by Peter Scherer

Mickleover welcome Morpeth Town FC to the Don Amott Arena tomorrow. Currently ninth in the table, their quest is to reach the play-off’s continues, with three games undefeated since their home loss to Worksop at the beginning of the month and only two defeats in the last seven.

Back in November Sports went down 0-3 on the visit to Morpeth, but hope to make it three undefeated too.

Craig Lynch has been in charge at Craik Park since October 2021. He previously managed Seaham Red Star and his playing career took him to Sunderland, Rochdale, Hartlepool, Spennymoor Town and Blyth Spartans.

Goalkeeper Dan Langley arrived pre-season, he was originally spotted by Newcastle Utd, while playing for St.Benet Biscop Catholic Academy. After loans at Gateshead and Spennymoor, he joined Blyth Spartans on his release.

After a couple of months he moved to Oldham Athletic, who loaned him back to Blyth and Scunthorpe, before joining our visitors.

His deputy is Academy Graduate Mason Brown.

Rhys Evans is a right back who started out with Wallsend Boys. But after a spell in Scotland with St.Johnstone and Queen of the South, he came back to England with Benfield. He came to Morpeth pre-season too, after five years at Blyth Spartans.

Josh Robson is primarily a right back too. The former Sunderland junior spent time on loan in Norway with Notodden, before a permanent move to Bryne. He returned to the UK two years later with Blyth Spartans and is in his third season at Morpeth and is currently captaining the side.

Attacking midfielder Will Dowling started out with East Northumberland & Berwick Schools, before signing for Sunderland. He then had a year at Stoke City before joining our visitors last March.

Centre back and club captain Jeff Henderson played his junior football at Newcastle Utd. He was loaned to Gateshead, before moving to the League of Ireland with Sligo Rovers, where he played in Champions and Europa League qualifiers.

He returned to England with Stobswood after a three years in Ireland and is now in his seventh year at Craik Park.

Josh King is a centre back too, in his third season with the club, since coming from York City. He started out at Park View Academy.

Left winger Danny Barlow is another former Blyth Spartans player, that was signed in July 2023.

Fellow striker Luke James has played over 250 matches in leagues one and two, scoring 24 goals. He started out at Hartlepool before moving to Peterborough Utd. He was loaned to Bradford City, back to Hartlepool and Bristol Rovers, before a permanent move to Forest Green Rovers.

After a third spell at Hartlepool, he has also played for Barrow, York City and South Shields, from where he is currently on a season long loan, having finished last season on loan at Blyth. He is also an England C International.

Striker Jack Foalle came from Whitley Bay way back in 2018 and scored on his home debut.

Ryan Wombwell is a right back and another former Sunderland youngster. He had a year at Gateshead after his release and came to Morpeth from Spennymoor in August 2023.

Striker Nic Bollado started off with Carlisle Utd, before a spell at Stockport County. He joined our vistors last December, after a loan at FC United.

Jordan Hickey is a central midfielder and another former Sunderland Junior, who then had three years at Hull City. He is another former Blyth player too, who arrived pre-season.

Striker Sam Hodgson is on loan from Blyth Spartans until the end of the season. He was previously at South Shields.

Nathan Buddle is another pre-season signing from Ashington. A centre back, he was another former Hartlepool youngster, who has played for Blyth, Carlisle, Gateshead and Spennymoor too.

York City youngsters striker Billy Marshall and midfielder Leon Gibson-Booth are both on youth loans too, having both previously been loaned to Ossett Utd.

Finally Morpeth juniors Josh Follin and Ryan Cater joined the first team squad too at the beginning of this season, having both been selected for England Schools.

Kick of 3pm COYS!!!!

by Peter Scherer (Images: Steve Ingers)

90 minutes of grit and determination were rewarded for Mickleover with a well-deserved away point at Gainsborough Trinity.

Starting line-up: 1-Yusuf Mersin 2-Kwaku Donkor 3-Ryan Wilson 4-Will Atkinson 5-George Wilkinson 6-Danny Benson 7-Marcus Barnes 8-Gabby Adebambo 9-Chris O’Grady 10-Andy Dales 11-Dylan Edwards, Subs: Samson Hewett, Stuart Beavon, Brandon Ferron, Finn Flanagan, Cieron Keane.

