by Peter Scherer
Mickleover are off to Shepshed Dynamo for their first midweek pre-season friendly. The Northern Premier League Midlands team finished 14th last season, but appointed new manager Tom Hayes at the beginning of May.
Hayes was a player at Leicester City at Walsall before turning to coaching. He managed Loughborough Dynamo last season and has been head coach at the University of Nottingham for the last seven years, as well as working for Lincoln City, Coventry City and Notts County and is now assisted by former Shepshed boss John Ramshaw.
Our hosts started their pre-season campaign with an 8-1 win at Lutterworth, a 0-0 draw with a Chesterfield XI, a 0-3 defeat at Leicester Nirvana, before beating Eastwood 2-1 last Saturday.
Recently signed goalkeeper Alex Akers is an ex Nottingham Forest junior, who has also played for Matlock Town.
Midfielder Liam Merrick is a new arrival from Coventry Utd, having previously been with Rothwell Corinthians and also coaches at the LCV International Football Academy.
Kyle Dixon is another midfielder who has been at our hosts since July last year. An ex Notts County Junior he was loaned to Boston Utd and Telford, before making a permanent move to Boston following his release. After another loan at Basford, he joined North Ferriby Utd, quickly moving on via Coalville, Newark Flowserve, Gainsborough Trinity and Bepler Town, before a nine month stay at Carlton preceded his move to Shepshed.
Centre back Jordan Wakeling is about to start his seventh season with Shepshed. He started out at Quorn, before moving to Barwell and spent two seasons at Gresley Rovers before joining our hosts.
Left back Mitch Tait is another new arrival. A former Mansfield Youth player, he arrives from Radford FC, but has played for Ilkeston, Grantham and Basford too.
David Chapman is another newly signed defender, who has recently been playing at Nottingham University. He was a Forest Junior and has also played for Kettering, Clifton All Whites and Quorn.
Striker Jack Astill was with manager Hayes at Loughborough last season and recently moved to Shepshed. He started at Leicester City’s Academy, before moving to Melton and Lutterworth Athletic. After a spell in US College football he joined Birstall on his return to the UK and was at Anstey Nomads prior to his Loughborough move.
James Shaw was the clubs top scorer last season. The young striker came from Burton Albion’s Academy, before joining Long Eaton on his release. He was at Kimberley MW before joining our hosts.
Midfielder Finley Armond started out at Boston Utd, but on his release he moved to the US with Queens Knights. After a year he returned to the UK with Sleaford Town. His next stop was Matlock Town before returning to Sleaford and is another of manager Hayes’ new additions.
Chad Timson has followed Hayes from Loughborough too. A defender, he has played for Leicester Nirvana, Hinckley AFC, Kettering Town and Corby Town.
Antigua and Barbudan International midfielder Jorrin John has recently returned to our hosts. A former Leicester City Junior, he was loaned to Kettering, before spending a couple of years in Thailand with Muangthong Utd.
Back in the UK he played for Corby and Nuneaton, before going to NK Domzale in Slovenia and Phnom Penh in Cambodia. Bedworth, Newark and Atherstone then preceded his first stay at Shepshed in July 2022, before he left again after a couple of months to join Melton Town. After a spell at Atherstone he played at Wellingborough Town last season.
Striker Connor Furey is another recent arrival from Loughborough. He started his career at Corby Town and has played for Stamford and Harborough Town.
Central midfielder Niall Prendeville is the clubs longest servant, as he starts his ninth season. He was previously with Holwell Sports, Barrow Town and Quorn.
Midfielder Callum Burkey was signed last March on a dual registration with Coalville. He started at Southend Utd and has played for AFC Sudbury and Basildon too.
Centre back Jordan Smith captained the side last season and returned to Shepshed for his second spell in the 22/23 season. Stamford, Boston Utd, Ilkeston and Kings Lynn are amongst his previous clubs.
Defender Elwalid Elhaghany is another player that arrived last season on a dual registration from Nuneaton. He’s also played for Loughborough Dynamo and Coventry Utd.
I this game we want to look at some of the younger lads and give them time and minutes on the pitch to be part of the squad. We are still looking at a few players still, so we will have one or two trialists again
said Mickleover boss Gareth Holmes.
Kick off at the Dovecote Stadium is 7.45pm.