by Peter Scherer
The road to Wembley starts here, with Mickleover heading to Cheshire to face Midland Football League Premier Division Winsford Utd in the Extra Preliminary Round on Saturday.
Our hosts finished third in the table last season under the joint managership of Dean Jones and Dom Johnson, but lost out to Northwich in the play-offs. It was their first season in the higher league, having been promoted as North West Counties First Division South Champions.
They started their new league season last Saturday, with a 2-0 home win over Dudley Town, before visiting Cheadle Town on Tuesday evening claiming a late 1-0 victory
Goalkeeper Ryan Brown came out of the Port Vale Academy and joined Kidsgrove Athletic following his release. After a loan at Eccleshall he moved to Hednesford, but was loaned back to Kidsgrove. He is of a number of our hosts pre-season signings.
Jacob Kirwan is second choice keeper and was the league’s goalkeeper of the year in their 24/25 promotion year. He came to Winsford in July 2024, for his second spell at Alsager Town.
Defender Ewan McGeady was originally part of Altrincham’s youth scheme, he spent most of last season at Witton Albion.
Fellow defender Ashton Brogan was signed from Alsager Town, where he had been since December 2024. It was his second spell at Alsager after a short spell at Market Drayton.
Kaylan Wilkinson is a defender too, dual registered with Northwich. He’s also played for Wythenshawe, Alsager and Cheadle Heath Nomads.
Left back Junior Brown is an England C International, with experience in leagues one and two. He started out at Crewe Alexandra, before moving onto Halifax, Northwich, Fleetwood and Tranmere. After spells at Oxford Utd and Mansfield, he spent three years at Shrewsbury, before moving on to Coventry City, Scunthorpe and Bristol Rovers. After a spell at Whitchurch he had a career break, but returned with Hednesford in 2024. He joined our hosts in November last year from Alsager, after a brief spell at Nantwich.
Former Port Vale junior Josh Hall can player anywhere across the back four. He was previously at Congleton Town before joining the new intake.
Centre back Henry Briscoe is a recent arrival from Chester. He has also had loan spells at Hanley Town, Burscough and Northwich.
Ste Jenyons is know as Captain Marvel, he’s the club captain and a centre back. He has just started his ninth season with the club, having signed from Knutsford back in 2018.
Harry McGowan and Kerr Dollochin are midfielders on loan from Macclesfield, for Dollochin it’s an extension of a loan from last season.
Fellow midfielder Diego McGann began his career with S Puma Generaleña, Academia River Plate, Santa Ana FC, Deportivo Saprissa and LD Alajuelense in Costa Rica, He then joined Irish club Linfield, but coming to England with Stafford Rangers. Newcastle Town and Eccleshall followed, before coming to Winsford after nine months at Whitchurch a couple of weeks ago.
More midfielders and another new arrivals, Harry Johnson played for Burscough and Clitheroe last season, while Dan Brown has come from Madeley White Star and Sam Taylor has signed from Crewe FC.
Sam Latham is another former Alsager Town player, a midfielder who was part of the teams promotion push last season.
Jordan Johnson has recently returned for a second spell with our hosts. The striker was previously at Winsford between 2016 and 2019 and has played for Burscough, Middlewich Town, Lostock Gralam and Crewe FC.
Teenager Danny Guiver is a striker too and another recent arrival from Alsager Town, similarly Zach Gatwood, a new arrival from Bollington Utd.. Niza Chilufya was one of last years stars though, known as the Zambian Pitbull.
Winger Mykah Skervin started his career with a US scholarship at Michigan and arrived at Winsford pre-season from Hucknall Town.
Regan Hughes is a young striker who has stepped up from the clubs academy, fellow striker Adam O’Mara has recently moved across town from Winsford Town.
Kick off at Barton Stadium is 3pm. If you are going via junction 18 of the M6, allow extra time due to a diversion for long standing roadworks entering Middlewich.