Hot prospect Bridden signs first-team forms!

Matlock Town have added one more face ahead of tomorrow’s curtain raiser at home to Bamber Bridge with promising under 21 player Mason Bridden signing first team forms.

Standing at 6’3”, the eighteen years old central defender has been at both Chesterfield’s and Scunthorpe’s Academies as well as featuring at Worksop Town before his move to the Gladiators. Currently he is gaining valuable non league experience with Retford FC in the Toolstation NCEL First Division.

Head Coach of Matlock’s under 21 squad James Holmes believes that Bridden will prove to be a valuable asset to Matlock in the years to come.

“I’m delighted Mason has signed first team forms, I’ve worked with him for just shy of a year and it’s plain to see the attributes he has, he’s a composed ball playing defender who’s shown great leadership traits, capable of driving forward with the ball and instigating attacks. Amongst others within the development system, Mason has the potential to have a bright future ahead of him at the club.”

First team boss Martin Carruthers believes that having a flourishing youth development strategy is the way forward for clubs like Matlock.

“Mason’s a highly recommended young player from James, I’m a big believer in developing our own players through the under 21’s and other plans we have in place, when I was at Basford we had a lot of success with young players and that’s what we’re looking for at Matlock Town. You can’t beat having young local homegrown players in your club, because not only do they know the club, they want to be a part of it and can see a pathway so it’s fantastic news, someone who’ll hopefully get opportunities this season and we look forward to getting many more through this route. It’s early days and once James gets coaching them I’m sure we’ll get many more through , the aim is to have successful teams at both youth and first team level.”

Ian Richardson