Carruthers reunites with vastly experienced keeper Deeney

Matlock Town boss Martin Carruthers has opted for experience in the goalkeeping department with the signing of Saul Deeney from Ilkeston Town.

The Gladiators’ regular number one Jim Pollard received a red card in the defeat at Gainsborough on Bank Holiday Monday and will be suspended for Tuesday night’s home game with Marine so Deeney will step in..

Deeney (39) stands at 6’1” and was born in Northern Ireland. His football career began at Notts County where he made 42 appearances between 2000 and 2005, having loan spells at Ilkeston, Gresley Rovers and Hull City during this period.

He joined Burton Albion in October 2005 and one of the highlights of his career was playing for the Conference League Brewers in their two televised FA Cup 3rd Round games versus Manchester United, keeping a clean sheet in a 0-0 draw before United ran out 5-0 winners at Old Trafford.

Deeney was back at Notts County during the summer of 2006 before again returning to Burton Albion after a brief loan spell at Hucknall Town.

The Northern Irishman then joined Derby County where he was mostly understudy to Stephen Bywater but his debut was memorable if not for the right reasons! He came on as a substitute versus Reading in the 13th minute but was sent off twenty seven minutes later for a professional foul on Jay Tabb, with Robbie Savage taking over between the sticks. He would play two further matches for the Rams keeping a clean sheet in one of them when Cardiff City were beaten 2-0.

Deeney left Derby in January 2014 to play for Institute in the NIFL Premiership but retired after only three games to become a coach back at Notts County. He came out of retirement in 2015 to become first choice goalkeeper at Basford United and he has since played for Coalville Town and Ilkeston Town, winning a Championship medal with the Robins last season as Ilkeston won the NPL Division One Midlands title.

Matlock manager Martin Carruthers says Deeney who has signed for the rest of the season after being released over the weekend by Ilkeston, will be “a real asset “ to the Gladiators.

“I’m delighted to have got Saul in, he’s vastly experienced and he’s been with me previously when I’ve won league titles at both Basford and Ilkeston. He’s an ex professional footballer , super fit and ultra professional and now we’ve got two good goalkeepers challenging for that goalkeeping shirt. He’ll be a real asset to the football club.”

Ian Richardson