by Peter Scherer

Our hosts on Tuesday night were in the play-offs last season, but currently lie ninth in the table, after two successive wins had followed a 0-6 at Needham Market earlier this month. But last Saturday they drew 2-2 at home to Alvechurch.

It was a 5-0 win to Sports when they visited us in September, but both sides have had had erratic success since the New Year.

Following last Saturday’s 41- home win, Mickleover will be hoping to keep the form going into the final 10 games of the season and secure that valuable play-off place.

Darren Eadie and Chris Wigger are joint managers. Eadie was a former Leicester City and Norwich midfielder and has been in charge since March 2020.

Sam Donkin is first choice goalkeeper, he was signed from Biggleswade in November 2019, having previously played for Whitehawk and Stamford. He made his 100^th appearance for our hosts last season.

But last Saturday Donkin’s run of 119 consecutive games ended due to injury and he was replaced by Billy Johnson, signed from Kettering a few days earlier.

Johnson went to Kettering Braintree pre-season. A former Norwich City Junior, he was loaned to Lowestoft and Braintree, before a permanent move to Stevenage on his release. He has returned to Braintree on numerous occasions, after spells at Gloucester City and this is his second spell at Leiston too.

Club Captain and left back Seb Dunbar came from Stowmarket in July 2021. He was an Ipswich Town Junior and also played for Maldon/Tiptree, Bishop Stortford and Bury Town. It’s his third spell at Leiston.

Centre back Adam Bailey-Dennis has 13 years experience under his belt. He started at Aveley, before moving to Bury Town. His path then took him via  Bromley, Bishop Stortford, Hemel and Chelmsford, before joining our visitors in October 2020.

Midfielder Ryan Jarvis has England caps as an under 16, 17 and 19. He started at Norwich City too and was loaned to Colchester, Leyton Orient, Kilmarnock and Notts County, before joining Orient on his release.

After many more moves he settled back in East Anglia with Lowestoft in 2015. Then after a move to Kings Lynn he returned to Lowestoft, from where Leiston signed him in July 2022. He played in every division of the football league and the Scottish Premier, with well over 300 appearances.

Another midfielder and another former Norwich junior, Zach Dronfield came from Hampton & Richmond in July 2022. He had previously been at Wealdstone.

Joe Marsden is mainly an attacking midfielder who is in his second season with our visitors, since arriving from Needham Market. He was previously at Lowestoft Town and came back to Leiston in June 2021 after three years away, and passed his 100^th club appearance milestone last season too.

Jamaican International striker Jamar Loza is a former Norwich City youngster, he had loans at Coventry City, Orient, Southend, Yeovil Town and Stevenage, before being released in 2016, with 30 league appearances under his belt spread over all four divisions.

His next club was Maidstone, before being loaned to Woking. Billericay, Chelmsford, Kings Lynn, Barnet and Cheshunt followed, before he arrived at Leiston pre-season.

Centre back Chris Casement has represented Northern Ireland at Under 19,19,20,21 and Full International level. A massively experienced player who started at Ipswich and made 242 Premiership appearances and played in the Championship, League two and Champions League.

He was loaned to Millwall, Hamilton Academicals and Wycombe Wanderers, before a permanent move to Dundee. After a loan at Linfield in Northern Ireland, he joined them on a permanent basis. He also played for Portadown before returning to East Anglia with Stowmarket, from where he joined our hosts pre-season.

Midfielder Ross Crane played for Colchester Utd and AFC Sudbury, before being picked up by Ipswich Town. Loans at Concord Rangers and Bury Town followed, before a loan at Needham Market became permanent. He is another pre-season signing for Leiston.

Jack Manly, Michael Lavin and Ashley Boatswain are on loan from Ipswich, Manly is a young midfielder staying to the end of the season, while Boatswain is a striker on loan for a month, who has already found the back of the net. Lavin is a right back and due to see the season out with our hosts too.

Fellow midfielder Cameron Rayworth and striker Charlie Atkin are home produced players, who have come through the ranks a d joined the first team squad earlier this season.

Right back Eddie Jackson is a former Norwich City Junior and another pre-season signing.

Albie Armin was an Ipswich junior centre back, who came Leiston after his release last July. He had previously been loaned to Braintree.

