The Sports have been drawn away to Leek Town in the First Round Qualifying of the Emirates FA Cup.
The fixture takes place Tuesday 22nd September KO1945.
Tickets for this game will be on a strict first come, first served basis – please contact Tony Shaw on 07966 197246
STALEMATE FOR MICKLEOVER IN LAST PRE-SEASON FRIENDLY
by Peter Scherer
Peterborough Sports were the visitors at the Don Amott Arena, for the final pre-season friendly of the year.
There was a welcome back from injury for both Phil Watt and Paddy Webb, as manager John McGrath starts to show a hint of his line-up for the first Northern Premier league match at South Shields next week.
1-Joe Slinn 2-Jake Bennett 3-Alex Morris 4-Mason Warren 5- James Butler 6-Phil Watt 7-Ben Gowing 8-Andrew Wright 9- Declan Bacon 10-Stuart Bevan 11-George Milner.
Subs- Jacob Edge-Lucas, Paddy Webb, Pablo Mills, Darius Smith, Josh Satchwell, Ricky Ravenhill. Jackson Smith.
Goalkeeper Slinn was soon in action when he had to push out Peterborough’s first attempt for a corner only two minutes in, before the tables were turned and Beavon had a shot over the bar from Sports first corner five minutes later.
It was the home side having more of the attacking and after Gowing had a shot blocked, an attempt from Butler was punched over the bar after 15 minutes.
The interplay and short passing was again Sports strong point, but as in other games the final ball just failed to get through.
Mickleover skipper Warren was yellow carded and as they went in for half time it was still 0-0.
10 minutes into the second half Beavon tried a shot from just outside the area and went close, but as the hour approached there was a change around in the Mickleover line-up. Ravenhill was on for Warren, Webb for Milner and Jackson Smith for Slinn.
But assistant manager Ravenhill had only been on the pitch nine minutes when he followed Warren into the ref’s book with a yellow card too.
Edge-Lucas then came on for Gowing, before Webb got a break and put a ball into the visitors area, but there was no one on the receiving end,
Satchwell replaced Wright for the last 13 minutes, but with less chances developing, an 82nd minute free kick was Sports last oportunity, but Beavon’s shot hit the wall and it ended 0-0.
Mickleover FC 0 – 0 Peterborough Sports
MATCH DAY SATURDAY… TAKE A LOOK AT OUR VISITORS
by Peter Scherer
Peterborough Sports are our final pre-season visitors this weekend and have hit the ground running following their promotion as Champions of the Southern League Division 1, which sees them now in the Premier Central Division.
Manager Jimmy Dean and his assistant Daniel Ruscillo have brought in a number of new signings to join their existing squad and have won five of their seven pre-season games, with defeats to neighbours Peterborough Utd and Stamford.
Regular goalkeeper Lewis Moat joined the club from Whittlesey Athletic in 2016, while Lewis Elson started as a Peterborough Utd apprentice and has also played for Arlesey Town and Kettering.
Defender Mitch Griffiths was signed from Holbeach Utd, but started at Lincoln City. He has also played for Spalding and Deeping Rangers.
Starting his fifth season with the club Dan Bucciero is an ex Northampton Town Junior, but seen action at Eye Utd too.
Paul Malone is an experienced centre back, starting at Corby Town in 2019. He has alternated between Corby, Kettering and Stamford until joining the club in July 2018.
Centre back Brad McGowan is a new signing, joining during the summer after spending last season at Boston Utd and Frickley. He has also had a couple of years at Alfreton, having started as a Notts County Junior in 2015.
Richard Jones is one of two brothers at the club. Another centre back, he’s ex Boston Utd, Blackstones and Stamford.
Ex Southend defender Johnny Herd made 42 first team appearances for the Essex club, before joining Ebbsfleet for the 2011/12 season. He then joined Bishop Stortford, making 148 appearances over five years, before a two year stay at St Neots Town preceded his signing for Peterborough Sports in February 2019.
