By Peter Scherer

Mickleover’s experience and guile proved too much for a very young Burton Albion XI, taking a comfortable 3-0 win to retain the KC Trust Trophy.

Starting line-up: 1-Jonathan Hedge 2-Ethan Mann 3-Rhys Dolan 4-Joe Bateman 5-James Butler 6-Phil Watt 7-Callum Chettle 8-Mason Warren 9-Jahvan Davidson-Miller 10-Stuart Beavon 11-Andy Dales. Subs: Ben Horleston, Louis Pennington, Kai Moore, Dean Ironmonger, Fin Bowen.

After a few minutes of settling down Mickleover were straight on the attack, with Davidson-Miller having a fourth minute shot saved by keeper Dan Moore, after a Dales break.

There were penalty appeals waved away three minutes later when Chettle went down in the box, but although Mickleover were full on attack, Hedge was forced into action with a comfortable save after nine minutes.

As the Burton youngsters started to try and play out of their own half, there was a dangerous ball played into the box, but Butler headed away and Hedge safely took the catch.

But Burton were on a run and after a further plan broke down on the edge of the box, Hedge collided with a Burton striker, who continued after treatment.

18 minutes in and Dolan charged down the left to cross into a busy goal mouth, but Beavon’s attempt to connect was thwarted when he was held back.

Dolan was close himself only seconds later,when he almost connected with Davidson-Miller in the box.

But Burton keeper Moore almost handed a gift to Warren, when his poor clearance was intercepted but the followingshot was just wide.

The Burton defence were starting to face a continuous barrage, and when Dales outstripped his challenger, his cross was followed a Warren shot just wide of the post again.

The opening goal finally came after 28 minutes, following a corner, Dales played the ball in to Davidson-Miller who made no mistake for 1-0.

The remainder of the first half was almost sustained pressure, with Dales, Chettle, Bateman and Warren in total control of midfield, giving Beavon and Davidson–Miller the freedom up front.

Burton managed a slight break after 34 minutes, but Hedge was never seriously challenged, but the Burton keeper again put his own defence under more pressure with a poor clearance.

It was any one from five Mickleover players to takepossession, before Dales created his space for a 34th minute shot that Moore saved comfortably.

Davidson-Miller then had a shot blocked four minutes later, before Bateman’s rebound attempt went just beyond the top right corner.

With two minutes left on the clock Warren smashed in Mickleover’s second after another Dales build up, before Beavon went close on the right and Watt almost connected for a header with the half time whistle poised.

With no immediate changes for the second half, it wasn’t longbefore the attacks were underway again, with Dales hitting the far post after cutting in from the left after 47 minutes.

Over the next 10 minutes Mickleover were playing a keep possession passing game, which involved virtually the whole team until Chettle took a knock and was replaced by Horleston.

Both Mann and Dolan were regularly joining the attack with Butler and Watt covering at the back. It was a Dolan run after 58 minutes then sent Davidson-Miller close, before the wing back earned himself a free kick, from which Moore had to tip Dales’ shot over the bar.

With Pennington on for Watt, Mann moved into the middle of the defence, but it was a rare Burton attack that led to Mickleover’s third goal.

Nothing had materialised for Burton, but Dales picked up the ball on the edge of the Mickleover box and sprinted the lengthof the pitch, before cutting inside to chip the keeper for 3-0 after 70 minutes.

Moore and Ironmonger then came on for Beavon and Davidson-Miller and after 75 minutes it was Moore’s chance to shoot just wide after a good turn inside the box.

Hedge had to make a couple of fairly easy saves before the full time whistle and Davidson-Miller came back on for the last couple of minutes after Ironmonger took a knock.

A fairly easy win for Mickleover, but nevertheless a good pre-season challenge as we now look to Tuesday’s game against a derby County XI

by Peter Scherer

Friday evening Mickleover host a Burton Albion XI in the first home game of the current pre-season.

With both gaffer John McGrath and Stuart Beavon ex Burton players, and having had Callum Hawkins, Ben Radcliffe and Callum Niven loan from the Pirelli Stadium last year, there has always been a close and positive working relationship between the two clubs.

It was just under a year ago too that the Brewers management team of Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, assistant Dino Maamria and club Chairman Ben Robinson performed the opening ceremony of the new 3G pitch and refurb at the Don Amott Arena, before Ben Gowing and Bobby Battisson scored in Mickleover’s 2-0 victory.

It is expected the Sports will be facing Burton’s Under 23/youth team, with the first team hosting Birmingham City on Saturday.