Midfielder George Quantrell returned from Braintree in November, having only left four months, after an initial two year stay. He’s an ex Norwich City Junior too and has also played for Dereham Town and Stowmarket.

Midfielder Mitchell Jackson, striker Joe McNeil, defender Ben Batho and goalkeeper Marcus Mehew have all come through Leiston’s own scheme to join the first team recently.

Kick off is at 7.45 and although it’s a four hour plus journey each way, any support would be much appreciated.

by Peter Scherer (Image: Steve Ingers)

It’s been a tough few weeks for both the Mickleover players and supporters. But after a suffering a defeat at Kettering back in November, it was the Poppies on the receiving end this weekend, with an Oli Greaves hattrick securing a 4-1 victory.

Starting line-up: 1-Lewis Ridd 2-Jake Bennett 3-Ryan Wilson 4-Will Atkinson 5-Will Tamen 6-Ethan Mann 7-Andy Dales 8-Will Trueman 9-Tyrell Waite 10-Ben Sault 11-Oli Greaves. Subs: Stuart Beavon, Dan Bradley, Kyle Rowley, Rhys Dolan, Ethan Fitzhugh.

Sports were fired up from the start and this time there was no sign of the casual defending that gave way to early goals.

Kettering keeper Dan Jezeph had to save a seventh minute effort from Greaves, after he collected on the edge of the box, earning an early corner.

Five minutes later Bennet charged down the right wing, his cross found Greaves again, who couldn’t quite get purchase on the ball and fired just wide of the of the post from fairly close range.

Ridd was then called into action to save a shot from Kobe Chong. It earned the visitors a corner, before Rhys Sharpe’s effort went out of play. Only two minutes later Ridd was forced to make a diving save, with a ball destined for the top corner and suddenly it was Mickleover’s defence under pressure.

27 minutes in and it was Kettering that opened the scoring, catching Sports on the back foot, 0-1.

It prompted Mickleover to push forward again to seek an equaliser and just after the half hour mark, Dales cut inside from the wing, fired in his cross as Sault collected and shot just wide.

Atkinson then had a shot well saved by Jezeph, but it was in time added on as the half time whistle approached, that Greaves hit the back of the net, with the whistle finally blowing at 1-1.

Barely had the second half started and Waite almost got a second for Mickleover. He collected the cross and fired the ball goalwards, only to hit the bar. Dales had another shot saved a minute later, with Sault’s effort from the rebound blocked.

But Kettering got a break after 55 minutes and after good decisive build up, Ridd made another good save from Jarvis’ shot.

It was all about to change in Sports favour though, with Greaves making it 2-1 after 59 minutes. The attacks continued to flow, with the defence looking far more solid. 72 minutes gone and it was 3-1, after Dales cut in from the left wing again, firing home into far right hand corner.

Only three minutes further on and Sports were then awarded a penalty. Greaves strode forward to make it 4-1 and to secure his hattrick too.

Fitzhugh came for Sault after 77 minutes and Beavon for Waite after 80. But the score remained the same and keeps Mickleover in a solid third place and still in the play-off positions, as we now look forward to long visit to Leiston on Tuesday night.

 

by Peter Scherer

It’s all getting tight at the top as we start to look at the run into the end of the season. Four points off second place at present with a better goal difference than Redditch, despite last weeks Royston defeat,  and we pay Redditch a visit too in a week on Saturday fortnight.

Skipper Ryan Wilson successfully came through his comeback game and is poised as he rejoined the squad, while Joe Bateman is still about two weeks away.

We welcome Kettering Town on Saturday, where Jim La Masurier had been in charge at Latimer Park since November, but in the last week he has now become assistant with Tom Cherry, while former assistant Richard Lavery now takes charge.

It’s been a difficult season both on and off the field for the Poppies, since their relegation from the National League North. Currently 18^th in the league with two wins in the last 10 games, they have been on the end of some heavy defeats. Despite their problems they were still 2-0 winners when we paid them a visit in November. 

Last weekend they drew 0-0 at home to our fellow promotion hopefuls Leamington.

First choice goalkeeper Dan Jezeph came from Nuneaton four weeks ago. He was at Alvechurch last season, where he had spent two seasons since arriving from Worcester City. He is a former Walsall youth player and has also played for Tamworth.

