by Peter Scherer
Today we welcome Lancaster to the Don Amott Arena, as Mickleover their first home points of the season. There may be a change or two in the line-up too, following knocks in the 2-2 draw at Prescot Cables last Saturday.
Our visitors are unbeaten so far this season, after Saturday’s 1-1 at home to Matlock, with four draws from five matches.
They are currently 10th in the table, after finishing ninth last term. Manager Chris Willcock took charge in January, having previously managed Stalybridge Celtic, Ramsbottom Utd and Workington.
Keeper James McClenaghan is one of a number of pre-season singings, having previously been at Newcastle Town, Ashton Town and Vauxhall Motors.
Centre back Jamie Mellen came from Holker Old Boys in July last year, after starting his career in Everton’s Academy. He has also played for Workington.
Captain and midfielder Sam Bailey was a Bolton Wanderers Junior. He joined Kendal on his release, staying three years and has now started his eighth season at Lancaster.
Midfielder Christian Sloan is another longer server. He started his career at Barrow and spent a year at Kendal after his release. He came to Lancaster in September 2020.
Dylan Moonan is another midfielder who started out at as a Burnley Junior. He joined Accrington on his release and was loaned to Stalybridge, before starting last season at Atherton Collieries. He was another pre-season arrival at Lancaster.
Long serving Charlie Bailey is a midfielder too, who has spent most of his early career at Morecambe. After a number of loans at Kendal Town, he joined then permanently following his release, but after one further year he came to our visitors at the start of 2016/17.
Striker Nic Evangelinos was signed from Workington in July 2022. He started out at Rugby Town, but in a well-travelled career he has played for Banbury, Rushden & Diamonds, West Didsbury, Ashton Utd, Ramsbottom and Stalybridge.
Fellow striker Chris Dagnall has played in very division of the football league bar the premiership, with over 600 games and 120 goals under his belt.
From a Junior at Tranmere, he was loaned to Rochdale, before joining Scunthorpe. Next stop Barnsley who also loaned him to Bradford City and Coventry and then a permanent move to Leyton Orient.
He the ventured overseas to Kerala Blasters in India and returned to the UK with Hibernian, and after spells at Crewe and Bury, he returned to Tranmere in 2019.
Yeovil Town, Ashton Utd, Hanley Town and Stalybridge followed, before coming to Lancaster pre-season.
Defender Harrison Beeden is a pre-season signing from Whitby Town, where he spent the last two seasons. He came from Rotherham’s Academy and also played for Brighouse.
Former Scotland Under 16, 17 and 19 International Lewis Coulton started out at Preston North End. He was loaned to Bamber Bridge, Warrington, Chester and Bradford Park Avenue, before joining FC United on his release at the start of last season. he has also played for Atherton Collieries and Widnes and came to Lancaster pre-season.
Centre back Pat Allington came from Holker Old Boys in October 2022 and spent some time at Kendal Town last season, on a dual registration.
Ed Ipakwu is defensive midfielder that started out at Manchester City. He then moved on to Stoke City and Leicester City, before his first arrival at Lancaster in October 2020. After one year he moved to Hyde Utd, but 10 months later he returned to our visitors. His next stop was Colne before returning for a third spell in early 2023.
Jacob Holland-Wilkinson is an attacking midfielder that also started at Preston. He was loaned to Fylde and Bamber Bridge, before a move to Stoke City in August 2022.
He came to Lancaster at the start of last season, but after five months moved on to Bury. He initially signed for Chorley, but has opted to return to Lancaster again.
Dom Lawson is a striker singed from Thornton Cleveleys for the start of 22/23 and became a regular starter last season and was their top scorer.
Noah Alabi is a wide midfielder, who has recently arrived after being released by Aston Villa.
Winger Ryan Rogers started off at Gretna in Scotland, before heading South to Glossop North End. Stops Macclesfield, Northwich and Sandbach followed, before joining Welsh League Bala Town, where he spent last season.
Aaron Fleming is a winger too, having signed pre-season from Irlam. He started out at Blackpool and played at Fylde, Ramsbottom and Padiham, before going to Gibraltar with Europa Point in January 2020.
Nine months later he returned to the UK with Prescot Cables and has played for Macclesfield, Barnoldswick, City of Liverpool and Wythenshawe too.
Wales Under 15, 16 and 19 International midfielder Aaron Bennett has joined our visitors within the last week. He started at Preston and was loaned to Altrincham, before joining Warrington on his release and was at FC United from last December.
Striker Tomas Kilifin came back to the club last season, after a couple of years away at Bury.
Finally Jack Byrne is another very recent arrival too. A centre back, he started at AFC Fylde and after a loan at Barnoldswick, came to Lancaster on loan too in March 2022 for one month.
After further loans at Bromsgrove and Widnes, he made a permanent move to the latter, where he spent the whole of last season.
Kick off at the Don Amott is 3pm, your support would be welcomed, as Sports strive to secure their first home points of the season.