Kick off at the Don Amott Arena on Friday is 7.30pm.

by Peter Scherer

Following their 1-1 at Hanley last Saturday, Mickleover FC made their annual pre-season trip to United Counties League Division One side Clipstone.

It proved to be a dominant performance for the Sports squad, with four goals in each half to return home as 8-0 victors.

Starting line-up: 1-Jonathan Hedge 2-Ethan Mann 3-Rhys Dolan 4-Joe Bateman 5-James Butler 6-Phil Watt 7-Andy Dales 8-Callum Chettle 9-Elliott Reeves 10-Stuart Beavon 11-Mason Warren, Subs: George Milner, Jahvan Davidson-Miller, Louis Pennington, Fin Bowen, Ben Horleston.

Mickleover earned their first corner in the second minute and four minutes later Dolan charged through on the overlap, found Beavon whose shot was blocked, before firing his own shot over the bar from the rebound.

With both Mann and Dolan attacking on the wings, and the push from midfield by Warren, Chettle and Bateman, it was only a matter of time before the first goal arrived.

11 minutes in and following a sustained attack, Reeves had reeked havoc in the box and Dolan followed up 1-0.

But Clipstone had a rare chance three minutes later after possession was lost on Mickleover’s right, Hedge had to make a diving save at full stretch to his left.

Beavon and Chettle fought hard to combine on the edge of the box after 18 minutes, with Reeves on the receiving end to make it 2-0.

There was no respite for the Clipstone defence with Dales and Beavon roaming the pitch at will. 23 minutes and a Mann cross found Beavon’s head, with Warren following through to make in 3-0.

There could easily have been a fourth only two minutes later when another cross from Mann found Reeves again, but his shot was blocked.

Dales fired another shot over after 30 minutes, before Beavon found Reeves again, who then created the space for Beavon to shoot against the post.

The fourth goal arrived only a minute later with Chettle hitting a debut goal, 4-0.

Clipstone managed to make a rare break but found the side netting, before Butler came charging through from defence to earn another corner.

With half time approaching Mann was almost through on goal too after a long run, and Bateman found Beavon again with the half time whistle poised, his final shot was just wide.

Gaffer John McGrath made one change for the second half with Pennington on for Butler, which meant Mann moved to the centre of defence to join skipper Watt.

The opening minutes of the second half didn’t quite flow although Reeves did fire another attempt over the bar after 47 minutes.

Clipstone had a shot only just wide two minutes later, as the hosts began into break in the Mickleover half more often.

Davidson-Miller came on for Beavon after 53 minutes, but Dales finally got his reward for an outstanding performance, with goal number five after the hosts keeper almost saved with his legs, 5-0.

More subsitutions followed with Horleston on for Chettle, Milner for Warren and Bowen for Hedge.

Reeves’ aerial supremacy saw another attempt off the post, before Davidson-Miller’s 74^th minute header made it 6-0.

Having been subbed earlier, Warren came back on for Dales and was instrumental in goal number seven. Warren combined with Bateman on the left and found Horleston in acres of space on the right. The youngster made no mistake and smashed it into the roof of the net 7-0.

Dolan had opened the scoring back in the 11^th minute and capped an excellent performance with goal number eighth a minute from time, 8-0.

A good all-round performance from the Mickleover squad which bodes well for the season, showing the determination, drive and eagerness that no ball was ever truly lost.

by Peter Scherer

Hitchin Town are one of the few teams we have played competitively, sadly going down to them a couple of seasons back in the FA Trophy.

They were formed back in 1865 and their Top Field Stadium has a 4,554 capacity with a grass pitch. It wasn’t the best of 21/22 seasons for them however, finishing down in 17^th place.

Manager Mark Burke has been with the club since signing from QPR in 1985. After over 700 appearances he retired from playing and his been in charge since 2014.

First choice keeper Charlie Horlock has been with the club for three years, since arriving from Hastings Utd. It’s his third spell at the club having started out at Stevenage.

Josh Mollison is Academy coach as well as reserve keeper, he is dual registered with Eynesbury Rovers.

Former Luton Town junior keeper Tiernan Parker has also played in recent friendlies, having a loan at the club a couple of years ago. He is a Northern Ireland Under 15 & 17 International.

Midfielder Jack Green has re-signed after arriving from Colney Heath last November, similarly former MK Dons defender Malaki Black who is starting his second season.

Central midfielder Josh Coldicott-Stevens started out at Boreham Wood, but came to Hitchin from Kings Langley in December 2019.

Stan Georgiou is a young defender just breaking into the squad from their own Academy, whereas centre back Ciaren Jones is a former Luton and Norwich junior, who’s returned for a second time from Gloucester City.

