by Peter Scherer
This weekend Mickleover face another in form team, as we head up the M6 to Bamber Bridge.
Sports have a few injury niggles to sort out before the weekend, but should hopefully have virtually a full squad to choose from, as they go for a second successive win.
After a win at Whitby on the opening day of the season, our hosts went six games without a repeat, but have now won their last three, at home to Prescot and away to Workington and Warrington Rylands.
They also went out of the FA Cup to Newton Aycliffe after a replay and penalties.
Teenager Nicholas Michalski had been first choice goalkeeper for Jamie Milligan’s side, until the recent arrival of fellow teen James Pradic.
Michalski is an Under 16 and 17 International on loan from Blackburn Rovers, whereas Pradic is a loanee too from Preston North End, and capped by Wales at Under 16,17,18 and 19 levels.
Pradic started out at Charlton Athletic and his current loan is his third with our hosts.
Simon Grand is a vastly experienced centre back, having played in Leagues One and Two. He started out with Rochdale, before moving on to Carlisle Utd, Grimsby Town, Morecambe, Northwich and Fleetwood.
After loans at Mansfield and Aldershot, he made a permanent move to Southport, but was soon on the move again via Telford, Barrow, Salford, Fylde, Chester and Charnock Richard. He started last season with Lancaster City and joined our hosts last January.
Centre back Will Squires was a pre-season arrival, having started his career with Blackpool. He spent part of last season on loan at Bamber Bridge, as well as spells with Southport and Hyde., before being released by the Seasiders in the summer.
Finlay Wallbank is another young centre back. He started at Preston, but spent last season with Workington, before joining the pre-season signings at Bamber Bridge.
Adam Dodd is a left back with experience in the Scottish League. He is another former Blackpool Junior who was loaned to Altrincham and Ayr Utd, before joining Chorley on his release. He first joined our hosts in January 2016, but after 3 ½ years moved onto FC United, but returned four years later to start last season.
Fellow left back Liam Brockbank was a pre-season signing from Altrincham. He was a junior at Carlisle, before joining Workington. Lancaster and Altrincham were his next stops, with loans at Gloucester City and Warrington Rylands.
Defensive midfielder Alex Kenyon made over 250 senior league two appearances, after starting his career with Everton. He joined Chorley following his release, before a three year stay with Stockport County.
After moves to Morecambe and Scunthorpe, he went to Scotland with Ayr Utd, returning to England with Chester. He was at Curzon Ashton last season, before his pre-season move to our hosts.
Lorenze Mullarkey-Matthews is a young midfielder on loan from Blackburn Rovers, while central midfielder Alex-Ray Harvey was a pre-season signing from Stafford Rangers.
Harvey was a Burnley Junior who was loaned to Fleetwood, before a permanent move to Barrow following his release. He played for Guiseley and Hednesford too, before his five year stay at Stafford.
Central midfielder Jack Baxter has spent most of his career at Preston North End. He was loaned out to Clitheroe, Chorley, Stalybridge, Cork City and Radcliffe, before joining Stafford on his release in July 2022. He came to Bamber at the start of last season.
Michael Potts is an experienced central midfielder too, after starting out with Manchester Utd and Blackburn Rovers. Following his release he moved to York City and Guiseley, before a loan at Stalybridge.
Next stops were Bradford Park Avenue and Curzon Ashton, before his first spell at Bamber Bridge in 2016. After two years he moved to FC United and returned to our hosts at the beginning of last season.
Chris Churchman is a long serving central midfielder, having signed from Hyde Utd in July 2018. He started out at Stockport and was loaned to Buxton, before a permanent move to Macclesfield. The next stop was Welsh League side Connahs Quay, followed by a year at Clitheroe before he joined Hyde.
Midfielder Danny Edwards came from Fleetwood at the beginning of last season, having started his career at Preston North End. He also had loan spells at Kendal and Colne.
Lewis Hey is another midfielder who arrived from Bradford Park Avenue pre-season, having previously played for Guiseley.
Right winger Lucas Weaver is on loan from Altrincham, who he joined pre-season from Colne. He previously played for Fulwood.
Striker Mark Cullen has played in the Premiership and all three EFL Divisions. He spent much of his career at Hull City during which time he was loaned to Bradford City, Bury and Stockport, before moving to Luton Town.
Two years at Kenilworth Road were followed by a move to Blackpool, who also loaned him to Carlisle, before a permanent move to Port Vale. His next stop was Hartlepool, before our hosts signed him from Fylde at the start of last season.
Striker Nathan Caine came from Atherton Collieries pre-season. He came through the youth ranks at Mansfield Town, with loans at Ilkeston and Sutton Coldfield, before going to Stafford Rangers. Stalybridge was his next stop, before spending last season at Atherton.
Olly Molloy was another pre-season signing, a striker from Runcorn Linnets. He previously played for Charnock Richard and Fulwood.
Right back Macauley Wilson has just rejoined our hosts from Bury, having only moved at the start of the season. He started off at Lytham before Manchester Utd signed him. He was also a junior at Blackpool and was first loaned to Bamber Bridge in 2016. After a loan at Fylde he came to Bamber permanently in July 2017, following his release from Blackpool and s a former club captain.
Attacking midfielder Billy Hasler-Creg arrived in pre-season from Colne. As a Rochdale Junior he was loaned to Droylsden, before going to Altrincham on his release. Stops at Stalybridge and Congleton followed, before joining Colne. He then had a short stay at Ramsbottom before returning Colne at the start of last season.
Midfielder Jarma Mohammed has come from Wigan Athletic, but has also played junior football at Liverpool, Manchester City and Blackburn Rovers.
Jeff Adubofour is a midfielder too and has played Champions League Futsal for Manchester, while fellow midfielder Billy Bould is now a regular in the squad too.
Kick off as usual is 3pm, with easy access to the ground from the M6.