Although Mickleover took the kick off, there was an immediate free-kick against them. But Edwards, Barnes and Wilson all tried to create early moves for Sports, with no serious threat to the home defence.

Barnes had another run after seven minutes, but was intercepted early-on, before Benson cut off the first threat from Howe fairly easily.

The pitch had been heavily sanded and after the first 10 minutes it was clear that Gainsborough were trying to adjust their style to suit the pitch. 

Adebambo tried to pressurise Lancaster in the home defence, but lost out as the ball was cleared again, but Sports were limitingthe home attacks and kept them pegged back in their own half.

Wilkinson and Wilson both made clearances again for Sports, before O’Grady tried an opportunistic strike, well over the Gainsborough bar, but the first real shot of the game 14 minutes in.

But just a minute late it was the hosts that almost opened the scoring. Lancaster and Jackson had sent the ball up the middle for Butroid to earn the first corner. Preston then found Butroid on the edge of the box, and his effort came off Mersin’s post.

Mickleover came straight back, but Wilson’s 18^th minute free kick was dealt with by Coghill. Donkor was working well on the right- wing overlap, before O’Grady tried another speculative shot four minutes later.

Dales was trying to drive Sports forward and clearly doing his best to seek out O’Grady, but overall the play had become fairly even again.

28 minutes and Gainsborough were appealing for penalty after Helliwell went down, but the referee gave a free kick against the striker and gave a yellow card!

Trinity had started to look more dangerous, but Conway managed to get a dangerous cross into Sports’ box, but fortunately found no one waiting.

Wilkinson was yellow carded after fouling Helliwell and just before half-time Dales beat two defenders before being grounded and so it remained 0-0.

Gainsborough started the second half with a long ball easily cut out by Donkor, but Wilson then put Barnes through, to find Donkor again, but his final ball was out of O’Grady’s reach.

Lancaster had intercepted a long ball, before Adebambo, Atkinson, Barnes and Edwards all had spells, seeking out moves spread the home defence.

It was now Mickleover looking the more dangerous, pegging the home defence back again until a Coghill clearance gave them some respite.

Loanee Flanagan was the first change, coming on for Edwards, but three minutes later O’Grady tried his luck again, twisting before firing over again.

Howe and Preston then led a chase, but Donker got back to allay any danger. Two minutes later Howe  earned Gainsborough’s second corner, when Donker intercepted again.

64 minutes in and skipper Coghill challenged Mersin with a weak header, before Howe tried cut inside before his run was stopped.

Home keeper Wharton made his feel real save after 71 minutes from Flanagan, but then a rare miskick from Mersin found striker Preston, who had been successfully challenged before he could do anything.

With 15 minutes to go there was a feeling that either side could still snatch three points, it had been fairly dour throughout but points are critical.

Wilson and Adebambo made some nice moves before the ball was cleared. Johnson was yellow carded for fouling Dales after 84 minutes, but Wilson’s free kick was wasted, only for Dales to be clattered to the ground again on the 90 minutes mark.

Beavon and Ferron were late subs, for Barnes and O’Grady, but with five minutes add on Donkor and Ferron were encouraged to use their pace on the wings.

Gainsborough had a couple of late chances over the bar, but it remained 0-0.

 

by Peter Scherer

Our hosts this weekend are Gainsborough Trinity, a side who have suffered for NPL League form, as a consequence of the financial benefits of successful runs in both the FA Cup and FA Trophy.

We hosted Trinity in December and went down 1-2, in a game lost to careless defending in almost the final kick of the match.

Since that date Mickleover have picked up seven points, to out hosts 13, seven on which came from the last three games, beating Blyth 5-1 on their last home game.

Russ Wilcox has been in charge at Gainsborough since September2023, having previously been at Farsley Celtic, Scunthorpe and York City and had an unchanged side for the last four games.

As a player he made over 700 league appearances, with Doncaster, Northampton, Hull City, Preston North End and Scunthorpe.

