Author: Square Peg

Academy Lads Take National Title… Again

by Peter Scherer

Not for the first time Mickleover Academy have ended the season with both the Regional and National titles under their belt.

Back in 20-21 Mickleover had won the Midlands ESPFA title, before seeing off both the Northern and Southern Champions, and only two years later it’s a repeat in the National Academy.

Having secured the Northern title, the play-off for the National title was on the Oxford City ground at 7pm last Wednesday evening, racing the might of Southern Champions West Ham Utd.

Sports youngsters had dominated the game and only a string of critical saves from the Hammers keeper kept the game goalless.

But the deadlock was finally broken in the 75th minute, when George Atwal fired in a telling cross, for Ethan Mann to send a powerful header into the back of the net.

It sealed a strong and successful season for the whole squad, but even more so for Mann. After earning his place in the first team this year, he not only scored the winning goal in Wednesday’s final, but was also named as Man of the Match.

“The boys have dedicated their victory to the memory of former team mate Finn Bowen, on an amazing night for the club, which cements the hard work I have been able to do with Pablo Mills and Andy Dales,” concluded Sports gaffer John McGrath.

We’re Staying South

by Peter Scherer

There have been various rumours and speculation about the make-up of next seasons league structure, and Mickleover’s part in it.

Some sources suggested that along with Basford and Ilkeston, Mickleover could be heading back to the Northern Premier League, after just the one season in the Southern Premier League Central Division.

That particular rumour was possibly the closest, as Basford are returning to the Northern Premier League after just one season, along with Ilkeston, which loses two of our local Derby games, as Mickleover are remaining in the Southern section.

Mickleover are one of 14 clubs remaining in the Southern Premier Central, along with runner’s up Coalville Town and fellow play off losers Leiston and Nuneaton.

There will still be the trips to Hertfordshire to play Hitchin and Royston, along with St Ives in Cambridgeshire and Needham Market in Suffolk.

We still have the localish trip to Barwell Town too, along long with West Midlanders Alvechurch, Bromsgrove, Redditch, Stourbridge and Stratford.

Seven teams  are new to us though however, including another local Derby, with Long Eaton Utd, who came through the Northern Premier League Division One East play offs.

Halesowen followed a similar route to Long Eaton, but via the NPL Division One Midlands, whereas Berkhamsted means another trip to Hertfordshire, after they took the Southern League Division One title by a massive 19 points.

AFC Sudbury of Suffolk join us after being runners up in the Isthmian Division One North and winning the play-off, and Stamford earned their place after taking the NPL Division One title.

The remaining three teams have all arrived after being relegated from the National League North, with Kettering Town, Leamington and AFC Telford.

There will be more mileage next season though, with only three clubs within a 40 mile radius, compared with seven last season. Leiston is still the furthest at 184 miles, but AFC Sudbury, Berkhamsted, Hitchin, Needham Market, Royston and St Ives are all over 100 miles.

The total mileage to away league games will be approximately 1685 miles, compared to 1499 last season.

The question is can Sports improve on their sixth place?

The Fin Bowen Charity Auction

by Peter Scherer

In cooperation with of the family of Fin Bowen, the club are delighted to be able to provide a link to the charity Auction on behalf of Fin.

Fins family believe that the silent auction is a meaningful way to honour his memory and make a difference to the lives of young footballers.

The hope is that you will be willing to join the family and participate in the auction. Every bid counts and your contribution, no matter how big or small, can help reach the final goal of £20,000.00 raised in Fin’s name.

There are over 70 lots of football memorabilia that have been kindly donated by both individuals and organisations.

Thank you for your kind consideration. Please click the link below to view the auction lots.

https://bidlive.net/?aid=165

R.I.P. Colin Hunt

by Peter Scherer

The Non League footballing world thrives on the dedication and hard work of volunteers and Mickleover FC are no exception. So it is with great sadness that we have to announce the passing of Colin Hunt.

Having had a successful career in local football to a fairly high standard, Colin’s interest in the game continued after his playing days were over and was a regular attender at The Don Amott Arena, whether it be the first team, reserves, academy or just training sessions.

Before the days of the 3G pitch he could often be seen sprinting across the cricket outfield to retrieve the ball, as well as helping out on the turnstile and with the general upkeep and maintenance.

Colin was always full of enthusiasm whatever the weather, but was equally keen to point out when the officials got it wrong.

He will be sadly missed at the matches next season, but his legacy and memories will be long remembered.

