by Peter Scherer
It’s back on home turf for Mickleover this weekend, when they face strugglers Bromsgrove Sporting at the Don Amott Arena.
Fresh from our postponed visit to Coalville on Tuesday night, Sports manager has a number of options in his starting line-up, with both players due back from injury and five new signings over the last two weeks.
Our visitors are currently 17th in the table with only two wins in their last 12 matches, which led to the dismissal of manager Michael McGrath following last Saturday’s defeat at home to Leamington.
Bromsgrove’s first choice goalkeeper Ollie Taylor was signed from Alvechurch in December 2021 and has also played for Redditch. He is the son of former Birmingham City keeper Maik.
Midfielder Tristan Dunkley started in the Birmingham City Youth team, before joining Loughborough in 2014. He joined Hednesford two years later and then Worcester City, before being loaned to Halesowen, and a permanent move to Solihull Moors.
Stops at Rushall, Tamworth, Alvechurch, Barwell and Corby followed, before Bromsgrove signed him from Bedworth Utd towards the end of last season.
Midfielder Conor Tee was signed from Rushden in February 2023. He is an ex Leicester City Junior, who joined Brackley Town following his release. He then spent a year at South Shields before moving to Rushden at the beginning of last season.
Miro Pais is a young winger and has been at Bromsgrove for a couple of years, having come through their own youth scheme, to get his break in the first team squad.
Defender or midfielder Ayo Lekuti came on loan from Northampton in January 2023 and returned to our visitors again in September.
Right back Aksum White was one of the pre-season signings. He was a West Bromwich Albion Junior before joining Tamworth in 2021. After a loan to Sporting Khalsa, he moved to Worcester Raiders, and he also played for Coleshill Town, before spending last season at Stratford.
Luke Rowe is a central midfielder and another pre-season acquisition. He started last season at Hednesford, after a move from Redditch, but spent the second half at Telford. He is also the club captain,
Midfielder Jack Newell is a former Northampton Junior, who joined Barwell on his release. He then came to Bromsgrove in July 2021, but was loaned out to Highgate Utd, before becoming a regular first team member.
Midfielder Callum King-Harmes is a former Wales under 15 International, who started his career with Bolton Wanderers. He made five League One starts and was also loaned out to Bamber Bridge, before going to Hednesford on his release.
He spent most of 20/21 at Sutton Coldfield and came to Bromsgrove at the beginning of last season.
Defender Aaron Roberts returned to Bromsgrove pre-season. The club appearance record holder left in 2019 to join Worcester City, who he captained last season.
Left back Ben O’Hanlon was capped by England at Under 16,17 and 18 levels. A former Wolves Junior, he was loaned to Corby Town, before joining Harrogate. He then joined Darlington who loaned him to Hednesford, before a permanent move to Hednesford preceded a spell at Stourbridge. He spent last season at Ilkeston and came to Bromsgrove pre-season.
Midfielder Billy Shaw arrived at the beginning of this season too from Worcester City and has also played for Halesowen.
Midfielder Keanu Cooper is another pre-season signing and lists Shifnal Town, Westfields and Shawbury among his former clubs.
Striker Keiron Berry came from Gresley Rovers. He started out at West Brom and Walsall and has played for Rushall Olympic, Walsall Wood and Sporting Khalsa too.
Right back Kane Lewis came from Hemel at the start of the season. He started out at Brentford, but moved onto the Liverpool Academy. On his release in 2018 he moved to the Welsh Premier League with The New Saints and Cefn Druids and played in the Europa League. He had five months at St.Ives before starting last year at Hemel.
Kartell Dawkins is a midfielder on loan from Gloucester City. He started out as a Leicester City Junior and was loaned to Rushden & Diamonds, before coming to Bromsgrove on his release in January 2023. He moved to Gloucester at the start of this season, but was loaned back to our visitors in October.
Right sided midfielder Shaquille Leachman-Whittingham is the newest arrival, having signed part way through last month.
He was an ex Walsall Junior who then moved to Tividale. After three years at Market Drayton, he moved on via Corby, Romulus, Redditch, Rushall, Stratford, Tamworth and started last year at Evesham. After a month he moved to Gresley Rovers, where he completed the 22/23 season.
Striker Prince Henry is another new arrival, but a returnee, having only left Bromsgrove to join Redditch last September. He has spent most of his career at Bristol City, but had been loaned out to Hungerford, Yate Town, Tiverton and Bromsgrove, before making his last move permanent at the start of this season.
Former Bromsgrove Junior David Solademi returned this season from Tividale. The defender has been at the Future Pro Academy and had trials with Cardiff City and was last at our visitors in 2021.
Kick off as usual is 3pm with the all the usual bar and catering facilities available.