Goalkeeper Dylan Wharton was a pre-season arrival, having come straight from Sheffield Utd, after being on loan for most of last season. He started out at Chesterfield and after a loan at Heanor Town, made the move to Sheffield Utd in September 2022. 

Right back Sisa Tuntulwana came Grantham Town’s youth scheme and joined our hosts in pre-season. 

Aaron Simpson is another right back and former Love Island contestant that arrived pre-season. He was at Whitstable Town and Maidstone Utd at the start of his career before joining Wolves. 

He had loans at Portsmouth, Telford, Kilmarnock and FC Jumilla in Spain, before going to the League of Ireland with Waterford on his release. He soon returned to England with Dover Athletic and also played for Sutton Utd, Hemel and Chippenham, before spending last season at Salisbury.

George Hornshaw is a right back too and former Scunthorpe Junior. His first loan spell was at Farsley, before joining Gainsborough for a month in 2019. He came back again in July 2021 on a permanent basis, but after a year moved back to Farsley, only to return to our hosts again after just two months.

Left back Ashley Jackson started out at Ossett Town, before moving on to Boston Utd, where he spent two years before joining Scarborough. He came to our hosts on loan last September, before his move was made permanent two months later.

Lewis Butrod is another left back and another ex Scunthorpe Junior. He was loaned to Spennymoor and Hereford before coming to Gainsborough on his release in August 2021. Six months later he joined Farsley and made the return trip 17 months later.

Will Lancaster is a centre back signed from Bradford Park Avenue in pre-season. Having started out with Barnsley, he was loaned to Bradford initially, before making it permanent at the start of last season.

Captain Dylan Coghill is a centre back too. He was a junior at Huddersfield, after they picked him up from Gildersome Sports. He had a spell in Scotland with Clyde after an initial loan, before returning to England with Farsley Celtic. He came to Gainsborough in August 2022, after two seasons at Scarborough.

Jordan Helliwell was another pre-season signing. A central midfielder, he started out at Barnsley too, and was loaned to Stalybridge Celtic and Esbjerg in Denmark. He also played for AFC Totton and Brighouse, before ending last season with Wakefield AFC.

Striker Javelle Clarke is in his second season with the club, having arrived from Brighouse in July 2023. He started his career at Sheffield Utd’s Academy.

Fellow striker Dec Howe has become Gainsborough’s lead scorer since coming from Ilkeston in September 2023. He started with Staveley MW before a move to Cleethorpes. After a loan at Darlington he joined Alfreton at the start of last season, but moved to Ilkeston after a couple of months. 

Right sided midfielder Frazer Preston played his junior football at Sheffield Wednesday. He spent two years with Boston Utd after his release, followed by a short stay at Alfreton before coming to Gainsborough in November 2022.

Bobby Johnson plays in central midfield and came from Farsley Celtic at the start of last season. He started at Goole and then North Ferriby, before a four-year spell at Alfreton, which preceded his move to Farsley.

Left- sided midfielder Joe Stacey started with Belper Town, before moving on via Ossett Utd, Grantham and Guiseley. He then joined Alfreton November 2023, who loaned him to Gainsborough for three months at the end of last season, before the stay was made permanent.

Fellow midfielder Bailey Conway was a Sheffield Utd Junior, moving to Rossington Main and Alfreton before his first spell at Gainsborough in December 2022. After seven months he moved to Guiseley, only to return seven weeks later.

Danny Devine is a midfielder too, who began his career at Bradford City. After a loan at Harrogate he joined Carlisle Utd, moving on to Chester two years later. After a loan spell at Farsley, he left Chester and began last season at Guiseley, moving to our hosts after three months.

Curtis Durose is a right-sided midfielder that came from Matlock last December. A product of Rotherham Utd’s Academy, he spent most of the 22/23 season on loan at Gainsborough. He was then loaned to Scarborough and Matlock before the latter became permanent at the start of this season.

Striker Sam Fishburn has been on a months loan from Scunthorpe, which may have been extended. Scunthorpe signed from Fleetwood at thee start of the season, but he started out with Carlisle Utd.

