Category: Club News

Bencherif Comes To Mickleover

by Peter Scherer

Mickleover have signed former Worksop Town centre back and skipper Hamza Bencherif for the forthcoming season.

A former Nottingham Forest Junior, Hamza has also played to Notts County, Lincoln City, Plymouth Argyle, Macclesfield, Halifax, Wrexham and York City and was at Guiseley for three years, before spending the last four with Worksop.

He was also capped at under 20 level by Algeria and won the FA Trophy in consecutive years with Halifax and York.

I had spoken to the management at the end of last season, and we discussed prospects and ambition and how they hoped the future would go. I have the experience and think we should be a good fit, and my ambition and drive are a key part why I said yes,

he explained.

It was obvious we needed to add physicality and leadership to the group and Hamza brings this in abundance. Having captained Worksop last year and helped them get promoted from step 4 to step 2. He’s another tremendous addition to the club,

added Mickleover manager Gareth Holmes.

Striker Norkett Back For More

by Peter Scherer

After spending the second half of last season at the Don Amott Arena on loan from Boston Utd, Mickleover are delighted to confirm that ex Manchester Utd and Nottingham Forest Academy striker Manni Norkett has made his move permanent for the forthcoming season.

Manni did really well for the club when he came in last season, scoring 13 goals in 15 games. This record attracted a lot of interest, but he wants to improve and wants to score more goals. The club gave him a great opportunity to thrive and he knows what we are looking to achieve next season

said Sports boss Gareth Holmes.

It was in terms of my football that drew me back to Mickleover. Last season I was happy with my football, and that’s the most important thing to me and I enjoyed scoring goals again. The club has a lot of good prospects and if everything is done right, we can definitely make the step up. The area, facilities and fan base, I haven’t seen better in non-league,

Manni added.

Sanders Signs For Sports

by Peter Scherer

Defender Sam Sanders is coming to the Don Amott Arena from National League South Truro City. A left back or centre back Sam started his career at Nottingham Forest and played for York City and Boston Utd, before joining Truro in July ’24 after an initial loan. He spent the last five months of last season at Worksop Town.

“The fans will love Sam, he’s a competitor and a winner. I worked with him at Forest so it’s great to have him working with me again. In two of the last three seasons he’s been promoted to the National League with York City and Truro respectively. We need to raise the bar and a signing like Sam does this for us,” said Sports manager Gareth Holmes.

“Gareth had rung me before, he was my Academy manager at Forest, but this time he talked about getting back up the league, promotion and etc and new people coming in. It sounded really good to me so I decided I wanted to be part of it and win,” Sam added.

Our New Mickleover FC Structure

Following the retirement of our Club Chairman – Don Amott, after 10 years service at the end of last season, Mickleover FC wishes to announce our new internal structure.

The new structure will ensure a robust and well planned handover to continue the financial and sporting integrity of the football club.

Over the last months – much time and effort has gone into devising a new 3 tier committee structure:

1️⃣ FIRSTLY – A collection of local businesses who will form a group who set the overall aim and strategy for the football club.

2️⃣ SECONDLY – A new Executive Committee who will have the responsibility of running the football club. This committee has been formed with several new people joining the club who are experienced business people and have the time and skills to continue the progression of Mickleover FC.

This new committee is made up of 7 people:

  • Steve Cooper
  • Matt Morgan
  • Steve Streak
  • Martin Shaw
  • David Nelson
  • Roger Lee
  • Darren Kay (Club Secretary)

The key objectives of this committee are:

✅ To achieve promotion to tier 3 as soon as possible

✅ To attract new sponsors and raise funds for the club

✅ Supporter engagement and to attract more supporters to the stadium

There will not be an individual Chairman at this stage.

3️⃣ THIRDLY – We have our hard working and diligent main committee who provide support and guidance across the club and work on the day to day operations of Mickleover FC.

We are pleased to say the new structure is up and running and all groups in the football club will aim to engage with our local community and supporters as soon as possible.

During the next few weeks! Keep an eye out for some exciting developments as we enter a new chapter in our clubs journey.

#MickleoverFC #ComeonYouSports #NewStructure

Our Rivals For 2026/27

by Peter Scherer

The latest FA league allocations have been announced today, with Mickleover remaining in the NPL Midlands Division.

From last season both Anstey Nomads and Racing Club Warwick have been promoted and St.Neots, Coventry Sphinx and Rugby Town relegated. Lichfield City have been moved to the West Division and Bourne Town, have been reprieved.

So six new teams will now be joining us, Barwell, St.Ives, Boston Town, Coventry Utd, Grantham Town and Nuneaton Town.

We will give you more of an insight into the newcomers in the next few weeks.

 

Our Players Of The Year

Supporter’s Player of the Year
Jack McDowell

Player’s Player of the Year
Will Atkinson

Manager’s Player of the Year
Andy Dales

Look out for interviews with our winners during this week.

 

The Farewell

Our official farewell to Chairman Don Amott, co-owner Colin Ford and treasurer Neil Hadfield at last Saturday’s Belper Town game.

The opportunity for all staff, players, volunteers and supporters to give their gratitude to all three for their many years of service to the club, wishing them all well for the future hoping to still see them at the club from the sidelines next season.

 

Family Matchday: Belper Town (H)

by Peter Scherer

This Saturday not only features our final home match of the season, but it’s a family day and a chance to thank Chairman Don Amott, Treasurer Neil Hadfield and announcer Nick Northover for their services to the to the club as they depart.

