ROYSTON TOWN vs MICKLEOVER - MATCHDAY PROGRAMME - TUESDAY 10th JANUARY 2023

ROYSTON TOWN FC vs

Royston Town FC would like to welcome this evening's opponents Mickleover FC for their visit to Garden Walk for this Pitching In Southern Football League Premier Division Central fixture.

We wish their Players, Officials and Supporters an enjoyable evening and hope that the match will be a keenly contested and entertaining game.

We also welcome tonight’s Match Officials and hope they too have an enjoyable game.

Royston Town Football Club

President Alan Barlow

Chairman Steve Jackson

Secretary Terry McKinnell

9 Valley Rise, Royston, Herts SG8 9EY 07772 086709 email: secretary@roystontownfc.co.uk

Treasurer Jeff Gill Welfare Officer Angela Baulk Fixture Secretary Steve Endacott (07971 512402) Executive Board Trevor Burrows, Andy Toovey, Eric Joyce, David Baulk, Angela Baulk, Chris Coote, Duncan Easley, Giles Parnwell, Neil MacLeod, Matt Clowery

Webmaster Steve Endacott Programme Editors Angela Baulk, Neil MacLeod

Official Photographer Kevin Richards

Football Management Team

First Team Manager Steve Castle

First Team Asst Manager Chris Watters

U23 Manager Dan Evans

U18 Team Managers Dan Evans/Matt Campany

Women's Team Manager Lewis Endacott Vets Team Manager Lee Wilkinson

Ground Garden Walk, Royston, Herts SG8 7HP Telephone (01763) 241204

Members of:

The Hertfordshire Football Association

Southern League Premier Division

The Herts Senior County League

Thurlow Nunn Youth League

Eastern Region Women’s Football League

The Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire Ladies League

CLUB HONOURS

WINNERS

Herts County League (Div I) 1969-70, 1972-73

Herts County League (Premier Div) 1976-1977

South Midlands League (Div I) 1977-1978

South Midlands Reserve League (Div II) 1978-1979

South Midlands Reserve League (Div I) 1979-1980

North Herts (Div IV) League Cup, 1978-79, 1979-1980

Herts Charity Shield, 1981-82, 1989-90, 1996-1997

Herts Intermediate Cup, 1988-1989

Chiltern Youth League (Div I) 1989-1990

South Combinations Reserve Floodlight Cup, 1992-1993 Chiltern Youth League Cup, 1992-1993

South Midlands Challenge Trophy, 1995-1996

Eastern Region Women’s League (Div II) 1998-1999

Eastern Counties Youth League Cup, 2001-2002

South Midlands Reserve Challenge Cup 2004-2005

KB Tyres Division III Champions 2006-2007

South Midlands League (Div I) 2008-2009

South Midlands League Cup (Div I) 2008-2009

South Midlands Floodlit Cup 1994-1995 2008-2009, 2009-2010, 2010-2011, 2011-2012

South Midlands Reserve League (Div II East) 2008-2009

South Midlands Reserve Challenge Cup 2008-2009

KB Tyres Division I League Cup 2009-2010

South Midlands Reserve Floodlit Cup 2009-2010

BIS Cambs League Division 2A 2010/2011

BIS Cambs League Divisional Champions 2010/2011

Veterans Cambridgeshire Invitation Cup 2010/2011

South Midlands Premier League 2011/2012

South Midlands Premier League Cup 2011/2012

Suburban League North Division 2012/2013, 2013/2014

Joint Winners of the Hinchingbrooke Cup 2013

Eastern Region Women’s League Plate 2013/2014, 2014/15 Suburban Premier League 2015-16

Eastern Region Women’s League Division 1 West 2015/16 Southern League Div 1 Central 2016/17 Southern League Challenge Cup 2021/22

RUNNERS UP

South Midlands Challenge Cup, 1978-1979

Herts Charity Shield, 1978-79, 1998-99, 2004-05, 2008-2009

South Midlands League (Premier Div) 1979-1980

North Herts (Div IV) 1979-1980

North Herts (Div III) 1981-1982

North Herts (Div II) 1982-1983

South Midlands Res Section Trophy, 1982-1983

Chiltern Youth League Cup, 1986-87, 1988-1989

Herts Intermediate Cup, 1989-1990 Herts County Youth Cup, 1992-1993

North Herts (Div I), 1993-1994

South Midlands Floodlit Cup, 1995-1996

Herts F A Women’s Cup, 1998-99, 2001-2002 2013/14

Eastern Region Women’s League (Div I) 1999-2000, 2013/2014 2014/15

Eastern Junior Plate, 2001-2002

KB Tyres Division I 2008-2009, 2009-2010

South Midlands Reserve Challenge Trophy 2009-2010

South Midlands Reserves Floodlit Cup 2010/2011

Hertfordshire Women’s County Cup 2013/2014

Eastern Region Women’s League, League Cup 2014/15

Southern League Division 1 Central 2014/15 2015/16

SO WHEN DID IT ALL BEGIN?