Mickleover Chairman Don Amott sums up his thoughts, “I had known Colin a long time , I played football against him too. What a lovely Gentleman,  he was Mickleover FC.”

Brown & Atwal Earn Sports A Point

by Peter Scherer

Mickleover Reserves ended their Central Midlands Premier Division South season with a point at Nottingham FC on Tuesday evening in a 2-2 draw.

The hosts had taken the initial lead before Declan netted the equaliser. Harry Atwal then gave Sports the lead, before Nottingham snatched the equaliser late in the game.

Sports have finished eighth in the table.

Reserves Hit Seven In Final Home Game

by Peter Scherer

A Kai Moore hat-trick was the highlight of Mickleover Reserves final home game in this seasons Central Midlands Premier Division South, as Sports gained revenge over February’s 0-2 defeat last Friday.

Pablo Mills, George Atwal, Bobby Battisson and Fin Ryder were also on target as Sports ran out 7-1 winners.

Tomorrow night the reserves end their season with a visit to Nottingham FC.

Reeves Double Brings Season End On A Win

by Peter Scherer

Although Mickleover spent the last day of the season at the already relegated Bedford Town, many eyes were focused on Rushall Olympic’s game at Alvechurch who had edged us out of the final play-off place.

With no goals scored in the last 10 games, Bedford weren’t expected to cause Sports defence a lot of problems and an Elliott Reeves double helped Mickleover finish 3-0 winners.

Starting line-up: 1-Oliver Bosworth 2-Jake Bennett 3-Ryan Wilson 4-Ethan Mann 5-James Butler 6-Phil Watt 7-Andy Dales 8-Mitch Rose 9-Elliott Reeves 10-Mason Warren 11-Will Trueman. Subs: Stuart Beavon, Rhys Dolan, Marcus Marshall, Oli Greaves, Callum Chettle.

With Mickleover on top from the start, Reeves controlled a long ball over the defence, and fired just over after seven minutes.

But Bedford responded a couple of minutes later, with an effort just wide, from the edge of the box. But Sports had control with Warren, Rose, Mann and Trueman looking strong in the middle and Bennett, Butler, Watt and Wilson soild at the back.

Dales was next to try his luck for Sports, with a shot just wide of the left-hand post, before Trueman twisted to outfox his marker, but his attempt was just over the bar too.

Home keeper Duffy saved another Sports effort after 25 minutes, but the home side managed to respond with Lyon latching onto a break, but again the shot was just over the bar.

Just after the half hour Trueman was down injured and had to be replaced by Greaves. He had only been on the pitch for two minutes, when Reeves jinked past a defender and crossed to find him unmarked in the centre. Greaves responded with an easy tap in and it was 1-0 with 33 minutes gone.

Bedford did get the ball in the net three minutes later, but were ruled offside and then Duffy had to make another diving save from Dales.

But Bedford hadn’t given up and Furlong earned a corner after a good run had ended with save for Bosworth from his final shot.

So it was 1-0 at half time and could have been more, but there was another 45 minutes, which started with Dolan coming on for Rose.

Duffy made another save for our hosts after 51 minutes, when Butler had latched onto a corner at the far post, but a few minutes later there was more success for Sports with another corner.

Butler headed into the centre, where Reeves connected and put cleanly past the beaten keeper, 2-0 and 54 minutes down.

Lyon found Tomlinson for Bedford, but his angled shot was over the bar and then a free kick ended with a weak shot from Butterworth.

With nine minutes left Chettle replaced Greaves, but into injury time Reeves got Mickleover’s third and his second, after a telling run down the left to fire home in the bottom corner, 3-0.

It finished on a high for Mickleover, but with Rushall losing at Alvechurch we had secured sixth in the table, but missed a play-off place by just one point.

We will hopefully see you all in August and start all over again.

Reserves Back To Winning Ways

by Peter Scherer

Having gone down 1-2 in the last two games, Mickleover Reserves were back on form at South Normanton, coming away with a 5-2 win.

Top scorer Declan Brown hit his third hattrick of the season in the convincing victory, with Ash Powell and Owen Parr also on the scoresheet.

Sports youngsters play their final home game on Saturday at the Don Amott, when they face local rivals and second in the table Graham St.Prims, with a 3pm kick off at the Don Amott Arena.

And Here Endeth 22/23

by Peter Scherer

When he played Bedford Town back in November, Gary Setchell was the manager and they were 10th in the league. We won 2-0 but at the end of the same month, Setchell left and Paul Davis was appointed, but resigned after only three games.

