by Peter Scherer
This Bank Holiday Monday we are off to Long Eaton, where it has been a tough start for the newly promoted side.
Whereas Mickleover have won all five games to top the the table, Long Eaton have yet to secure a point, having lost all five games so far, going down 0-5 to Halesowen on Saturday.
They had a change in management team just before the start of the season, when Lewis McGugan and Brad Munn came in from Loughborough Dynamo.
Midfielder McGugan was capped by England at Under 17 and 19 level and is best known for his time at Nottingham Forest. But he also played for Sheffield Wednesday, Watford and Northampton.
Munn was a midfielder too, starting off at Burton Albion, before playing for Bedworth and Coalville and starting his partnership with McGugan at Loughborough.
Keeper Ross Durrant started out at Nottingham Forest and was loaned to Ilkeston, before spending a month at Mickleover in 2016. He made a permanent move to Ilkeston on his release, before moving to Boston Utd, North Ferriby, Alfreton, Matlock and Belper. He came to Long Eaton in March.
Ed Cook is a centre back recently arrived from Loughborough. He started off at Burnley, before joining Hampton & Richmond. He was loaned to Farnborough, then joined Loughborough for his first spell. Kettering, Stamford and Grantham followed, spending a year with the Gingerbreads before returning to Loughborough at the beginning of last season.
Left back Cieron Keane is capped at Under 16 & 19 by the Republic of Ireland. He is an ex Wolves Junior and had a year at Notts Couty, making two first team appearances. He then moved on to Nuneaton, Worcester, Kidderminster, Alfreton, Boston Utd, Basford, Leamington, Bradford Park Avenue and Stafford, before spending two years at Gainsborough before his pre-season arrival with our hosts.
Full back Sam Parker is an ex Derby County Junior, starting his third season at our Grange Park since arriving from Kimberley MW.
Right back Callum Cocks came from Loughborough with the new management team. He has played for Royal Artillery and Army Reserve teams as well as Bemerton Heath Harlequins.
Centre back Callum Minkley has arrived from Gainsborough too, where he spent two years following his release by Derby County.
Keiran Walker has been a key player in the Long Eaton defence, since his arrival in 2019 from Basford. He was previously at Boston Utd, Ilkeston, Matlock, Carlton and Rainworth MW.
Central defender or midfielder Riece Bertram was signed last December, having played for Basford, Belper Town, Carlton and Ilkeston.
Full back Larell King came from Mickleover early last season. He had previously been at Burton Albion and Mansfield Town.
Marley Fearon is a product of Long Eaton’s own youth scheme. A young centre back, he was loaned to Heanor Town last season too.
Central midfielder Curtis Davies recently made his stay permanent, after a spell on loan last season from Mansfield Town. He has previously been at Sheffield Utd, Sheffield Wednesday and Rotherham.
Cameron Philp played his early football at West Bromwich Albion and Birmingham City, before moving onto Tamworth. Moves to Stratford and Stourport Swifts followed for the wide midfielder, before signing for our hosts pre-season.
Striker Adam Clark is one of a number of pre-season signings, arriving following his release from Rotherham.
Kameron Campbell is an experienced striker. He returned to Long Eaton in pre-season, after playing at Basford. He was also at Nots County and has played for Anstey Nomads and Carlton too.
Micah Jebbison is another striker, starting his third season at the club, having also had spells at Altrincham, Ilkeston and Quorn.
Fellow Alex Hardwick is another new pre-season signing, who was previously at Maltby Main, AFC Mansfield and Parkgate.
Zayn Hakeem is a striker too, currently on loan from Basford. He started out at Nottingham Forest before joining Mansfield. Loans at Corby and Coalville followed, before a permanent move to Bradford Park Avenue. Barwell, Anstey Nomads, Coleshill, Worksop, Stamford and Shepshed followed, before going to Basford in July.
Ben Bowers and Hugo Broughton have yet to make their debut, while Ben Cassady, Breeyen Grainger, Alans Voskresenskis and McKenzie Bult have both made one appearance so far.
Kick off at Grange Park is 3pm.