by Peter Scherer

We welcome newly promoted AFC Sudbury to the Don Amott Arena on Saturday afternoon, as Mickleover return to league action following last weekends FA Cup success.

There are a couple of concerns for Mickleover boss John McGrath after last weeks match, “hopefully Marcus Barnes will be fit again, but Dalesy looks like a longer recovery, but we hope to have him fit for the next round of the FA Cup,” he said, after both were taken off last weekend.

Sudbury, the yellows or the Suds are currently 17^th in the table, with one win so far at Nuneaton on Bank Holiday weekend. They went out of the FA Cup last week to Hitchin Town too.

Manager Marc Abbott has been in charge since June and previously managed Haverhill Rovers and St.Neots Town and is currently Cambridge Utd’s Elite Scholarship manager too.

Goalkeeper James Bradbrook was the clubs first summer signing from Stowmarket Town. He started out at Needham Market, before joining Brightlingsea Regent. After a loan spell at Stowmarket his stay became permanent.

Right back Joe Tarpey is another new signing. A former Cambridge Utd Junior, he spent last season on loan with St.Neots Town.

Daniel Cousens is a right back too, and is a former Ipswich Junior, who arrived in July following his release.

Striker Joe Neal has scored most of the clubs goals so far this season, Another former Cambridge Utd Junior, he was loaned to Needham Market and St.Neots, before joining Biggleswade after a further loan spell. He moved to St.Albans in February last year, and was another pre-season arrival at Sudbury.

Winger Michael Bareck arrived during the summer too, he started out at Ipswich and had spent the last year at Bowers & Pitsea.

Former Manchester City Academy striker Romario Dunne has recently returned from a cruciate ligament injury after an 18 month absence. He was signed from Cheshunt in June 2021 and had a spell on loan at Braintree too, as well as playing for Brightlingsea Regent and Hadleigh Utd.

Centre back Tom Dickens continues the pre-season signing trend. Another ex Cambridge Utd Junior, he had loans at St.Neots and Chelmsford City before joining Welling Utd on his release. He quickly moved on to Cheshunt, who loaned him back to St.Neots, where he completed last season.

Midfielder Ben Hunter came through Sudbury’s own Academy, before moving to Leiston in June 2021. He came back to the club last season, but had a loan spell at Stowmarket too. He is one of the few Sudbury players remaining from last season.

Ola Bello is a former Ipswich Academy striker. He was loaned out to Lowestoft and joined Brentwood on his release. He has also played for Bowes & Pitsea and is another pre-season signing.

Centre back Josh Okpolokpo played his early football with Ipswich and Huddersfield, including a loan at Pontefract Collieries, before joining Leiston in September last year. He spent most of last season on loan at Gorleston on a dual registration.

Olumide Oluwatimilehin is a midfielder known as Olu, a summer signing from Haywards Heath. He started at Hoddesdon and has played for Whitehawk, Hornchurch, Wingate & Finchley, Braintree, Kingstonian and Lewes.

Right back Ollie Brown is one of last years team survivors. He came from Stowmarket in June last year.

Defender Reiss Oteng arrived in the summer from Biggleswade, he has played at Haverhill Rovers and West Wratting too.

Midfielder or defender Charlie Lewis arrived pre-season from St.Neots, having previously spent a couple of seasons at Histon. 

Andre Edionhon Silvera is the latest of the new arrivals, barely a week ago, the midfielder came from Stratford.

George Whitehall is the second choice keeper. An ex Cambridge Utd Junior, he was signed from St.Neots, but has played for Whitton Utd and Godmanchester Rovers too, before joining Sudbury’s influx of summer signings.

Central midfielder Reuben Swann is one of the recent Sudbury Academy players to break into the first team., scoring his first senior goal in the FA Cup tie at Mildenhall. Defender Jamie Everleigh, striker Jamie Bennett and midfielder Kaye Donohoe similarly are Academy products.

