by Gareth Holmes, Mickleover FC First Team Manager

Derby County Community Trust (Mickleover) began their season in emphatic fashion with a dominant 5–1 victory over WBA at The Don Amott Arena, showcasing a blend of resilience, pace, and attacking flair.

It was WBA who started the brighter of the two sides, pressing high and causing Derby real problems early on. The visitors looked sharp in the opening stages, pinning Derby back and threatening around the edge of the box.
However, Derby’s defensive line stood strong, producing a series of vital blocks and challenges to keep WBA at bay.

The turning point came midway through the first half when Derby began to exploit their pace on the counterattack. The front three, brimming with speed and intent, started to stretch WBA’s back line. The breakthrough arrived through Stevenson, who unleashed a superb strike into the bottom left corner to give Derby a 1–0 lead at the break.

At halftime, the message from the Derby bench was clear: maintain the intensity off the ball, but aim for more composure in possession. The players responded perfectly.
Within minutes of the restart, Stevenson doubled the lead with another sensational long-range effort that flew past the goalkeeper. From there, Derby began to assert full control. Confidence grew, and the wide players became more involved—particularly after the introduction of Malpass, who made an immediate impact.

On the hour mark, Malpass raced past the WBA defence down the right and calmly lifted the ball over the onrushing goalkeeper to make it 3–0. The midfield trio of Adcock, Williamson, and Berry continued to dominate, breaking up play and launching quick transitions. Their influence told again when they released Malpass down the wing, and he made no mistake with his second goal, slotting home Derby’s fourth.

WBA managed a late consolation with 10 minutes remaining, scoring from a well-taken free kick. But Derby were not finished. In the closing moments, some excellent work down the right-hand side led to a perfectly placed cross that found Garrett, who coolly slotted home the fifth and final goal of the game.

Final Score: Derby (Mickleover) 5–1 WBA
Scorers:
• Stevenson (2)
• Malpass (2)
• Garrett (1)
A superb all-round performance from a new-look Derby (Mickleover) side, who laid down a marker for the season ahead. The balance between defensive grit and attacking creativity bodes well for what’s to come.

GARETH HOLMES

by Peter Scherer 

Our visitors from Leicestershire proved to be just tOo much of a handful for the Mickleover youngsters and with four first half goals they ran out 6-2 winners.

Starting line-up: 1-Freddie Fleckney 2-Fynn Newman 3-Tom Bainbridge 4-Semilore Omotara 5-Josepeh Moore 6- Taylor Horbowyj 7-Cole Harrisn 8-Asher Lester-Newton 9-Efren Rolleston 10-Marats Sudavs 11-Zak Kirvan. Subs: Jon Hunt, Habibur Rahman, Harry Williamson, Ryan Martin, George Tunnicliff, Evan Cudworth.

Aylestone were straight into attack mode from the kick off and after two minutes a cross from the left was met with a miskick in front of goal, a lucky let off for Mickleover.

Two minutes later Yassine Haffaneh had the first shot on target for the visitors after the defence failed to challenge him, but fortunately it was straight at keeper Fleckney.

Saxon Nicholls then outpaced the home defence again after six minutes, he cut in from the right and fired a shot just wide.

But the luck ran out for Sports after seven minutes when keeper Fleckney came out to challenge Evan Kane for a cross from the right. He was alleged to have fouled the striker and the referee awarded a penalty, which was duly converted, 0-1.

Only a minute later there was another penalty appeal, but this time waved away. It wasn’t long though before Aylestone added a second, with the centre of the defence torn apart, the ball was struck firmly into the bottom corner, 0-2 after nine minutes.

The visitors had another shot blocked after 12 minutes before Fleckney claimed it, but in the first 20 minutes Mickleover had struggled to break out of their own half.

22 minutes and it was another lucky escape, when Newman was beaten on the right. The ball came into the box and there was a fumble from Fleckney, but Aylestone failed to get a free shot in.

Most of the 50/50 decisions seemed to be going Aylestone’s way and some dubious offside flagging went against Mickleover too, when barely having crossed the half way line.

