Season 1959/60 certainly proved a season to remember for Matlock Town with a memorable run in the FA Cup - and success in several other highly prestigious competitions.
It was also to their best ever recorded, and led to the start of cup fever. The Gladiators celebrated by finishing as champions of the Central Alliance League, Division One North. The reserves also shared in the honours, by winning the Division Two championship - and claiming the League Cup!
Matlock's first match of the campaign however, a 2-2 draw against Gresley Rovers, gave little indication of the success that was to follow - quite the reverse in fact, for after just five minutes, experienced player-manager Mick Betteridge was injured and forced to take no further part in the game.