Mickleover FC are proud to announce that one of our star players, Stuart Beavon, will be playing for us next season.

I am really pleased to have signed for another year and I cannot wait to get going again, especially after the way we finished last season on a great run of form. I think it’s gonna be a good season ahead.

Stuart Beavon

Absolutely delighted to keep Stuart for another season. Players like Stuart Beavon are unique and I am delighted he has committed again to Mickleover FC. He’s an outstanding player but also an unbelievably positive person to have in and around our changing room.

John McGrath

By Lewis Radbourne, with additional words from Peter Scherer

Mickleover ended the season on a high as they beat Lancaster City 3-1.

Starting line-up: 1-Jonathan Hedge 2-Elliott Walker 3-Rhys Dolan 4-Ben Radcliffe 5-James Butler 6-Phil Watt 7-Liam Ravenhill 8-George Milner 9-Kai Moore 10-Stuart Beavon 11-Andy Dales. Subs: Ethan Mann, Andrew Wright, Pablo Mills, Jahvan Davidson-Miller.

Sports started the better of the two teams, when in the sixth minute some good pressure from Moore led to Walker receiving the ball on the edge of the area, and he smacked the ball onto the crossbar, which set the tone for the rest of the game.

A couple of minutes later and Beavon was put through on goal down the right- hand side of the box, but his shot was straight at the keeper.

13 minutes in and Walker came close once again, with his free-kick deflecting under the wall, and going just past the post. Beavon then came close once again two minutes later when his half volley curled wide.

It took 20 minutes for Lancaster to have their first attempt of note, when Charlie Bailey’s strike from 30 yards out forced an acrobatic save from Sports keeper Hedge.

But there was an early change for Mickleover when Mann came on for Milner.

Lancaster continued to come back into the game, when Liam Brockbank put in a low cross from the left-hand side, only for Hedge to claim the ball on the six yard line, just before Robert Wilson to get a nick on it after 35 minutes.

Lancaster started the second half the better of the two, with striker Enoch Likoy managing to get onto a ball down the left side ahead of Walker, before smashing just past the far post in the opening minutes,

Despite Lancaster’s start, it was Mickleover who took the lead through Dales, when some good pressure from the winger led to him winning the ball back in the opposition box, before calmly finishing into the bottom right corner in the 51^st minute. 1-0.

It was only four minutes later that Mickleover doubled their lead through Radcliffe, when he headed in Moore’s cross from the right- hand side after some good play from the hosts. 2-0 after 54 minutes.

Shortly afterwards the scorer came off to make for Wright, and Davidson-Miller replaced Moore, but Wright was soon on the scoresheet himself.

Beavon played the ball across to the edge of the area for Wright, who’s bouncing 74^th minute shot into the bottom left corner made it 3-0.

Mickleover piled on the pressure near the end as they looked for a fourth, when Dales picked up the ball in the centre of the area, trying to place the ball into the bottom left corner, just putting it wide as it hit the post.

Sports thought they got their fourth when Wright curled in, only for it to be given as offside. Dales then thought he got the fourth too, with his half volley looking like it looped over the keeper, only for Lancaster goalkeeper Curtis Anderson to tip it over the bar.

Despite the late pressure, it was the away side that got the fourth goal of the game when Nathan Reid was put through on goal with five minutes left and slotted it home to make it 3-1.

The 3-1 win means Sports end the season in 12th place on 55 points, one place behind Lancaster.

 

by Peter Scherer

It’s been a long and difficult season, with a threat of relegation in the air pre-Christmas. But the strength in depth of the relatively young squad has seen John McGrath’s  Mickleover rise to 12^th in the NPL table, after some outstanding performances.

Saturday’s match against Lancaster City at the Don Amott Arena is the last of the 2021/22 season and we see our visitors one place above us in 11^th, but without a win or a goal since March 26^th, when they beat Nantwich 1-0 at home.

Goalkeeper Curtis Anderson was capped by England at Under 16,17,18 and 19 levels, having joined Lancaster from Wycombe Wanderers at the end of January.