Primarily a right back, but just as capable as a centre back of defensive midfielder, Matty Miles had two years as a Leicester City junior, before joining Eynesbury. He had another year at St Neots and Biggleswade joining the Turbines in November last year.
In midfield they have Jim Stevenson, whose career began as a Luton Town trainee in 2013. He played for the Hatters first team 18 times scoring one goal and had loan spells at Dartford and Aldershot, before the latter became permanent. He has played at Dover, Southport and Chelmsford too.
Dan Lawlor is another long server at the club, starting his fifth season. A former Peterborough Utd junior, he has also played at Banbury, Boston Utd, Spalding and St Ives and can play right back as well as midfield.
It was October 2017 that Lewis Hilliard joined the Turbines. His first club was Rushden & Diamonds, where he spent two years, but that included loans at Ware, Hemel and Banbury.
Then via St Neots, St Albans, Boston and St Ives, he arrived at Peterborough in October 2017.
Josh McCammon came from Northampton Town in 2017 and is a qualified coach and studying for a BSc (Hons) in Strength and Conditioning with Rehabilitation.
Another new signing is Dan Jarvis, four years a Stoke City Junior before joining Wrexham in January this year, making six appearances and scoring one goal.
Mark Jones is the other half of the Jones brothers. He joined the club in 2017 after a goal a game average for Deeping Rangers was spotted by Boston Utd, He joined the Turbines from Gainsborough and in his first season with the club scored over 50 goals!
Fellow striker Maniche Sani was a Benfica under 19’s player before moving to the UK. He was spotted in a local five a side league by the Turbines management.
Cameron Johnson was signed from Deeping Rangers in July last year, but has experience at Tamworth, Boston Utd and Matlock, having started at Rossington Main.
Another vastly experienced player is midfield or striker Matt Sparrow. From a Scunthorpe Junior, he played at Brighton, Crawley, Cheltenham and Lincoln City, before spending three months with Sorrento FC in Australia.
After wintering with Gainsborough Trinity 2016/17 he went back to Australia with ECU Joondalup and Bayswater.
He played over 300 games for Scunthorpe scoring over 40 goals.
Jordan Macleod is an ex Peterborough Utd trainee and qualified coach.
Left wing or midfield is favoured by Josh Moreman, he started at Deeping Rangers and has seen action with Corby, Kettering, Stamford and Spalding before being signed in February 2016.
Finally Dion Semble-Ferris was a Peterborough Utd youth player, released in 2008. After playing for a few local youth teams he joined Colchester Utd and spent four years with them, making 25 first team appearances, as well as loan spells at Margate and Concord Rangers.
After two years at St Neots he joined Peterborough Sports in 2018 and has scored 39 goals in 56 games.
Kick off as usual is 3pm.
by Peter Scherer
With 10 friendly matches behind them in pre-season, Mickleover FC Reserves begin their first season in the Central Midlands League South Division with a tough match away at Linby on Saturday.
Formed as a colliery team back in 1892 Linby finished fifth in last years abandoned season, having finished on a run of 14 games unbeaten from October.
Manager Andy Tring has made it clear that their aim is promotion this year and has strengthened his squad over the summer.
They have played five friendly matches, losing 5-1 against Heanor Town last Saturday.
Kick off is at Church Lane 3pm.
This is the first of three games in eight days, as they welcome Ashland Rovers to the Don Amott Arena on Thursday 17th, before visiting Mansfield Hosiery Mills on Saturday 19th.
Everyone wishes David Mackenzie, Aaron Hayer and the team a successful season.
LAST MINUTE FREE-KICK ALMOST A WINNER!
by Peter Scherer
In the penultimate pre-season friendly, Mickleover FC put up another strong performance against National League North opponents Guiseley.
There were a few changes from last Saturday’s line-up at Frickley, with debuts for Jordan Walshaw and Declan Bacon.
1-Callum Hawkins 2-Jake Bennett 3-Alex Morris 4-Mason Warren 5 James Butler 6-Marcus Calderone 7-Ben Gowing 8-Andrew Wright 9-Jordan Walshaw 10-Stuart Beavon 11-Declan Bacon. Subs: Ricky Ravenhill, Josh Satchwell, Darius Smith, Will Monteiro, Louis Pennington.
