by Peter Scherer
We travel to Lichfield City on Wednesday night for the rearranged fixture, following it’s postponement on January 10th.
Since the original date, Mickleover have won one game, drawn one and lost one, leaving us eighth in the table and just one point outside the play-offs.
Our hosts are without a single point since their 1-0 home win over Corby Town a week before Christmas and have slipped to 15th place.
Following their dominant win over Corby Town last Saturday, Sports will be looking for another three points, before the tough trip to Anstey Nomads next Saturday.
Ivor Green has been in charge at Lichfield since March 2020, with his assistant Wayne Chapman there for the duration too. Last season they took the team to the Midland League Premiership title and have retained most of their title winning team. Our visit will be the pairs 250th game at the helm.
Goalkeeper Brendon Bunn came in at the end of last season from Studley. He has also played for Highgate Utd, Gresley Rovers, Coventry Utd, Halesowen and Worcester City. After a return trip to Studley, he joined Stratford on a dual registration with Darlaston last season too.
Jordan Clement is a central midfielder who came out of Wolves Academy. He joined Romulus on his release, before moving on to Coleshill. Tamworth was his next stop, but after a loan at Stratford he moved to Alvechurch, before spending the next three years alternating between Redditch and Tamworth. He came to Lichfield in August 2023 from Redditch.
Defender Josh Mansell returned to Lichfield for a second spell at the start of last season from Walsall Wood. He’s also played for Alvechurch and Chasetown and has been captain for much of this season.
Joe Haines is one of the longest serving members of the squad, having returned to the club in June 2021, making his 250th appearance last season. A left back, he’s had spells with Walsall Wood and Gresley Rovers.
Defender Tom Brown has also played over a 100 games for our hosts.
Harry Eden is a left back too signed early into the season from Redditch. He’s played for Racing Club Warwick, Solihull Utd, Studley, Sutton Coldfield and Rugby Town too.
Centre back Leighton McMeneny is another long server, having just started his fifth season with the club, after signing in June 2021.
Luke Childs, Dan Lomas and Jimmy Elkes are all long servers too. Childs made his 200th appearance last season and played in goal for 85 minutes earlier in the season, rather than his usual striker role. Lomas is club captain and a holding midfielder, he made his 150th start for the club last season, while centre back Elkes has been a mainstay of the defence for a number of years.
Midfielder John Mills was signed in January last year, while striker Jack Edwards is another long server, having arrived in July 2021. He is he club top scorer too.
Attacking midfielder Jamie Spiers was signed from Atherstone at the beginning of last season. He started off at Shrewsbury, before joining Alvechurch on his release. He’s played for Racing Club Warwick, Boldmere, Bedworth and Hednesford too.
Lewi Burnside is another midfielder, who has recently returned to the club from Chasetown, after long term injury.
Hishan Chiha is another midfielder on loan from Leamington. He started at West Bromwich Albion’s Academy, before joining Peterborough Utd. He was loaned to Yaxley, before joining Boldmere on his release, where he spent most of last season.
Connor Okereke came through Burton Albion’s Community Trust. A midfielder he joined our hosts pre-season, after a spell in the US with Genessee CL.
Luca Taylor was signed three weeks ago after a stay in the US. A former Sutton Coldfield midfielder and England Schools Under 18 international.
Striker Keiran Francis is another long server, while Jude Taylor is one of the younger members of the squad, a talented striker who has come through the clubs own youth scheme.
Harvey Smith is a striker too, recently arrived from Coventry Sphinx, who he had joined from Studley back in November 2020.
Winger Elliott Hartley has just arrived on a dual registration with Worcester City, where he is the clubs longest serving player, while young striker Charlie Footes is currently on loan from Solihull Moors.
Kick off is 7.45pm and as always your support will be welcomed.