by Peter Scherer
This weekend we host FC United of Manchester, who beat us 1-2 at Broadhurst Park back in late November.
Like so many clubs, it’s been difficult and an up and down season for our visitors, who have had three wins in their last six games and currently lie 12th in the table.
For Mickleover survival is just about possible mathematically with a win, but with just five games left it’s a tall order.
Mark Beesley has been in charge since September, after being assistant at Warrington Town for eight years and was previously in charge at Burscough.
Holding the first-choice goalkeeping spot Conor O’Keefe was signed from Ashton Utd last October. He started out at Macclesfield, and after a spell at Barwell went to Spain with Fuenlabrada, returning one year later to Loughborough University.
He then spent a year in Gibraltar with Europa Point and Bruno’s Magpies, before moving to Sweden with Pitea IF and Vasalunds IF. He was at Macclesfield too last season, before starting this season at Ashton.
His current deputy is Olivier Bellizia, a Fleetwood Academy loanee, who has also been loaned to Charnock Richard. He made one appearance so far.
Ollie Byrne started the season as first choice keeper. An ex Manchester Utd youngster, he also played junior football at Cardiff City and Blackburn Rovers, with a loan spell at Chorley in between.
After another loan at Bamber Bridge he moved to Stevenage and Atherton Collieries, before moving to the Welsh League, firstly with Connah’s Quay, who loaned him to Airbus UK.
The next stop was Altrincham, who loaned him to Cork City and he finished last season at Macclesfield, before joining our visitors pre-season, but is currently out injured. He has also played in the Europa League.
Left back Guy Hall was last years players player of the year and is now in his third season with the club.
Right back or central midfielder Dec McLoughlin arrived from Skelmersdale at the beginning of last season. He has also played for Bootle and Ashton Utd.
Central midfielder Charlie Munro came from Southport in July2023. He started out at Ashton Athletic and has also played for Warrington.
Sometimes captain, centre back Dec Evans came from Southport too at the start of this season. A former Rochdale Junior he was at Chorley, before a four year stay at Mossley. He then joined Southport in 2022 but was loaned back to Mossley for a brief spell, before his move to our visitors.
Jan Palinkas is also a centre back. He started at Wythenshawe and came to our visitors in July 2022. He has also captained the side this season.
Rudy Misambo is a centre back too, signed from Farsley Celtic in February. He started out at Prestwich Heys, before spending 10 years at Lancaster City.
Striker Adam La Fondre was another pre-season season, bringing in vast experience with over 500 appearances in the Championship, Leagues One and Two, scoring over 160 goals, plus a varied international career.
He started at Stockport County, before moving to Rochdale. Rotherham, Reading and Cardiff City were his next stops, before loans at Bolton, Wolves and Wigan, followed by a permanent move to Bolton in 2017.
Venturing overseas he spent 2 1/2 years in Australia with Sydney FC, including a loan to Mumbai City in the Indian Super League. After joining Hibernian on his UK return, he spent last season in Scotland.
Winger Jay Fitzmartin is a former Bolton youngster, he was loaned to Stalybridge, before moving to Atherton Collieries following his release. He came to our visitors at the beginning of last season, but spent much of the year out injured.
Fellow winger Michael Donohue has spent six years with our visitors, A former Everton junior, he was loaned tom Barrow before joining Fleetwood on his release. He was then loaned to Tamworth, before an initial loan spell preceded his move to Broadhurst Park in January 2019.
Striker Jordan Buckley came from Warrington in November 2023. He started off at FC United, before his first spell at Warrington. After a year he moved for a short spell at Flint Town in the Welsh League, before returning to Warrington in July 2021.
Charlie Ennis is club captain and began his career with Stockport County. A striker, he was loaned to Salford City before a permanent move to Stalybridge. He spent time in the Welsh League too with Bala Town, before onto Droylsden, Witton Albion and Northwich Victoria.
After a spell back in Wales with Colwyn Bay, he was at Guiseley before returning to Stalybridge. Hednesford, and Curzon Ashton followed before returning to Stalybridge again. He then joined Southport after a second spell at Curzon Ashton and then spent just under a year with Ashton Utd, before joining FC United in July 2019.
Matt Grivosti is another striker who arrived last October from Warrington. He had started his career at Warrington, before moving to Bolton Wanderers. Loans at Yeovil and Radcliffe followed, before he rejoined Warrington again at the start of last season.
Another striker, another recent signing and another former Warrington player, Gez Sithole began his career at Gillingham. He then moved to Bolton too, who our loaned him to Altrincham and Chorley, before his started this season at Warrington following his release.
Josh Miles is a winger on loan from Blackpool. He started out at AFC Liverpool and has also played for Southport and been loaned to Warington.
Dylan Mottley-Henry is a winger too, dual registered with Chester. He joined our visitors in January. He started off at Bradford City, who loaned him to Altrincham and Bradford Park Avenue, before a move to Barnsley.
Further loans at Tranmere, Chesterfield and Harrogate followed, before returning to Bradford City. He has played for Larne Town, South Shields, Warrington, Alfreton and Buxton too and has Championship, League One and two experience too.
Midfielder Adam Sudworth has also played for AFC Liverpool and Academy graduates Bob Jammeh and Dom Doyle have also been in the squad recently.
Kick off at the Don Amott Arena is 3pm, but remember it’s the FAMILY FUN MATCHDAY starting from 1pm too!!
