by Peter Scherer

This time last season Mickleover were riding high at the top of the NPL, in a season, the second in succession, that was not to be.

How circumstances can change in one year, as we now seek points to escape the danger of relegation.

Our hosts this weekend at Radcliffe FC are another one of the teams who had been struggling this season. But having won their last three NPL games, Basford and Hyde away and Lancaster at home, they have now climbed to 17^th in the table, two places and three points clear of Mickleover.

Their last game was last Saturday, when they beat Frickley 3-1 in the FA Trophy.

So let’s take a look at their team.

Cameron Belford is an experienced goalkeeper, who started out in Coventry City’s youth team. After a spell on loan at Tamworth, he spent six years with Bury in League’s One and Two making 86 appearances.

Further loans at Worcester City, Southend Utd and Accrington Stanley, then preceded a full time move to Tamworth. 

He then moved on to Mansfield Town, Rushall Olympic, Swindon Town and Wrexham, before a loan spell at Stranraer.

More recently he has played for Forest Green Rovers, Chorley and Nuneaton, before a loan spell at FC United. He came to Radcliffe in July last year.

Second choice keeper is Joey Oldham, a home grown talent who is learning from Belford’s experience.

Right back Tom Miller is a former Norwich City Youth team player. He moved on to Glasgow Rangers, but didn’t make the first team, but made one appearance for Brechin City during a loan spell.

His next stop was Dundalk in Ireland, where he played 37 games for the League of Ireland side, before moving to Newport County.

He then joined Lincoln City after an initial loan, before going to League Two Carlisle for four years. Spells at Bury and Fylde then came before his arrival at Radcliffe in October 2020.

Centre back Taylor Jones was signed pre-season from Oldham Athletic’s ranks, while fellow centre back Olly Thornley came in from Curzon Ashton, after coming through their youth scheme.

Defender Jo Cummings came through Sheffield United’s Academy and made two senior appearances for the Blades. He then moved to Charlton Athletic and made two appearances in his two seasons there and was also loaned to Guiseley.

He then moved to Scunthorpe but didn’t get the break and came to Radcliffe initially on loan in March last year, before making it permanent two months later.

Simon Lenighan is a midfielder with vast experience. After starting out with Leeds Utd, he had loans at Bradford PA and Halifax, before joining Harrogate on his release in 2014.

He had a loan at Alfreton before joining Frickley, Rotherham and then Warrington. Further moves have taken him to Altrincham, Shaw Lane and Glossop NE, then Guiseley before a return trip to Halifax.

He was at Mossley and Buxton before arriving at Radcliffe in July 2020.TheN after six months at Telford, he returned to Radcliffe pre-season.

Midfielder Jack Baxter is currently on loan from Preston North End. He has previously had loans at Clitheroe, Stalybridge and Cork City.

Midfielder Matty Crothers is one of Radcliffe’s longest serving players, having been part of their 2018/19 promotion side. He was previously at Curzon Ashton having been discovered in the Oldham Sunday League.

Striker Kole Hall is a Bermudan International. He was a youth team player at Tranmere Rovers, before joining City of Liverpool. He joined Radcliffe last year and has also been on loan at Telford Utd.

After coming through Accrington Stanley’s youth scheme, Bobby Grant went on to make 77 appearances and score 19 goals for the League Two side, before moving to Scunthorpe in the Championship and League One, scoring a further 11 goals in 70 games.

He went on loan to Rochdale and Accrington before a permanent move to Rochdale, then spent two seasons at Blackpool, with loans Fleetwood and Shrewsbury, before a permanent move to League One Fleetwood.

He made 139 appearances and scored 24 goals in his four seasons at Fleetwood and was at Wrexham and loan at Accrington again and Oldham, before arriving at Radcliffe in June as player coach.

Adam Dawson is another player with a vast experience. The winger played his youth football at Bury and Liverpool, before joining Wigan Athletic on his release. 

