Carruthers at the double with two Gladiators signings

Matlock Town have made two new signings ahead of their home clash with FC United of Manchester on Saturday and manager Martin Carruthers has his fingers crossed that more could follow.

Central midfielder Ethan Cartwright and right wing back Robbie McNicholas signed on the dotted line at training on Wednesday night.

Cartwright (21) is a central midfielder who has arrived from Matlock’s NPL Premier Division rivals Guiseley. He had a spell out on loan at Belper Town earlier in the season.

He has gained valuable playing experience in both England and Wales joining Chester at the beginning of the 2020/21 season after impressing during the pre-season programme. While at the Deva Stadium he signed a dual registration form playing for NPL Western Division City of Liverpool but had played for Welsh side Cefn Druids prior to joining Chester.

Cartwright joined Guiseley towards the end of the 2021/22 campaign, his impressive performances in Guiseley’s failed bid to avoid relegation from the National League North made the managerial team at Nethermoor take notice. He was part of the English Colleges Football Association squad in 2019.

Gladiators boss Martin Carruthers says he is delighted to have secured Cartwright’s signature.

“He’s a very exciting young player who can play anywhere across the midfield, he scores goals and I’m absolutely delighted to have exciting young talent like Ethan at the club.”

McNicholas (24) is well known to Carruthers who managed him at Basford and has come in from NPL Midlands Division Loughborough Dynamo after earlier also playing for Newark and Carlton Town.

“He was in the academy at Basford when I was manager there and made it through to the first team. He’s a good, solid reliable lad who has great quality and can play as a right back or as a right wing back. Again, another very good signing for us.”

Both signings are subject to NPL and FA approval.

Carruthers is hopeful of strengthening his squad further in the coming days.

“If I can bring in the other lads in I’ve been after then it’ll have been a very good week on the recruitment front” he added.

Ian Richardson