He was a Manchester City junior who then tried his luck in the US with Charlotte Independence. He joined Wycombe on his return to the UK and was loaned to Walton Casuals and Eastbourne.

Jordan Eastham is a keeper on loan from Blackburn Rovers and Max Povey has also been a regular sub keeper, a former Morecambe junior he had a spell at Conwy before joining Lancaster in 2019.

Defender Liam Brockbank arrived from Workington last July. He was a junior at Carlisle Utd, but was released after nine years and is an England Futsal International.

Fellow centre back Andrew Teague was a Macclesfield Junior, who was also loaned out to Hyde. On his release he joined Leigh Genesis, before arriving at Lancaster in January 2009. He then spent almost nine years at Chorley, before returning to Lancaster in July 2020.

Glenn Steel is another long serving centre back who has been with our visitors for five years. His early career was at Bamber Bridge and Fylde, before his first stop at Lancaster in December 2013. He returned to Bamber Bridge a year later, where he stayed until January 2017.

Centre backs Joe Blanchard and Jack Byrne are both currently on loan, Blanchard from Preston North End and Byrne from AFC Fylde. 

Former Bolton Wanderers Junior midfielder Sam Bailey has been at Lancaster for almost five years, after an intervening three-year spell with Kendal Town.

Midfielder Charlie Bailey came through Morecambe’s Academy. He was loaned to Kendal Town and joined them following his release. He has been at Lancaster since July 2017 and his full name is Lord Charles Bernard Rufus Montegue Bailey, Earl of Cork.

Christian Sloan is another ex Kendal Town player. The midfielder was also a Barrow Junior and joined Lancaster in September 2020.

Yet another ex Kendal player is midfielder Simon Wills, he has been at Lancaster for well over nine years over two spells, racking up around 300 appearances.

Midfielder Niall Cowperthwaite has spent most of his career in Cumbria and North Lancs. From Morecambe’s Academy he played for Workington, Kendal, Penrith and Barrow, before rejoining Workington after a two-year career break. He has been at Lancaster since July 2019.

Midfielder Rob Wilson is in his third spell at the club, having returned in 2018, while Ben Anderson is a more recent product of their own youth scheme.

Striker Nathan Reid was signed from Holker Old Boys in October 2021. He was previously at Kendal too and spent a short time with Barrow, after they signed him from Holker Old Boys too.

Enock Likey is another relatively new arrival. The former Bolton junior was also at Chorley, before a four-year break brought him to Lancaster in February.

Joe Rodwell-Grant is one of the more recent signings. A junior striker on loan from Preston North End, he has also had a couple of loan spells at Bamber Bridge.

In recent weeks Lancaster own junior strikers Finley Lynch and Joel Davidson have become part of the first team squad too.

Kick off as usual at the Don Amott is 3pm, if you don’t make it you will have to wait until August for the next NPL action.

by Peter Scherer

Mickleover came away from their second local Derby of the Easter weekend with a 1-0 win at Basford, thanks to a late second half strike from James Butler.

Starting line-up: 1-Jonathan Hedge 2-Elliott Walker 3-Rhys Dolan 4-Ben Radcliffe 5-James Butler 6-Phil Watt 7-Liam Ravenhill 8-George Milner 9-Jahvan Davidson-Miller 10-Stuart Beavon 11-Andrew Wright. Subs: Shaquille McDonald, Kai Moore, Kemy Agustien, Andy Dales, Ethan Mann.

Basford earned the first corner after six minutes and a Thornhill ball into the box found Carr’s head, before Hearn flicked wide.

Walker made good use of the overlap for Sports to put a cross into the box after eight minutes, but it was too deep. Davidson-Miller soon followed up though with a low drive tipped away by home keeper Preston.

Milner drove forward and had a shot just off target 13 mins in, but Basford proved dangerous again from a Thornhill corner. With Hedge committed the danger was soon cleared, only for Hedge to make another save from Grantham’s effort.

Walker was on the attack again after 20 mins and his belting strike must have stung Preston’s hands as he tipped it away.