Originally Aman Verma was due to start, but after failing a late fitness test, he was replaced by Mason Warren.
Sports were on the attack from the first whistle, with Gowing, putting a good ball through to Beavon, which sent Walshaw goalwards, forcing the keeper to dive at his feet.
Guiseley came back with an immediate response, which was easily foiled, before another Sports attack ended with Beavon being flagged offside.
But still in the opening minutes there was a long hold-up when Calderone was injured making a clearance. He was stretchered off and replaced by Satchwell, who went to left back, with Morris moving into the centre of the defence.
Satchwell was straight into the action from the restart, with a strong attack down the left earning a throw in.
A minute later Walshaw had a shot just wide, as Sports gained the upperhand.
Although Morris was caught in possession on the edge of the box after 16 minutes, the Guiseley attack failed to take any advantage.
Bacon was then fouled as he broke clear with Wright’s following free-kick put out for a corner. It was initially cleared, before Satchwell picked it up and went close with a powerful shot.
The attacks were coming thick and fast after some good play from Wright on the 20 minute mark, Bacon had a shot just over the bar.
Six minutes later Beavon’s shot was followed up by Walshaw, as it rebounded off the Guiseley keeper.
With Butler and Morris marshalling the centre of the defence, Hawkins in the Mickleover goal was having a quiet time, but had to punch clear for a corner after a retaliatory break.
Warren then split the defence with a good through ball, which proved just out of reach for Beavon’s run.
The tide suddenly changed in Guiseley’s favour however, when a strong five minute spell threatened Sports goal.
The visitors had a random shot bounce off the bar on 35 minutes, while two minutes later another shot was well saved by Hawkins and went for a corner.
Just before half time Butler’s clearance sent Wright on a run, with his final ball just failing to connect with the strikers. But Walshaw recovered the ball, only to shoot straight at the keeper.
There were no immediate changes for the second half, but Guiseley started much stronger than they had in the first half.
Hawkins had to stave off three shots in the first couple of minutes, but wasn’t really troubled by any.
The attacks continued to come from the visitors, before some good interplay between Bacon and Satchwell.
After 57 mins there was a scare for the visitors defence when a Wright corner was almost headed into their own goal, before Wright picked it up again with Walshaw just failing to connect to the through ball.
Guiseley’s shoot on sight policy wasn’t posing any real threat, whereas Mickleover were favouring the more controlled build up, highlighted by a long pass from Butler, sending Bennett on an overlap until he was tackled just outside the box.
The visitors put a header wide just after 65 minutes, but manager McGrath decided to make some changes. Smith came on for Bennett and Monteiro from Walshaw.
A mistake in the Guiseley defence fell to Beavon, his pass found Bacon who then shot over, before on 71minutes the deadlock was finally broken.
Warren had held off a strong tackle to put Wright through, who put a powerful right foot shot to the keepers left, 1-0.
It was barely a couple of minutes later though that a cross from the right left the defence flat footed, and a Guiseley striker finished with a clear header into the left hand corner of Hawkins net 1-1.
There was another change when Pennington came on for Warren, but Sports should have had a free kick after 79 mins, when Monteiro was held back by a Guiseley defender, with a clear run on goal beckoning.
In the closing minutes Sports came out stronger in attack again, there were a couple of wasted shooting, before Beavon had the ball, but couldn’t find space to get his shot it.
But it was so nearly a Mickleover victory, after Monteiro was tripped with minutes left. Beavon’s free-kick smashed against the Guiseley post and was pushed out for a corner, but it was game over with a well-deserved 1-1.
Next match is at home on Saturday against Peterborough Sports, before the NPL League matches start the following week.
TUESDAY NIGHTS VISITORS ARE… AFC GUISELEY
by Peter Scherer
National League North side Guiseley are based near Leeds and have played three friendly matches so far, all away from home.