The history of Royston Town FC

After some intensive research, the evidence is that the club came into existence in 1875 making Royston the third oldest Club in Hertfordshire after Hitchin and Bishop Stortford.

The Club’s very first honour came in 1911/12 when they won the Creake Charity Shield beating Wisbech 1-0 in extra time

The Club’s first major honour in more recent times came in the guise of promotion to the Herts County Premier League in 1969/70 and they went on to be champions in 1972/73 and 1976/77. In 1978 we rejoined the South Midlands League and won the Division One title at the first time of asking Success continued with a final appearance in the Herts Charity Shield for the first time in 1979 and runners up spot in the South Midlands League Premier Division in 1980 The Herts Charity Shield was won in 1981/82 and two years later the Club joined the Isthmian League Division Two North where we remained for 10 seasons before returning to the South Midlands League in 1994.

After a period in the doldrums that culminated in relegation from the South Midlands League Premier Division at the end of 2006/07, Paul Attfield was appointed manager with ex-Spurs favourite Tony Galvin returning to Garden Walk 1st Team Coach in November 2007.

Paul immediately set about building a new 1st Team squad and a run of 17 games undefeated saw the Club move from the bottom of the table to finish in 5th place in the League

The foundations had been laid for the 2008/09 season and the first team took the South Midlands Division One League title with one of the best sets of stats for any Step 6 Club in the country W33, D4, L3, GF138, GA30, GD+108, PTS 103

The 2011/2012 season will be seen as a watershed in our history with winning the South Midlands Premier Division title and promotion to Step 4 in the shape of the Evo-Stik Southern League Division One Central

In our first season back at Step 4 after an absence of 19 years, it was hard to know what to expect and how we would perform. Most of our supporters felt a mid-table position would be an acceptable target for the season, but we quickly found ourselves exceeding all expectations as our performances propelled us towards the top of the table Four straight wins in the first four games set the tone and a run of nine wins with just one defeat between October and December saw us maintain a play-off position In the very last game of the season a playoff was still a possibility and having gone 2-1 up away at AFC Hayes with just a few minutes of the game left it looked a near certainty. But it was not to be as Hayes scored an 87-minute equaliser and our play-off place was lost.

In our second season at this level, our steady progress to claim a place in the playoff zone was given a severe jolt when Paul Attfield announced his resignation as first team manager due to ill health at the beginning of November The search for his replacement began almost immediately and we were inundated with applications from some very well know and successful managers. After an exhaustive selection process, the Board appointed Steve Castle at the end of November and on Boxing Day Steve officially took over securing a 0 – 0 draw against the League’s form team and eventual champions Dunstable Town

Our 2014/15 season opener was at home against one of the promotion favourites Rugby Town but an impressive team display ensured their threat was stifled and we ran out winners 2 -1. That victory really did set things buzzing but we were quickly brought back down to earth when on the following Tuesday night Bedworth United were the visitors winning the game 3 – 1

As we all know consistency in performances provides the key to long term success and although the early stages of the season produced good results against the likes of Daventry Town and Beaconsfield these were punctuated by dismal performances against the likes of Aylesbury and Egham Town From mid-November to mid-December We really lost our way with six defeats in seven games but our rollercoaster ride saw an incredible run of form over the Christmas period and into the New Year with five straight wins which helped us maintain a position in the playoff places.

