by Peter Scherer
This Saturday Mickleover visit Prescot Cables, who were promoted to the Northern Premier League, after finishing third in last years West Division.
Following Tuesday nights 3-1 win at Leek Town, Mickleover are now 14th in the table, compared with Prescot in 21st, after Tuesday’s home defeat to Workington.
Our hosts didn’t have the best of pre-seasons, when only a week or so before their first league fixture, manager Steven Daley and his assistant both resigned after a dispute, which was rectified a few days later. They were then reinstated after their replacement resigned.
After taking a point at home to Matlock Town in a 0-0 draw on the opening day of the season, they have lost each of their other three matches.
First choice goalkeeper is Andre Mendes, who started his career in his native Portugal with Benfica, after they had signed him from Marinhense.
He then came to the UK in 2018 with Morecambe and spent five years with them, during which time he was loaned to Colne and Ashton Utd, before joining Lancaster City on his release. He then moved to Bury, joining our hosts pre-season, after spending last term with FC United.
His deputy is Danny Hamlett, a former Sandbach, Runcorn and Alsager player.
Centre back Scott Wara is a new signing too. A former Stoke City Junior, he joined Leek on his release in 2020. After two years he then moved to Ireland for a couple of months with Finn Harps, before returning to England with Stalybridge last September. He is a Fiji International too.
Julius Ndene is another centre back, another pre-season signing and another former Stoke Junior. He spent two years at Rocester after his release and came to Prescot after spending last season at Leek.
Left back Matty Devine has just started his third season at Prescot. He started out with Marine, before moving to Burscough and Witton Albion. He then had three years at Nantwich, before joining Prescot in July 2022.
Centre back Charley Doyle is currently on loan from Marine. He is a former Blackburn Rovers Junior and has also played for Stalybridge Celtic.
Owen Cushion is a central midfielder who came from Wrexham pre-season. He also had a spell on loan with Colwyn Bay earlier this year.
French defender Nelson Digbeu is a new arrival too, following a successful trial after leaving Skelmersdale. He started with Chauvigny and has also played for Prestwich Heys, Bradford Park Avenue, Ashton Utd, Leek Town and Widnes.
Midfielder Francis Smith made his debut in Prescot colours in March 2023 and has been a regular starter ever since.
Fellow midfielder Brandon Newell was another pre-season signing from Witton Albion. He was previously at Macclesfield and went on a dual registration to Wythenshawe Town, before starting last season with Stalybridge Celtic.
Finlay Heath is a midfielder too, on loan from Southport. He started at Buxton and was at AFC Liverpool before going to Southport in November 2022. He was loaned to South Liverpool and Nantwich too last season.
Captain and midfielder James Foley came from Witton Albion at the start of 22/23 and was previously at Marine for three years, Cammell Laird and Macclesfield.
Dominic Cain came from Tranmere Academy. A centre back he arrived from South Liverpool at the end of last season and had also played for Beeston Sports.
Left back Michael Carberry is another pre-season addition to the squad. He was a Doncaster Rovers Junior, who went to Burscough on his release. He then spent three years at Bootle, before moving on to Southport and Marine, then returned to Bootle last December to see out the season.
Lewis Gilboy is another newcomer. A pacey winger, he started out at Accrington, but was released after a loan at City of Liverpool and joined Bury. He spent the second half of last season at FC United.
Centre back Harry McVeigh was in Everton’s Academy, before moving to Wales with the New Saints on his release. He then spent time at Liverpool before returning to TNS. Skelmersdale was his next stop, before a brief spell at South Liverpool preceded his move to Prescot last February.
Striker John Murphy came from Ransbottom for the start of 22/23. He has been the clubs leading scorer for the last two seasons and has also played for Glossop North End.
Fellow striker Kyle Sambor has been a prolific scorer too since he arrived in March 2022. He has had a number of previous clubs, including Colne, Widnes, AFC Liverpool, Atherton Collieries, Witton Albion, Warrington Rylands, Cammell Laird 1907, Kendal Town, Ytterhogdals IK, Mansfield Town, Litherland and Vauxhall Motors.
Liam Hollett is a defender and club captain, who had numerous spells with our hosts. He has played for Cammel Laird, City of Liverpool, Marine, Burscough, Skelmersdale and Runcorn too.
Midfielder Tom Owens started out at Preston North End, before moving to US College football as a player and a coach. He returned to the UK in 2017 and set up his current UK coaching centre in Prescot.
Striker Ben Elliott is a new arrival from Didsbury & Chorlton.
Kick off as usual is 3pm.