He has loans at Lancaster, Blyth, Morpeth, York City and Spennymoor too.

Kick off as usual 3pm.

by Peter Scherer

It may have been a Stockton Town player that got the last touch, but it was an early but decisive goal for Mickleover and more importantly three points!

Starting line-up: 1-Yusuf Mersin 2-Ryan Wilson 3-Kwaku        Donkor 4-Will Atkinson 5-George Wilkinson 6-Danny Benson 7-Marcus Barnes 8-Gabby Adebambo 9-Chris O’Grady 10-Andy Dales 11-Samson Hewett. Subs: Josh Carter, Finn Flanagan, Dylan Edwards, Stuart Beavon, Brandon Ferron.

It was a lively start with chances at both ends. Dales cut inside from the wing and fired over for Mickleover, while Fowler picked up on a King cross for the visitors, but his header was just wide.

A few minutes later Adebambo’s long range effort was tipped over by Stockton’s keeper Harker, before Mersin kept out a Sweet shot, after corner.

The goal came 12 minutes in, when Barnes outpaced the defence on the wing, as he drove his cross into the box, Harker palmed it away initially, only to hit defender Gallacher and watch it roll into the bottom corner 1-0.

Mickleover’s back line had survived the initial onslaught from the visitors, and following the goal had the upperhand for the rest of the half.

Gallacher made a crucial last-minute tackle after 31 minutes, but a couple of minutes later another King cross set up Sweet, but he shot over the bar again. Barnes completed the half with a tame shot that failed to challenge the keeper, but it remained 1-0 at half-time.

Only six minutes into the second Mickleover could have gone two up, when Dales found O’Grady unmarked in the middle. But unfortunately the burly striker shot over the bar.

Former Sports loanee Josh Scott had a chance too for Stockton, but his 55^th minute header was straight into Mersin’s hands.

As the hour mark approached Mickleover made their first change with Edwards replacing Hewett, just before Dales had the ball in the net only to be ruled offside.

Edwards sent a powerful effort goalwards after 73 minutes, only for it rise over the bar and out of danger. But Stockton were still up for any opportunity to break and three minutes later defender Leech, put a low shot wide.

Seven minutes left on the clock Mersin pulled off another great save, as Mickleover closed ranks again. Debutant Flanagan then replaced Dales for the last six minutes and then another break from Barnes had set up O’Grady, but a great save from Harker denied him again. 

Barnes then made way for Carter, by which time the points were secure.

 

by Peter Scherer

Our visitors this Saturday are fifth in the table Stockton Town. Back in October they beat us 0-3 and have continued in similar form from that date.

Their last away defeat was 1-4 at Macclesfield in mid December, but after successive wins, they went down 1-3 at Warrington Rylands last Saturday.

Michael Dunwell’s line-up has been both consistent and successful of late, either of which Sports can only dream off.

First choice goalkeeper Nathan Harker was a junior at Newcastle Utd and was loaned to Blyth Spartans, before joining Scarborough on his release.

He played for Bedlington Terriers and Whickham too, before joining our visitors in January last year, after 10 months with Marske Utd.
His deputy is Elliott Stephenson is a former Sunderland youngster. A pre-season signing he has also played for Hartlepool and South Shields.

Right back Josh Baggs is another former Sunderland junior. He joined Seaham Star following his release and was also loaned out to Consett, before joining our visitors in January 2024.

Centre back Tom Coulthard has been at Stockton for 12 years, having come through their own youth scheme. He made his first team debut at 17 and has a long standing defensive partnership with skipper Adam Nicholson.

6ft 5in Nicholson has been at the club even longer, having started his 15th year. He came from local junior football and made his first team debut at 16.
Lewis King is another defender and former Hartlepool junior, who was then picked up by Burnley. Following his release he moved to Spennymoor and came to Stockton in July 2019.

Midfielder Glen Butterworth was signed from Marske Utd in October 2022, after 10 years service.

Cam Painter is a defensive midfielder, signed from Blyth Spartans in July 2022. He was originally a youngster with Grimsby and went to Blyth on his release. He also had a short loan spell at Billingham Town.