The Mickleover defence of Walker, Butler, Watt and Dolan survived a series of dangerous free kicks, before Davidson-Miller had another chance in the 27^th minute. He picked the ball up and was never fully in control and the chance was gone.

Mickleover then had a free kick after 35 mins after Helliwell tripped Ravenhill, Walker’s shot was on target again and pushed away by Preston.

But only two minutes later it was 1-0 to Mickleover, when Butler found the back of the net, so it stayed at 1-0 into the half time break, despite Hedge making a save with his feet from Grantham’s shot, one minute before the whistle.

Davidson-Miller continued to look dangerous, but luck wasn’t on his side. Roma blocked his 50^th minute run and then Hearn flicked an attempt wide for the hosts from a Betts cross.

On the hour Davidson-Miller was in the action again with a one on one, before keeper Preston intercepted.

Mickleover brought Moore on for Wright and Agustien for Milner, followed a few minutes later by McDonald for Davidson-Miller.

Dunn had a powerful shot for the visitors after 79 mins saved by Hedge and in the 90^th minute Ravenhill had the final shot of the game just wide.

Following the defeats at home to Basford in both the NPL and FA Cup, it was a just reward for Mickleover to end their season on the road, with just the home game against Lancaster on Saturday to complete a character building season.

by Peter Scherer

There were plenty of goals to keep the 700+ crowd entertained at the Don Amott Arena, with Mickleover holding aspiring champion neighbours Buxton to a 3-3 draw.

Starting line-up: 1-Jonathan Hedge 2-Elliott Walker 3-Rhys Dolan 4-Ethan Mann 5-Phil Watt 6-Kemy Agustien 7-Ben Radcliffe 8-Liam Ravenhill 9-Andy Dales 10-Stuart Beavon 11-George Milner, Subs Kai Moore, Andrew Wright, Jahvan Davidson-Miller, Joe Bateman, James Butler.

After a fairly quiet opening few minutes Curley had the first shot for Buxton after eight minutes, which failed to trouble Hedge in the Mickleover goal.

But far from being overcome by the title contenders, Mickleover started to create their own chances, with Dolan receiving a 21st minute Radcliffe pass but his volley was straight into Buxton keeper Richardson’s arms.

Only two minutes later Radcliffe got a header in too from a Dales chip.

Buxton’s top scorer Di Girolamo was then on the end of a break, but Newton’s header was straight at Hedge as it remained 0-0.

But the deadlock was soon broken when Ravenhill picked his spot from well out and left Richardson well beaten 1-0.

As Buxton pushed for the equaliser, Watt and Mann looked solid at the heart of the Mickleover defence, but with five minutes left in the first half, Hedge made a brilliant diving save low to his right, to keep a Clarke effort out.

The following corner did catch the defence out however and allowed Chambers to fire it home for the equaliser 1-1 after 41 mins.

Buxton went close again after chaos in the defence following another corner, but almost on half time Radcliffe struck with another long shot to send Mickleover in at half time 2-1 up.

The visitors started the second half strongly and after 52 mins had made it 2-2, with Clarke completing a gradual build up on the left, to beat Hedge in his far corner.

Clarke nearly had a second after 67 mins, with his long shot barely inches away from the top corner, but two minutes later Buxton had the lead for the first time 2-3, after a Walker push gave away a penalty for Di Girolamo to convert.

It was still far from over though, when after going close with a header from a Dolan cross after 84 mins, Beavon cut inside from the left and fired it passed Richardson on his near post only three minutes later 3-3.

Butler came on for Dales in closing minutes, but Mickleover once again proved themselves a match for any of the top teams in the NPL.

by Peter Scherer

With their Northern Premier League future looking assured, Mickleover go into their penultimate weekend of league action with two games.

On Saturday its top of the table Buxton visiting the Don Amott Arena, before we travel to 20^th placed Basford on Easter Monday.

Buxton have only conceded one goal in the last seven games, against Witton on March 8th and have scored 16 to put them two points clear at the top.

