Fans urged to back Gladiators

Matlock Town Chairman Tom Wright and manager Mark Atkins have teamed up to urge fans to turn out in force at Causeway Lane for the remainder of their Evo-Stik Northern Premier League campaign.

The Premier Division's Gladiators are at home to AFC Fylde on Saturday in the top flight and the pair made their appeal after less than 250 supporters saw last Saturday’s 2-0 FA Trophy win over St Neots.

Despite the Gladiators making one of their best starts to recent campaigns, attendances have dipped in recent weeks and Wright led the direct appeal to supporters.

He said: "No-one can deny we've not improved the side. The lads are working hard and the home results have been very good so to get just 244 is very disappointing. People are working hard to give Matlock a football club to be proud of, right the way from the first team to the junior sides, but we need locals to get down and support the club."

He added: "I would urge them all to get down and back the players as we aim to stay in the top five, a position everyone's worked so hard to achieve."

Atkins said: "We've got a good honest set of lads who all want to do well for this football club. They're all giving one hundred per cent and we'd like to see locals coming down to get behind them."

The Coasters beat Matlock 2-0 at Kellamergh Park at the beginning of September but Atkins is looking forward to locking horns again this weekend with another club harbouring promotion hopes.

He added: "We gave them a good game up there but again couldn't find a way through but while it'll be tough like all games in this league, we're at home and we've done well at home so far this season."