Category: Club News

The Sports launch new Supporter’s Lottery

We have launched our new Get Behind The Sports Supporter’s Lottery and all of our playing staff and committee have already signed up!

For only £2 per week the lottery gives you the chance to win a wide range of fabulous prizes and let’s you help your club’s playing side at the same time.

At a time when the word ‘community’ means so much to us all, we here at Mickleover FC are working hard to bring together and connect our local community through various initiatives. Our lottery is aimed at our local community supporting our local football club. As the first team manager myself, my staff and my players will be fully supporting this great lottery initiative.For only £2 per week, with a chance to win various prizes, you can also support your local team.

John McGrath, First Team Manager

As a member

You can look forward to the following prizes:

  • England Match Tickets at Wembley
    2 Tickets inc. Club Wembley with Food and Drink
  • £400, £100, £50, £25 Value Prizes
  • £50 Hamper from RG Stafford Butchers
  • £50 Hamper from Hackwood Farm 
  • £50 and £100 Christmas Hampers
  • £50 Fuel Voucher 
  • Event Tickets inc. Hot August Night
  • Burton Albion Match Tickets 
  • Mickleover FC Match Tickets 
  • MFC Match Day Sponsor
  • Meet the Manager.

To sign up

  1. Download the form here
  2. Print out and follow the instructions on the back of the form

Alternatively you can access a form by contacting keithloring@ymail.com

Sports suffer their own Dunkirk battle

by Peter Scherer

Gale force winds and driving rain just didn’t invite good football and Sports suffered as a consequence, losing 5-1 to Dunkirk FC last night.

There were a few changes from last weekends 1-0 win against Tamworth, but it was still fairly strong line-up.

Joe Slinn 2- Jake Bennett 3-Alex Morris 4- John McGrath 5- Pablo Mills 6- James Butler 7- Elliot Murray 8- Andrew Wright 9 – George Milner 10- Stuart Beavon 11- Aman Verma

It was Mickleover that mounted the early attacks, with George Milner looking particularly sharp. But it was Dunkirk that had the first real shot, over the bar after four minutes.

Dunkirk started to come forward more and had the first corner a couple of minutes later, which went straight out of play.

Bennett responded with a positive run into the Dunkirk area, one of many he had during the first half.

Dunkirk had another chance when they put a free kick over the bar, before Milner put Bennett through for Mickleover on the 10 minute mark , but after a promising the pass to Beavon, the striker was tripped in the area.

There was no penalty and Beavon needed treatment before continuing.

McGrath was leading the way in midfield and followed up with a shot over the bar, while a good turn from Verma five minutes later was given as offside as he put a piercing ball through the Dunkirk defence.

As the Mickleover interpassing started to pay dividends, Milner had another good run, before Bennett had a good shot blocked. The ball then bounced around the Dunkirk area, before being cleared.

The attacks started to increase and 24 minutes in Bennett was fouled three times in one run, before Milner went close, but no free kick in the offing.

Wright then went close too after a short free kick, he fired just over the bar.

Dunkirk started to come back into the game more in the last 15 minutes of the first half and put one shot across the face of the Mickleover goal.

Verma had a crack from just outside the area for Sports and was just wide, before Butler put Beavon through, passing to Milner who shot just wide.

Mickleover had their chances and for most of the game Butler, Mills and Murray had held tight to repel Dunkirk’s attacks.

But on 35 minutes a defensive mix up left a Dunkirk striker in space and he took the chance to make it 1-0.

Five minutes later Dunkirk went close again, before a penalty was awarded with about two minutes left on the clock.

Slinn almost got a hand to the slippery ball, but it was 2-0 to Dunkirk and a disappointing end to the first half.

There was no sign of either the wind or rain relenting in the second half, but in the opening minutes there were two more goals. Dunkirk had gone 3-0 up before Bennett had a shot which went under the keeper to pull one back.

But the previously strong looking defensive were caught flat footed again only minutes later and it 4-1 to Dunkirk.

A number of the substitutes came in to play, but it was Beavon posing the main threat to the Dunkirk defence. He had a couple of shots saved, before dispossessing a defender and putting his shot straight at the keeper after 17 minutes.

Verma had another positive run before he was fouled on the edge of the box, but the free kick went straight into the wall, before Mills rebound shot was blocked.

Butler then went just wide with a header from a corner kick, before Dunkirk made it 5-1 with a powerful shot that gave Slinn no chance.

The tenacity of the Dunkirk seemed to upset the Mickleover rhythm, often catching them out on breaks. Dunkirk’s random shooting also caused a few problems, compared with the more gradual build up that Sports favoured.

There were chances but on this occasion it just wasn’t Sports night and they he will be hoping for better luck and weather at Coalville Town on Friday evening.

Matchday Volunteers Needed

From the Treasurer, Neil Hadfield

A chance to get ‘Get behind The Sports’

Mickleover F.C. are reaching out to you to ask you to get involved on matchdays. This is your chance to join our band of matchday volunteers covering a wide range of jobs on the day. These roles include Car parking, Ground Maintenance, Fundraising, Hospitality. 

