Matlock Town FC Stand Appeal The biggest ground development in Matlock Town's history is now under way after seven years of toil as work on the Gladiators' New Stand Development starts this summer. The Football Stadia Improvement Fund (FSIF) have given Matlock the green light to go ahead with a £150,000 grant after planning consent for the development down the Dene Fields side of the ground was given by the Derbyshire Dales District Council in December 2008. And there was a major and welcome boost from the County Club, originally based at County Hall, as members who had lost their social facilities needed somewhere to meet. A cheque from the County Club was presented to the Gladiators on Monday morning. "It's the biggest ground development the club has ever had" said Matlock spokesman Jason Beaumont. "It will be the premier sporting facility in the Derbyshire Dales for we'll be encouraging local sports clubs and organisations to use our new facilities. There'll be brand new changing rooms for players and officials including female officials. Also on the social side we'll have a superb venue for parties and conferences and the like for the building will have a large capacity, one of the largest in the area." Additional funding for the new Social Club which will replace the outdated and tiny former Gladiators Social Club which had been in place since December 1976, will come from Marstons Brewery. Marstons spokesman Shaun Collins commented, "We've been involved with Matlock for a number of years now and we're absolutely delighted to be continuing to support the football club in this exciting new venture. The facilities will be first class and will provide local people with a tremendous meeting place and a great facility for parties, and other events." This is the first major development in terms of stands at Causeway Lane for just over 25 years since the Tarmac Stand was erected behind the Town End goal. Read on to find out more about the project.....