Midfielder Josh Popoola continues the list of returnees, along with defensive midfielder Lewis Barker who came from Baldock Town in 2019/20.

Rio Da Silva is another midfielder. A former Luton and Chelsea youth player, he arrived from Dunstable three years ago.

Midfielder Kye Tearle made his first team debut last year and can also play right back, while Jake Bunyan is another right back who has come through the junior ranks at Watford and Stevenage.

Experienced midfielder Steve Gleason was signed from Hemel last November, but from Wolves Academy he has numbered MK Dons, Birmingham City and Aberdeen among his former clubs.

Winger Max Hercules was at Banbury last season, while young striker Ben Stevens was a Luton junior.

 In pre-season they have also used striker Ezra Forde, Callun Kane, Josh Setchell, Joe Babbage, Alex Anderson, Jack Morrell, Reece Kelly, Toby Byrne and John Allotey.

Midfielder Finley Wilkinson is one of two new signings. He has come from Histon, while striker George Devine has arrived from Biggleswade.

One of our nearer neighbours is Tamworth have retained  11 of last years squad, including former Mickleover loan striker Dexter Walters.

Goalkeepers Keelan Fallows  and Jas Singh stay on, along with defenders Ben Bailey, Orrin Pendley, Ben Hart, Jordan Clement, Callun Cockerill-Mollet and Cameron Howkins, plus midfielders Charlie Shaw, Tom Parker and Callum Griffin, along with strikers Wahib Tahara, Eoin McKeown, Dan Creaney and Alex Jones.

Manager Andy Peaks has been busy wheeling and dealing too with new signings.

Former Rams junior defender Lucas Yeomans has stepped up from the youth team and experienced defender James Hurst has re-signed after coming from Buxton in January

Centre backs Liam Dolman and Alex Collard, plus Antigua & Babuda International AJ George have signed from Rushden & Diamonds, striker George Cater from Hednesford and midfielder Gift Mussa is staying after coming from Nuneaton in February.

Right back Matt Curley and midfielder Ben Milnes have both arrived from Buxton, midfielder Kyle Finn from Halesowen, striker Ty Deacon from Kettering and finally midfielder Alex Bradley. He is an ex West Bromwich Albion midfielder, capped by Finland at Under 16, 17 and 19 levels.

They were formed in 1933 and their Kettlebrook Stadium can hold 4,565 and has a 3G pitch.

Finally Royston Town play at Garden Walk with a grass pitch and can accommodate 1,980.

Manager Steve Castle took them to eighth in the table last season and one of his first re-signings was 21-22 player of the year right back Ronnie Henry. The Spurs junior is an England C International.

Centre backs Dan Newton and Carl Mensah have also re-signed, along with right back Ed Asafu-Adijaye and midfielder Isa Rotimi and striker Matt Bateman

There are new signings confirmed too, with Jay Rolfe and midfielder George Ironton from Welwyn Garden City and former Cambridge City midfielder Jarid Robson.

It’s not long now before we will know our first opponents, as the seasons league fixtures are due to published on the website at midday.

by Peter Scherer

Hanley Town was Mickleover FC’s first port of call in their pre-season build up, facing a strong line-up from the current Midland League Premier Champions.

Starting line-up: 1-Jonathan Hedge 2-Elliott Walker 3-Rhys Dolan 4-Ryan Wilson 5-James Butler  6-Phil Watt 7-George Milner 8-Ben Horleston 9-Elliott Reeves 10=Stuart Beavon 11-Mason Warren. Subs: Jahvan Davidson-Miller; Kai Moore; George Atwal; Ethan Mann; Louis Pennington; Andy Dales; Fin Bowen; Joe Bateman.

New signings Callum Chettle and Marcus Marshall were missing, but there were debuts for Reeves, Wilson and Academy graduate Horleston, as well as a first game in about a year for Pennington, after returning from injury.

It was Reeves who gave Mickleover a 1-0 lead at half time, before all eight subs were utilised. But the home team managed to grab a second half equaliser by ex Rams defender Ryan Shotton for it to end 1-1.

Sports are in action again on Tuesday evening too, when United Counties League Division One side Clipstone are our hosts, kick off 7pm.

Our visit to Clipstone last season saw us come away with a 4-1 victory, with two goals from Andy Dales and one each from Mason Warren and Larell King.

They have played two pre-season games so far, suffering a 1-6 defeat to Sherwood Colliery and drawing  1-1 at Dronfield.

by Peter Scherer

Mickleover FC start their pre-season campaign on Saturday with a visit to Hanley Town.

