Match Preview proudly sponsored by Northumbria Print
Date: Tuesday 8th October 2019
Venue: Don Amott Arena, Station Road, Mickleover, Derby, Derbyshire, DE3 9FB
Kick Off: 7.45pm
Competition: Northern Premier League Premier Division
Match Coverage: Twitter
Highlights: Highwaymen TV
Morpeth return to league action on Tuesday evening with a long trip to Derbyshire to face Mickleover Sports.
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 an ambitious 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 fund raising drive, raising over £30,000 and work on the new ground finally 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 an application was made to join the Central Midlands Football League. This was successful and in 1993 Sports officially entered the non-league Pyramid for the first time. They drafted in an entire new management team led by Tony Shaw which resulted in both teams finishing 6th in their respective divisions.
Season 1994/95 saw Sports gain promotion to the CMFL Supreme Division and reach the semi-final of theLleague Cup on the way. In 1996/97 Mark Kelsey took up the managerial reins and Sports finished a creditable 6th in the Supreme Division.
Meanwhile, off the field Mickleover were learning to manage the new facilities. There was some limited on-going expenditure in the railing off of the pitch, laying of slabs to provide hard standing and erection of a small stand, but with the general ground maintenance as well, there was little money for anything else. However in order to progress (or even retain their CMFL status) the club needed to erect floodlights. A concerted fund raising effort was made and in 1997, at a capital cost of over £30,000, our ambition was finally realised.
Back on the pitch, season 1997/98 saw Sports gain a third place finish in the CMFL Supreme Division and just 12 months later further improvement saw them crowned as the 1998/99 CMFL Champions. This season also saw Sports first venture into the Carlsberg FA Vase, where they embarked on an exhilarating cup run. After beating several teams from ‘higher’ leagues they were eliminated at the 3rd stage in controversial circumstances. Winning 3-0 at eventual finalists Bedlington Terriers and with only 14 minutes remaining, the home side’s floodlights suspiciously failed. After an FA enquiry Sports lost the replay 2-0.
So, the club was assured promotion to the Northern Counties East League and season 1999/2000 saw Sports playing for the first time at level 5. After challenging hard they finished in 4th place in Division One. They also reached the semi-final of the Derbyshire Senior Cup and for the 2nd year running they fell in the 3rd round of the FA Vase.
Season 2000/2001 saw Sports go one better by finishing 3rd and reaching the 4th round of the Vase, but the following year was less successful, with a 5th place finish and early exits from all cup competitions.
Mark Kelsey was replaced by ex Belper Town manager Martin Rowe who led Sports to the NCEL Division One Championship in his first season in charge. For good measure Sports also won the Division 1 Cup (Wilkinson Sword Trophy) and reached the final of the Derbyshire Senior Cup for the first time in their history. Once again they reached the 3rd round of the FA Vase, where they eventually lost by the odd goal in nine, after 240 minutes of football, to eventual semi-finalists Oadby Town.
After 3 seasons of ‘consolidation’ at their new level, season 2006/2007 was arguably Mickleover’s most 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 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 were never to look 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 Town with a tremendous display (also doing the double over them). But still Sports were gifting points especially the never to be forgotten 6-6 home draw against Nantwich Town. Sports were 6-3 up with 6 minutes to go. In the end Sports ended in 14th position and were safe with 4 games to go.
The 2013-14 season had been a great improvement on what had gone before but was ultimately marred by play-off final defeat to local rivals Belper. The management duo of Glenn Kirkwood and Craig Hopkins were determined to use the pain of disappointment in a positive way for the next campaign.
Sports started the 2014-15 season in positive mood, and but for good runs in both the FA Cup and FA Trophy would have topped the table almost from the start. Postponements to league games because of the cup competitions meant that they were always playing catch up, but even so they still managed to rise to pole position with games in hand. Their home record was excellent, and results on the road also impressive, so much so that they ended the season having scored in excess of 100 goals and the only disappointment was that the last day draw at home to Sheffield FC denied them the record of most points gained in an individual Evostik Division One South season.
Last Match
Sports picked up the three points on Saturday with a 1-0 victory over Scarborough Athletic. The only goal of the game arrived on 25 minutes with Lee Hughes lobbing an effort over the Scarborough ‘keeper.
The Highwaymen suffered FA Cup heartache on Saturday when they lost to league rivals Nantwich Town in the 93rd minute. Substitute Joe Mwasile grabbed the only the goal of the game as he poked home from close range.
Manager
John McGrath – As a player, McGrath made his name at Burton Albion playing in over 200 games for the Brewers. Formerly with Aston Villa as a trainee, he joined Mickleover in 2015 as a player before later becoming player-manager.
