Wednesday 18th May 2011
by IAN RICHARDSON

Ross Hannah finally got his wish of a career in the Football League when he joined League Two outfit Bradford City.

The Matlock Town goal machine ended a three year spell with the Gladiators which has brought 3 Fans Player of the Year Awards, 3 club top scorer awards, 2 Premier Division Golden Boot trophies, a Derbyshire Senior Cup winners and losers medal, plus smashing a twenty-eight year club goalscoring record by cracking in 52 goals last season.

Now he will be plying his trade three levels above the Gladiators as his dream finally came true just two days before his 25th birthday.

He joins the Bantams on an initial one year deal which could be extended by a further year at any point during the 2011/2012 campaign. Having been rejected by both Sheffield Wednesday and Sheffield United as a junior, Hannah is determined to make up for lost time.

"I've had to work hard for this opportunity and now it's come I want to take it with both hands. To sign my first professional contract is incredible, something which I've dreamed about since I was a little boy."

Hannah's final Gladiators tally was 111 league and cup goals which made him a firm fans favourite since his move up the A6 from Belper Town. Now reviving the fortunes of a struggling City side which finished 18th and just five points above the relegation places will be high on Hannah's agenda. But more important will be establishing himself as a full time professional, and Hannah is confident he can make the grade.

"I know that things are going to be hard for me to begin with but other players have come here from non league and done it. I feel that getting over 50 goals like I did last year is quite an achievement. Hopefully now playing alongside professionals, no disrespect to Matlock, I'll get even more chances. I feel that even at this early stage, if I'm given the chances, I'll put them away. I've got faith in my ability that I'll do that."

Hannah leaves the Reynolds Stadium acknowledging that the last three years have been the best of his footballing career.

"I'll never forget what Matlock Town has done for me. It's been a real pleasure to play for the club and I'll keep special memories of a special club and will never rule out returning one day, hopefully after a great career in the Football league and a lot more goals. Everyone at the club has been brilliant to me and have all helped me in achieving my dream of playing professional football in different ways.

"This last three years have been the best of my career and I couldn't have wished for better supporters who have backed the club through thick and thin. Unfortunately this last season ended in disappointment when at times things looked ever so promising. No-one was more gutted than the lads and the management team.

"I hope everyone understands my decision to leave the club and test myself in the Football League. It was a very hard decision to leave a club where the supporters have been so good to me, had the best set of lads I've ever been involved with and a manager in Mark Atkins who's done so much to help me develop as a player.

"At the same time though it was a no brainer and now I've got the chance to do something I've worked so hard for and grown up dreaming about."

Of course, the person with the real headache now is Atkins who needs to find a replacement for a striker who is virtually irreplaceable! But with transfer talk rife over two months ago, Atkins was probably prepared for Hannah's departure and he is already busy trying to find a proven scorer to fill the scoring boots.

"If we were honest we all knew that this would probably happen" Atkins admitted. "He goes to Bradford with our very best wishes. We thank him for everything he's done for the club. He's been a pleasure to manage, a great servant and very popular with his fellow players, management and fans. He's scored a phenomenal amount of goals and his work rate has been top class. He fully deserves this tremendous opportunity which has come his way and I'm sure he'll do very well if he continues to work as hard as he's done here at Matlock.

"I've identified targets to come and replace him and spoken to a couple of players but it's early days yet. Nobody's said yes, nobody's said no! We'll have to see what happens but we'll be making the best possible offers to boost our squad and a few additions will help things along nicely."

The Gladiators opening two friendly matches sees them travel to Koolsport Northern Counties East League opposition. They will face Teversal on Saturday July 9th and Armthorpe Welfare on Tuesday July 12th.

There is a big night in the new Matlock Town Sports and Social Club on Saturday May 28th as a Rod Stewart tribute act in the form of Gary Pease. Entry is by ticket only, available from the Social Club or Club Shop costing £5 for members and £10 for non members.

