by Peter Scherer

For our first away trip of 2026 we take a short trip down the A38 to Lichfield City.

Now sixth in the table Sports will be looking for a third win in a row and a fourth undefeated, against our hosts who currently lie 10th in the table.

Danny Benson should be fit after coming off at half time on New Years Day and Thabang Dube will be available again too.

We went down 0-1 to Ivor Green’s team back in August, but like so many teams, they have had an up and down season. They have had three wins from their last 10 games, all at home, but have lost their last three games without scoring a goal.

Green has been in charge at Lichfield since March 2020, with his assistant Wayne Chapman there for the duration too. Last season they took the team to the Midland League Premiership title and have retained most of their title winning team.

Goalkeeper Brendon Bunn came in at the end of last season from Studley. He has also played for Highgate Utd, Gresley Rovers, Coventry Utd, Halesowen and Worcester City. After a return trip to Studley, he joined Stratford on a dual registration with Darlaston last season too.

Right back James Wilcock started out at Tamworth, but has spent much of his career with Highgate Utd. He has played for Alvechurch and Coton Green too, and came to our hosts in July2024 after his second spell at Highgate.

Jordan Clement is a central midfielder who came out of Wolves Academy. He joined Romulus on his release, before moving on to Coleshill. Tamworth was his next stop, but after a loan at Stratford he moved to Alvechurch, before spending the next three years alternating between Redditch and Tamworth. He came to Lichfield in August 2023 from Redditch.

Defender Josh Mansell returned to Lichfield for a second spell at the start of last season from Walsall Wood. He’s also played for Alvechurch and Chasetown and has been captain for much of this season.

Joe Haines is one of the longest serving members of the squad, having returned to the club in June 2021, making his 250th appearance last season. A left back, he’s had spells with Walsall Wood and Gresley Rovers.

Harry Eden is a left back too signed early into the season from Redditch. He’s played for Racing Club Warwick, Solihull Utd, Studley, Sutton Coldfield and Rugby Town too.

Centre back Leighton McMeneny is another long server, having just started his fifth season with the club, after signing in June 2021.

Luke Childs, Dan Lomas and Jimmy Elkes are all long servers too. Childs made his 200th appearance last season and played in goal for 85 minutes earlier in the season, rather than his usual striker role. Lomas is club captain and a holding midfielder, he made his 150th start for the club last season, while centre back Elkes has been a mainstay of the defence for a number of years.

Central midfielder Max Beech arrived in October from Rugby Town, having previously been at Peterborough Utd.

Midfielder John Mills was signed in January last year, while striker Jack Edwards is another long server, having arrived in July 2021. He is he club top scorer too.

Attacking midfielder Jamie Spiers was signed from Atherstone at the beginning of last season. He started off at Shrewsbury, before joining Alvechurch on his release. He’s played for Racing Club Warwick, Boldmere, Bedworth and Hednesford too.

Hishan Chiha is another midfielder on loan from Leamington. He started at West Bromwich Albion’s Academy, before joining Peterborough Utd. He was loaned to Yaxley, before joining Boldmere on his release, where he spent most of last season.

Connor Okereke came through Burton Albion’s Community Trust. A midfielder he joined our hosts pre-season, after a spell in the US with Genessee CL.

Striker Kieron Berry was a West Bromwich Albion Junior, signed a few months ago from Darlaston Town. He’s played for Rushall, Gresley Rovers, Chasetown, Bromsgrove, Boldmere, Stafford Rangers, Barwell and Rugby Town too.

Fellow striker Keiran Francis is another long server, while Jude Taylor is one of the younger members of the squad, a talented striker who has come through the clubs own youth scheme.

Striker George Lycett is a former England Schools Under 18 international, who has also played for AFC Wulfranians and AFC Wolverhampton.

Sonny Sheasby is another young striker, signed from Ellistown last season, and Tom Brown, Joe Danby, Kev Hemajou, Tony Simkiss and Jack Bostock have also made starts this season.

Kick off usual is 3pm.

by Peter Scherer (Images: Steve Ingers)

It took a late second half comeback for Mickleover to rescue a game that had looked well and truly lost. 0-2 down, a George Wilknson header, a solo strike from Fraser Corden and 91st minute winner from sub Ashton Offler did the business however.