Kick off is 3pm as usual, visit the bar and the new club shop and help Mickleover FC consolidated their place at the top of the table, with nine straight league wins!!

by Peter Scherer

Mickleover’s march goes on as it now becomes 10 consecutive victories, after the 3-1 win against Spalding Utd in the FA Cup.

Starting line up: 1-James Pollard 2-Jake Bennett 3-Ryan Wilson 4-Will Atkinson 5-Fin Delap 6-Ethan Mann 7-Andy Dales 8-Ben Sault 9-Stuart Beavon 10-Marcus Barnes 11-Oliver Greaves Subs: George Nunn, Oliver Bosworth, Andre Wright, Dan Bradley, Joe Bateman.

Both sides had chances early into the game, with Clifton missing out with a header from a Warburton cross for the visitors, after a challenge from Mickleover keeper PolLard.

But 13 minutes in and it was Dales opening the scoring for Mickleover, with a long range shot into the roof of the net, with keeper Breeden well beaten, 1-0.

Clifton had another shot wide for Spalding from a Walker cross, before Breeden came to their rescue, winning out in a one on one.

Breeden made a couple more saves to keep Spalding in the game, but Pollard was also on form, saving  shot from Graham and a header from Stainos.

But Mickleover were forced to make an early change after Barnes took a knock and was replaced by Wright.

Spalding went close again before half time, after the ball came off a Sports defenders headed and glanced the bar from a Walker cross, but as the whistle went it remained 1-0.

The Mickleover defence of Bennett, Delap, Mann and Wilson had continued to look solid and dependable, with the hardworking midfield of Atkinson, Sault, Greaves and Dales continuing with the upperhand over a difficult Spalding side, but after 46 minutes Bradley came on for Bennett.

it all changed after 51 minutes when the visitors were awarded a penalty with Graham netting to make it 1-1. Only four minutes later though Mickleover restored their lead when Dales maximised a defensive mix up to make it 2-1.

Nunn then came on for two goal Dales as the hour mark approached, but after a Hilliard shot was well saved by Pollard, Beavon struck again after 71 minutes to make it 3-1.

Spalding continued to try and push forward and created a couple of openings, but another solid team effort from Mickleover proved decisive again, as we now look forward to the draw for the next round.

By Peter Scherer

Following our league success, it’s now time to focus on the FA Cup, after our home success against Ilkeston.

Our visitors are Spalding Utd, from the Northern Premier Midlands League and they have had a similar start to Mickleover. In the league they have won all four games and currently lie second.

They have already ended Shepshed Dynamo’s FA Cup hopes after a replay and beat Stratford 2-1 in the last round. But last Saturday they went out of the FA Trophy at Sheffield FC, 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw.

They were in Cup action again too Tuesday night, travelling to Grantham Town for a win in the Lincolnshire Senior Cup.

Manager Elliott Sandy is still a registered player and has been on the bench for a number of games already this season. A striker, he started out at Brackley, but after a loan at Oxford City, he went to Dunstable.

Further moves have taken him to Kettering, Rushden & Diamonds, Stamford, Newport Pagnell, Sileby Rangers and Banbury, before a four-year spell at Corby preceded his arrival at Spalding in July 2022. He has been in charge since March this year.

Goalkeeper Tony Breeden was a pre-season signing from Nuneaton, where he had spent four years. He started at Leamington, before moving on to Kidderminster and Tamworth and then went back to Leamington in 2013 and stayed six years, before a move to Bromsgrove.

Stephen Morley is a pre-season signing too. After starting at Hinckley he had five years at Leamington, before playing for Corby, Brackley, Tamworth and Telford. He then returned to Leamington for another three years in September 2019, before spells at Kettering and Hednesford preceded his move to Spalding.

Centre back Nathan Stanfield has been with the Tulips since July 2021, his third spell with the club. Having started at Spalding he went to Boston Utd in 2011, who also loaned him to Hucknall Town.

He was back at Spalding at the start of the 2013/14 season, but after four years service moved onto Gainsborough, but was out of football for the 20/21 season, before heading back to our guests again.

