by Peter Scherer
Following their victory against Rushall Olympic in their last home game, Mickleover will be looking to make it two in a row as they face Needham Market at the Don Amott Arena on Saturday.
Our visitors are currently 17th in the table after four successive defeats, their last away win being back in September at Kings Langley. Ironically it was Kings Langley that inflicted their last defeat too, going down 1-2 at home last weekend.
Saturday will also see a league debut for goalkeeper Oliver Bosworth, covering for the injured Jonathan Hedge. Mitch Rose is out too, but hopefully Oliver Greaves will be back in the squad.
Former Northern Ireland International midfielder Kevin Horlock has been in charge at Needham Market for two years, having stepped up from a coaching role. He previously managed Chatham, Colchester Under 21’s and the Northern Ireland Under 21’s, having finished his playing career at Needham too. He also played for West Ham, Swindon, Manchester City, Ipswich, Doncaster, and Scunthorpe.
Nathan Munson and Tom Rothery are both assistant managers. Former goalkeeper Munson has been at Needham for nine years in various roles, having played league football for Colchester, while Rothery came back to the club in 2019 from Brightlingsea.
First choice keeper Marcus Garnham is in his fourth season at Bloomfields, having signed from Leiston, but his whole career has been spent in East Anglia, having played for Leiston, AFC Sudbury, Lowestoft and Bury Town.
His deputy Finley Shorten is a product of their own Academy and is looking to get his break having been on the bench so far this season.
Right back Kyle Hammond came from Leiston in July 2020, after starting out as an Ipswich Town Junior, during which time he was loaned to Maldon & Tiptree.
Dan and Keiran Morphew are twins and both play at centre back. Dan was at Haverhill Rovers and Thetford Town, before joining our visitors from Dereham in 2018. Keiran was the first graduate from their own Academy and made the first of his 250 plus appearances in 2013.
Christian Frimpong is another centre back. He joined Bristol City Academy from Chippenham Town, before moving on to Reading and Swindon. Following his release he played for Braintree, Lewes, Sudbury, and Chelmsford City, from where he joined Needham in last August.
Teenager Hugh Cullum is another defender to come from the clubs Academy, he debuted last season and is an England Under 18 Schoolboy International.
Right back Jake Dye has come through the home Academy too. He debuted back in 2015 and has made his 200th appearance for the club this season.
Winger Jacob Lay was a summer signing from Ipswich Wanderers in the Eastern Counties League, having scored 13 goals for them last season as they won the Division One title. He started out at Ipswich Town and has played for Brantham Athletic, Sudbury Town, Braintree, Whitton Utd, Felixstowe & Walton and Dereham, as well as a short spell at Preston North End.
Jamie McGrath was another summer 2022 signing too. He was on a dual registration last year with Brantham Athletic and East Bergholt, with a reputation as a prolific scorer, with 56 goals in 34 games last season. He scored his first for Needham in the early season home win against St Ives.
Midfielder Patrick Brothers came from Leiston in February 2022, after 12 years at their Suffolk neighbours. He was previously at Brantham Athletic and is Needham’s top scorer this season with three goals.
Left winger Ross Crane came from Ipswich Town last August, where he was part of their Under 21’s. He started out at Colchester and Sudbury before joining Ipswich in July 2020 and was also loaned to Concord Rangers and Bury Town.
Noah Collard is another to come from the club’s own youth scheme. Another midfielder who has worked his way into the first team squad over the last couple of seasons.
Seth Chambers made his first team debut in February 2022 having come through the clubs Academy. This is his first full season and he has found the net on a number of occasions. Stourbridge.
Midfielder Tom Fitzgerald made his first team debut this season, having worked their way through the Academy and reserve teams.
Luke Ingram is the longest serving player, a midfielder in his 10th season having signed from Bury Town, having previously been at AFC Sudbury.
Defensive midfielder George Exworth is yet another academy graduate, who has occasionally been in the first team squad.
Taylor Clark is a young midfielder who was on trial with Aston Villa at the beginning of the year, before returning to our visitors Academy.
Left midfielder Dylan Williams has recently arrived from St Ives. He was a Cambridge Utd Junior, joining St Neots after his release. He moved on to Biggleswade and Lowestoft, before a two and a half year spell at St Ives.
Left winger Taykaan Bennett is a more recent signing too. He has arrived initially on loan from Colchester Utd.
Both Oliver Fraser and Mahmoud Igwebuika have both come into the squad recently via the Academy
Centre back Harry Knights came from Lowestoft last August, having previously been at Leiston.
Kick off at the Don Amott Arena, is 3pm as usual and remember the Ladies in Red free admission offer!