Seven of their current line-up have been ever present over the last couple of months, which has seen them look virtually unbeatable.

First choice goalkeeper Theo Richardson is an ex Manchester Utd junior who joined Grantham in August 2018. He soon moved on to Cleethorpes, before going to Kings Lynn a couple of years later. He has been at Buxton since July last year.

Matt Curley signed in February in a ‘swap’ deal with Hednesford Town and made an immediate impact with a goal on debut against Gainsborough Trinity. Primarily as a right-back, he is a versatile player and has played in various positions for Romulus and Sutton Coldfield, before joining Tamworth in 2017 and then Hednesford Town.

Skipper and a powerful defender signed from Barrow last summer, Josh Granite started his career at Woodley Sports and played for Sheffield and Hallam Universities before signing for Mossley. He then joined Trafford, before moving on to Ashton United and then Barrow, where he was made was club captain as they regained their league status in 2020 as winners of the Conference.

Right back Dan Cowan started out at Macclesfield, moving to Stockport after a loan at Chorley. Further stops at Guiseley and Curzon Ashton took him to Chester last summer, from where Buxton signed him in January.

Sean Newton is a left back on loan from York City. He is a well-travelled player having started out at Chester, with loans at Southport and Droylsden before joining Barrow. He has played at Telford, Stockport, Lincoln and Wrexham and has been at York for five years.

Former Wales under 21 international Chris Dawson was a Leeds United Academy product, making a number of first team appearances, before joining Rotherham United in 2016. He went on loan to Viking FK in Norway, but following serious injury he signed for Scarborough, helping them win promotion to the Northern Premier League before spending the 2018/19 season at Bradford Park Avenue. He was then loaned to Grantham Town, before returning to Scarborough and was one of three players to make the move from ‘Borough to Buxton in July 2020.

Ben Turner is a centre back from the Coventry Academy. After loans at Peterborough and Oldham, he moved on to Cardiff. Further moves took him to Burton, Mansfield and Notts County before joining Buxton at the start of this season.

Defender Nathan Fox played his youth football at both Notts County and Derby County. He has also played for Corby, Rugby Town, Coalville, Sutton Coldfield, Redditch, Hednesford and Kings Lynn. He came to Buxton last summer after a year at Alfreton.

Ryan Taylor has just come back from injury. He is a right back signed from Colne in January, after having time out in his career. A former England Under 21 International, he started at Tranmere, but has made over 500 senior appearances with Wigan, Newcastle, Hull City and Port Vale, plus spells in India with ATK and at Fleetwood.

Young midfielder signed September last year, Warren Clarke was a Sheffield Wednesday youth product, signing pro with the Owls in 2017, where he stayed for two seasons. 

Tom Elliot is another midfielder signed from Hednesford Town in early December 2019. He started at Worksop Town before signing for Nuneatonin 2016, moving to Darlington where he made over 40 appearances for ‘The Quakers’ before signing for Hednesford in the summer of 2019. He was the first signing made by Gary Hayward when he joined the Bucks as manager.

Winger Lindon Miekle was picked up by Eastwood Town as a youngster from Vernon Colts. He then spent three years with Mansfield Town, before moving to York City, Macclesfield, Alfreton, Barrow, Southport, Kettering and Tamworth, from where he came to Buxton last summer.

Mackenzie Heaney is a midfielder on loan from York City. He started as a Newcastle Junior and has played for Benfield, West Auckland, Whitby and Grindavik in Iceland before signing for York last July. He has been capped as a Junior International by both England and Scotland.

Striker Diego Girolamo is a former Italian Under 18s, Under 19s and Under 20s international and Sheffield United junior who came to Buxton in July 2018. 

After several first team matches for the Blades, his career at Bramall Lane was hindered by an injury picked up on Under 18 International, which ruled him out for nine months in 2013. 

He was loaned to York City before returning to Sheffield where he scored his first goal for the Blades in a FA Cup tie against Preston North End. Two further loans at York and Northampton Town preceded a move to Bristol City in 2016.

