Position: Coaching Staff

Paul Groves (Coach)

February 28th 1966

Paul has returned to Mickleover to give a helping hand for the fourth time, having previously helped us get to the edge of the play-offs a few years ago.

Having played for the likes of Burton Albion, Leicester City, Blackpool Grimsby and West Brom among others, his first spell in management was as player coach at Grimsby Town.

He had spells as caretaker/assistant manager at Portsmouth, assistant at West Ham and Birmingham City and managed both the first team and academy at Bournemouth.

After time in India and Israel he managed Gloucester City, before joining Mickleover in late 2022, joining John McGrath to take us to the edge of the play offs. Latterly he was assistant at Buxton after another spell in India.

Mick Galloway (Assistant Manager)

October 13th 1974

A former Notts County Junior, Mick was an obvious choice to become Gareth Holmes’ assistant, after they had successfully worked together at Hucknall Town, during Gareth’s own playing career. A midfielder, Mick moved from the Magpies to Gillingham after an initial loan in 1997, but was later loaned to Lincoln City too before a permanent moved to Chesterfield. He then headed north to Carlisle and after being loaned to Hereford, moved into the Scottish League, firstly with Gretna, then Stirling Albion. After a spell at Workington he headed south again, back to his native Nottinghamshire with Eastwood Town, but was soon back in Scotland, joining Cowdenbeath, after a spell at Penrith.

He returned to Workington for a short spell in 2008, before joining Hucknall Town and finally Worksop, then retiring from playing in 2010, stepping into management and coaching roles. He had been player manager at Hucknall, but went back to playing until he took charge at Gedling Town in 2010. He then tookover at Long Eaton in January 2012, before stepping down 13 months later.

His son Josh is a winger with Workington, having played his junior football at Carlisle and Leeds.

Gareth Holmes (Manager)

October 1st 1982

Gareth took over the reins on May 2nd last year and brings with him a vast amount of coaching experience.

As a player he was a midfielder, playing in the Conference for Nuneaton Borough and Leigh RMI, as well as locally with Ilkeston Town, Worksop and Hucknall Town and had six-month spell in Finland too. He had already done some coaching at Ilkeston, “I decided to retire from playing aged 26 and became one of the youngest first team coaches in the league when I joined Mansfield Town,” he explained.

His FA and UEFA coaching qualifications continued to map his career, when after a year at Field Mill, he joined Burton Albion, working with the Brewers junior players. Two years later he moved on to Birmingham City in a similar role, and then spent six years with Nottingham Forest managing the under 18’s, as well as working with the first team.

Since then he has and still does work with the Derby County Community Trust, but felt it was now time to make a return to the competitive side of football. His four key words in coaching are SERVE, IMPROVE, DRIVE & UNITE!

He is also the elder brother of former Rams player Lee, who played a few games at Mickleover a few of seasons ago.