Starting line-up: 1-Jack McDowell 2-Jake Bennett 3-Louis Bonser 4-Danny Benson 5-Brad Gascoigne 6-George Wilkinson 7-Ross Derham 8-Will Atkinson 9-Josiah Dyer 10-Fraser Corden 11-Andy Dales. Subs: Stuart Beavon, Paddy Webb, Michael Hollingsworth, Ashton Offler, Archie White.

For the first 10 minutes Mickleover bombarded the visiting defence, but failed to breakthrough, with a number of shots blocked.

Totally against the run of play and in their first attack it was Loughborough that took the lead after 11 minutes, with Daniel Vanderpuye firing home from the Mickleover right 0-1.

The goal had given Loughborough the confidence to push forward and Sonny Albert went close again after 20 minutes, with Mickleover not only losing their domination, but struggling to break out or even string together consecutive passes.

William Earley had a shot deflected over the bar for Loughborough a minute later, before Dales managed to earn a corner, which went to waste.

Corden put a shot wide of the left-hand post after a patient build up on the half hour, but then an Ollie Downes cross found Albert for the visitors, his shot was deflected for another corner.

Dales pushed the ball through the defence after 34 minutes rather than shooting, but his move failed to connect with Dyer, who misread the situation.

While Loughborough continued to shoot on sight, Mickleover were visibly struggling and McDowell was forced to make another save from Vanderpuye with his feet.

Both Benson and Corden could have had shots around the 40 minute mark, but took the ball too far and lost it, while a minute later Dales made it into the box before he was blocked.

With the half time whistle poised Dales broke through again, his strike was well saved by Sadler, before the rebound fell for Corden. His shot was then blocked, earning a corner, which was headed wide by Gascoigne and so it remained 0-1 at the break.

White replaced Benson for the second half and was straight into the action, setting up a shot for Bonser on the edge of the box, but his shot was over the bar.

A few minutes later McDowell was spotted off his line and had to race back as a Loughborough punt went just wide.

White had shot saved after 50 minutes and two minutes later his cross from the right met with a misdirected header from Dyer.

But Rennie got a second for Loughborough after 54 minutes, when he was left unmarked on the edge of the box, to receive Prickett-Reed’s cross 0-2.

Beavon replaced Dyer on the hour and four minutes later Mickleover managed to pull one back, with Wilkinson heading home a White free kick 1-2.

McDowell made a diving save to his right as Loughborough fought back, before Sports upped their fire power with Webb coming on for Atkinson.

It was almost a third for Loughborough in the 74th minute, but Bennett cleared off the line. Beavon then put Webb through the middle, before his shot was blocked by Twite.

Mickleover had started to threaten again and started to put Twite and Earley under pressure in the centre of the visitors defence.

Bonser put a challenging cross in from the left, which proved too high, but after 78 minutes Corden picked the ball up in midfield, carved his way through and fired in the equaliser from distance, 2-2.

Webb went close three minutes later when keeper Sadler just got a touch on a fizzing shot and then Corden forced him into a one handed save.

Suddenly there was the scent of victory, with a Beavon header striking the bar from a Corden corner.

Time was running out though and with two minutes left Offler replaced skipper Dales. His first touch was heading a White free kick into Beavon’s path, so close.

But his second was a powerful header from a corner, the winning goal 3-2 with the full time whistle soon following.

by Peter Scherer

We start 2026 with the visit of Loughborough Students on New Years Day.

Back on a hot August Bank Holiday Monday, we went down 2-1 to our visitors in a dour and very unimpressive game, which was the first of only four wins for Loughborough this season.

On Boxing Day they lost 0-3 when Shepshed Dynamo visited. They had three successive wins back in October, but have managed only four points from the last 10 games and are currently 21st in the table

Sports will still be hoping that Danny Benson will be fit to rejoin the squad that came away with an impressive 3-0 win at Rugby Town. It consolidated 10th place in the league, but still only three points outside the play-offs.

Jamie Clapham’s side having had a rapid turn over of players in recent games, including four different goalkeepers.

