By Peter Scherer
Seven games to go and Mickleover sit proudly in second place in the table, heading the quartet of play-off positions.
Hopefully Marcus Barnes will be fit to rejoin the squad after taking a knock last time out, and there are choices to be made for both centre back and goalkeeper, with loanees Will Tamen and Lewis Ridd challenging to rejoin the starting line-up.
Tuesday’s visit to Coalville will be the third attempt to play the game, having been called off firstly because of our hosts Cup run and secondly due to a waterlogged pitch. It is of particular importance as only six days later, the fixture is reversed when they make the trip to the Don Amott Arena on Easter Monday.
They have only played two home games since our visit was postponed on February 6th, beating Hitchin 1-0 and sharing a 1-1 draw with Stratford.
Last Saturday’s defeat when they visited Halesowen, currently leaves them11th in the table.
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 mid-table this season, he was dismissed in early February.
Ian King is now in charge, who has previously been at Barwell, Stratford, Daventry, Worcester City and Birmingham City Academy, as well as assisting at Bromsgrove and Leamington.
Their league form has suffered due to their run in the FA Trophy, finally going out to Macclesfield Town in the quarter finals earlier this month.
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. But fellow keeper Callum Underwood has also been on the bench too.
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 squadthough, 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 in January 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-Ngomareturned 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.
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 signing too, but has recently returned from 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.
Former England Under 16 and 17 International midfielder Layton Ndukwu was a Leicester City Junior and was loaned out to Southend Utd, before joining Albanian side FK Kukesi on his release.
After six months he came back to the UK with Barwell, but was soon on the move again to Akademisk Boldklub in Denmark., before arriving at Coalville last month.
Kick off as usual is 7.45 and YOUR SUPPORT WOULD BE WELCOMED.