They started with a 1-0 win at Thackley, before a 0-0 draw at Worksop Town. Last Saturday they visited Nuneaton Borough, going down 2-0.
Joint manager’s Marcus Bignot and Russ O’Neill are both vastly experienced. Bignot played for QPR and Crewe Alexandra and O’Neill was well known locally for his part in Alfreton Town’s success a few years ago.
Like last week’s visit from Alfreton, Guiseley have mixed their permanent players with a number of trialists.
Both goalkeeper’s Hagie Danba and Declan Lambton have been through the Bradford City Youth scheme.
There is plenty of experience from centre back and club captain Hamza Bencherif. Paris born, he started his football career with Guingamp in France, before joining Nottingham Forest’s Academy.
He later moved on to Halifax Town and Wrexham, before winning the FA Trophy with York City. He’s an Algerian under 20 International too.
Fellow defender Dan Cowan came to the club in July from Stockport County, but has played for Buxton, New Mills and Macclesfield, as well as loan spells at Ashton and Chorley.
Will Thornton made his first team in 2017 and is a product of Guiseley’s own junior programme, he also had a loan spell at Gainsborough last year.
2017 was the year Nathan Newell was signed too and last year he had a dual registration with Frickley Athletic. He also went on loan to Ossett Albion.
Prince Ekpolo came to the club in January from Glossop North End, he is also an ex Burscough player.
Winger Kaine Felix has spent two years at Guiseley and scored 10 goals last season. His career path came from Peterborough Utd Academy, via St Neots, Boston Utd, York City, Stockport County, Deeping Rangers, Leamington and Brackley.
Mark Howarth is a new signing, only arriving last month. The midfielder spent 10 years in the Burnley Academy, before going to Salford City and loans at Marine, Buxton and Droylsden.
It was an initial loan that became permanent for George Cantrill, another midfielder who came through Sheffield Utd’s academy.
Gabriel Johnson is yet another Sheffield Utd product. The 6ft striker was signed in June last year, having spent time with Manchester Utd Under 14’s, Leeds Utd’s Under 17’s and more recently Doncaster Rovers and Hallam.
Another new addition is Matty Gillam, coming in from Rochdale last month. He came through Port Vale’s Academy and had a loan spell at Stalybridge Celtic.
Adam Haw is another homemade product from the Guiseley Academy. He has also been out on loan at Emley.
One of the more senior members of the team is Paul Clayton who originally came as assistant manager in 2018. He still plays and his striking prowess has previously graced Atherton and Harrogate Town.
Coming off the back of an excellent 3-0 win against Radford from a step above, we travelled up the road to Clay Cross to play the local team who were runners up in their league last year.
CLAY CROSS TOWN 5 MICKLEOVER FC RESERVES 4
On a drizzly bleak austere evening, we saw a terrific game of football including a goal so good it was reminiscent of the great Carlos Alberto in Mexico 1972.
Clay Cross started well with attacks down both wings with their pacey wide men and we did well to keep them at bay, but went 1-0 down after a short pass didn’t reach Clinton Morrison and despite a couple of good tackles the ball broke to a Clay Cross player who did a grubber into the corner of the net.
Rather than go through all the incidents including great goals from Surfafel Tefera, Larrel and new boy Archie, I’ll concentrate on two game-changing incidents.
As the half-hour approached and we were getting into the ascendancy through structure and passing, a Clay Cross player was seen to be lying prostrate in their box just on the penalty box. The ball was near the touchline on our attacking right. The game stopped and there was a wee bit of altercation with the usual intrusive pushes and finger-pointing.
During this time the Clay Cross player remained decumbent – it looked serious! The referee obviously didn’t see what happened and began his investigations by interviewing the first witness the far side linesman. “Didn’t see nufink guv” was the response so the next port of call was to the far far far away linesman. The interrogation took place fairly close to where we were on the touchline, and there was a lot of nodding and head shaking so it looked like the probing was going to provide a result. I had a feeling that it wasn’t going to be good as whilst the first interrogation was going on, one of their subs – who was sitting in the dugout with his 2 well built managers in front of him was expounding on what had happened. “A Mickleover player punched our player off the ball with a right hook.”
