by Peter Scherer

It’s back on home turf this Bank Holiday for league action, when we host Loughborough Students at the Vibrant Doors Arena on Monday.

It’s been a great start in both league and cup so far, with some strong performances both home and way. It’s also been a test of the new squad assembled by Gareth and Billy, as a few knocks and injuries have already seen most players play their part.

Striker Harvey Smith should be making his home debut, along with Brad Lathall, both debuting at Coventry last Tuesday. Hopefully some of our casualties will be on the road to recovery too.

Our visitors haven’t got into their stride yet, still seeking their first win after three defeats and one draw, going down 2-4 at home to Grantham Town last Tuesday.

Manager Jamie Clapham has been in charge since May 2021, following coaching roles at Middlesbrough, Coventry City, Barnsley and Leeds Utd, after making over 500 appearances in his playing career. He played in the Premiership for Tottenham Hotspur, Ipswich Town, Birmingham City, Wolves, Leicester City, Leeds Utd and Notts County, before retiring in 2011.

Henry Upsell is currently the first- choice goalkeeper. He started out at Fulham and Southampton’s Academy, before moving to Slough Town. He’s had loan spells at Langley FC, Risborough, Hayes & Yeading and Flackwell Heath, before arriving at Loughborough in pre-season.

Second choice keeper Dan James is a former Crystal Palace junior and an England Futsal international.

Rob March is a defender who’s returned to Loughborough in pre-season, after two years with Al Jazira.

Right back Joe Akinsanmi arrived in pre-season, He has also played for Concorder Rangers and Frenford among other teams.

A former Woking defender, Stanley Kyle had loan spells at Sandhurst Town and Camberley before joining our visitors.

Matty Bowman needs no introduction to Mickleover fans, after joining us from Basford in 23/24. A former Repton School pupil, he was junior at Middlesborough and Hull City, before joining Scarborough following his release. He’s played for Dunfermline Athletic too and since leaving Sports, he’s been at Bridlington, Pickering and Coventry Sphinx. He came to our visitors in pre-season from Belper Town as player coach.

Nat Salsby is another ex Repton School pupil. He’s centre back and has also captained the side.

Jozef Baxter was signed in pre-season. He’s a defender and was previously at Northampton Town.

Midfielder Josh Roddy started out at Reading and Bristol Rovers, before joining Bradford Town on his release. He’s also played for Corsham Town and Hartpury and is in his second season at Loughborough.

Defensive midfielder Alfie Lee started out at Harrogate, before moving to the US for a couple of years with LSU Alexandria Generals. He’s another pre-season arrival for our visitors.

Fellow midfielder Alfie Lee was at Coventry Utd before spending five years in the US. After playing for Indiana Tech Warriors and Lubbock Matadors, he joined AFC Hinckley on his UK return, where he spent two years before joining Loughborough.

Marcus Gilpin is a midfielder that started his journey in his native Zambia. He also spent time at the Barcelona Academy and played for Bradfield College before coming to Loughborough three years ago.

Striker Sonny Albert was at Florida Southern College and Alabama Huntsville in the US before coming to our visitors on his UK return. He has has also played for Dorking Town.

Matt Rennie is a striker signed last season. He’s an England IFSA Under 18 international and was a versatile sportsman at Repton School.

Winger, wing back or striker Alexandre Bertholen started his footballing journey in Singapore. He played for Balastier Khalsa and Tampines Rovers under 21’s before coming to the UK.

Kash Kasukumya was a junior at Bournemouth. He joined Bognor Regis following his release and ended last season at Littlehampton. Tobenna Ikegwuono is another striker, in his second year at Loughborough.

Archie Underwood is striker too, who came through Stowmarket Town’s junior sides, before making his first team debut.

Defender Munya Myogo and Brian McGovern have also been part of the squad this season.

Kick off is 3pm, but it’s also our Family Fun Day, it starts at 1pm and parking is free before 1pm.

be Peter Scherer (Images: Steve Ingers)

Mickleover made it six league and cup wins out of seven, after a comfortable 3-1 at Grantham Town in the FA Trophy.

Starting line-up: 1-Jack McDowell 2-Darryl Powell 3-Sam Sanders 4-Brad Lathall 5-Josh Ashman 6-George Wilkinson 7-Andy Dales 8-Cieron Keane 9-Harvey Smith 10-Manni Norkett 11-Kane Richards. Subs: Josh Carter; Yerim Zoko; Theo Rowe; Jude Taylor; Will Atkinson.

It was the hosts that had the first chance of the game, when McDowell had to race of his goal to save the strikers effort with his legs after five minutes.

