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.

Thanks to Gregg Harrison of Captured Moments Photography for the sponsorship of the first team shorts for this season.

Gregg is a lifelong Derby supporter who runs his own photography business (www.capturedmoments.info), along with his partner Caroline, specialising in not only sports photography but wedding and equestrian events too.

Gregg first got involved with “The Sports” when he was invited along to take some action shots team shots and individual profile pictures.

The atmosphere at the game and the friendly reception given to us by the team at Mickleover led us to return as spectators.

Gregg told us today.

I am happy to be involved with the club not only as a supporter and season ticket holder but also now as a proud sponsor of the club shorts.

Neil Hadfield, Treasurer of the club said,

It’s great to have Gregg on board with us and we welcome the further support of any local business interests.

by Peter Scherer

The origins of Nuneaton Borough go back to the late 1800’s. This will be their fourth season in the current league, following their relegation from National League North , having previously played in the Conference.

Their Liberty Way stadium holds 4,500 fans and is a grass pitch, but they finished a lowly 16^th last season.

Manager Jimmy Ginnelly has been in charge since December 2018 and previously managed Barwell and Atherstone and has already been busy making a number of signings.

Striker Kane Richards has arrived from Basford, where he spent three years after joining them from Kidderminster. He started out as a Derby County junior.

Left back Jaden Charles is an ex Rams junior too, but has spent the last couple of years with Mansfield Town, though mainly out on loan. He was originally a loanee at Nuneaton too, but he has now moved permanently.

Ukraine born defender Chukwuemaka Beejer came from Belper in March last year and has now committed to another season with Nuneaton. He’s also played for Eastwood and Tamworth.

Midfielder Prince Mancinelli has arrived from Belper too, he played for Long Eaton, Radford and Basford.

Chris Lait is a striker or winger and has been signed from Halesowen, where he spent one year after arriving from Bromsgrove. He started off at Solihull but has played for a number of clubs in an 11 year career.

Cain Noble is another midfielder from Loughborough University, but he had spells at Hyde and Atherton previously.

Derby born Tyrell Waite is a third time returnee having signed from Coalville. He’s played for Ilkeston, Notts County, Kidderminster, Boston, Lincoln, Matlock and Tamworth too, as well as a spell in Sweden.

Striker Matty Stenson has been on Halifax’s books for the last two years, after starting out at Barwell. He has had numerous loan spells too.

Joe Magunda arrived in February from Stratford, but has recently signed a new contract. He was a Leicester City junior before plying his trade around the non-league clubs, which included six years at Brackley.

Skipper Scott McManus is another player to re-sign. The centre back was previously at Coalville, FC United, Crewe and Halifax and had a spell in Scotland with Stranraer.

Midfielder Ryan Beswick is another returnee, having come back from Tamworth. He started at Leicester City too, moving on via Redditch, Kings Lynn and Solihull.

St Ives Town, that’s the Cambridgeshire St Ives finished 14^th last year, but have had a recent reshuffle in the coaching staff. Manager Ricky Marheineke has been in charge for eight years, but coach Jim Freeman is now his assistant, while former Welwyn boss Adam Fisher has joined as first team coach.

The clubs history goes back to 1887 and their home ground is at Westwood Road, with a 2,000 capacity and like Mickleover have a 3G pitch.

So far there haven’t been any announcements from the club about their squad for the forthcoming season.

Suffolk based Needham Market FC were 12^th in last years Championship, but are another team yet to announce any of their squad for the forthcoming season. 

Manager Kevin Horlock is an ex Northern Ireland international who spent the majority of his career at Manchester City, making over 200 appearances.

He finished his playing career at Needham Market and returned to the club in a coaching role, before taking charge in February 2020 after a spell as Chatham manager. He is also assistant manager of the Northern Ireland Under 21’s.

Formed in 1919 their Bloomfields ground holds  2,250 and has a grass pitch.

Stourbridge are jointly managed by former club centre backs Leon Broadhurst and Stuart Pierpoint. Broadhurst had spent most of playing career at the club, but had a couple of years at Bromsgrove.

Pierpoint started at Halesowen before his career took him via Stafford, Nuneaton, Solihull Moors, Leamington, Brackley and Coalville, before returning to Stourbridge last October.

They have recently announced three signings, with Midfielder Calum Gittings joining from Leamington, having spent five years with them since signing from Telford. 

Joel Kettle is a centre back who has arrived from Bromsgrove, who he joined last summer from Nuneaton.

Finally young striker Harry Lewis is a product of their own youth scheme, and became part of the first-time squad last season.

by Peter Scherer

Probably the best known of our forthcoming opponents are Rushden & Diamonds. Originally formed in 1992 by the combination of Rushden Town and Irthlingborough Diamonds, they gained football league status after winning the 2000/2001 Conference title.