On a miserable Tuesday evening in February, we travelled to lowly AFC Hayes and after an abject performance, we lost the game 2 – 0. This prompted our Chairman to tell Steve Castle that he had given up on this team making the play–offs and said that we should start preparing instead for next season That message was conveyed to players and we witnessed a most remarkable transformation in our results with a 14 game unbeaten run during which we scored 29 goals and conceded just seven resulting in us achieving the runners up spot to league champions Kettering Town and securing our place in the playoff semi-final where we met local rivals Barton Rovers. After an incident-packed 90 minutes and extra time the game ended in a goalless draw but it was not to be our night and we lost the shoot out 4-5 and had to suffer the agony of all the emotions which go with being defeated in this way

We started the 2015/16 season strongly and between the end of December and the end of March we produced a rich vein of form with only one defeat in 14 games and this ensured we were sitting on top of the league with just 7 games to go and with the expectation that we could win promotion outright ran high throughout the whole club However, three games in succession proved our downfall when we could only draw 0 – 0 with Bedford and lost to Egham away 3- 1 and Godalming at home 1- 0 and once again we ended up in the play offs against AFC Rushden but we failed to turn up and went out tamely to our opponents 2 - 1.

Having finished runners up for two years in succession Steve Castle was determined to make it third time lucky and began to recruit some experienced new blood in the shape of John Frendo and Adam Murray whilst at the same time giving youngsters Gus Scott Morris and Josh Castiglione extended runs in the first team

However, the season didn’t start well and after four games we’d only mustered five points whilst promotion rivals Farnborough just couldn’t stop winning. Although results did improve, defeat in the FA Cup to Heybridge Swifts 4 – 1 and a thrashing by Barton Rovers at home 6 – 3 at the end of September didn’t do a great of good for our confidence.

Things took a dramatic turn thereafter with 12 successive league wins which ended with defeat 2-1 at Kidlington in early January 2017, interspersed by a magnificent run in the FA Trophy including a victory against Step 2 outfit Hampton and Richmond Borough before in the replay against Dulwich Hamlet we eventually went down 1 -0.

With cup football out of the way, the team put together an incredible run of 16 league games undefeated including a 5 – 0 thrashing of closest rivals Farnborough which saw us maintain the top spot until the end of the season by a margin of 12 points and the highest number of goals scored, 120, across all three Evostik Leagues

Promotion to the Southern Premier League means that the Club was playing at the highest level in its 142-year history!

Season 2017/18 saw The Crows exceed all expectations in our first season at Step 3. Throughout the season we managed to maintain our hopes of a play-off place until they were finally put to bed with two successive defeats against the eventual play-off winners Slough Town and we had to be satisfied with a seventh-place finish The signing of Adam Marriott, a proven goal scorer who had played for Lincoln City, Stevenage and Cambridge United was without a doubt a real coup and he was to play a key role in the progress made by the Club by becoming our leading marksman with 31 goals. A good run in the FA Trophy with wins against Enfield Town and Leatherhead came to an end against Eastbourne Borough when having managed to draw at their place we lost the replay on penalties We managed to get to the final of the Herts Senior Cup where we played Borehamwood from Step 2 and in spite of a brave performance we never really had the power to compete and lost 2 – 1.

Given where we had started from we definitely exceeded our own and many other peoples’ expectations and this has provided us with the building blocks to face this season in the newly constituted Southern Premier Central League.

Season 2018/19 saw us finishing in a respectable 9th position in what proved to be a very strong Premier Division Central. During February/March we recorded six wins out of seven league games to give us a faint hope of a playoff spot, but three straight defeats in April put paid to our chances We suffered another early at AFC Sudbury in the FA Cup and in the FA Trophy we progressed through two rounds before being beaten in a replay at Needham Market

Season 2019/20 will go down in the Club’s history as one of the most successful and exciting but ultimately one which ended in bitter disappointment.

Steve Castle was quick to ensure we had players who were proven goal scorers and the arrival of Matt Bateman, Brandon Adams and Claudio Ofosu did not disappoint Perhaps the only sadness that our young and highly talented left wing-back Joe Newton had created so much interest from EFL Clubs that in the end, it was inevitable he would have to leave us and Joe was signed by Coventry City

