Book Presentation

The photo shows author John Lawton (centre) presenting a cheque for £500 to Phil Mumby (right) of Matlock Town Supporters' Club Committee, assisted by Andrew Duffin, whose action photos appear in John's book.

'Gladiators on Tour and other footballing stories' has sold 300 copies to date and is available from Matlock Town Club Shop and several local retail outlets in Matlock, including Ladybower News and Gifts on Steep Turnpike and the Co-operative Store on Firs Parade as well as the Tourist Information Offices at matlock Bath and Matlock. In Cromford it is available at Scarthin Books and the Bookshop at Cromford Mill.

The book can also be purchased online via http://www.freewebs.com/matlockfc/gladiatorsontour.htm

John would like to thank everyone who has bought a book to date and advise people that a cheque for WaterAid for £100 will be presented shortly.

Book Launched

Matlock Town season-ticket holder and Supporters' Club Committee member, John Lawton, has written and published a new book charting Matlock Town's successful 2006-2007 season. 'Gladiators on Tour and other footballing stories' is John's account of his own season, watching 105 games in total. These included many neutral games as he went ground hopping, as well as following Chesterfield's troubled season when he could.

Light-hearted but informative, the book is brilliantly brought to life with action photographs from Matlock Town stalwart Andrew Duffin. Shots of Ian Holmes, Simon Barraclough, Gary Webster and others sit alongside Alex Lawton's photographs of his dad's mug collection - making this a real family affair.

The book also has tables showing all the games John went to in detail as well as a list of all the grounds, league and non-league that he has ever visited.

The book is a must-buy for any genuine football fan who has a love of the game and is not dazzled by the bright lights of the Premiership.

All proceeds from the book go to Matlock Town Supporters' Club, with 20% of the profits after printing and production costs going to John's favourite charity, WaterAid. The reasons for this will become obvious when you read some of his anecdotes in the book!

The book sells for £6 and is available from Matlock Town's Club Shop on Causeway Lane or direct from John at Fairfield 24 Imperial Road, Matlock, Derbyshire, DE4 3NL. Please add £1 for postage and packaging. Cheques made payable to John Lawton. If you prefer to buy online using Pay Pal please visit Alex Lawton's website at:

http://www.freewebs.com/matlockfc/

The book will be launched at the Whitby Town home game on Saturday 25th August 2007.

"Entertaining and well-written … slickly produced with lots of black and white images" - Groundtastic Magazine

"A very engaging read, taking a wry rather than anorakish look at the game from the grassroots to the very top" - Matlock Mercury