Harrison nearly managed to break through and sent Sudavs on a run, before he was intercepted after 25 minutes. Two minutes later Harrison and Rolleston combined before a late saving tackle halted their progress.

Aylestone were then caught out by their own offside trap, when Harrison put Rolleston clear after 34 minutes. The striker went straight at the advancing keeper and slotted it neatly out of his reach to make it 1-2.

Sudavs then had a chase on a minute later after Moore played a lovely long ball out of the centre of defence, but it proved to be just out of reach.

But after a few minutes promise it was all Aylestone again to the half time whistle. 37 minutes and an unmarked striker gave Fleckney no chance from close range to make it 1-3 and three minutes later it was 1-4 after Fleckney managed to save the initial shot, before it bounced off him into the net.

Sports made two changes for second half with Pegg and Williamson on, joined five minutes later by Martin.

The defence seemed tighter and weren’t giving the visitors so much freedom, Omotara looking particularly strong as he tried to push forward.

Fleckney had to make a two footed save having charged off his line in the 54th minute and a minute later Martiin pulled one back with a lovely taken goal, after Harrison and Rolleston had combined to send him clear, 2-4.

Just four minutes later and it was 2-5, after Fleckney managed to palm away a good strike, before the rebound went in with no reaction from the defence.

Fleckney continued to be busy for the rest of the game, with four saves over the next 10 minutes, after the home defence were left floundering.

Kirvan tested the visitors keeper after 72 minutes and Rahman was the next sub to come on, and Hunt played the final 12 minutes.

But after some excellent saves to keep the score respectable, Fleckney appeared to drop the ball into the net with a minute left and the final whistle blew with Mickleover soundly beaten 2-6.

 

by Peter Scherer (Images from Franklin Sixth Form College)

It was semi final time for the EFL CEFA National Under 19 Cup, which meant a trip to Lincolnshire to face the Grimsby Town Foundation.

After a successful season the Derby youngsters, already reduced to 10 men, fell 3-2 to a last minute winner for the Mariners.

Starting line-up: 1-Josh Bull 2-Mason Hoult 17-Asher Lester-Newton 4- Hamza Konane 5-Jared Cholerton 6-Ellis King 7-Liam Carter 25-Toby Smith 9-Mikey Mandimutsira 10-Josh Powell 11-Josh Carter. Used sub: Sam Johnson.

From the kick off the Derby youngsters were straight into attack, with King sending a long ball through to Liam Carter which was cleared.

Grimsby reacted quickly to make a break after Lester-Newton lost possession, with King making the interception.

Hoult earned the first corner after four minutes, quickly followed by a second. It was taken short by Smith, before being sent into box, where Cholerton slid in to make it 1-0 after five minutes.

Derby continued to subdue their hosts and created another half chance, when Konane got the ball off a defender, found Powell who then sent Josh Carter on a threatening run.

15 minutes in and Grimsby were awarded a dubious free kick, after an alleged foul by Smith. But the kick was easily cleared.

But two minutes later the visitors almost broke through when Hoult lost the ball, Cholerton had come charging back though to make a last-minute saving tackle. It earned the hosts a corner, which was easily headed away by Lester-Newton.

Lester-Newton was in the action again firing a good shot just over the bar after cutting in from the left after 18 minutes and five minutes Liam Carter tested the keeper, making a diving save to his right.

Derby were outplaying Grimsby in both possession and creativity, but the host were playing long high balls into the defence, which on the whole Cholerton and King were able to deal with fairly comfortably.

But on the half hour mark the Derby defence was outpaced on the left and as the cross came into the box, it was met with a precise strike and it was 1-1-.

A 33rd minute free kick for Derby was hoofed away after Liam Carter chased it. Two minutes later though and some slack defending and a reluctance to clear their lines, set up another chance for Grimsby, with a final shot just past the post.

A Grimsby striker then got a lucky break when the assistant failed to spot him two yards offside, sending him one on one with keeper Bull, who on this occasion got their first.

With half time approaching another dubious free kick was awarded against Cholerton on the edge of the box, but Bull made a good clean save from the kick.

There was further drama though when Lester-Newton was caught in the chest after a Grimsby corner. He received attention on the field, but was replaced by Johnson with minutes left in the first half.

