Author: Dave Bird

Member of the Mickleover Sports finance committee, with the role of managing the website and social media.

John McGrath Signs New Contract At Sports

We are excited to announce that first team player-manager John McGrath has put pen to paper in a new 2-year deal, keeping him at Mickleover Sports until 2019.

McGrath lead Sports to a mid-table finish in the NPL Premier Division following a relegation battle in the season before he arrived, spelling excellent progress.

Sports Chairman Don Amott said:

“So pleased John has decided to sign a new 2 year deal with the club – he is a key figure of our future and I believe a strong relationship between the manager and the chairman is so important in all football clubs. It’s a pleasure for me to work with John”.

McGrath added:

“I am delighted to continue my work as manager of Mickleover Sports and show my commitment by signing a new two year contract. With everything happening off the pitch with our new development going ahead and with the support of the chairman Don Amott, the board and club committee members, Mickleover Sports is a club that has an exciting future ahead and I am privileged to be a part of it all”.

McGrath has already made progress during this close-season with the signing of highly-rated strikers Bradley Grayson, and Evan Garnett signalling his intent to continue to build an attractive brand of attacking football.

In addition McGrath has worked hard to confirm a rich line-up of pre-season friendlies including Sheffield United, Notts County, Burton Albion, Coventry City and Mansfield Town. Click here to see the full list: https://mickleoverfc.com/1st-team-fixtures/

 

 

ANNOUNCEMENT: ‘Hot August Night’ Family Music Festival

We are delighted to announce that Mickleover Sports FC have partnered with the Derby Telegraph to bring you the ‘Hot August Night’ family music festival at the Don Amott Arena.

The event will take place on Sunday 6th August, 2017, and promises to be a brilliant day and night for all the family.

We have live music (lots of it!), bars, and food outlets, or you are welcome to bring your own picnic.

Enjoy the music of some of the best artists and bands in history including The Beatles, The Bee Gee’s, Freddie Mercury, Robbie Williams, the Blues Brothers etc. *Note – these are cover artists but they are exceptionally good!

ALL TICKETS ARE NOW SOLD OUT – THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT

 

 

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REVEALED: New Home Kit

We are excited to reveal the new Mickleover Sports FC home kit for the new 17/18 season.
 
The new home shirt sponsor is ‘Prostate Cancer’ (Prostate Cancer UK) – this has been paid for by Mickleover Sports chairman Don Amott as a gesture towards his ongoing support of important charity organisations. Don Amott will continue to be featured as the away kit sponsor.
 
As per last year, the other home kit sponsors are Escape Design & Print (Derby), and Monetise (UK Lead Generation).
 
The kit is once again supplied by the excellent XBlades Sports, and we can confirm that it will be available for purchase from our online store (date TBC).
 
We hope you love it like we do!
 
#ExcitingTimes #SportsRising

Academy Half Term Trials – Apply Now!

Just about to take your GCSE exams? Coming to the end of your first year at college?

Mickleover Sports FC are looking for talented, committed and ambitious local footballers who wish to join a semi-professional academy in the Evo-Stik League from September 2017 where you will study for a BTEC in Sport qualification (Level 2 or 3), train every day with an UEFA qualified coach and play in the NPL Football Academy League and FA Youth Cup.

The Mickleover Sports ‘Education and Football Academy’ is an alternative to college and is ideal for any 16/17 year old who wants to gain a great education and develop as a footballer at the same time.

Trials are taking place in the forthcoming half term holidays on Thursday 1st June from 12.30pm – 2.30pm at the Racecourse, St Marks Road, Derby, DE21 6AL that anyone is welcome to attend by registering at nplfa.co.uk/register

At the Mickleover Sports Academy you will study, train and play full time.

STUDY:
– Alternative to college
– BTEC in Sport Level 2 or 3 (L3 equivalent to 2/3 A Levels)
– Two year programme
– Study in the classroom with your team mates
– Opportunities to gain experience at the football club
– View the Study promotional video (https://youtu.be/AnrhPRLj-no)

TRAIN:
– With first team manager John McGrath and first team player Andy Dales
– Train three/four times a week
– Improve technical ability and fitness on a daily basis
– Opportunities to train with the reserves and first team
– View the train promotional video (https://youtu.be/hVMjoScMZk8)

PLAY:
– In the NPL Football Academy League
– Opportunities to play in the FA Youth Cup
– Games played at Evo-Stik League stadiums
– Opportunities to progress to the reserves and first team
– Opportunities to play for the inter-league team against
professional clubs (https://youtu.be/ziBSbQy0oDU)
– View the play promotional video (https://youtu.be/Px3ZFabkQo0)

EXTRAS:
– Trips to St George’s Park
– All matches are filmed, analysed and shown in a weekly highlights package online with our video partners FilmMyMatch (https://youtu.be/v07LhtW7sRQ)
– Opportunities to study, play and coach in the USA by gaining a scholarship
– Progress onto our three year university degree course (http://nplfa.co.uk/the-nplfa-to-offer-degree-course/)

Activate your ambition now and apply at nplfa.co.uk/register

 

MickleoverSportsJUNE

 

Transfer News: Bradley Grayson Signs For Sports

We are delighted that striker Bradley Grayson has signed for Sports amid heavy competition for his signature.

