by Peter Scherer

On Friday evening Mickleover host their fifth and penultimate pre-season match, when a Burton Albion XI visit the Don Amott Arena for the annual KC Trophy Charity game.

In 2023 it was the Brewers that took the Trophy 0-1, so Sports will be looking to return the favour.

It’s been a good pre-season so far having been undefeated so far, after Tuesday nights 5-0 win at Shepshed, with strikers Giles Barnes, Dylan Edwards and Stuart Beavon all finding their goal scoring boots in the games so far.

“The main thing about pre-season is to give all the squad time on the pitch, so we can see where we are. By next week when we play Barnsley in our last pre-season game, we should have a good idea about our starting 11 for the first league match,” said manager Gareth Holmes.

Neither Andy Dales nor Dan Bradley have played yet, so they could be in action against Burton, who are expected to field a side blending youth and some experience.

Kick of is 7.30pm with admission just £5.

by Peter Scherer

The third game in Mickleover’s pre-season build-up took them to NPL Division One Midlands side Shepshed Dynamo.

Manager Gareth Holmes went for a mixture of signed players and trialists again, including Academy Graduates Toby Smith and Brandon Ferron.

Starting line-up: 1-Trialist 2-Trialist 3-Trilaist 16-Trialist 5-George Taft 6-Trialist 7-Leojo Davidson 8-Toby Smith 9-Fin Ryder 10-Stuart Beavon 11-Brandon Ferron. Subs Dylan Edwards + four trialists.

The game had barely got underway when Davidson picked up a loose ball on the right, crossing for Beavon in the box, who made no mistake from close range, 1-0 after three minutes.

Mickleover continued to put early pressure on the home defence and two minutes later Beavon sent Ryder on a run, before his charge down the left was cut off.

Davidson outpaced the defence again down the right, with his cross met by Ferron’s head, sending his effort just over the bar.

10 minutes in and Sports were still pushing for a second, with Davidson, Ryder and Beavon all looking dangerous after a good feed from Ferron on the left.

The Sports defence was Taft and a trio of trialists, who had looked fairly solid in the early minutes. But trialist 6 was lucky not to see yellow card, when he took the legs of his Shepshed counterpart. But the following free kick was easily cleared.

Both trialist wing backs began to push forward more and number two sent a nice cross into the box after 18 minutes, just missing Beavon’s head.

A minute later Davidson had another strong run and this time cut in to shoot himself. His effort was saved and from the following corner, Taft’s header was cleared.

There was some confusion in the Mickleover defence when the trialist keeper failed to respond to a back pass from number two. Fortunately it wasn’t heading goalwards, but did roll out for a corner.

It was 20 minutes before our hosts really broke from their own half, putting a good effort just outside the right-hand post.

Trialist three and Ferron then combined on the left and despite making good progress, the ball ran out before a cross was made.

Shepshed continued to show more confidence on the ball and were pushing forward, with another effort blocked by Trialist two, before a 26^th minute long shot sailed well over the bar.

Mickleover were quick on the break though and after Beavon and Ryder had battled in the box, the ball fell to Smith, who sent a cracking shot just inches over the bar.

Later into the first half it had become more end to end, and after 33 minutes Ferron picked up a loose ball after Beavon was felled, but Ryder’s challenge was intercepted and the ball went out of play.

Sports were so close after 41 minutes though, when Smith sent Ferron on another run down the left. He cut in tight towards the left-hand post and saw his shot parried by the keeper. The youngster then picked up the rebound and shot again, but was robbed by a combination of the keeper and the post.

Beavon kept the keeper busy again with a shot saved after 43 minutes and so it remained 1-0 as the half-time whistle went.

Mickleover brought on a second trialist keeper to start the second half, but otherwise recommenced unchanged, with Davidson having a shot blocked just minutes into the restart.

Mickleover were pressing hard and some mistakes in the home defence were keeping them pegged down. Ryder tried his luck in the 50^th minute, but three mutes later Davidson went clear again on the right, finding Beavon who slotted home his and Mickleover’s second after 53 minutes. 2-0.

Sports made a couple of changes before kicking off again, but we only had to wait six minutes for goal number three.  Trialist 15 and Ferron had worked through and found Beavon almost unmarked, securing his hattrick 3-0.

