LEAMINGTON have confirmed the departure of star striker Cally Stewart to League One side Shrewsbury Town for an undisclosed fee.
The Leamington-born striker is currently the top scorer in the National League North this season with 14 goals.
He departs the Your Co-Op Community Stadium to join a Shrewsbury side who sit 22nd in the League One relegation zone, eight points from safety.
Salop play three levels above the Brakes and are managed by Gareth Ainsworth.
Stewart, who scored 37 goals in 74 appearances for the Brakes, said: “A massive thank you to the fans, players, the gaffer and everyone at the club.
“Without the gaffer I wouldn’t have been able to develop in the way I have and sign for a League One club.
“I’ve made so many special memories at the club in the 18 months I’ve been here.
“Hearing my chant from the terraces sung every week has been brilliant, and they are memories I’ll always take with me.
“It’s been a privilege as a local lad and a fan to be given the chance represent the club and even captain Leamington.
“I was a Brakes fan before I joined and I’ll carry on being a fan forever. It’ll be the first result I check every week, and I definitely won’t be a stranger.
“A massive thank you for the special memories made. I’ll see you all very soon.”
Leamington boss Paul Holleran added: “There’s mixed emotions in losing Cally. We’re sad to be losing such a wonderful young man, a great character.
“We’ve been on a bit of his journey with him – developing with us over the last 18 months from when he joined to where he is now.
“With him being a Leamington supporter, he’s got that affinity with everyone. As much as we’re disappointed to lose him, it’s been weighed out with the happiness for him and his family.
“The work that he’s put in, starting at Step Six or Seven, being rejected by more clubs than probably any other player has, to keep going and score plenty of goals, getting better and better is an amazing achievement.
“Both ourselves and Coventry Sphinx will be immensely proud when he gets that scarf above his head at a League One club, it’s going to be a special moment and just another step on his journey.
“It’ll be great to see where he goes, looking at his last 18 months with us and how he performed before then – he’s a hungry player and with the right management and full time training, it’s genuinely exciting for his future.
“Whilst I understand some around the club might be naturally disappointed, when you get EFL clubs coming in for young players it’s very hard to stand in their way after everything he’s worked for here.”
As part of the deal, Shrewsbury will visit Leamington for a pre-season friendly ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.
The 23-year-old has scored two hat-tricks this season, netting trebles against both Oxford City and Curzon Ashton.
He did not feature in Leamington’s heavy 4-1 home defeat against Chester last night.
Stewart helped Leamington achieve promotion from the Southern League Premier Central last season.
He scored 22 goals as the Brakes returned to the National League North at the first attempt via the play-offs.
