by Peter Scherer
The FA Cup and FA Trophy may have come to end for Mickleover this season, but on tomorrow night we host United Counties League Division One side South Normanton Athletic in the opening round of our Derbyshire Senior Cup campaign.
There are likely to be a number of changes in the line-up, which may include a couple of players from our Under 23 team too.
Last season Mickleover reached the semi final’s before going 0-1 at Glossop North End.
Ant Lynam is our visitors manager, having taken over firstly on an interim basis in September 2025. His step six team are currently third in the table, having won their last three games, all at home against Pinchbeck Utd, Sleaford and Swallowsnest, but were without a game last Saturday.
Goalkeeper and captain Ross Etheridge has League Two experience. He started out with Derby County and went out on loan to Daventry, Leek Town, Crewe Alexandra and Stalybridge, before joining Accrington Stanley on his release. His next stop was Doncaster Rovers, who also loaned him to Alfreton and Lincoln City, before a permanent move to Nuneaton. He’s also played for Nuneaton, Glapwell and Stratford, before joining our visitors in July 2023.
Sam Linford also played in goal a few weeks ago, he’s on loan from AFC Normanton. He’s also played for Holbrook Sports and Oakham Utd, while a third keeper Will Sherwood has also been on the bench.
Leo Preskey is a new signing following his release from Chesterfield, he’s a pacey young wing back.
Centre back Ash Radmore is in his fourth season with the Shiners. He’s previously played for Nuneaton Town and FC United of Bolsover.
Fellow centre back Adam Yates was signed in September 2025, after captaining Retford. He was previously at Matlock Town where he made over 550 appearances.
Another new signing is Jordan Lemon. A full back or midfielder, he’s played for Stocksbridge, Matlock, Lincoln Utd and Worksop too.
Former Chesterfield Academy player Dan Fields plays left back or midfield and played a big part in last seasons successes.
Albie White is also a defender or midfielder, signed at the beginning of last season.
Leo Marshall is a midfielder and former Notts County junior. He had a spell at Quorn on loan, before joining Pinxton on his release. He joined our visitors back in October 2024.
Former Mickleover Academy midfielders Josh Powell and Luis Hall are recent arrivals at our visitors. Powell started this season at Belper Utd and has played for Grantham too.
Attacking midfielder Josh Devereux left the club to join Retford Utd last year, but returned on a dual registration at the start of the season.
Fellow midfielder’s Jordan Macaskill and George Greenwood were part of last seasons squad, Macaskill was previously at Teversal and Rainworth MW.
George Morris is a another attacking midfielder in his third season with the club. He was last years supporters player of the year.
AJ Wortley is a midfielder too, that was signed during pre-season, while winger Oliver Townsend has also played for Dronfield, Shirebrook and Stocksbridge.
Striker Charlie Dawes started out at Sheffield Wednesday and and Chesterfield, before being loaned to Matlock Town and Stalybridge Celtic. He came to Mickleover in July 2025 following his release, stayed five months and then moved to Matlock. Sheffield FC, Worksop, Handsworth, Rainworth, Belper Town and Clipstone are among his former clubs, and he joined the Shiners in March, after five years at Retford.
Billy Whitehead is an ex Clipstone and Clay Cross striker and has been a prolific scorer since joining our visitors two years ago.
Another experienced striker is Scott Ruthven, he’s had spells at Handsworth, Rossington Main and Stocksbridge too, and is a renowned non-league goalscorer.
Graduates from the clubs own youth scheme, strikers Lucas Owen and Liam Morris have recently got into the first team squad, following Finley Jones’s progress at the end of last season.
Kick off at the vibrant Doors Arena is 7.45 as usual, but it’s JUST £5 admission