by Peter Scherer
We welcome newly promoted AFC Sudbury to the Don Amott Arena on Saturday afternoon, as Mickleover return to league action following last weekends FA Cup success.
There are a couple of concerns for Mickleover boss John McGrath after last weeks match, “hopefully Marcus Barnes will be fit again, but Dalesy looks like a longer recovery, but we hope to have him fit for the next round of the FA Cup,” he said, after both were taken off last weekend.
Sudbury, the yellows or the Suds are currently 17th in the table, with one win so far at Nuneaton on Bank Holiday weekend. They went out of the FA Cup last week to Hitchin Town too.
Manager Marc Abbott has been in charge since June and previously managed Haverhill Rovers and St.Neots Town and is currently Cambridge Utd’s Elite Scholarship manager too.
Goalkeeper James Bradbrook was the clubs first summer signing from Stowmarket Town. He started out at Needham Market, before joining Brightlingsea Regent. After a loan spell at Stowmarket his stay became permanent.
Right back Joe Tarpey is another new signing. A former Cambridge Utd Junior, he spent last season on loan with St.Neots Town.
Daniel Cousens is a right back too, and is a former Ipswich Junior, who arrived in July following his release.
Striker Joe Neal has scored most of the clubs goals so far this season, Another former Cambridge Utd Junior, he was loaned to Needham Market and St.Neots, before joining Biggleswade after a further loan spell. He moved to St.Albans in February last year, and was another pre-season arrival at Sudbury.
Winger Michael Bareck arrived during the summer too, he started out at Ipswich and had spent the last year at Bowers & Pitsea.
Former Manchester City Academy striker Romario Dunne has recently returned from a cruciate ligament injury after an 18 month absence. He was signed from Cheshunt in June 2021 and had a spell on loan at Braintree too, as well as playing for Brightlingsea Regent and Hadleigh Utd.
Centre back Tom Dickens continues the pre-season signing trend. Another ex Cambridge Utd Junior, he had loans at St.Neots and Chelmsford City before joining Welling Utd on his release. He quickly moved on to Cheshunt, who loaned him back to St.Neots, where he completed last season.
Midfielder Ben Hunter came through Sudbury’s own Academy, before moving to Leiston in June 2021. He came back to the club last season, but had a loan spell at Stowmarket too. He is one of the few Sudbury players remaining from last season.
Ola Bello is a former Ipswich Academy striker. He was loaned out to Lowestoft and joined Brentwood on his release. He has also played for Bowes & Pitsea and is another pre-season signing.
Centre back Josh Okpolokpo played his early football with Ipswich and Huddersfield, including a loan at Pontefract Collieries, before joining Leiston in September last year. He spent most of last season on loan at Gorleston on a dual registration.
Olumide Oluwatimilehin is a midfielder known as Olu, a summer signing from Haywards Heath. He started at Hoddesdon and has played for Whitehawk, Hornchurch, Wingate & Finchley, Braintree, Kingstonian and Lewes.
Right back Ollie Brown is one of last years team survivors. He came from Stowmarket in June last year.
Defender Reiss Oteng arrived in the summer from Biggleswade, he has played at Haverhill Rovers and West Wratting too.
Midfielder or defender Charlie Lewis arrived pre-season from St.Neots, having previously spent a couple of seasons at Histon.
Andre Edionhon Silvera is the latest of the new arrivals, barely a week ago, the midfielder came from Stratford.
George Whitehall is the second choice keeper. An ex Cambridge Utd Junior, he was signed from St.Neots, but has played for Whitton Utd and Godmanchester Rovers too, before joining Sudbury’s influx of summer signings.
Central midfielder Reuben Swann is one of the recent Sudbury Academy players to break into the first team., scoring his first senior goal in the FA Cup tie at Mildenhall. Defender Jamie Everleigh, striker Jamie Bennett and midfielder Kaye Donohoe similarly are Academy products.
Kick off is 3pm as usual, visit the bar and the new club shop and help Mickleover FC consolidated their place at the top of the table, with nine straight league wins!!