by Peter Scherer

So who else have we got coming out to support the NHS? Michael Johnson, a strong dependable centre back, started his football career with his hometown club Notts County. 

His four years at Meadow Lane saw 107 appearances in the black and white stripes, including a spell in the old First Division.

After moving to Birmingham City for £230,000 he was part of a Blues team that came close to promotion to the Premiership on a number of occasions, before finally making it to the Premiership in 2001/2. 

After eight years 262 games and 12 goals he finally left St Andrews and joined Derby on a free transfer in 2003.

One of the highlight’s of his time at Derby was being part of the team that gained promotion to the Premiership, via the play-offs in 2006/7 and had also been club captain the year before.

He began to fall out of favour and after 138 appearances and four goals, his Derby career ended after loan spells at Sheffield Wednesday and Notts County.

His playing career came to an end after a final season back at Meadow Lane in 2008/9, after which he took his first steps into coaching with Notts County youth team.

As well as a long club career he played 13 times for the Jamaican National team. He also had a spell as one of Notts County’s many caretaker managers, before taking on the role of Guyana’s manager.

Michael now works with the England Under 21’s and is often on TV commenting in an ambassadorial role about both Derby and Notts County.

by Peter Scherer

Who’s the next former Derby County player we can expect to see at Mickleover Sports NHS Allstars match? Steve Howard made his reputation as a bustling striker, hailing from the North East.

Having started off as part timer with Tow Law Town, he joined Hartlepool and stayed for four years. After 145 appearances and 26 goals he moved on to Northampton Town, but it was his move to Luton Town really began to get him noticed.

He got a 2004/5 League One winners medal with the Hatters and it was during this time his prolific goal scoring came to the attention of bigger clubs. After 212 games and 96 goals his five year spell was up and he joined Derby County for £1 million in 2006.

For a while he struggled to fit in, but soon became a star. He played in 2006/7 season which took the Rams into the Premiership after a play-off victory against West Bromwich Albion.  But the move to the top flight didn’t take-off and after struggling to recreate his goalscoring form, he moved on to Leicester City.

He played for Derby 63 times, scoring 17 goals  and as well as being the clubs top scorer in the promotion year, he was also the Player of the Year.

Four more successful years followed at Leicester and he hit another 28 goals, before making his final move back to Hartlepool. He had his last season with them and also went on loan to Sheffield Wednesday and had the dubious distinction of being sent off in his final professional game at Hartlepool.

Although Durham born he qualified to play for Scotland, but despite being on the verge of the International Team during his Derby spell, his only game was with the Scots B team, scoring on his debut.

by Peter Scherer

Ted McMinn became known as an erratic and unpredictable winger in his prime, who didn’t always see eye to eye with his managers.

His career began back in Scotland, where he moved from junior football to Queen of the South, where he had two successful seasons scoring five goals from his 68 appearances.

But his career went up a gear when he joined Glasgow Rangers in 1984 for £100,000. Jock Wallace was the manager at the time, but then made way for Graeme Souness and an alleged rift between the two soon Ted’s departure three years later, having played 63 times for his four goals.

His next stop was Spain, where he joined Seville. But only weeks into his move he broke his leg, before returning to play 22 games.

It was from here that Arthur Cox brought him to the Baseball Ground for £300,000 and he was an immediate hit with the supporters. His pace was his main asset and he became a fans favourite very quickly.

He played 123 games and scored nine goals before his Derby County career ended amid the clubs own takeover turmoil. 

His career then took him to Birmingham City and Burnley, before journeying to Australia with ECU Joondalup and finally Slough Town.

Although never a club manager, he has assisted former Derby team Mark Wright in his spells at Southport, Oxford United and Chester City and also had a spell as a football pundit on BBC Radio Derby.

McMinn’s popularity throughout his career was more than confirmed when 10,000 Rangers fans came to Pride Park for his testimonial to make a record breaking 33,475 on the day.

Taken from The Derby Telegraph

One of Derby’s best-known businessmen is organising the event

Several Derby County legends have agreed to play in a special charity match to help raise funds for NHS workers and show appreciation for their efforts during the coronavirus outbreak.

Well-known Derby businessman Don Amott has organised the fixture, which will be played at Mickleover Sports’ Don Amott Arena later this year.

Since announcing plans to hold a fundraisng match for the NHS, floods of Derby County stars from the past have contacted Mr Amott to say they would be willing to take part.

So far these include Archie Gemmill, Roger Davies, Steve Howard, Seth Johnson, Michael Johnson, Darren Moore, Adam Bolder, Shaun Barker, Jamie Ward, Jake Buxton and Ted McMinn.

 

Italian legend Stefano Eranio, who played for the Rams in the late 1990s and early 2000s, has also indicated he would like to play, if he is able to attend.

The match will be between Mickleover All Stars and NHS All Stars with all profits going to the Derby and Burton Hospitals charity, which Mr Amott is patron of.