Sam Cartwright is another centre back and an ex Peterborough Utd junior. He was loaned to Kings Lynn, Leatherhead, St.Ives, Grantham, Kettering, Woking and Oxford City, before joining St.Ives on his release in August last year, but only a week later came to Spalding.

Left back Sam Warburton started out at Northampton Town, before signing for Rugby Town on his release. He quickly moved on to Nuneaton and Kings Lynn, before starting the 2017/18 season at Corby. Four years later he moved to Rushden & Diamonds and came to Spalding from Bedford in March this year.

Kyle Barker is a defensive midfielder, who has spent most of his career in Peterborough. Starting as a Junior at United, he was loaned to Lowestoft and Kings Lynn, but joined Peterborough Sports following his release in July 2022. Two months later he arrived at Spalding.

Lewis Hilliard is another defensive midfielder who started out at Rushden & Diamonds. He had loan spells at Ware, Hemel and Banbury, before being released to join St.Neots in 2010.

St.Albans, Boston Utd, St.Ives and Peterborough Sports followed, with a couple of loan spells at Yaxley. He came to Spalding last November.

Joe Curtis is a central midfielder and pre-season signing from Bromsgrove. He started off at Southampton and after a spell at Brackley, had his first spell at Spalding in 2015.

After one year he moved to Rushden & Diamonds, staying a further three years until he joined Stratford. He had a year each at Corby and Bromsgrove, before coming to Spalding.

James Clifton plays in midfield too and after starting his career with a two-year spell at Brackley, he moved onto Oxford City for another two-years. Nuneaton, Boston Utd, Alfreton, Corby and Basford followed before a return trip to Corby preceded his arrival at Spalding for the start of last season. He is assistant manager too.

Glen Walker’s a midfielder too, a pre-season signing from Brackley, where he had spent 12 years. He has also played for Banbury and Corby.

Portuguese born Wilson Carvalho can play right or left wing and started off at Fulham’s Academy. Loans at Stevenage and North Greenford followed, before a permanent move to Port Vale.

He was loaned out again to Hemel, Corby and Ilkeston, before making it permanent again at Corby. Kettering, Oxford City, Stratford, Accrington, Macclesfield, Hampton & Richmond, Hendon, Walton Casuals, Hayes & Yeading and Westfield were next in line, before going to Kings Langley September last year and arrived at Spalding in pre-season. During his time at Accrington he has made nine league appearances.

Striker Jordan Graham came through of the youth schemes at both Leicester City and Oxford Utd. After loans at Didcot and Farnborough he then spent three years at Mansfield Town where he made 10 starts, moving on to Tamworth, Rushden & Diamonds, Kettering and a loan spell at Hednesford, before signing for Spalding pre-season.

Midfielder Danny Draper came from Wisbech in mid 2022, having played for Bedford, Eynesbury Rovers and Corby Town.

Dan Sweeney is another well-travelled striker, who spent his early career at Kidderminster. He had loan spells at Halesowen, Stourport, Rushall Olympic and Sutton Coldfield, before a permanent move to Stourport.

He then joined Solihull Moors who loaned him to Hednesford, Leamington and Bradford Park Avenue, before going to Redditch. After further moves to Hednesford and Redditch came Bromsgrove and Macclesfield, from where he arrived at our visitors pre-season.

Defenders Stacey Freeman and  Connor Peters, striker Mike Taylor have also been in the squad this season.

Kick off as usual is 3pm at the Don Amott Arena, FA CUP ACTION ON YOUR DOORSTEP!!

by Peter Scherer

In what proved to be the toughest test so far this season, Mickleover came away from AFC Telford with another three points, to make it eight successive wins.

Goals in each half from Andy Dales and Andre Wright now gives Sports an eight–point lead at the top of the table.

