by Peter Scherer
Promotion candidates last season, it’s not been easy for Coalville this term. Adam Stevens had been in charge since May 2018, but with his team in 12th place this season, with only two wins in the last 12 games, who was dismissed after Saturday’s home defeat
With Mickleover not in the best of form, it should be a close encounter on Tuesday evening. But luck was with us at AFC Sudbury where the valuable three points leaves us just one point behind table topping Redditch.
Let’s take a look at Coalville’s squad. Keeper Paul White came from Peterborough Sports in July 2022, having started out with Cork City in his native Ireland.
His first English club was Forest Green, who also loaned him to Gloucester, before joining Boreham Wood following his release. He has also played for Accrington, Kettering, Hereford and St Ives.
Second choice keeper Jake Laban was a pre-season 22/23 signing too, having arrived from Burton Albion. Laban was in goal in last Saturday’s 2-1 home defeat against Leiston.
Former Grimsby junior midfielder Andi Thanoj was also a July ’22 signing, from Boston Utd. He has also played for Alfreton, Harrogate and Redditch.
Striker Ash Chambers was a Leicester City youth player, with over 200 league appearances under his belt, with the likes of Wycombe, Grimsby, York, Cambridge Utd, Dagenham & Redbridge, before non-league spells at Nuneaton, Kidderminster and Brackley.
He came to Coalville at the start of 22/23 season too, after a year at Buxton and was on the scoresheet against scored their goal against Charlton Athletic in the FA Cup 1st round defeat last season and is capped by England at Under16,17,18 & 19 levels.
Skipper Joe Doyle-Charles has been Coalville for five years. The midfielder started out as a Burton Albion Youth player and joined Ilkeston on his release in 2015. He has also played for Alfreton and came to Coalville from Matlock Town.
Midfield partner Tom McGlinchey can go one better, as he arrived from Leicester Road over six years ago. He had previously been at Kriby Muxloe.
His nephew Roddy also joined the club in December on loan from Peterborough Utd. A midfielder, he has also been loaned to Rushden & Diamonds and Peterborough Sports.
Striker Tim Berridge is another longer serving player, since arriving from Dunkirk in 2018 and has scored over 60 goals since his arrival.
Elliott Putman is a left back and came in from Barwell in September 2021. He started out at Leicester City and has also played for Stamford and Oadby.
Right back Alex Dean is the longest serving of all the squad though, having rejoined our visitors for the second time in 2014. He came back from Solihull Moors, but has also played at Nuneaton Town alongside his twin brother and Bedworth Utd.
Centre back Scott McManus only arrived last month from Nuneaton. He was a Manchester Utd Junior, before going to Curzon Ashton. He then moved to Crewe and made six appearances in league one, before spending a year in Scotland at Stranraer.
He returned to England with FC United and then spent seven years at Halifax, before his first arrival at Coalville in July 2018, staying two years.
Fellow centre back Ash Carter was a pre-season signing from Alvechurch. He started as a junior at Wolves and was loaned to Chesterfield and Tamworth, before joining Kidderminster on his release.
He made a couple of league appearances and then moved on via Alvechurch, Nuneaton, Stourbridge and Halesowen, before spending the last two seasons back at Alvechurch.
Luke Shaw is another midfielder who favours the wing. He was signed from Grantham in 2018. He had previously played for Ilkeston and Belper Town.
The oldest player in the squad at 38 is central midfielder Steve Towers, now in his eighth year with the club since signing from Brackley. He started at Corby and has played for Rothwell, Stamford and Grantham too. He is also the teams coach.
Former St Etienne Junior centre back Herve pepe-Ngomi returned to the club in November 2022, having left in September 2021 year to join Barwell. He played junior football at Leicester City too and has also played for Nuneaton, Boston Utd and Kettering.
Former England Under 21 striker Leroy Lita has played in every division of the football league, making over 350 appearances and scoring over 100 goals.
He started at Bristol City and was the sold to Reading. Loans at Charlton and Norwich followed, before he made a permanent move to Middlesbrough. Then a £2 million pound move took him to Swansea in 2011, but was loaned again to Brighton before a move to Barnsley.
A loan at Notts County came next, before he headed AO Chania in Crete. He returned to the UK with Yeovil Town, before going to Sisaket FC in Thailand.
Margate, Haverhill, Salisbury and Chelmsford were his next stops, before going to Nuneaton for the first time in July 2020. After two years he left for Stratford and after a move to Hednesford, he finished last season at Ilkeston.
He came to Coalville last month, having started the season with Nuneaton.
Wes York is a right-side midfielder and a pre-season signing from Brackley. He started his career with Nuneaton, before spending two years at Wrexham. He has also played for Gateshead and York City, spending two years at each.
Striker Terrell Pennant is a former England Under 15 and 16 International. He was a Leicester City Junior, where his brother Kian still plays. He joined Coalville pre-season following his release from Leicester.
Fellow striker Kieran Cook was another pre-season signing from Rushall Olympic. He started at Alvechurch and has had spells at Stourbridge and Leamington too.
Ben Hart was a pre-season singing too, but is out of action with a broken ankle. A former Burton Albion Junior, he was loaned to Kidsgrove, Tamworth and Redditch, before going to Tamworth on his release. He was then loaned to Barwell, before finally leaving Tamworth to join our hosts.
Kick off as usual is 7.45 and YOUR SUPPORT WOULD BE WELCOMED.