Wednesday 1st June 2011
by IAN RICHARDSON

Two of Matlock Town's brightest young stars have signed new one-year contracts ahead of the new campaign.

Defender Adam Yates and midfielder Liam King have signed on the dotted line to the delight of Gladiators Manager Mark Atkins who views their continued commitment as a significant step forward as he prepares for what he anticipates being "a very tough league."

"They're both exceptional young players who've been great for us and were excellent last season, so I'm naturally delighted that they've committed themselves to the club again. The team spirit we have at this club is first class and they obviously enjoy being here. They're also very popular with our supporters who will no doubt be as pleased as we are with the news."

Yates (left) moved to Matlock from Northern Counties East League Shirebrook Town after starring for his former club in a narrow Derbyshire Senior Cup semi final defeat by the Gladiators in February 2009.

Equally adept at either right full back or in a central defensive berth, Yates has developed into one of the most consistent defenders in the Evo-Stik League Premier Division.

He was named as the players player of the season and scooped the club's young player of the season at Matlock's Presentation Night on May 6th.


King (left) arrived at Matlock after being released by Rotherham United in the summer of 2008 and has been a tower of strength both in midfield and in spells at centre half and right back in his three years with the Gladiators.

Atkins is still working hard to bring in fresh blood and is hopeful of a positive response from one player by the end of this week.

"We're working hard to bring players in and have spoken to a number of players but it's still early days yet.

"We've made a number of offers and we're waiting for players to come back to us but I'm hopeful we'll hear something from one player by the end of the week, and hopefully it'll be good news."

Atkins believes that the Evo-Stik Premier Division will be as hard as ever next season.

"Again it's going to be a very tough league as I expect all of the top teams from last season to be up there challenging again. Then there's Chester who so far have bought three top quality players (including Marine's Jamie Rainford and Buxton's Mark Reed who are both prolific strikers) and I don't believe their spending will end there.

"Chorley have come up with money behind them and will be very organised with a management team of Gary Flitcroft and Matt Jensen. Stafford have come down from Blue Square North and will want to get back up quickly while Hednesford are back in the league having come so close to winning promotion from their league last season.

"If anything it'll be tougher than last season but I believe we're capable of again making a good impression. No-one from last season has said they're not coming back (apart from Ross Hannah) and we're looking to bring in a little more experience to help the younger lads along when the going gets tough. I'm confident we can be up there challenging once again."

Another award came the way of Ross Hannah last week when along with his grandfather, Matlock's top scorer from last season travelled down to London to collect Non League Football's Golden Boot Trophy.

The pair attended the ESPN soccernet.com National Games Awards Ceremony, which is Non League Football's end of season awards dinner at Chelsea's Stamford Bridge ground. Hannah's 52 goals earned him the recognition and a move to League Two outfit Bradford City. On June 18th, Hannah will be at the Evo-Stik League's Presentation Night in Blackpool to collect the Premier Division's Golden Boot for the second successive season.

Matlock look likely to conclude their pre season preparations with a trip down the A6 to Evo-Stik First Division South neighbours Belper Town on Saturday August 6th. The new league season gets under way seven days later.

One change to the scheduled programme sees them visit Sheffield FC on Thursday July 28th instead of Saturday July 30th at the host's request. The Gladiators return for pre season training on Thursday June 30th.

RECENT STORIES

MATLOCK'S HUNT FOR STRIKER GOES ON -
The Gladiators' search for another striker goes on but new recruit Lee Whittington does his chances of a starting place no harm whatsoever with 4 goals in pre season. More...

GLADIATORS DRAW IN NEW BLOOD -
Matlock boss Mark Atkins swooped quickly to replace his departing goalkeeper Adam Sollitt with Worksop Town's Jon Kennedy More...

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...

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