This is verbatum what the linesman repeated to me as we went off at half time. If the linesman had seen what had happened he would have been waving his flag like one of the demented at the Nuremberg Rally! The result was that our complement was reduced to 10.
What followed was a superb display of positional awareness and commitment. The shape of the team was scintillating with Clinton being the glue that held us all together.
The second incident was as good a goal that you would have seen for many a season. Playing the lone man up top Surf broke away from the halfway line past a defender and drove on in a central position to the goal, as he pushed on he attracted 3 defenders to him both full backs and the guy who had been comatose 10 minutes earlier.
What this did was to leave a space on their left flank for us to exploit and boy oh f’n boy did Clarence Clark exploit it. He sprinted circa 53 yards and when he was spotted by Surf, the ball was rolled (a la Pele) into the path of the marauding central defender from Phoenix Arizona who took a deft touch before dispatching the ball to its place of rest with a thunderous drive!
Although we lost on the scoreline we won on the gameplay as they scored their last 2 goals from corners, after we had to take off Gus Williamson as the drizzle was messing with his dreads.
Also of note is that Kiran Sanghera our keeper got caught by a tackle fairly early on and was in pain for most of the game.
An interesting aside was the linesman’s vision and perception when Josh Satchwell was bearing down on goal and was stronger than the defender, who then fell, with the linesman giving a foul against Josh, indicating that he had used and elbow. If Josh had done so, the linesman couldn’t have seen it because the defender was in his way!!!!!!
DUNKIRK FC 1 V MICKLEOVER RESERVES 1
Dunkirk came out of the blocks well and forced a couple of early corners. However the well organised defending set up repelled them and although Tom Smith in our goal made a couple of stops they were nothing to really bother a keeper of his stature.
After that flurry we started to get into the game, with Dunkirks favourite way to retain possession was to fall down – the number 6 was particularly adept at this tactic.
We should have scored the opener but their keeper made a good save from Jude Ayetine in a one on one situation – if only the keeper had known about Jude’s wicked right hook we would have scored because he would have shat himself.
Dunkirk opened the scoring after we gave the ball away with a Hollywood pass that turned into a nightmare on Elm Street. The problem with these passes that don’t come off is that invariably four of your teammates get caught the wrong side of the ball.
Not long after we had to make a couple of changes. Kyle thought his back was sore and Jude hadn’t punched anyone for 30 minutes.
Down 1-0 at half time we had to be resolute, stand strong and defend like dervishes.
The defence at this time was immense restricting Dunkirk to some long shots and Tom only had one save second half.
We got an equaliser after some sustained pressure with Surf finishing with aplomb.
We made some more changes and the defence stood tall and resolute and on the attack, we could have had a couple with young Finn Barker skinning the centre half like a haddock before making a great connection, hitting a shot millimetres wide of the corner flag. Great skills form the young man.
We now move forward to the league opener at Linby Miners. Glad we play them first because they will get older the longer the season goes,
I have to thank Aaron Hayer for a fabulous job setting up all of these games and his great work at training.
We are still needing funding and please if you can go on the website
https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/david-mackenzie-54
D.Mac
Mickleover F.C.
Reserves Manager
10 MEN SPORTS BATTLE TO HARD FOUGHT FRIENDLY DRAW
by Peter Scherer
It was already a weakened side as Mickleover FC visited Frickley Athletic, with Stuart Beavon and Paddy Webb both out action and Phil Watt joining them pre-match too.
Joe Slinn 2-Jake Bennett 3-Alex Morris 4-John McGrath 5-Pablo Mills 6 James Butler 7-Mason Warren 8-Andrew Wright 9-Tyrell Shannon-Lewis 10 Ben Gowing 11-George Milner Subs: Callum Hawkins, Will Monteiro, Ricky Ravenhill, Joss Satchwell, Marcus Calderone, Darius Smith.