 He was loaned again to Cheltenham in January 2017, scoring a hat-trick in the EFL Trophy against Leicester City Under 23’s. Then loaned to Chesterfield and Macclesfield Town, where his prolific goal scoring became the highlight of his game and he is one of the top NPL goalscorers.

Ash Chambers is another experienced striker wo came through the Leicester City Academy. He had loans at Wycombe and Grimsby, before joining York in 2011. 

After moves to Dagenham & Redbridge and Cambridge Utd he returned to Grimsby, before spells at Nuneaton, Kidderminster and Brackley preceded his arrival at Buxton last summer. He has also been capped by England at Under 16,17,18, 19 levels.

Jason Gilchrist is another experienced striker and former Manchester City and Burnley Youth player. He had loans at Droylsden, Accrington and Chester before joining FC United in 2016.

He then played at Southport and Stockport before joining South Shields in 2019. He came to Buxton from York City last December.

Former Northern Ireland international and ex Derby and Nottingham Forest winger Jamie Ward has played a major part in Buxton’s success too. 

He joined them at the start of the season after training with Mickleover. Starting out at Aston Villa, he played for Stockport, Torquay and Chesterfield before making his name at Sheffield Utd.

He arrived at Derby initially on loan in February 2011 and stayed for four and a half years before joining Forest. He was loaned out to Burton, Cardiff and Charlton before being released in 2019, from where he came to Buxton via Scunthorpe and Solihull Moors.

Ryan Hardy and Johnny Saltmer are both recent loan signings. Hardy is an England C International midfielder from Chester, who started in the Manchester City Academy. He has played at Halifax, Fylde, Walsall, Telford and Altrincham too.

 Goalkeeper Saltmer is from Bradford Park Avenue. A former Hull City junior who has played at Barrow and Darlington too.

OUR FINAL away game of the season is the trip to Basford on Easter Monday. Our hosts have struggled since New Year and haven’t scored a goal in the last four games.

Goalkeeper Kieran Preston is a Scottish Under 19 International who has been at Basford since December 2019 and is a former Bristol Rovers Junior.

Owen Betts is a young defender who started with Notts County. He had been at Basford for two seasons and had brief loans at Worksop and Spalding.

Lewis Carr came from Grantham back in 2016. He is a defender with experience at Stamford and Quorn as well as a spell at Cambridge Utd.

Well-travelled defender Dom Roma has spent the last five years between Basford and Scarborough, having originally joined our hosts in 2017.

Having started at Sheffield Utd, he played for Boston Utd, Tamworth, Hinckley, Alfreton, Harrogate and Gainsborough. He also had a spell as Gainsborough’s player manager.

Left back Ryan Wilson is the son of former Rams player Kevin. He started out at Ilkeston and after a move to Gateshead, played for a number of clubs in the East Midlands region, notably Alfreton, Coalville and Matlock. He came to Basford in May 2019 after spell at Telford.

Callum Frogson had progressed from the Basford Youth Team and is now regular starter in our hosts defence.

Centre back Brad Gascoigne was a Birmingham City junior, but since his release in 2012 has travelled widely through the non-league world. Having played for 17 clubs over his career he came to Basford in 2019 from Barwell.

Declan Dunn is a former Notts County junior. The young Centre Back also had a spell on loan at Grantham before joining Basford last season.

Skipper Matt Thornhill is an attacking midfielder and ex Nottingham Forest junior. He went on loan to Brighton and Cheltenham, making 70 first team appearances, before a spell with Hibernian.

He returned to England with Buxton in 2012, and has also played for Shaw Lane and Gainsborough before signing for Basford in March 2017.

Defender Callum Chettle is the son of former manager and Forest defender Steve. He had football league experience with Peterborough, after starting out at Ilkeston and Nuneaton.

He went out on loan to Fylde, before joining Alfreton and has also played for Boston and Matlock before joining Basford from Alfreton in July 2019.

