by Peter Scherer

New signing Marcus Barnes made it six goals from three games, as he hit four against Belper Utd at the Don Amott Arena last night.

Starting line-up: 1-Oliver Bosworth 2-Jake Bennett 3-Rhys Dolan 4-Ryan Wilson 5-Ethan Mann 6-Dan Bradley 7-Andy Dales 8-Will Atkinson 9-Will Trueman 10-Stuart Beavon 11-Ben Sault. Subs: George Atwal, Zac Sandhu, Oli Greaves, Fin Ryder, Marcus Barnes, Andrew Wright.

Apart from a ninth minute attack when Dales found Beavon, whose final ball was too long for Sault to chase, it was a very scrappy first 15 minutes, with little creativity from either side.

From there Sports went up a gear, with Beavon on another run, after Sault had gone end to end. But the final shot from the left earned a corner.

18 minutes in and Atkinson almost sent Dales clear, before the lose ball fell to Beavon, whose shot was just over. But there was an early change for Mickleover when Barnes came on for Bradley. “It was a slight pull on my thigh, so it was precautionary,” said Bradley.

For the next 15 minutes it was all on attack from the home side. Dales had a good run down the left after 20 minutes, his cross failed to connect, but Bennett kept it in play until the Belper defence cleared the danger.

Only a minute later Dales found Dolan in space on the left, but his cross or shot found the side netting. There was no respite for Belper though as Beavon then fought hard to retain possession, layed it back to Barnes, who cut inside to have his shot saved.

Wilson then put a cross in following a corner, missing Barnes’ head by a whisker.

Belper had been struggling to break out of their own half, but they made it after 29 minutes, but a dangerous cross from the right failed to connect.

Dales continued to torment and was fouled in mid flight on the half hour. The kick was dead centre a yard or two outside the box, but Wilson’s kick failed to trouble the keeper on this occasion.

Dolan was becoming more and more effective on the left, but his 33^rd minute cross was a fraction too high for Barnes and Beavon.

But a goal was almost inevitable and after a good all team build up with numerous exchanges, Dolan was caught out with an awkward bounce and Belper were able to draw breath.

The goal finally came after 39 minutes, when Sault found Barnes in space, as he cut in and headed goalwards, there was just the keeper to beat, which he did with consummate ease, 1-0.

Four minutes later it was 2-0 after another good build up down the right saw Barnes slide in for his second, ending the first half on a high.

There were two changes for the second half as Atkinson and Sault made way for Sandhu and Wright.

Bosworth tasted his first real action after 47 minutes, but from his save there was a Mickleover break and Barnes was on the receiving end again, 3-0.

Belper were still sticking to their game and making Mickleover work for it, but after 55 minutes it was goal number four. Dales broke free to score off the post, as Wright was available in support, 4-0.

Dolan tried his luck a minute later following a corner, but he was just wide of the top corner. Skipper Wilson then made way for Atwal on the hour, after a commanding role at the back with Mann.

It was close to another goal when Wright had the ball after a free kick, he managed to set up Beavon but his final shot was blocked by a defenders leg.

The fifth goal came from another break, with the visiting defence flat footed. As the ball ran clear Barnes latched on again and smashed home his fourth of the game, 5-0 after 62 minutes.

Barnes tried a random long shot well wide of the target, before Beavon and Dales went off, making way for Ryder and Greaves.

Belper had a half chance when the ball breached the home defence initially, before Bennett cleared for a corner, but any danger had soon gone.

Greaves was soon showing his skills with a series of long runs, linking up with Dolan after 70 minutes, they set up Wright whose shot was deflected away.

Bosworth made another save, but the effort was flagged offside and then 75 minutes in Mann was encouraged to try his luck. His shot started a new page in the record book, as he managed to clear the club house, the safety net and half of the car park, before the ball landed somewhere near Tesco’s.

Belper had an 80^th minute corner headed away by Bennett and Greaves had another classy solo run, before his shot was straight at the keeper.

Wright was so close to scoring when he fired into the side netting after 83 minutes, following up with a save from the keeper in a crowded box.

Trueman the put a cross in, which was just deflected away from Wright, then he put a header in the back of the net, but was flagged offside.

Our four goal striker Marcus Barnes gave his view after the match. “ I just needed to get into the game when I got the first, as I hadn’t been on long, then it just became automatic. The second goal was my favourite though, I love my tap ins.”