It will be free to attend but visitors will be asked to make a donation to the charity during the match.

Due to current lockdown restrictions and social distancing guidelines, a date and time for the match is yet to be announced.

However, Mr Amott told Derbyshire Live it is hoped the match will be held on Thursday, July 30.

The businessman, described as “The King of Caravans” as a nod to his Derbyshire-based caravan business, said the match will be a fitting way to say thank you to all NHS workers.

He said he wants fans to come in their droves to show their support for the health workers at this critical time.

It is a horrible time for everyone at the moment and our NHS are doing such a fantastic job in very difficult circumstances

 

Mr Amott said.

I was thinking we need to do something and then totally out of the blue I came up with the idea of setting up a charity match.

 

“The work the NHS are doing is unbelievable, they are risking their lives to make us safe – it is hard to put it into words what they are doing for us. It is so important they are recognised.

Since I’ve started organising the match, my phone has not stopped ringing. I think this shows how much people want to help and show their support.

It upsets me when you hear that there are huge amount of deaths recorded in one day and it sounds like a statistic.

But it’s much deeper than that – there are thousands of families in mourning because they have lost a loved one. It’s so sad.

 

So this match will show the appreciation we have for everyone in the NHS. And it will also bring the community together again. I’m hoping we can pack the stadium with 2,000 people.

 

And you know what, I might even put my boots on.

 

Mr Amott is calling on current or former footballers, politicians or celebrities to get involved.

He also added Calum Best – the son of the late Manchester United legend George Best – has also expressed an interest in taking part.

Any current or former football players, politicians or celebrities who would like to take part should email nigel.slater@reachplc.com.

by Peter Scherer

Seth Johnson was a tough midfielder who had two spells with Derby County. But he started his career in Dawlish, where he was spotted by Crewe Alexandra.

Initially he joined the Cheshire Club as an Apprentice, before signing professional and making 91 appearances, including the 1997 Second Division play-off final.

Derby County had become interested in signing him, but even when the £2.5 million deal was done in 1999, Johnson stayed at Gresty Road to help his former club successfully avoid relegation.

He had two seasons at Derby and had soon earned himself a reputation for a strong, no nonsense and dependable midfielder. 

After 73 games and two goals he moved on to Leeds United in a £7 million pound transfer. But his promising and growing career didn’t materialise as hoped.

In his four years at Elland Road he only made 54 appearances and scored four goals, but injuries had plagued him and in 2005 he was released.

He headed back to Derby County for a second spell and played a part in the promotion year of 2007. He made another 57 more appearances and scored four goals, before injury intervened again.

Sadly his final game for Derby County was at Wembley in the 2007 play-off final which took Derby into the Premiership. He picked up a severe knee injury, put him out of the game and ended his playing career at only 28 years of age.

Johnson is also the last Derby County player to represent England in a full International, when he played against Italy  in November 2007.  

by Peter Scherer

With former stars already coming forward to take part in the Mickleover FC Allstars v NHS Allstars charity match planned for later in the summer at the Don Amott Arena, we are going take a look at who you can expect to see, on a daily basis.

Midfield dynamo Archie Gemmill spent much of his career at the Baseball Ground, joining Brian Clough’s Derby County from Preston North End, having started his career in his native Scotland with St Mirren.

In his first spell at Derby he scored 17 goals from his 261 appearances, before departing for Nottingham Forest in 1977.

He came back to Derby for a second spell in 1982 but as a player coach with Clough’s former assistant Peter Taylor, having also played for Birmingham City, Jacksonville Tea Men and Wigan Athletic, he finally hung up his boots for the final time in 1984, having made 686 club appearances and scored 65 goals.

He stayed in coaching and rejoined Clough at Forest in 1984, before taking the managers seat in his own right at Rotherham United.

But his main claim to fame was one of the most outstanding World Cup goals of all time against the Netherlands in 1978. The fantastic solo run came Scotland in with a chance of progressing to the second round of the tournament, but they eventually went down 3-2.

A proud Scot Gemmill played 43 times for his country, captained them on 22 occasions and scored eight goals, but also became the manager of the Scotland Under 19’s from 2006 to 2009.

Mickleover Sports Club are proud to announce that we will be organising an All Stars charity football match in aid of Derby and Burton Hospitals Charity, and in support and appreciation of those heroes we call the NHS.

The fixture will be Mickleover All Stars vs NHS All Stars and will take place at the Don Amott Arena, all profits from the match will go to the Derby and Burton Hospitals Charity of which our Chairman, Don Amott, is an extremely proud Patron of.

 

Expect guest appearances from former Derby County and Burton Albion players, plus there will be fantastic entertainment on the day. The event will be completely free admission, with a bucket collection to help raise funds for this great cause.

Let’s bring Mickleover and Derby together for the NHS!

There will be more to follow, but in the meantime, please stay safe and STAY HOME NOW!