Leo Webster was previously at Winchester City and had time in Spain with the Malaga Sporting Academy, while Jude Sadler has come from the Charlton Athletic Academy.
Steven Bessent was previously at the Newcastle Utd Academy before joining our visitors, while Will Dean was between the sticks on Boxing Day.

Defender Jonty Bouch has often captained the team and he started out in Mansfield Town’s Academy.

Centre back Harry Twite has previously played for Kings Lynn and Wisbech and is capped as a full international and under 20 by Bermuda.

Ben Royall is another defender who has played for Worthing, while left back Oliver Downs started at AFC Wimbledon, before moving on to Bognor and Fleet.

Fellow defender Nat Salsby has been a mainstay of the team this season, while centre back.

Will Earley is a recent debutant having also played for Burton Albion.

Midfielder Sam Fielding has been captaining the side of late. He is in his third season with our visitors, along with fellow midfielder Max McCcoy.

Winger Alex Spiteri is a Malta under 18 and 19 international and started his career with Sliema Wanderers, before a spell at Reading preceded his arrival at Loughborough.

Josh Roddy previously played for Corsham Town and Welton Rovers, while fellow midfielder Marcus Gilpin started his career with Bradfield College.

Striker Connor Keene, was previously at the Crystal Palace Academy, while his fellow forwards Gafar Abari and Max Prickett-Reed were at Sunnybank FC in Scotland, Northampton ON Chenecks and Bugbrooke St.Michaels.

Striker Sonny Albert was at Florida Southern College before coming to our visitors on his UK return and has also played for Dorking.

Both striker Ashden Shortland and attacking midfielder Hussein Issa have been regular starters, while Tobenna Ikegwuonu, Thomas Higgs, Sid Hollywood-Martin, Liam Brannigan, Mat Rennie and Oliver Unwin have part of the squad too.

More recently both Noah Simmons and Daniel Vandapuye have arrived on loan from Lincoln City. Simmons is a midfielder, while Vandapuye is a striker, who has also been loaned to Lincoln Utd recently.

Kick off at the Don Amott Arena is 3pm as usual, with full bar and catering available.

by Peter Scherer (Images: Steve Ingers)

Two first half goals from Thabang Dube set Mickleover on the road to victory at Rugby Town, with Louis Bonser consolidating a 3-0 win.

Starting line-up: 1-Jack McDowell 2-Jake Bennett 3-Louis Bonser 4-Will Atkinson 5-George Wilkinson 6-Brad Gascoigne 7-Thabang Dube 8-Ross Derham 9-Josiah Dyer 10-Andy Dales 11-Paddy Webb. Subs: Stuart Beavon, Archie White, Ashton Offler, Fraser Corden, Michael Hollingsworth.

It was a fairly lively start on a bitterly cold day, with both sides trying to push forward. Dales earned a free kick after five minutes, when he was pulled back, but the following effort went wide.

Rugby then tested keeper McDowell twice in two minutes, the first a tip round his right-hand post low down after Mardenborough’s shot 10 minutes in, before a Harris header forced a tip over from the resulting corner.

Four minutes later Bald in the hosts goal was quick off his line to block a Dales effort, after he picked up a Dube cross from the right.

Mickleover had started to gain the upperhand when after 24 minutes Webb put a cross in from the left. Atkinson slid in to try a toe poke, but once again Bald managed to block it.

Rugby earned a corner after a break, but that came to nought, as the pressure continued to build on their defence, with Webb having a shot blocked from the edge of the box on the half hour mark.

Webb put another cross in from the wing, missing Dyer’s headed by a whisker, before another corner soon followed. Dales found Dube, whose cross was headed goalwards by Gascoigne, but lacked the power to test the keeper.

But 35 minutes in and another strong build-up down the left, sent the ball crossfield to Dube, who buried it in the bottom corner, 1-0.

Two minutes Dales was fouled on the edge of the box, he took free kick himself and went for goal, but the keeper collected as it headed for the far top corner.

Rugby managed another attack after 41 minutes, to earn a corne. As the ball seemed to hang in the air, McDowell came out and punched away.

Webb then had another chance after picking up a crossfield ball from Dales, only to push the ball too far ahead with the keeper collecting before a shot taken.

