Category: Club News

Our New Pitch Passes Inspection

On 11/8/2021 the new 3G pitch at Mickleover Sports has passed it’s inspection. Tony Shaw, club Secretary, reported that the Labosport inspection was a complete success with the inspector describing the pitch as

one of the best 3G pitches he has reported on – up to Champions League standard.

This is the latest stage in the installation of the pitch. Emily Brett the Pitch Operations Manager has something that she can be very proud of under her control for hire. We are looking forward to welcoming visitors to the Don Amott Arena this season and have great plans for the future.

Collaborations are already in place with Derby County Women staging their games at the ground on Sundays as well as a regular training evening booked in. Mickleover reserves staged their first home game on the pitch on Tuesday 10th and are booked in for matches on Saturdays when the first team are away. Mickleover Juniors will start taking advantage of the facility for training in the week and for matches on Saturday mornings. Newly formed Mickleover Athletic will be playing fixtures on Saturdays with 12.30 kick offs arranged. There are three six-a-side leagues who will be playing games on Monday and Sunday Evenings.

Club Treasurer Neil Hadfield said

It’s fantastic to see all of the hard work that has gone into the project come to fruition and special thanks must go to our Chairman Mr Amott, Keith Loring, and all of the back- room volunteers who have all been involved in the process.

He is also very pleased with the support and backing that has been received from local companies who have taken Ground boards.

The support means a lot and enables us to remain a local community club.

The first teams first home league fixture will be on Tuesday 17th August against Gainsborough Trinity. Entertainment will be on site from 6.15pm. Admission £12.00 Adults £8.00 Concessions. Car parking £2.00. Why not come along and watch football as it should be played on our Champions League standard pitch?

 

A Double Celebration At Mickleover

by Peter Scherer

With the new 3G pitch in place and the official ceremonials conducted by Derby City Mayor Robin Wood, with Burton Albion’s Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Dino Maamria and Mickleover’s Don Amott and John McGrath, it was time for football.

Mickleover’s traditional charity match against neighbours Burton Albion was mainly an Academy line-up from Mickleover, with Burton fielding their under 23 side.

Mickleover team

1-Fin Bowen 2-Jake Edge-Lucas 3-Ben Lewin 4-George Atwal 5-Ethan Mann 6-Will Robinson 7-Sam Tingle 8- Ben Gowing 9-Will Monteiro 10-Stuart Beavon 11-Bobby Battisson. Subs: Larrel King, Roger Lee, James Snedden, Josh Satchwell, Fin Barker, Freddie Murphy, Devon Smith.

It was a fairly even first five minutes before Beavon picked up on a loose ball and fired over from well outside the box.

Burton responded with their first attack after a good clearance by the Burton keeper, but it was still end to end.

After 10 minutes Monteiro put a good ball in the Burton box, Battisson was poised to receive but it bounced unkindly for the midfielder, who was unable to connect.

It was only three minutes later when Lewin started an attack down the left, which developed into a bit of a goal mouth scramble. Gowing’s first attempt was blocked, but his second was in the back of Burton net 1-0.

Mickleover seemed to gain in confidence and the attacks became more positive, as Burton seemed to sit back. Monteiro put a cross in after 17 minutes, with Beavon’s header just wide.

But Burton were quick to break given the chance, and after a 20th minute corner from Atwal was intercepted, they went on a charge, forcing Bowen to sprint off his line and end the danger.

Wing backs Edge-Lucas and Lewin started to move forward and were linking well with Sam Tingle, Atwal and Battisson, while Monteiro and Beavon continued to cause trouble for the Burton defence.

Atwal put a nice ball through to Monteiro after  21 minutes and a few minutes later a more gradual build-up controlled by Gowing, left Atwal free but his shot was saved.

As the half hour approached a Lewin cross was dropped by the Burton keeper, but no one was there to collect. Beavon then had a shot saved, before his rebound attempt was blocked.

Burton continued to be forced so far back into their own half, that centre backs Mann and Robinson began to push forward too.

Mann missed an interception but Robinson had it covered, and it was Robinson again that saw off a brief Burton threat after 35 minutes.

