by Peter Scherer
Following last weekends 2-0 win at St. Ives, Mickleover manager John McGrath has the luxury of skipper Ryan Wilson and Joe Bateman rejoining the squad for this weekend.
Wilson was serving a one match suspension, while Bateman has been nursing a shoulder injury. Left back Rhys Dolan remains on the casualty list.
Last years Southern League Division One Central Champions Berkhamsted are the visitors to the Don Amott Arena on Saturday, fresh off the back of a 2-1 win at home Nuneaton Borough last weekend.
New boss Steve Heath only took over in May, after previously managing Dunstable Town, from where he has brought almost half of the team with him.
Goalkeeper Jamie Head has spent much of his career at Dunstable, having started out in 2012. Stops at Cambridge City, Hemel Hempstead and Biggleswade preceded his second spell at Dunstable, before another spell at Cambridge City. Bedford was his next stop for almost three years, before playing at Dunstable again in 21/22.
Centre back Sam McClelland started with Crawley Green, before moving to Dunstable Town where he had spent the last three years.
Midfielder Aaron Austin is the next of the players to follow the boss from Dunstable. He was originally with St.Albans City, before going to Dunstable in August ’21. He joined Biggleswade a year later, before returning to Dunstable last season.
Striker Max Bustamente is in his second spell at Berkhamsted. He made a couple appearances in 20/21 during his time with Kings Langley, then had brief stops at Biggleswade and Bedford. He started last season at Royston, before going to Beaconsfield and ended the season with a move to Dunstable last February. He scored one the goals in last Saturday’s win too.
Louie Collier is a striker or midfielder. He started at Kings Langley before coming to our visitors in 2018/19. But after a spell back at Kings Langley he was at Tring and Leighton Town, before starting last season at Dunstable and ending it back at Leighton.
The last of the six pre-season signings from Dunstable is midfielder Jordan Frederick, he first arrived at Berkhamsted in March 2012 from Leverstock Green and stayed for three years before a move to Aylesbury. Then after a short spell at Dunstable he returned to Berkhamsted in January 2016.
As well as a return trip to Aylesbury, he had also played for Egham Town and had spent four years at Leighton Town, plus two more spells with Berkhamsted in 2018 and 2021. He spent the whole of last season at Dunstable again.
Right back Anthony Ball is a recent arrival from Aylesbury Vale Dynamo. He was at Berkhamsted in 2018 too and has also played for Luton Town Cedars and Aylesbury FC.
Adam Martin is a midfielder and recent signing from Potters Bar. He started at Watford and was loaned to Slough Town before joining AFC Wimbledon on his release. Further moves have taken him to St.Albans, Bohemians in Ireland, Wealdstone, Cambridge City, Chesham, Enfield, Farnborough and Beaconsfield, before joining Potters Bar last September.
Striker Sam Meakes started with St.Albans City, before moving on via Hitchin and Dunstable, arriving at our guests pre-season from Frome Town.
Sam Newton is another recent signing, a centre back from Biggleswade, who was at Barton Rovers and Northwood, before a two-year spell with Hitchin Town. He joined Biggleswade last November.
Former Watford Junior striker Edu Toiny-Pendred came from Hertford on the summer. He had previous spell at Berkhamsted and has played for Kings Langley and in the US with St.Mary’s Rattlers. He scored one of the goals in the win over Nuneaton last Saturday.
After spells at London Colney and Chesham, midfielder Mark Riddick spent a couple of seasons with Tring Athletic, before over three years at Aylesbury. He was another pre-season signing for our visitors.
Another former Watford Junior striker is Kyal Williams. He spent last season at Gosport and has played at Northwood and Kings Langley too.
Midfielder or defender Connor Toomey is one of the few players remaining from last season. He started at Berkhamsted in 2012 and has played at Kings Langley, Hemel, Hayes & Yeading, Chesham and Leighton. He is now in his fourth spell with the club.
Former Berkhamsted winger Tom Silford returned to the club in August 2022 from Dunstable. He has had numerous spells at Dunstable before, and has also played for Bedford, London Colney, Welwyn, Leighton Town, Leverstock, Crawley Green and Totternhoe.
Charlie Smith was an MK Dons Junior and had a spell on loan with Biggleswade. He made his move to our visitors a few weeks ago.
Finally defender David Salademi has arrived from Tividale.
Kick off at the Don Amott Arena is 3pm as usual, come and support sports and keep them unbeaten!