They have lost every game since and haven’t taken a point since drawing 0-0 at Hitchin on January 23rd and have failed to score in their last 10 games.

Division One Central Champions last year, but they are now in 20th place and heading back down again.

Graeme Tomlinson is the current manager, he joined the coaching staff in the summer of 2020, after an excellent playing career, starting at Bradford City earned him a move to Manchester United playing alongside Eric Cantona and the class of ’92.

He had four loan spells while with the Red Devils at Wimbledon, Luton, AFC Bournemouth & Millwall. After leaving United, he played for Macclesfield Town, Exeter City, Stevenage, Kingstonian, St. Albans City, Stotfold, Dunstable Town and a spell with Bedford Town in 2003.

Lewis Elsom and Elliott Duffy have been sharing the goalkeeping duties of late. Elsom is an ex Peterborough Utd Junior, who played for Deeping Rangers and Arlesey Town, before joining Peterborough Sports. He has currently been  on a dual registration from Peterborough since November, having had a similar arrangement with Spalding earlier in the season.

Duffy is a home grown talent, who had his first full contract in July 2021.

Jack Keeble was a summer signing, a centre back who began his career at Grimsby Town. He moved on to Stamford and St Neots and spent a year at Wisbech before joining our hosts.

Sam Dreyer originally came on loan in December 2021 from Stevenage, but the centre back’s stay became permanent last September. He also had loan spells at Biggleswade and Hendon, but then left our hosts to join Peterborough Utd in January, but came back on loan again the following day.

Centre back Ben Tompkins is on loan too from Luton Town, having started off at Barnet.

Junior Gyamfi is a midfielder who is another loanee from MK Dons, which is where fellow midfielder Connor Furlong started his career. He was loaned to Oxford City and Aylesbury Utd before coming to Bedford on his release in 2018.

After a year with our hosts, St Ives, Barton Rovers, Biggleswade and Rushden were his next stops, before returning to Bedford last month, after five months at Royston.

Midfielder George Thorne is well known locally after his spell with the Rams. His career started at West Bromwich Albion and was loaned to Portsmouth, Peterborough and Watford, before joining Derby in 2014.

He was loaned to Luton again and joined Oxford again after another loan. But injuries ended his full-time career and he came to Bedford in September 2022 after two years out. He was capped for England at Under 16,17,18,19 and 20 level.

Will Summerfield is a central midfielder and former MK Dons Junior. He was at Hemel, Kempston Rovers and Berkhamsted, before joining Bedford in July 2020.

Drew Richardson is another central midfielder who arrived in July 2020 too, from Biggleswade. He was a former Luton Town Junior.

Connor Tomlinson is a young striker who had scored quite a few goals earlier in the season. A former Luton Town Junior, he came to Bedford in July 2019.

Joe Butterworth is a central midfielder in his second season at Bedford, after arriving from Stamford last November, following almost five years at Yaxley.

Defender Kai Phelan was a pre-season signing from Barton Rovers. He also played for Hitchin and YIK in Sweden, after playing as a Luton Town Junior.

Experienced midfielder Callum Donnelly first joined Bedford for the 2017/18 season but had brief spells away at Shefford Town & Campton and Biggleswade. He played much of his career at Hitchin and has also been at Stotfold, Barton Rovers, Cambridge City and Baldock. He is also assistant manager.

Midfielder Josh Page is home produced player, but has also played in Australia with Perth Scorchers and been loaned to Dunstable Town and Eynesbury Rovers, since returning to our hosts in December 2020.

Striker Rene Howe started out at Bedford in 2006, before being picked up by Peterborough Utd. His league career carried on via Rochdale, Lincoln, Morecambe, Gillingham, Rushden and Bristol Rovers, all on loan.

He was finally released by Peterborough and joined Torquay in 2011, before moving to Burton Albion and Newport, having played over 250 League games, with over 60 goals.

After a short spell at Kettering he was out of football for three years, before rejoining Hendon. He has since played for Kings Langley, Walton Casuals and Farnborough, returning to Bedford in August 2020. He left for Ware after two years, but returned to Bedford again last December.

Former MK Dons defender Joe Steele was signed from Dunstable in November 2018 and has also played for Arlesey, but has been out with a knee injury for the last year or more.