He made one first team appearance on loan at Accrington, before joining Bacup Brough, FC United and Barrow.

He was soon on the move again to Nelson, before signing for Leicester City in 2013 after a successful trial.

Loans at Notts County, Nuneaton and Bristol Rovers before joining Kidderminster. It was then a loan at Tranmere before joining Nuneaton, then short stays at Eastleigh and Tranmere again, which included a loan at Darlington.

He has moved on via Southport, Telford, Chester, Macclesfield, before a month’s loan at Radcliffe in December 2019. A brief stay in Cyprus with Achyronas Liopetriou preceded his move back to Radcliffe in August.

Midfielder Chris Taylor came through the ranks at Oldham Athletic before making 285 first team appearances scoring 33 goals.

After playing for Millwall, Blackburn Rovers and Bolton Wanderers, he returned to Oldham on loan in January 2017.

Further moves to Blackpoll and Bradford City followed, before he joined Radcliffe from League Two Barrow last month.

Jean Louis Akpa-Akpro is a striker who started out with his home town club Toulouse. He made 46 first team appearances and scored five goals, plus a loan spell at Brest followed before a move to FC Brussels.

He came to the UK in December 2008 with Grimsby Town scoring eight goals in 56 games. Over the next few years he was a regular goalscorer at Rochdale, Tranmere and Shrewsbury and was on loan at Bury too, before joining Barnet.

After a loan at Yeovil he joined UAE side Masfout, before returning to the UK with Oldham Athletic in November 2019. He signed for Radcliffe in March 2020 and his Brother Jean Daniel is an Ivory Coast International.

Kingsley Williams is midfielder and former Radcliffe captain who started out at Oldham and Sheffield United before joining Northwich Victoria. He then moved to Bacup Borough and Alfreton and has played for Sydney Olympic in Australia.

A short stay at Leonesa in Spain preceded his UK return with Ilkeston and after a year at Trafford Park he joined Radcliffe in December 2017. He then joined Widnes in February 2020 and returned to Radcliffe in July this year.

Nathan Valentine is an attacking midfielder. He spent time at Wakefield, Harrogate, AFC Liverpool, Radcliffe, Frickley, Scarborough Athletic, Stalybridge and Matlock before joining Bury In December 2020. He came to Radcliffe pre-season.

Striker Luca Navarro started out at a junior at Bolton Wanderers. He has just returned to Radcliffe from Stafford Rangers, after spells at Bamber Bridge and Atherton too.

Ben Rydel is a midfielder currently on loan from Salford City, after coming through their youth scheme.

Jordan Carroll is a midfielder who came to Radcliffe from Athlone Town in July, he has previously played in Ireland for various Academy sides.

Omar Ibrahim is a midfielder, but no other information seems to be available about him.

Also Radcliffe have had Bebelo Gomes, Zac Hutley, Tye Turner, Daniel Asam and Joe Frater in their first team squad this season, but there is no information whatsoever who they are?

Kick off as usual is at 3pm

by Peter Scherer

Success in the FA Trophy would hopefully boost Mickleover’s form in the NPL, but alas it was not to be, as an early red card and first half goal for the visitors proved decisive.

Starting line-up: 1-Callum Hawkins 2- Roger Lee 3-Will Robinson 4-Mason Warren; 5 Phil Watt 6-Andrew Wright 7-Dexter Walters 8-Dempsey Arlott-John 9-Kemy Agustien 10-Stuart Beavon 15-Pablo Mills. Subs: Bobby Battisson, Dec Bacon, Fin Barker, George Atwal, Fin Bowen, Ben Lewin.

Although Grantham are currently bottom of the NPL a number of team changes have made them an unpredictable opponent.

Arlott-John went close for Mickleover after six minutes, when his effort was just over the bar. But only six minutes later Mills was on the receiving end of a red card and Sports were down to 10 men for the rest of the game.

