Gladiators Cookeing on gas as club legend Yates returns and Dec Walkers away

Matlock Town is pleased to announce the signing of nineteen-year-old midfielder Jamie Cooke on loan from FC Halifax Town as well as the return of thirty-two-year-old club legend Adam Yates after Manager Paul Phillips put out an SOS call subject to FA and NPL approval.

Midfielder Cooke already has Pitching In Northern Premier League experience this season after a loan spell with FC United Of Manchester. He started his career with Fleetwood Town coming through the ranks playing for their U18s squad before joining Colne FC last season then moving to the Shaymen for an undisclosed compensation fee.

Defender Adam Yates will certainly need no introduction to the Gladiators faithful having clocked up more than 500 appearances for the Gladiators since making his debut as a late substitute in a 2-1 home victory against FC United of Manchester in March 2009. He has also been named fans player of the season four times. Manager Paul Phillips put in the call to the fan favourite following news of an injury crisis in his backline with Jamie Sharman set to miss an extended period of time due to personal reasons.

Both Cooke and Yates will be available for tomorrow's away trip to Bamber Bridge.

One player who is departing the club is versatile Declan Walker who has decided to take up an offer from Warrington Rylands with Gladiators gaffer Paul Phillips saying "Dec was offered a bigger deal and we have a wage bill to keep to keep inside and won't offer silly money for the wrong reasons."