Starting line-up: 1-Oliver Bosworth 2-Jake Bennett 3-Ryan Wilson 4-Will Atkinson 5-Fin Delap 6-Ethan Mann 7-Andy Dales 8-Dan Bradley 9-Andre Wright 10-Oli Greaves 11-Marcus Barnes. Subs: George Nunn, Jim Pollard, Ben Sault, Stuart Beavon, Joe Bateman.

The hosts earned a corner in the opening minute, which was safely headed away by Delap. But Mickleover soon began to settle on a drizzly night and Dales went on his first run, cutting inside from the right wing, but under pressure from Dinanga, his crossfield ball failed to make progress.

Telford were seeking out leading scorer Gibson at every opportunity, but a long ball after eight minutes then saw his cross cleared before reaching the target.

Dales then found himself with space down the right, cut in to outpace the defence, firing past keeper Hall’s left to make it 1-0. Only a minute later Dales was in the box again, but on this occasion his effort was headed away.

With confidence visibly growing for Mickleover, Wright went close after 13 minutes, with a deflected header just wide of the right hand upright, but no corner was given.

Gibson had a half chance for Telford a minute later, but he was successfully challenged before getting his shot in, butthen Walker managed to dispossess Bradley in the middle, passing to Mitford, whose cross earned a corner.

From the corner Telford seemed to work backwards, as Sports closed ranks with both defence and midfield pushing forward.

Bradley and Atkinson’s solidity in midfield was allowing both Greaves and Dales to make positive breaks, which the home defence seemed to struggle with. Greaves had a 20th minute effort from outside the box blocked and then Dales found Barnes on the right. He couldn’t get any space, but kept possession.

Wright then beat the defence down the left, but his cross just missed everyone’s heads.

Myles tried a long speculative shot for Telford after 22 minutes, but his effort was well wide of Bosworth’s left–hand post.

Barnes was then brought down on the edge of the box, but as Wilson and Greaves stood over the ball for the free kick, Dales had a crack, but straight at keeper Hall.

Wilson was then penalised for bringing down Myles, with Dinanga picking up the rebound from Myles’ initial shot, his effort just wide of Bosworth’s left–hand post.

Telford were trying to force Mickleover back, but it wasn’t working and Greaves got on the end of another break, but his effort was easily held by keeper Hall, as the hosts began to have more possession.

Myles put in a couple of good crosses as Telford pushed for the equaliser, but the best result proved to be a 38th minute header over the bar by Gibson.

Greaves then burst out for another charge. Wright put the ball into the middle and Barnes effort was cleared off the line after bouncing up and hitting the bar. “How did that ball bounce so high,” said Barnes.

Telford had another couple of attacks before half time, but with Delap and Mann showing aerial domination, they failed to trouble the Mickleover goal, but with two minutes left of the 45, Barnes cut in from the right, Greaves followed up and shot just wide of the left–hand post, so it remained 1-0 as the whistle went.

As the second half got underway Telford had an early shot, easily taken by Bosworth, but then a loose ball by the hosts defence was picked up by Dales, earning another corner.

But 50 minutes in and Delap was pulled up for a foul just outside the right–hand edge of the box, Mitford stepped up to blast home the equaliser into the far corner, giving Bosworth little chance.

It wasn’t level for long however, as a strong attack down the left saw the ball arrive into a crowded goal month, with Wright getting the decisive touch to make it 2-1.

Appeals for a penalty were waved away after Telford claimed the prone Bradley had handled, but followed up with another shot blocked by the Mickleover defence.

Barnes had another good effort blocked, but the hosts were throwing everything into attack as we approached the hour mark.

Hodgkiss and Dinanga both had shots blocked, but the Mickleover back four continued to look solid and repelled each attack, well supported by Atkinson and Bradley,

There was a bit of a scramble on the Mickleover line after 74 minutes which was eventually cleared and seemed to act as a wake–up call for the final 15 minutes.

Bosworth made a couple of saves, but despite the increase in possession, Telford weren’t creating many chances.

