By Peter Scherer
It’s back down the M1 again on Saturday as Mickleover take on Hitchin Town in the Southern Premier League Central Division.
Our last visit to Hitchin ended with an FA Trophy defeat a couple of years ago, but despite being in 11th place in the table, Mark Burke’s side have only been beaten once at home, by title contenders Leiston.
A five gamel unbeaten run came to an end last Saturday though when they went down 2-4 at local rivals Royston, before taking all three points at home to Rushden & Diamonds on Monday night.
Mickleover will be hoping Stuart Beavon will be fit to rejoin the squad on Saturday, along with Joe Bateman, as we seek to hold onto our current play-off place.
Goalkeeper Charlie Horlock has been at Top Field for three years, since signing from Hastings Utd. He started his junior football at Wycombe Wanderers and Stevenage and was loaned to Hendon and Harrow, before coming to Hitchin on loan too in November 2014. He then made a permanent move to our hosts a year later, before moving to Eastbourne.
Full back Stan Georgiou is a home- grown talent who has been a regular starter since the second half of last season. He captained the clubs Youth Cup team and also had a loan spell at Letchworth Garden City Eagles.
Kye Tearle is a defender of midfielder who came from the Pro Direct Academy in Baldock. He is in his third season with the first team squad.
Irish midfielder Stephen Gleeson was spotted by Wolves when he was playing junior football for Chery Orchard FC. He spent a few years on loan at Stockport County before a permanent move to Mk Dons. He then moved on to Birmingham City, Ipswich and Aberdeen, before coming back to England with Solihull Moors. He came to Hitchin in November last year after four months at Hemel.
He was capped by the Republic of Ireland at full, Under 17, 18, 19 and 21 levels and has played over 40 league games in the Championship, League One & Two and Scottish Premiership, scoring 27 goals.
Defender or midfielder Malaki Black arrived from MK Dons in July last year, while fellow midfielder Bradley Bell arrived for his second spell during the summer, from Barton Rovers. He had initially left to join Biggleswade in 2020 and has also played for Royston and Cambridge City, having started at MK Dons.
Striker Diogo Freitas-Gouveia originally came to Hitchin on loan from Colchester Utd in 2019/20. He was also loaned to Brightlingsea and Maldon & Tiptree, but made his move to our hosts became permanent following his release during the summer. He has scored four goals in his last four games.
Rio Da Silva is a midfielder who has been at Hitchin for three years, since arriving from Dunstable. He previously played in Luton Town’s Academy, followed by four years in Chelsea’s youth team.
Striker Ashley Hay is a former Luton Junior too. He moved from Baldock Town to Biggleswade at the start of this season and came to Hitchin in September.
Steve Cawley is a striker in his third spell at Top Field, having started out at Chesham. Spells at Bishop Stortford, Concord Rangers and Hemel followed, before he came to Hitchin on loan for eight months in September 2019. He then returned permanently in July 2020, before a two-month spell at Stotfold at the beginning of last season, preceded his current stay.
Jack Snelus is a more recent arrival, having come from Rushden & Diamonds in September. The striker scored both goals in the win against his former club last Monday. He was another ex Luton Junior and has also played for Hemel and St.Ives Town.
Toby Syme is s full back in his second spell with the club. He came from one Canaries team to another, after leaving Norwich City in 2017. He moved on to Kings Langley a year later, before spells at Leverstock, Tring Athletic and Harpenden, were followed by his return to Top Field in August.
Josh Coldicott-Stevens is a another player who’s been at the club for three years. He is a midfielder, who started at Boreham Wood, before arriving at Hitchin from Kings Langley in December 2019.
Midfielder Leon Chambers-Parillon spent most of career so far with Oxford Utd. He had loans at Biggleswade, Havant & Waterloovile, Gloucester City and Slough, joining Hitchin on his release in August.
Defender Alfie Warman was a new signing from Baldock Town in August. He has also played for Welwyn, Codicote and Potton Utd.
Callum Kane is another summer arrival from Baldock. A full back, he is a product of the Pro-Direct Academy.
Delsin Ackom is another young defender, signed in 2021 after his release from MK Dons two years earlier. In between he played for Potton Utd, MK Gallacticos, Buckingham Athletic and Desborough, as well as having a spell in Spain with Almunecar.
Midfielder Finley Wilkinson was a summer signing from Histon, after coming through their Youth Scheme.
Striker Johnny Allotey signed pro-forms for our hosts towards the end of last season.
Midfielder George Joyce was only signed earlier this from Aylesbury Utd. He was previously at Boreham Wood and Kempton and is yet to make his first start.
Lewis Barker arrived at the start of the 2019/20 season, after five years at Baldock Town and Dempsey Thomas is a young defender having recently broken into the first team squad.
Kick off at Top Field is 3pm and we will hoping for dry spell between now and then, as the pitch is grass.