With Mills missing there was a reshuffle in defence and Agustien came off to be replaced by Lewin, which allowed Robinson to move into the centre with Watt.

There were cries for a penalty for Mickleover after 17 mins, but they fell on deaf ears, and Beavon was taken down by Henry Eze, who received a yellow card.

But hopes of finding that elusive opening goal didn’t go in Sports favour and it was Grantham’s Jake Wright who succeeded after 29 minutes. 0-1.

Mickleover continued to try and push forward for the equaliser and Lewin put a tantalising cross into the box just before half time, but there was no one to receive it.

While it remained at 0-1 there was a chance of equalising, despite being a man down, and early into the second half Arlott-John was exchanged for Battisson.

The effort couldn’t be faulted but the chances never came. Both Lee and Warren received yellow card, and Atwal came on as a late sub for Warren. But the score remained the same and it’s Grantham that go into the hat for the next round, as Mickleover’s cup runs are over for another year.

by Peter Scherer

Mickleover FC boss John McGrath has made another loan signing to strengthen his squad, as Sports strive to escape the foot of the NPL table.

Winger Dexter Walters has arrived on an initial months loan from Tamworth and goes straight into the squad for tomorrow’s FA Trophy game at home to Grantham.

Walters returned to Tamworth in August 2020, after a two year spell at Coventry City, where he made one EFL Trophy appearance for the first team, but was a regular in the Sky Blues Under 23’s.

by Peter Scherer

It’s time to take a break from the NPL campaign to host Grantham Town in the FA Trophy this weekend.

Like Mickleover, Grantham have struggled again this season, and sit at the bottom of the league table, three points adrift.

They have only taken two points at home, one from our visit last month. But away they have had three wins and two draws, beating FC United 1-0 a few weeks ago. 

They played Warrington last weekend and went down again 1-2.

Goalkeeper Jim Pollard came to Grantham in July 2020 from Maltby, having previously had a season at Barrow.

James Williamson is an experienced defender and the club captain, who lists Tadcaster, Matlock and North Ferriby among his previous clubs.

Defender Tierry Latty-Fairweather has been on loan from Burton Albion, he’s an ex Nottingham Forest youth player too.

Central midfielder Shane Clarke is a recent signing from Spalding Utd. A former Lincoln City Academy player, he was briefly at Gateshead following his release, before his first spell at Boston Utd.

He then moved on to Gainsborough, Worksop and Tamworth, before returning to Boston in 2016. A second stay at Gainsborough preceded his move to Spalding in August 2020.

Henry Eze is another new signing. The centre back has played at Rushall Olympic, Romulus, Kings Lynn, Kettering, Solihull Borough, Quorn, Barwell and Stamford before arriving at Grantham.

Midfielder Finley Shrimpton is on loan from Scunthorpe until January, he has previously been loaned to Frickley Athletic too.

Ali Aydemir is primarily a winger, a long serving player who was previously at East Hull and Goole.

Midfielder Harvey Grice is on loan from Alfreton Town. The ex Nottingham Forest Academy player has come through Alfreton’s own youth scheme.

Ex Mickleover player striker Nathan Modest started his career at Sheffield Wednesday, making four first team appearances. 

After six years with the Owls and a loan at Darlington, he joined Sheffield FC. He moved on to Worksop, Rainworth MW, Lincoln Utd, Gloucester, Hednesford, Telford, Evesham and Goole before Bridlington Town preceded his move to Mickleover in 2019. 

He then moved to Barton Town and finally Pontefract, before coming to Grantham this summer.

Lee Shaw is another recent arrival from Alfreton. The striker was previously at Grantham in 2018, before moving to Chesterfield. A loan at Guiseley preceded his move to Alfreton just over a year ago.

Another of the new signings is Jake Wright, a young midfielder who has arrived from Ilkeston, having previously played for Quorn.

Former Mansfield and Chesterfield striker Mason Lee is another new arrival, he’s from Ilkeston too.