Sault, Beavon and Bateman came on as subs for Mickleover, with Barnes, Wright and Dales making way, as all 11 players closed ranks for a fight to the end of the game.

Gibson had a great chance in the final minutes, but his toe poke went over the bar, while a 94th minute corner even brought keeper Hall into the Mickleover box, where he joined the other 21 players!

But the ball was hooked out of defence, heading for the empty Telford goal, but just a couple of feet wide as the final whistle blew.

We now have a break from league action until AFC Sudbury at home on the 23rd, as its FA Cup time this weekend, welcoming Spalding Utd to the Don Amott Arena.

by Peter Scherer

Seven points clear at the top of the table, Mickleover now head to AFC Telford on Tuesday evening to aim for eight in a row.

Our hosts AFC Telford were relegated from the National League North at the end of last season and have had a mixed start this season too.

They started with a 3-0 win over Royston and hammered Nuneaton 7-0, but more recently had 0-0 at home to Halesowen and lost 0-1 in the FA Cup to Coalville Town. A 1-1 at Redditch had been their only point so far away from home, until last Saturdays 3-2 win at St.Ives, moving them up to eighth in the table.

Manager Kevin Wilkin was a striker with Cambridge City, Northampton Town, Nuneaton and Grantham, before becoming Nuneaton’s manager in 2006.

After eight seasons he moved onto Wrexham, but after 18 months of his two-year contract he moved to Brackley Town, winning the 2018 FA Trophy. He has been in charge at Telford since October last year.

First choice keeper Brandon Hall started out at Charlton Athletic, before spending seven months at the Nike Academy. His next move was up to Scotland with St.Mirren, but returned south with Hayes & Yeading.

Ebbsfleet, Lewes, Woking, Kidderminster and Hereford were his next stops, with a loan spell at Banbury. He came to our hosts pre-season, after a year with Gloucester City and is an England C International too.

George Scott is Hall’s deputy, having returned to the club last month, after a year without a club.

Centre back Fraser Kerr started his career at Motherwell before moving South with Birmingham City. He spent two years with the Blues, before an initial loan back to Motherwell became permanent.

He moved on to Cowdenbeath and Stenhousemuir too, before moving to Gateshead, with 54 Scottish Premiership appearances and 45 in League One, plus Europa League Qualifiers too.

Stops at Hartlepool, Torquay and Chesterfield followed, before spending last season at York City. He has represented Scotland at Under 16, 17,19 and 21 levels and was another pre-season arrival at Telford.

Jordan Piggot is another centre back. He started out at West Bromwich Albion before heading for Scotland too. He played for Dundee and East Fife, before heading to North Wales with Bangor City.

Halesowen was his next stop, moving to Solihull Moors after a year, spending another year before a move to Gloucester City on loan. He spent four months at Telford at the beginning of last year and then returned to our hosts permanently for the start of last season.

Pre-season signing Orrin Pendley is a centre back too. He started at Highgate before joining Redditch. He soon moved on to Kettering and Rushall Olympic, before spending a year at Tamworth and spent last season at Hereford.

Welsh teenager Steffan Jones is another centre back and pre-season signing too, having come through Bala Town’s youth scheme.

Nathan Fox is a left back who spent his junior career at both Notts County and Derby County. Following his Rams release he joined Corby Town, moving to Rugby Town after a four year stay. Only a month later he moved again, with a very short stay at Coalville, he briefly went back to Corby, before joining Sutton Coldfield.

Redditch, Hednesford, Kings Lynn and Alfreton Town followed by a year at Buxton, preceded starting last season at Peterborough Sports. He is another of Telford’s pre-season signings.

Having graduated through Telford’s own youth scheme, left back Brad Blood is now in his third season with the first team squad.

Club skipper Jared Hodgkiss played his early football at Wolves and West Bromwich Albion. Right back by choice, he was loaned to Aberdeen and played seven games in the Scottish Premiership.

