by Peter Scherer
This Saturday Mickleover head to 20th placed Bourne Town, as they seek to return to winning ways after taking just the one point at home to bottom of the table Bedworth in their last four league games.
Both Thabang Dube and Fraser Corden impressed in our 7-0 Derbyshire Senior Cup win and will be pushing form a starting place, while Will Atkinson came back from injury as a second half sub and new loan signing Ross Derham should be in the squad too.
Back on October 13th Mickleover were 3-1 winners when we hosted the Lincolnshire club, with goals from Ali Mohiuddin, Will Atkinson and Paddy Webb.
Our hosts were United Counties Division One Champions 23/24 and last year finished second in the Premier Division North, gaining promotion again via the play-offs.
Manager Michael Goode has been in charge since October 2023 and shares responsibilities with player/co manager Dan Flack.
Goode was previously manager at Deeping Rangers, where Flack played over 350 games before moving to Bourne in May 2023.
First choice goalkeeper is Will Lakin who arrived pre-season. A former Peterborough Utd youngster, he was loaned to Kettering Town before going to Dulwich Hamlet on his release. He started last season at Stamford, before moving to Wisbech.
Lakin was injured in their recent defeat at Boldmere and so Dan Swan came out of retirement after 133 appearances for the club, as cover in their defeat at home at home to Belper Town last weekend.
Right back Callum Milne came from Wellingborough at the end of September. He’s played for Corby Town, Bedford Town, Eynesbury Rovers, HarboroughTown, Kettering, St.Ives and Wisbech too.
Centre back Connor Peters was another pre-season arrival and another former Peterborough junior. After a loan at Yaxley, he went to St.Josephs in Gibraltar, before returning to the UK with Peterborough Sports. He then spent six months at Spalding, before returning to Gibraltar with Lions, where he spent most of last season.
Right back Eunis Lievins is dual registered with Royston Town, but spent last season at Bourne. He has played for Peterborough Sports and Melton Town too.
Richard Jones is another centre back signed in September 2023. After starting out at Peterborough Northern Star, he joined Corby Town, before a three-year spell with Stamford. He came to our hosts after seven years with Peterborough Sports.
Joshua Burrows is another former Peterborough Utd youngster. A defender, he came in pre-season from March Town.
Freddie Allen is a full back, currently on loan from Stamford. He was previously with Doncaster Rovers.
Defender Brad Marshall arrived at the start of last season from Corby Strip Mills. He was previously at Daventry Town.
Midfielder or striker Connor Furey was another pre-season signing from Shepshed Dynamo. He was previously at Loughborough Dynamo, Harborough Town, Corby Town and Stamford.
Henry Dunn is a midfielder in his second spell at the club. Another ex Peterborough Utd junior, he moved on to Peterborough Northern Star, before his first spell at Bourne. He also played for Melton Town and spent four years with manager Mike Goode at Deeping Rangers.
Midfielder Aaron Eyett came from Deeping Rangers last season. He’s also played at Boston Utd, Holbeach and Pinchbeck.
Jack Wilson is a midfielder too, signed from neighbours Blackstones in January 2024.
Sam Bayly is a central midfielder on loan from Peterborough Sports, who he joined at the beginning of this season having come from the United States. He’s played for Mars Hill University Lions, Appalachian FC, CSC Pueblo Thunder Wolves and Eastern Florida State Titans in the US.
Striker Lewis Darlington is another pre-season arrival who started his career at Nottingham Forest. He moved on to Peterborough Utd, who loaned him to Corby Town, Cambridge City and Banbury, before going to Spalding following his release. He spent most of last season with Grantham Town.
Sidney Pereira is another striker, signed from Peterborough Sports in pre-season. He had previously been loaned to Grantham and St.Ives Town.
Striker Tom Siddons came to our hosts from Stamford at the start of last season. He has also played for Kings Lynn, Grantham and Sleaford Town.
Jordan O’Brien was signed from Wellingbrough in September. A striker, who came from the Sheffield Wednesday Academy and has played for Corby too. He scored a hattrick on his home debut in a 4-0 win against Racing Club Warwick.
Will Bird is another ex Deeping Rangers player. A striker he came to Bourne in June 2023. He also became sub goalkeeper against Boldmere last month, when Will Lakin went off injured.
Long serving strikers Robie Ellis and Zac Allen tend to share the captaincy. Ellis made his 100th appearance for the club at the end of last season.
Kick off at Abbey Lawns is 3pm and your support would be welcomed.