Carlos Lyon is another well-travelled striker. A former Brentford Junior, he left them for Billericay, where Southend Utd picked him up. He was loaned to Hayes & Yeading before joining Alloa Athletic, who then loaned him to Brechin City and Stirling Albion, before rejoining Billericay on his release in 2017.

After a spell at Grays Athletic he went back to Scotland, with Brechin, Stranraer, Dumbarton, Peterhead and Cowdenbeath, before returning to England with Cheshunt in January. After another loan at FC Romania, he came to Bedford in February.

Right back Rio Da Silva had spells with Luton and Chelsea before joining Dunstable in 2018. He moved on to Hitchin a year later and came to Bedford last month.

Nathaniel Sheriff and Kyle Jozwiak are both home grown talent. Sheriff is a young centre back and came into the squad in February. Jozwiak is a midfielder, who got his contract one month earlier.

Midfielder Lucas Kirkpatrick also arrived last month, for his second spell with the club. He started out at Hitchin and was loaned to Langford, but racked up over 200 games, before moving to Braintree and Berkhamsted Biggleswade. He then came to Bedford for the 2018/19 season, before moving on Braintree, Berkhamsted, Dunstable and Crawley Green, before his arrival at Bedford.

D’Sean Theobalds is another recent arrival. He started at West Ham and moved swiftly via Leatherhead, Concord Rangers and Tonbridge before venturing to Korona Kielce in Poland.

He came back to the UK with Tonbridge, before returning to Poland with Unia Tarnow. He then joined Dartford, moving to Welling, Kingstonian and Concord Rangers and came to Bedford in February.

With Rushall having beaten Rushden last night, our outside chance of a play-off is over, but now guaranteed sixth place in the league, it’s been a successful season without doubt. Kick off is 3pm as usual.

Disappointing Defeat For Reserves

by Peter Scherer

It was another disappointing night for Mickleover Reserves, as they went down 0-2 to Teversal in their Central Midlands Premier Division South match.

Starting line-up: 1-Josh Maher 2-Joe Sellors 3-Brandon Ferron 4-Ronnie Bonser 5-Zak Sandhu 6-Louis Pennington 7-Owen Parr 8-Fin Ryder 9-Josh Powell 10-Dean Ironmonger 11-Declan Brown. Subs: Luis Marshall, Will Coffen.

Teversal were on the attack from the start, firing a shot straight at Maher in the first minute, before earning the first corner two minutes later, which Maher saved.

Ironmonger had Mickleover’s first attempt at five minutes, before another Teversal break ended with a shot straight at Maher.

The pressure continued on the Mickleover defence and after eight minutes they were comfortably outpaced down the left. The cross found a striker in space and it was 0-1 after eight minutes

Sports were forced to make an early switch when Sellors went off injured and was replaced by Coffen.

The first of many clear offsides that the refs assistant failed to acknowledge almost caused a second goal a minute later, but the final shot was over the bar.

But Mickleover then got a break with Brown just beaten to the ball by the advancing keeper.

But 15 minutes in and another clear offside was let go and this time it was critical, with the defence looking for the whistle, the home side were clear and it was 0-2.

Mickleover then won a free kick just outside the box, from which Pennington forced a diving save from the home keeper.

It proved to be a difficult night for the defence, with both assistants continuing to fail in flagging offsides for the home side and after 19 minutes it happened again but the shot was wide.

The combination of pace from the Teversal strikers and the poor officialdom, made it a tough night for the Mickleover youngsters, with few decisions going their way.

Powell was tugged back by his shirt and the defender was booked, but another Teversal break soon followed with a wasted chance well wide of the post.

Further shots came the hosts way before Ferron cut in from the left and tried a long shot that wasn’t far over the bar.

As half time approached Sports tried to push forward and Ironmonger did well to get a cross in from the right, but there was no one to receive.

Bonser then tracked the Teversal centre forward with the whistle poised, but he still got a shot in, fortunately over the bar.

Mickleover started the second half with more determination and after 50 minutes the home keeper had to snatch the ball from Brown’s feet.

Ironmonger had a shot cleared off the line just after the hour mark and there was substantially more attacking from Sports.

Brown had a 75th minute shot blocked, but Teversal continued to be dangerous on the break and Maher had to make a point blank save in the 76th minute.

On a couple of occasions the Teversal keeper dropped the ball and although Mickleover cracked the shots in, luck was with the home side and there was always a defenders leg in the way.

Marshall came on for Powell in the closing minutes, but Sports did everything but score, but it ended with a 0-2 defeat and another atrocious display from the ref and his assistants.