Gladiators make ground improvements as attendances rise

With their average gate having doubled during the last couple of seasons, Matlock Town are striving to improve the match day experience for fans attending games at the Proctor Cars Stadium .

That aim gathered pace on Monday night when a portacabin was lowered into place on the Causeway Lane side of the ground to offer a new catering facility to include tea bar and a further outlet selling alcoholic and non alcoholic beverages.

Gladiators Chairman Jay Beaumont says that feedback from the supporters was instrumental in the provision of this new building.

“We’ve taken on board feedback we’ve had from supporters at the fans forum in January and also from talking to fans in general on matchday and it became increasingly apparent that we needed to provide catering on the Causeway Lane side of the ground with long queues at our main tea bar and in the Social Club to get a bite to eat or a drink. Obviously there’s a space restriction in where the building has to go, but we hope that fans who watch games from that area of the ground will be pleased by this news instead of having to walk round the ground to get their refreshments. All being well the building should be fully installed and equipped ready for business when the pre season games get under way. Now the building has been delivered, work will get under way immediately to make the building fit for purpose.”

Matlock also plan to renovate the toilet block behind the Town End goal.

“Again we’re conscious that work on the toilets is desperately needed and we thank fans for their input. The first job will be to put a new insulated roof on the existing site and once this first important step has been taken we’ll then get to work on improving that facility” added Mr Beaumont.

Ian Richardson.