But Mickleover soon settled and began to take charge, with Keane firing over the bar from distance, after Lathall had initiated the move a couple of minutes later.

11 minutes in and a McDowell clearance was headed on by Smith, for Norkett to shoot, but a deflection sent it wide for the first corner.

Richards had started to torment the left-hand side of the defence, cutting in from the right after 17 minutes, his shot was blocked and earned another corner.

But Sports were forced to make their first change following the resulting corner, when Smith took a knock and was replaced by Rowe.

It was Richards that opened the scoring too, chasing a ball from Dales in from the right, he chipped the keeper and the ball just rolled into net 1-0 after 20 minutes.

Just a minute later, he outpaced the defence again, but found his path blocked as he cut inside.

Grantham were opting for a long ball out of defence to chase, which hadn’t been looking too successful. But Shaw latched onto a clearance from keeper Steggles and forced McDowell into another save after 23 minutes.

Mickleover still had the majority of the possession and as on Wednesday night at Coventry, Powell, Ashman, Wilkinson and Sanders continued to look a solid back four, with Keane and Lathall directing from midfield.

Richards floated in another lovely 25th minute cross into the box again, but on this occasion the keeper just beat Norkett’s head to the ball.

Pressure was rewarded two minutes later though when Rowe’s trickery on the left saw him place a perfect cross onto Norkett’s head and it was 2-0.

Grantham hadn’t given up and continued with their original game plan, seeing Shaw test McDowell again close in and from a tight angle, but the Mickleover keeper took it with relative ease.

With Keane and Lathall in the centre of midfield, Dales appeared to have a more roaming role and 33 minutes gone and he earned a corner after his curling cross from the left was deflected.

Rowe and Dales then combined again on the left, but the final cross curled out for a goal kick.

Grantham went for a late push to try and get back into contention before half time, they successfully pegged Mickleover back in their own half, but failed to test the defence to any consequence.

It was Mickleover who had the final chance of the half though in time added on, when Norkett went solo and cut in from the right, to have his shot saved by the keepers feet, and so it remained 2-0 as the half time whistle blew.

Grantham started the livelier of the two sides initially as the second half got underway, when Langford had a shot blocked from the edge of the box just two minutes into the restart.

It didn’t take long for Mickleover to regain their momentum, but Norkett’s run down the left wing after 50 minutes came to an end when he was hacked down on touchline.

Rowe continued to outpace the defence on the left but his shot after receiving a cross-field ball from the right was covered by the keeper.

Further changes were made on the hour as Atkinson and Taylor came on for Rowe and Keane.

Sports had another half chance after 70 minutes when Norkett put a ball through for Taylor to chase. He got the shot in but it was still rising as it reached the goal and sailed well over the bar.

Only a minute later Grantham broke again, forcing McDowell to save with his knees, which triggered a succession of corners before the ball was finally cleared.

Carter then replaced Richards after 76 minutes, but a few minutes later Dales was kicked on the head, our hosts were down to 10 men and Zoko came on for Taylor for the final seven minutes.

Zoko had only been on the field just over a minute, when Steggles called for the ball to be left, only to miss it himself. Zoko was then on hand to stab the ball home and it was 3-0.

There was a consolation though for Grantham when they were awarded a very soft penalty. Former Mickleover midfielder Andrew Wright stepped up to make it 3-1 with virtually the last kick of the game, but it was another dominant performance that sees Sports go into the hat for the next round.

 

by Peter Scherer

It’s another break from our league campaign on Saturday, when we visit Grantham Town in the FA Trophy following our great three pointer at Coventry on Tuesday night.

With the injury list growing, it was good to see debuts for Harvey Smith and Brad Lathall, but hopefully skipper Hamza Bencherif will be fit for to rejoin the squad.

Our hosts had their first league win of the season on Tuesday, beating our Bank Holiday opponents Loughborough Students 4-2 away.

Newly promoted via the United Counties League last season, Grantham were relegated from the Northern Premier League in 21/22. We drew 1-1 with them at the Meres, with a Stuart Beavon goal and then 2-2 in the return, with goals from Ben Radcliffe and George Milner.

But back in October 2021 we paid them a visit in the FA Trophy too and came away with a 0-1 defeat.

Mitch Griffiths has been their manager since May 2025. A former Lincoln Utd defender, he previously spent a year as manager of Newark Town.

Jack Steggles is currently in goal, he came from Lincoln Utd at the start of last season. He’s also played for Newark Town and Carlton Town.