Shepshed started to have some random shots when able to, but were failing to trouble the keeper. Sports made more changes and after 70 minutes Edwards came on for Ryder.

Neither poacher Beavon nor Mickleover were done yet and after 73 minutes Beavon hit his fourth after another Davidson feed, 4-0.

Shepshed weren’t giving up and went a little closer to reaching the target in the final 15 minutes, but ended the game without troubling the keeper.

It could have been a fifth for Beavon when the home keeper made a risky clearance and the ball was swiftly returned just over the bar.

The fifth goal came with four minutes on the clock though, as Davidson ran through the defence, placing a lovely shot past the home keeper and into the bottom corner, 5-0.

Now we look forward to the visit of Burton Albion on Friday evening.

by Peter Scherer

Mickleover are off to Shepshed Dynamo for their first midweek pre-season friendly. The Northern Premier League Midlands team finished 14^th last season, but appointed new manager Tom Hayes at the beginning of May.

Hayes was a player at Leicester City at Walsall before turning to coaching. He managed Loughborough Dynamo last season and has been head coach at the University of Nottingham for the last seven years, as well as working for Lincoln City, Coventry City and Notts County and is now assisted by former Shepshed boss John Ramshaw.

Our hosts started their pre-season campaign with an 8-1 win at Lutterworth, a 0-0 draw with a Chesterfield XI, a 0-3 defeat at Leicester Nirvana, before beating Eastwood 2-1 last Saturday.

Recently signed goalkeeper Alex Akers is an ex Nottingham Forest junior, who has also played for Matlock Town.

Midfielder Liam Merrick is a new arrival from Coventry Utd, having previously been with Rothwell Corinthians and also coaches at the LCV International Football Academy.

Kyle Dixon is another midfielder who has been at our hosts since July last year. An ex Notts County Junior he was loaned to Boston Utd and Telford, before making a permanent move to Boston following his release. After another loan at Basford, he joined North Ferriby Utd, quickly moving on via Coalville, Newark Flowserve, Gainsborough Trinity and Bepler Town, before a nine month stay at Carlton preceded his move to Shepshed.

Centre back Jordan Wakeling is about to start his seventh season with Shepshed. He started out at Quorn, before moving to Barwell and spent two seasons at Gresley Rovers before joining our hosts.

Left back Mitch Tait is another new arrival. A former Mansfield Youth player, he arrives from Radford FC, but has played for Ilkeston, Grantham and Basford too.

David Chapman is another newly signed defender, who has recently been playing at Nottingham University. He was a Forest Junior and has also played for Kettering, Clifton All Whites and Quorn.

Striker Jack Astill was with manager Hayes at Loughborough last season and recently moved to Shepshed. He started at Leicester City’s Academy, before moving  to Melton and Lutterworth Athletic. After a spell in US College football he joined Birstall on his return to the UK and was at Anstey Nomads prior to his Loughborough move.

James Shaw was the clubs top scorer last season. The young striker came from Burton Albion’s Academy, before joining Long Eaton on his release. He was at Kimberley MW before joining our hosts.

Midfielder Finley Armond started out at Boston Utd, but on his release he moved to the US with Queens Knights. After a year he returned to the UK with Sleaford Town. His next stop was Matlock Town before returning to Sleaford and is another of manager Hayes’ new additions.

Chad Timson has followed Hayes from Loughborough too. A defender, he has played for Leicester Nirvana, Hinckley AFC, Kettering Town and Corby Town.

Antigua and Barbudan International midfielder Jorrin John has recently returned to our hosts. A former Leicester City Junior, he was loaned to Kettering,  before spending a couple of years in Thailand with Muangthong Utd.

Back in the UK he played for Corby and Nuneaton, before going to NK Domzale in Slovenia and Phnom Penh in Cambodia. Bedworth, Newark and Atherstone then preceded his first stay at Shepshed in July 2022, before he left again after a couple of months to join Melton Town. After a spell at Atherstone he played at Wellingborough Town last season.

Striker Connor Furey is another recent arrival from Loughborough. He started his career at Corby Town and has played for Stamford and Harborough Town.

Central midfielder Niall Prendeville is the clubs longest servant, as he starts his ninth season. He was previously with Holwell Sports, Barrow Town and Quorn.

Midfielder Callum Burkey was signed last March on a dual registration with Coalville. He started at Southend Utd and has played for AFC Sudbury and Basildon too.