After a further loan at Northampton, he joined Forest Green Rovers on his release, staying almost five years, before spending another two years at Kidderminster, who also loaned him to Torquay. His next move was Macclesfield, before a four year-spell at Hereford preceded his pre-season move to Telford.

Right back Ellis Myles is another right back and pre-season signing, who started off at Leicester City. He moved to Brackley Town on his release, before going to Rugby, Stamford and Corby.

He went back to Brackley in 2016 and stayed six years, before moving to Boston Utd and had eight months at Kettering before his Telford move.

Midfielder James McQuilkin is a Northern Ireland at Under 17, 19 and 21, but began his career in the Czech Republic, with Zlin B and Tescoma Zlin, before returning to the UK with Hereford in 2009.

He joined Walsall in July 2013 and after a year moved onto Hednesford. But he was soon on the move again to Torquay, before a stay at Kidderminster, preceded his first spell at Telford for the start of the 2017/18 season.

After just over two years he returned to Hereford, before stops at Stourbridge and Hednesford were followed by his Telford return in July.

Central midfielder George Forsyth has spent almost his whole career in the West Midlands. Having started at Kidderminster, he was loaned to Halesowen before joining Gloucester City.

Worcester and Stourbridge were followed by a return to Halesowen and Hereford followed by another return visit to

Stourbridge and Bromsgrove, who loaned him to Kettering, from where he joined Telford pre-season.

Midfielder Remi Walker continues the list of new pre-season signings, having arrived following his release from Birmingham City. He spent the last few months of last season on loan at Alvechurch.

Ty Webster is a midfielder too, who arrived last month, after being released by Crewe Alexandra.

Right midfielder Byron Moore is one of the select retained players, having joined Telford from Torquay February last year. He has over 400 league appearances to his name in Leagues One and Two, having started out at Crewe.

He was loaned to Kidsgrove Athletic but joined Port Vale on his release. After two years he moved on to Bristol Rovers and Bury, before spending two years at Plymouth Argyle.

Striker Montel Gibson has six goals under his belt already following his pre-season arrival from Ilkeston. He was a Notts County Junior and was loaned out to Romulus, Barwell, Hednesford and Sutton Coldfield, before going to Ilkeston after his release in 2017, having made 24 League Two appearances, scoring two goals.

Spells at Redditch, Bedworth and Halesowen followed, before joining Grimsby Town. He was the loaned to Altrincham, before a permanent move to Stourbridge, but started 2022 back at Ilkeston. He spent six months on loan at Telford at the end of last season and returned again on a permanent basis pre-season.

Striker Ricardo Dinanga started out at Cork City, before Coventry City brought him across the Irish Sea. He had loans at Hereford and Nuneaton last season, but came to Telford following his release in July.

Tre Mitford is another new signing, having come from Boston Utd. The striker started off at Aylesbury Utd, and has played at Bedford, Kettering, Brackley and Gloucester City too.

Another recent arrival from Brackley Twariq Yusuf can play as a striker or midfielder.

Finally full back Ellis Myles-Tebbutt is another former Brackley player who arrived pre-season. He has also played for Rugby Town, Stamford, Corby and Boston Utd, having spent last season at Kettering.

by Peter Scherer

Another second half goal blitz made it seven league wins in a row, as Mickleover sunk Leiston 5-0, one of last seasons play off losers.

Starting line-up: 1-Oliver Bosworth 2-Jake Bennett 3-Ryan Wilson 4-Will Atkinson 5-Fin Delap 6-Ethan Mann 7-Andy Dales 8-Ben Sault 9-Stuart Beavon 10-Marcus Barnes 11-Oli Greaves. Subs: George Nunn, Jim Pollard, Dan Bradley, Andre Wright, Joe Bateman,

After a fairly even opening 15 minutes, Mickleover began to take charge. Leading scorer Barnes added to his tally 22 minutes in, with a close-range shot, following a slight deflection 1-0.

As Sports continued to push forward there were penalty appeals waved away after 37 minutes, when Dales appeared to have been tripped in the area. Only two minutes later Barnes burst through again, but as he cut inside his final shot was just over the bar, taking us to half time with a one goal lead.