Attacking Midfielder Manasse Kianga arrived during the summer, he was previously at Rossington Main.

Michael Williams is a central midfielder, who came to Grantham from Alfreton. He was at Ilkeston for five years, before moving on to Matlock Town, Gainsborough and Sheffield FC.

Joe Parkin is another young midfielder stepping up from Handsworth Paramore, while Sisa Tuntulwana has also been a regular squad member this season.

Kick off is at 3pm at the Don Amott Arena.

by Peter Scherer

Following their first away win of the season at Atherton, hopes were high of returning to winning ways at home, but it was not to be.

Starting line-up 1-Callum Hawkins 2-Jake Bennett 3-Jordan Gough 4-Mason Warren 5-Phil Watt 6-Joe Bateman 15-Pablo Mills 7-Andy Dales 8-Andrew Wright 9-Kemy Agustien 10 Stuart Beavon. Subs: Adam Haw, Bobby Battisson, Roger Lee, Dempsey Arlott-John, Dec Bacon.

Right from the kick off Stalybridge Celtic were on the attack, with Brogan firing high over the Mickleover bar from the edge of the box, after two minutes.

It was only three minutes later that Dackers went down in the box. The referee said no penalty, but then allowed his assistant to change his mind, allowing Dackers to score from the spot kick 0-1.

Hawkins was in action again after nine minutes saving from Brogan after a questionable free kick.

Dales was then pushing forward for Mickleover and his long range shot after 17 mins was well saved by Huffer in the visitors goal.

There were chances at both ends, with Johnson shooting wide for Stalybridge after 21 mins, before Hawkins had to tip over Brogan’s powerful effort, after a telling pass from Doyle.

But just after the first half hour it was almost level when a Mills header was cleared off the line following a free kick.

After some positive Mickleover attacking, Dackers was on the receiving end of a long cross, placing his header passed Hawkins after 36 mins, 0-2.

Only a minute later Burton made it 0-3 to the visitors when he played through to connect with a low shot into the bottom corner of the net.

With Mickleover continuing to push forward, Warren managed to find Wright in a crowded box, who made no mistake in smashing past Huffer, to make it 1-3 after 40 mins.

As the teams re-appeared for the second half there were two changes in the Mickleover line-up, with Bacon and Haw on for Agustien and Gough.

Only two minutes into the half, the ball landed at Bacon’s feet from a corner, but the defence managed to clear.

Dales then won a free kick, which was given on the edge of the box, which was again thought to have been inside by some of the Mickleover players.

Wright’s free kick was over the bar and four mins later Bacon fired over again, after some casual Stalybridge defending.

Warren went into referee’s book after a foul on the dramatic Dackers, before Sports brought on Arlott-John for goal scorer Wright.

Luck continued to desert Mickleover and after 77 mins Dales tried a long shot, saved at full stretch by Huffer, before Arlott-John’s attempt to collect the rebound was thwarted by the visitors defence.

Hawkins had to pull off another save to keep Johnson out and with eight minutes left, Haw was on the end of a cross from Arlott-John but the keeper collected his effort.

With time almost up Haw hit the post with another header, but time ran out and it was another home defeat 1-3.

Sports are now in 19^th place, only a point away from relegation, with two of the teams below us having two games in hand.

by Peter Scherer

Following last Saturday’s first away win at Atherton Collieries, Mickleover will be looking to return to winning form at home too, with the visit of Stalybridge Celtic to the Don Amott Arena.

Like so many NPL teams, including ourselves, Stalybridge have had mixed fortunes this season. Having lost their first two matches they had a home win against Morpeth, before suffering two successive away defeats at Lancaster and Buxton.

A home win against Ashton, preceded defeats against Basford and Matlock, followed by the first of two away wins at Scarborough.