Centre back Jordan Smith captained the side last season and returned to Shepshed for his second spell in the 22/23 season. Stamford, Boston Utd, Ilkeston and Kings Lynn are amongst his previous clubs.

Defender Elwalid Elhaghany is another player that arrived last season on a dual registration from Nuneaton. He’s also played for Loughborough Dynamo and Coventry Utd.

I this game we want to look at some of the younger lads and give them time and minutes on the pitch to be part of the squad. We are still looking at a few players still, so we will have one or two trialists again

said Mickleover boss Gareth Holmes.

Kick off at the Dovecote Stadium is 7.45pm.

by Peter Scherer

National League North Kidderminster Harriers were the visitors for the third pre-season game of the pre-season at the Don Amott Arena and Sports came away with a great 2-1 win thanks to two second half goals from Dylan Edwards.

Starting line-up: Yusuf Mersin; Jake Bennett; Will Atkinso; George Taft; Trialist; Ryan Wilson; Curtis Weston; Dylan Edwards; Leojo Davidson; Marcus Barnes; Fin Ryder.

As expected Mickleover came under some early pressure from the visitors, with one early chance just wide and a second well saved by Mersin.

We could been better in the first 30 minutes, but we began to settle more in the second half, still keeping our shape ethic and the desire to defend

said Sports boss Gareth Holmes, after it remained 0-0 at half time.

But it was Mickleover who took the lead early in the second half with an Edwards shot, but Kidderminster soon were back on levels terms with an Ashley Hemmings equaliser.

Barely was there time for the visitors to celebrate when Edwards hit is second, a header following a scramble from a corner, just three minutes later.

Kidderminster had their chances to level again, but their efforts were failing to reach the target. Mersin was on top form though with a great stop from Hemmings again in the last 10  minutes, but it was Mickleover the victors.

I was pleased with the overall sharpness and organisation of our team and could see lots of improvement from training. Dylan is such a talent too and has so much promise

Holmes concluded.

 

   

by Peter Scherer

National League North side Kidderminster Harriers are our visitors to the Don Amott Arena this Saturday, for Mickleover’s third pre-season match.

Sports boss Gareth Holmes is still experimenting with his players, after last weekends home draw against Belper and the win over Chesterfield Youth.

“We have got this game and the Shepshed one away to look at more trialists and our squad players, before we start making decisions before the Burton and Barnsley games. 

By then I want to have a good idea of what my starting line-up will be for the first league game. I don’t really mind who we get first, as we have to play everyone twice,” said Holmes.

Harriers now managed by ex Rams boss Phil Brown, finished 10^th in the league last season, but going back to 2000 they were promoted to the Football League, spending five years before relegation to the then Conference.

Brown has been in charge since January and this weekend will be their third pre-season game, having taking 1-0 wins at Cardiff City and Droitwich Spa. 

Christian Dibble and Josh Bishop have shared the goalkeeping duties so far. Dibble came from Wrexham in January and was a Bury Junior. He has also played for Warrington, Barnsley, Nuneaton, Boston Utd and Chorley, before spending 5 ½ years at Wrexham and is a Wales Under 17, 19 and 21 international. Bishop is a product of their own youth scheme.

Right back Alex Penny was a Wales International at Under 15’s. Hull City picked him up from Withernsea, but on his release he moved on via Bedworth, Stourbridge, Hinckley, Nuneaton and Peterborough Utd, before spending a year in Scotland with Hamilton Academicals. He came back to England with Boston Utd and has been at Kidderminster since February 2020.

Centre back Caleb Richards started out at Blackpool, and was loaned to Marine, Warrington and Southport, before joining Norwich in 2018. He was loaned again to FC United, Tampa Bay Rowdies in the USA and Yeovil and became a Harrier in September on his release.

Fellow centre back Paul Downing is a recent signing from Hereford. His early career was with West Bromwich Albion, who loaned him to Hereford, Shrewsbury, Rotherham and Barnet, before joining Walsall on his release. He has also played for MK Dons, Blackburn, Doncaster, Portsmouth and Rochdale, making over 300 football league appearances.

