Category: First Team

ANNOUNCEMENT: The Helen Belgrave Memorial Trophy

We are pleased to announce that Mickleover Sports Football Club will be participating in a match against Borrowash Victoria in memory of Helen Belgrave (mother of Mickleover Sports player Lewis Belgrave) who sadly passed away earlier this year.

The game will take pace on Saturday 8th July (12.30pm kick off) at the Marstons Ground in Burton, with the winners claiming the new ‘Helen Belgrave Memorial Trophy’.

This will be an annual event that is kindly being sponsored by Mickleover Sports chairman Don Amott.

 

 

ANNOUNCEMENT: Season Ticket Prices Frozen For Another Season

We are pleased to announce the decision that season ticket pricing will remain at the same levels of last season.

Committee member Dave Bird said:

‘The price of our season tickets will remain as they were for the 2016/17 season. We feel like something really special is happening at the football club and we want as many of our supporters to be a part of our journey forward as possible. Freezing season ticket prices makes perfect sense to achieve this’.

The price for adults is once again set at £180.00.

Interested? Great! Simply send an email to tonys@mickleoversportsfc.com and we will arrange for you to collect your ticket(s).

McGrath Fights Off Competition To Keep Jake Scott

First-team player manager John McGrath has fought off a number of other clubs to keep midfielder Jake Scott at Mickleover Sports Football Club.

Scott was signed by McGrath during the 2016/17 season and made 23 league appearances for the club, mostly in midfield.

McGrath said:

“Really pleased that we managed to keep hold of Jake for the upcoming 2017/18 season. He is a vital part of my team and someone who had a big impact on the squad and how we played when he signed last season. A combative midfielder but very good with the ball at  his feet, Jake adds quality to our ever growing squad. We fought off alot of competition to keep hold of him and i am delighted to be working closely with him again next season.

#SportsRising #HappyDays

Tom Burgin Re-Signs For Sports

Following the recent spate of new player signings, Sports first-team captain Tom Burgin has re-signed – news that has delighted player-manager John McGrath.

McGrath said:

“I am delighted to announce that our skipper and leader Tom Burgin has re-signed for the 2017/18 season. Burgs had a  tremendous season last year and forged a formidable partnership with fellow centre-back Pablo Mills.

Burgs is not only a leader on the pitch but he also takes his role as skipper off the pitch and is a constant source of advice to myself as manager and all the players in the squad . I believe a manager/captain relationship is vitally important.”

Burgin was always a target for McGrath and his first season at the Don Amott Arena was a successful one, with consistently solid performances in the heart of defence.

#SportsRising #HappyDays

McGrath Names Assistant Manager And First Team Coach

We are delighted to announce that player-manager John McGrath has appointed Sports-legend Liam Walsh as his assistant manager and Clinton Morrison as the first team coach going into the 17/18 season.

These appointments once again underline the ambition of the football club and are seen to be major appointments.

 

Image: Liam Walshe

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On Liam Walsh, John said:

‘I am delighted to announce Liam Walshe as my new assistant manager. He is a face that will be very familiar with everyone involved at Mickleover Sports. Liams philosophy on football and how it should be played mirror my own views and as soon as I sat down and spoke to him I knew he was the correct fit not just for me but for us as a club. He has vast experience playing the game and I am looking forward to working closely with him. He is a born winner and a natural leader and someone I trust 100% which is vitally important in our relationship as manager and assistant manager.’

Liam Walsh said:

‘This is an opportunity I simply couldn’t turn down. Its great to be given a chance to return to a club where I had some of the most enjoyable years of my career. The gaffer and I share the same thoughts on how the game should be played and I am looking forward to helping him move the club forward on the pitch. Im now really looking forward to getting started’

McGrath has also secured the signing of former Republic of Ireland striker Clinton Morrison as first team coach (and player) following Morrison joining Sports as a player last season.

 

McGrath made the following statement regarding Morrison:

‘I am excited to announce Clinton as our new first team coach. Clinton will bring with him a wealth of knowledge in to the role and I know his passion for the game is unrivalled and his enthusiasm is infectious and this is vital as we look to nurture the young players coming through. Clinton will still be available to play so has loads to offer not only as a player but now as my first team coach. I thought long and hard about my back-room staff appointments and my relationship with Clinton has grown over the last 12 months and he is someone I admire greatly in the game and trust 100% and I am glad he accepted my offer to join the back-room staff as first team coach.’

Morrison said:

I am delighted to have been asked to take the responsibility of first team coach and I am looking forward to helping the team and the rest of the management staff to utilise my experience to hopefully guide Mickleover Sports to a successful season. Having spoken to the gaffer at length about my role with him I am going to use my experience and help our strikers first and foremost and pass on some of the knowledge and know-how that helped me so well throughout my career. We have some exceptional talent and attacking options at our disposal and the gaffer has assembled a really good squad not just at the attacking end but throughout the whole side.’

