The NPL Football Academy’s inter-league squad has been announced for the forthcoming game against Wigan Athletic on Tuesday 24th April.

To be held at their fantastic Christopher Park training facility, the Latics U18’s are managed by former Warrington Town Academy coach Nick Chadwick, who was in charge of the NPLFA’s inaugural inter-league game against Oldham Athletic back in 2016.

The squad is made up of eighteen students from seven of our clubs, representing Belper Town, Leek Town, Mickleover Sports, Ossett Albion, Radcliffe, Warrington Town and Witton Albion.

The game against the League One club will be the NPLFA’s fourth inter-league side against professional opposition.

The first game was against Oldham Athletic in 2016 and resulted in a 2-0 win for the NPLFA before a 0-4 defeat to Accrington Stanley a few weeks later.

Last year saw a fantastic performance against a strong Port Vale side held at Kidsgrove Athletic, which saw the Staffordshire side victorious with a 2-3 defeat.

Vote for Your Player of the Year

Contenders are:

Pablo Mills
Andy Dales
Lewis King
Tom Burgin

Email your choice with subject ‘Player of the Year’ to tonyshawmickleoversports@gmail.com before 3.00pm, Saturday 21st April 2018.

Then join us and the players at of End of Season Presentation Evening and see who wins!

The presentation starts at 6.00pm, Saturday 28th April and will be taking place in the Marquee at the club. There will also be live entertainment!

Are you or do know anyone who is currently in Year 11/Year 12?

How would you like to #Study, #Train and #Play full time when you leave school or switch from college?

Mickleover Sports FC managed by first team manager John McGrath and top goalscorer Andy Dales, are looking for talented, committed and ambitious local footballers who wish to join a semi-professional academy in the Evo-Stik League from September 2018, where you will study for a BTEC in Sport qualification (Level 2 or 3), train every day with an UEFA qualified coach and play in the NPL Football Academy League and FA Youth Cup.

The Mickleover Sports ‘Education and Football Academy’ is an alternative to college and is ideal for any 16/17 year old who wants to gain a great education and develop as a footballer at the same time.

We are holding trials in the forthcoming EASTER holidays on:-
– Tuesday 27th February, from 1pm – 3pm
– Thursday 5th April, from 11am – 1pm

Both sessions at the Racecourse 3G pitch, St Mark’s Road, Derby, DE21 6AL.

If you would like to attend, please register your details at nplfa.co.uk/register

At the Mickleover Sports Academy you will study, train and play full time.

STUDY:
– Alternative to college
– BTEC in Sport Level 2 or 3 (L3 equivalent to 2/3 A Levels)
– Two year programme
– Study in the classroom with your team mates
– Opportunities to gain experience at the football club
– View the Study promotional video (https://youtu.be/AnrhPRLj-no)

TRAIN:
– Experienced & UEFA qualified coaches
– Train three/four times a week
– Improve technical ability and fitness on a daily basis
– Opportunities to train with the reserves and first team
– View the train promotional video (https://youtu.be/hVMjoScMZk8)

PLAY:
– In the NPL Football Academy League
– Opportunities to play in the FA Youth Cup
– Games played at Evo-Stik League stadiums
– Opportunities to progress to the reserves and first team
– Opportunities to play for the inter-league team against
professional clubs (https://youtu.be/ziBSbQy0oDU)
– View the play promotional video (https://youtu.be/Px3ZFabkQo0)

EXTRAS:
– All matches are filmed, analysed and shown in a weekly highlights package online with our video partners FilmMyMatch (https://youtu.be/h6wSdDv0gw0)
– Opportunities to study, play and coach in the USA by gaining a scholarship
– Progress onto our three-year university degree course (http://nplfa.co.uk/degree/)

Activate your ambition now and apply at nplfa.co.uk/register

Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) would like to thanks Mickleover Sports Club for raising £474.13 for their campaign.

“It was great to support the family, myself and Neil have been good mates since school.”

Don Amott, MSC Chairman

The coach to Marine leaves at 11am from Mickleover Sports Club this Saturday (24th February).

Fare: £10

We look forward to seeing you there!

#SportsRising

3-3 after Full Time
Mickleover Sports win 4-3 on penalties

This match report has been written by staff of the opposition football club.

“In a game that presented not many opportunities in the first half, the second certainly proved value for money as Pablo Mills’ late header brought the game straight to a penalty shoot-out with the score finishing 3-3 after 90 minutes.

The first chance of the game fell to Mickleover’s Andy Dales who’s lobbed effort on goal looped down onto the post and nearly catching Ryan Neild out. Mickleover failed to continue any momentum though as The Albion took the initiative to the hosts, creating plenty of chances in the first half.

The first coming from Will Jones, who got onto a Anthony Gardner cross and Jones’ header arched over the Sports’ crossbar. Shortly following that, Albion won a free kick between 35-40 yards out. Owen Dale took the free kick and what was a dangerous cross somehow zipped it’s way through Mickleover’s backline untouched.

Witton were playing their usual high-pressing game with Jones plus the attacking midfield trio of Dale, Foley and Evans all boxing in the Sports players on the ball. This paid dividends as on the 34th minute, James Foley poked the ball home at the far post after some great link-up play between Owen Dale and Will Jones.