Defender Arjun Purewal was a pre-season signing from Consett, where he had spent the last seven years, six as club captain. He was previously at Jarrow Roofing and has also played for Darlington, Durham City, Blyth Spartans, Whitby Town and Bishop Auckland.

Central midfielder Lewis Leech was another pre-season arrival from Whickham. He started out with Gateshead and was loaned to Benfield, before a permanent move to Marske Utd, where he started last season, before going to Whickham in February.

Owen Gallacher is striker capped by Scotland at Under 19 and 16 levels. He played Junior football with Newcastle City, Swallwell Swifts, Sunderland and Ryton Blacks, before joining Newcastle Utd.
He quickly moved on to Nottingham Forest, who loaned him to Harrogate, before joining Burton Albion on his release.

Crawley Town was his next stop, with a further loan at Gateshead, before moving to Grimsby, Spennymoor and finally Stockton in pre-season and has league one and two experience.

Fellow striker Stephen Thompson started his career at Middlesbrough, before joining Port Vale. After a loan at Telford he joined Durham City, before moving to Spennymoor, who loaned him to Marske, before arriving at Stockton in July 2022.

Michael Fowler is a striker too, having started his career with Sunderland and Burnley. He then moved on to Fleetwood Town, who loaned him to Guiseley, Bamber Bridge and FC Utd. He then crossed the Atlantic with Coastal Carolina Chanticleers, a US college team before returning to the UK six months later with Dunston UTS.

He finally came to Stockton at the beginning of last season.
Striker Mikey Roberts arrived in July 2018 and has been North East based for the whole of his career. He has played for Guisborough Town, Spennymoor, Whitby Town and Marske Utd before joining our hosts.

Josh Scott may be remembered by Mickleover fans, after a short loan spell from Mansfield back in 2021. He started his career at Hartlepool, before moving to Mansfield. As well as Mickleover, he was loaned to Basford and Frickley Athletic, before a permanent move to Morpeth.

He arrived at Stockton in mid October from West Auckland, and has also played for Blyth Spartans and Marske Utd.

Michael Sweet is another striker, who has spent his whole career in the North East. From starting out at Gateshead, he was loaned to Darlington, before joining Billingham Synthonia. He has played for Consett and Blyth too, before a three-year spell at Shildon preceded his Stockton arrival in July 2023.

Striker Kev Hayes first arrived at Stockton in October 2016. He moved to Spennymoor after playing in the 2018 FA Vase. He soon came back to Stockton though and has been their ever since.
Elliott Beddow is another striker, signed from Thornaby in August 2022. He began his career at Billingham Town, but currently back on loan at Thornaby.

Striker Jake Spears came through or hosts own junior set-up and made his first team debut last season.

Thomas Birtles is another home-grown talent. A midfielder, he made his first team debut last season too.

Academy graduate Jacob Johnson signed his first contract during the summer. A midfielder, he is also dual registered with Guisborough Town.

Strikers Joe Kennedy and Sonni Coleman have also graduated via the clubs own youth scheme, Coleman having represented England Schools Under 18’s too.

Kick off as usual is 3pm and it would be nice if we could give Chairman Don Amott something to celebrate, as it’s his birthday the following day!!

by Peter Scherer (Image: Steve Ingers)

Any hopes Mickleover had of repeating their shock home win against Macclesfield, were dashed after a late second half goal spree.

0-1 at half time, Andy Dales struck the equaliser, but in the final 30 minutes Macclesfield hit five more, including two goals in injury time to make it 1-6.

Starting line-up: 1-Yusuf Mersin 2-Kieran Brown 3-Jake Bennett 4-Gabby Adebambo 5-Will Atkinson 6-Danny Benson 7-Dylan Edwards 8-Ryan Wilson 9-Chris O’Grady 10-Andy Dales 11-Samson Hewett. Subs: Toby Smith, Kwaku Donkor, Amarn Robinson, Brandon Ferron, Stuart Beavon.

Macclesfield had their first attack after just two minutes, when Adebambo lost the ball to Etaluku, but no one was in the middle as his cross came in.

