We are delighted to announce that highly-rated midfielder Jake Scott has signed for Mickleover Sports who beat a number of other clubs to his signature.

First-team manager John McGrath had the following to say…

“I am delighted to complete the signing of Jake Scott. Jake is a player I have tried to sign before and with the help of our chairman Don Amott and all our club committee we beat a host of clubs vying for Jakes signature.

He’s a holding midfielder by trade but can also fit in at right back so his versatility will be really important to us as the season progresses.”

Player History

Scott (23) started his career at Barnsley and where he developed for 13 years, signed at the age of 7 (2000 – 2013): Played 1^st reserve game at 14 years old and was then made captain and lead the team out at Stamford Bridge vs Chelsea in FA Youth Cup (1^st year scholar). Jake played 3 times for the Barnsley first team in pre season (2 starts).

Loaned to Worksop Town FC December 2012 – 1 month (Evo Stik Premier).

Loaned to Guiseley AFC August 2013 – 1 month (Conference North).

Left Barnsley November 2013 signed for Worksop Town FC (Evo Stik Premier) – played 30 games during the remainder of that season including the play-off game vs Fylde. Went on to play over 80 games for Worksop Town FC between November 2013 – October 2015.

Signed for Bradford Park Avenue (Conference North) October 2014 – playing 25 times.

Signed for Gainsborough Trinity FC June 2016 – made 12 appearances.

Signed for Shaw Lane AFC October 2016 – made 8 appearances.

So far, Jake has made just over 130 appearances in non league, approximately 122 of those after leaving Barnsley FC in November 2013.

By Phil Matthews

Trafford 0-1 Mickleover Sports

Trafford: – Holmes, Brownhill, Neville, Langford (Derbyshire 71), Horsfall, Granite, Brown, Williams, Burns, Horrocks (Bott 81), Irakoze (Garner 65).

Subs: – Shuker, Lomax-Newton.

Sports: – Eastwood, Bennett, Turner, McGrath, Mills, Burgin, Broadhead, Schofield, Dales, Baskerville, Belgrave (Litchfield 68)

Subs: – Lansdowne, Dickinson, Ptak, Gilhooly.

Referee J Kenny

Attn: – 206

Mickleover went into their FA Trophy second round qualifying match away to Trafford FC without star striker Zeph Thomas who was away on international duty with Nevis and St Kitts. The forward has been scoring goals for fun since returning from injury and his absence would put a lot of pressure on leading scorer Adam Baskerville.

Baskerville is full of running and he used this ability to great effect with a strike that proved to be the only goal of the game after 7 minutes.

Along through ball split the home defence and the Sports striker was onto it in a flash beating keeper Matt Holmes to guide the ball into the net.

This was a match that swung one way and then the other. The hosts had plenty of possession and fashioned themselves a number of opportunities but found Jake Eastwood in the visitor’s goal in commanding form. He may not have had many saves to make but was always in the right place to gather any crosses or shots, and must have instilled confidence in his defenders.

Sports played with three central defenders and five across the middle including the two wingbacks Ben Turner and Jake Bennett. For Bennett it was his second game in 24 hours have trialled with Sheffield United Under 23s the day before.

Mickleover had their moments throughout the game but never found a finish to equal Baskerville’s goal.

Only a goal to the good against a side as keen to attack as Trafford the visitors nearly paid the price after 52 minutes. A free kick from Aaron Burns was cleared for a corner and though initially dealt with when the ball once again fell to the hosts Burns scored with a peach of a strike only to see the linesman immediately raise his flag for offside.

No one other than the officials were convinced that the goal should be ruled out as apparently the decision was given  against a player who was not clearly interfering with play.

It may have been a lucky break for Sports but it was a definite turning point. Trafford were never able to get that close to scoring again and Mickleover even fashioned a couple of half chances in the closing stages which they were unable to convert.

Manager John McGrath was clearly happy with his team’s effort and performance and could enjoy the weekend and seeing what Monday’s draw would bring.  A feeling in the Mickleover camp was that a home draw would be nice after 2 away ties in the competition to date.

We are pleased to confirm that there are spaces available on the supporters coach for this Saturday’s trip to Trafford FC in the FA Trophy.

The contest promises to be an intriguing one, with a strong lineup promised by manager John McGrath.

The coach leaves at 11.15am for a 3pm kick off at a fare of £15 (return).

Please contact Tony Shaw at tonys@mickleoversportsfc.com to book your place.

Come on Sports!

We are pleased to confirm that there are spaces available on the supporters coach for this Saturday’s trip to Leamington FC in the FA Trophy.

The contest promises to be an intriguing one, with a strong lineup promised by manager John McGrath.

The coach leaves at 12-m for a 3pm kick off at a fare of £15 (return).

Please contact Tony Shaw at tonys@mickleoversportsfc.com to book your place.

Come on Sports!

MATCH Report

By Phil Matthews

Mickleover Sports mini revival came to an end away to Grantham.

Sports have played better than much of their performance on this game, but the absence of much of their creative spark due to injury to player/manager John McGrath. With the livewire Will Norcross substituted before the half hour mark the visitors were pretty much reliant on defensively minded players for most of their midfield impetus.

Both sides like to play football, and given Mickleover’s shortcomings it was little surprise that the majority of the first half was spent on the back foot as Grantham did most of the attacking.

Sports reached the half time interval still on terms and even had an opportunity to take the lead with a move started and finished by Andy Dales whose shot was wide.

If the visitors thought that they had weathered the storm they managed to shoot themselves in the foot 4 minutes after the restart.

Dales took the ball deep into the opposition territory but when the ball was lost the visitors were too slow to recover and Barcelos was able to run the ball into the Mickleover box and fire home despite the best efforts of keeper Jake Eastwood.

In an attempt to give his team different options McGrath brought  on Zeph Thomas for his first game of the season following a long term injury.

Dales fired in a dangerous cross after 57 minutes that earned a corner, and Jake Bennett did similar 10 minutes later, with Dales shot being blocked.

Thomas had a shot from distance that flew over the bar as the game entered stoppage time.

Pablo Mills who had given a composed and assured display throughout the entire game denied the hosts the chance to double the lead 2 minutes into stoppage time with a goal line clearance after confusion in the Sports defence.

Manager John McGrath said after the game that after a poor first half his team improved in the second and probably deserved something for their second half display.