Category: First Team

From The Sports to Football League: Jake Bennett

by Peter Scherer

Defender Jake Bennett was a key member of the Mickleover side between December 2014 and 2016.

He started his career playing for his home town team Telford AFC.

I joined them when I was 15 and made two starts in their first team, before going out on loan to Market Drayton

he said.

It was during a game against Mickleover that Jake’s potential was spotted.

I had a good game against Andy Dales and was made an offer. As the team were pushing for promotion back into the Premier Division of Northern Premier League, I went for it.

In his first season he played about half of the games, but then became a first choice team member.

His two years at Mickleover came to an end after a series of offers of trials from league clubs.

I spoke to an agent and Sheffield United offered me a contract. I made my first team debut against Walsall in the EFL Cup in 2017 and played some friendly matches too. But was due to go on loan to Chesterfield, but injured my cruciate ligament playing against them and was out for 10 months

A thigh injury then precluded any games for Chesterfield and in October 2019 his time at Sheffield ended and he joined National League Alfreton.

I was only at Alfreton a short time and was in and out of the team. As I wanted regular games I decided to step down again and joined Coalville Town in the Southern League Premier Division Central

Jake is still looking to rebuild his career but looks back fondly at his time with Mickleover.

My lasting memory was winning the title, the first medal I had ever won in football.

Brewers to visit Station Road

Burton Albion have offered to bring their full first team squad to the Don Amott Arena to play Mickleover FC in a friendly match.

With Mickleover manager John McGrath and striker Stuart Beavon both ex Brewers players, the connections between the two clubs remain close.

It could be new player manager Jake Buxton’s first games in charge since taking over from Nigel Clough, plus Buxton is also due to play in the NHS All Stars Charity match.

We want to thank Burton chairman Ben Robinson and Jake Buxton for offering to bring their team to help us survive and at no cost, also for loaning some kit for the Charity match. It’s absolutely brilliant that a local football league club would do this to help us.

said Mickleover chairman Don Amott.

We will always be ‘The Sports’ but now we are Mickleover F.C.

by Peter Scherer

It’s now 72 years since Mickleover Old Boys were originally formed. But after 44 years of Derby Senior League football on their Vicarage Road pitch, Mickleover Sports FC were founded.

The committee had been raising funds for 10 years to enable the new club to progress to it’s current stadium on Station Road.

Originally playing in red and black quartered shirts, the club retained the team colours but changed to a basically red shirt.

On the playing side they progressed through the Central Midlands League, gradually adding extra facilities like floodlights, a grandstand, a pitch perimeter rail.

In 1998/99 they were Central Midlands Champions, moving through the Northern Counties League into the Premier Division, then the Unibond League and the Evostik Northern Premier.

The success on the field and support of the committee and band of volunteers behind the club remain baffled however, as besides the stalwart supporters who have been there through thick and thin, there has been little involvement from the increase in Mickleover’s population, with many new housing developments only a short walk from the teams home ground.

It has been thought that maybe the name itself gave a misleading signal, so this prompted a change of name.

The present football club have now changed it’s name to Mickleover FC, as it was felt that many locals associated the club as a general sports club or even a private club. But by changing the name we are hoping to widen our audience to the whole of the local area, appealing specifically to football enthusiasts,

said Club secretary Tony Shaw.

The newly name MICKLEOVER FC remain a strong community based club though,

We made big strides in the last few years to be a big part of the community, with events such as the Hot August Night, the annual Fireworks night, Sunday Markets, Cinema nights and we will continue to try and grow our support base to progress further,

he added.

Committee member Colin Ford summed things up,

we are now the club of Mickleover and surrounding areas.

So look out for the new club logo as well as the date of the NHS Charity Allstars match and support your own Mickleover football club when we eventually get started in the 2020/2021 season.

We need your support, please help save our club by donating

Thank you to everyone who has already donated, we are nearly 10% towards our goal of £15,000. We are in a situation many grass roots clubs are in due to the Covid 19 pandemic.

We are ran by volunteers and are left with 8 home fixtures now cancelled and the club closed to the public.
Any amount is greatly appreciated and will all go to the running of this local football club.