Until Jezeph’s arrival Bill Johnson had been first choice, having arrived from Braintree pre-season. A former Norwich City Junior, he was loaned to Lowestoft and Braintree, before a permanent move to Stevenage on his release. He has returned to Braintree on numerous occasions, after spells at Gloucester City and Leiston too.

Skipper Lewis White is a centre back that started with Shepshed Dynamo. He then spent almost two years at Corby before joining our visitors for the start of last season. He had a spell with Coventry City as a youngster and also played for Oadby Owls.

Kelvin Langmead was a pre-season arrival, but brought with him vast experience of 400 mainly league two appearances. Initially a Junior at Preston North End, he had loan spells at Tamworth, Carlisle and Kidderminster, before signing for Shrewsbury on his release. Peterborough, Northampton and Ebbsfleet followed, before a loan back at Kidderminster preceded a move to Nuneaton.

After two season he spent a year each at Harrogate and Brackley, before becoming a Poppy after three years with Banbury. He is also assistant manager.

Central midfielder Harry Reilly started his career in the US with Rio Red Storm, being loaned to Mississippi too. He returned to the UK with Stratford Town in August 2020, moving on to Daventry, before a year at Banbury preceded his arrival at Kettering in August 2022.

Dan Jarvis is a central midfielder too, having started off as a Stoke City Junior. He went to Wrexham on his release, before joining Gateshead in July 2022. He was loaned to Hereford too, before arriving at Kettering pre-season

Fellow striker Tyrone Lewthwaite is a former Northern Ireland Under 19 International. He started his career with Watford and Rotherham, before going to Hampton & Richmond. He then moved on to Chesham, Beaconsfield and Aylesbury Utd, before joining Kettering in October 2022 after three months at Bedford.

Left back Ben Toseland was a Northampton Town Junior. He went to Peterborough Sports on his release, before spending 2 ½ years at St.Ives prior to his Kettering move in July 2022.

Rhys Sharpe is a left back and former Northern Ireland Under 21 International, with League Two experience. He was a former Rams Academy player, but after a loan at Shrewsbury Town, he joined Notts County. He then had a short spell at Swindon, before going to Matlock Town, Tamworth and Nuneaton. He came to Kettering in November 2020 after a month at Stratford.

Centre back Lathaniel Rowe-Turner is an ex-League One and Two player who started at Leicester City. He was loaned to Cheltenham, Redditch and Kings Lynn before a permanent move to Torquay. Two years later he moved to Luton and after an initial loan, moved on to Alfreton Town.

He then joined Kidderminster and was loaned to Nuneaton in January 2016. A return spell at Torquay was followed by spells at Chester, Kettering and Tamworth, before spending a year at Stourbridge prior to returning to Nuneaton in July 2022. He came to Kettering last month along with team mate Jezeph.

Former Sunderland Junior midfielder Tom Scott was on loan from the Black Cats last season. He briefly joined Banbury at the start of this season, but soon made his move to Latimer Park.

Gedeon Okito is a left-back who came through the MK Dons U18’s Academy. He has played for Dunstable Town, Stratford Town and AFC Dunstable, before signing from Banbury pre-season.

Midfielder Huw Dawson was another pre-season signing from St.Albans.

Winger Bruno Andrade was a QPR Junior, who was loaned to Aldershot, Wycombe and Stevenage, before joining Woking on his release. Boreham Wood, Lincoln City and Maidenhead are also former clubs, before he joined Chesham last September. He signed for Kettering on Boxing Day.

Jack Degruchy is an attacking midfielder on loan from Doncaster Rovers. He started off at York City, but during his time at Doncaster, he had made one first team appearance and been loaned out to FC United and Marske Utd.

Luca Miller is a young striker that came through the clubs own Academy. He has also played for Desborough Town and Harborough.

Northern Ireland Under 19 International right back Phoenix Scholtz is on loan from MK Dons, similarly Neo Dobson, a young Northampton Town striker and George Forsyth a midfielder from Telford.

Forsyth has been captaining the side and started out at Kidderminster Harriers. After loans at Halesowen and Gloucester City, he joined Worcester City. He has also played for Stourbridge, Hereford and Bromsgrove, before joining Kettering on loan in November 2022. His move became permanent in February last year, before going to Telford at the start of this season, only to return in July on a season long loan.