It ‘s off to Buxton now for the next pre-season friendly, Saturday afternoon 3pm kick off.

by Peter Scherer

Mickleover have added former Southampton striker Marcus Barnes to their squad, after he scored two goals in the clubs opening pre-season friendly at Borrowash Victoria.

“I’m looking forward to enjoying my football and joining a group players and a club with the ambition of wanting to achieve success this year, and hopefully throughout I can contribute towards that,” he said.

Barnes also has League Two experience with Yeovil Town and Oldham Athletic, and had a loan spell with Eastleigh too. He spent the end of last year with Northern Colorado based Hailstorm FC in the USL League One.

“Marcus is a player who will add great athleticism and speed to our front line. He’s an exceptionally talented footballer who we believe has the ability to play higher up the football divisions,” added gaffer John McGrath.

by Peter Scherer

Mickleover’s first home pre-season friendly ended in a 0-1 defeat against a strong Burton line-up.

Starters: 1-Oliver Bosworth 2-Ben Sault 3-Rhys Dolan 4-Will Atkinson 5-Ethan Mann 6-Dan Bradley 7-Andy Dales 8-Ryan Wilson 9-Marcus Barnes 10-Andre Wright 11-Will Trueman. Subs: Jim Pollard, Stuart Beavon, Louis Pennington, Fin Ryder, George Atwal, Zac Sandhu, Oli Greaves.

It was a fairly even opening five minutes, before Dales made his first long run of the night, beating four Brewers defenders, before being intercepted.

The visitors were soon beginning to push forward, with Mann and Bradley shepherding the home defence, until Bradley lost possession on the edge of the box. Charlie Lakin fired home with Bosworth given little chance, diving at full stretch to his right. 0-1.

Over the next 10 minutes it continued to be even, with the majority of the play around centre field.

Trueman got on the end of a nice one two after 20 minutes, before the defence blocked his path and only two minutes later Sault went close on the right to earn a corner.

Burton had shot well off target from outside the box 24 minutes in, before Dales charged through the middle three minutes later, but Wright’s final shot low to the left-hand post was saved by keeper Crocombe.

Crocombe was soon in action again, with Dales cutting in from the left again, palming away the shot to safety.

It was Bosworth’s turn to save after 33 minutes though, when Burton wasted time in creating the final shot, only for Wakelin’s effort to be easily dealt with by the Mickleover keeper.

Mickleover had their best chance of an equaliser just before half-time, when Dales had collected the ball from a free-kick after he had been fouled, setting up Trueman with time on his side, but the shot was wide of the left-hand post.

There was a slight hold-up too when Wakelin had to come off after hurting a previously damaged ankle, but as the half-time whistle finally went it remained 0-1.

Mickleover made their first change when Pollard came out in goal for the second half, having replaced Bosworth.

Trueman had a 49^th minute shot well saved after a positive build up down the left, then Sault appeared to have been brought down by the keeper in the box a minute later, but there was no penalty.

Atwal and Beavon came on for Sault and Barnes, and Beavon was straight into action, slotting the ball through to Dales, whose 54th minute shot was just wide again.

Pollard was almost caught out by an awkward bounce, following a cross from the right, but it was Sports looking the hungrier of the two sides in attack.

Just before the hour mark Dales made an interception, but was almost beaten by his own pace as he lost control, but then Burton responded with a powerful shot just wide of the post.

A short-free kick in the home defence almost gave the ball away to Burton, but Pollard reacted the quicker and charged off his line to intercept.

Atkinson and Wilson had looked strong and reliable in midfield and in the 65^th minute Atkinson almost got Beavon on a run. Wilson was then on the end of a Dales and Beavon build-up, with his shot earning a 69^th minute corner.

Wilson then put a dangerous cross into the Burton box, but it proved to be too high. Dolan and Trueman were subbed after 73 minutes, with Greaves and Sandhu on, soon followed by Ryder on for Wright,

With eight minutes on the clock Beavon sent through a long ball for Ryder to chase, but no sooner had the ball been grounded, the increased pace left it well out of reach.

Pennington was the final sub to come on for Atkinson, while six minutes before the whistle Dales had his final shot of the night saved, so victory and the annual Keith Calladine Trophy headed back down the A38 to Burton.

by Peter Scherer

Mickleover kicked off their pre-season campaign with a visit to neighbours Borrowash Victoria last Saturday.

