by Peter Scherer

Mickleover Reserves returned to winning ways last Saturday with a 3-1 win away to bottom of the table Ashland Rovers, with goals from George Atwal, Jayden Cozens and Declan Brown.

Although the Central Midlands League Premier Division South is due to be completed by the end of the month, Sports youngsters still have five matches to play!

Tomorrow (Tuesday) we are at home to Derby Singh Brothers at the Don Amott Arena, on Thursday 20th they visit Teversal, before going to South Normanton on Saturday 22^nd.

The 29^th is the final home game against Graham St.Prims, but the away trip to Nottingham FC is still to be arranged.

by Peter Scherer

Rushden & Diamonds are our next port of call on Saturday afternoon, as we strive to make it five successive wins, to sustain the pressure on the clubs currently in the play-off positions.

Former Football League side Rushden & Diamonds have been in turmoil all season with numerous changes both on and off the field.

With one win against St Ives in the last 10 games, they have a goal difference of -50 and are currently bottom of the table, with no other points since the end of last year.

Chris Nunn took over just before Christmas, having left Kempston Rovers and has made the side almost unrecognisable from side we beat 2-0 back in October, as he strives for their survival.

Keeper Dean Snedker was a Northampton Town Junior, who moved onto Brackley after an initial loan. Kidderminster, Nuneaton, Kettering, Cambridge City and St Albans were his next ports of call, before a year at Hemel preceded his move to Rushden in August 2021. He was also an England Under 19 International.

He was back behind between the sticks last weekend, having lost his place to Frenchman Loris Marcimain on loan from St Albans City.

Centre back Ryan Hughes started at Northampton too and after a loan at St Neots, he came to Rushden on loan too for three months until January 2020. Further loans at Banbury and Corby followed, before a permanent move to our hosts in August 2020.

Defender Luca Doorbar Baptist was a January arrival from Peterborough Sports, having started his career as a Nottingham Forest Junior. He was also on a dual registration with Cambridge City recently.

Fellow defender Miguel Lopez De Matos came from Hadley FC in January. He also played for Waltham Abbey, Potters Bar, Northwood, Staines, Welling and Kempton.

Charlie Pattison was signed in January too. A midfielder, he started as an MK Dons Junior, before joining Dunstable. After a spell at Banbury he rejoined Dunstable, from where he was picked up by our hosts.

Central defender Luke Massingham was a pre-Christmas  signing from Thame Utd. Standing at 6ft 4in, he scored their first goal in six games last weekend. An ex Wealdstone Junior, he captained Slough Town and played for Staines, Bracknell, Chalfont St Peter, Rayners Lane and Kempston. He was also manager Chris Nunn’s first signing.

Right back Eniola Agemoh-Davies was signed in August last year from Cambridge City, he is another ex Northampton player, who’s played for Stratford, Potters Bar, Soham and St Ives.

George Joyce is another right back. He played his junior football at Boreham Wood, before moving to Hitchin Town last November. He arrived at Rushden in January.

Midfielder Mitchell White came from Cogenhoe Utd in November, having previously been a junior at Rushden.

Midfielder Luis Pinto-Leite started his career in Portuguese Junior football, before a stay at Bloomfield College in New Jersey. He signed for Rushden in July last year, through a Scholarship programme with Moulton College.

Courtney Lashley is a left back who arrived at Rushden in July last year from Northampton Town, but is currently out on loan.

Andy Mandjoba started out at Blackpool, but moved to South Liverpool on his release. The midfielder moved on to Loughborough University, before coming to Rushden last October.

Midfielder Nigel Chikamba has become part of the first team squad, after coming through the clubs own junior ranks.

Striker Jenson Cooper was a summer 2022 signing from Shrewsbury Town’s Academy, while midfielder Fraser Corden  only broke into the first team at the beginning of this season, having graduated through the clubs own youth scheme.

James Burnside is another striker signed in January from Real Bedford. He was previously at Potton Utd and Newport Pagnell where he was a prolific scorer.

Striker Charlie Black was signed last September from UD Poblense in Spain. A former Luton Town Junior, he has played for Dunstable. Arlesey and Biggleswade too and has played in Finland and the US.

Bogdan Marian is a Rumanian born defender, currently on loan from Watford. Both attacking midfielder Joel Anker and defender Charlie Waller are on loan from MK Dons, having previously been loaned to Tring Athletic. Waller captain Dons Under 21’s.

Kick off is at 3pm.

by Peter Scherer

Mickleover FC Reserves club secretary Fran Fuller will face her owns fears an apprehension on February 17th, when she takes to the Tottenham Hotspur Skywalk.

I am doing this to raise awareness for young sports people, mainly with mental health in football. We are all aware of issues across all sports, but the passing of our own young goalkeeper Fin Bowen has brought it even more to my attention,

explained Fran.

The FA and PFA already do a lot, but I have decided to challenge my own emotions and fears, do the Skywalk and the drop into the stadium from 46.8 metres above the pitch.

Fran will be accompanied by a couple of friends and plans to wear one of the Fin Bowen Tribute T Shirts for her challenge.

I had known about this opportunity for a while, but it’s my 60th year and I wanted to mark it with 60 new things, combining awareness and challenges. I have a fear of heights and no one has influenced me to do this or not, it’s purely my decision.

She is quick to point out that it is not for charity, it’s for awareness.

I wanted to feel I contributed, the Mickleover FC lads are already raising funds for a mini bus. So setting myself this challenge is an achievement for me, as well raising awareness to the mental health problems that some of our young sports people have, and so often can go undetected.