Luke Summerfield is a central midfielder and another recent signing from Halifax. He has played almost 400 football league games, having started out at Plymouth Argyle. He was loaned to Bournemouth and Leyton Orient, before joining Cheltenham on his release. Shrewsbury, York City, Grimsby Town, Macclesfield and Wrexham were his next stops, before a four-year spell at Halifax.

Ashley Hemmings is another vastly experienced and long serving left sided midfielder, with more than 400 senior football league games under his belt. Wolves initially loaned him to Cheltenham and Torquay, before he went to Walsall on his release. After a loan at Burton Albion he was released again to join Dagenham & Redbridge, but has played at Mansfield, Boston Utd, Salford City, Fylde, and Altrincham too. He came to Kidderminster from Fylde in October 2019.

Winger Seb Thompson was an England Under 16 International, who played youth football at Aston Villa. Liverpool, Leicester City, Derby and Burnley. He joined Macclesfield on his release, but left after a month and came to Kidderminster in February.

Maliq Cadogan is a winger too, currently on loan from Swansea City. He started out at Crystal Palace and is on loan until January.

Football is in the blood for right back Chistian Oxlade-Chamberlain. His father Mark was a well known Stoke City player and England International, uncle Neville had a long league career too and brother Alex currently playing in Turkey, is an England International too.

Christian started at Portsmouth and was loaned to Salisbury, Eastbourne, Pole Town and Oxford City, before joining Notts County. After two years he headed for Gosport, Aldershot and Kings Lynn, before joining our visitors in July 2023.

Winger Samson Hewett, striker Kobe Hall and midfielder Noah Rubio are more home-grown talents, Hewett was out on loan at Bromsgrove and Malvern Town last season to gain experience, while Hall was also at Bromsgrove and Coleshill Town.

Right sided midfielder Jack Lambert came from Darlington at the start of last season. After early spells at Middlesbrough and Dundee he joined Scunthorpe, who loaned him to Darlington and Blyth Spartans. He spent a month with IBV Vestmannaeyjar in Iceland, before joining Hebburn Town and then spent two years at Darlington.

Joe Foulkes is a right back and played his early football at Walsall. After three loan spells at Kidderminster, his moved became permanent a couple of weeks ago.

Striker Amari Morgan-Smith is about to start his fifth season with our visitors, after arriving from Alfreton in July 2020. He started at Wolves, before moving to Crewe Alexandra. Quickly moving on to Ilkeston, Luton and Macclesfield, he first came to Kidderminster on loan in 2013, before his stay became permanent. Oldham Athletic was his next stop, followed by Cheltenham, York City, Telford and Alfreton. 

Central midfielder Zak Brown scored the winning goal at Droitwich. He came from Alvechurch in July 2022, after being a West Bromwich Albion Junior.

Centre back Reiss McNally has spent most of his career with Solihull Moors. He spent a year at Guiseley before returning to Moors in 2020, but was loaned to Brackley Town, Hereford and Telford, before coming to Kidderminster on another loan in November 2022, making it permanent at the start of last season.

Maz Kouhyar is an Afghan International, who can play on either wing. He played his youth football at Coventry City and Walsall and made 21 league one appearances. He then moved on to Hereford and York, from where he is currently on a season long loan.

Central midfielder David Davis has just arrived from Forest Green. He started at Wolves, before loans at Darlington, Walsall, Shrewsbury, Inverness and Chesterfield followed. He joined Birmingham on his release and after another loan at Charlton, he went to Shrewsbury, who also loaned him to Solihull and Forest Green, before the latter became permanent.

by Peter Scherer

Mickleover FC were held to a 2-2 draw by visitors Belper Town at the Don Amott Arena, in their latest pre-season friendly, with both sides scoring in each half.

Jake Bennett and Ryan Wilson had their first outings of pre-season, joining Yusuf Mersin, George Taft, Curtis Weston, Will Atkinson, Stuart Beavon, Marcus Barnes and Leojo Davidson, along with two trialists in the starting line-up.

The visitors went ahead with a disputed goal, when the ball appeared to have gone out of play on the right. Bennett gave up his chase to wait for the throw, but play was allowed to carry on and unchallenged it was 0-1.

It was Bennett’s positive work on the right that led to the equaliser, late in the first half, with Barnes placing a perfect header over the line 1-1.

Another batch of trialists were used as subs during the second, but it was the visitors that nosed ahead again from a set piece, 1-2.