There was an immediate corner for Grimsby as the second half got underway, but it led to break for Mandimutsira. Despite his pace and determination he was finally intercepted.

Grimsby had a chance take the lead after 50 minutes, when some sustained pressure from the hosts created a perfect chance, only for the striker to send it straight at keeper Bull.

The game had become far more aggressive, which wasn’t suiting the Derby style of play. But Liam Carter got clear on the right, his cross was met by Powell but the keeper made a confident save from the following header.

Another Derby attack followed, but when Smith reacted to a heavy challenge, he received a straight red card and Derby were down to 10 men after 53 minutes.

The Derby defence had little time to regroup after Smith’s loss, when Grimsby lofted a long ball over the defence. Bull raced out of his goal but the striker slotted it past and it was 1-2.

Cholerton intercepted another break, but it was Derby back on the attack again. A lovely crossfield ball from the left found Liam Carter, who slotted it neatly beyond the keeper and it was level pegging again at 2-2.

The hosts tried an ambitious lob when Bull was off his line, but that went over the bar and then Liam Carter had the legs on the defence again, but his shot was maybe a fraction too early and it whistled just wide of the left hand post.

King lost out in a chase from 75th minute break, but the Grimsby striker’s shot was over the bar again, before a Derby corner came in from the right to Liam Carter, and Cholerton’s header went wide.

Konane had become far more creative in the second half and he made an outstanding run that took him to the edge of the box, before a late interception.

But with the thought of a penalty shootout looming, Grimsby won a corner with one minute on the clock. It came in from the left and was headed home, 3-2 and the hopes of playing in the final were over for another year.

“We started the game really well, then it changed and they got back into it. But the lads have been brilliant for me, last season and this,” said coach Andy Dales.

 

by Peter Scherer

This Wednesday it will be time to focus on the Mickleover FC run Derby County Community Trust team, as they visit Grimsby Town in the Community & Education Football Alliance Cup semi final.

In the previous two rounds they have done a Merseyside double, beating Everton at home 7-1, before travelling to Liverpool to beat the Reds 2-0.

Kick off against the Mariners is 1pm.

by Peter Scherer

Friday evening Mickleover start their FA Youth Cup campaign with a visit to Matlock Town in Preliminary round.

Matlock have already beaten Loughborough Students in the Extra Preliminary round to earn the home tie, whereas Sports youngsters were exempt from that round, having reached the first round proper last season.

Mickleover finally went out to Northampton Town 0-1 at home, and will hoping to match that same progress this season.

So come and watch our future , kick off 7.17 at Causeway Lane, and just £5 amission.

by Peter Scherer

It’s with a great deal of pride that Mickleover FC can look back over it’s past and current achievements with the Clubs own Academy.

Formed in 2014 initially, they were 2015,16 & 17 ESPFA Champions and with John McGrath becoming player manager, he signed former Rams and England Under 16,17 & 19 International Pablo Mills for the start of the 2026/17 season.

Initially as a player, Mills had also been coaching at Derby University and soon became McGrath’s right-hand man with the Academy.

One of the first successes for the new partnership was the development of versatile defender Morgan Williams. Having been released from the Nottingham Forest Juniors, he came to Mickleover in September 2016 and two years later he was snapped up by Coventry City.

He made his first team debut in 2018 against Arsenal Under 21’sin the EFL Cup and after five more appearances, he was loaned to Yeovil Town, before making his move permanent. He is now riding high as part of the Yeovil team topping the National League South.

In 20/21 they had won the ESPFA Midlands Championship which put them in a play-off with Runcorn Linnets and Chesham Utd for the National title, with all games played at the neutral Rushall Olympic ground.

Mickleover proved to be a class apart and destroyed the opposition, scoring eight goals in each game. Beating Runcorn 8-0 and Chesham 8-1.

A number of the players, despite their age, had managed to break into the first team squad, Bobby Battisson, Louis Pennington, Josh Satchwell, Will Robinson, Fin Barker, Ben Lewin, Kai Moore, George Atwal and Jake Edge-Lucas.

