Honours were hard to come by in the opening ninety or so years of Matlock Town’s existence
before they suddenly sprang to prominence as one of England’s most successful sides in the
mid-1970’s.
They were Central Alliance Division North champions in 1959/60 and in 1960/61 which saw
them join the Midland Counties League winning the title in their first season. Additionally, in
1959/60 they reached the First Round of the FA Cup losing at home to Crook Town in a replay.
After winning the Midland Counties League again 1968/69 they took up an offer to join the
Northern Premier League where they have remained ever since.
Matlock won the FA Trophy at Wembley in 1974/75 beating Scarborough 4-0 and create a
record winning FA Trophy Final victory margin. Three brothers, Tom, Mick and Nick Fenoughty
were in the side, the only time that three brothers have featured in a Cup Final side at the
stadium.
At the start of the season former England international Peter Swan had taken over as manager
and brought about a fantastic attacking style to Matlock’s play. Success came earlier in the
1974/75 season with the Gladiators, as they are known, reaching the First Round of the FA Cup
for only the second time, being beaten 4-1 at home by Blackburn Rovers. Two days after their
Wembley win, Matlock beat Glossop 6-1 and 9-3 on aggregate to win the Derbyshire Senior
Cup.
Tom Fenoughty replaced Swan at the start of the 1976/77 campaign, one which saw Matlock
reach the Third Round of the FA Cup for the one and only time. Eventual Third Division
Champions Mansfield Town were thrashed 5-2 at Field Mill in Round Two, the run coming to an
end at Second Division Carlisle United. They narrowly missed out on the league title finishing in
third spot behind Boston United and Northwich Victoria, but silverware came their way via the
Derbyshire Senior Cup as they defeated New Mills in the final.
In 1977/78 Matlock beat Boston United 3-0 at Maine Road to lift the NPL Challenge Cup to
qualify for the Anglo-Italian non-league tournament in 1979. After losing 2-1 at both Chieti and
Pisa in Italy, they beat Juniorcasale and Cremonese 2-0 in England, the Gladiators finishing as
English runners-up to Sutton United.
The Gladiators’ best league campaign to date was in 1983/84 when they finished as runners up
to Barrow. Their last FA Cup First Round appearance was in 1989/90 when they were beaten 4-1
at Scunthorpe United.
Matlock lost their Premier Division status at the end of the 1995/96 season after finishing
bottom and it was not until 2003/04 that they regained their place in the top flight as they
finished second behind Hyde United. In the following season they won the League Cup again
beating Whitby Town in a two-legged final.
Since then Matlock’s league form has been patchy, their best effort being a fifth-place finish in ​
2006/07, unfortunately they were defeated away at Witton Albion after extra-time in the Play-
off Semi-Final. Wincham Park proved to be unlucky for Matlock in that season as Fleetwood
Town beat them 1-0 to win the NPL Cup Final there.
Their most recent honours have been in the Derbyshire Senior Cup which they won in 2014/15
and 2016/2017, beating Gresley 7-0 and 5-0 in finals played at Chesterfield FC.
Matlock have one of the most picturesque grounds in the country, a setting which has improved
immeasurably in recent seasons with a brand-new stand containing changing rooms and a
brand-new Social Club being erected and ready for action in 2011.
They also have one of the most respected Academy set-ups in non-league football and in July
2018, their youngsters took part in a tournament in China, beating Arsenal’s youngsters 1-0 and
the Fiji National U17 side to win their group and eventually finish with the bronze medal. Two of
their young players, Max Hunt and Zak Brunt have made the move to the professional game
joining Derby County and Sheffield United respectively.
HONOURS BOARD:
FA Challenge Trophy Winners 1974/75
NPL Cup Winners 1977/78, 2004/05
NPL Cup Runners-Up 2006/07
NPL Shield Winners 1978/79
NPL Runners Up 1983/84
NPL (UniBond) Division One Runners-Up 2003/04
Derbyshire Senior Cup Winners 1974/75, 1976/77, 1977/78, 1983/84, 1984/85, 1991/92,
2003/04, 2009/10, 2014/15, 2016/17
Derbyshire Senior Cup Runners Up 1960/61, 1963/64, 1971/72, 1973/74, 1975/76, 1980/81,
1981/82, 1982/83, 1989/90, 1993/94, 1997/98, 2006/07, 2008/09, 2012/13
Evans Halshaw Floodlit Cup Winners 1988/89, 1990/91
Central Alliance Division North Champions 1959/60, 1960/61
Midland Counties League Champions 1961/62, 1968/69
FA CUP First Round Appearances:
1959/60 —lost 1-0 at home to Crook Town in replay
1974/75 —lost 4-1 at home to Blackburn Rovers
1975/96 —lost 4-1 away to Wigan Athletic​