Second choice keeper is Bermudan Under 17 international Ayleal Dill. He was signed a couple of weeks ago from Hucknall Town, having previously been at Ilkeston.

Osa Soloman is a right back in his fourth season at the club. He came from Nottingham Forest in July 2023 after five months on loan at Redditch.

Josh Doran is a young defender signed from Boston Utd part way through last season. He’s played for Sleaford, Sandiacre Town and West Bridgford and is currently out on dual registration with Hucknall Town. His father Gary is our hosts goalkeeping coach.

Fellow defender Kacper Rajter is another pre-season arrival, having come from AFC Mansfield.

Former Notts County youngster Abdu Saad is a full back, signed from Eastwood. He has played for Radford, Hucknall Town and Long Eaton Utd too.

Centre back and captain Michael Jacklin came from Grimsby Borough at the start of last season. He started out with Brigg Town and then spent three years at Lincoln Utd, before returning after a year at Gainsborough. Loughborough Dynamo and Corby Town were his next stops, before a brief return to Lincoln Utd preceded his move to Grimsby in July 2024.

Wing back Alex Roberts has come through the clubs reserve side and has become a regular goal scorer, after debuting last season.

Former Notts County youngster Connor Bartle returned to our hosts in pre-season from Stamford, having played for the Gingerbreads pre-covid. He’s also played for Basford, Carlton and Bourne Town.

Andrew Wright is well known to Mickleover fans, having spent almost three years with us. A no nonsense attacking midfielder, he started out at Lincoln City and had his first stop at Grantham in 2017. Coalville and Matlock were his next stops, before a short return to Grantham preceded his Mickleover arrival.

He then joined Gainsborough but started 23/24 back at Matlock. After an initial loan he then joined long Eaton Utd, before making his Grantham return last September.

Central midfield Will Langford is a pre-season signing from Boston Utd. He was previously on loan for much of last season.

Harry Wood is another central midfielder who came from Doncaster Rovers Academy. He first joined the Gingerbreads on loan in 2024 and also played for Boston Utd and Brighouse.

Bradley Munns plays in central midfield and returned to the club initially on a dual registration in October 2025, after leaving to join Belper Town seven months earlier. He’s also played for Stamford.

Louis Czerwak is a former Notts County junior. Playing attacking midfield, he was with Newark Town last season and has also been at Chesterfield, Alfreton, Eastwood and Carlton.

Dan Dougill is another midfielder signed from Holbeach at the start of last season. He has played for Deeping Rangers and Wisbech too.

Lee Shaw is a striker who started his career at Grantham, before joining Chesterfield. After a loan at Guiseley he moved on to Alfreton and then had two years back with our hosts again. He came back for a third time at the start of last season, after two years at Stamford.

Dylan Reason is currently on loan from Ilkeston Town. He previously played for Loughborough Students.

Joe Smith is an attacker too, a pre-season signing from Newark & Sherwood. He’s also played for Sleaford and Newark Town.

Centre back Joe Braithwaite is the latest signing from Skegness Town last week. He was at Newark Town last season.

Kick off is 3pm at South Kesteven Sports Stadium, known as the Meres.

by Peter Scherer

Two second half goals from Manni Norkett made sure all three points came back to Mickleover, after our 2-1 win at Coventry Utd.

Starting line-up: 1-Jack McDowell 2-Darryl Powell 3-Sam Sanders 4-Will Atkinson 5-Josh Ashman 6-George Wilkinson 7-Theo Rowe; 8-Cieron Keane 9-Harvey Smith 10-Jude Taylor 11-Kane Richards. Subs: Manni Norkett; Josh Carter; Brad Lathall; Yerim Zoko.

It was another lively start from Mickleover, with Taylor making a second minute interception only for his cross to miss Smith’s head by inches. Skipper Atkinson then charged forward only to be blocked on the edge of the box.

A minute later Richards and Smith combined only for the final strike to be blocked again.

Coventry then made their first break, a first test for the revised back four of Powell, Ashman, Wilkinson and Sanders. The cross came in but there was no one on the receiving end and it was easily cleared.

Smith tried his luck again after 12 minutes, but it was a routine catch for the home keeper.

After the initial pressure from Mickleover, the game began to even out more. But despite some positive build up’s neither keeper was seriously tested. McDowell made a comfortable save after 15 minutes and then Rowe outpaced the defence again on the left, but his cross was just out of reach of both Richards and Smith.

Our hosts had their first real shot after 20 minutes, but that was blocked and then cleared. But Coventry then tried a random shot, easily caught by McDowell.

Richards went close in the 24th minute, beating the defence on the right, despite being pulled back by his shirt and arm. He cut inside and tried to place his shot, only for the keeper to save with his feet.