Five minutes later Kengni sent in another cross which Benson managed to block, before Dales got a break for Mickleover. He managed to find Edwards, but there was no power in the shot and it failed to challenge home keeper Dearnley.

The hosts continued to look dangerous on the break and 11 minutes in Elliott managed to latch onto another telling cross, only to head over the bar.

Adebambo lost possession again after19 minutes, but Mersin made an excellent save, after Mellor and Elliott had combined.

Six minutes later Rooney shot well over the bar, after an accurate square ball from Etaluku had found him, but having been yellow carded earlier for breaking up a Macclesfield attack, Bennett went close for Sports with a powerful strike from the edge of the box, well saved by Dearnley.

Atkinson cut out another Etaluku break on the half hour, and Benson similarly as Duffy earned a corner. Menaysese came up for the corner and after 36 minutes, the Mickleover defence was finally breached as he scored the opener and it remained 0-1 at half time.

Ferron replaced Brown for the second half, but only three minutes into the half Mickleover were back on level terms, when Dales’ rocket shot from outside the box, found the right-hand top corner. 1-1.

But Mersin’s skills were soon saving Mickleover again. A brilliant low save from a Fensome shot was taken low down after 51 minutes, two minutes later it was a save from Mellor, before Donkor replaced Hewett.

Elliott then tried an overhead kick, which Mersin took well, before Robinson came on for Edwards after 63 minutes. But Rooney and Eliott made it two more in three minutes and suddenly Sports were 1-3 down. 

Mickleover had been far from disgraced in the first hour and were still in with a chance for much of the game.

Rooney fired another attempt over the bar, just before Smith came on for Adebambo, but with seven minutes of normal time left, Rooney scored his second, after stepping up to convert a penalty.

Sub Heathcote almost scored too within minutes of coming on, but his effort was just over. In time added on though the Macclesfield rampage continued, with Mellor and Dawson both scoring to make the final score 1-6, which flattered Macclesfield somewhat and gave little credit to Mickleover.

by Peter Scherer

It was probably the league surprise of the season when Mickleover beat top of the table Macclesfield back in November.

Although Robbie Savage’s team have suffered two further defeats at home to Leek Town on Boxing Day and as Ashton Utd in January, they are still riding high at the top.

But for Mickleover it’s been a different story, with just the one win at home to Basford since that memorable night and now having to recover from the questionable defeat at home to Bamber Bridge last Saturday.

Goalkeeper Max Dearnley was a pre-season signing from Buxton. He started out at Penistone and after a season at Ossett Utd, moved on to Huddersfield Town. His next stop was Farsley Celtic, before joining Buxton at the start of last season, ending it on loan at Chorley.

Centre back Sam Heathcote is in his second season with our hosts, since arriving from Runcorn Linnets. He started out at Altrincham and then spent a year each at Ramsbottom and Hyde Utd, before making the return trip in July 2019. Before moving to Runcorn, he spent 2 ½ years with West Didsbury.

Right back Lewis Fensome is a former Preston North End Junior, who spent 3 ½ years at Lancaster City, before signing for Macclesfield in January 2022.

Dontai Gabidon is a midfielder that came from FC United last September. He started at Altrincham too and also had two years at West Didsbury. He is currently on loan at Warrington Rylands.

Danny Whitehead plays in central midfield and was another pre-season signing from Fylde. He has league two experience and started his career with Stockport County, before a move to West Ham Utd. Following his release and a short stay at Accrington, he joined Macclesfield for the first time in July 2015, but moved to Wigan after six months.

He was loaned back to Macclesfield, along with Cheltenham, before a permanent return to our hosts Next stop was Salford City, with another loan back at Macclesfield preceding a move to Port Vale. He was then loaned to Altrincham, before joining Fylde in January 2022.

Justin Johnson is a right sided midfielder. His career started at Sparta Rotterdam and Manchester Utd, before a spell at FC United. He then headed north to Dundee Utd, who loaned hm to York City. Cyprus was his next port of call, spending two years at Othellos Athienou, including a loan at Akritas Chlorakas, before returning to Scotland with Hamilton Academicals. He moved on again via Morton, Stalybridge Celtic and had two years at Fylde before joining our hosts pre-season.