Midfielder Kobe Chong has just arrived on loan from Kings Lynn. He was previously at and was a  West Bromwich Albion and Kidderminster, before moving to Cagliari in Sicily.

Finally midfielder Michael Reindorf-Junior is a new signing too. A former Norwich City Junior je started out at Leyton Orient.

Kick off at usual at the Don Amott Arena is 3pm, with all the usual bar & catering facilities.

by Peter Scherer

Despite a consolation Andy Dales goal in the second half, Mickleover were soundly beaten on their visit to Royston Town, after three defensive blunders.

Starting line-up: 1-Lewis Ridd 2-Jake Bennett 3-Ryan Wilson 4-Dan Bradley 5-Will Tamen 6-Ethan Mann 7-Andy Dales 8-Will Trueman 9-Tyrell Waite 10-Wil Bapaga 11-Marcus Barnes. Subs: Oli Greaves, Stuart Beavon, Kyle Rowley, Brendon Daniels, Will Atkinson.

Mickleover were first to get a shot in when Dales had a second minute attempt blocked on the edge of the box.

But play soon switched to the other end, with a Bennett clearance giving Royston the first corner of the game. As the ball came in from the right, the defence were left flat footed and Ridd failed to move off his line, seeing the ball almost roll into the goal on his inside post from Johnson’s effort and it was 0-1 after just three minutes.

Over the next 10 to 15 minutes Mickleover continued to look vulnerable to any attack, as they struggled to break out of their own half.

Ridd handed Royston another chance when a poor free kick to Trueman put the midfielder under immediate pressure, but fortunately they weren’t able to capitalise on the opportunity.

Mickleover had one good move led by Bennett after 14 minutes. Having reached the edge of the box, a sequence of excessive passing lost the chance and the ball was cleared. 

Barnes did manage to create some space and did have a shot a minute later, just wide of the left-hand post. Bennett then attacked again down the right, set up Bapaga for the cross, which was cleared for a corner.

Wilson put his corner close into the keeper, causing Chadwick to punch the ball away under pressure.

The referee seemed to be giving an excess of free kicks, with the majority against Mickleover, but fortunately the hosts failed to create much from them. There was also a penalty shout when Esan dived into the box.

After 28 minutes there was another shot just over the bar for our hosts after Bapaga lost out in midfield. But Royston were shooting on sight, unlike Mickleover who had a more skilful build up, but failed to get a shot in on most occasions.

Apart from the sloppy early goal the back four of Bennett, Mann, Tamen and Wilson had coped with any forays into their territory, with both Bennett and Wilson trying to build the attacks down the wings.

Bapaga had started well but faded and despite Trueman’s hard work the midfield were struggling to progress.

After 30 minutes Dales put in a good cross from the left and Waite’s follow up shot was blocked, before the following corner was easily cleared.

Five minutes later a long ball out of defence by Tamen found Barnes, he tried a shot on target, but it failed to trouble Chadwick again.

For the last 10 minutes of the first half their seemed more urgency from Sports and after some nice interplay on the left between Wilson and Dales, the ball fell to Bradley, but an awkward bounce at the critical moment saw his effort go wide of the right-hand post.

Bennett and Waite both fired in shots that were blocked and then a late free kick was headed clear by Royston skipper Murray.

In time added on Waite came closest to grabbing an equaliser, when another Dales cross from the left was met beautifully by the strikers head. But Chadwick had the measure of it and tipped it over the bar, so it remained 0-1 as the whistle went.

There were no changes in the Mickleover team for the second half, but there was a flurry of attacking activity before falling back into a similar pattern to the first half.

Dales shouted for a penalty after going down in the box to a fair tackle and both Trueman and Bennett tried to battle through before their paths were blocked.

Royston had another effort just over the bar from a 56^th minute corner and almost on the hour a hardworking Barnes got clear on the right. His cross came in but was straight through the box, with no one making contact.

Greaves then came on for Bapaga and was straight into the action, but his cross from the right was cleared by the defence.

A few minutes later Dales sent a crossfield ball to Bennett. His right-wing cross was met by Barnes’ head, but straight at the keeper.

