by Peter Scherer
Back on the road again after last weekends home defeat to Hyde Utd, Mickleover face high scoring form team Stockton Town.
Our hosts are currently seventh in the table, following Tuesday nights 5-1 win at Bamber Bridge, following up on a 3-1 win at Warrington Rylands last Saturday too.
In the NPL their last win prior to the current run was back on August Bank Holiday, beating Whitby Town 2-0 at home.
Manager Michael Dunwell has been in charge since the summer of 2014, having previously been a player coach at the club and at Billingham Town.
Hopefully Sports are nearing the end of their injury list and will have close to a full squad to choose from, as they face the Stockton strike force, who have scored 10 goals in their last three matches, conceding two. Sports currently are 12th.
First choice goalkeeper Nathan Harker was a junior at Newcastle Utd and was loaned to Blyth Spartans, before joining Scarborough on his release.
He played for Bedlington Terriers and Whickham too, before joining our hosts last January, after 10 months with Marske Utd.
His deputy is Elliott Stephenson is a former Sunderland youngster. A pre-season signing he has also played for Hartlepool and South Shields.
Right back Josh Baggs is another former Sunderland junior. He joined Seaham Star following his release and was also loaned out to Consett, before joining our hosts last January.
Centre back Tom Coulthard has been at Stockton for 12 years, having come through their own youth scheme. He made his first team debut at 17 and has a long standing defensive partnership with skipper Adam Nicholson.
6ft 5in Nicholson has been at the club even longer, having started his 15th year. He came from local junior football and made his first team debut at 16.
Lewis King is another defender and former Hartlepool junior, who was then picked up by Burnley. Following his release he moved to Spennymoor and came to Stockton in July 2019.
Midfielder Glen Butterworth was signed from Marske Utd in October 2022, after 10 years service.
Midfielder Shane Henry is in his fifth season with the club, since arriving from Spennymoor in July 2020.
Cam Painter is a defensive midfielder, signed from Blyth Spartans in July 2022. He was originally a youngster with Grimsby and went to Blyth on his release. He also had a short loan spell at Billingham Town.
Defender Arjun Purewal was a pre-season signing from Consett, where he had spent the last seven years, six as club captain. He was previously at Jarrow Roofing and has also played for Darlington, Durham City, Blyth Spartans, Whitby Town and Bishop Auckland.
Central midfielder Lewis Leech was another pre-season arrival from Whickham. He started out with Gateshead and was loaned to Benfield, before a permanent move to Marske Utd, where he started last season, before going to Whickham in February.
Owen Gallacher is striker capped by Scotland at Under 19 and 16 levels. He played Junior football with Newcastle City, Swallwell Swifts, Sunderland and Ryton Blacks, before joining Newcastle Utd. He quickly moved on to Nottingham Forest, who loaned him to Harrogate, before joining Burton Albion on his release.
Crawley Town was his next stop, with a further loan at Gateshead, before moving to Grimsby, Spennymoor and finally Stockton in pre-season and has league one and two experience.
Fellow striker Stephen Thompson started his career at Middlesbrough, before joining Port Vale. After a loan at Telford he joined Durham City, before moving to Spennymoor, who loaned him to Marske, before arriving at Stockton in July 2022.
Michael Fowler is a striker too, having started his career with Sunderland and Burnley. He then moved on to Fleetwood Town, who loaned him to Guiseley, Bamber Bridge and FC Utd.
Striker Mikey Roberts arrived in July 2018 and has been North East based for the whole of his career. He has played for Guisborough Town, Spennymoor, Whitby Town and Marske Utd before joining our hosts.
He then crossed the Atlantic with Coastal Carolina Chanticleers, a US college team before returning to the UK six months later with Dunston UTS. He finally came to Stockton at the beginning of last season.
Josh Scott may be remembered by Mickleover fans, after a short loan spell from Mansfield back in 2021. He started his career at Hartlepool, before moving to Mansfield. As well as Mickleover, he was loaned to Basford and Frickley Athletic, before a permanent move to Morpeth.
He only arrived at our visitors last week, from West Auckland, and has also played for Blyth Spartans and Marske Utd.
Michael Sweet is another striker, who has spent his whole career in the North East. From starting out at Gateshead, he was loaned to Darlington, before joining Billingham Synthonia. He has played for Consett and Blyth too, before a three-year spell at Shildon preceded his Stockton arrival in July 2023.
Elliott Beddow is another striker, signed from Thornaby in August 2022. He began his career at Billingham Town.
Striker Jack Spears came through or hosts own junior set-up and made his first team debut last November.
Thomas Birtles is another home-grown talent. A midfielder, he made his first team debut last November too.
Academy graduate Jacob Johnson signed his first contract during the summer. A midfielder, he is also dual registered with Guisborough Town.
Strikers Joe Kennedy and Sonni Coleman have also graduated via the clubs own youth scheme, Coleman having represented England Schools Under 18’s too.
Kick off as usual as 3pm and Anchors radio provide live commentary via https://anchors-radio.mixlr.com/