No Crows fans will ever forget the team's brilliant performances in both the FA Cup and FA Trophy and although our FA Cup run ended with defeat to the very talented Maldon and Tiptree in front of what was then a record crowd for Garden Walk of 1152. The interest generated in the Crows both locally and beyond was immense and set the scene for what was to come in the FA Trophy It all started with very comfortable wins against Brightlingsea Regent and Haywards Heath and then were drawn away at Step 2 table-topping Wealdstone which for many was one of the games of the season as Royston shot into a 2- 0 lead before Wealdstone hit back to pull the tie level 2-2 In spite of being under constant pressure, the Crows mounted a great counterattack down the left and the cross was despatched by Brandon Adams to give the Crow’s victory 3-2 What followed was truly historic with home wins against Step 2 teams Boreham Wood 2-0, Chester 3-0 and away at National League Ebbsfleet 2-0, to set up a quarter-final tie away at Concord Rangers. In the run-up to the game, the rain had been falling heavily but our opponents declared the pitch playable and the invasion of six coach loads of Royston supporters and a convoy of cars and mini-buses descended on Canvey Island. As we started arriving for the kick-off the match referee declared the pitch unplayable and with a sense of extreme disappointment and also a lot of anger we all returned home The following Tuesday the game went ahead but it was not to be and we were defeated 2-1 There is no doubt the Clubs achievements in the FA Trophy marked a watershed in our history which will be remembered for a very long time

Running alongside the cup success it was easy to forget that we had got ourselves in contention to win the League with a run of only two defeats in 20 league fixtures. With 3 games in hand and only 2 points behind Peterborough Sports and Tamworth and playing some of our best football, we looked nailed on to win the League. Then out of the blue, the Covid crisis hit all levels of football and with what many felt was indecent haste the League decided to null and void the whole season. All our achievements were suddenly for nothing and the taste of bitter disappointment amongst all supporters of the Crows was very hard to swallow

Season 2020/21: As the pandemic took hold it seemed like the chances of seeing a new season start were remote but by summer 2020 there had been a massive improvement and by July the lockdown ended albeit with a host of restrictions in place.

By the time we had assembled a squad, we were without key players such as Matt Bateman who moved to Hemel Hempstead and Claudio Ofosu who joined Hartlepool and with a lot of the momentum and energy generated by the now-defunct season now dissipated we were finding it hard to get going again In the League, we seemed to slip into the habit of conceding goals when in a winning position and a string of draws meant we languished in the lower half of the division The FA cup again promised to provide excitement with wins against Newmarket, Wroxham and AFC Stamford before losing to our old rivals Bishops Stortford. We won our first two ties in the FA Trophy against Hythe Town and Tamworth before going out 3-2 away at Brackley by which time the League season was yet again declared null and void as the second wave of Covid took its stranglehold.

A comprehensive history of the Club can be found in The History of Royston Town FC 18752012 first published in 2013. The book was written by the Club’s President, Alan Barlow following more than five years of painstaking research and can be purchased via the Club.

SCORES ON THE DOORS! LEAGUE TABLE

PITCHING IN SOUTHERN LEAGUE PREMIER CENTRAL DIVISION

NEW YEAR, new you? If you ’ re anything like me, those resolutions will already be a little frayed around the edges

But as the big clock struck midnight to bring in 2023, it’s only natural to look back at the previous 12 months and look ahead to what might be in the ones ahead.

You may have caught it in last week’s NLP, but each year we ask a group of people who, like us, love Non-League football and ask the same question – what would you like to see in the coming year

My own answer, three-up, three-down from the National League into the EFL aside, centres around concussion substitutes. I really believe it’s time temporary subs were allowed to give the experts time to assess any potential concussion and ensure the player is given the right care.

We saw it a couple of times in the World Cup where a player clearly played on when he shouldn’t have Allowing some time for him to go off to a quiet part of the stadium and let those in the know run through their protocols is only right Hopefully it comes in

Our north-east reporter Mark Carruthers is banging the drum for three-up, three-down in 2023 – it’s got to happen soon enough, surely, and a sentiment echoed by BBC Surrey Sport commentator Rob Worrall, who said, ‘Without doubt, an additional promotion place from the National League to the EFL. It simply HAS to happen now, with benefits to all – including those ‘big’ clubs that keep dropping down!’

His colleague at the NL Full Time podcast, Rich Worton, agrees but has an equally seismic change he’d like to be introduced too

“Is it too obvious to say ‘three up, three down’ between the EFL and the National League? If it is, then I’d go for a different choice, and say that the implementation of the Crouch report’s recommendations and the appointment of an independent regulator for football would be hugely positive, and a sign that the government does care about the national game, rather than just doing so when it is expedient.”

Our executive editor Jon Couch would like to see the way games are postponed handled differently In this current cost of living climate, clubs arriving at grounds only for the game never likely on to be called off is frustrating to say the least.

