by Peter Scherer
From FA Cup success at Stamford last Saturday it’s now back to FA Trophy action, as we welcome Sutton Coldfield Town to the Vibrant doors Arena.
It was good to have our first choice back four together again with both Hamza Bencherif and Dwayne Wiley back from injury, but there are still a number of players on out casualty list.
Our visitors are second in the league on goal difference, having won all five of their matches so far. Their only defeat was in the FA Cup, going down 1-3 at home to Coventry Utd. In the opening round of the FA Trophy they travelled to Worcester Raiders for a 2-1 victory.
Jemiah Richards has been in charge since last October, having previously been at Sporting Khalsa and after drawing 2-2 at home to them last season in the league, we went down 0-4 in the return.
James Wren is first choice goalkeeper and assistant manager. He started out with Walsall, before joining Burton Albion following his release. He then moved on to Tamworth, who also loaned him to Redditch, before visiting Barwell, Nuneaton and Stafford Rangers.
He first joined our visitors in 2025, moving to Hednesford two years later. Stourbridge, Walsall Wood and Rushall followed, before returning to Sutton in July 2024 from Chasetown.
Wren’s deputy is teenager Joe Bisseker, who has comes through the clubs own youth scheme.
Right back Tom Hurley came through Sutton’s own youth scheme. He made his first team debut at 16 and also had a spell at Wolverhampton Casuals before rejoining our visitors.
Ayo Lekuti also plays left back or midfield. He was signed at the start of last season from Rugby Town after starting his career at Northampton Town. He’s also played for Bromsgrove Sporting and Lye Town.
Captain and centre back James Beresford is another home produced and long serving player. He has been with the club for 10 years.
Luke McGinnell is a defender who arrived in July 2024 from Chasetown. He has also played for Loughborough Dynamo.
Centre back Archie Duerden had recently returned to the club from Worcester after impressing at the end of last season on a dual registration from Bromsgrove. He’s a former Aston Villa Junior.
Zak Kourouyianni is a centre back too, signed from Sporting Khalsa in pre-season.
Left back Matthew Jackson was signed from Droitwich Spa after impressing in pre-season trials.
Remie Birch is a midfielder signed initially in August 2023. He also had a spell at Romulus before returning to our visitors.
Jayden Campbell is a right sided midfielder who started out at Walsall. He joined Rushall following his release, before spending two years at Chasetown. He joined our visitors in July 2025 after spending last season with Sporting Khalsa.
Ryan Edmunds came from Bromsgrove in February 2023. Another midfielder, he started at Alvechurch and played for Rushall, Boldmere and Stafford before joining Sutton initially July 2015. After two seasons he moved to Coleshill, followed by Nuneaton, Redditch and Bromsgrove, preceded his return to Sutton.
Reece Gibson is an experienced and long serving midfielder and has captained the side too. James McGrady is another midfielder, previously at Sporting Khalsa.
Midfielder James McQuilkin was signed at the start of this season. A former West Bromwich Albion youngster, capped by Northern Ireland at Under 11, 19 and 21, he played for FC Zlin in Croatia, before returning to the UK with Hereford.
He’s played for Walsall, Hednesford, Torquay, Kidderminster, Telford and Stourbridge too and spent the last two seasons at Stafford Rangers.
Courtney Richards is a midfielder recently signed from Bewdley Town. A former Coventry City and Brighton junior, he spent three years at Torquay following his release, before moving on to Macclesfield, Solihull, Nuneaton, Braintree, Wulfruninans and Alvechurch. Stratford, Bromsgrove, Hednesford and Worcester followed, and finally a three-year say at Bewdley.
Winger Luca Taylor made his debut last season, before leaving on US Scholarship. However he has now returned to our visitors.
Aaron Cameron is one of the new signings, arriving pre-season from Highgate Utd, he’s a midfielder too.
Striker Kory Burke started last season with Sutton, before leaving for Boldmere St.Michaels. He returned last month. He’s played for Bedworth too.
Bakar Moussa is a young winger who had come through the clubs youth scheme. He’s had time with Stafford Town too.
Kick off is at 3pm, let’s give the lads loads of support and see them into the next round.