 

These appointments should serve to excite Sports’ loyal fanbase who already know what both signings will bring to the table. With the recent signings of Bradley Grayson and Evan Garnett, and many more announcements on the way, 2017/18 promises to be an exciting season down at the Don Amott Arena.

 

 

Danny Gordon Signs For Sports

Mickleover Sports boss John McGrath has completed the signing of midfielder Danny Gordon from Ilkeston FC.

Danny was Ilkeston captain and has a good level of experience given he is still just 23 years old.

John McGrath said:

“I am delighted to get Danny for the 2017/18 season. He is a player with loads of experience but still only 23 years old. He is someone who I have monitored for some time now and know we beat a host of clubs to get his signature. He captained Ilkeston through a difficult time at their club and that maturity and level of commitment is something I admire greatly in him”

Danny Gordon also commented:

“Delighted to sign for Mickleover. Looking forward to working with the gaffer and pleased to be a part of exciting times for the club. Can’t wait to get started”

This signing further signals the intent of the football club and underlines the desire to contest for promotion in the 2017/18 season.

#SportsRising

 

John McGrath Signs New Contract At Sports

We are excited to announce that first team player-manager John McGrath has put pen to paper in a new 2-year deal, keeping him at Mickleover Sports until 2019.

McGrath lead Sports to a mid-table finish in the NPL Premier Division following a relegation battle in the season before he arrived, spelling excellent progress.

Sports Chairman Don Amott said:

“So pleased John has decided to sign a new 2 year deal with the club – he is a key figure of our future and I believe a strong relationship between the manager and the chairman is so important in all football clubs. It’s a pleasure for me to work with John”.

McGrath added:

“I am delighted to continue my work as manager of Mickleover Sports and show my commitment by signing a new two year contract. With everything happening off the pitch with our new development going ahead and with the support of the chairman Don Amott, the board and club committee members, Mickleover Sports is a club that has an exciting future ahead and I am privileged to be a part of it all”.

McGrath has already made progress during this close-season with the signing of highly-rated strikers Bradley Grayson, and Evan Garnett signalling his intent to continue to build an attractive brand of attacking football.

In addition McGrath has worked hard to confirm a rich line-up of pre-season friendlies including Sheffield United, Notts County, Burton Albion, Coventry City and Mansfield Town. Click here to see the full list: https://mickleoverfc.com/1st-team-fixtures/

 

 

REVEALED: New Home Kit

We are excited to reveal the new Mickleover Sports FC home kit for the new 17/18 season.
 
The new home shirt sponsor is ‘Prostate Cancer’ (Prostate Cancer UK) – this has been paid for by Mickleover Sports chairman Don Amott as a gesture towards his ongoing support of important charity organisations. Don Amott will continue to be featured as the away kit sponsor.
 
As per last year, the other home kit sponsors are Escape Design & Print (Derby), and Monetise (UK Lead Generation).
 
The kit is once again supplied by the excellent XBlades Sports, and we can confirm that it will be available for purchase from our online store (date TBC).
 
We hope you love it like we do!
 
#ExcitingTimes #SportsRising

Transfer News: Bradley Grayson Signs For Sports

We are delighted that striker Bradley Grayson has signed for Sports amid heavy competition for his signature.

Bradley is a strong, pacy 24 year old striker who hails from Doncaster and made four appearances for Doncaster Rovers which preceded spells with Frickley Athletic, Matlock Town, Stocksbridge Steels and Buxton FC. He has also plied his trade abroad with Ange IF in Sweden where he scored an impressive 24 goiaqls in 22 games, Cumberland FC in South Australia and Loyola Mercalo Sparks in the Phillipines.

Last season in the NPL with Buxton he scored 20 goals, and 28 goals in all competitions.

Grayson is the second striker secured by first team manager, John McGrath, who has promised there will be plenty more transfer activity before the season restarts in August, and further demonstrates the club’s ambitious outlook.

Image: Grayson with Club Secretary, Tony Shaw

Highly-Rated Striker Signs For Sports

Mickleover Sports have secured the signing of Evan Garnett, a highly-rated striker from Belper Town.

Garnett began his career with Burton Albion, spending two and a half years on their books before joining Worksop Town.

He has also played for Ilkeston and Hucknall before linking up for a spell with Belper Town, for whom he scored 19 goals in the first half of the 2015/16 season.

Conference side Kidderminster Harriers came calling and signed him in January 2016 but opportunities were few and far between for Evan, both there and at Alfreton Town who he later joined and in November 2016 he returned to Belper for the rest of that season scoring 5 goals.

Manager John McGrath, who tried to sign Garnett last season has had to wait until now to finally get his signature.

There will be another big signing announcement coming very soon…

#SportsRising