There was an almost instant shock for Mickleover as the game kicked off, when after only two minutes Frickley picked up the ball just over the halfway line and split a napping Sports defence, before burying the ball into the left hand corner for a 1-0 lead.
The shell shocked defence then faced an early corner, with a shot well wide.
Although the Sports midfield started to make progress, there were no clear breaks and each attack was thwarted, before Frickley came back to earn another corner which went straight out of play.
The first real break for Sports came after about 12 minutes, when Wright put a good ball through, only for Shannon-Lewis to be flagged offside.
A few minutes later McGrath sent a long pass in Bennett’s direction, but his attempt to cross was blocked and earned Sports first corner.
Shannon-Lewis pressed hard at the front but became somewhat isolated, as a succession of good build-ups failed to provide a positive final ball.
With Warren starting to take control in midfield, he sent Shannon-Lewis on a run after 20 minutes, but the strikers shot was blocked.
The attacks started to gain intensity as Sports sought an equaliser and Butler headed just over from a Wright cross.
On 25 minutes Wright tried his luck and shot just wide of the post, before Milner found Morris in space and the defender put his attempt just wide too.
But after a counter attack by Frickley was foiled, Shannon-Lewis broke away again and yet another shot was just wide. But as he started to cause more grief to the home sides defence, he was held by one of the defenders, but the following free kick came to nought.
Sports looked to be getting closer and closer to an equaliser, but Frickley were quick on the beak.
Gowing got a shot in from a Warren pass, and McGrath’s corner was blocked before he was fouled and another free-kick went to waste.
But after 36 minutes Bennett went on a run and was tripped in the area, so it was 1-1 as Warren made no mistake from the penalty spot.
Frickley reacted positively to the equaliser, but a couple of random shots were well wide.
After 40 minutes though Butler made a hard tackle which was adjudged too hard by the referee and he was on the receiving end of a rather harsh red card.
A quick reshuffle pushed Gowing back into the defence alongside Mills, but Mickleover continued to press forward with Warren just wide from a good pass from Bennett.
So 1-1 at half-time but manager McGrath made, three substitutions, taking himself off along with Slinn and Gowing and bringing on Ravenhill. Hawkins and Calderone.
There were further problems in the Sports defence when Mills was hurt after pulling off an overhead clearance. He continued after treatment, but was later substituted.
Despite being down to 10 men, Mills, Morris and Calderone combined at the back to repel the Frickley attacks. But the home side still managed a couple of shots from outside the area, both well wide.
Milner was penalised for challenge on the Frickley keeper, just before he went off to be replaced by Bobby Pattison.
Pattison’s pace soon got him clear for a shot in the 18th minute, but his attempt was well wide. Three minutes later Frickley made a quick break with Calderone the last man back, saving the day.
Frickley had started to come back into the game and after Warren and Ravenhill both lost possession in the middle, the following shots were straight at sub goalkeeper Hawkins though.
Once Mills had been replaced by Smith, plus the absence of Butler, the Mickleover defence began to look fragile, but Frickley’s following goal attempts were equally weak.
Monteiro came on for Shannon-Lewis and Satchwell for Wright for the last 20 minutes, but it was Frickley who went close with an overhead kick just wide of Hawkins post after 34 minutes.
Strength of character came through for the Mickleover squad, but Frickley had a few more near misses before the final whistle. Morris headed clear on 38 minutes and in the final seconds the home side put an attempt just around the post.
In the light of the knocks and the red card, it was a strong and positive performance, looking forward to the next friendly match at home to Guiseley on Tuesday evening.
Final score: Frickley Athletic 1 – 1 Sports
by Peter Scherer
Tomorrow afternoon Mickleover FC visit Frickley Athletic for the latest in line of pre-season friendly matches.
Previously known as Frickley Colliery, home is at Westfield Lane, South Elmsall and they currently play in the NPL South East Division.
This will be their sixth friendly, having started with a defeat away to Grimsby Borough.
They hammered Pontefract Collieries 4-0 before beating Barton Town 1-0 in their first home match.