Sports opened the scoring after two minutes, and after further goals on 20 and 35 minutes, they reached half time 3-0 up.

Various substitutions followed with no further goals added, as we now look forward to the first home friendly match against a Burton Albion XI.

Kick off at the Don Amott Arena is 7.30pm.

by Peter Scherer

There have been various rumours and speculation about the make-up of next seasons league structure, and Mickleover’s part in it.

Some sources suggested that along with Basford and Ilkeston, Mickleover could be heading back to the Northern Premier League, after just the one season in the Southern Premier League Central Division.

That particular rumour was possibly the closest, as Basford are returning to the Northern Premier League after just one season, along with Ilkeston, which loses two of our local Derby games, as Mickleover are remaining in the Southern section.

Mickleover are one of 14 clubs remaining in the Southern Premier Central, along with runner’s up Coalville Town and fellow play off losers Leiston and Nuneaton.

There will still be the trips to Hertfordshire to play Hitchin and Royston, along with St Ives in Cambridgeshire and Needham Market in Suffolk.

We still have the localish trip to Barwell Town too, along long with West Midlanders Alvechurch, Bromsgrove, Redditch, Stourbridge and Stratford.

Seven teams  are new to us though however, including another local Derby, with Long Eaton Utd, who came through the Northern Premier League Division One East play offs.

Halesowen followed a similar route to Long Eaton, but via the NPL Division One Midlands, whereas Berkhamsted means another trip to Hertfordshire, after they took the Southern League Division One title by a massive 19 points.

AFC Sudbury of Suffolk join us after being runners up in the Isthmian Division One North and winning the play-off, and Stamford earned their place after taking the NPL Division One title.

The remaining three teams have all arrived after being relegated from the National League North, with Kettering Town, Leamington and AFC Telford.

There will be more mileage next season though, with only three clubs within a 40 mile radius, compared with seven last season. Leiston is still the furthest at 184 miles, but AFC Sudbury, Berkhamsted, Hitchin, Needham Market, Royston and St Ives are all over 100 miles.

The total mileage to away league games will be approximately 1685 miles, compared to 1499 last season.

The question is can Sports improve on their sixth place?

by Peter Scherer

Although Mickleover spent the last day of the season at the already relegated Bedford Town, many eyes were focused on Rushall Olympic’s game at Alvechurch who had edged us out of the final play-off place.

With no goals scored in the last 10 games, Bedford weren’t expected to cause Sports defence a lot of problems and an Elliott Reeves double helped Mickleover finish 3-0 winners.

Starting line-up: 1-Oliver Bosworth 2-Jake Bennett 3-Ryan Wilson 4-Ethan Mann 5-James Butler 6-Phil Watt 7-Andy Dales 8-Mitch Rose 9-Elliott Reeves 10-Mason Warren 11-Will Trueman. Subs: Stuart Beavon, Rhys Dolan, Marcus Marshall, Oli Greaves, Callum Chettle.

With Mickleover on top from the start, Reeves controlled a long ball over the defence, and fired just over after seven minutes.

But Bedford responded a couple of minutes later, with an effort just wide, from the edge of the box. But Sports had control with Warren, Rose, Mann and Trueman looking strong in the middle and Bennett, Butler, Watt and Wilson soild at the back.

Dales was next to try his luck for Sports, with a shot just wide of the left-hand post, before Trueman twisted to outfox his marker, but his attempt was just over the bar too.

Home keeper Duffy saved another Sports effort after 25 minutes, but the home side managed to respond with Lyon latching onto a break, but again the shot was just over the bar.

Just after the half hour Trueman was down injured and had to be replaced by Greaves. He had only been on the pitch for two minutes, when Reeves jinked past a defender and crossed to find him unmarked in the centre. Greaves responded with an easy tap in and it was 1-0 with 33 minutes gone.

Bedford did get the ball in the net three minutes later, but were ruled offside and then Duffy had to make another diving save from Dales.

But Bedford hadn’t given up and Furlong earned a corner after a good run had ended with save for Bosworth from his final shot.

So it was 1-0 at half time and could have been more, but there was another 45 minutes, which started with Dolan coming on for Rose.

Duffy made another save for our hosts after 51 minutes, when Butler had latched onto a corner at the far post, but a few minutes later there was more success for Sports with another corner.