Another of our regular reporters, Andy Mitchell, is hacked off with how some approach the FA Trophy. He says: “Stop dismissing FA Trophy. The influx of clubs from the Football League has seen the FA Trophy relegated from the non-league FA Cup to a par with the Papa John’s Trophy

It has a Wembley final and provides memories that last a lifetime – the big guns should take it seriously.” Indeed.

What would you like to see changed or introduced in Non-League in 2023? As long as it’s not VAR we’ll all be fine!

WHO'S WHO OF THE CROWS

mi Kyriatzis (Goalkeeper)

ecent addition to the Crows squad having joined us from Bedfont Sports Dimi's clubs include Brentford and Inter Leipzig

u-Adjaye (Defender)

defender who re-joined the Crows in 2019 after spending a season at Hayes ng Started his playing career at Luton Town and broke into the 1st team he 2008/9 season. In total he made 64 appearances for The Hatters before o Forest Green Rovers and then to Hemel Hempstead Town.

Murray (Defender)

ined us at the beginning of 2017/18, having spent the previous two seasons bridge City where he made 60 appearances He quickly settled into the squad proved to be a formidable addition for the Crows.

Henry (Defender)

or the Crows at the beginning of this season after spending a season at y Town Ronnie was a product of the Spurs youth system, before going on to 2 games for Stevenage (the club’s all-time record appearances) in two spells de of two seasons at Luton Town.

Nakatani-Brown(Defender)

s a 22 year old left-sided defender who has impressed during pre-season and joins rows for their 2022/23 Southern League Premier Central campaign Joel’s previous includeWestfield,FCRomania,CockfostersandWalthamstow

om Kettering Town, where viously played for Hemel ns Joined the Crows this Cockfosters, Colney Heath efender, Spyros re-joined ding, he previously played at Garden Walk. his season Alfie joined the Hotspur and signed a his professional debut for 1, coming on as an 83rdn at Kings Langley, Hemel

FernandoBellToxtle(Midfield)

FernandostartedhiscareeratCambridgeUnitedandspenttimeonloanatStNeots Town.FollowinghisreleasefromCambridgeUnited,hejoinedAFCRushden&Diamonds inthesummerof2017.InNovember2017hemovedtoBasfordUnitedinorderto pursuehisuniversitystudiesinNottingham.HethenrejoinedAFCRushden&Diamonds andwasakeymemberoftheirsquadlastseason

IsaRotimi(Midfield)

YoungmidfielderwhosignedfortheCrowsatthebeginningofseason2019/20,Isa previouslyspenttwoseasonsatColneyHeath

NathanTshikuna(Midfield)

FeaturedanumberoftimesfortheCrowsinpre-seasonandhasimpressedenoughto joinSteveCastle’ssquadforthecomingseason.Nathan’spreviousclubsincludeBedford Town,KempstonRovers,BartonRoversandAFCRushden&Diamonds.Nathanscoredan impressive11goalsin44appearancesforRushden&Diamondslastseason

MattBateman(Forward)

Re-joineduslastseasonfromHemelHempstead,wherehespentaseasonaftermoving fromtheCrows.MattsignedfortheCrowsatthestartofseason2019/20andscoredan impressive24goalsin41gamesduringthatseasontoearnhismovetoHemel.Previous tothatMattplayedabigpartinBerkhamsted’spushforpromotionin2018/19wherehe netted43timesin54appearancesforTheComrades

ColeDaSilva(Defender)

Recentacquisition,signedfromHemelHempsteadTown.23-year-olddefenderjoinedthe TudorsfromOxfordCityCappedbyWalesatunder-15level,forEnglandatunder-16s andthenWalesagainatunder-17,19,20,andunder-21levelBegaatLutonTown’s academybeforemovingtoChelsea,making2appearancesintheEFLTrophyin2017 HejoinedBrentford’sBteamin2018andin2020spenttimewithLeicesterCityunder23s.SignedforCroatianFirstLeagueclubHNKSibenikin2021,beforejoiningtheOxford yattheendofthe2021/22season

nnorFurlong(Midfield) nedearlierthisyearfromAFCRushden&DiamondsPreviousclubsinclude gleswadeTown,BedfordTown,StIvesTown,OxfordCity,AylesburyUnitedandMK ns

drewOsei-Bonsu(Midfield) year-oldjoinedMKDonsacademyattheageof8andprogressedthroughtheirage upsmakinghisfirst-teamdebutintheEFLCupatNewportCountyinAugust2016 shadspellswithWealdstone,DunstableTown,Larne(NorthernIreland),StIvesTown (ce),BillericayTownandEastFife

Barnwell(Forward)

gningfromSouthernLeaguePremierSouthsideHanwellTownShamisatowering6′ ar-oldstrikerwhohaspreviouslyplayedforBowers&Pitsea,Dagenham&Redbridge, tortford,SolihullMoors,Barking,Brentwood,GraysAthleticandMaldon&Tiptree.

