by Peter Scherer
For the second time this season, Mickleover will be visiting Leek Town on Saturday, but this time in the FA Trophy.
Memories of last years victory at Spennymoor and penalty shoot out defeat come flooding back, as Sports to make similar progress in this years competition.
Since our victory at Leek back in August, our hosts have only had one league victory, 2-1 at Matlock and, until they beat Lancaster City 2-0 last Tuesday’s, leaving them 18thin the table.
Mickleover have been close to two recent away wins andare currently sixth, following Tuesday’s draw at Warrington Rylands.
Manager Josh Brehaut took over at Leek at the beginning of last season, having previously been joint assistant. He has worked in Stoke City and Port Vale’s Academies and been assistant manager at Kidsgrove.
First choice goalkeeper Dino Visser started his career in his native South Africa, with Platinum Stars, Bloemfontein Celtic, Back Leopards, Polokwane City, Santos and Cape Umoya, before coming to the UK with Exeter City in 2019 at the age of 30.
He quickly moved on via Crewe Alexandra and Port Vale, before joining Hereford in September 2022 and came to Leek last November.
His deputy is Xander Parke, a St.Kitts & Nevis International, who started out at Stoke City’s Academy. He joined Shrewsbury Town on his release and came to our hosts last October.
Conor Robson is a keeper too, a pre-signing Tranmere Rovers. He was a Stoke Junior and has also played for Trafford and Cammell
Right back Liam Buckley was signed from 1874 Northwich at the beginning of last season. Originally a Chester Junior, he has also played for Welsh Premiership side Cefn Druids.
Olly Harrison is a burly defender who started out at Crewe Alexandra. He went to Sweden with IKF Ostersund an first came to Leek in 2019.
Midfielder Tom Scully unusually played for both Liverpool and Everton at youth level, before a two year stay at Norwich City. He then moved to Accrington, before crossing the Irish sea on loan at Carrick Rangers. Following his release from Accrington he joined Nantwich, before switching to Leek at the start of last season.
Winger Alex Hurst started at Crewe Alexandra too, and joined Matlock Town following his release. He moved on to Bradford Park Avenue and Port Vale, before loaned back to Bradford. Next stop was York City, before ending last season at Macclesfield. He has league two experience and came to Leek pre-season.
Midfielder Brendon Daniels s a former England C player, who has played in leagues one and two. He was another player to start out at Crewe, before playing at Under 21 level with both Leicester City and Blackburn Rovers.
He was to Chester following his release, moving on to Tamworth, Harrogate Town, Fylde, Alfreton and Port Vale, with loans at Altrincham and Telford before joining Stourbridge on his release. He had a brief loan at Mickleover last season and was a pre-season signing for Leek.
Midfielder Nathan Okome is fairly new arrival. He started at Knutsford, before moving to 1874 Northwich, Hanley Town and Chorley, followed by loans at Witton Albion, Matlock and Glossop, before starting last season at Nantwich.
Fellow midfielder Ty Webster came from Crewe too, he played for Telford last season and was another pre-season arrival for our hosts.
Central midfielder Adam Porter is another Stoke City Junior, who arrived at the end of August from Truro City. He was on loan at Leek back in 2019 and Altrincham, before going to Salford City following his release. He was then loaned to Truro City and Ashton, before a permanent move to Truro, where he spent the whole of last season.
Lucas Weir is another midfielder. His junior football was spent at Chester and Wigan before going to 1874 Northwich. He spent some time in the US with Evansville Purple Aces, before returning to Northwich. After spending 22/23 at Marine, he returned to Northwich for a third time last season, and was another pre-season arrival at Leek.
Central midfielder Ollie Shenton is a former Stoke City Junior. He was loaned to Wrexham and Kidderminster before going to Chorley on his release. He was then loaned to Warrington Rylands, before joining the pre-season newcomers at Leek.
Defender Liam Edwards is another pre-season signing. A former Stoke City youngster, he moved to Bolton on his release and captained their Under 21 side. He was then loaned to Southport and made six first team appearances at Bolton, before going to Chester after his release.
Midfielder Billy Reeves returned to our hosts for a second time, when he signed pre-season from Bury. A former Port Vale youngster, he originally came from Stafford Rangers in September 2018, but moved to Bootle last summer, before making the move to Bury.
Striker Tim Grice came from Stoke City’s Academy, before joining Wolstanton Utd and Alsager Town. He is the clubs longest serving player have signed from Eccleshall in 2011.
Striker Joe Woolley came in pre-season from Kidsgrove Athletic. He had joined them at the start of last season after eight seasons at 1874 Northwich and has also played for Bootle.
Tyreece Onyeka is another new arrival, from Stafford Rangers. Another Crewe Junior, he was loaned to Matlock and Stalybridge, before going to Staford on his release.
Tom Curl is a right back and another former Stoke City Junior. A fairly new arrival, who has become established in the starting line-up.
Defender Taylor McMahon is on a dual registration with Irlam Town. He started off at Stoke City and moved on to Stafford Rangers, before joining Stockport County. He also had a loan spell at Staybridge last season.
Left back Ollie Heywood has recently returned to Leek on loan from Chester. He has spent most of his career at Chester and came to our hosts on loan last December, after an earlier loan at Northwich, but started this season on loan at Hanley Town.
Striker Dara McGuinness is a Republic of Ireland Under 16, 18 and 19 International, currently on loan from Stoke City. He started out with St.Patrick’s Athletic, before a two year spell at Shamrock Rovers.
Join us at the F.Ball Community Stadium, kick off 3.00pm
YOUR SUPPORT WOULD BE WELCOMED to see Sports in the hat for the next round.