RECENT STORIES

FINDERS KEEPERS FOR GLADIATORS -
The shock departure of first choice goalkeeper Adam Sollitt means a new goalkeeper is top of Matlock Manager Atkins' shopping list More...

BATTLE LINES DRAWN. 2011-12 FIXTURES -
A visit to League Cup winners Ashton United on Saturday August 13th is Matlock Town's season opener in the 2011/2012 season after the fixture list was released this week. More...

MIDWEEK FIXTURES CHANGE FOR THE GLADIATORS -
There's a change of midweek home night for Matlock Town this season as the Gladiators switch from Tuesday to Wednesday. More...

TRIALISTS MAKE THEIR MARK FOR GLADIATORS -
A clutch of trialists will have the chance to stake their claim with Mark Atkins' Gladiators when the Blues return for pre season training More...

GLADIATOR'S SIGN EXPERIENCED DUO -
Manager Mark Atkins reckons he's found experience that was lacking after agreeing deals with Chris Bettney and Simon Sturdy. More...

TWO NEW FACES FOR GLADIATORS -
Matlock Town's first two signings of the summer are a former fan's favourite and an up and coming utility player. More...

DUE TO RETURN TO THE GLADIATORS ARENA NEXT SEASON-
2 of Matlock Town's brightest young stars have signed new 1-year contracts ahead of the new campaign. More...

GLADIATORS BOSS PRAISES BUXTON -
Matlock boss Mark Atkins this week paid tribute to his number two Nick Buxton for his contribution both on and off the field. More...

MATLOCK TOWN'S HANNAH JOINS BRADFORD CITY -
Ross Hannah finally got his wish of a career in the Football League when he joined League Two outfit Bradford City. More...

PRAISE FOR GLADIATORS' YOUNG STAR -
2011 has seen the emergence of a bright young talent at the Reynolds Stadium as 18 year old full back Ben Turner has stepped up to the plate. More...

HANNAH STRIKES GOLD -
Ross Hannah has surely hit legendary status at Matlock Town as his hat trick in Easter Monday's final league game this term saw him shatter the club record of 49 goals in a season. More...

STAY OF EXECUTION FOR THE GLADIATORS-
Boss Mark Atkins admitted it was "a huge relief" to beat Nantwich Town and end their sequence without a league win More...

NEW FACILITIES FOR GLADIATORS -
Success for Evo-Stik League Premier Division outfit Matlock Town hasn't come on the field this season, but off it. More...

IS THE GLADIATOR'S BATTLE OVER? -
Manager Mark Atkins has conceded that his side's hopes of reaching the play offs are all but over. More...

NOW OR NEVER FOR GLADIATORS -
Monday night's 1-0 Evo-Stik League Challenge Cup semi final defeat at Ashton United gives the Gladiators just the play offs to aim for. More...

FIGHT GOES ON FOR GLADIATORS -
Their play off hopes may be fading but Matlock Town boss Mark Atkins insists that the fight goes on. More...

BATTLE AHEAD FOR THE GLADIATORS -
Make no bones about it, Matlock need to beat Whitby Town in Saturday's lunchtime kick off (1pm) at the Reynolds Stadium. More...

NEW BLOOD FOR THE GLADIATORS -
Matlock Town boss Mark Atkins has fulfilled his promise to strengthen his Gladiators squad More...

GLADIATORS BATTLE TO HANG ON TO HANNAH -
Matlock Town boss Mark Atkins says that claims from Torquay that the Gulls had signed Gladiators star striker are "premature to say the very least." More...

AND THE WINNER IS... -
A brace of awards have come Matlock Town's way for boss Mark Atkins and the Gladiators new stand being acclaimed as the best new stand of 2011... More...

GLADIATORS FIGHT TO THE FINISH -
A perfect February has given Matlock Town an excellent chance of making the end of season play offs but boss Mark Atkins is taking nothing for granted. More...

ATKINS PLEASED AFTER WEEKEND WIN -
Matlock boss Mark Atkins reckons the 4-0 win at Retford United was a massive result for his side in more ways than one. More...