Mickleover’s efforts for the equaliser were dashed after 63 minutes though, when another corner gave away another soft goal. There seemed no one taking charge in the box and Coldicott-Stevens was almost surprised that his effort struck goal. 0-2.

Barnes tried a long shot but was well wide, just before striking partner Waite was replaced by Beavon.

Despite Mickleover’s lack of cohesion, it was only two defence blunders that separated the teams and after 73 minutes they finally pulled a goal back. Greaves outran the defence on the right and his cross was met by Dales’ head at close range 1-2.

Into the final 15 minutes and there was a glimpse of the determination we have been used to and maybe a chance to get something out of the game. But the extra push forward left the back vulnerable, and after Trueman lost out in midfield, Harness was clear for Royston but shot well over the bar.

Bradley put a cross in from the right but Beavon just missed connecting after 80 minutes. Eight minutes later it was hard to see how the ball didn’t find the net for a Mickleover equaliser, after a huge scramble in the hosts goal mouth. There were players on the ground and shots reigning in, but luck was definitely on Royston’s side as Murray finally cleared Bennett shot.

From a near equaliser it was game over as Coldicott-Stevens scored his second and another easy dead ball situation goal which the defence failed to deal with, 1-3.

With eight minutes added on it was to get worse, as Williams got a break and fired home number four. Barnes tried his luck again in the final minutes and Ridd made a late diving save, but 1-4 it was.

A point looked more than achievable against a side that found success with a more basic style play. The three goal winning margin probably flattered them too, but three defensive blunders was to prove decisive as Mickleover’s fire never got beyond the smouldering stage.

 

by Peter Scherer

It’s another trip down the M1 and A14 for Mickleover this Saturday, when we face ninth in the table Royston.

Mickleover go into the game a point off Redditch in third place, but with a superior goal difference. Having come through Tuesday’s reserve match, club captain Ryan Wilson could be back in the squad and with fellow injury returnee Joe Bateman about two weeks off full fitness, there is plenty f choice for the starting line-up.

Chris Watters team have had an up and down season, when after a run of five games undefeated, they have only managed one point in the last three, having lost 1-3 at Leamington last week.

Having ended last season on loan from Cambridge Utd, goalkeeper Louis Chadwick is back on a season long loan. He has also been loaned to St.Neots, Cambridge City and Brentwood.

Left back James Brighton is an ex Birmingham City Junior. He joined Cambridge Utd on his release and was loaned to Hemel and Cambridge City before a permanent move to the latter. He joined our hosts in November 2019 after four years at Kettering.

Experienced defender and captain Adam Murray had played for Cambridge City before arriving at Royston, but well over 200 appearances later he is still a main stay of the side.

Ronnie Henry was a Tottenham youth team player, who was loaned to Southend before making a permanent move to Dublin City in 2004.He then spent seven years at Stevenage, before joining Luton Town, only to return again two years later. Another five years on he joined Billericay, from where Royston signed him in May ’21. He is also Grandson of ex Tottenham double winning defender Ron Henry.

Centre back Mackye Townsend-West was on loan from Stevenage, having previously been loaned to St.Albans. He made the permanent move in July.

Striker Samson Esan came in pre-season from Maidenhead. He started out at Enfield and signed for Maidenhead July 2022, after a spell at Potters Bar. He was also loaned to Chelmsford and back to Potters Bar before his release. 

Josh Coldicott-Stevens was at Hitchin for over three years, before coming to our visitors at the start of the season. Another midfielder, he has also played for Boreham Wood and Kings Langley.

Dequane Wilson-Braithwaite is a young defender who started out at Tottenham Hotspur, before moving to Luton. He has played for Potton Utd, Carshalton, Potters Bar, Welling and Maldon & Tiptree too.

Sam Mvemba is a left back signed from Canvey Island in November. He started at Bishops Stortford and has played for Brightlingsea and Carshalton Athletic too.

Right back Ed Asafu-Adjaye is in his fifth season at Garden Walk. Originally a Luton Town Junior, he had loans at Salisbury and Histon before joining Forest Green on his release in 2012.

He then had three years at Hemel before coming to Royston, then after a year he joined Hayes & Yeading, he came back to our hosts exactly a year later.

