by Peter Scherer
Tuesday night we face probably our toughest opposition in the league this season, when we visit Wellingborough Town, who had won every league game this season, until their 0-0 draw at Carlton last Saturday.
They currently lie second in the table, three points behind Sutton Coldfield with three games in hand.
Saturday was also an important win for Sports with the 2-0 victory over Long Eaton Utd. It was good to see Dwayne Wiley back from injury and also to see top scorer Manni Norkett in the starting line-up too, scoring the first goal after just eight minutes.
Mickleover are currently 12th in the table with games in hand over most of the clubs above them, of which they will be hoping to add to their victory tally and climb he table.
Jake Stone has been in charge of our hosts since May 2019 and took them to ninth in the table last season. We lost both of our encounters to them last year, 2-4 away and 1-2 at home, so certainly have a score to settle.
Goalkeeper Dean Snedker arrived early into last season. A former England Under 19 international, he started out at Northampton Town. He joined Brackley after his release, quickly moving on to Kidderminster, Nuneaton, Kettering, Cambridge City, St.Albans, Hemel and Rushden and more recently with Coalville.
His current deputy is Jay Alexander, who spent the latter part of last at Mickleover on a dual registration with Kettering. Having started his career at Chesterfield and the Synergy Sports Academy, Jay spent three years in goal for Boston Utd. He then moved onto Loughborough Dynamo, where he spent four years before joining Corby Town.
He first joined Kettering in September 2024, but moved to Matlock Town after sixth months and made his return in August 2024.
Captain and centre back Jack O’Connor is in his seventh season at the club, since signing from Kettering in July 2020.
Defender Rhys Kelly returned to our hosts in pre-season from Quorn. He was previously at Corby Town and originally left Wellingborough to join Harborough Town
Glenn Walker was also signed at the beginning of last season. A left back, he started out at Banbury and has played for Corby Town, Hednesford and Brackley and came to our hosts after a two-year spell with Spalding.
Sam Warburton is a left back too and a former Northampton Town youngster. He joined Rugby Town following his release, before moving to Nuneaton who loaned him to Kings Lynn before a permanent move. Corby, Rushden & Diamonds and Bedford were his next stops, before coming to Wellingborough from Spalding in November 2024.
Defender Charlie Green rejoined our visitors at the start of last season, having left to join Rushden & Diamonds exactly a year earlier.
Kiantay Licorish-Mullins is a former Northampton Town Junior. After a loan spell at Wellingborough, he joined Sileby Rangers following his release. He was previously at Rushden & Diamonds.
Lloyd Buckby is the clubs longest serving player. A central midfielder, he joined the club in 2016 and has made over 200 appearances as he is now in his 10th season.
Midfielder Matty Slinn was signed from Corby Town last December. Another former Northampton Town Junior, he joined Rushden & Diamonds on his release and spent three years with Corby before joining our hosts.
Nathan Hicks is another central midfielder. The former Leicester City youngster arrived in pre-season and has played for Rushden & Diamonds, Histon, Leamington, Alfreton, Nuneaton, Corby, Kettering, Biggleswade and St.Ives too.
Midfielder Aidan Webster came to the Dog & Duck in pre-season too, after two years at Rushden & Diamonds. He was previously with Bugbrooke St.Michaels.
Danny Draper is a right sided midfielder, signed from Spalding in September 2024.
Attacking midfielder Corvell Pickering came to out hosts in pre-season. An ex MK Dons Academy player, he has also played for Newport Pagnell.
Ethan Johnston is a striker signed from Rushden & Diamonds last October. He started at Northampton Town, before a loan at Kettering preceded a move to Banbury. He spent two years with St.Ives, before his two-year spell at Rushden.
Fellow striker Will Jones first came to our hosts at the end of the 23/24 season dual registered with Cambridge City. He was previously at Sporting Khalsa.
Zayn Hakeem is another striker signed in pre-season from Barwell. He started out at Nottingham Forest, before spending five years at Mansfield Town. After loans at Corby and Coalville he moved to Bradford Park Avenue, before two spells at Barwell were divided by a four month stay at Coleshill. He’s also played for Ansty Nomads, Worksop, Stamford, Shepshed, Basford and Long Eaton.
Neo Richard-Noel is a striker signed from St.Neots in pre-season. He started out at Cambridge Utd and had a year at Kettering before joining our hosts originally back in July 2023 and after two years made his move to St.Neots.
Striker George Ball is a pre-season signing too, from Banbury Utd, where he had spent the last two seasons. He was previously at Loughborough Dynamo.
Defender George Barnell arrived originally on loan from Northampton Town last December, while midfielder Ben Edwards has graduated to the first team squad, from our hosts own youth scheme.
Attacking midfielder Kai Fifield is on loan from Kettering, who he joined from our hosts in July 2024. At the age of seven he had a trial with Barcelona, but then played for Beaconsfield, St.Ives, Wellingborough Whitworth, Cogenhoe and Wantage too.
Striker Isaac Redding came through the ranks at Rushden & Diamonds. He had a spell on loan at Bugbrooke St.Michaels and has played for Wellingborough Whitworth and Daventry Town before having a spell in US College football at Eastern Florida.
Kick off at the Dog & Duck Stadium is 7.45 and the more support the better.