Striker Kane Richards is Derby born and a former Rams Junior. He had a loan spell at Matlock before his release, seeing him move on to Ilkeston, Chester, Gainsborough, Dover and Telford, before arriving at Basford from Kidderminster July last year.

Signed from Quorn in January Liam Hearn is in his second spell at Basford. Another much travelled player who started at Hucknall, before moving onto Eastwood, Chasetown, Quorn, Alfreton, Grimsby, Mansfield, Lincoln, Barrow, Harrogate, Ilkeston and Alfreton, from where he joined Basford in ion July 2017.

He was loaned to Tamworth and then returned to Hucknall in March 2020, returning to Basford after his second spell at Quorn. He is also part of the coaching staff.

Courey Grantham is a midfielder signed from Heanor Town in 2015, he has also played for Ilkeston and Loughborough Dynamo and had a loan spell at Hednesford.

Lewis Rourke is another young striker and product of Basford’s youth scheme, along with keeper Gianni Musson.

Midfielder Lirak Hasani is a midfielder on loan from Doncaster. He has also been loaned out to Gateshead and Matlock over the last 18 months.

Jordan Helliwell is another loanee from Barnsley, a centre back or midfielder he has had loans at Stalybridge and Esbjerg in Denmark too. He is joined fellow Barnsley loanee midfielder Harrison Nejman.

Tyreace Palmer had been out on loan at Melton since singing last May, but the young striker is now back as part of the first team squad. 

Charlie Marzano was also signed from Ilkeston on deadline day but is yet to make his debut.

by Peter Scherer

A 76^th minute penalty finally ended Mickleover’s hopes of salvaging a point from their trip to Gainsborough Trinity.

Starting line-up: 1-JonathanHedge 2-Elliot Walker 3-Will Robinson 4-Ethan Mann 5-Phil Watt 6-Kemy Agustien 7-Ben Radcliffe 8-Liam Ravenhill 9-Shaquille Macdonald 10-Stuart Beavon 11-Andy Dales. Subs: George Milner, George Atwal, Jahvan Davidson-Miller, Callum Niven, Andrew Wright.

After a bright start from both sides Sports had their first attempt on goal when Dales sent in a cracking 20 yarder, after a feed by Beavon, well saved by home keeper Yates after 10 minutes.

Gainsborough did have the ball in the net a minute but it was deemed offside.

Mickleover were forced to make an early change too, with Ravenhill coming off for Wright.

But with Walker starting some strong runs down the right, Mickleover began to pile the pressure on the hosts.

Dales had picked up the ball from a Walker run on the right, but the cross was met by Beavon whose header was just wide.

But Walker came close himself, with another floating ball in from the right. It was a lucky escape for Gainsborough as it caught Yates out, only for the ball to bounce off the bar and back into play.

Cussons then had a shot saved by Hedge’s legs, but after 32 minutes Gainsborough got the break, with Hornshaw netting from a Johnson cross.

Sports kept attacking up to the half time whistle, with Beavon and Dales both forcing saves from Yates, before Mann found Radcliffe after the hosts failed to clear an Agustien free kick, but his shot was just over.

Mickleover were unlucky not to go in for the half time break on level terms, but it was the home side with the advantage.

 As the second half got under way the Gainsborough defence began to keep the Mickleover attack at a distance and take any opportunity of a break themselves.

Radcliffe had gone in the book, but Cussons went close again for Gainsborough, before Niven replaced Macdonald on the hour.

But after 76 minutes Robinson was deemed to have fouled Wollerton in the box, a penalty was given and Gibson made it 0-2 in the hosts favour.

Walker had another distance shot easily taken by Yates and Makama put a header straight at Hedge for the visitors.

Atwal came on for the final minutes to replace Agustien and Gainsborough appealed for a second late penalty after Hedge rushed from his goal to deny Wollerton.

The 0-2 scoreline probably flattered the home side, as Mickleover now look forward to hosting top of the table Buxton at the Don Amott Arena on Saturday.

by Peter Scherer

It’s been a difficult season for Gainsborough Trinity and the 11 starters from our home win against them back in August, shows little resemblance to their current line-up.

