Gladiators name Ryan Cresswell as new first team manager

Matlock Town are pleased to announce the appointment of Ryan Cresswell as the club’s first team manager.

Ryan, 36, who comes to us from Sheffield FC, had a storied playing career, featuring for teams including Bury, Rotherham United, Southend United and Northampton Town.

It was at the Cobblers that Ryan would meet and play alongside his new assistant-player manager Shaun Brisley in the heart of the defence.

Ryan made the move into non-league football following the conclusion of his full-time career, turning out for Mickleover Sports, Bradford Park Avenue and Parkgate.

At Parkgate he would get his first taste of coaching, and it wasn't long before the world's oldest football club, Sheffield FC, gave him the managerial reins in November 2021 where he has gone on to manage over 100 games, turning the club into a stable NPL East Divison outfit.

Ryan is known for his man management, and his embrace of a strong community spirit impressed the interview panel with his knowledge and passion to take the Gladiators forward as the club enters a new era.

Following Ryan's appointment, he said: "I’m really excited and looking forward to the challenge.

“The job appealed to me because it offered the chance of progression on a personal level and to have a really good go at step three football, but also because the club’s ambition matched mine in terms of wanting to climb the league and push on from there.

“It was good to see the team win on Saturday because a victory helps any club’s morale, both on and off the pitch, and will help with the work to be done.”

On his relationship with Shaun Brisley, Ryan added: “I was actually playing for Macclesfield on loan from Sheffield United on the day Bris made his professional debut and we probably played 15-20 games together.

“We then played a similar number of games together at Northampton and have stayed in touch since.

“It will be good to have someone alongside me who already knows the club and the players and I’ve been speaking with him at length about where we see this crop of players going and where we may need to strengthen.

“The club has been proactive in making changes to the squad after the difficult start, which is good to see, and I’ve been given the backing of the club to analyse the current team and make changes as I see fit, although everyone will be given the chance to show me what they can do.”