Keane tested the keeper again after 34 minutes, but his long range effort was palmed away as Mickleover were finishing the first half positively.

Richards went close again with four minutes left, dispossessing the defence, he shot just wide of the left-hand post. But the first period ended 0-0 after a lengthy build-up ended with another Keane longshot as the whistle was poised.

There were no changes at half time but it didn’t go well for Sports following the restart. Just two minutes had gone when the ball came into the Mickleover box from the right, falling nicely for Cobourne, who beat McDowell from close range 0-1.

The goal seemed momentarily to upset the balance in defence and Coventry went close again two minutes later.

After earning a 52 minute free kick, Keane curled the kick crossfield to find Taylor, whose strike was just wide.

McDowell made another comfortable save three minutes later, before Rowe was sent on a long run deep into the box, but it proved too long and his path was blocked before he could shoot.

Just before the hour mark the first change was made with Norkett on for Richards. But it was Rowe testing the home defence again, his cross from the left finding Taylor again, who was unable to target his shot this time.

Taylor was beginning to run at the defence more and was fouled again as he charged through the middle on the hour. Keane once again curled in the free kick, but it was straight out of play.

Two more changes were made as Carter and Lathall came on for Powell and Taylor and within a minute Carter had made his presence felt. He took on the defence down the right, sending his cross into crowded box. Norkett was quickest to respond and sent his toe poke just wide of the keeper to make it 1-1.

Norkett almost got his second a minute later after Sanders put him through on the left. Cutting inside from the wing in a solo effort, his shot bounced off the top of the bar and out for goal kick.

Mickleover continued to press forward and when Rowe fired in a cross from the left, it not only beat the defence but our strike force too, as it rolled across the face of the goal.

But Coventry missed a golden chance for their second after 70 minutes and tested McDowell again four minutes later, who saved comfortably.

Norkett’s pace continued to torment the home defence, and he was hacked down just outside the box after 76 minutes. The free kick was headed away for a corner, which preceded a scramble in the box before Keane found Lathall, whose shot was blocked.

With just two minutes left Norkett attacked again on the left. An initial cross was cleared, but it fell to Carter on the right. His precision cross then found Norkett’s head on the left of the box, it was his and Mickleover’s second and sealed a 2-1 victory.

We take a short break from league action, as we travel to Grantham for our FA Trophy tie on Saturday and then welcome Loughborough Students to the Vibrant Doors Arena on Monday.

 

by Peter Scherer

Having got through the two preliminary rounds, Mickleover have been drawn away to Southern League Premier Division Stamford on September 5th.

Our hosts are currently bottom of the table, after four defeats, including last Saturday’s 0-1 loss at Worcester City.

What are manager Gareth Holmes’ views on the draw?

We’ve had a really positive start to the season. The lads are really buying into who we are and what we want to become. We will do our homework and prepare well. It’s a great game for us to look forward too.

Back in 23/24 we played Stamford in the league, going down 0-4 away, before returning the favour 3-0 at home at the end of our play-off season.

by Peter Scherer

Following last Saturday’s FA Cup win at Barwell, it’s back to league action on Wednesday night, when we visit fourth in the table Coventry Utd.

Our newly promoted hosts share Coventry RFC’s ground and have been managed for the last 10 years by Terry Anderson, who was previously first team coach. He’s assisted by Luke Morton and since coming from the United Counties League, they are off to a flying start.

A 1-1 draw on the opening day of the season at home to Grantham, has been followed by 1-0 wins away to Belper Town and Long Eaton and they were 3-1 FA Cup winners too last Saturday, at Whitchurch Alport.

Goalkeeper Dan Moore came from Worcester City at the start of last season. He’s a former Burton Albion Junior, who was loaned to Belper Town until a permanent move to Leamington. He played for Boldmere St.Michaels too, before returning to Belper and joined Worcester at the end of last season.

Right back Harry Sawyer came back to Coventry on a dual registration from Rugby Borough last September. He had previously spent four years with our hosts before moving to Hinckley AFC and Sutton Coldfield.

Fellow full back Adam Barber is a pre-season signing from Atherstone Town. He’s also had four years at Hinckley AFC and played for Nuneaton Griff and Shepshed Dynamo too.

Left back Jimmy Richardson made his debut at the end of last season and was previously at Redditch.

Chris Cox is the team captain. A right back he started his career with our hosts before moving on to Tamworth. He’s played for Nuneaton and Halesowen too, before returning to Coventry in January last year from Bedworth.