They have only suffered two home defeats however, but are without a win since they beat Lancaster at home 3-1 in February. Currently 19^th in the NPL they are still desperate for points to secured their survival, having drawn 1-1 at home last time out against  South Shields, 

Goalkeeper Matt Yates was released by Derby County and after loan spells at Gloucester, Hereford and Telford, joined Gainsborough last summer.

Lewis Carr is an experienced defender signed at the beginning of the season from Basford, but he’s played at Grantham too. 

Teenaged student Prosper Keto is a young full back recently signed from Clifton FC. Since his arrival at Gainsborough in February, he has been a regular first choice.

Cieron Keane is an Irish Under 19 international left back who had League One experience during his graduation at Notts County. After leaving the Magpies he has played for Nuneaton, Worcester, Kidderminster, Alfreton, Boston Utd and Leamington and was at Basford last season.

Centre back Stefan Galinski started his career at Derby County, but then joined Stoke City after a brief loan at Corby. He was released six months later to join Boston Utd initially. Further moves have taken him to Stalybridge, Alfreton, Grantham and Hednesford, before joining Gainsborough from Basford in February.

Isaac Rice is another centre back that arrived from Newark Flowserve at the start of the season. He has previously been part of the Sheffield Wednesday Academy.

Charlie Jemson, son of Forest legend Nigel, is another central defender, a pre-season signing from Worksop. He had a spell on Forest’s books and also played for Ilkeston, Tamworth and Peterborough Sports.

Derby County’s Academy was the starting point for central defender Callum Minkley, while wing back Joe Wilson, recently back from an injury spell, started out at Reading. He was signed from Ilkeston early season, but has played for Hayes & Yeading and Fleet Town too.

Experience in coaching and playing make Neal Bishop a valuable member of the Gainsborough squad. A former Middlesbrough Academy player, he made his league debut for Barnet in League two. The reliable midfielder had already played at Billingham, Spennymoor, Whitby, Scarborough and York, before making 95 appearances for Barnet.

168 games at Notts County and a spell with Blackpool in the Premiership followed, before another four years at Scunthorpe. His league career ended at Mansfield and he was at Scarborough last season, before joining Gainsborough as player coach.

Midfielder Alex Wollerton was  another summer signing. The ex Manchester Utd and Leeds junior also had a spell at the Barnsley Academy, before joining York City in September 2020.

Midfielder Joe Parkin is an ex Grantham player, who started out Handsworth FC. He has been part of the first team squad since signing in December.

Ex Nottingham Forest junior midfielder Elicha Ahui is currently one of a number of Lincoln City loanees along with striker Jovon Makama, who also spent time in Derby County’s Academy, ex Arsenal Academy midfielder Morgan Worsfold-Gregg and striker Freddie Draper, another ex Rams junior.

George Hornshaw made 12 first team appearances for Scunthorpe last season. He joined the Irons back in 2011 aged 12, making his first team in 2017. He had a loan spell at Farsley and came to Gainsborough initially in 2019, before joining permanently in July last year. He plays full back of midfield.

Striker Cameron Johnson was a New Year signing from Stamford. He started out with Rossington Main, before moving on to Boston Utd, Matlock, Deeping, Boston Town. Tamworth, Peterborough Sports and Spalding

Josh Hinds is another on loan striker from Hull City. He started out at West Ham before heading for Humberside and has also been loaned to Spalding.

Ex QPR and Fulham winger Toby Gould and former Chester Junior Jack Gibson have been on the sidelines of late, the latter coming in from Carlton in May last year.

Former Grimsby Town midfielder Jock Curran started at Doncaster Rovers and has also played at Spalding and Lincoln Utd, while striker Ben Morris started at Derby County, before coming to Gainsborough via Bedworth, Matlock and Ilkeston 

Gianluca Bucci is an ex Lincoln City Junior who is at home in defence or midfield. He has played at Spalding too, but has returned to Gainsborough after a spell at Frickley. 

Kick off as usual is at 3pm.