TONIGHT'S OPPONENTS MICKLEOVER FC Club History

Mickleover Sports F.C was founded in 1948 as Mickleover Old Boys playing in the Derby & District Senior League. For the next 44 years until their resignation in 1993, they were the longest serving club in the league

In 1982 they, along with other members of the club, embarked on a campaign to develop their own football and cricket facilities on meadow land at the end of Station Road in Mickleover. During the next ten years dedicated club members led a serious fundraising drive, raising over £30,000 and work on the new ground began early in 1992, with the facilities formally being opened later that year

Following development of the new facilities the ambitions of Mickleover Sports F C were increased and

successful season to date. Despite early exits from both the FA Cup and the FA Vase and the subsequent departure of manager Martin Rowe New manager Dick Pratley led Sports to their highest ever position in non-league football, 7th place in the NCE Premier Division, and Sports also won NCEL League Cup along the way beating Garforth Town.

The following year was disappointing as for the first time in recent history, Sports finished lower than the previous season However it was to be no less than a minor ‘blip’ as the following season Sports eventually won the league by 7 points.

TONIGHT'S OPPONENTS MICKLEOVER FC Club History contd.

The step up to Unibond level was significant and we were expecting a tough season Unlike some other clubs, we will not jeopardise Sports future by paying players more than we can afford, but the development of several key U19 Academy players plus some astute signings by manager Dick Pratley, gave Sports confidence. Life in Unibond Division One South started well at Butt Hole Lane home of Shepshed Dynamo with 4-0 win After 17 games Sports record was mid table W7 D4 L6 Then a record run of 16 consecutive wins catapulted Sports to the top of the table. Sports never looked back and won the league by 7pts. They went on to win the Chairman’s cup by beating FC Halifax Town at The Shay. Then lost the Peter Swales Trophy on penalties to Guiseley. 2010-11 was another step up for Sports into the Northern Premier League now sponsored by Evo Stik The season did not start well with Sports gifting points to opposition. Their first win came away at local rivals Matlock

finishing a respectable 12th before finding out we were to be laterally shifted to the Southern Football League for 2022/23

WHO ARE YA?

MICKLEOVER FC Player Pen Pics

JONATHAN HEDGE GOALKEEPER D.O.B JULY 19TH 1988

Experienced goalkeeper and well renowned coach, he started his career as a Rotherham Junior After moving onto Halifax and Ossett he tried his luck in Australia with Brisbane Roar and Mitchelton in 2007/08, before returning to Harrogate. Having alternated between Harrogate, Wakefield and Halifax over the next couple of years, he then joined Tamworth in July 2011 and added to his England C Caps. Cambridge Utd was his next stop, before a loan at Southport and a move to Grimsby Town A further loan at Matlock was followed by North Ferriby and Telford, before arriving at Gainsborough in May 2015 He spent just over a year at Gainsborough, before joining Sheffield FC after an 18 month lay-off and comes to Mickleover after a three year spell 66 appearances at Sheffield

Division One side Rossington Main following his release in 2020 After a successful trial with Northern Premier League Division One East team Stocksbridge Park Steels, he joined for the start of last season and continued to impress He came to Mickleover in March 2021 and was a regular to the end of the season

RHYS DOLAN DEFENDER D.O.B FEBRUARY 20TH 1998

Former Barnsley full back Dolan can play either attacking midfield or left back He made his name as part of the successful Ilkeston Town U18 squad, that had a run in the FA Youth Cup Barnsley spotted his talent and signed him in 2015, but since his release he's played at Long Eaton, Selston, Newark, Belper Town and Alfreton, and started last season at Anstey Nomads. His first Mickleover appearance was as a sub in the home draw against Grantham last December, before becoming a regular in the starting line-up