Having won the Third Division title in 2002/3, they were relegated the following year and in 2006 returned to the Conference. But after five more years they were expelled  and went into Administration, before reforming into the team we see now, as part of the United Counties League Division One.

They just missed out on last years play-offs, after finishing sixth in the Southern Premier League Central. Their Hayden Road ground has a capacity of 2,956 and has a grass pitch.

Manager Andy Burgess was part of the Conference title winning team and is also a former Oxford Utd and Luton Town player, capped at England C level.

He has been manager at Rushden since February but started his managerial career with Sheffield Wednesday, Preston North End and Leeds Utd Women.

Assistant Chris Willmott is a local school teacher who played with Burgess at Oxford Utd, but also played league football for Luton and Wimbledon and has only recently joined the club.

There are no announcements from the team on the playing front so far.

Coalville Town will be one of our nearest neighbours and will be looking to continue the form that saw them third in the table last season.

Like Mickleover manager Andy Stevens has already announced four signings. Defender Elliot Putnam came in from Barwell last September on non-contact terms, but has now signed fully. He was also the scorer of last years goal of the season.

Striker Billy Kee is a former Northern Ireland Under 19 and 21 International and has recently extended his contract. A former Leicester City junior he played well over 450 games for Accrington Stanley, Torquay, Burton, Scunthorpe and Mansfield scoring 141 goals, before arriving at Coalville in February 2020. He scored 17 goals last season.

Midfielder Andi Thanoj has recently arrived from Boston Utd. Albanian born he was a Grimsby Town Junior, who also played for Alfreton, Harrogate and Redditch before arriving at Boston.

Stevens has also signed 6ft 4in Irish keeper Paul White from last years Champions Peterborough Sports. He started out at Cork City before moving to England with Forest Green Rovers. He had joined Peterborough last November from St Ives Town.

Founded in 1929 they have a grass pitch at their Owen Street ground, which can house 2,500 fans.

From one of the nearest to one of the furthest of our new opponents, Leiston are over 180 miles away near the Suffolk coast.

Last season they finished seventh and Darren Eadie has recently confirmed that keeper Sam Donkin, has re-signed, having joined the club back in November 2019 from Biggleswade and has recently signed brothers Rossi and Ryan Jarvis too.

Both former Norwich City players, defender Rossi was signed from Dereham Town and has also played for Torquay, Rotherham, Luton and Barnet, before three years at Lowestoft. He is an England Under 19 and C International.

Midfielder Ryan has played for England at Under 16,17 and 19 and came from Lowestoft too, his longer and varied career saw him make over 400 league appearances which included three years at  Leyton Orient, as well as spells at Colchester, Northampton, Kilmarnock, Notts County, Walsall, Torquay and York City.

Formed back in 1880 their Victory Road ground has a grass pitch and can hold a crowd of 2,350, and last season they finished seventh in the table.

Stratford Town not surprisingly are called the Bards. They were formed in 1941 and have a grass pitch at their Knights Lane ground, which has a 3,000 capacity. 

Their current manager is former Derby striker Dean Holdsworth who scored almost 200 goals in over 600 appearances in a long career, with the likes of Watford, Brentford, Wimbledon, Bolton and Coventry. His assistant is Gavin Hurren, former Gresley Rovers manager.

They have re-signed centre back Jack Turner, who came from Kettering last year. 

Kurtis Revan was winger from the clubs own Academy, after playing his junior football at Derby. He has now rejoined for this season after spells at Oadby, Leamington, King Lynn, Redditch and Rugby.

New signing Lucas Powell is a wing back or midfielder signed from Barwell, after starting out as Birmingham City Junior. He played at Gresley too under Gavin Hurren.

They were 13^th last season so will be hoping for improvement.

by Peter Scherer (Photo: Sarah Middleton)

Last seasons leading scorer Andy Dales is the latest player to pen to paper for Mickleover and the forthcoming season. The former Derby County Junior is in his second spell at the Don Amott Arena, after joining Scunthorpe Utd following a successful 2017/18 season when he scored 23 goals in Sports colours.

I’m delighted to sign another year at Mickleover. The club really is heading in the right direction, and I think we will have a great chance this year. The coaching staff here are the best you’re going to get and that can only help me improve more as a player.

said Dale.

The 27 year old pacey attacking midfielder was also loaned out to Dundee and Hamilton Academicals before returning to Mickleover for the 20/21 season and is capped at England C level.

Delighted to announce that we have retained Andy for the upcoming 2022/23 season. In my opinion he is a player who can still play in the football league. Bundles of ability and I am really looking forward to working closely with again this coming season.

added gaffer John McGrath.