Gladiators legend honours Mr Matlock

Matlock Town skipper James Lukic was honoured by club legend Mick Fenoughty before making his 600th appearance for the Gladiators on New Year's Day, writes Ian Richardson.

The 30-year-old reached the milestone in the 1-1 Evo-Stik NPL Premier Division derby draw with Buxton. Before kick off at Causeway Lane, Fenoughty, who made 672 appearances for the Derbyshire outfit, presented Lukic with a momento on behalf of the club.

The Gladiators captain, pictured, joined the club as a 16-year-old, making his debut against Glossop North End in the Derbyshire Senior Cup in February 1998. He is second in Matlock's all time career records table behind Fenoughty and Gladiators manager Mark Atkins paid his skipper a glowing tribute.

Atkins said: "It's a fantastic achievement and he's been excellent since I've been here, Mr Consistency. He's played when probably he shouldn't have through injury to help me and the team, he's been a real pleasure to manage."

Chairman Tom Wright echoed his manager's sentiments, adding: "It's rare at any level to have a player with the tremendous loyalty shown by James and he thoroughly deserves every bit of praise he gets.

"In many ways he's Mr Matlock Town, a person highly respected not only here at Matlock but throughout the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League and Non-League football in general."