Carl Dickinson’s team started their build up last Friday with a 2-0 win at Eccleshall, thanks to goals from Jake Avery and Kyle Stubbs.

Swadlincote born Dickinson is an ex Derby County youth team player, who played for Stoke City in the Premiership.

It’s an important year for the Potteries side having been promoted to the Northern Premier League West, as 21/22 Midland Premier League Champions.

Mickleover should also be giving debuts to new signings Callum Chettle, Marcus Marshall and Elliot Reeves.

Kick off at the Payaro Stadium is 3pm and can be found at ST2 8AJ.

by Peter Scherer

Bromsgrove Sporting are a fairly new team on the scene, having only formed in 2009 from the ashes of Bromsgrove Rovers.

They had a difficult season and finished down in 18^th place, but have a new manager for this year. Thomas Baillie joined in May and will be facing his first public match in charge when they visit Gresley Rovers on Saturday. He previously manager Kettering and Stratford and was more recently at Tamworth.

They have already built up a sizeable squad with a number of re-signed players mixed with new signings.

Ryan Edmunds has been signed from Redditch, having previously played for Nuneaton and Coleshill.

Right back James Fry is an ex Birmingham City Junior who had been at Stratford for two years. He also had spells at Tamworth, Leamington and Kidderminster.

Defender Kieran Dawes is another former Birmingham City graduate who has arrived after eight months at Redditch. He’s played at Sutton Coldfield, Hednesford, Coleshill and Stafford too.

Striker Mike Taylor has returned for a second spell at the club, having previously played for them between 2019 and 2021. In between he has been at Stratford and Halesowen.

Andre Brown is another striker whose arrived from Hednesford. He was a Crewe Alexandra junior and played for Kidderminster and Telford following his release.

Midfielder Jack Newell is starting his second season with the club after signing from Barwell and was previously a Northampton Town junior.

Ollie Taylor was first choice keeper last season and has also re-signed, while number two Aaron Clayton will be in his second season too, having signed September last year after his release from Birmingham City.

Mike McGrath is a very experienced midfielder with 16 years experience behind him. He came to Bromsgrove in March having been without a club since leaving Kettering in July 2021. He previously played for Bromsgrove in 2018/19 and has played Irish League football for Sligo Rovers and Galway Utd in his earlier career.

Midfielder Jordan Goddard started out at Bristol Rovers, but came to Bromsgrove last December from Halesowen.

Defender Dominic Perkins was in the squad last season but has stayed on again, while fellow defender Lewis Wright is a new signing.

Home produced juniors Blake Kindred and David McQuaide are also expected to be part of the squad this year.

Their Victoria Ground has a grass pitch and holds 5,008 fans.

Hednesford Town have already played one game, losing to a Birmingham City XI 3-5. They were ninth in last years table and have retained most of their 21-22 squad.

Manager Keenan Meakin-Richards was previously a Hednesford player and Academy team manager, taking charge in late 2020.

Cameron Ebbutt was signed in February from Bromsgrove and was originally a Bristol Rovers junior, while fellow striker Riley O’Sullivan came from Coventry Utd in October, having previously been with Mansfield Town.

Winger Chay Tilt started with West Bromwich Albion and had a spell at QPR. He has been at Hednesford since September last year, joining from Redditch.

Martin Riley is an experienced centre back that arrived from Tamworth last December. He started out at Wolves, and lists Mansfield, Wrexham, Halifax and Alfreton among his previous clubs.

Joe Cuff is one of the new signings from Stafford Rangers, the winger was previously at Market Drayton.

Right back Lewis Hayden arrived part way through last season, while defender Lewis Ison arrived from Coventry Utd at the beginning of last year.

Former Chelsea junior and England Under 21 International Leroy Lita has had a long and varied career. He played in the Premiership with Swansea City and had long spells at Bristol City, Reading, Middlesbrough, and joined Hednesford in March from Nuneaton, scoring a hattrick on his debut.

A number of the clubs Under 19’s are looking to break through this year too, with keeper Rhys Williams, Carter Lycett, Joe Morley, Numair Rasid and Romehl Sheraton.

Defender or midfielder Josh Webb has re-signed too and despite missing out on last season, Jed Davies has also re-signed.

Young defender Harry Manton is a new arrival from Birmingham City and winger Kyle Bennett, who signed from Telford in January has also signed for another term. Bennett is an ex Wolves junior.

They were formed back in 1880 and their Keys Park Stadium hols 6,039 and has a grass pitch.

14^TH in last years table Redditch Utd have already started their pre-season campaign with a 6-1 win over Cradley Town.