It was after a 1-0 defeat at Gainsborough that they had a run of four successive wins, beating FC United 5-2, Whitby away, Stafford at home and a 5-0 hammering of Grantham at home.

But the tide has turned again and they have lost their last two games against Warrington and Bamber Bridge and are currently 11^th in the table with seven wins and nine defeats, on 21 points, five ahead of Mickleover.

So let’s take a look at their team. Current first choice goalkeeper is former Leeds United Academy player Will Huffer. He made one first appearance at Elland Road and two more league starts while on loan at Barnet. But following his release last summer after 13 years, he initially joined Bradford PA, before moving onto Bradford City, where he stayed until June this year.

He joined Stalybridge earlier this month and played for England at Under 17, 18 and 20 levels.

Second choice keeper Jahquil Hill was only signed this month too. The Bermudan international started out at FC United before joining Mansfield Town in 2013. He moved on to Ilkeston, Stafford Rangers and Rushall Olympic and was due to play for Oakville Blue Devils in Canada, before opting to stay in the UK with Hereford. 

After going back to Stafford for a season, he returned to Bermuda with Robin Hood, and then came back to the UK during the summer.

Right back Dougie Nyaupembe was a Bury youth team player, who made the first team twice. He was loaned to Hyde and Stalybridge, before a short stay at Prescot and a permanent move to Atherton 2019. He joined Radcliffe in January 2020 and came to Stalybridge in pre-season.

Ashley Smith-Brown is another full back who had 17 years on Manchester City’s books. He never made the first team, but gained valuable experience on loan at NAC Breda where he played 30 games, Hearts and Oxford. 

He moved to Plymouth in 2018 playing 36 matches, but after a loan at Oldham he was released and signed for Farsley Celtic. He was also capped by England at under 16,17,18,19 and 20 levels.

Defender or midfielder Sam Wedgbury was signed by Sheffield United a teenager, having been spotted playing for Worcester City. He didn’t get a first team start but was loaned to Mansfield and Ferencvaros, where he played 17 games and scored two goals for the Hungarian side.

After his release from the Blades he joined Macclesfield, then in league two and after three years and 100 games plus a loan at Altrincham, he was on the move again to Stevenage for one season.

Further spells Forest Green Rovers, Wrexham, Chesterfield and Buxton preceded his pre-season move to Stalybridge. He is also capped at England C level.

Connor O’Grady is a defender who started his career at Sheffield Wednesday. He made two appearances for the Owls before his release in 2019, from where he joined Buxton and came to Stalybridge in June this year.

Keenan Quansah is a defender or midfielder who came through the ranks at Accrington Stanley. Following his release he spent three months with Burscough, moving on to Mossley and Hyde Utd. He came to Stalybridge pre-season after nearly three years at Glossop North End.

Winger Jay Fitzmartin is currently on loan from Bolton Wanderers, who he joined from local football as an 11 year old. He has made one team appearance at Bolton.

Charley Doyle is a midfielder or centre back who came to Stalybridge September last year, after 13 years coming through the ranks at Blackburn Rovers.

Midfielder Marcus Dackers is the clubs leading scorer with five goals. The Welsh Youth International played his youth football at Manchester City and Brighton. He was released from Brighton in July after a loan spell at Lancing, joining Salford City from where he is currently on loan.

Ethan Padden is a midfielder who came to Stalybridge from Buxton during the summer. He was a youth player at Chesterfield, before a move to Glossop North End preceded his stay at Buxton.

Justin Johnson is a well travelled winger who joined Stalybridge in September. In his youth he started at Sparta Rotterdam, before joining Manchester Utd. Moving on to FC United he then joined Dundee Utd, from where he had a short loan spell at York City.

Othellos Athienou in Cyprus was his next stop, plus a loan at Akritas Chlorakas. Back in Scotland he was at Hamilton Academicals, before coming to Stalybridge from Greenock Morton.

Right back Josh Dawodu is currently on loan from Sheffield Wednesday until November. He joined the Owls in 2017, after playing his earlier youth football at Arsenal.