But Sports pulled it back again when Zac Sandhu, another second half sub, brought it back to 2-2.

It was another good chance for us to learn and see where we are. We’re physically good but need to look to improve with progressive possession. But we got to see more of our squad in action and had a chance to look at some more trialists.

 

said manager Gareth Holmes.

by Peter Scherer

This Saturday we welcome Belper Town to the Don Amott Arena, for the second of our six pre-season fixtures.

We are looking at more trialists this weekend and we haven’t given all of our current players a game yet, like Jake Bennett, Andy Dales and Dan Bradley. It’s early days and we just want to get match time for the players and take a good look at them all

Sports manager Gareth Holmes.

Belper Manager Lee Attenborough took his Northern Premier League East side to Ashby Ivanhoe for their first game on Tuesday night, going down 0-1 to the United Counties League side after an early second half goal.
The Nailers first choice keeper Is Dan Moore, an ex Burton Junior signed from Boldmere late last year, while Harvey Adams is his cover.

Playing at right back is vice captain Ben Rhodes, a long-time servant to Belper, who came back in 22/23 after spell in Italy with Mantova.

Centre back Paulo Aguas is a new signing, arriving from Spanish side Ponferradina, he will be teaming up with Ioan Evans, a former Welsh Under 17 & 19 International and Sheffield Utd Junior, recently arrived from Matlock.
New captain Jack Broadhead started out at Chesterfield, and also had a spell at Mickleover in 2018. A defensive midfielder and another new arrival, having moved from Worksop.

The versatile Mason Warren needs no introduction to the Mickleover fans, having spent a number of seasons at the Don Amott Arena, some as captain. He moved to Belper at the start of last season.

Striker Brodie Litchfield is another returnee, having rejoined the Nailers last season, after a spell at Basford.
Midfielder Curtis Burrows came from Corby Town in February last year, and he is joined by new signing Nathan Whitehead from Matlock Town.

Striker Luke Rawson is another pre-season signing, an ex Chesterfield Junior, signed from Stocksbridge.
Former Sheffield United youngster Nat Crofts has been playing US College football, whereas striker Ewan Sutherill has come from the Nailers own Academy, along with Lewis Austin.

Young striker Jack Thatcher is a new signing too from Dunkirk, while Heaton August and Andrew Tsolakis also played at Ashby last Tuesday.

Kick off is 3pm and admission is just £5.

by Peter Scherer

Mickleover opened their pre-season campaign with a 4-1 home win against a Chesterfield FC Youth Team.

For manager Gareth Holmes and his assistant Mick Galloway, it was their first chance to meet the fans in a match situation and introduce some of the new signings.

Yusuf Mersin started in goal and had newly signed George Taft, Curtis Weston, Leojo Davidson and Dylan Edwards making their debuts along with Stuart Beavon, Marcus Barnes, Will Atkinson and three trialists.

Beavon gave Mickleover the lead with Taft making it 2-0, before Chesterfield pulled it back to 2-1 before half time.

The game was really about how the trialists got on, giving them time on the pitch and a chance for the established players to get to know the new ones

said Holmes.

There were two more goals in the second half, with Fin Ryder coming on as a sub, while the third was well taken by one of the trialists, to make it a 4-1 win.

It was a positive day for us, everyone came away OK. We had a lot of the ball but we have a long way to go, we are trying and testing and we used more trialists in the second half and some Academy players  and we have four more hopefully playing against Belper Town next Saturday too

Holmes added.

More of the established players will be back in the team over the net few weeks, “it’s important for us that the players understand what we expect and create an identity. It was pleasing too for the Academy lads, especially with Fin scoring one of the goals.” 

So Belper Town visit the Don Amott Arena on Saturday and it’s a 3pm kick off.

by Peter Scherer

This Saturday Mickleover begin their pre-season series of friendlies with a home game against newly promoted Chesterfield Youth team.

It will be a first chance for supporters to meet new manager Gareth Holmes and his assistant Mick Galloway, along with new signings George Taft, Dylan Edwards, Curtis Weston and Leojo Davidson.

“It’s the first game of pre-season and it’s all about players getting minutes in their legs and assessing fitness. I expect to have lots of rotation in the team, as I want to see what everyone can do,” said Holmes.

Kick off at the Don Amott Arena is 3pm.