Anyone who has visited the ground will know our volunteers from Browny greeting you as you come in through the turnstiles with his buy two get one free raffle tickets to the guys on the car park, the hospitality as well as the behind the scenes volunteers who ensure that the changing rooms are locked and safe and the teams are fed and watered.

We all give our time free but have a say in the running of the club. Admission on matchday is free to our volunteers and each and every one makes a massive difference. Without the volunteers the games would not go ahead.

If you have free time on matchdays and want to get involved and make a difference please get in touch with myself neilh@leisurekingdom.co.uk or Tony Shaw tonyshawmickleoversports@gmail.com 

Three games in a week for The Sports!

by Peter Scherer

It’s starting to get serious as the Northern Premier League season rapidly approaches.

Fixture announcements are imminent and the Mickleover FC pre-season build-up reaches it’s peak with three games in a week, starting with Tamworth on Saturday, followed by Dunkirk on Tuesday and Coalville on Friday 28th.

The new signings are starting to familiarise themselves with the rest of the squad and training is intensifying. 

Here are a few images and from last nights training session on a damp but thankfully rain free evening.

Over the coming weeks we will be building up the profiles of each squad player on the website, so BRING ON 20/21!

Sports Reserves start to hit form!

by Peter Scherer

After a win again Derby United and a defeat last weekend to Ilkeston Town under 21’s, Mickleover FC reserves were back in action last night against Worksop Town under 21’s at the St George’s Complex near Sheffield.

It was a mixture of youth and experience in the team line-up, with manager John McGrath in midfield.

Worksop started at a pace and had their first attack headed away by Clarence Clark, before their first shot went wide of the post after five minutes.

It was a fairly even first 10 minutes with a smattering of free kicks for both sides. But Mickleover’s first chance came when Josh Satchwell put Fin Barker through and his effort was cleared by the keeper.

A few minutes later it was Satchwell on the attack again, trying to chip over the advancing keeper.

Sports attacks were becoming more regular after some Worksop pressure and after Barker fired at the keeper, Ted Stevenson shot just wide.

With Clark, Marcus Calderone and Elliot Murray working well at the back, Stevenson Bobby Battison both got breaks, just losing out with a one on ones with the keeper.

But 23 minutes in there a scare for Sports keeper Charlie Bryan, when Calderone’s back pass was short and intercepted by a Worksop striker, whose shot hit the post.

Tom Eccleshall was the next Sports player to try his luck, firing over the bar after a free-kick had been cleared.

It continued to be end to end play and when Satchwell put a good ball through to Barker. The striker’s shot went across the face of the goal, just inches short of an opening goal.

The midfield feed with McGrath at the controls began to have more success seeking out Satchwell and Barker. Satchwell had a collision with the keeper as he chased hard and shortly afterwards had a header just wide of the far post.

But on 43 minutes Bryan came out from his goal but missed the ball as he bounced , leaving Worksop with a clear shot into an empty net for the lead.

Sports came charging back to try and grab an equaliser before half time, Satchwell was through but couldn’t get the space to place his shot.

After Eccleshall picked up a yellow card, Jude Ayetaine went close. But just before the half time whistle Bryan pulled out a fine save to his right from a Worksop free-kick.

There were a few substitutions for the second half, but Sports were straight on the attack, with Ayetaine placing a good ball into the box, from which Satchwell almost connected.

Worksop soon retaliated with Bryan forced to make two diving saves.

But after 55 minutes the equaliser finally came, after Ayetaine collected the ball in the box with his back to goal, after shielding well from the Worksop defence he swivelled and fired into the corner of the net.

Sports sub Junior was battling his through the Worksop defence and receiving constant hassle, but looking dangerous on every attack.

After 80 minutes Satchwell got his just reward with a well taken second goal for Sports from inside the box.

Only couple of minutes later however Worksop were level again, after a corner dropped nicely for a Worksop striker.

There should have been a penalty for Sports however, when Ayetaine was held back by two defenders, but the referee waved away appeals.

Bryan had to pull off a few more late saves from some random Worksop shots and a couple of free kicks, but 2-2 was probably a fair result.

The Sports team had a much more flowing and threatening second half though, which bodes well as the competitive season approaches.

The Sports win at Clipstone

by Peter Scherer.   (Images by Clipstone FC)

Mickleover FC continued their pre-season warm up friendlies last Saturday with a 3-1 win way at Clipstone.

There were goals from Stuart Beavon, Will Monteiro and Kemy Agustien.

This Saturday they are away again at Southern League Tamworth.

The Sports pre-season well underway

by Peter Scherer

Mickleover FC boss John McGrath and his assistant Ricky Ravenhill had the majority of the first team squad in training last night.

It was a mixture of returning players, new signings and academy graduates being put through their paces.

Striker Paddy Webb is looking forward to the start of the season, after scoring in the 3-1 friendly win against Borrowash Victoria last Saturday.