Shane Killock is a defender who started out at Osset, before joining Huddersfield Town. He made one first team appearance for the Terriers, before being loaned to Hyde and Harrogate. He then had another loan at Oxford before a permanent move in 2009. He then moved on to Telford, where he made over 130 appearances and captained the side. Harrogate, Guiseley on loan, Hyde, Bradford PA and Boston Utd followed, and after spending a season at Alfreton he signed for Buxton, then came to Stalybridge in June.

Stephen Brogan is both experienced and a play anywhere utility player, capped by England as a C International. He made 76 appearances for Rotherham Utd in Leagues One and two, before joining Stalybridge on loan in 2007. 

After a short spell at Alfreton he came back to Stalybridge, then moved to Guiseley, Forest Green Rovers and Southport. A brief return to Stalybridge in 2015 then preceded spells at Gainsborough, North Ferriby, Boston Utd and Spennymoor, before a fourth spell at Stalybridge after he was signed from Buxton.

Jake Burton is a young striker currently on loan from Tranmere Rovers. He had made five appearances for Tranmere and returns to his host after this weekend.

Scott Bakkor is a striker signed from Skelmersdale in 2018. He has also played for Colwyn Bay. Marine, Witton Albion and Curzon Ashton.

Republic of Ireland International Stephen O’Halloran is also the clubs assistant manager. A massively experienced player who started out at Aston Villa, then Wycombe, Southampton, Leeds Utd, Swansea, Coventry and Carlisle, before moving into no league with Nuneaton in 2012.

Further moves have taken him to Stockport, Salford and FC United, before arriving at Stalybridge in July 2019.

by Peter Scherer

Mickleover have been adding to the squad again with the signing of Guiseley’s highly rated teenaged striker Adam Haw.

A graduate of Guiseley’s own youth programme, Haw has made 14 appearances for the first team, scoring two goals, but has also loaned out to Emley, where he scored twice in eight games.

I am delighted to get Adam on loan. He’s a young player with a great talent and I am looking forward to seeing his progression whilst he is with us.

said Sports’ manager, John McGrath.

He was on the bench for Mickleover at last Saturday away win at Atherton Collieries.

Report from Atherton Collieries FC media with additional words by Peter Scherer

Goals from Andy Dales and the returning Stuart Beavon gave a Mickleover their first away win of the season and their first win since the end of August, returning home 2-1 victors at Atherton Collieries.

Starting line-up 1-Callum Hawkins 2-Jake Bennett 3-Jordan Gough 4-Joe Bateman 5-Phil Watt 20-Pablo Mills 6-Liam Ravenhill 7-Andy Dales 8-Andrew Wright 10=Stuart Beavon 15-Kemy Agustien, Subs: Adam Haw, Mason Warren, Bobby Battisson, Roger Lee, Dec Bacon.

Chances proved hard to come by in the first half for both teams, Marcus Cusani going close for the hosts and Luke Hutchinson making a good save from a Mickleover attack. Both defences were well and truly on top as their attacking colleagues struggled to break through.

The game could only improve in the second half and it did significantly. It was Mickleover who seized the advantage on the hour mark, Andy Dales evading unscathed from some tepid defending and firing a speculative low drive which got the better of Atherton keeper Hutchinson 1-0..

In their search for a response, Atherton created a couple of good openings. Danny Lambert and Matty Gillam both found themselves denied in the penalty box. However, the hosts luck turned with ten minutes left on the clock, when full back Gareth Peet was tripped in the box. The referee pointing straight to the spot and Gillam tucked the penalty home with confidence to level the scores. 1-1.

Hawkins saved well as Peet tried a close range shot, but it was still deadlock with time running out, but it was Stuart Beavon that struck late on for Mickleover, taking a chance well at the near post to send the Sports  on their return home jubilant with a 2-1 victory.