Tre Pemberton favours the right side of midfield. A youngster with Blackburn Rovers and Stoke City, he joined FC United on his release. He was loaned to Longridge before a move to Stafford Rangers, where he spent nine months before arriving at Macclesfield in July 2022.

Luke Duffy is a right midfielder too. He came from Warrington at the beginning of last season after a three year spell and was previously at Lower Breck FC.

John Rooney is the brother of Wayne and is an attacking midfielder who started his career at Macclesfield back in 2008. He moved to the United States with New York Red Bulls and Orlando City, before returning to the UK with Barnsley.

Next stop was Bury, who loaned him to Chester, before the move became permanent. Wrexham was next, followed by Guiseley, Barrow and Stockport County. He came back to Macclesfield in August 2023, after a year at Oldham.

Winger Sean Etaluku started out at Burnley, before joining Mossley on his release. He moved to Barrow in July 2023, who loaned him to Buxton and Matlock, before coming to Macclesfield last November.

D’Mani Mellor is a former Manchester Utd junior striker, with experience in Leagues One, Two and the Europa League. He was loaned to Salford before making a permanent move to Wycombe Wanderers. Further loans at Rochdale and Sutton Utd followed, before joining Gateshead at the start of this season. After just two weeks in the North East he signed for Macclesfield.

Fellow striker Danny Elliott was a pre-season arrival. A youth player at Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa, he moved to the US in 2014 with Hofstra Pride, a University side. He was loaned to Carolina Dynamo and Long Island Rough Riders, before his four-year stay ended, with a move to Spain with San Cristobal. 

Three months later he was back in the UK with Port Vale, and has played for Chester, Alfreton, Hartlepool, Boston Utd, Boreham Wood and Gateshead, before joining Scunthorpe in February last year, spending five months with the Irons before becoming a Silkman. 

Neil Kengni is another striker signed from Marine in July 2022. He started off at Rochdale and has played for Stalybridge too.

French midfielder Laurent Mendy was signed in June 2021 from IFK Amal in Sweden and was the first player to make 100 appearances for the reformed Macclesfield FC.

Paul Dawson is a midfielder too. Signed from Bamber Bridge in May 2023, he has also played for Lancaster City.

Left back Brandon Lee s one of the longer serving players, having come from Longridge in September 2021. He started at Bolton Wanderers and has also played for Chorley.

Centre back Rollin Menayese only arrived a couple of weeks ago from Aldershot Town. A former Wales under 17 International, he started out at Cardiff City.

He joined Weston super Mare on his release, but soon moved on via Bristol Rovers, Swindon Town, Mansfield, Grimsby, Walsall and Hartlepool, before joining Aldershot at the start of this season, after two loan spells, following his release from the Saddlers. He had played over 100 games in Leagues One and Two.

Former England C International Elliott Whitehouse is a central midfielder, with League One and Two experience too. As a Sheffield Utd youngster, he was loaned to York City, before moving to Notts County. He then went on loan to Nuneaton, before a permanent move to Halifax, preceded a return to Nuneaton.

Lincoln City, Grimsby Town, Forest Green and Scunthorpe followed, with a loan at Spennymoor followed by Chester, from where he joined Macclesfield pre-season.

Winger Edy Maieco came from Bradford Park Avenue in September on a return trip. Having previously been at Macclesfield in 2022. In between he played for Hyde, Warrington Rylands and Stafford Rangers. He started out at Macclesfield too and has also played for Maine Road, Stalybridge, Stockport County, Glossop North End, Clitheroe and FC United. He has recently been loaned out to Warrington.

Midfielder Basit Yusuff has recently stepped up from the clubs Academy and also plays in the reserve side.

Tom Clare also arrived in 2021, a striker from Pontefract. He started off at Barnsley and Bradford City, before joining Boston Utd after an initial loan. He then had spells at Bradford Park Avenue and Buxton, before joining Pontefract in September 2020.

He also had a spell away from the Silkmen in 2023, to appear on TV in “Love Island.”

Kick off is 3pm, so let’s see if we can give them another shock?