Butler headed into the centre, where Reeves connected and put cleanly past the beaten keeper, 2-0 and 54 minutes down.

Lyon found Tomlinson for Bedford, but his angled shot was over the bar and then a free kick ended with a weak shot from Butterworth.

With nine minutes left Chettle replaced Greaves, but into injury time Reeves got Mickleover’s third and his second, after a telling run down the left to fire home in the bottom corner, 3-0.

It finished on a high for Mickleover, but with Rushall losing at Alvechurch we had secured sixth in the table, but missed a play-off place by just one point.

We will hopefully see you all in August and start all over again.

by Peter Scherer

When he played Bedford Town back in November, Gary Setchell was the manager and they were 10^th in the league. We won 2-0 but at the end of the same month, Setchell left and Paul Davis was appointed, but resigned after only three games.

They have lost every game since and haven’t taken a point since drawing 0-0 at Hitchin on January 23^rd and have failed to score in their last 10 games.

Division One Central Champions last year, but they are now in 20^th place and heading back down again.

Graeme Tomlinson is the current manager, he joined the coaching staff in the summer of 2020, after an excellent playing career, starting at Bradford City earned him a move to Manchester United playing alongside Eric Cantona and the class of ’92.

He had four loan spells while with the Red Devils at Wimbledon, Luton, AFC Bournemouth & Millwall. After leaving United, he played for Macclesfield Town, Exeter City, Stevenage, Kingstonian, St. Albans City, Stotfold, Dunstable Town and a spell with Bedford Town in 2003.

Lewis Elsom and Elliott Duffy have been sharing the goalkeeping duties of late. Elsom is an ex Peterborough Utd Junior, who played for Deeping Rangers and Arlesey Town, before joining Peterborough Sports. He has currently been  on a dual registration from Peterborough since November, having had a similar arrangement with Spalding earlier in the season.

Duffy is a home grown talent, who had his first full contract in July 2021.

Jack Keeble was a summer signing, a centre back who began his career at Grimsby Town. He moved on to Stamford and St Neots and spent a year at Wisbech before joining our hosts.

Sam Dreyer originally came on loan in December 2021 from Stevenage, but the centre back’s stay became permanent last September. He also had loan spells at Biggleswade and Hendon, but then left our hosts to join Peterborough Utd in January, but came back on loan again the following day.

Centre back Ben Tompkins is on loan too from Luton Town, having started off at Barnet.

Junior Gyamfi is a midfielder who is another loanee from MK Dons, which is where fellow midfielder Connor Furlong started his career. He was loaned to Oxford City and Aylesbury Utd before coming to Bedford on his release in 2018.

After a year with our hosts, St Ives, Barton Rovers, Biggleswade and Rushden were his next stops, before returning to Bedford last month, after five months at Royston.

Midfielder George Thorne is well known locally after his spell with the Rams. His career started at West Bromwich Albion and was loaned to Portsmouth, Peterborough and Watford, before joining Derby in 2014.

He was loaned to Luton again and joined Oxford again after another loan. But injuries ended his full-time career and he came to Bedford in September 2022 after two years out. He was capped for England at Under 16,17,18,19 and 20 level.

Will Summerfield is a central midfielder and former MK Dons Junior. He was at Hemel, Kempston Rovers and Berkhamsted, before joining Bedford in July 2020.

Drew Richardson is another central midfielder who arrived in July 2020 too, from Biggleswade. He was a former Luton Town Junior.

Connor Tomlinson is a young striker who had scored quite a few goals earlier in the season. A former Luton Town Junior, he came to Bedford in July 2019.

Joe Butterworth is a central midfielder in his second season at Bedford, after arriving from Stamford last November, following almost five years at Yaxley.

Defender Kai Phelan was a pre-season signing from Barton Rovers. He also played for Hitchin and YIK in Sweden, after playing as a Luton Town Junior.

Experienced midfielder Callum Donnelly first joined Bedford for the 2017/18 season but had brief spells away at Shefford Town & Campton and Biggleswade. He played much of his career at Hitchin and has also been at Stotfold, Barton Rovers, Cambridge City and Baldock. He is also assistant manager.

Midfielder Josh Page is home produced player, but has also played in Australia with Perth Scorchers and been loaned to Dunstable Town and Eynesbury Rovers, since returning to our hosts in December 2020.

