Category: Club News

Reserves play first practice match

by Peter Scherer

The Sports reserve team began the preparation for their first forthcoming season in the Central Midlands League Division South, with a friendly match against Midland Regional Alliance Premier Division side Derby Singh Brothers at Rolls Royce.

Dave Mackenzie and Aaron Hayer had the majority of last year’s team available plus a few new faces.

Academy keeper Tom Smith started, with Fin Davies, Gus Williamson, Elliot Murray, Ben Lewin, Tom Watson, Surafel Tefera, Jacob Edge-Lucas, Fin Barker, Brodie Carter and Josh Satchwell.

It was played as three-thirds rather than two halves, but after an even opening 10 minutes with a fair share of free kicks to both sides, Singh Bros began to go for a shoot on site strategy rather than close in play.

Sports had the first corner after about seven minutes, but  Barker’s cross wasn’t cleared and  Davies was fouled, but Tefera put the free-kick over the bar.

Singh’s went close too but their shot was cleared by Williamson, before Sports retaliated with a shot from Barker well saved by Singh’s keeper.

Tefera was on the receiving end of a couple of reckless tackles, but Singh’s strikers determination continued to cause problems to Sports defence.

There was a fairly fortunate free kick for Singh’s on the 20 minute mark. The kick went to the right of the Sports wall and was buried into the far corner of Smith’s net to give Singh’s the lead.

Singh’s went close again from the kick-off before Satchwell slid in by the far post and was close to grabbing an equaliser.

Just before the first 30 minutes were up both side had chances, with Singh’s firing just over the bar and Murray having a shot blocked from Lewin’s corner.

There were a number of changes for the second third, including Charlie Cotton, Clarence Clark and Joe Hopkins.

Hopkins was quickly on the attack but couldn’t find the space for a clear shot. But some heavy tackling forced the referee to reach for his book too.

As Sports started to push forward more as a team, Hopkins had a one on one with the Singh keeper, and missed out on a scoring chance by a whisker.

It was still 0-1 as the sides prepared for the final third and more changes were made.

Most of you got to play for 45 minutes, some got more

said Hayer as they kicked off again.

Kiran Sanghera was in goal and one of his first jobs was to face a Singh Bros penalty, which they duly scored.

But Ben Lewin pulled one back in the closing stages scoring direct from a corner kick.

The final third showed the progress made on the night as the Sports players began to gel and threatened Singh’s penalty area on more than one occasion.

Sanghera had to make one blocking save, as Singh’s continued to shoot at will, while Sports had a shot just over the bar before the final whistle.

A promising start and lots more to come.

Sports 1-2 Singh Brothers.

Jay McGrath joins the Sky Blues

Taken from ccfc.co.uk

Coventry City are pleased to announce the signing of defender Jay McGrath from Mickleover FC.

The 17-year-old centre-back joins on a two-year-deal from the Northern Premier Division side and will link-up with the Sky Blues Development side.

Jay is predominantly a left-footed centre-half, who has also been deployed as a left-back during his career to date.

The youngster is the son of former Burton Albion midfielder, John McGrath, who is also the current manager of Mickleover.

Jay made his breakthrough season last year for Mickleover, making several appearances throughout the course of the campaign.

Upon the completion of the deal, Under-23s Head Coach, Luke Tisdale had this to say:

We’re delighted to welcome Jay into the group. He came on trial with us last season from Mickleover and stood out, so it’s great that we have brought him back in.

Jay’s a second year scholar and will spend his time with us in the 23s, but also will be available for the under-18s.

He’s good in the air and a talented young lad and he joins us with the unique experience of playing men’s football at such a young age and that can only help the lads here.

Jay McGrath then expressed his delight at completing his move:

I’m delighted to be here and I’m looking forward to getting started at such a big club with a great fan base.

I’m a left footed defender so I can play left-back or centre-back and I’m aggresive and I like to win my headers, tackles and battles, but also I like to play football and I’m here to work hard and get the best out of my time here.

I can’t wait to get going, hopefully I can push on and make some good progress this year to help my development.

A long distance supporter… and ex-player!

by Peter Scherer

It’s 46 years since Alan Gregson left Mickleover to settle in Western Australia, but his continuous following the Sports results qualifies him as probably the longest distance supporter.

But Alan’s connections are through his playing days too.

I played when it was still Mickleover Old Boys, went from Army Cadets into the team and I first played at 16. I don’t know if any of my old team mates are around, as they would be in their 90’s now, as I was one of the younger ones. It was run by Bert Roome then,

he said.

We played on playing fields and in 1948 played at Burnaston airfield, now Toyota. Most of the players were ex servicemen, but you had to have either a connection with Mickleover or live there. I had lived on the corner of Western Road since 1936.

The team had gone in the Derby Senior League,

We won the C Division Cup and by 1953 had moved up to the A Division, but I was unavailable for quite a lot of the time due to my National Service. We had also gone from the early Black and white stripes to Red and White quarters with black shorts.

Alan played as a left winger in his prime and was known as Ginner, due to his red hair.

I later helped out with the Mickleover Royal British Legion team

Since moving to Australia, Alan now 88, looks out for Sports results every weekend and follows the website and social media avidly.

I played with Club President Charlie Kenderdine and remember secretary Tony Shaw starting out as a very promising young player too. I have lots of very happy memories to treasure from my footballing days in Mickleover, very happy times indeed

he concluded.

