Season 1976-77 proved to be yet another eventful period for Northern Premier League side Matlock Town. Although we had moved on to live in Leeds, we followed their results closely each week as they led the league table for most of the season. They fell away towards the end of the season, due to the immense backlog of fixtures which saw them play eight matches during April, followed by another six in May. This was due to their success in three cup competitions, the FA Cup, the FA Trophy which they had won in 1975 and the Derbyshire Senior Cup.
Their F.A. Cup progress brought much publicity including some reports from Brian James of the Daily Mail who actually wrote a book about that season's F.A. Cup which he followed from humble beginnings at Tividale, in the West Midlands, all the way to Wembley. During this journey he saw three games involving Matlock Town and his reports are reproduced here. The only one I actually saw was the third round tie at Carlisle United where the run came to an end.
6th November 1976 F.A. Cup 4th Qualifying Round - Telford United 2 Matlock Town 5.
20th November, 1976 - F.A. Cup first round - Matlock Town 2 Wigan Athletic 0.
27th November 1976 - Northern Premier League - Bangor City 4 Matlock Town 4.
30th November 1976 - Northern Premier League - Matlock Town 4 Frickley Athletic 2.
4th December 1976 - Derbyshire Senior Cup - Clay Cross Works 1 Matlock Town 4.
The second round cup tie at Mansfield was due to be played on Saturday 11th December, but although my son and I had tickets for the game and were prepared to travel from Leeds, the game was postponed twice because of thick fog and did not take place until Wednesday 15th December when we were unable to travel. We therefore missed one of the greatest games in the club's history, but were able to listen to commentary on a local radio station.
18th December, 1976 - Northern Premier League - Boston United 1 Matlock Town 1.
SATURDAY 8TH JANUARY, 1977
F.A. CUP THIRD ROUND AT BRUNTON PARK, CARLISLE
CARLISLE UNITED 5 (Rafferty 2, McVitie, Bonnyman, Clarke) MATLOCK TOWN 1 (Oxley)
Burleigh; Hoolickin, Carr; Bonnyman, MacDonald, Moncur;
J. Smith, Barry, Clarke, Raffery, McVitie;
Arblaster; Goodwin, C. Smith; Chambers, Dawson, Lukasic;
Oxley, N. Fenoughty, Scott, T. Fenoughty, M. Fenoughty; sub Skelton.
Referee:- L. Hayes, Doncaster.
Matlock Town 1976-77
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