For the final 10 minutes of the first half Burton started to push forward again, but wasted a chance when they fouled Bowen.

Just before the whistle Atwal had a  random shot well over for Mickleover, but it was comfortable at 1-0.

Beavon was on the attack as soon as the second half kicked off. His first shot was saved, before he had a header just over from the following corner,

Burton had a shot after 48 minutes but didn’t trouble Bowen and it was then time for Mickleover’s first sub, with King on for Edge-Lucas.

The attacks continued to be mainly one-way, with a Lewin, Gowing, Beavon move sending Monteiro through with a shot just wide again.

54 minutes and there were more subs, as Lee and Snedden were on for Gowing and Atwal.

The possession continued in Mickleover’s favour and on the hour Battisson found himself in space, and let rip with a cracking shot into the top right corner, with the Burton keeper well beaten, 2-0.

Satchwell then came on for Robinson and shortly afterwards it was Barker for Monteiro, but it was still Mickleover pushing forward.

Battisson and Tingle then came off for Smith and Murphy, but the pattern of the game looked well set in Mickleover’s favour.

Burton had one of the best chances after 76 minutes, the shot on goal was bent well wide of the target, and finally Smith was through from a Beavon pass, but his attempt went wide.

A successful night on all counts and there was a crowd of 425 to witness it.

Sports Welcome The Brewers and The Mayor to Open New 3G Pitch

BURTON Albion manager Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and assistant manager Dino Maamria will officially open Mickleover FC’s revamped Don Amott Arena – which includes a brand new 3G pitch – on Thursday, July 29.

Hasselbaink and Maamria, along with Councillor Robin Wood, the Mayor of Derby, will be on hand to officially open the new facility, which has been constructed in time for the upcoming Pitching In NPL Premier Division season, and a Burton Albion XI will play Mickleover in a friendly match on the same night (7.30pm kick-off).

Construction on the project began in April, with the new 3G pitch being installed along with 250 new red seats being implemented in the new main stand and brand new LED floodlights.

The facility will also be open for bookings to the public and other teams – providing a valuable asset to the local community – while helping to prevent league games being called off due to waterlogged pitches.

Tickets for the friendly cost £10 for adults and £6 for concessions, with children under the age of 16 going free.

Mickleover, managed by former Brewers midfielder John McGrath, were top of the NPL Premier Division prior to the 2020/21 season being curtailed.

Mickleover FC Chairman Don Amott said:

We would like to thank Burton Albion and Chairman Ben Robinson for their support and for bringing a Burton Albion XI for a friendly game.

We must also thank Jimmy and Dino for taking time out of their busy schedules to come and open our new facility – which we are delighted to see come to fruition and which will be of a huge benefit I’m sure to the local community.

Burton Albion Chairman Ben Robinson said:

We are delighted to be able to open Mickleover FC’s magnificent new facility, which we are sure will be of massive benefit not just to the club but the local community in Mickleover.

Don Amott has long been a supporter of Burton Albion, including sponsoring our West Stand terrace at the Pirelli Stadium, and we have always looked to support Mickleover where possible. I know Jimmy and Dino are honoured to have been invited to perform the official opening.

With a fantastic manager and chairman, both of whom we know very well, and this new facility in place, we’re sure Mickleover can build on their magnificent start to last season and push on again in the Northern Premier League next term. We wish them every success.

Mickleover And Borrowash Victoria Become Partners

by Peter Scherer

It’s official, local Step 6 side Borrowash Victoria have become partners.

It’s something we have been working on for some time and I am glad to finally get it announced and move forward.

said Mickleover FC Manager John McGrath.

The Vics team currently play in the United Counties League Division 1.

We are delighted to enter into a partnership with Mickleover FC and we view this as a fantastic opportunity for the continuing development of our club, not just on the pitch but off it as well

It will give our players a target to aspire to the Mickleover 1st team in Step 3 of the FA pyramid, but also give Mickleover the option to blood some of their talented young players in our team, in preparation for the progress to the 1st team too.

After we had discussions at Mickleover with John and Chairman Don Amott, it was a no brainer for both clubs. We can’t wait to get to work with our new partners and give a local young footballers more opportunities at a higher level.

added Vics’ Secretary and General Alan Ure.