After a 2-1 defeat at Shildon, they were last in action last Saturday with a resounding 5-0 win away to Bridlington Town.
There first competitive match is due on September 12th when they are at home to Newcastle Benfield in an FA Cup qualifier.
They have two goalkeepers, Alfie Eccles-Smith a former Sheffield United and Wednesday trialist who has come from Selston and ex Hull City player Tom Nicholson, who has a number of non-league clubs under his belt.
In defence Chris Salt has come from Gainsborough Trinity and is an ex Sheffield United youth player and James Hugo has joined from Spalding and is an ex Lincoln City Academy player.
Kern Miller lists Lincoln City, Barnsley, Accrington Stanley and Herford United among his ex clubs, having come to Frickley from Stamford.
Vice Captain for this season is Nathan Hotte, signed from Gainsborough and is an ex Alfreton player too. Tom Davie comes in from Gainsborough, but he was once with Hull City.
Among a couple of ex Sports players in the Frickley squad is Jack Smith, playing either defence of midfield.
Midfielder Kegan Everington comes in from Spalding and is another ex Alfreton player who started at Lincoln City, similarly Jack Wightwick, who has travelled Lincolnshire with Boston Utd, Grantham and Lincoln Utd before joining Spalding.
Mansfield Academy was the starting point for Conor Green, and has joined Frickley from Ilkeston, while Josh McLauchlan is a product of Frickley’s own under 21’s and made his first team debut at the end of last season.
Like Green Nyle Blake started at Mansfield Town but arrived at Frickley via Alfreton, while both Todd Jordan and Tyler Williams are midfield of defenders. Jordan was signed from Stocksbridge Park Steel, but came through Sheffield Wednesday Academy, Lincoln City, Alfreton and various other clubs, while winger Williams is another ex Alfreton player among various other clubs.
They seem somewhat short in the striking force with only three players in the current squad. Nathan Jarman is another ex Sports player, but also had spells at Barnsley, Bury and Grimsby, before being signed from Lincoln Utd.
Brad Grayson has come from Stafford Rangers, he’s an ex Doncaster Rovers Junior and can play midfield too. He also has international experience having played in Sweden, Australia and the Philippines.
Finally the experienced Jonathan Margetts, has seen plenty of Football League action, playing for Hull City, Cambridge Utd, Tranmere Rovers, Lincoln City and Scunthorpe.
GVC is delighted to announce that the new sponsor of the Northern Premier League, Isthmian and Southern Leagues – is Pitching In.
Pitching In, is a new Grassroots Sports Investment Programme that has today been launched by GVC, the multi-national sports-betting and gaming group which owns Ladbrokes and Coral.
The partnership covers all three leagues that make up Steps 3 & 4 of the National Leagues System, who market themselves collectively as the Trident Leagues.
England footballing legend Stuart Pearce, who played for Wealdstone FC for five years at the start of his long and illustrious career, has been appointed as the official Pitching In ambassador.
Stuart Pearce, ambassador for the Pitching In programme, says:
I am delighted to be taking up the role of ambassador for Pitching In, as I’m passionate about the importance of investing in grassroots sports and in developing young talent. I started out playing for Wealdstone FC before joining Coventry City so I understand how important funding is to the non-league game. Grassroots football is facing huge challenges at the moment and many clubs are struggling to stay afloat. GVC’s Pitching In investment will help make a big difference to hundreds of clubs and thousands of players across the country.
Pitching In has been set up with the objective of supporting, protecting and encouraging grassroots sports in the UK through a range of initiatives.
In addition to financial support, a key focus of the partnership will be to facilitate and encourage members of the community to become volunteers, and do some pitching in of their own. A Pitching In volunteering scheme will be established to link GVC’s Ladbrokes and Coral shop colleagues with their local clubs.
In the weeks ahead Pitching In and the Trident Leagues will be announcing further initiatives to provide financial support and opportunities for all the 226 clubs (rising to 240 in 2021).
For more information on Pitching In please visit www.gvc-plc.com/pitchingin