With half time approaching, Dube made it 2-0 after a nice one two with Dales. The Mickleover skipper held it just enough for Dube get into position, giving keeper Bald little chance.

It had been a strong first half for Sports, with Gascoigne and Wilkinson solid at the back and both Bennett and Bonser looking effective on the wings. In midfield too both Atkinson and Derham had plenty of time on the ball to be creative.

For the first 10 minutes of the second half Rugby were allowed back into the game and forced Mickleover to be on the back foot.

52 minutes gone and Dales then sent Dube on another run. He made it into the box but pushed it a little too far ahead and his hopes of a hattrick disappeared.

Rugby had a free kick a few minutes later and then McDowell had to make a double save, parrying Elliott’s initial strike, before Hamilton’s follow up was just passed the post.

But when Bonser made an interception on the left, he was in space and sent Webb clear. Dales picked it up and cut inside before firing his shot just wide of the right-hand post after a deflection.

Wilkinson almost connected with the following corner, but Rugby then got a break on the hour, but Bennett had it covered at the back with a timely interception.

Mickleover had started to take charge again, but Dube’s cross was too close to the keeper with Dales and Webb waiting.

It was almost a third though for Sports though after 63 minutes, when Bonser linked up with Webb again to send Dales one on one with the keeper.  Keeper Bald read it well though and came out on top.

Sports made their first change after 65 minutes when White replaced Dube, but two minutes later there was finally the anticipated third goal. It was another timely interception from Bonser, but this time he had acres of space. He cut inside and had his first shot saved, but it came straight back to him and the rebound was in the bottom corner 3-0.

Webb could have made it four a minute later, when Dales crossed from the right, only for the shot to go well over the bar.

Rugby should have pulled one back after 73 minutes when Tye collected a cross from Lundoloki, only for his shot to hit the roof the stand.

Corden and Hollingsworth then replaced Webb and Derham, before Dales continued to take on the home defence. He was intercepted on a 79^th minute run and then found Dyer, whose effort was straight at the keeper.

Corden then put Dales through, but that shot was straight at the keeper too, before Offler became the final sub, coming on for Dales.

Dyer had the final chance in time added on, he collected and turned nicely, but his shot was over the bar and it remained a well-deserved and fairly impressive 3-0.

 

by Peter Scherer (Images: Steve Ingers)

It was another mixture of missed chances and questionable refereeing decisions that cost Mickleover dearly, as they ended their final home game of 2025 with a 1-1 draw.

Starting line-up: 1-Jack McDowell 2-Jake Bennett 3-Archie White 4-Ross Derham 5-Brad Gascoigne 6-George Wilkinson 7-Tbanag Dube 8-Will Atkinson 9-Josiah Dyer 10-Andy Dales 11-Paddy Webb. Subs: Liam Carter, Ashton Offler, Josh Ashman, Michael Hollingsworth, Louis Bonser.

Right from the kick off Webb had a punt on goal, firing over bar as he tried to catch keeper Charlie Woods off guard.

It was all guns blazing though from Sports, pushing forward at every opportunity with Sphinx pegged back in their own half.

10 minutes in and Gascoigne played a long cross field ball out of defence, sending Webb on a chase down the left. He was into the box when Ryley Nicholson tripped him from behind, everyone including the Coventry keeper prepared for a penalty, but the referee thought other otherwise and ignored the appeals.

Two minutes later Dales put Webb through again, but a combination of keeper and the recovering defence managed to stop him, but it was very close.

Sports continued their barrage and a combination of Dyer and Dales after 18 minutes set up Webb again. As he ran in he tried a first-time volley, but it was over the bar again.

Dales then charged through on the left and found Webb in the middle, another strike hit the underside of the bar, as Sports were hitting everything except the back of the net.
Dube was next to try his luck on the 20 minute mark after a strong run and cross from White on the left, but the keeper parried the shot and the ball was cleared.
There was a slight respite before Dube was obstructed on another run after 33 minutes, but White’s free kick was straight into the wall and cleared again.

With Gascoigne and Wilkinson controlling things at the back, both Bennett and White had plenty of freedom on the overlap. 35 minutes and White used the space to try another shot from distance, but it was over the bar again.

