Gladiators set to pay tribute to memories of two lifelong fans

Two Gladiators fans who have passed away will be remembered at Saturday afternoon’s NPL Premier Division opener with Whitby Town at the Proctor Cars Stadium.

Clive Allen passed away in May aged 74, He travelled regularly with his nephew Steven Paxton from his Tutbury home to watch Matlock and was seen at nearly every home and away match. Football was his life and in his younger days he was a referee in the Matlock and District Football League. He had been a keen Gladiators fan since the 1950’s.

Clive’s family will be sponsoring the game in his memory and there will be a minute’s silence prior to kick off.

John Henry Bryan, known as “Pep” was 61 and the Gladiators will be asking fans to join in on a round of applause in the 61st minute of the game.

Pep’s family have prepared a statement which reads:

“The family of John Henry Bryan (Pep) would like to thank Matlock Town Football Club for their kind gesture of a minute’s applause in the 61st minute of their first NPL home league game of the season this Saturday 13 August 3 pm kick off and we’d like to invite friends and family down to the game to celebrate John’s (Pep’s) life.”

Matlock Chairman Jay Beaumont said the club were saddened to hear of Mr Allen’s and Mr Bryan’s passing.

“ Clive was well known to us all and rarely missed a game. He just loved watching Matlock Town and we’ll miss him greatly. Pep was a character well known to a lot of people, it was a great shock to hear that he’d passed away. We were deeply saddened to hear the news about both Clive and Pep and we will remember both of them at our game on Saturday”

Ian Richardson