Striker Rene Howe started out at Bedford in 2006, before being picked up by Peterborough Utd. His league career carried on via Rochdale, Lincoln, Morecambe, Gillingham, Rushden and Bristol Rovers, all on loan.

He was finally released by Peterborough and joined Torquay in 2011, before moving to Burton Albion and Newport, having played over 250 League games, with over 60 goals.

After a short spell at Kettering he was out of football for three years, before rejoining Hendon. He has since played for Kings Langley, Walton Casuals and Farnborough, returning to Bedford in August 2020. He left for Ware after two years, but returned to Bedford again last December.

Former MK Dons defender Joe Steele was signed from Dunstable in November 2018 and has also played for Arlesey, but has been out with a knee injury for the last year or more.

Carlos Lyon is another well-travelled striker. A former Brentford Junior, he left them for Billericay, where Southend Utd picked him up. He was loaned to Hayes & Yeading before joining Alloa Athletic, who then loaned him to Brechin City and Stirling Albion, before rejoining Billericay on his release in 2017.

After a spell at Grays Athletic he went back to Scotland, with Brechin, Stranraer, Dumbarton, Peterhead and Cowdenbeath, before returning to England with Cheshunt in January. After another loan at FC Romania, he came to Bedford in February.

Right back Rio Da Silva had spells with Luton and Chelsea before joining Dunstable in 2018. He moved on to Hitchin a year later and came to Bedford last month.

Nathaniel Sheriff and Kyle Jozwiak are both home grown talent. Sheriff is a young centre back and came into the squad in February. Jozwiak is a midfielder, who got his contract one month earlier.

Midfielder Lucas Kirkpatrick also arrived last month, for his second spell with the club. He started out at Hitchin and was loaned to Langford, but racked up over 200 games, before moving to Braintree and Berkhamsted Biggleswade. He then came to Bedford for the 2018/19 season, before moving on Braintree, Berkhamsted, Dunstable and Crawley Green, before his arrival at Bedford.

D’Sean Theobalds is another recent arrival. He started at West Ham and moved swiftly via Leatherhead, Concord Rangers and Tonbridge before venturing to Korona Kielce in Poland.

He came back to the UK with Tonbridge, before returning to Poland with Unia Tarnow. He then joined Dartford, moving to Welling, Kingstonian and Concord Rangers and came to Bedford in February.

With Rushall having beaten Rushden last night, our outside chance of a play-off is over, but now guaranteed sixth place in the league, it’s been a successful season without doubt. Kick off is 3pm as usual.

by Peter Scherer

Character and heroism came to the fore at Stourbridge last night, when having faced the whole second half a man down, a stunning Reeves winner clinched the points for Mickleover.

Starting line-up: 1-Jonathan Hedge 2-Jake Bennett 3-Ryan Wilson 5-James Butler 6-Phil Watt 7-Andy Dales 8-Mason Warren 9-Marcus Marshall 10-Elliott Reeves 11-Will Trueman. Subs: Oliver Bosworth, Rhys Dolan, Mitch Rose, Stuart Beavon, Pablo Mills.

It was a fairly scrappy start to the game with passes from both sides going awry. Dales had an early shot blocked and Stourbridge failed to make anything from the first corner of the game.

Prosser then a wild shot for the hosts after 10 minutes, before Wilson got on the end of a Mickleover attack, duelling with two players on the edge of the box.

White and Lyttle worked well for our hosts down the right wing, but there was no one on the end of Lyttle’s cross. Watt cleared for Mickleover but Lyttle sent another cross in, once more to no avail.

Wilson was then chasing down a Stourbridge break and caught the heal of his quarry. The referee obviously saw more malice in the incident than anyone else and reached for his yellow card.

The following free kick was way off target, but led to a Trueman run at the home defence. The breakdown prompted a break down the Stourbridge left with Anaebonam outpacing his pursuers to slot the past Hedge into the far corner, 0-1 after 16 minutes.

Sports started to break out a little more with Marshall, Dales and Warren setting up a positive move three minutes later, with Warren earning a corner.

21 minutes in and Anaebonam had another chance, but completely missed connecting with Lyttle’s dangerous cross into the box.

The ball then ran loose and Kettle decided to have a crack at goal, seeing his effort sent out for another corner, headed clear by Butler.