With five minutes left in the first half White tried again, firing a shot from the left, after a strong build up between Dales and Dube, but once again it was over the bar.
Coventry hadn’t had a shot, but with one minute left Jordan Hayward’s determination almost got him through after a corner, before the Mickleover defence closed ranks.
The defence had looked solid, Atkinson and Derham had both been creative in midfield and it had been a strong first half performance from Mickleover. But none of the chances had been converted and instead of going into the break 3-0 up, it was still 0-0.
There were no immediate changes for the second half and both teams won corners in the first 10 minutes of the restart, which came to nought.
Sphinx had their first real shot of the game after 56 minutes, but McDowell had it covered. They were somewhat luckier six minutes later when a ball from the Mickleover left found Daniele Reka, who beat McDowell at full stretch, 0-1.

Carter then replaced Dube, as the visitors continued in the ascendancy, with Mickleover ever more frustrated. Derham had a shot saved after a nice build up, but five minutes after the opening goal we were level again. As the ball came into a crowded box from the right, Bennett got the last touch as the ball bounced off a number of players. Scrappy but it was 1-1.
68 minutes and Gascoigne went close with a header from a corner just over the bar, but he was soon replaced by Offler. “It was a precaution as my hamstring had tightened,” he said. Bonser was also on for Webb, moving to left back with White pushing further forward.
Coventry had another chance after 73 minutes, when ex Sports plater Matty Bowman set up Jack Downes, but his shot was high over the bar too.
Dales tried a solo run a few minutes later, cutting in from the left he shot just wide of the right-hand post, before there was another scare at the opposite end. Sports had lost possession in midfield and Sphinx got a break, a volley from the right hit the post and the ball ran across the face of the goal and out of danger.

Hollingsworth replaced White for the last seven minutes, but Mickleover continued to push for a winner. Bonser had a couple of good runs on the left, setting up Dales who had a shot blocked and earning a corner almost on time.
So it ended 1-1 in a game that should have been comfortably sewn up in the first half and we now prepare to visit Rugby Town on Boxing Day.

 

by Peter Scherer

For the second consecutive week Mickleover are at home, as we welcome Coventry Sphinx to the Don Amott Arena.

It was another disappointing weekend for Sports last week, going down 1-2 to Wellingborough Town, which saw us slip back to ninth in the table as we started the second half of the league season.

Hopefully Danny Benson and Stuart Beavon will be back from injury, enabling manager Gareth Holmes to go into the festive programme with a full squad.

Our visitors started the season strongly after defeating Mickleover 0-2 on the opening day of the season. But with just two wins and five defeats in their last 10 games, they’re now 16th in the table.

Manager John Woodward has been in charge at Sphinx since the start of the season , having been a co-manager last season. But he is assisted by Louis Guest, former club captain and currently recovering from a long term injury.

Keeper Charlie Woods was signed from Alvechurch in September 2024 and has played for Quorn and Barwell too, since being released by Northampton Town.

Reserve keeper Tom Cross came from Hinckley AFC in 2019., where he had spent the previous four years. He’s played for Sheffield FC, Corby Town, Irchester Town, Rothwell Town, Wellingborough Whitworth, Bedworth United, Banbury United, Evesham United, AFC Rushden and Diamonds and Southam Utd..

Centre back Ryley Nicholson arrived at the beginning of last season, Nicholson has played for Lutterworth and Coventry Utd too.

Right back Kyle Burke was a regular last season, but started this term at Boldmere St.Michaels. He returned to Sphinx in late September.

Defender Jordan Hayward has also been a regular mainstay of the team in the last few seasons.

Danny Monger is a defender too, and has also spent time at Coventry Alvis.

Defender Jamie Draper is home grown talent, having come through the clubs under 18 side. He recently made his 150th appearance.

Patrick Zito is an ex Aston Villa junior. A centre back he came from Quorn at the start of last season, after spells at Sutton Coldfield and Stratford Town.

Currently captaining the side in Guest’s absence is central midfielder Callum Woodward. He is in his second spell with our visitors, having originally left to join Coalville in September 2010, spending four years there until a move to Barwell, preceded a return to Coalville. He has now been back at Sphinx for nearly nine years.

