by Peter Scherer
It’s Mickleover’s last chance of cup success on tonight, when we welcome Alfreton Town to the Don Amott Arena, for the Derbyshire Senior Cup Semi-Final.
The teams last played each other in a pre-season friendly at Mickleover, a couple of seasons back, but this term it’s been difficult for both sides.
Alfreton are currently 15th in the National League North, having ended a run of four successive defeats with a 2-2 draw at home to Warrington last Saturday.
Billy Heath’s first choice goalkeeper is Jake Askew, a former Rotherham Utd Junior, signed from Frickley Athletic in July 2022. He has also played for Little Rock Rangers in the US.
Centre back Max Hunt played his Junior football locally too. Starting at Nottingham Forest, he moved on to Derby County. After a loan at Aldershot, he joined Carlisle following his release, before moves to Yeovil Town and Buxton. He came to Alfreton at the start of this season.
Adam Anson is another centre back that came from Southport in pre-season. His was at Wigan Athletic’s Academy, who loaned him to Macclesfield. He joined Chorley on his release, who also loaned him to Lancaster City. He also spent six months with Witton Albion.
Adam Lund s another centre back too, now in his fifth season with our visitors, since arriving from Staveley MW. He started out at Barnsley and played for Goole AFC and Pickering too.
Continuing the centre back theme, Dwayne Wiley is another long serving player. He came from Matlock back in July 2020, having joined the Gladiators from Mickleover four years earlier.
Josh Clackstone is a right back signed from Hull City in July 2018, following his release from the Tigers. He has spells on loan at Notts County and Halifax Town too.
Left back Matty Carson is currently on loan from Grimsby Town. Having started at the Liverpool Academy, he moved onto Burnley, who loaned him to Nelson and Padiham, before a permanent move to Accrington Stanley.
He then went on loan to Carrick Rangers in Northern Ireland, Telford and Stalybridge, before being released again. He then spent 18 months at Reading, before starting this season at Grimsby.
Luke Matheson is right back and another loanee, from Bolton Wanderers. Wolves signed him from the Rochdale Academy, but loaned him back, as well as sending him to Ipswich Town, Hamilton Academical and Scunthorpe. He joined Bolton at the beginning of last season after his release and also had a spell at Bohemians in the Republic of Ireland.
Left back Nathan Newall came from Buxton in September 2023. He started at Guiseley before joining the Sunderland Academy, who loaned him to Darlington, before starting last season at Buxton.
Midfielder Sam Osborne only arrived two weeks ago from Boston Utd. He started at Dunkirk Colts before joining Notts County, who loaned him to Basford, Shaw Lane and Grantham, before going to Leamington on his release. He played for Fylde and Buxton too, before starting this season at Boston.
Striker Lewis Salmon came from Nottingham Forest in July 2023. He started out in non league with Trafford and also played for Stalybridge and Altrincham before going to Forest in July 2021. He was also loaned to Alfreton and Telford before joining our visitors.
Central midfielder Liam Waldeck was a Sheffield Wednesday youngster, who joined Gainsbrough on his release, after an initial loan. He joined Alfreton in July 2023.
Gerry McDonagh is another Ex Forest Academy striker, who spent nine years with the Reds. He had loan spells at Wrexham, Cambridge Utd, Tranmere and Barnsley, before joining Aldershot following his release.
Tamworth, Halifax and Kettering were his next stops, before a spell in Scotland with Cove Rangers. He came back to England with Scunthorpe, Eastleigh and Kidderminster, before arriving at Alfreton in January 2024 on loan. He started this season with Rushall Olympic, before joining our visitors on Christmas Eve.
Right sided midfielder Billy Whitehouse spent his early career at Doncaster Rovers. But after a loan at Halifax, he signed for Leeds Utd. After a further loan at Guiseley he came to Alfreton for the first time in August 2017, but after just a few weeks moved onto Shaw Lane.
After a spell at Tadcaster he went into the Welsh League with The New Saints, who also loaned him to Spennymoor and Buxton. He came to our visitors again at the start of this season, after three years at Chorley.
Midfielder Jed Abbey was a pre-season signing too, from South Shields. He started off at Wolves and has played for Telford and Alvechurch too.
George Cantrill is a central midfielder, out of the Sheffield Utd Academy. He joined Guiseley on his release after a loan spell, and came from there to our visitors in July 2022.
Former Rotherham striker Akeel Francis is the newest arrival, just over a week ago, from Brighouse Town. He was loaned to North Ferriby before his release from Rotherham, quickly moving on to Accrington, Wrexham, Rochdale, Farsley, Guiseley and Grantham, before a year in Scotland with Falkirk.
Spells at Bradford Park Avenue and Warrington Rylands followed, before returning to Scotland with Stirling Albion. He’s played for Sleaford and starting this season at Hyde, before a stay at Wakefield preceded his Brighouse move.
KICK OFF 7.45 at the Don Amott Arena.