Match Day Saturday: FC United Of Manchester (A)

by Peter Scherer

After collecting a hard fought point from Warrington last weekend, Mickleover are off to a struggling FC United of Manchester on Saturday.

United have had a run of three defeats, away at Atherton and Whitby in the NPL and at Marske in the FA Trophy. There last win was on November 6th at home to Gainsborough.

Currently 14th in the league and only three points ahead of Mickleover, they have five wins and two draws from their 19 games so far.

For Mickleover the main decision will be over goalkeeping duties, with Callum Hawkins having returned to Burton Albion. 

The choices being another on loan keeper, or a league debut for reserve keeper Fin Bowen, so watch this space.

The FC United has a mixture of experience and youth, with some loan players in the squad too

First choice goalkeeper Dan Lavercombe played his youth football with Exeter City and Torquay United. He joined Wigan Athletic in January 2016, but was loaned back to Torquay for a couple of spells, as well as Welsh League Club Rhyl.

He was released by Wigan in the summer of 2019 and joined Fylde, from where FC United signed him in September 2020.

Michael Donohue is a defensive midfielder, who started out at Everton’s Academy. After a loan at Barrow he joined Fleetwood, but was sent out on loan again to Tamworth. In September 2018 he was loaned to FC United, before the move became permanent the following January.

Joe White is a left back who started out at Bolton Wanderers. He made four first team appearances before being released to join Lower Breck and FC United on a dual registration. He has continued on a dual registration again this year between FC United and Ashton Athletic.

Luke Griffiths is a central midfielder who came back to FC United in October from Warrington, having only left a few months earlier. He was another Bolton Wanderers junior and has also played for Runcorn Linnets, Marine and Prescot Cables.

Playing either centre back or defensive midfield, Curtis Jones is well travelled. From Stockport County’s Youth Team, he joined Glasgow Celtic and Bristol City, before his first senior transfer to Livingstone.

His spell back in Scotland was shortlived and he joined Welsh League’s The New Saints. Quickly moving on again he had a year at Nantwich and then played for Southport and Ashton Athletic, before coming to FC United in July 2019.

Centre back Drew Baker arrived at FC United in the summer from the Oldham Athletic Academy.

Aaron Morris is another centre back who started out at St Helens Town. He came to FC United in summer 2020 from Runcorn Linnet’s, where he played for three years, and has tended to play at right back.

Cian Hayes is a striker currently on loan from Fleetwood Town and is a Republic of Ireland Under 19 International. He has made one first team appearance for Fleetwood and is due to return to the club this month.

A midfielder with mainly League Two and National League experience, Jonathan Smith was signed during the summer. He was a youth player at Morecambe.

After loans at Fleetwood and Bamber Bridge, he signed for Forest Green Rovers in 2010, and spent three years there pre their league status.

A spell at York City followed before joining Swindon Town, where he played 48 games and scored three goals, before returning to League Two rivals York.

Moving onto Luton Town where he played 150 games, he was at Stevenage too, before a couple of seasons at Chesterfield preceded his current move.

Brad Holmes is a young midfielder who started at Bolton Wanderers, before moving to Blackpool. He is currently part way through a three month loan at FC United.

Paul Ennis is an experienced midfielder with a long list of clubs throughout a lengthy career. After starting at Stockport County, he had a loan at Salford City, then quickly moved on to Stalybridge Celtic, Bala Town, Witton Albion, Northwich Victoria, Colwyn Bay and Guiseley, before a two year stay on a return trip to Stalybridge.

Curzon Ashton, Matlock, Shaw Lane, Buxton, Skelmersdale, Southport and Ashton Utd also joined his long list of travels, before arriving at FC United in May 2019.

Regan Linney is a striker who was signed from Bamber Bridge in July 2019, having developed through their own Academy.

Midfielder or left Back Adam Dodd was a Blackpool junior, who made the first team bench but didn’t get to play. He had loans at Altrincham and Scottish First Division’s Ayr Utd, before joining Chorley on his release. He then had just over three years at Bamber Bridge before being signed in May 2019.

Winger Jayden Major was a Liverpool Junior before moving to Burnley. He also had a loan at Clitheroe before his release, from where he joined Spanish club UP Plasencia until lockdown. He joined Stockport in July this year and came to FC United in October.

Ex Leeds Academy winger Omar Sanyang has been at Bradford City, Doncaster, Scunthorpe and Darlington, before joining Tadcaster Albion. He then moved to Bradford Park Avenue in November last year, before joining the FC United squad.

Ali Waddecar moved to FC United after an 11 year spell at Bamber Bridge having made over 450 appearances. The striker had joined Bamber from local football, having previously been at Preston North End.

Toby Humphries is a product of FC United’s own youth scheme. The young midfielder has only recently become part of the first team squad.

Mike Potts is another midfielder who started out with Manchester United. After he was released he was at Blackburn Rovers for year, before signing for York City. 

He has moved on each season spending time with Guiseley, AFC Fylde, Stalybridge on loan, Bradford Park Avenue, Shaw Lane on loan and Curzon Ashton. He was signed from Bamber Bridge in October 2018.

Vani Da Silva has recently joined our hosts on loan from Oldham Athletic, described as a “lightning striker.”

The kick off at Broadhurst Park is 3pm.

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