by Peter Scherer
It’s a local Derby for our Boxing Day football, as we face Long Eaton Utd at the Don Amott Arena.
Both Fin Delap and Andy Dales were missing from last Saturday’s draw at Hitchin, more now keeper Oliver Bosworth joins the list, with a second half thigh injury. With former deputy Jim Pollard having left the club, Academy players Josh Maher and Josh Bull are the only keepers at the club, so watch this space.
Newly promoted Long Eaton have had a tough time, with only two wins to their credit so far, as they sit firmly at the bottom of the table.
They beat Berkhamsted at home earlier this month, which ended a run of nine successive defeat. Earlier this season Mickleover hit five goals without reply at Grange Park. But they went down again last Saturday 1-2 at home to Halesown.
Manager Brad Munn took over as the season was about to start and has got through a huge number of players in their starting line-up. Initially he was co-manager with Lewis McGugan, who has recently left the club, but it now solo.
Munn was a midfielder, 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 who arrived from Loughborough in pre-season. 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 and was a pre-season arrival with our visitors.
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.
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.
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 Long Eaton pre-season.
Kameron Campbell is an experienced striker. He returned to Long Eaton in pre-season, after playing at Basford. He was also at Notts County and has played for Anstey Nomads and Carlton too. He is currently dual registered with Basford too.
Micah Jebbison is another striker, in his third season at the club, having also had spells at Altrincham, Ilkeston and Quorn.
Former Welsh Under 19 International James Spruce came from Gresley Rovers in September. He was a Bristol Rovers Junior, who has also played for Gloucester City, Heather St.John and Sutton Coldfield.
Currently another player on a dual registration with Basford, is ex England Under 19 International Nathan Tyson. He has played in every division of the football league, making over 500 appearances with almost 90 goals. He started out at Reading and was loaned to Maidenhead, Swansea and Cheltenham, before a permanent move to Wycombe.
He then had six years at Nottingham Forest, before moving on via Derby County, Millwall, Blackpool, Fleetwood, Notts County, Doncaster, Kilmarnock, Chesterfield and Grantham. He started this season at Ilkeston and signed for Long Eaton in September.
Left back Ryan Campbell-Gordon was another September signing. An ex Port Vale Junior, he was loaned to Ilkeston, Kidsgrove, Hednesford and Gainsborough, before joining Hanley Town on his release.
Tom Hewlett is on a season long loan from Burton Albion. He has previously had spells at Rushall, Belper, Leamington, Hednesford and Hereford.
Midfielder Morgan Worsfold-Greg has recently arrived on loan from Lincoln City. He also spent time at Rushall earlier in the year.
Jamie Hanson is a former England Under 20 International, with both League One and Championship experience. He was a Derby County Junior, loaned to Wigan Athletic and Oxford Utd, before going Ilkeston on his release. He came to Long Eaton on a season long loan last month.
Former Mickleover Junior Lewis Belgrave has recently arrived from Gresley Rovers. The midfielder has also played for Sherwood Colliery.
Ex Derby County Academy striker Jack Rogers arrived at Grange Park last season, having played for Ilkeston Town and Shepshed Dynamo.
Ex Burton Albion winger Joe Nyahwema was a pre-season signing, having spent much of last season at Belper Town. Ryley Reynolds is a midfielder, currently on loan from Notts County.
Mickleover’s George Atwal has been on loan for most of this season, having come through Sports own Academy to the first team squad.
Nicolas Aretzis is a recent signing, a centre back who has been playing Ireland with Larne and Bangor.
Midfielder Luke Martin has recently come in too, having made his debut at the beginning of last month. He has also ben playing for Belper Town.
Former Rams Academy player Aaron Cole has also been on the bench lately. He has played for Belper Town, Rochester and Worksop too and his manager Munn’s assistant.
Prestyn Moore, Riley Phillips, Johnny Lees, Alfie Barker, Ben Bowers, Hugo Broughton, Ben Cassady, Breeyen Grainger, Alans Voskresenskis and McKenzie have also been fringe players, with occasional substitute appearances, having come mainly from the clubs Academy. While fellow graduate Casey Johnson has made two recent starts.
Finally, former Mickleover vice-captain Andrew Wright has joined our visitors on a three-month loan. The powerful midfielder needs no introduction to the Sports faithful, having only let at the end of 21/22.
Kick off as usual 3pm, BE THERE!!