Position: Defender

Kyle Rowley

D.O.B. September 4th 1996

Kyle is an experienced centre back, who has joined us from Barwell. He is a former Walsall Junior and went on loan to Sutton Coldfield, before joining Rugby Town on his release in 2016.

He then moved on to Alvechurch for a year, before a short stay at Walsall Wood, preceded another year long stay at Hednesford. He was at Stourbridge for seven months before starting last season at Barwell.

Will Tamen

D.O.B. May 12th 2006

Will is a highly rated young centre back and has been captain of the Burton Albion Youth Development squad for the past season. 

He signed professional last September and made his league debut against Peterborough Utd. He also came on as a sub in the EFL Cup games against Everton Under 21’s and Blackpool.

He is on loan until the end of the season from the Brewers and this is his first spell away from the Pirelli Stadium.

Lewis Cunningham

September 13th 2002

Lewis is a defender that started his career as a Manchester City youth player, before spending six years at Barnsley.

He then had a scholarship at Doncaster Rovers, before moving to York City and finally Birmingham City in October 2022.

Brandon Ferron

Another product of the Mickleover Academy, Brandon is a pacy left back who had a couple of first team outings as a sub in last seasons pre-season build up.

After some solid and dependable performances in the reserve and youth team games, scoring a number of goals too he was on the bench a couple times at the of the season, and again for our season opening win at St. Ives.

Dan Bradley

May 13th 1991

An experienced midfielder, Dan was initially a junior at Aston Villa, before joining Tamworth in 2012.

Kidderminster, Alfreton, Barnet, Fylde were his next stops, including return spells to a number of his former clubs.

He started last year with Nuneaton, but soon moved on to join Ilkeston, spending almost a year with the Robins, before signing for Matlock for the second half of last season.

He is a former England C International too and team mate to gaffer John McGrath.

Ryan Wilson

March 4th 1993

Son of former Rams player Kevin, Ryan is a left back or midfielder who started at Ilkeston Town. Having moved onto Gateshead for a year, he then returned to the Midlands for a two-year spell at Alfreton Town.

After moving onto Coalville for another season, he had a short spell at Matlock before joining Telford in September 2017. He then had a year out before signing for Basford, from where Mickleover brought him in for the start of last season.

He scored six goals last season too and is one of the clubs free kick experts.

Ryan will also be the club captain for 23/24.

Rhys Dolan

February 20th 1998

A former Barnsley full back Dolan can play either attacking midfield or left back. He made his name as part of the successful Ilkeston Town Under 18 squad, that had a run in the FA Youth Cup.

Barnsley spotted his talent and signed him in 2015, but since his release he has played at Long Eaton, Selston, Newark, Belper Town and Alfreton and  Anstey Nomads.

His first Mickleover appearance was as a second half sub in the home draw against Grantham in December 2021, before becoming a regular in the starting line-up.

His pace and reliability have impressed, along with the five goals he scored last season.

Ethan Mann

January 1st 2004

Ethan joined the Derby County Academy at the age of seven and continued to play for the Rams for seven years up to the under 14’s.

Having started out as a striker, he gradually moved back to midfield and now centre back having joined the Mickleover Under 14’s, following in his Father’s footsteps.

A product of our own Academy the talented teenager made his first team debut at the age of 18 playing a part in the last five games of the 2021/22 season.

During last pre-season he started at centre and wing back and had looked equally at home in both positions, earning himself a regular place in the starting line-up.

The 19-year-old centre back who has been equally effective playing at full-back or holding midfield, is an important signing for the club and an integral part of John McGrath’s plans for the season.

Last season’s Supporter’s Player of the Year and Manager’s Academy Player of the Year, ‘Manny’ is looking forward to building on last seasons 35 starts helping the team go one further in their push for promotion, As vice captain too.

Joe Bateman

December 6th 1998

Now into his third season at the club, Joe continues to impress as a solid and dependable defensive midfielder, having moved from his familiar role of centre back. He also managed to score a couple of goals.

A former Derby County player, he has come through the under 18 and under 23 ranks before being released at the end of last season.

He made one start for the Rams first team in the FA Cup tie at Chorley.

Injuries and suspension have restricted some of his participation again, but now fully fit again “Bomber” will be a kingpin of the side this season.

Jake Bennett

February 22nd 1996

Like so many others, Jake started playing for his hometown club Telford AFC as a 15 year old, making two first team starts before going out on loan to Market Drayton.

He was initially spotted by Mickleover management during a friendly match against Market Drayton, and with Sports then pushing for promotion back to the Premier Division of the NPL. He was made an offer which he readily accepted to become a Sports player in December 2014.

After being part of the squad for his first half season, he became a first choice defender over his two year stay and began to receive offers of trials from League Clubs.

He joined Sheffield Utd in 2016 and making his first team debut in the EFL Cup in 2017, plus other first appearances in some friendly matches.

He was then due to go on loan to Chesterfield, but played against them in a friendly and collected a cruciate ligament injury, putting him out of action for 10 months.

A further thigh injury on his comeback meant he never got to play for Chesterfield, and following his release by Sheffield Utd in October 2019, he had a brief at Alfreton Town, before joining Coalville Town in December 2019 in the Southern League Premier Division Central.

He opted to return to Mickleover during the summer, of 2020 as he was still looking to rebuild his career and looked back fondly at his previous two years with the club.

“My lasting memory was winning the title here, the first medal I had ever won in football.”

Initially first choice right back, before another serious knee and then a thigh injury put him of out action for most of the last two seasons, but he came back strongly at the end of last season and is fighting fit to keep his place in the starting line-up.