by Peter Scherer
It’s our first pre-season game of the season on Friday, as we welcome Stoke City Under 21’s to the Don Amott Arena for their first outing too.
The Potters have a fairly large junior squad, including midfielder Josh Maskall who spent the latter part of last season on loan with us.
Returnees Oliver Bosworth and Paddy Webb will be in action for Mickleover along with new signings James Matthews, Harry Wood, Ashton Offler and Steven Johnson-Fikula, not forgetting our back-bone retained from last season, led by skipper Andy Dales and probably some trialists too.
As well as Maskall, Stoke have a number of promising players, including three keepers. Tommy Simkin has played for England at Under 18,19,20 & 21 and was on loan at Walsall for part of last season.
Alfie Brooks was at West Brom before joining Stoke and has been on loan at Colwyn Bay, while Jamaican born Noah Brooks was previously with Arsenal.
Centre back Jaden Dixon came from Tottenham’s Academy, while Luke Badley-Morgan started at Chelsea and spent part of last season in Scotland with Airdrie and is capped by England at Under 17and Jamaica at under 20.
Raphael Pijus Otegbayo and Jake Griffin are centre backs too, Otegbayo was previously with Stockport, while Ireland Under 19 international Griffin has come through our visitors own youth scheme and had a spell on loan at Brackley last season.
Josh Bickerton and Francis Gyimah are both left backs. Ghanaian born Gyimah came from Liverpool’s Academy.
At right back they have Jaden Mears and Sydney Agina, and both Gabriel Kelly and William Smith are defensive midfielders. Kelly came from Manchester City and has represented Ireland at Under 16 & 17.
They have the choice of Wiktor Gromek, Darius Lipsiuc and Ruben Curley in central midfield. Gromek has played for Leicester, Burnley and Lecce in Italy and is capped by Poland at Under 16, 18 and 19.
Lipsiuc started in St Patricks Athletic Academy and was on loan at Walsall for part of last season and has represented Ireland as an under 17,18.19 and 21, while Curley arrived from Manchester Utd last February.
Jack Griffiths is an attacking midfielder, plus they have eight wingers including Maskall. Favour Fawunmi, Chinoso Chibueze and Kieron Willox favour the right like Maskall. Fawunmi came from West Ham, Chibueze from Chelsea and Willox from Glasgow Rangers.
On the left they have the choice of Edwin Andersson, Japhet Matondo and Adriel Walker. Andersson is a Swedish International at Under 15,16, 17,18 and 19, signed from Chelsea, while Matondo came from Cardiff and is a Welsh International at Under 16,17,18 and 19 and Walker came from West Brom.
Looking for goals is down to strikers Keke Jeffers, Ruben McIntosh and Adam Watson. Jeffers had some time with Ashton Utd last season, having arrived at Stoke from Bradford City, while Watson was with Hanley Town last season.
It’s kick 7.30 on Friday, with all the usual catering facilities and bar, £5 admission or £10 for a family ticket plus free parking.