Gladiators: Pre-season taking shape for Matlock Town

At present Matlock will open their programme with a trip to Teversal on Saturday, July 13, while the other extra game sees them travel to Mickleover Sports on Tuesday August 6.

Mickleover are managed by former Gladiators Glenn Kirkwood and Craig Hopkins, who took over midway through last season from former Derby defender Dick Pratley.

Further links with the Gladiators come in the form of midfielder Gary Webster and striker Nathan Benger, who followed Kirkwood and Hopkins from Heanor Town.

Matlock are still awaiting replies from at least two Football League clubs as they look to add home games to their schedule. Derby County are due at the Reynolds Stadium on Tuesday, July 30.

Matlock also play Staveley Miners Welfare away on Friday, July 19 and Clipstone away on Saturday, August 3.

Meanwhile, the warm bank holiday weather helped Matlock earn some much needed cash, when they converted the pitch into a car park as visitors descended on the town. “It proved to be a good source of revenue for us and it didn’t damage the pitch in any shape or form,” said a Matlock spokesman.