by Peter Scherer
Unlucky not to hold onto a point last weekend last Saturday, Mickleover head to North Yorkshire this weekend to face Whitby Town.
Sports have used a number of players in varying positions over recent weeks, some caused by injury and some by choice. But with four successive league defeats they are now 18th in the NPL table, just outside the relegation zone and still seeking the winning blend.
Our hosts have had five wins so far, and are currently 13th, but having played two games more they are only two points ahead too.
They have only won three of their last 12 league games and lost 0-3 at Worksop on Tuesday night. They also lost their last home game, 0-2 to Gainsborough on November 5th.
Manager Gary Liddle and his assistant Jason Kennedy are both still registered players and are often on the subs bench. Liddle was signed as a player from Spennymoor pre-season, but took over the managership too when Nathan Haslam left last month.
A centre back he started his career at Middlesbrough, before joining Hartlepool on his release. After six years he moved to Notts County, followed by spells at Bradford City, Chesterfield and Carlisle, before joining Walsall in 2006. He then returned to Hartlepool and was at South Shields before his Spennymoor move at the end of last season. He has made 572 league appearances in Leagues One and Two and scored 28 goals.
Kennedy came from Marske Utd last month to join Liddle. A midfielder, he started out at Middlesbrough too and was loaned out to Boston Utd, Bury and Livingston, before joining Darlington on his release.
A year later he joined Rochdale and then moved to Bradford City, who loaned him back to Rochdale, before another permanent move to Carlisle in 2015. His next stops were Hartlepool and Spennymoor, before a two years spell at Marske and has 390 League One and Two appearances under his belt with 38 goals.
First choice goalkeeper Shane Bland was another Middlesbrough youngster. He first came to Whitby in 2013 following his release, but after just over four years moved onto Spennymoor. His next move was West Auckland after an initial loan and is now in his sixth season at Whitby.
His deputy is Nick Cranston, was signed from Billingham in October 2021. He has also played for Wolviston, after starting his career at Darlington.
Jassem Sukar is a centre back and currently captains the side. He started out at Sunderland before heading further north with Dundee Utd. He was loaned to Peterhead, Brechin City and Arbroath, playing in Scottish League’s One and Two, before signing for York City on his release.
He came to Whitby in April 2018, but moved to Darlington four years later. After a loan at Scarborough he came to our hosts pre-season.
Fellow centre back Frankie Whelan and left back Sam Collins are pre-season signings too, following their release from Middlesbrough.
Right back Soni Fergus is his fourth season at the club, after arriving from Pickering in July 2021.
Priestley Griffiths is a former England Under 17 International and another ex Middlesbrough junior. A defensive midfielder, he joined Bishop Auckland on his release, before moving to IBV Vestmannaeyjar in Iceland.
After a two year spell he returned to the UK with Marske Utd, before a move to Blyth Spartans, where he played until joining our hosts in August 2021.
Yet another ex Middlesbrough is central midfielder Joe Wheately. A former England C International. He joined Darlington following his release. He then moved on to Spennymoor, who loaned him to Whitby in February 2023, before making it permanent five months later.
Central midfielder Alfie Doherty another ex Middlesbrough junior too, who came straight to Whitby when he was released in August last year.
Connor Smith is a right sided midfielder, who began his career at Hartlepool. He was loaned to York and to Whitby in 2017, before a move to Frickley Athletic. He then moved onto Marske Utd and was loaned to our hosts again in September last year, but the move became permanent in November.
Midfielder Adam Gell has recently made his 300th appearance. Having arrived at Whitby from Guisborough in 2015, he spent nine years with the club before starting this season at Bishop Auckland. But he made the return trip after just two months.
Joe Gibson is another right sided midfielder and another former Middlesbrough junior. He was loaned to Darlington, before starting this season at Blyth Spartans following his release. After just one month at Blyth he moved to our hosts.
Nathan Thomas is a traditional left winger with masses of experience, with over 200 appearances in leagues, one, two and the Scottish Leagues, scoring 34 goals.
He started out as youngster with Newcastle Utd and Sunderland, before joining Plymouth Argyle. He then moved to Scotland with Motherwell, before returning to England with Mansfield Town.
After a spell at Hartlepool he moved to Sheffield Utd, who loaned him to Shrewsbury Town, Notts County and Carlisle Utd, before returning to Scotland with Hamilton Academicals. York City was his next stop, before a five month stay at Marske Utd, which preceded his move to Whitby last December.
Left winger Jake Charles was picked up by Huddersfield Town during his early career at Garforth Villa. After a loan at Guiseley he moved to Barnsley, who loaned him to York City before a permanent moved to Stalybridge. Stafford Rangers, Farsley Celtic and Scarborough followed, with further loans at FC United and Ashton, before joining our hosts pre-season. He has represented Wales at Under 15, 16,17,19 and 21 levels.
Aaron Haswell is a midfielder and former York City and Harrogate youngster. He was signed from Ossett Utd in May 2022.
Striker Stephen Walker has League one and two experience. He was a Middlesbrough junior too and had loans at MK Dons, Crewe Alexandra and Tranmere, before joining West Auckland on his release. He came to Whitby last December and has played for England at Under 17, 18 and 19 level.
Connor Simpson is a well travelled striker who started his career at Hartlepool. He moved on to Preston North End, who loaned him to Carlisle and Accrington, before he made a permanent moved to Cork City.
He returned to England with Scarborough, before a move to Iceland with Kordrengir. Connahs Quay in Wales was his next stop, before a short spell with Marske Utd preceded his arrival at Whitby in November 2022.
He then joined Sorrento in Australia in January this year, before returning to Whitby last month.
Defender Alfie Jackson is a recent signing, having played in pre-season trials.
Campbell Darcy and Alfie Steel are both loanees from Hartlepool. Defender Darcy came at the start of the season, while striker Steel is a new arrival on a short term loan.
Kick off at the Towbar Express Stadium is 3pm