We enter the final 3 Saturdays of the 25/26 football season, with Mickleover visiting Grange Park for our penultimate home fixture of the season.

Our recent mini revival which saw The Blues defeated just once in 7 games, ended on Easter Monday at the hands of Belper Town. However, with just 1 win in those 7 games (5 draws), points have become hard to come by, and worryingly, Long Eaton find themselves just 6 points above the relegation zone, with 9 still on offer, and after recording just 1 win in 13 games, a victory is desperately needed this Saturday.

OPPOSITION

Mickleover have had a very similar campaign to that of The Blues, to the extent prior to Easter Monday, they had an identical league record to ourselves. They were in and around the Playoff zone until as recently as matchweek 31, but a run of 8 games without a win has ended those hopes.
Monday's comprehensive victory over Rugby Town also condemned The Valley to relegation once again from step 4.

Gareth Holmes is in charge at The Don Amott Arena, and has been since May 2024, previously he had managerial experience with Nottingham Forest U18's for 6 years, after retiring from playing at just 26 years of age. In his first season, he was unable to keep The Sports in the top Division of The Northern Premier League, finishing in 20th position, and subsequent relegation into the Midlands section.

Mickleover play in a Red and Black home shirt, whilst their away kit is Sea Blue, with pink trim.

FORM

The Blues form is now a concern, after registering 5 draws from 7 games, the points tally was at least ticking over, but with just 1 win now from 13, and collecting just 8 points out of a possible 39, collectively, the stats don't look too good.
The 24th of January was our last home win (vs AFC Rushden & Diamonds), though we have only had 5 home games since then - 3 losses and 2 defeats.
Dropping into 15th position, this is our 2nd lowest position this season, having sat 17th after 10 games.

Mickleover secured a 4-1 win over now relegated Rugby Town on Monday - their first win in 9, and interestingly, Rugby Town are also the only side Long Eaton have beat in our last 13!
Away from home, The Sports have been in wretched form, without a win since Boxing Day, and in the 7 games since, have failed to score in 5 of those, and have scored just 2 goals. Good Friday's 0-0 draw at AFC Rushden & diamonds ended a 6 -game losing sequence away from home.

In total, away from home this season, with 12 defeats from 19 games, no side has managed more, and with just 19 points collected, only 2 sides (Rugby Town [17] & Loughborough Students [16]) have fewer, whilst their measly tally of 18 away goals scored is the joint fewest with Bedworth, and are the only 2 sides to score fewer than 20 away goals all season so far.

PREVIOUS MEETINGS

We last met right at the start of the season, on August 12th - which was The Blues first away game of the campaign. Long Eaton were impressive and goals from Dexter Walters and James Shaw saw off The Sports who were second best on the night, Long Eaton were comfortable 2-0 winners.

We also met each other in our ill-fated single season in step 3. Mickleover were to go on and reach the end of season playoffs that season and easily brushed aside a rebuilding Blues squad, winning 5-0 at Grange Park, though it was just 0-1 at halftime,in front of almost 600, and 5-1 at The Don Amott on Boxing Day, that was after Jack Rogers had fired us into an unlikely lead. From that game, Callum Cocks, George Atwal and Jamie Hanson remain at the club, with Aaron Cole, an unused substitute, and the recently departed Cieron Keane, who is now at Mickleover, also in the team that day.

ADMISSION

Grange Park is located just off Station Road, Long Eaton.

The postcode is NG10 2EF

We have a fully stocked, licensed bar, hot and cold food is available.

We have car parking available, though this does get full. Please be respectful of residents if parking on a nearby street.

Turnstiles open at 1pm, with our clubhouse showing live football on all our screens.

Prices for the 25/26 season are;
£11 Adults
£8 Concessions
£4 Under 16's or FREE with a paying adult.