Please click the link below to make a donation, or help us by sharing our JustGiving page on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

DONATE NOW

Sports’ bring in quality in Butler

Mickleover Sports are over the moon to announce the signing of very talented Centre Back, James Butler.

With previous clubs including Stoke City, Kidsgrove Athletic and Hartlepool United, there is no doubt he is bringing some excellence to the squad. Butler was snapped up by Hartlepool after impressing against them in the FA Cup when he was on duty for Kidsgrove. He has a very promising future ahead of him and we are delighted he has chosen to sign for us.

 

I’m really excited to be joining the club and can’t wait to get started. I’m buzzing to have made the step up in leagues and I hope I can help the team push towards the top of the table next season.

James Butler

 

I am delighted to get James to Mickleover. He is an exceptional talent and at only 20 years of age we have managed to sign a player that I believe has the ability to go on and become a full time professional. Welcome to Mickleover James.

John McGrath, Manager

McGrath brings in attacking full back Morris

Sports’ manager, John McGrath has added some energy to our defence next season with signing of full back Alex Morris from Kidsgrove Athletic. 

Other former clubs include Port Vale and Leek Town.

I am really looking forward to starting at Mickleover and show the club what I can offer. After speaking to the gaffer, the clubs ambitions definitely match mine and hopefully we can have a successful season.

Alex Morris

Alex is a young, energetic and athletic full back who fits in perfectly with our attacking style of play. Although and excellent footballer it’s his desire and work rate that makes him stand out from the rest. Welcome to Mickleover Alex.

John McGrath

Burton Albion chairman Ben Robinson (Image: Steve Parkin/Burton Mail)

Brewers backing Sports Charity Match

by Peter Scherer

As well as the many of the ex Derby County players and various other ex players and guests, Burton Albion Chairman Ben Robinson is also supporting the venture.

They have offered to help out with players and kit

said Sports Chairman Don Amott.

Both Sports’ manager John McGrath and striker Stuart Beavon are ex Brewers players too.

Sports retain promising young star for the 2020/21 season

Mickleover Sports Club are proud to announce that Mason Warren has agreed re-sign with us for the upcoming 2020/21 season.
I’m delighted to sign for next season and can’t wait to get started with what will hopefully be a positive season both individually and for the club. We’ve got a good group of players at the club right now so hopefully we can kick on from last season and challenge up the top end of the table.
Mason Warren 
This is a very important signing for me and signals our intent as a club for the upcoming 2020/21 season. Mason was in excellent form having scored 8 league goals from midfield before an illness at Christmas time sidelined him for 4 weeks. He plays a pivotal role in how we play and dictates all our play from his midfield position. Still only 23 years old I believe Mason has the ability go on and play higher.

John McGrath, First Team Manager

 

We are nearly 10% towards our goal, please help save our club by donating

Thank you to everyone who has already donated, we are nearly 10% towards our goal of £15,000. We are in a situation many grass roots clubs are in due to the Covid 19 pandemic.

We are ran by volunteers and are left with 8 home fixtures now cancelled and the club closed to the public.
Any amount is greatly appreciated and will all go to the running of this local football club.

Please click the link below to make a donation, or help us by sharing our JustGiving page on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

DONATE NOW

New 3G Pitch Postponed due to Coronavirus

The committee of Mickleover Sports Football Club are disappointed to have to postpone the building of a 3G stadium football pitch at the Don Amott Arena sports ground at Station Road, Mickleover. This was due to have been completed in July of this year. 

Due to the current outbreak of Coronavirus it was felt that the health and safety of those involved in the construction of the pitch should be paramount. Consequently the uncertainty over its effect on the timing of the construction and the still unconfirmed start of the next football season, rendered the planning of the project difficult from both a financial and logistical point of view. With regret therefore a postponement was agreed. 

The club remains convinced that this project is necessary for its future development and viability, and as a provision of important sporting facilities in the local community. It is anticipated that the pitch will instead be built before the start of the 2021/22 season.

Thank you.