Midfielder Alfie Williams was on loan from Stevenage until the end of last season, before making his stay permanent in July. He started at Tottenham’s Academy Under 12’s but since joining Stevenage he was loaned to Biggleswade, Kings Langley, Hemel and Hayes & Yeading too.

Kian Harness is a young striker who ahs come through the clubs own youth scheme. He has already scored five goals in 11 appearances this season.

Similarly Fabio Virciglio is another product of the youth scheme, having broken into the first team squad this season.

Attacking midfielder Demaray Anyadike was a pre-Christmas arrival from Walthamstow Avenue. A former Southend Utd junior, he played for Harlow Town and Hullbridge Sports too.

Charlie Johnson is a centre back, who returned to his home town club from St.Ives in November. A former Cambridge Utd youngster, he has also played for Yaxley, St.Neots and Bury Town.

The most recent signing is Andronicus Georgiou from Braintree earlier this month. He started at Stevenage and was loaned to Kings Langley, St.Albans and Hendon, before joining Wycombe on his release. 

He moved on to Haringey and after return spells at both Kings Langley and St.Albans, he was at Braintree for a month before coming to our hosts.

Kick off at Garden Walk is 3pm and your SUPPORT WOULD BE WELCOMED.

by Peter Scherer (Images: Steve Ingers)

For the second successive week it was an injury time winner that secured the three points for Mickleover, but this time it was skipper Ethan Mann on target AGAINST Bromsgrove Sporting.

Starting line-up: 1-Lewis Ridd 2-Jake Bennett 3-Rhys Dolan 4-Will Atkinson 5-Will Tamen 6-Ethan Mann 7-Andy Dales 8-Dan Bradley 9-Tyrell Waite 10-Stuart Beavon 11-Oli Greaves. Subs: Marcus Barnes, Brendon Daniels, Blaine Rowe, Will Trueman, Will Bapaga.

After a pacey start it was Mickleover first to test the keeper, when Dales cut in from the left after four minutes, to fire in a close range shot, well saved by Bromsgrove keeper Ollie Taylor.

Cooper then tried his luck for the visitors, but his attempt was blocked four minutes later. But Cooper was tending lead the Bromsgrove attacks, and 13 minutes in his deflected cross was safely taken by Ridd in the Mickleover goal.

Both sides were continuing to try and push forward and Greaves tested Taylor again from a tight angle after 15 minutes, but once again the keeper had it covered.

White and Shaw combined to challenge the home defence again, but Shaw’s final effort was just over the bar with 20 minutes gone.

There was a blow though for Mickleover though when Dolan went off injured after 23 minutes, replaced by Daniels, who was making his debut for the club.

Mann and Tamen had things covered at the back for Mickleover, but with 10 minutes of the first half left, Shaw managed to close down a promising Mickleover attack.

Newall had a volley blocked just before half time for the visitors and Beavon had a header just off target, so as the half time whistle went it remained 0-0.

Barnes came on for Dales as they re-appeared for the second half and only seven minutes into the half debutant Bapaga came on for Atkinson too.

Daniels managed to test keeper Taylor again with a free kick after 55 minutes, but he palmed it away, before the action moved to the other end, as Shaw had a shot just wide, before trying narrow angled shot after 67 minutes, but Ridd had it covered too.

Both sides had continued to have chances, but nothing was manging to find the net. Waite latched onto a cross after 74 minutes, but headed wide, and another header went over the bar five minutes later.

Time was running out, but with the customary add on, the deadlock was finally broken. Daniels free kick on the left came into the box, and Mann had a clear run in from the right to fire it past Taylor, and after 93 minutes it was 1-0. 

Rowe had one last shot for Bromsgrove, but it was game over and another valuable three points for Mickleover.

 

by Peter Scherer

It’s back on home turf for Mickleover this weekend, when they face strugglers Bromsgrove Sporting at the Don Amott Arena.

Fresh from our postponed visit to Coalville on Tuesday night, Sports manager has a number of options in his starting line-up, with both players due back from injury and five new signings over the last two weeks.

Our visitors are currently 17^th in the table with only two wins in their last 12 matches, which led to the dismissal of manager Michael McGrath following last Saturday’s defeat at home to Leamington.

