Home ruled for Gaughan

Central defender Laurence Gaughan moved to Matlock Town's Evo-Stik Northern Premier League rivals Worksop Town to be closer to home, writes Ian Richardson.

The Republic of Ireland youth international, pictured, who was with both Liverpool and Celtic as a youngster, switched at the weekend. His departure follows the exit of striker Massiah McDonald earlier this month.

Gaughan has been reunited with his former Sheffield manager and Matlock midfielder Mark Shaw, who replaced Simon Clark at the Premier Division Tigers. Worksop have also signed former Mansfield, Grantham, Rainworth Miners Welfare and Sheffield FC star Conor Higginson. On Wednesday they announced they'd brought the 21-year-old back to the Evo-Stik NPL from Shirebrook where he'd spent the end of the season after he signed a one-year deal at Sandy Lane.

An emergency striker at times this season, the versatile Gaughan joined from Sheffield FC in February 2012. After injury blighted his first season, he didn't have much better luck in 2012-13, missing much of the campaign and the Derbyshire Senior Cup Final. Manager Mark Atkins says he is still sorry to see Gaughan depart after the impact he made when he did play.

He said: "He got in touch with me saying he wanted to move to a club closer to where he lives. I'm disappointed he's going. He did a very good job for us and it was unfortunate that he picked up a few injuries last season, but we wish him well in the future."

Atkins is now looking ahead to next season after revealing that Derby County manager Nigel Clough is sending a side to the Reynolds Stadium on Tuesday July 30. He also hailed the decision of fans to make defender Adam Yates their Player of the Year at the Matlock Town Presentation Evening.

The 23-year-old, widely regarded as one of the most consistent defenders in the Evo-Stik NPL, has now signed a new contract and Atkins said: "He fully deserves it, he's been outstanding all season in whatever position he's been asked to play. He's had a bad hip for three or four months now but he's battled on always giving no less than one hundred per cent and you wouldn't have known the pain he was in.

"He's a great player to have in the squad. The contract's been agreed and Adam has signed it which is great news for everyone connected with the club. You always want to keep your best players and Adam undoubtedly fits into that category."

On a night when the club's reserves and U19s also collected their awards in front of a packed audience in the Matlock Town Social Club, Micky Harcourt won the Players' Player of the Year and Lewis McMahon collected his Goalscorer of the Season trophy after his 24 goals.

Up and coming striker Joe Leesley was named as the club's Young Player of the Season while the Clubman of the Year award was won jointly by Mel and Judy Beaumont for their help in running the social club.