Their squad has already been announced, with most of last years team having re-signed. 

Striker Ryan Nesbitt is a new signing having arrived from Bedworth Utd. He started off at Solihull Moors and apart from a spell at Loughborough has spent his whole career in the West Midlands.

Winger Bernard Mensah has recently arrived from Gloucester City, but started out as a Watford Junior. 

Skipper Jack Byrne was one of manager Matthew Clark’s first re-signings, having joined from Telford in November last year. The midfielder is another player having spent most of his time in the West Midlands, apart from a year at Brackley.

Midfielder Robbie Bunn has played for Halesowen and Bromsgrove before returning to Redditch at the end of last season for his third spell.

Aram Soleman is another midfielder who arrived last December from Hednesford. He was a West Bromwich Albion junior and had a very short spell with Matlock Town back in 2021.

Former Aston Villa goalkeeper Kieran Boucher was signed from Stratford in September 2020, but central midfielder Reece Flanagan is another one of the new signings having arrived from Hednesford, after spending his early career at Walsall.

Midfielder Theo Rowe started out at Stoke City, but came to Redditch in January via Banbury, while centre back Ryan Wollacott has played in the Welsh League with Aberystwyth before coming to Redditch from Stourport in July last year.

Calun Flanagan arrived in January from Halesowen, but the left back was originally an Aston Villa Junior and Lewis Hudson is a full back who came from Coventry Utd last July.

Kieren Donnelly is a full back too. The former Aston Villa Junior came in February from Coleshill.

Midfielder Kieran Day is another one of last seasons players staying on this term, as is striker midfielder Ryan Boothe

Academy keeper Sam Rowbottom is also now part of the squad, along with fellow graduate Josh Clews.

The club’s Tico Stadium has a 4,000 capacity and a 3G pitch, they were founded in 1891.

by Peter Scherer

Formed in 1929 Alvechurch FC have had a long history of success and only just missed out on promotion last season, finishing fifth in the SPL Central before losing out in the play-offs.

Manager Ian Long is in his second spell at the club, leaving after an original four-year spell to join Stourbridge, before returning to Lye Meadow in February 2020.

Long had also managed Tividale and during his playing career was at Willenhall, Blakenall, Oldbury Utd and Rushall Olympic.

They have a grass pitch and a current capacity of 3,000.

It would be expected that they will trying to retain the core of their 21/22 squad, but as yet no official player details have been announced.

Barwell FC are still in their infancy compared with most of the other clubs, only forming in 1992. They were NPL Division One South Champions in 2010/11, but had a difficult 21/22 finishing 19th and only just avoiding relegation.

They changed managers in May when Ian King took charge. He was a former Aston Villa and Stoke youth player, who also played for Nuneaton and VS Rugby among a number of teams in a varied career, which also took him to Australia.

He has managed Worcester City and Daventry, been assistant at Bromsgrove and was youth coach at Birmingham City.

Their UK Flooring Direct Kirkby Road Stadium has a 3G pitch and a capacity of 2,300.

Although like many they have yet to announce their squad for this year, they kick off their pre-season campaign on Saturday away to Sutton Coldfield Town.

Rushall Olympic are another team who made the play-offs last season after finishing fourth. Formed in 1951 their 3G pitch at Dales Lane is more familiar to some of the Sports squad, as the Academy won their ESPFA Regional and National titles there a couple of years ago.

It currently holds 1,990 is one of the closer grounds for us to visit.

Manager Ian McDonald has been busy in the transfer market, having recently signed midfielder Sam Mantom from Hemel Hempstead. He joined West Bromwich Albion as a youngster from Walsall’s academy and spent a number of years at the Hawthorns, before a spell in Iceland and returning to Walsall as club skipper.

He was previously at Rushall in 20/21 and was also an England Under 17’s player.

Former Stourbridge, Dudley, Lye Town, Bromsgrove. Sporting Khalsa, Tividale and Redditch striker Alex Cameron has also recently arrived, along with midfielder Jack Burgess from Sutton Coldfield.

Former Wolves junior defender Keith Lowe has over 200 league appearances under his belt and has arrived from Kidderminster after playing in last years National League Play-offs,

Midfielder Alex Fletcher came from Shrewsbury Academy and has been signed from Stafford Rangers, while McDonald has also secured the services of two experienced goalkeepers.

Jon Flatt has re-signed after joining the club from Scunthorpe in August 2019 and is an ex Wolves Junior, while Andy Wycherley is a new arrival from Halesowen. He was recently at Nantwich too, having started out at The News Saints in Wales.
They began their pre-season build with an away game at Dudley Town on July 9th.