ATKINS SEEKS NEW BLOOD -
A busy Mark Atkins is trying to strengthen Matlock's squad ahead of a run of 18 league games and at least one, hopefully more, League Cup tie to play before the season's end. More...

MATLOCK TOWN SEEKS INVESTORS -
"A few thousand pounds could make a real difference to the club". That's the message from Matlock Town Football Club. More...

ALL CHANGE FOR THE GLADIATORS -
Fans shouldn't be surprised to see a couple of changes to the Matlock Town team that takes on Marine at the Reynolds Stadium on Saturday More...

KEEP IT UP -
Having won four out of their last five league matches, Mark Atkins' Matlock Town now find themselves up in third spot, More...

FLU HITS MATLOCK CAMP -
Matlock boss Mark Atkins rose from his sick bed on Monday to orchestrate a vital home win against Burscough, and then was back in it straight after the match. More...

ATKINS, "2010 HAS BEEN A GOOD YEAR" -
...but the Gladiators' fate in 2011 could be decided on how they cope with fixture congestion in what is expected to be a crowded end to the campaign. More...

PROVERBIAL 'SIX POINTER' -
Matlock Town v Buxton on Christmas Monday at the Reynolds Stadium looks to be the proverbial six pointer as the local rivals seek a play off spot More...

GLADIATORS BATTLE ARCTIC CONDITIONS -
Matlock Town boss Mark Atkins fears that his side could face a big fixture backlog as the arctic conditions bit into the Evo-Stik League fixture programme this week. More...

BACK TO WINNING WAYS -
Manager Mark Atkins was pleased and relieved that defensive errors failed to rear up again as Matlock recorded two 3-0 home wins inside a week More...

GLADIATORS
FIGHT ON -
Without a win in five games, Matlock Town will be desperate to grab maximum points against second placed Colwyn Bay on Saturday. More...

ATKINS: GIVING CHEAP GOALS AWAY MUST STOP -
Matlock boss Mark Atkins says his side must stop giving cheap goals away after their second 2-1 home defeat in four days. More...

MILESTONE APPEARANCE FOR GLADIATORS PLAYER -
There's two very good reasons why Matlock Town will want Saturday's visitors Hucknall Town to feel the backlash More...

GLADIATORS FIGHT BACK AFTER 1st AWAY DEFEAT OF THE SEASON -
Mark Atkins will be looking for his Matlock side to bounce back quickly and positively from their first away defeat of the season against Worksop More...

YOU CAN'T KEEP A GOOD MAN DOWN -
They say you can't keep a good man down... Matlock striker Ross Hannah has certainly proved the point this last week. More...

NEW STAND IN ACTION AT MATLOCK -
It's taken 10 years and a mammoth fundraising effort - but Matlock Town Football Club's new 300-seater stand is now providing a welcome home for supporters. More...

MATLOCK GAFFER BLASTS REFEREE -
Matlock boss Mark Atkins laid the blame for his side's second defeat of the season firmly at the door of Mansfield referee Mark Jones. More...

WILL HISTORY REPEAT ITSELF? -
Matlock will travel to the Bill Stokeld Stadium hoping history repeats itself this weekend as they take on Evo Stik League first Divison South Carlton Town in the 2nd Qualifying Round of the FA Cup. More...

TOP OF THE LEAGUE - Two wins in forty-eight hours placed Matlock Town on top of the league as they embark on their latest FA Cup adventure on Saturday at home to fellow Evo-Stik Premiership side Worksop Town. More...

NO EXCUSES -
Matlock boss Mark Atkins offered no excuses after a disappointing Bank Holiday return of just one point out of six. More...

MORE TO COME -
"I feel there's more to come from us." declared Matlock boss Mark Atkins after his side strengthened their Evo Stik League Premier Division campaign with a 3-0 win against Burcough. More...

RARING TO GO -
"The lads are raring to go" was the message from Matlock Town boss Mark Atkins after a long pre season programme of seven weeks and nine matches. More...

Related Links

Matlock Town Website