Defender Shay Palmer arrived from Worcester City in January 2025 and was previously captain at Highgate Utd.

Centre back Adam Miles returned to the club in September last year from Racing Club Warwick. He’s played for Rugby Borough, North Leigh and Newport Pagnall too.

Central midfielder Charlie Shaw was a junior at Mansfield Town. He’s had three spells at Tamworth and played for Walsall Wood and Lichfield, followed by Bromsgrove Sporting and Highgate Utd. He came to Coventry at the start of last season, after two years at Highgate.

A former Leicester City Junior Luke Downes is a midfielder who was at Coventry Sphinx before joining our hosts almost eight years ago. After spells away, he came back at the start of last season from Rugby Borough.

Experienced midfielder Reece Blackmore was signed in pre-season from Racing Club Warwick, having previously spent a number of years at Bedworth.

George Dunkley is the newest arrival. A midfielder, he came from Bedworth at the end of last month.

Cody Mullan s another midfielder who arrived last December. He has played for Nuneaton Town and Coleshill, and previously for Wolverhampton Sporting, Coton Green, Chelmsley Town, Knowle and Tividale.

Attacking midfielder or striker, Leo Stone came from Rugby Borough at the start of last season. He was previously with Coventry Sphinx and Bedworth.

Cameron Dunn came from Lichfield in June 2024, after coming through the Bedworth youth team.

Charlie Faulkner started in Stratford’s youth scheme. An attacking midfielder, he played for our hosts a few years back and has been at Rugby Town and played for Knowle and Coventry Sphinx too, before making his return.

Simeon Cobourne is one of the new signings, having come from Quorn in pre-season. He started off at Coleshill, before moving on to Heather St.John, Romulus, Halesowen and Rushall. He then returned to Coleshill, before a return trip to Halesowen, followed by Racing Club Warwick and Khalsa.

Striker Kyle Carey had six seasons with our hosts before returning in pre-season, after spell at Wellingborough. He played for Mickleover back in 2018 after coming through Coventry Sphinx’s youth scheme.

Winger Benji Adomako left our hosts last November to join Rugby Borough, but has returned for this season.

Kick off at the Nick Newbold Stadium is 7.45.

by Peter Scherer (Images: Steve Ingers)

TWO blistering second half free kicks from Cieron Keane made sure that its Mickleover in the hat for the next round of the FA Cup, after a 2-1 win at Barwell.

Starting line-up: 1-Jack McDowell; 2-George Wilkinson; 3-Sam Sanders; 4-Will Atkinson; 5-Josh Ashman; 6-Dwayne Wiley; 7-Theo Rowe; 8-Cieron Keane; 9-Manni Norkett; 10-Jude Taylor; 11-Andy Dales. Subs: Kane Richards; Stuart Beavon; Terry Hawkridge; Darryl Powell; Josh Carter; Luca Alonzi.

After a fairly stop start opening few minutes, Keane sent in a telling cross to find Sanders in the middle, but his 10th minute header was just wide of the post.

Sports continued to defend well with Wilkinson, Ashman, Wiley and Sanders looking solid, as Atkinson and Keane led by example to keep midfield advancing.

It was Keane that made a 20th minute interception and fired a shot goalwards from distance, but just over the bar.

Mickleover kept trying to push forwards and when Dales cut back after 28 minutes, he set up Rowe with a sight of goal, but keeper Brown saved the initial effort and collected it at his second attempt.

Shaquile Master had a shot wide for Barwell 32 minutes in and 10 minutes later Deen Master started a move which gave Dowd a chance, but his shot was high and wide.

Powell replaced Wiley just before half time and slotted into the back four, but just as it had been in Tuesday’s league game, it remained 0-0 as the half time whistle blew.

It was a lively start from Sports in the second half, with Norkett laying the ball off to Dales two minutes into the restart, but his curling shot was just wide of the far post.

But a minute later McDowell pulled off a fine save to deny Barwell the opening goal, from another Deen Master strike.

Barwell skipper Hickey had the ball in the net after 51 minutes, but was given offside, just before Mickleover made their second change, with Richards on for Norkett.

65 minutes gone and Turner committed a foul, Keane stepped up for the free kick and his shot went over the wall and wide of keeper Brown to make it 1-0.

Further substitutions saw Beavon and Carter on for Dales and Taylor, but with 81 minutes gone, Hickey latched onto a Deen Master strike to make it 1-1.

Time was running out and a possible replay beckoned, when Barwell gave away another free kick close in and almost on full time. Keane stepped up again to blast it into the back of the net, as the final whistle soon followed, with Sports the victors 2-1.