Witton searched for a second straight from the restart and on the 37th minute, a hard-hit shot from Owen Dale threatened to double Albion’s lead as he cut in onto his favoured right foot and tried to find the inside of the near post.

More chances fell Witton’s way before half-time and James Foley setting Owen Dale free was one of those but Mickleover’s stopper, Lewis King made himself big as Dale approached the Sports’ box.

The last chance of the first half fell to Paul Williams on the edge of the box who’s left-footed volley went just wide of keepers’ left-hand post. The half-time whistle was blown and Witton failed to score a second goal without doubling their lead.

Mickleover started the second half in the right way as Ryan Neild were called into action to make some great saves including some last ditch goalkeeping/defending from Neild and Danny McKenna on the hour mark.

Shortly after, Pablo Mills scored a header at the near post to deservedly bring the hosts level as Mickleover’s pressure started to make count. Witton started from the kick-off in the right manner as they started to create chances straight away, Steve Tames was brought on in place of Micah Evans.

Carl Macauley bringing on Steve Tames completely changed the pattern of play as Will Jones had some to lay the ball of to as on the 71st minute, Tames switched the ball onto his left foot and perfectly stroked the ball home from just outside the box.

Mickleover again soon took charge of the game with Witton sitting back and hitting the Sports on the counter with many passes being fed in behind for Owen Dale to chase. In the 81st minute, Louis Briscoe equalised for the hosts to bring the score to 2-2 and leaving both sides with the initiative to attack in the remaining 9 minutes.

Steve Tames tried to make sure that Witton would escape a penalty shoot-out when he tapped in a shot from Will Jones that was parried out.

Once again from kick-off, Mickleover forced Witton to sit back to defend the one goal advantage with some real backs-to-the-wall defending.

The pressure got to The Albion again as Pablo Mills scored his second of the game in the 89th minute. A penalty shoot-out loomed but there was a moment of hope when a Will Jones header hit the underside of the crossbar only to be cleared away, leaving Jones with his hands on his head of what could had been.

The final-whistle was blown and a penalty shoot-out would decide who progressed into the Integro Doodson’s League Cup Quarter Final. The penalty takers and whether they scored or missed look like so.

Mickleover Sports:
MILLS-Missed
BARNES-HOMER-Scored
MULDERS-Scored
BRISCOE-Scored
MCGRATH-Missed
SCOTT-Missed
DALES-Scored

Witton Albion:
RYAN-Scored
HAYWOOD-Scored
TAMES-Missed
WILSON-Scored
BROWN-Missed
DALE-Missed
MCKENNA-Missed

Sadly we don’t progress any further in the competition but we thank Mickleover for their great hospitality and we wish them luck for the remainder of the competition. Next up we are back in league action at home to Whitby Town.”

Get your tickets now, call 01283 732193.

BY DAVID MACKENZIE

After the first game was abandoned at half time on the 19th November and a multitude of postponements the semi final of the Derbyshire Divisional Cup South got underway at 3pm at Lees Brook School 3g pitch in Chaddesen.

We were able to put out a strong side with Morgan Williams, cup tied. Jake Smith, injured and Tom Eccleshall all not available.

As usual with the reserves the team from Friday night was juggled a bit as Danny Davidson was available after the first team game was called off and another player was unavailable.

The game got under way just as the rain stopped and Mickleover were soon on the ascendancy with usual high pressing game and playing out form the back. Ty Robinson was in commanding form winning headers that sent Gresley back towards their goal. On the left Daniel Cvik made a couple of penetrating runs that built pressure on Gresley with Will Norcross beating players for fun and Jermaine Palmer dominating the high clearances it seemed only a matter of time before we took a chance.

As it happened the goal came from a cross by Jaro Vvak from the left, across the keeper, to sneak in at the far corner. Some may think it somewhat forteous but if the ball goes between the posts and below the bar you always have a chance of a goal.

Gresley had quite a few good players working hard for their team and we needed to improve in the second half to progress to the final. One disappointing aspect was the number of soft fouls we gave away allowing Gresley a free kick to put us under pressure plus being caught offside makes life far to easy for the opposing defence.
So with the warnings ringing in their ears we went out and lost a goal in under 2 minutes of the restart. The Gresley number 8 was allowed to dribble across the midfield and from 20 yards struck a low shot to equalise. Good goal but one we should have stopped.

The players have to be congratulated to their reaction as it was us that picked up the pace and took the game to Gresley. It wasn’t until we were 3 -1 up that they had a couple of good chances to score.
We took the lead after good work down the right with Finley Davies and Dean Wilkinson before the ball got put across to find Jermaine Palmer at the far post about 15 yards out. He went past a defender and finished with aplomb with a fine left foot strike.

Mickleover continued to press and after coming on minutes earlier Jakub Ondersco finished a great move with his right foot at the back post. After that we had a couple of 3 on 2 situations but unfortunately didn’t take advantage with players going narrow instead of stretching the defenders and then Gresley had the opportunities to get back in the match.

Everyone played well with notable performance from Jack Walsh with tough tackling and no little skill, Fin Davies was always involved, TY Robinson only put a foot wrong once and then recovered brilliantly, Max Bennett was safe as houses dealing well with the crosses that came in and finally Will Norcoss who looked like he was the only one allowed the ball in the first half.