shape quickly brought them level, thanks to the Welsh wizard Alex Babos. Then, in the 65th minute, Langmead’s goal-scoring prowess came to the fore as he headed Banbury into an unlikely 2-1 lead. His defensive contributions were equally vital—Langmead seemed to be everywhere, winning every cross and making key interceptions.
But Hereford weren’t done, and in the 77th minute, they finally broke through to make it 2-2. Yet Langmead and the team weren’t satisfied with a draw. When Jack Stevens parried a shot, the ball fell to the onrushing Langmead, who bravely surged forward to score the winner, sending the 88 away fans into raptures. Leaving Edgar Street that day, I knew I had witnessed one of the finest individual performances by a Banbury player, especially considering Langmead had just returned from a long injury layoff. It was the kind of performance that solidified his status as a club legend.
1) Banbury United versus Bath City – October 2021
It was a sunny Saturday afternoon as Step 3 side Banbury United welcomed National League South side Bath City in the 4th Round Qualifying of the FA Cup. 1,535 fans packed into the ground, hoping the club would achieve back-to-back FA Cup First Rounds and finally allow fans to watch the club feature in the First Round Proper after COVID-19 restrictions had prevented them from cheering the team on live against Canvey Island the previous year.
After a shaky opening 15 minutes, the Puritans grew into the game and shifted the momentum. In added time of the first half, Langmead got onto a loose ball in the box, took his first touch, and smashed it past the impressive Ryan Clarke. This goal was enough to secure victory, and Kelvin was once again the man to send Banbury through, just as he had done in the previous FA Cup campaign against Leamington. Post-game, Whing hailed Langmead’s performance, explaining, “The goal was a great moment for him, but he was outstanding all game.”
This match ignited a flame and awoke a sleeping giant within the town. The crowds grew exponentially, creating a strong rapport between fans and players, ultimately leading to the best points-per-game record the Southern League Central will ever witness. Langmead epitomized what Banbury United Football Club is all about. This was Langers’ finest individual moment in a Banbury shirt, as this goal led the club to TV revenue and exposure in the FA Cup First Round against Barrow.
Overall, Kelvin Langmead had many fine moments for Banbury United and connected the fanbase during the most successful era in the club’s history. As the chant goes, “I just can’t seem to get enough of… Kelvin Langmead.”
Upon leaving the club in 2022, Langmead expressed on his Twitter page the following statement and I think proud is an understatement of what those 3 years were for all of us.
We wish Kelvin all the best in his next chapter as he puts down the foam roller and gives his body a rest. Here at Spencer Reds, we wish him nothing but the best, and on behalf of the fanbase, we thank him for his contributions in Red and Gold.
Thank you as always for reading, please interact with Retweeting, and liking as well let me know your opinions on The article. Also, do you have any other top 5 moments from langers time at Banbury?
UTP
Spencer Reds❤️💛
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