Leiston had a penalty appeal waved away early into the second half, but with Bosworth not seriously tested and the ever solid back four of Bennett, Delap, Mann and Wilson, helping the push forward, the attacks gained momentum again.

After 56 minutes a long ball out of defence found Greaves, who spotted keeper Donkin off his line, and lobbed home number two from the edge of the box, 2-0.

We only had to wait four minutes for goal number three, when Barnes outpaced the visiting defence, took the ball around the back and slotted home past the advancing Donkin, 3-0 on the hour.

The combination of Bennett and Wilson on the overlaps, with Atkinson controlling central midfield, to set up Greaves, Dales and Sault, Mickleover were totally dominant.

After 75 minutes Dales cut inside from the charge down the wing, gave a deft flick to Atkinson in support, who ably cracked home number four in the left-hand corner, 4-0.

With the game secured, Bateman, Wright and Nunn came on for Dales, Beavon and Barnes, but four minutes later we had number five. Greaves had attacked down the right, then layed the ball back to Bennett, who placed a powerful strike into the bottom right-hand corner. 5-0.

It was another magnificent team effort that consolidates Sports lead at the top of the table, as we now go to AFC Telford on Tuesday evening, before next weeks home Cup Tie against Spalding Utd.

by Peter Scherer

With six wins out of six in the league and last week’s FA Cup success, Mickleover are riding high at the top of the league.

We have a really good squad and can swap players around. Apart from a couple of players I don’t expect everyone to play every game, but we now have options, with Rhys Dolan and Will Trueman still to get fit again and Joe Bateman only just back too.

said gaffer John McGrath.

Having just missed out on promotion last year, Leiston haven’t had the best of starts to this season. At home they have beaten Telford taking four points from a possible nine, but beat Stratford away and knocked St.Ives out of the FA Cup last weekend.

We drew 2-2 with them at home last December, having lost 1-3 on the opening day of the season.

Currently 12^th in the table joint managers Darren Eadie and Chris Wigger have retained the majority of last seasons squad.

Goalkeeper Sam Donkin was signed from Biggleswade in November 2019, having previously played for Whitehawk and Stamford. He made his 100^th appearance for our visitors last season.

Oliver Dawson is the reserve keeper and a product of their own youth scheme, but yet to make his first team debut.

Full back Wyatt Hill was a pre-season 22/23 arrival, having come from Wroxham in June following a spell in US College football.

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 Rossi Jarvis was capped at under 18 and under 19 by England and was a Norwich City junior. He was loaned to Torquay and Rotherham, before joining Luton Town on his release and netted almost 100 appearances as a league player.

Spells at Barnet, Cambridge Utd and Lowestoft followed, before joining Leiston from Dereham Town at the beginning of last season.

Brother Ryan 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.

Left back Ollie Saunders came from Braintree in November 2019. He started as a Norwich junior too, before moving on to Grimsby Town. He is captained the side of late in Dunbar’s absence.

Midfielder Jake Spooner arrived at the beginning of last season from Harleston Town and has played for Beccles Town too.

Jamaican International striker Jamar Loza has scored four of Leiston’s 11 league goals this season, but missed last weekends cup win. A former Norwich City youngster, he had loans at Coventry City, Orent, 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 visitors 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.

Winger Kieran Higgs was playing for Hungate Rovers when Norwich City spotted him. After a loan at Solihull Moors he was released and joined Lowestoft, who loaned him to St.Ives. He came to Leiston last month.

Jack Manly s a young midfielder currently on loan from Ipswich until the end of the season.

Fellow midfielder Camerom Rayworth and strikers Joe McNeil and Charlie Atkin are home produced players, who have come through the ranks. Rayworth recently made his league debut.

Right back Eddie Jackson is a former Norwich City Junior and been one of the ever present players this season.

Kick off 3pm at the Don Amott Arena, BE THERE!!