Matlock Town boss Mark Hume eager to maintain progress of first year in charge

Mark Hume says there is still work to be done to maintain the progress Matlock Town have made over the last year.
Matlock town v Ashton united. Matlock manager Mark Hume.Matlock town v Ashton united. Matlock manager Mark Hume.
Matlock town v Ashton united. Matlock manager Mark Hume.

This weekend’s home game with Ramsbottom United marks a year since Mark Hume took on the managerial reins at the Autoworld Arena.

Hume, in his first stint at being a number one after being Assistant Manager at Bradford Park Avenue, masterminded the Gladiators’ Great Escape last season from a position when all seemed lost and brought silverware to the club as Matlock thrashed Gresley 7-0 in the Derbyshire Senior Cup Final.

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Fans probably expected a higher league position this term, with Matlock currently in 16th spot, but Hume remains level headed and determined that the club will continue to improve on and off the field.

“I had a massive input at Bradford but it’s certainly different being the number one, I take all the pressure for the lads,” he said.

“The first three or four months were a bit of a whirlwind. We had the sole focus really of staying in the league, something that a lot of people thought wouldn’t happen and,, although it was what we all wanted in some ways it’s hindered us somewhat this season as people expected things would carry on. But I knew there was work to be done.”

Hume believes Matlock Town now have a stronger squad than they did 12 months ago as they continue to build.

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“We’ve a much better squad now than a year ago and with due respect to people in the job before me, we’re playing better football,” he added.

“We stayed up, won the Derbyshire Senior Cup, the Academy have come along and are doing exceptionally well.

“I was pleased to have input into it having helped to set up an academy in the past, and the budget situation has been turned around.

“But I stress we’re still building and wanting to move on upwards and I’m also looking towards next season for this summer I want us to hit the ground running, something we didn’t manage to do last summer.

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“Things don’t happen overnight but I want us to have a strong end to the season, pushing towards those play off places.

“I’m hopeful we might have a couple more players coming in during the next week or two.

“The reserves and academy have come on well and some of the reserve lads have had an opportunity in the first team.

“Jack Siddall in particular has been developing well and now I want him to have some regular first team football so we’ll be looking to loan him out to a Northern Counties East League side so he can get some games under his belt to continue that development.”

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Ramsbottom come to Matlock on the back of a 6-0 defeat at Ashton United on Tuesday night.

Matlock should have a full squad available apart from Ted Cribley who begins a three game suspension.

The Darlington away game has been rearranged for Tuesday March 8, meaning that they will face the Quakers twice in four days with the home meeting set for Saturday March 12.

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