CALLUM CHETTLE MIDFIELDER D.O.B AUGUST 28TH 1996

Callum started his youth career at Nottingham Forest, following in the footsteps of Father Steve. He moved onto Ilkeston Town and made his league debut at the age of 15, but after three years moved on to Nuneaton His next stop was at Peterborough Utd, where he made 22 appearances for the League One side, before joining Alfreton, after a brief loan at Fylde. Further loans at Boston Utd and Matlock preceded a three year stay at Basford, re-united with manager and Father Steve. A strong running midfielder he was one of the close season signings for Mickleover and has also been capped at England C level

GEORGE ATWAL MIDFIELDER D.O.B JANUARY 11TH 2004

George has come through the Mickleover Academy having signed up in 2020. Had trials at Leicester City and Derby County as a 12 year old and more recently with Stoke City A versatile midfielder, he has become a set piece specialist, with free kicks and penalties He was part of the 2020/21 Regional and National Academy title winning side and a regular goal scorer in the reserves too. After being part of the first team squad during pre-season, he made his NPL as a sub in the home win against Gainsborough last season and made his first start towards the end of last season

LOUIS PENNINGTON MIDFIELDER D.O.B JANUARY 9TH 2004

Louis is Mickleover through and through having been through the U16’s before becoming part of the Academy that won the National and Regional title in 2020/21 A tenacious central midfielder he had already been on the bench for some pre-season games in 20/21 as well as having useful experience playing with the reserves too. But a serious knee injury right at the beginning of last season kept him out for the whole campaign. He is now fully fit again and playing to continue his progression through the squad.

MITCHELL ROSE MIDFIELDER D O B JULY 4TH 1994

Initially a Sheffield Wednesday Youth Team player, Mitchell went through the ranks at Rotherham, making five League Two appearances and being loaned to Stamford, Crawley and Ilkeston. A strong midfielder he went on to play for Mansfield, Newport County, Grimsby Town and Notts County in League Two making over 180 appearances, before joining Boston Utd in November 2020 After a year at Boston he joined Yeovil Town in late 2021, but soon moved on to South Shields, where he had been part of their promotion pushing squad since December 2021.

JAKE SCOTT MIDFIELDER

Former Mickleover skipper Jake Scott has returned to the fold for the third time Primarily a midfielder, Jake started his junior football with Barnsley, before moving onto to Worksop, Guiseley, Bradford Park Avenue and Gainsborough. Three years at Shaw Lane followed before making his first stop at Mickleover in 2015. He became club captain and after a loan at Frickley, finally moved on in 2019 After a spell at Gainsborough, he came back to Mickleover at the end of last season and showed his talent at full back

FIN BARKER FORWARD D.O.B JANUARY 28TH 2004

Having started his football journey at Aylestone Park Juniors, Fin came to the Mickleover junior ranks and was part of last seasons Regional and National Academy Championship winning team He originally had thoughts of becoming a goalkeeper rather than a goalscorer, until a coach at Derby County’s Moor Farm suggested otherwise. But it was Aylestone coach Adam Hart that introduced him to the realisation of organised football and wanting to be part of it He has been a regular in the Mickleover Reserve side over the last two years and was top scorer with over 30 goals and made his NPL league debut for Mickleover as a second half substitute against Matlock Town in October. He started this season on trial with Coventry City.

ELLIOTT REEVES FORWARD D.O.B. FEBRUARY 14TH 1997

A Derby born striker Elliott is another pre-season signing after two years at Alfreton Town, scoring seven goals in 34 games. He was previously at Margate for 2019/20 scoring 13 from 36 appearances and during an earlier stay at Ilkeston he netted 36 times. Prior to joining Ilkeston he had spells at Heanor Town and Graham Street Prims and scored on his Mickleover debut against Hanley Town

KAI MOORE FORWARD D.O.B. OCTOBER 2ND 2003

A home grown talented striker who worked his way from Mickleover UI6’s into the 20/21 National and Regional Academy title winning squad He had a few games in the reserves, but was offered the chance to join Carlton Town at the beginning of last season During loans at Borrowash Victoria and West Bridgford, he began to prove his worth as a prolific goalscorer 10 goals in his last five games at West Bridgford and he was offered the chance to rejoin Mickleover at the end of last season and is now as part of the first team squad, scoring his first senior goal at Bamber Bridge last March.