Bradley is a strong, pacy 24 year old striker who hails from Doncaster and made four appearances for Doncaster Rovers which preceded spells with Frickley Athletic, Matlock Town, Stocksbridge Steels and Buxton FC. He has also plied his trade abroad with Ange IF in Sweden where he scored an impressive 24 goiaqls in 22 games, Cumberland FC in South Australia and Loyola Mercalo Sparks in the Phillipines.

Last season in the NPL with Buxton he scored 20 goals, and 28 goals in all competitions.

Grayson is the second striker secured by first team manager, John McGrath, who has promised there will be plenty more transfer activity before the season restarts in August, and further demonstrates the club’s ambitious outlook.

Image: Grayson with Club Secretary, Tony Shaw

Highly-Rated Striker Signs For Sports

Mickleover Sports have secured the signing of Evan Garnett, a highly-rated striker from Belper Town.

Garnett began his career with Burton Albion, spending two and a half years on their books before joining Worksop Town.

He has also played for Ilkeston and Hucknall before linking up for a spell with Belper Town, for whom he scored 19 goals in the first half of the 2015/16 season.

Conference side Kidderminster Harriers came calling and signed him in January 2016 but opportunities were few and far between for Evan, both there and at Alfreton Town who he later joined and in November 2016 he returned to Belper for the rest of that season scoring 5 goals.

Manager John McGrath, who tried to sign Garnett last season has had to wait until now to finally get his signature.

There will be another big signing announcement coming very soon…

#SportsRising

Mickleover Sports Academy Crowned Champions (Again)

The Northern Premier League Academy League season is drawing to a close with Sports once again having great success. Sports have provided the champions for the last two seasons and last night the first-year team  continued the dominance with a 1-0 win over Matlock Town’s 2nd Years.


Sports First Years (Blacks), who were winners of the Chryso Division and qualified for the Final , played at Leek Town, against the winners of the Joma Division, Matlock Town Second Year team. Sports were crowned as overall Champions after a close fought 1-0 win, courtesy of a Morgan Williams goal in the closing minutes.


This capped a great couple of weeks for the team for having won their League they also came out winners of the 7-a-side competition without conceding a goal.


They now have one more competition to concentrate on, the League Cup. Having reached the semi final after wins over Belper Town an Hednesford Town they have a semi final against last nights opponents to see who can reach a final that is to be played at Stoke City’s Britannia Stadium on May 28th.


Sports Red team (second years), despite winning 3-0 at Matlock last week finished second in their League with two earlier defeats with a depleted team, costing them a possible League win. They were knocked out of the League Cup after two close games against Matlock Town


Not only have the team had success but individually there have been honours for both teams.


Lewis Belgrave was voted NPLFA player of the year, with Jake Dickinson in 3rd place and Lewis, Jake plus Morgan Williams and Manzoor Amiri were chosen in the NPLFA team of the season.


Also take into account that several lads have made their debuts in the First team during this season shows that Academy Coaches, John McGrath and Andy Dales have done an excellent job


John McGrath said:


“As first team manager and head of our outstanding academy I was delighted with how we played. We tried to mirror how the first team play by making sure football was played in the right manner. What makes it extra special is the fact our boys are only first year scholars and some giving up two years to their older counterparts.  I see big futures for some of these kids and it won’t be long before we see a few more debutants coming through to play in our first team. Special mention goes to Jake Smith who I thought had an outstanding game in midfield. He was the best player on the park all night.”

 

Want to join a champion academy? CLICK HERE FOR MOR INFORMATION



Burton Albion Friendly Confirmed

We are delighted to announce that we will be hosting Burton Albion at the Don Amott Arena for a pre-season friendly on July 14th, 2017 (7.30pm kick off).

Burton Albion have had a fantastic season, securing their highest ever end-of-season league position and will be looking for e good test against Sports.

This will be a Friday night game (hopefully in the sunshine!) so we hope to get a good crowd down for a great atmosphere.

Add it to your diaries now!

#SportsRising #ProperFootball

 

Mickleover Sports Juniors Football Club – Annual General Meeting

Mickleover Sports Juniors Football Club will be holding their annual general meeting at 8pm on Monday 5th June at the Sports Club (Station Road, Mickleover).

Please note that any resolution to be proposed at the AGM must be given in writing to the Club Secretary, 21 days prior to the AGM.

(Nominations for election of members as Club Officers or as members of the Club Committee shall be made in writing by the proposer and seconder, both of whom must be existing members of the Club, to the Club Secretary (or Chairman) not less than 21 days before the AGM)

Note:- the AGM will be followed by a short committee meeting, and in line with our constitution appoint managers for the forthcoming season. This will be the only agenda item other than ‘Any other Business’.

All members are welcome to attend.