Current vice-captain, but on field captain during Ryan Wilson’s absence, Ethan Mann emerged in the same year, but a year younger. But he not only became a squad member, but has been a first choice centre back this season and much of last too.

We have always excelled ourselves in developing young talent and with a genuine clear pathway to the first team, plus the exceptional coaching of Pablo Mills and Andy Dales. May our list of Academy Graduates continue to grow.

said gaffer John McGrath. 

The list of success goes on, as Academy goalkeeping graduates Tom Smith and the late Fin Bowen both made one appearance each, along with Ben Horleston.

With former Sports star Andy Dales returning to the club, he joined Mills and McGrath as the Academy severed it’s connections with the ESPFA and are now a stand-alone.

As undefeated Champions of their Division in last years FA Youth Development League, with 11 wins and one draw, they played Southern Champions West Ham Foundation at Oxford City’s ground, winning 1-0 with a Mann header.

So far this season they have three wins from three, and also came through the FA Youth Cup Qualifying rounds, before going out to League One Northampton Town.

Following in Ethan Mann’s footsteps, Brandon Ferron, Fin Ryder, Sam Tomlinson, Zac Sandhu, Harry Atwal and Toby Smith are all now members of the first team squad and the door is open for the next generation to follow too.

The Academy has come a long way, a lot of hard work and time has gone into this process. Me, Macca and Dalesy decided to have a development team, which in my opinion rivals some of the best Academies around, and our aim is to produce players that can compete in our first team and also be sold on. Morgan Williams is the benchmark for what players can achieve.

said Mills.

But my best moment coaching the lads was definitely winning the ESPFA Regional and National Championships and losing only one game that season. We dominated the Nationals and a lot of other coaches were complimentary on how well organised and coached the lads were.

We not only want to produce good players, but we also want well disciplined young men, that can go out in the world with the tools needed to succeed

he concluded.

 

by Peter Scherer

It was the biggest game in our recent Academy history, as Mickleover faced League One Northampton Town’s youngsters, in the first round proper of the FA Youth Cup.

Starting line-up: 1-Josh Maher 2-Mason Hoult 3-Brandon Ferron 4-Toby Smith 5-Jared Cholerton 6- Zac Sandhu 7-Liam Carter 8-Harry Atwal 9-Sam Tomlinson 10-Fin Ryder 11-Josh Carter. Subs: Luis Mas-Hall, Josh Bull, Josh Powell, Hamza, Mason Tudgay.

The rain was falling but spirits were high for kick-off, but keeper Maher was soon tested, making a diving save to his left from a Reuben Wyatt volley, after just three minutes.

Mickleover earned a free kick after seven minutes, as gradually they began to grow in confidence and began to push forward themselves, with Tomlinson and Ryder combining in the first strong attack 10 minutes in.

Hoult began to find space on the right overlap, which gave  the home defence some respite from the Northampton attack.

But after 15 minutes the visitors went close again, following a header from a short corner, with a combination of Maher and the crossbar keeping it all square.

Only two minutes later the home defence was breached, when Wyatt put Harry Guess through to slot home 0-1.

The pressure had begun to build again, with Mickleover having gone off the boil. There were chances going begging for Northampton, but the shots were failing to reach the target nor test Maher.

Liam Carter had a half chance when the ball fell to him, but his shot was wide of the left-hand post.

34 minutes gone and our visitors doubled their advantage from a break. Wyatt squared the ball for James Owen to run onto, but Maher saved the first effort at close range, only for a lucky hit on his left post to rebound into the goal, 0-2, as it remained as the half time whistle went. 

Only two minutes into the second half Northampton fired another shot well over the bar, before Mickleover skipper Atwal got a shot in too, but t was an easy pick-up for the Marc Bald the visiting keeper.

From the hour mark the Mickleover lads seemed to gain in confidence again and began to move the ball around more effectively. 

Northampton continued to create a few chances without being seriously threatening, as Cholerton and Sandhu looked fairly solid. The defence allowed Ferron to use his pace more on the left and a series of promising attacks followed.

Josh Carter had a good effort over the bar, but despite their hard work, neither Tomlinson nor Ryder were able to break the visitors defence.

It was a defeat, but a good strong team effort, which bodes well for the future for all concerned.