LEKAN OSIDEKO FORWARD D O B NOVEMBER 23RD 1998

Lekan has joined us on a dual registration from Hereford Utd, who he joined at the beginning of this season, having impressed by scoring a hattrick in a pre-season game. He was previously at Chatham Utd and has also played for Phoenix Sports, Dulwich Hamlet and Haywards Heath

JOE BATEMAN DEFENDER D.O.B DECEMBER 6TH 1998

A new signing at the start of last season, Joe impressed in a couple of pre-season friendlies in his familiar roles of centre back A former Derby County player, he has come through the under 18 and under 23 ranks before being released at the end of last season He made one start for the Rams first team in the FA Cup tie at Chorley last season. A strong dependable player, he can also play defensive midfield and became a key part of the team from the start of last season, before injuries restricted his participation towards the end of the campaign Now fully fit again he could well be a kingpin of the side this season

ETHAN MANN DEFENDER D.O.B. JANUARY 1ST 2004

Ethan joined the Derby County Academy at the age of seven and continued to play for the Rams up to the under 14’s Having started out as a striker, he gradually moved back to midfield and now centre back having joined the Mickleover Under 14’s following in his Father’s footsteps He gradually progressed

part of the reserves team and played the majority of the late season games in their successful league campaign He has also played at Port Vale and Mickleover RBL and after impressing in some pre-season games with the first-team, he was surprised himself to be part of the squad for this season. He feels the quality of coaching he has around him has been responsible for his rapid progress. He was on the bench for the opening match at Kings Langley and looks forward to a league debut

OLIVER GREAVES MIDFIELDER D.O.B NOVEMBER 2ND 1999

An attacking midfielder Oliver has signed until the end of the season having arrived from NPL side Liversedge He started out at Sheffield Utd and after a loan at Barrow, moved to Dover Athletic in January 2021 He quickly moved on to Matlock and Gainsborough, before going to Spain in January of this year with Almunecar. On his return to the UK he joined Buxton for the start of the season, but soon moved on to Liversedge. He made his debut in the win at Barwell.

STUART BEAVON FORWARD D.O.B MAY 5TH 1984

Stuart Beavon is one of Mickleover’s most experienced players, following in the footsteps of his Father Stuart and Grandfather Cyril His career started for in the Hellenic League with Ardley United, before swiftly moving on to Combined Counties side Wallingford He scored 13 goals in 36 games between those clubs, before being snapped up by Didcot Town. Despite stepping up to the Southern League South & West Division, he quickly found his goalscoring touch and had two seasons with the club. He played 139 games and scored an amazing 107 goals and was a winner in the 2004/5 FA Vase too His next step was to the Conference with Weymouth, spending three seasons on the South Coast, and adding 27 more goals to his tally from 90 appearances. For 2008/09 he had his first spell in the Football League with League 2 Wycombe Wanderers. He scored on his debut and his initial loan became permanent. He was a prolific scorer again but the team were promoted and relegated twice during his stay After 125 games and 34 goals he moved to Preston North End in League 1 again There was debut goal again and having settled at Deepdale he stayed for two years, before an initial loan at Burton Albion became permanent for the 2014/15 season. He gained promotion again with the Brewers to League 1, but part way into his third season he left in January 2017 with 15 goals and 102 games under his belt, destined for Coventry City A strange end of season saw the Sky Blues win the EFL Trophy, but were also relegated to League 2 Although he was a Coventry player for the next two seasons, his final one was spent on a years loan at Wrexham. Early into the 2019/20 season he joined Nuneaton, but it was when he began his current connection at Mickleover that he regained his scoring touch, with a goal scoring debut at Atherton Collieries in September and scoring 10 before the season was curtailed He was been a regular scorer and hit the net on 10 occasions last season, including a hattrick in the 4-1 home win against Radcliffe

MARCUS MARSHALL FORWARD D.O.B. OCTOBER 7TH 1989

Marcus is another new signing arriving from Telford A winger or striker, he has a vast amount of experience, which started as part of the Blackburn Rovers Academy and made one first team appearance Following his release he had a couple of years at Rotherham, which included a loan at Macclesfield, before moving on to Bury and a loan spell at Grimsby. His movements then took him via Morecambe, back to Grimsby and then Boston Utd in 2016 After a year at Alfreton he joined Matlock in 2018 for a two-year spell, before joining Basford He returned to Matlock at the beginning of this year and completed his season with Telford. He has made over 100 appearances in the football league, scoring four goals.

Dimi Kyriatzis