For Mickleover it’s been a disappointing year, which has seen us go from a possible play-off position to the lower rungs of the table.

Our visitors started the season as runaway leaders, they too have struggled of late, with five defeats from their last seven games, and just holding on to fourth and still in the play-off positions.

Back in November when we visited the Nailers, we were on the end of a 0-4 defeat, with skipper Jack Broadhead, ex Mickleover, scoring two of the goals.

Lee Attenborough has been in charge of our hosts visitors since January 2023 and lost out on promotion in the play-off’s last year.

Goalkeeper Kieran Preston is a former Scotland Under 19 international, having started his career at Bristol Rovers. He joined Grantham Town following his release and then spent six years at Basford before joining Belper in September last year. He has also played cricket for Mickleover.

Joshua Hassett was signed from Stapleford in February as cover for Preston. He had previously had a short spell at Rotherham Utd.

Ben Rhodes is an attacking right wing back, who came from Worksop in the summer of 2020. He played for Stocksbridge Steels too and was dual registered with Penistone Church.

Left back Louis Keenan came back to Belper in November 2024 from Hanley Town, having spent the previous five years with Leek Town. He started his youth career with our visitors, graduating into the first team and has played for Hednesford and Loughborough Dynamo too.

Skipper Jack Broadhead can play centre back or defensive midfield. His career started at Chesterfield, but after loans at Buxton, Matlock and Frickley he came to Mickleover in July 2015 following his release. After two seasons at the Don Amott Arena he joined Boston Utd and has played for AFC Mansfield, Grantham and Pontefract, before a four year stay at Worksop preceded his arrival at Belper in July 2024.

Fellow centre back Ioan Evans is capped by Wales at Under 17 and 19. He played his early football at Sheffield Utd, who loaned him out to Boston Utd, before joining Gainsborough on his release. He played for Tadcaster and Stalybridge too, before joining Matlock in July 2024, and came to Belper in pre-season.

Former captain Danny South returned to Belper last month from Hallam, after a two-year absence. Among his former clubs are Stocksbridge , Ossett and Frickley and he plays in defence or midfield.

Preferably a right sided midfielder, Matty Bowman is another ex Mickleover player in the Belper squad. A former Repton School pupil he played youth football at Middlesbrough and Hull City, before heading to Scotland with Dunfermline Athletic. He came to the Don Amott Arena from Basford in November 2023, and started last season at Bridlington. He started this season at Coventry Sphinx and joined our visitors in January.

Jonathan Wafula is a midfielder signed from Ilkeston in February 2025. His career started with Chesterfield, before two years each at Worksop and Shaw Lane. Gainsborough, Boston Utd, Guiseley and Matlock followed, before moving to Grantham. Basford was next before a year at Ilkeston.

Sacha Markelic is also a midfielder signed from Kimberley MW in February. He started out at Kimberley too, before a move to Corby Town in July 2022. After a spell at Heanor Town and he then started last season at Ilkeston, before returning to Kimberley.

Midfielder Lewis Austin is a product of the Nailers own youth scheme and made his NPL first team debut in March 2024.

Curtis Burrows is another midfielder and former Burton Albion junior. He then joined Ilkeston and broke through into their first team, before a loan spell at Grantham preceded a permanent move to Coalville. Further spells at Loughborough Dynamo and Corby Town followed, before joining Belper in February 2023.

Midfielder Luke Shaw came to Belper for his second spell in December from Leamington. He was at Ilkeston before his first spell back in 2015. His next stop was Grantham, before moves to Telford and Coalville, he started this season at Leamington.

Jordan Fankwe was a junior at Nottingham Forest. The midfielder came to Mickleover after his release, and then had a short spell at Watford. His next move was Salford, but quickly moved on to Basford, Anstey Nomads, Barwell and Shepshed Dynamo and joined Belper in pre-season.

Right winger Jacob Gratton came from Cleethorpes in August. He started out at Rotherham and was loaned to Guiseley before a permanent move to Farsley. He first came to Belper in October 2022, stayed nine months and then had a year at Worksop before returning. Basford was his next stop where he also started this season.

Kevin Bastos is a left winger and ex Nottingham Forest youngster. He has had a number of clubs in his career, including Grantham, Staveley MW, Ilkeston, Spalding, Loughborough, Tamworth and Basford, before first coming to Belper in July 2023. After a year he went to Kosovo with KF Istogu, before joining Basford on his UK return. He came back to Belper for a second spell in January 2025.

Striker Liam Moran came from Carlton Town last October. He’s played for Gedling MW, Boston Utd, Newark & Sherwood and Southwell City too.

Harry Draper is another striker, signed from Biggleswade in July 2024. He started out at Stevenage and was loaned to Hitchin and Royston, before joining Biggleswade on his release. After starting at Ilkeston he had a three-month loan at Belper back in 2015.

Striker Diego Di Girolamo was signed from Matlock in December. He spent his early career at Sheffield Utd and was loaned to York City and Northampton Town before joining Bristol City on his release. Lans at Cheltenham and Chesterfield followed before he was released again to join Macclesfield. His next stop was a seven year stay at Buxton, which included a loan back to Macclesfield. He then started last season at Matlock, has played in League’s One and Two and was capped by Italy at Under 18,19 and 20 levels.

Kick off at the Don Amott Arena is 3pm, with food, drinks and entertainment from 1pm.