Dales then launched on his first real run after 24 minutes, but was hacked down by Jack Wilson. He went in the book too, as Ryan Wilson lined up the free kick.

The game had opened up more with Mickleover in the ascendanacy. After some Trueman trickery on the edge of the box after 26 minutes, he set up Reeves for a run into the box.

A clumsy challenge from centre back Knight, saw Reeves hit the ground and the referee pointed straight to the spot. Warren stepped up and fired straight down the middle, with keeper Price well beaten 1-1.

Mickleover were on the attack again a couple of minutes later, with Wilson just connecting to get a half effort blocked, but Lyttle again proved to be dangerous on the break for our hosts. He beat the defence, but there was no one to receive the final ball.

Dales had a chase after 34 minutes but the keeper beat him to it and a couple of minutes later Trueman made good progress to find Wilson, but his curling cross from the left had no one to receive at the far post.

White then failed to maximise a chance for our hosts, when he put a clear opportunity well wide of Hedge’s right-hand post.

The referee then made his presence known again, when Wilson was alleged to have put in a high tackle on White. Having already given the Sports player a totally unnecessary yellow card earlier, he was almost pressed into a second yellow and subsequent red, by the aggression shown by a couple of the Stourbridge players.

Mickleover were down to 10 men but made a quick change with Dolan coming on to replace Marshall for the final five minutes of the half.

There was an expected barrage from Stourbridge at the start of the second half, with Watt, Butler, Bennett, Dolan and Mann defending heroicly, but struggling to break out of their own half.

There was a lot of short passing from Stourbridge, without any positivity, until Prosser fired a long range shot in for Hedge to tip over.

Home skipper King seemed to be getting more vociferous in the refs’s ear, and when Kettle forcibly held back Reeves in a 52^nd minute break, he was one of a number of players who made sure the assistant ignored the confrontation.

Prosser then received a yellow which he had probably deserved earlier, but the frustration was beginning to show for Stourbridge, both on the pitch and in the crowd.

Dales and Dolan worked together to get away after 65 minutes, they earned a corner, but that led to White making a break for Stourbridge, earning a corner from Hedge’s save.

Mickleover had grown in confidence again mainly due to our hosts lack of success, and Dales cut in from the left but was off balance as he shot over the bar.

There were appeals for a penalty after 74 minutes after White fell over in the box. At least on this occasion the ref ignored the Stourbridge pleas.

But a moment of magic soon followed when a positive break in the 76^th minute saw Mickleover charging goalwards. Reeves was head down and taking route one, firing past Price into the waiting net, 2-1.

A few minutes later Reeves came off after a slight knock to be replaced by Beavon, but there was surprisingly no real urgency from the home side. They made a couple of changes, but failed to trouble the Mickleover defence in the final minutes and with Mills subbing for Trueman the whistle blew and all three points were safe for Mickleover.

by Peter Scherer

Our twice postponed visit to Stourbridge finally takes place tonight at 7.45, with Mickleover only four points behind Rushall Olympic and the final place in the end of season play-offs, with six points still on the table.

Our hosts tonight beat Rushall 2-0 at home last Saturday, but lost to Rushden by the same score in their previous home game.

Our hosts Joint managers Leon Broadhurst and Stuart Pierpoint have been in charge since October 2021 and are both still registered to play.

Centre back Broadhurst is the clubs record appearance holder on 780, spending 10 years at the club before moving to Bromsgrove.

Pierpoint is also a centre back who has also played for Oldbury Utd, Sutton Coldfield, Halesowen, Stafford, Nuneaton, Solihull, Leamington and Brackley before a four-year stay at Stourbridge from July 2015. He was at Coalville before returning to our hosts.

Goalkeeper Charlie Price is in his second spell at the club, having left to join Alvechurch in June 2016, before returning three years later.

Defender Joel Kettle is in his second spell at the club too. He started out with Sutton Coldfield before joining Stourbridge in August 2014. His career then took him to Halesowen, Sutton Coldfield, Rushall, Solihull, Tamworth and Nuneaton, before joining our hosts pre-season from Bromsgrove.

Striker Darryl Knights is a former Ipswich Junior, who was capped by England at Under 16 and 17 and was loaned to Yeovil, before joining Kidderminster on his release.

Solihull was his next stop, then Newport and Solihull before returning to Kidderminster. After a spell at Tamworth, he had two years at Telford, before coming to Stourbridge in July 2020.

