by Peter Scherer
Its midweek football again when we visit Bromsgrove Sporting for a re-arranged league match on Tuesday night.
Our hosts are currently 10th in the table, having only managed their first home win against Halesowen on September 26th, having lost the previous four, despite taking three wins away from home.
They were victors last Saturday though, with a 1-0 win at St.Ives, thanks to Conor Tee’s 4th minute winner.
Player manager Michael McGrath first arrived at Bromsgrove in March 2022, having been without a club since leaving Kettering in June 2021. Initially as a player, the centre back took over as manager part way through last season.
He has a long list of former clubs from a long career, including Redditch, Kidderminster, Worcester, Sligo Rovers and Galway Utd, plus lengthier stays in the Midlands with Rushall, Stratford and Hereford. His first spell at Bromsgrove was in 2018, for three months, before moving on again to Redditch, Stourbridge and Evesham.
First choice goalkeeper Ollie Taylor was signed from Alvechurch in December 2021 and has also played for Redditch. He is the son of former Birmingham City keeper Maik.
Midfielder Tristan Dunkley started in the Birmingham City Youth team, before joining Loughborough in 2014. He joined Hednesford two years later and then Worcester City, before being loaned to Halesowen, and a permanent move to Solihull Moors.
Stops at Rushall, Tamworth, Alvechurch, Barwell and Corby followed, before Bromsgrove signed him from Bedworth Utd towards the end of last season.
Midfielder Conor Tee was signed from Rushden last February. He is an ex Leicester City Junior, who joined Brackley Town following his release. He then spent a year at South Shields before moving to Rushden at the beginning of last season.
Miro Pais is a young winger and has been at Bromsgrove for a couple of years, having come through their own youth scheme, to get his break in the first team squad.
Defender or midfielder Ayo Lekuti came on loan from Northampton last January and returned to our hosts again last month.
Right back Aksum White was one of the pre-season signings. He was a West Bromwich Albion Junior before joining Tamworth in 2021. After a loan to Sporting Khalsa, he moved to Worcester Raiders, and he also played for Coleshill Town, before spending last season at Stratford.
Luke Rowe is a central midfielder and another pre-season acquisition. He started last season at Hednesford, after a move from Redditch, but spent the second half at Telford.
Midfielder Jack Newell is a former Northampton Junior, who joined Barwell on his release. He then came to Bromsgrove in July 2021, but was loaned out to Highgate Utd, before becoming a regular first team member.
Ade Francis started out at Walsall, before spending a year in Gibraltar. On his UK return he joined Stratford, before coming to our hosts pre-season.
Midfielder Callum King-Harmes is a former Wales under 15 International, who started his career with Bolton Wanderers. He made five League One starts and was also loaned out to Bamber Bridge, before going to Hednesford on his release.
He spent most of 20/21 at Sutton Coldfield and came to Bromsgrove at the beginning of last season.
Defender Aaron Roberts returned to Bromsgrove pre-season. The club appearance record holder left in 2019 to join Worcester City, who he captained last season.
Left back Ben O’Hanlon was capped by England at Under 16,17 and 18 levels. A former Wolves Junior, he was loaned to Corby Town, before joining Harrogate. He then joined Darlington who loaned him to Hednesford, before a permanent move to Hednesford preceded a spell at Stourbridge. He spent last season at Ilkeston.
Midfielder Billy Shaw arrived at the beginning of this season from Worcester City and has also played for Halesowen.
Kane Auld is another pre-season signing. The former Stoke City and Mansfield Junior defender has also played for Telford, Quorn and Pinchbeck Utd.
Midfielder Keanu Cooper is a pre-season signing too and lists Shifnal Town, Westfields and Shawbury among his former clubs.
Goodluck Eke is a midfielder or striker signed from Daventry Town last month, and is also joined by fellow striker Keiron Berry who came from Gresley Rovers.
Berry started out at West Brom and Walsall and has played for Rushall Olympic, Walsall Wood and Sporting Khalsa too.
Gustavo Sanches-Macedo is another new signing, who came off the bench to score on his debut.
Blake Kindred is another striker but spent part of last season away on a dual registration. Defenders David Soledemi and Syrus Warren-Paul have also been in the squad. Warren-Paul is an ex Worcester Raiders player and has played for Cadbury Athletic and Littleton too.
Kick off at the Victoria Ground is at 7.45.