by Peter Scherer
This Saturday’s home game against Stamford is the culmination of the teams final push for promotion. It’s our last match and it’s at home, and with the result of the appeal against the 12 point deduction levied by the league rejected today, it’s crucial.
But a win would see us into the play-offs still but playing away from home.
Stamford will still have their eye on the play-offs too and Graham Drury’s side have only lost three of their last 10 games, but all three away from home.
First choice goalkeeper Michael Duggan was signed from Spalding Utd in September, after spending more than 10 years with the “Tulips.”
Dan Wallis had been first choice, but has had back injury problems. He was a Junior at Sheffield Wednesday and Nottingham Forest, before moving to Matlock and Gainsborough. He same to Stamford in August 2021, but returned to Matlock a few months later. Then after a short stay at Macclesfield, he came to our visitors in March 2022.
Centre back Ashton Offler started at Matlock Town, before joining Sheffield Utd. After a loan at Guiseley he returned to Matlock two years later, but moved again to Sheffield FC after three months. His next stop was Grantham, spending six months with the Gingerbreads, before signing for Stamford pre-season.
Midfielder Harry Vince is in his fifth season with the club, having come from Matlock in July 2019. He started at Boston Utd and was loaned to Matlock and Grantham before his permanent move to the Gladiators in 2018.
Fellow midfielder Will Glennon came from Rushden & Diamonds in October. He has also played for AFC Hackleton and Bugbrooke St.Michaels.
Centre back James Blunden arrived during pre-season 2019/20, having previously been at Lincoln Utd, CGB Humbertherm and Grimsby.
Michael Armstrong is a defender too, he was signed from Belper Town for the 2017/18 season and played his Junior football at Long Eaton.
43 year old Jon Challinor has a vast amount of experience, having been with the “Dannies” since May 2014. He started out Stamford before joining Cambridge City in 2001. St.Albans, Aldershot, Rushden & Diamonds, Cambridge Utd, Forest Green, Mansfield Town, Newport, Kettering and York City followed, before returning to Stamford in August 2013.
He left to join Halifax six months later, before rejoining our hosts for the third time. He has played in League Two of the EFL too.
Midfielder Jack Duffy came from Quorn in summer 2020. He previously had a spell at Long Eaton and represented English Universities, during his time at Nottingham Trent.
Striker Ollie Brown-Hill is in his third spell with the club, after returning from Ilkeston pre-season. He left initially to join Rushden & Diamonds in 2017, then had sixth months at Corby before returning in January 2018.
He then went to Ilkeston, but returned on loan, before making it permanent last July.
Tendai Chitiza arrived last August, after spending last season at Coalville. A striker, he started at Leicester Nirvana, before a spell at Gresley Rovers preceded a move to Serbia, with CSK Pivara Celarevo and TSC Backa Topola.
On his UK return he joined Stamford in July 2019, before moving on to Coalville three years later.
Lee Shaw is another striker who was signed pre-season from Grantham. He started at Grantham, but has also played for Guiseley, Chesterfield and Alfreton.
Ex Kings Lynn, Grantham and Sleaford striker Tom Siddons, returned to Stamford last summer, having been in and out of the squad for the last five years.
Flo Tsagium is a striker too, signed from Royston in January. He started out at Kings Lynn, and has played for Wisbech, St.Neots and Corby too.
Striker Michael Frew came from Holbeach in September 2021. He was at Nuneaton initially, before moving on to Cambridge City, Histon, Corby, Lowestoft and Wisbech.
Midfielder Callum Chettle is well known to Mickleover fans, having spent last season at the Don Amott Arena. He started his youth career at Nottingham Forest, following in the footsteps of Father Steve.
Moving onto Ilkeston Town and made his league debut at the age of 15, but after three years moved on to Nuneaton.
He then joined Peterborough Utd, where he made 22 appearances for the League One side, before joining Alfreton, after a brief loan at Fylde.
Further loans at Boston Utd and Matlock preceded a three year stay at Basford, re-united with manager and Father Steve. Injuries restricted his appearances last season though, and he started this season at Nuneaton, but returned to Mickleover on a months loan, before joining Stamford in February.
Midfielder Rhys Hilton arrived in March, after a short stay at Halesowen. A former Birmingham City Junior, he was loaned to Redditch before joining Sutton Coldfield. He has also been loaned to Bedworth and Coleshill.
Fellow Midfielder Rob Morgan first signed for our vistors in 2017/18. After a brief spell at Barwell he returned in 2019 and has been captain this season. He played for Corby Town too earlier in his career.
Striker Tom Siddons is in his sixth season with the club. A former top scorer, he has played for Kings Lynn, Grantham and Sleaford too.
It’s a 3pm kick off and from half time it’s only £5 to come along for the second half too, straight from Pride Park!