Bromsgrove’s first choice goalkeeper Ollie Taylor was signed from Alvechurch in December 2021 and has also played for Redditch. He is the son of former Birmingham City keeper Maik.

Midfielder Tristan Dunkley started in the Birmingham City Youth team, before joining Loughborough in 2014. He joined Hednesford two years later and then Worcester City, before being loaned to Halesowen, and a permanent move to Solihull Moors.

Stops at Rushall, Tamworth, Alvechurch, Barwell and Corby followed, before Bromsgrove signed him from Bedworth Utd towards the end of last season.

Midfielder Conor Tee was signed from Rushden in February 2023. He is an ex Leicester City Junior, who joined Brackley Town following his release. He then spent a year at South Shields before moving to Rushden at the beginning of last season.

Miro Pais is a young winger and has been at Bromsgrove for a couple of years, having come through their own youth scheme, to get his break in the first team squad.

Defender or midfielder Ayo Lekuti came on loan from Northampton in January 2023 and returned to our visitors again in September.

Right back Aksum White was one of the pre-season signings. He was a West Bromwich Albion Junior before joining Tamworth in 2021. After a loan to Sporting Khalsa, he moved to Worcester Raiders, and he also played for Coleshill Town, before spending last season at Stratford.

Luke Rowe is a central midfielder and another pre-season acquisition. He started last season at Hednesford, after a move from Redditch, but spent the second half at Telford. He is also the club captain,

Midfielder Jack Newell is a former Northampton Junior, who joined Barwell on his release. He then came to Bromsgrove in July 2021, but was loaned out to Highgate Utd, before becoming a regular first team member.

Midfielder Callum King-Harmes is a former Wales under 15 International, who started his career with Bolton Wanderers. He made five League One starts and was also loaned out to Bamber Bridge, before going to Hednesford on his release. 

He spent most of 20/21 at Sutton Coldfield and came to Bromsgrove at the beginning of last season.

Defender Aaron Roberts returned to Bromsgrove pre-season. The club appearance record holder left in 2019 to join Worcester City, who he captained last season.

Left back Ben O’Hanlon was capped by England at Under 16,17 and 18 levels. A former Wolves Junior, he was loaned to Corby Town, before joining Harrogate. He then joined Darlington who loaned him to Hednesford, before a permanent move to Hednesford preceded a spell at Stourbridge. He spent last season at Ilkeston and came to Bromsgrove pre-season.

Midfielder Billy Shaw arrived at the beginning of this season too from Worcester City and has also played for Halesowen.

Midfielder Keanu Cooper is another pre-season signing and lists Shifnal Town, Westfields and Shawbury among his former clubs.

Striker Keiron Berry came from Gresley Rovers. He started out at West Brom and Walsall and has played for Rushall Olympic, Walsall Wood and Sporting Khalsa too.

Right back Kane Lewis came from Hemel at the start of the season. He started out at Brentford, but moved onto the Liverpool Academy. On his release in 2018 he moved to the Welsh Premier League with The New Saints and Cefn Druids and played in the Europa League. He had five months at St.Ives before starting last year at Hemel.

Kartell Dawkins is a midfielder on loan from Gloucester City. He started out as a Leicester City Junior and was loaned to Rushden & Diamonds, before coming to Bromsgrove on his release in January 2023. He moved to Gloucester at the start of this season, but was loaned back to our visitors in October.

Right sided midfielder Shaquille Leachman-Whittingham is the newest arrival, having signed part way through last month.

He was an ex Walsall Junior who then moved to Tividale. After three years at Market Drayton, he moved on via Corby, Romulus, Redditch, Rushall, Stratford, Tamworth and started last year at Evesham. After a month he moved to Gresley Rovers, where he completed the 22/23 season.

Striker Prince Henry is another new arrival, but a returnee, having only left Bromsgrove to join Redditch last September. He has spent most of his career at Bristol City, but had been loaned out to Hungerford, Yate Town, Tiverton and Bromsgrove, before making his last move permanent at the start of this season.

Former Bromsgrove Junior David Solademi returned this season from Tividale. The defender has been at the Future Pro Academy and had trials with Cardiff City and was last at our visitors in 2021.

Kick off as usual is 3pm with the all the usual bar and catering facilities available.