by Peter Scherer
Having returned to winning ways Mickleover will be looking for another three points to secure their safety as the NPL season conclusion approaches.
Stalybridge Celtic our hosts tomorrow night are currently one point and one place behind Mickleover in 19th place, having played the same number of games.
While Mickleover picked up three points from the home win over Matlock last Saturday, Stalybridge had a 0-0 draw at bottom club Grantham.
With only one win in the last seven games and one goal in the last four, they are desperate to succeed on home turf, so a tough game awaits us.
Northern Ireland Under 21 International goalkeeper Liam Hughes had been first choice, but having returned from Injury Grant Shenton has recently claimed the place.
Having been part of Portadown’s first team squad from the age of 15, Hughes joined Glasgow Celtic in 2018, moving to England in February last year with Liverpool.
He arrived at Stalybridge in January and is on loan from the Reds until the end of the season.
Shenton arrived from Buxton in July 2021, having spent two years there after arriving from Chester. He also played for Trafford and Ramsbottom, having started out at FC United. He had a previous spell at Stalybridge five years ago too.
Matthew Liptrott is primarily a midfielder, who can also play in defence. He is on loan from Blackpool, having previously been loaned out to Prescot Cables.
Left back Ashley Smith-Brown was capped by England at Under 16, 17,18,19 and 20, during his time in Manchester City’s Academy, which spanned 17 years.
He was loaned out NAC Breda, Hearts and Oxford Utd, before joining Plymouth Argyle on his release in July 2018.
After a loan spell at Oldham he was released at Plymouth, having played 36 senior games for the Pilgrims.
He arrived at Stalybridge in August 2021, after spells at South Shields and Farsley.
Our hosts captain is Sam Wedgbury, a central midfielder who started out at Worcester City, before being picked up by Sheffield Utd. After a loan spell at Mansfield, he had a year in Hungary with Ferencvaros, before the Blades released him in July 2010.
He then moved on to Macclesfield, Altrincham, Stevenage, Forest Green, Wrexham and Chesterfield, before arriving at Stalybridge from Buxton in July last year.
Centre back Connor O’Grady is a Republic of Ireland Under 21 International. He was a Sheffield Wednesday Junior until July 2019, when he joined Buxton. He is now in his second season at Stalybridge. But has recently been out injured.
Defender or midfielder Keenan Quansah was another player that arrived at Stalybridge in July 2021. He started his career at Accrington Stanley, before moving to Burscough in 2016.
He soon moved on again spending a year at Mossley, returning after three months with Hyde, finally coming to our hosts after almost three years with Glossop.
Callum Harris is an experienced midfielder, who played in Manchester City and Blackburn’s Academy, before a spell in the Nike Academy at St Georges Park.
He then joined Wolves, before venturing abroad, firstly with Patro Eisden Maasmechelen, returning to the Belgian third tier club again in March 2018 after two months in Trinidad with Central FC.
He came to Stalybridge in September 2020, after a year in Spain with Real Burgos.
Dougie Nyaupembe originally came to Stalybridge on loan from Bury in 2019. After a loan at Hyde he was released from Bury and joined Atherton. He was at Radcliffe before his recent return to Stalybridge.
Defender or midfielder Stephen Brogan was a Rotherham Junior, during which time he was loaned to Stalybridge in 2005, plus Alfreton and then joined our hosts permanently in 2011.
His further moves have taken him to Guiseley, Forest Green, Southport, Gainsborough, North Ferriby, Boston and Spennymoor, before arriving at Stalybridge from Buxton in July last year.
Centre back Derek Ubah only arrived at Stalybridge a couple of weeks ago from Bedford Town. He started out at Boston Utd, before a move to the Netherlands with SC Grevenmacher. After a spell with Maldon & Tiptree he went to IFK Mora in Sweden for six months.
He has also had spells at Belper Town between his time at Bedford.
Charley Doyle is another centre back who can play midfield. He came straight to Stalybridge in September 2020 from the Blackburn Academy.
Josh Edwards is a defender who made his debut in last Saturday’s game at Grantham and Khalid Kharufa is defender just moved into the first team squad from the Academy.
Danny Adigun is another defender new to the first team squad, similarly striker Connor Falls on loan from Huddersfield, goalkeeper Connor Leach
Angolan born Raul Correia is our hosts top striker. Starting out in local football, he moved on to Cheadle Heath Nomads and Radcliffe, before stepping up with Chorley.
His next move was Trafford, before a return to Radcliffe. He was at Blackpool for a year, after they signed him from Radcliffe, but after loans at Guiseley and York City, he made a permanent move to Barrow in July 2018, having made one senior appearance for the seasiders.
After another year he moved to Southport and then into the Welsh League with Bala Town, before signing for Stalybridge only four weeks ago from Aberystwyth.
Winger Justin Johnson started his career in his native Netherlands, with three years at the Sparta Rotterdam Academy, before coming to the UK with Manchester Utd.
After moving onto FC United, he then moved to Scotland with Dundee Utd, but was released in 2017 after a loan at York City.
He played for Othellos Athienou and Akritas Chlorakas in Cyprus, but then returned to Scotland with Hamilton Academicals, after scoring 24 goals in 37 appearances in Cyprus. He came to Stalybridge last September from Morton.
Ethan Padden is a midfielder who came to Stalybridge from Buxton last summer. A former Chesterfield youth team player who has played for Glossop North End too.
Defender Shane Killock started out at Ossett before joining Huddersfield Town. He made one first team appearance for the Terriers, before being loaned to Hyde and Harrogate. He then had another loan at Oxford Utd, before a permanent move in 2009.
Moving onto Telford Utd, where he made over 130 appearances he also captained the side. Loans at Harrogate Guiseley followed before moves to Hyde, Bradford PA and Boston Utd. He then had a season at Alfreton before joining Buxton, arriving at Stalybridge in June last year.
Midfielder Gedeao Varela has recently arrived from Kendal Town, he also played at St Helens and Glossop.
Young winger Aaron Grewal is another new arrival, coming from West Didsbury and Chorlton. He has also played for Curzon Ashton.
Midfielder Matty Jones is a product of their own youth scheme and made his first team debut in October.
Jay Fitzmartin is a young winger on loan from Bolton Wanderers. It’s his second spell at Stalybridge his first having been cut short by injury.
Midfielder Sam McLintock is another loanee, from Halifax. He has spent most of his career with Alvechurch and was loaned back to them after joining the Shaymen.
Assistant to manager Simon Haworth, Republic of Ireland International Stephen O’Halloran is massively experienced. He started at Aston Villa, and played for Wycombe, Southampton, Leeds, Swansea, Coventry and Carlisle until moving into non-league with Nuneaton in 2012.
He also played for Stockport, Salford and FC United, before coming to Stalybridge in July 2019.
Kick off at Bower Fold is at 7.45pm and John McGrath and the team would be delighted to see as many Mickleover fans as possible.