Our NHS Allstar Charity Match Update

Due to the ongoing Covid – 19 issues we have reviewed the proposed charity game. As you know we were hoping to hold the match featuring an NHS charity side against a Mickleover side featuring a host of very experienced players, including Derby County Legends, Ex Internationals and stars from the footballing world, at the Don Amott Arena at the end of July.
We are again in the position that, due to safety reasons, the proposed date at the end of July will not be possible. We are going to ensure that this game will go ahead as soon as we can facilitate a crowd safely at the ground.
We thank the event sponsors JKE Security, R.G. Stafford Butchers and Andy Mitchell at Owzat-cricket.co.uk for their patience and continued support.
Our first team is now back for training but due to the restrictions can only train in small groups.
We will let you know about the date for the match once the restrictions ease sufficiently.
Until then Stay Safe.

Mickleover FC launch new season packages

As things slowly return to normal we are starting to look forward to kicking things off again… hopefully soon! 

We will now be offering some amazing season passes so you can make some brilliant savings:

BRONZE – £500 – 1 season £900 two seasons

  • Entry to all our games – League,Cup & Friendly games
  • Reserved seats in the Stand
  • A match day programme + team sheet for all games
  • Pre match Tea, Coffee & Biscuits
  • Half Time refreshments
  • An advert on our website.

SILVER £700 – 1 season £1300 two seasons

  • Entry to all games
  • Reserved seats
  • Match day programme & teamsheet
  • Pre match Tea, Coffee & Biscuits
  • Half time refreshments
  • Advert on the website
  • Bring a Guest for up to 5 games
  • 2 free tickets for Hot August Night
  • Autographed ball – whole squad.

GOLD – £1000 for 1 season, £1500 for two seasons

  • Free entry to all games
  • Reserved seats
  • Match day programme & teamsheet
  • Pre match Tea, Coffee & Biscuits
  • Half Time refreshments
  • Advert on the website
  • Bring a guest @ £5 for all games
  • 2 Free tickets for our Sporting Dinner
  • 2 Free tickets for our Hot August Night
  • Autographed shirt from your favourite player at the end of the season
  • Autographed football from the whole team.

 

If you are interested in any of the above packages please email Tony Shaw – tonyshawmickleoversports@gmail.com

#GetBehindTheSports

From The Sports to Football League: Andy Dales

by Peter Scherer

An ex Derby County youth player Andy Dales went from strength to strength during his time at Mickleover.

He spent 10 years with the Rams, having started in their Academy aged nine.

I played in the reserves and got as far as being a first year pro when they released me. But I had a bit of an injury when I left and while others went for trials I couldn’t and had no pre-season offers.

he explained.

Having looked around himself for any possibilities, his time with Mickleover began.

After one look I felt at home and was happy to sign for the 2014/15 season, which became a four year stay.

He was part of the promotion winning team back to the NPL Premier Division, “my first senior medal,” he commented.

But it 2017/18 when he became hot property, with 23 goals in the season and named in the Northern Premier League’s best 11 of the season alongside team mate Morgan Williams.

At the suggestion of manager John McGrath both he and Williams went to the Jamie Vardy V9 Academy.

There were scouts there and I had been watched. Then Scunthorpe rang me and offered me a contract without a trial.

He joined the Irons for a record fee in June 2018 and played 25 games for the League 1 team, scoring two goals, one on his debut.

I had been in the starting line-up for the first five or six matches, but was then in and out and I wanted to be playing regularly, to gain more experience at the higher level.

The offer of a loan at Dundee cane up and he moved to the Scottish Premiership in January 2019 for the rest of the season, making 12 appearances.

Having started last season back at Scunthorpe, where they had gone to League 2, he made three appearances before returning to the Scottish Premiership again with Hamilton Academicals, where he played four games and scored one goal before the pandemic intervened.

Apart from Celtic and Rangers the rest of the Scottish Premiership is quite similar to League 1. I would prefer to be playing my football in England though given the choice. But it was Mickleover manager John McGrath that has been a big influence, he has supported me all the way.

From The Sports to Football League: Morgan Williams

by Peter Scherer

Morgan Wiliams is a true Mickleover success story. The defender came through the junior teams at the Don Amott Arena, before earning himself a regular first team place throughout the 2017/18 season.

He started in the Academy at 18,

I was playing at College and then for the Academy for about five months, and had about two reserve games, trained with the first team and made my debut the same year,

 

he said.

It was a big jump from junior to men’s football and in the first year I was on the bench to start with, but got more starts towards the end of the season, before becoming a regular in 2017/18,

His impressive performances earned him a place in the Northern Premier League team of the season that year and a trial at Coventry City.

I had played a couple of games already in the week I went for a trial, so wasn’t at my best and didn’t impress them. I didn’t hear from them, so John McGrath suggested I tried with Jamie Vardy’s V9 Academy”

Both Morgan and team mate Andy Dales attended the sessions and it proved to be the turning point, as both players were signed for record fees.

At the end of it we played on the same team in an open match and there were loads of scouts there. I took it as my last chance as I had trials elsewhere, three at Exeter. That night Coventry called and signed me,

Having signed in August 2018 he made his first team debut in the EFL Trophy a month later and played his first League match towards the end of the season.

He made six first team appearances, but had been a regular in the under 23 side.

Last season Coventry were flying at the top of the league, so it was hard to break into the team. I needed to get more experience and games when the under 23’s finished, so went to National League Yeovil on loan in December 2019,

He played four games before the pandemic interruption.

It was different style of playing, especially for a defender, but good experience. My highlights at Mickleover though were winning the title and the help and encouragement given to me throughout by John McGrath.