MIDFIELDER Jack Edwards has left Leamington after almost 11 years with the club to join local rivals Racing Club Warwick.
The 34-year-old departs Leamington as the club’s modern-day record appearance holder.
He scored 68 goals in 456 appearances for the Brakes across two spells spanning almost 11 years and also captained the club.
However, he has now decided to drop down two levels to join Warwick in the Northern Premier League Midlands.
Edwards said: “Where do I start? 11 years with the club, 450-plus games, many of those as captain, and at a very high level of non-league football.
“But unfortunately, all good things must come to an end.
“I could never have imagined it would have gone as well as it has, but the ageing process is a natural, gradual but irreversible process, leading to a decline in physical and mental capacities.
“Step Two football doesn’t relent for both me and my family, and I need to make a decision that suits me, my family, but also the football club. Simple as that.
“Thank you for looking after me and my family all these years. You’ve all been amazing.”
Brakes boss, Paul Holleran added: “‘Sadly you always know these days are coming, but it doesn’t make it any easier when you’re losing a player of Jack’s stature at the football club.
“It was 11 years ago when I brought him to Leamington, and in that time we’ve had some incredible players here that have gone on to play a brilliant level of football, but nobody has and probably ever will achieve as much as Jack Edwards has, on and off the pitch.
“There was certainly a period during our six-year stint in the National League North where Jack was as good as any player in that league, and I do firmly believe that if it wasn’t for his career outside of football and his loyalty to Leamington, he would have gone on and played at a full time football club, there’s no doubt about that.
“We can’t replace Jack Edwards. We’ve just got to try and manage the situation and see where we go with it, but as a football club we’re eternally grateful for what he’s done for us on and off the pitch, because single-handedly, for a number of years, he was central to what we achieved.
“It will be hard going into pre-season and the season with him not being there. He’s been here for so long, and been so important, and just his presence around the place and his influence on the other players.
“He’s going out on a real high. He still wants to play a bit of football. Sadly they don’t make them like Jack Edwards anymore.
“I’ve been lucky to know him and lucky to manage him. He’s become a dear friend over the years, and we wish him and his family nothing but the best.
“It is goodbye for now, but Jack will be getting involved in the Coventry game during pre-season, and it certainly won’t be the last we’ve seen of him.
“We’re so grateful for everything he’s done for us. People talk about this player and that player, and what I’ve done for the club, but trust me, the contribution that Jack Edwards has made to this football club over the last 11 years will never be touched again, ever.”
Edwards first joined Leamington as a 23-year-old in the summer of 2014 and developed his game over the next three seasons before departing for Solihull Moors.
Following a brief spell with Moors, Edwards returned to the Brakes in September 2017 and helped the club establish themselves in the National League North during a six-season spell at Step Two.
He won two promotions and three Birmingham Senior Cup titles with Leamington and helped the Brakes achieve a record points tally at Step Two last season.