I can’t wait to get started, as it was frustrating for me how last season ended with so many games called off

So as a striker, is Paddy setting himself a target this season?

20 goals would be good for a start

he said before Andy Wright responded,

You’re the out and out striker and I am looking for 20 myself!

After which Paddy changed his thought to 40,

…I didn’t want to sound too confident.

The team have the next in their string of friendly matches on Saturday, when they play East Midlands Counties League Clipstone, who suffered a 6-1 home defeat against AFC Mansfield last weekend.

Reserves Manager Mackenzie is raising money for Prostate Cancer UK

I don’t particularly like cycling although I have done several rides which have raised just over £6,000 for MS Trust, Prostate Cancer and the Erskine Hospital. I’m not a frequent cycler and would maybe go out once a month and NEVER in the winter or when it’s raining! The furthest I have ridden in a day is just over 100 miles with the hardest days ride was in the “Ride the North” with the wind in your face for all of the 89 miles!!

I did actually quite enjoy doing Nightrider in London. Starting at 11 pm and finishing just after 6 in the morning, having done the central London tour from 2 am to 3 am ‘sh.

If I am not training for an event I might go out on my bike about once a month so doing this is not the norm for me!

I have been at ‘Sports’ for about 12 years being brought in by Dick Pratley and enjoyed the successful trip up the divisions. Last year was heading to be one of our more successful seasons – topping the league and in the Derbyshire Divisional Cup Final for the 4th time in 5 years. The success gave us promotion which brings extra costs, hence the fundraising.

Donations are going to be split 50-50 between Prostate Cancer UK and Mickleover F.C. Reserves. When I have completed the task we will divide the money raised by 2 and send each cause their total.

363 miles is the distance to Lands End via A and B roads. The mileages will be added consecutively and my aim is to complete in 3 weeks. (most of the charities are doing 100 or 300 miles and giving the rider a month to complete). The miles will be recorded on “Map my Ride”. It will take roughly 33 hours at an average of 11mph. Decent cyclists do 14/15mph.

The reserves have been promoted to the top league in the Central Midlands League. The promotion means we will be playing at a higher standards but has the drawback of incurring increased costs. We now have to pay for 3 officials for every game, provide post match hospitality and a matchday programme. We estimate that we need to find an additional £2,000+.

With regards to Prostate Cancer In the UK. Prostate cancer mainly affects men over 50, and your risk increases with age. The risk is even higher for black men and men with a family history of prostate cancer.

In England:

  • More than 40,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer every year in England.
  • More than 9,000 men die from prostate cancer every year in England.
  • Every hour, one man dies from prostate cancer in England.
  • More than 325,000 men are living with and after prostate cancer in England.

Message from the charity: In challenging and uncertain times, we’re proud to provide more than 150,000 people every month with up-to-date, evidence-led and award-winning information about prostate cancer.

We also fund research into better ways to diagnose prostate cancer, so men can be diagnosed earlier and more accurately – and into better treatments with fewer side effects, so that men stay alive and well for longer.

But the COVID-19 pandemic has forced labs across the UK to close, bringing that important work to a standstill.

We’re working hard to raise the funds we need to get our researchers up and running again once labs re-open, to ensure progress isn’t lost.

Please click here to donate if you can

Thank you,
D. Mac

Academies merge together to create the ESPFA

The Northern Premier League Football Academy (NPLFA), the Southern League Football Academy (SLFA) and the Isthmian League Football Academy (ILFA) have today merged to become the Education and Semi-Professional Football Academy (ESPFA).

The ESPFA was originally developed as the overarching organisation of the three step seven leagues – Northern Premier League, Southern League and Isthmian League – education and football programmes and the merger of all three under one official brand brings new opportunities and experiences for all students and clubs involved.

The NPLFA was created in partnership with Eliteform LTD and the Northern Premier League in 2014 to become the first ever league wide education and football programme in the UK.

An initial pilot programme that began in 2014/15 saw 75 students enrol at five member clubs and the success from the inaugural year saw the programme expand to over 300 students at 13 clubs by 2019.

In 2018 the Southern League joined and a year later, the SLFA began with seven member clubs and over 100 students.

Soon after in 2019, the Isthmian League became the third and final league at step seven of the English national pyramid system to join.

With the ILFA Scheduled to begin in 2021, the ESPFA was established as an overarching organisation to manage all three-individual league programmes across the nation and has appeared on all marketing throughout the 2019/20 season.

From today the ESPFA is now the ‘official further and higher education partners of the Northern Premier League, the Southern League and the Isthmian League.’

An exciting new chapter awaits with the new organisation providing new and improved pathways on and off the pitch, new experiences and opportunities, more competitive games, more flexibility on competitions as well as opening up new club partners from other leagues.

The new branding will further strengthen our excellent relationships with all three leagues and Eliteform LTD would like to thank all league officials involved for their support over the previous six years. 

For more information, please visit www.espfa.co.uk

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.