by Peter Scherer
We start 2026 with the visit of Loughborough Students on New Years Day.
Back on a hot August Bank Holiday Monday, we went down 2-1 to our visitors in a dour and very unimpressive game, which was the first of only four wins for Loughborough this season.
On Boxing Day they lost 0-3 when Shepshed Dynamo visited. They had three successive wins back in October, but have managed only four points from the last 10 games and are currently 21st in the table
Sports will still be hoping that Danny Benson will be fit to rejoin the squad that came away with an impressive 3-0 win at Rugby Town. It consolidated 10th place in the league, but still only three points outside the play-offs.
Jamie Clapham’s side having had a rapid turn over of players in recent games, including four different goalkeepers.
Leo Webster was previously at Winchester City and had time in Spain with the Malaga Sporting Academy, while Jude Sadler has come from the Charlton Athletic Academy.
Steven Bessent was previously at the Newcastle Utd Academy before joining our visitors, while Will Dean was between the sticks on Boxing Day.
Defender Jonty Bouch has often captained the team and he started out in Mansfield Town’s Academy.
Centre back Harry Twite has previously played for Kings Lynn and Wisbech and is capped as a full international and under 20 by Bermuda.
Ben Royall is another defender who has played for Worthing, while left back Oliver Downs started at AFC Wimbledon, before moving on to Bognor and Fleet.
Fellow defender Nat Salsby has been a mainstay of the team this season, while centre back.
Will Earley is a recent debutant having also played for Burton Albion.
Midfielder Sam Fielding has been captaining the side of late. He is in his third season with our visitors, along with fellow midfielder Max McCcoy.
Winger Alex Spiteri is a Malta under 18 and 19 international and started his career with Sliema Wanderers, before a spell at Reading preceded his arrival at Loughborough.
Josh Roddy previously played for Corsham Town and Welton Rovers, while fellow midfielder Marcus Gilpin started his career with Bradfield College.
Striker Connor Keene, was previously at the Crystal Palace Academy, while his fellow forwards Gafar Abari and Max Prickett-Reed were at Sunnybank FC in Scotland, Northampton ON Chenecks and Bugbrooke St.Michaels.
Striker Sonny Albert was at Florida Southern College before coming to our visitors on his UK return and has also played for Dorking.
Both striker Ashden Shortland and attacking midfielder Hussein Issa have been regular starters, while Tobenna Ikegwuonu, Thomas Higgs, Sid Hollywood-Martin, Liam Brannigan, Mat Rennie and Oliver Unwin have part of the squad too.
More recently both Noah Simmons and Daniel Vandapuye have arrived on loan from Lincoln City. Simmons is a midfielder, while Vandapuye is a striker, who has also been loaned to Lincoln Utd recently.
Kick off at the Don Amott Arena is 3pm as usual, with full bar and catering available.