by Peter Scherer
It’s FA Cup time again as we welcome Matlock Town to the Don Amott Arena on Saturday, in the Preliminary round of this seasons Road to Wembley.
Like Sports, Matlock suffered the disappointment of relegation from the NPL Premier Division and now play their football in the NPL East Division.
There were huge changes at Causeway Lane over the close season though, with change of ownership and a raft of changes in both the management and playing staff.
Adam Clayton has been in charge since April 2025, but the season hasn’t started well. They drew 0-0 at home to Bradford Park Avenue on the opening day of the season and then lost 2-3 at Lincon Utd on Tuesday night.
Clayton was an England Under 20 International and played over 500 games in all four leagues from Premiership to League Two. He joined Matlock as a player in October 2024, and has CV includes Manchester City, Leeds Utd, Birmingham City, MK Dons, Bradford City and Doncaster Rovers. He is still a registered player.
First choice keeper is Myles Boney one of many pre-season signings, arriving after six years at South Shields. He started out at Blackpool and was loaned to Nantwich and Solihull Moors before going to South Shields on his release. He also had a loan spell at Darlington.
Harlain Mbayo is a DR Congo Under 19 International centre back, signed from Bedford Town last month. He had a well varied youth career with Mouscroun and Anderlecht in Belgium, Brentford, Aldershot, Tottenham, Oxford Utd and Aberdeen, before joining Truro City in 2019.
He went back to Scotland with Albion Rovers and Airdrie and played for Cobh Ramblers in the Republic of Ireland. He started last season at Kettering, having arrived from Gloucester City and ended it at Bedford.
Defensive midfielder Fouad Bachirou arrived last October after a spell in Cyprus with Omonia Nicosia. He was previously at Nottingham Forest, spent time in Sweden with Malmo and Ostersund and played Scottish Championship football over four years with Morton. He also played his youth football with US Clichy and Paris St.Germain.
Centre backs Dwayne Wiley and Josh Granite are both seasoned campaigners. Wiley first went to Matlock from Mickleover in 2016, then moved to Alfreton after a four year stay. He came back to the Gladiators last month after five years at Alfreton.
Granite was signed last September from Buxton, where he had spent the last four years since arriving from Barrow. He has played for Stockport County, Mossley, Trafford and Ashton Utd too.
Jeremie Milambo is a left back, an ex Wolves and Bradford City youngster. He has played in the Republic of Ireland Championship with Waterford and came to Matlock last November from Liversedge. He’s played for Farsley, Ossett, Albion Sports, Whyteleafe, Bowers & Pitsea too.
Central midfielder Declan Eratt-Tompson was a Sheffield Wednesday junior, who went to Ilkeston following his release in August 2022. He is another pre-season signing for the Gladiators.
Current team captain Liam Ravenhill is well known to Mickleover fans, son of former Sports player and assistant managed Ricky, and after two loan spells from Doncaster Rovers.
He was also loaned to Matlock, Telford, Blyth Spartans and Spennymoor, before joining Buxton on his release. He came to Causeway Lane last February and has also played for Northern Ireland Under 21’s.
Ben Sault is another ex Sports midfielder, having been part of our play-off team two years ago. A Lincoln City Academy player, he played for BostonUtd and Kettering before coming to the Don Amott Arena in July 2023, spent last season at Buxton and came to our visitors last month.
Cameron Wilson is a right sided midfielder who has spent most of his career at Scunthorpe Utd, after they signed him from Goole Town. He also played for Scarborough, from where Matlock signed him in pre-season.
Striker Conor Washington arrived from Derby County last month and has over 300 Championship and Leagues One and Two appearances under his belt, scoring over 70 goals. He started with St.Ives Town and played for Newport County, Peterborough Utd, QPR and Sheffield Utd, before a spell in Scotland with Hearts. He then played for Charlton and Rotherham before his two year stay at Pride Park.
Tom Elliott is another pre-season signing from Buxton. A midfielder, he’s played for Darlington and Hednesford too, and spent the last five years at Buxton.
Striker Jake Thompson came from Hyde Utd last October. Starting out at Halifax, he’s played for Ramsbottom, Bamber Bridge and Radcliffe too.
Fellow striker Montel Gibson made his name with Notts County. League Two experienced, he was loaned to Romulus, Barwell, Hednesford and Sutton Coldfield, before joining Ilkeston on his release I 2017.
Stays at Redditch, Bedworth, Halesowen, Grimsby, Altrincham and Stourbridge followed, before joining Matlock last October from Hereford.
Diego Di Girolamo is another striker, signed from Buxton last month. He spent his early career at Sheffield Utd and was loaned to York City and Northampton, before a move to Bristol City.
He has experience of Leagues One and Two and also played for Cheltenham and Chesterfield, before leaving Macclesfield for a seven year stay at Buxton.
Defender Charlie Oglesby came from Stocksbridge at the beginning of last season, and previously played for Staveley MW.
Midfielder James Murray has recently arrived following his release from Carlsie Utd.
Winger Kyalani Clayton-Morris is a recent arrival. He has played at Chesterfield, Hallam, Shirebrook and Wakefield AFC.
Defender Aidan Fry and midfielder Sam Giles complete the squad.
Kick off at the Don Amott Arena is at 3pm