by Peter Scherer
It’s back to NPL league action for Mickleover on Saturday, when we face a repeat of our opening game of the season against Hyde Utd.
After that 1-1 draw back in August, Nick Spooner’s side had four successive league wins, but apart from an FA Cup win against FC United, haven’t won since.
Currently ninth in the table, they have a game in hand over Sports and are one point behind.
Our vistors were sixth last season, just missing out on the play-off’s. Manager Spooner has been charge since February 2022, having previously coached at Halifax and Bolton Wanderers.
First choice keeper Callum Hiddleston was a Sheffield Utd Junior. He joined Ossett in February following his release and was one of the pre-season arrivals at Hyde.
Centre back Harry Ditchfield is in his fourth season at the club, since his release from Salford City. He has missed a number of recent games though through injury.
He is joined in the centre by pre-season signing Drew Baker. A former Manchester City, Crewe and Oldham youngster, Baker joined FC United on his release, but soon moved onto Fleetwood Town and has been loaned to Bohemians and Waterford in the Republic of Ireland.
He has played in League One and the League of Ireland, and following his release from Fleetwood, he finished last season at Macclesfield.
Left back Lewis Thompson is a former Northern Ireland International at Under 16 and 21, having started his career at Manchester Utd. He moved on to Blackburn Rovers and made a number of league two appearances. He was also loaned to FC Utd and Fylde, before joining Scunthorpe on his release.
He has also played for Spennymoor and Bamber Bridge, before joining Atherton Collieries at the start of this season. He came to Hyde at the end of last month.
Midfielder Jordan Scanlon was a pre-season arrival from Atherton Collieries. He started at Rochdale, but after loans at Ashton Utd and Ramsbottom, he started last season at Atherton following his release.
English born midfielder Matt Fearnley has spent most of his recent past in the USA, where he played for Flint City Bucks and Georgia State Panthers. He joined our visitors in January last year on his return to the UK.
Sonny Whittingham is a midfielder and a product of the Huddersfield Town Academy, after they picked him up from Bradford City. He had already been loaned to Bury, when he first came to Hyde as a loanee in October 2022. He returned permanently at the start of last season.
Winger, striker or midfielder Harry Bunn is vastly experienced with over 200 league games under his belt, through the Championship, leagues one and two and the Scottish Premiership.
He started off with Manchester City and was loaned out to Rochdale, Preston, Oldham, Crewe, Sheffield Utd and Huddersfield, before being sold to Bury in 2017. After a loan at Southend he was released and headed to Scotland with Kilmarnock, before moving on via York City, Scunthorpe, Buxton and Ashton Utd, moving to Hyde at the start of last season.
Striker Jack Redshaw is another long server, having come from Ashton Utd in July 2022. He is another ex Manchester City youngster, who made a successful career through leagues one and two. His first move was Rochdale, followed by stays at Salford, Altrincham and Morecambe, and then Blackpool, who loaned him back to Rochdale.
Salford, Halifax and York City followed, before he arrived at Ashton Utd. He was then loaned to Chester before joining our visitors.
Fellow striker Connor Heath arrived pre-season from Southport. After starting at Crewe, he had loans at Witton Albion and Colwyn Bay, before joining Nantwich on his release. After a loan at Farsley he joined Southport in October 2022 and was loaned back to Nantwich and Stafford Rangers too, where he ended last season.
Joe Amado is a defender who came from Atherton at the start of last season. He played for Warrington, Trafford and Irlam too.
Midfielder Jake Maltby was another new arrival this season, having spent last season at Silsden. He was previously at Bradford Park Avenue.
Ben Kershaw is a midfielder too and former Stoke City Junior, who started out in Rochdale’s Academy.
Midfielder Ayo Quadri was at Hyde on a dual registration with Halifax at the end of last season and has now made the move permanent.
Fellow midfielder Shakeel Jones-Griffiths was on a dual registration too last season with Prestwich Heys. An ex Bolton Junior, he has played for Glossop North, Congleton and Bury.
Jay Glover only arrived from Matlock at the end of last month. Another midfielder, he started out at Sheffield Wednesday and was loaned to Belper Town, Gainsborough and Spennymoor, before starting this season at Matlock following his release.
Former Oldham Athletic junior striker Collins Kagame was only signed last week, following his release.
Experienced striker Ewan Bange has arrived only his week, on loan from Radcliffe. The former Blackpool Junior had loans at Bamber Bridge, Telford, FC United and Queen of the South, before going to Radcliffe in January 2023 following his release.
Finally defenders Joe Ashton and Joe O’Toole are also recent arrivals, on loan from Burnley and Bolton Wanderers respectively.
Kick off is 3pm at the Don Amott Arena and remember, “WHEN THE RAMS ARE AWAY…………”