Full back Jack Wilson was another signing from Bromsgrove back in September 2021. He had made 200 appearances before his move and had a brief loan spell at Lichfield City too.

Jason Cowley is a striker who came from Bromsgrove too in July 2021. He started out at Redditch, before a first spell at Bromsgrove preceded a move to Stevenage. He was loaned to Solihull and on release he had a month at Macclesfield, before rejoining Bromsgrove.

Midfielder Reece King arrived from Buxton in July 2021. He started his career at Malvern Town, before moving on to Gloucester City and Hednesford. After a spell at Leamington, he rejoined Hednesford, before going to Buxton in February 2020.

Joe Hull is another returnee having arrived for his second spell from Alvechurch in December 2021. He started out at Kidderminster, before moving to Redditch in 2010. Further moves took him to Hinckley Utd and Stourport Swifts, before returning to Redditch.

He first came to Stourbridge in February 2016 after just over three years at Halesowen. But after eight months and a loan at Tividale, he moved to Rushall Olympic, Bromsgrove and finally Alvechurch.

Midfielder Callum Gittings came from Leamington in pre-season. After starting at Alvechurch, he also played for Kidderminster, Solihull and Telford.

Former Walsall Academy midfielder Alex Moore joined Wolverhampton Casuals and Shifnal Town after his release, before stepping back up the ladder to Bromsgrove and Rushall Olympic. He had three years at Rushall before joining Stourbridge pre-season.

Midfielder Harry Lewis made his first team debut last season, after coming through the clubs academy. He has also had a few games for Team Dudley.

Centre Back Chris Knight is in his third spell at Stourbridge. He first joined them in July 2012 from Dudley, moved onto Lye Town but returned in July 2017. After going back to Lye and latterly Wulfrunians, before re-signing for our hosts again in pre-season.

Defender Alex Worley is an ex Walsall Junior, who was at Haverfordwest last season. He was another pre-season signing for out hosts.

Tyler Lyttle was an autumn 2022 signing, and is a former Wolves and Bristol Rovers Junior is the son of ex Forest defender Des. He made three first team starts at Bristol and was loaned to Nuneaton and Truro, before joining Hednesford on his release. He was at Sutton Coldfield prior to joining Rushall, where he spent the last four years.

Defender Callum Rowe came from Hereford last month. He is an ex Aston Villa Junior, and had a loan spell at Hereford, before signing for Exeter City on his release. He was then loaned to Chippenham and Bath City, before moving on permanently to Yeovil where he stayed for three months before going to Hereford.

Welsh under 15 and 16 International right back Ethan Vaughan is currently on loan from Solihull Moors, but he started out as Cardiff City Junior.

Left back Demico Burton is on loan too, in his second spell from Derby County. He started out Stourbridge, before joining the Rams last year.

Norewegian born winger Stanley Anaebonam started out with IK Start Youth, before moving to the UK to join Wolverhampton Casuals in 2016. He then spent two years with Solihull Moors, before moving to Redditch, then returned to Solihull before a spell in Ireland with Shelbourne.

He returned to England last year with Truro City and had two months at Hednesford, before coming to Stourbridge in December.

Winger Jaiden White is a fairly recent arrival from Stafford Rangers, where he had initially been loaned, after spending most of his career at Kidderminster.

Alex Prosser is another ex Aston Villa Junior. A midfielder, he was loaned to Brackley before a permanent move to Kidderminster. He started this season at Leamington.

Midfielder Dexter Walters is a fairly recent arrival too. Having started at Romulus, he moved on to Tamworth, to where he returned after a shot spell at Coventry City.

During his time at Tamworth he loaned to Mickleover, but had three months at Stratford last year before arriving at Stourbridge in  November.

Striker Fin Holmes had also been on the bench recently, having come through the clubs own youth scheme.

Lewis Solly is both reserve goalkeeper and coach. An ex Wolves and Bury player, he played for Welshpool and Aberystwyth, before moving back to the midlands with Stafford Rangers.  He was then at Telford and Redditch and first came to Stourbridge in 2005 from Hednesford, and stayed eight years before moving to Rushall. He moved onto Worcester but had time out with an injury and has been back at Stourbridge since the end of last season, having made over 350 appearances.

7.45pm kick off as usual, your support would be welcomed.