Preferably a right sided midfielder, Matty Bowman is another ex Mickleover player in the visitors squad. A former Repton School pupil he played youth football at Middlesbrough and Hull City, before heading to Scotland with Dunfermline Athletic. He came to the Don Amott Arena from Basford in November 2023 and started last season at Bridlington. He arrived at Sphinx last month.

Finlay Shorrock is a midfielder and had spent the last two seasons establishing himself in the Sphinx side. He moved to Barwell during the summer, but rejoined our hosts in September.

Another midfielder is Jac Redhead, signed in September 2023 from Hinckley AFC. He’s also played for Coventry Copeswood, Barwell and Halesowen.

Devonn O’Sullivan was an early season singing from Quorn. He started off at Stratford and has also played for Rugby Town and Highgate Utd.

Iddriss Fuseini is a midfielder who joined our visitors in November last year. He stated out with Goldberg in his native Ghana, before a spell in Serbia wit Radnicki Nis.

Jack Downes is a midfielder who came through the clubs youth scheme. After being part of a successful youth team in 2015, he moved on, but returned in February 2017.

Striker Kyle Carey was at Mickleover back in 2018 and his previous clubs include Coventry Utd too. When he returned to Sphinx in September 2024, he was only the second player in the clubs history to sign a contract, having previously played youth football for the club.

Fellow striker Jamal Adams is in his third spell at the club, after starting out at Nuneaton. H first arrived from Ruby Town in July 2020, but after a year moved onto Bedworth. He retuned in January 2022, but left again just over a year later, joining Nuneaton Griff. Coventry Utd, Studley and Rushden & Diamonds then followed, before starring this season at St.Ives Town. He finally rejoined our visitors last month.

Daniele Reka is a young striker signed from Rugby Town at the start of this season. He was previously at Alvechurch and Worcester Raiders.

Harvey Smith and Djibril Diedhiou are strikers too, Smith was signed from Studley in November 2020.

Kick off as usual is 3pm

by Peter Scherer (Images: Steve Ingers)

Any hopes Mickleover had of making it two successive wins, were dashed when Wellingborough Town scored a decisive penalty on the hour to secure a 2-1 victory.

Starting line-up: 1-Jack McDowell 2-Josh Ashman 3-Archie White 4-Michael Hollingsworth 5-Brad Gascoigne 6-George Wilkinson 7-Thabang Dube 8-Harry Wood 9-Josiah Dyer 10-Andy Dales 11-Paddy Webb. Subs: Will Atkinson, Fraser Corden, Jake Bennett, Ashton Offler, Ali Mohiuddin.

Although Mickleover started strongly, it was home keeper McDowell first in action, with a fourth minute save.
But Sports went close just two minutes later when Dube took on the defence with a run down the wing, playing Webb through on the left, before his shot was deflected wide.

Mickleover continued to look pacey and put the visiting defence under pressure, until they gave away a soft goal after 13 minutes. After a long throw, the defence failed to intercept Green’s flick, which continued to bounce into the net, 0-1.

10 minutes later Dube won a free kick on the edge of the box, before White attacked down the left. His cross found Webb, but the final shot was wide.

Wellingborough’s keeper had been the busier of the two, but he was finally beaten in the 42nd minute. Dube again initiated the move, with a powerful strike from outside the box. Snedker made the save, but it went straight to Webb, who tapped it home at the far post, as we went into half time as 1-1.

Wellingborough came out fighting for the second half, but Mickleover soon went close again too. 53 minutes in and a good ball from Webb found Dyer, only for the ball to get away from him.

Five minutes later Jones had just had a shot for the visitors, when Ashman took him down with a clumsy and late tackle. The referee pointed straight to the spot, and Draper stepped up to make it 1-2.

After their first half performance Mickleover had gone off the boil, and opted for a triple substitution after 71 minutes, as Corden, Bennett and Atkinson, replaced Dube, Webb and Wood

But Mickleover continued to struggle to create any serious chances, and a further change was made when Offler replaced Hollingsworth. But it remained 1-2 and Mickleover now slip to ninth in the table.