Playing at Borrowash will allow some of our young players to bridge between our reserves and 1st team and allow much needed game time to challenge our players,

It is also, and just as important serving as a fantastic community initiative bringing both clubs together too.

John McGrath concluded.

Statement on behalf of Mickleover F.C.

On the 22nd June at 11.00pm thieves have taken 11 rolls of pitch carpet from the ground at Station Road. We are working alongside our wonderful contractor Tim Pugh Lewis to get replacement carpet. This will delay the opening of the new pitch.

Don Amott the chairman of the football club issued the following statement:-

The news overnight of this theft is a devastating blow to the football club. All of the people who work around the club are volunteers who give up their personal time to help a local community club. We will come back from this stronger and look forward to celebrating with the local community once the project is completed.

If anyone has any information about the theft please contact Derbyshire Constabulary.

Beavon Doubles Sinks Heanor Hopes

by Peter Scherer

Three second half goals for Mickleover ended any hopes Heanor Town had of a comeback in the Don Amott Spring Cup semi final.

It was a full strength side from Mickleover on this occasion, 1-Fin Bowen 2-Larell King 3-Jake Bennett 4-Kemy Agustien 5-James Butler 6-Alex Morris 7-George Milner 8-Mason Warren 9-Paddy Webb 10-Stuart Beavon 11-Declan Bacon. Subs – Josh Waldram, Ethan Mann, Will Monteiro, Ben Gowing.

Mickleover won a corner in the first minute, which was played out to Warren whose shot was just wide.

But Heanor responded similarly a few minutes later, before there was a brief scare when Bowen came off his line and a Heanor striker tried to chip over him.

Mickleover soon started to settle into the precise interplay that took them to the top of the Northern Premier League, with King playing a through ball on the overlap to Agustien, finding Webb who just missed out with a header.

Beavon almost got Webb through too, before Adam Jablonski in the Heanor goal intercepted.

Heanor kept trying to push forward, and after one of their attacks broke down, Webb burst clear but was fouled as his progress ceased.

On the 15 minute mark Mickleover struck, when a cross from the left found Beavon’s head, beating the keeper on his left side. 1-0.

Five minutes later Heanor could have equalised, after a high bouncing ball caught Bowen out, only for the pursuing Heanor player to go down.

Possession became more and more in Mickleover’s favour, with King and Bennett both overlapping, while Agustien and Warren alternating between staying deep and joining the attack.

After a 21st minute cross from Milner, followed a long ball from Agustien. The keeper came out but from a scramble, Beavon had the ball with his back to goal, from where the host defence cleared.

There was another chance for Heanor after 33 minutes, when a telling cross from Joe Nice on the left found Kyle Daley, whose shot was well over the top.

Jordan Ball had another shot for Heanor, so high it went out of the ground, but Mickleover were keen for a second goal before half time.

King had a shot well saved by the keeper after 40 minutes, before Heanor’s Lewis Weaver followed up his weak initial effort, with a more precise shot, stretching Bowen to his limit with a good diving save.

Bacon managed another shot from a Webb cross for Mickleover, saved in the final minutes of the first half, so it remained 1-0 at the break.

Heanor started the started the second strongly with Daley shooting straight at Bowen, plus two more shots well off target.

Butler also caused some concern with a short back pass, forcing Bowen to race off his line.

Beavon and Bacon both had shots saved after six minutes, before the substitution was made with Gowing on for Agustien.

After 15 minutes Bennett’s run into the area was thwarted when he was brought down, but penalty appeals were waved away.

Five minutes later Milner had a point black shot saved from a Beavon cross, before the rebound hit the bar.

Monteiro came on as the second sub, and made an immediate impact. His 25th shot came out and Bennett smashed the rebound high into the Heanor net, 2-0.

Waldram then came on for Webb and Mann for King, but apart from an occasional random shot the last 10 minutes were all Mickleover, with Morris and Butler continuing to look solid at the back.

With five minutes left Warren’s shot was deflected passed Jablonski, 3-0 and almost on the full time whistle Beavon made it 4-0, as Mickleover now move in to Saturday’s final.