FOOTBALL LESSON FOR GIBRALTAR
Matlock Town 6, Gibraltar International XI 0

The game at Causeway Lane on Tuesday November 11, 1975, provided a football lesson for their sun-tanned opponents. The report stated: ‘When a team accustomed to playing on a hard shale surface in a temperature of about 70 degrees is plunged into action on a damp, treacherous pitch on a bitterly cold November night, it is hardly likely to find the going easy.
‘That is what happened to the Gibraltar International XI at Causeway Lane on Tuesday night. The visitors from the Rock, currently touring this country at the invitation of Scarborough FC, slithered to a defeat which was clearly predictable even from the early stages. But they accepted this with a sunny cheerfulness.’
One of their players explained that he could hardly keep his feet but praised the Matlock team, whom he agreed were ‘too good for us.’ Town were hardly stretched at all. Johnny Brookes put Matlock ahead after just 5 minutes and in virtually continuous pressure Town added further goals from Peter Scott (37 and 70 minutes), Gary Coupland (40), Colin Oxley (55), and Mick Chambers (63), who scored his first goal for the club.

David Fell’s involvement was minimal. He was not brought into serious action until the 72nd minute when he held a shot from inside forward Asquez. Ten minutes later, he finger-tipped a penalty from left-back Nuza over the bar. In terms of penalties, Fell’s save squared the account, for Oxley had lofted the ball over the Gibraltar bar in a 50th minute spot-kick.

* The clubs had exchanged plaques between the teams immediately before kick-off to commemorate the first taste of international football at Causeway Lane and later players and officials enjoyed a buffet supper. Gibraltar officials were presented with ashtrays in Derbyshire pottery, and the gate of 1,200 ensured a share of about £190 for the Gibraltar party towards the expenses of their tour.

SURPRISE INVITATION
A few weeks later, the Gladiators received a surprise invitation from the Gibraltar FA asking if Matlock would like to take part in a tournament the following May. The invitation had obviously followed the friendly encounter with the Gibraltar XI at the Lane earlier that month, when the visiting party had been much impressed with Town’s standard of play and Matlock’s emphatic 6-0 win.

Gladiators secretary Keith Brown announced that he was still awaiting further information from Gibraltar about the financial details, stating: ‘When we have received these we will be able to discuss the matter with the players since it means that they would have to be prepared to take a week of their holidays to play in the tournament.’

In the end, the Matlock club decided against travelling to Gibraltar that May, but the idea and the possibility of playing in the semi-professional Anglo-Italia tournament, certainly wet the appetite of players, officials and fans. It was to be several years later though before the Gladiators were able to take part by means of a qualifying invitation. And by then, the Anglo-Italia Challenge Cup was in its fourth season.

GREENALL’S NORTHERN PREMIER LEAGUE CUP
BOSTON UNITED 0, MATLOCK TOWN 3
‘Super Blues’ — ‘Another Cup glitters for Tom’ — these were some of the local headlines in May 1978, after Matlock Town’s triumphant cup victory at Maine Road, Manchester.
Underdogs Matlock had out on a superb performance in a glamour setting to deny the all-conquering Boston United team from lifting further silverware. Reports claimed this was Matlock at their best, scintillating and so exciting, tuned up to the flowing and fluent attacking football which often bewitches, baffles and bewilders the opposition.
Matlock ruthlessly destroyed Boston’s tea-party which would have seen them round off a memorable Northern Premier League season by adding this trophy to their league championship success. The Gladiators however, stamped their authority on the match right from the kick-off, stroking precision passes across the Manchester City turf; silkily smooth in attack, and commanding in midfield and at the back.
Once again, as at Wembley and at Mansfield Town in the FA Cup, Matlock rose magnificently to the occasion. They demonstrated almost a showbiz flair for revelling in the limelight and pulled-out all the tricks to delight their travelling fans. The Maine Road stand was packed with jubilant supporters wearing their blue and white ribbons.
The team contained only four survivors from their FA Trophy winning outfit — skipper Peter Scott and the three Fenoughty brothers. This time, it was the turn of Keith Stott, Alan Lukasic, and Mick Chambers, who had established themselves in the side since Wembley; and the younger players Dave Barker, Andy Porteous and Melvyn Palmer to prove they too were worthy Gladiators.

Matlock struck after just 19 minutes. Nick Fenoughty picked up a forward header from Keith Stott, cut between two defenders and steered the ball into the net as goalkeeper Gerry Stewart came out in a last-ditch challenge.
Seven minutes later, Andy Porteous made it 2-0. A close drive from Scott rebounded off Stewart back to Porteous. Stewart, who had darted out to meet Scott was left stranded as Porteous coolly sent a dipping drive into the empty net from 30 yards out.
The champions recovered to mount their first sustained period of pressure and Lukasic covered endless ground as he eliminated the potential threat from striker Jim Kabia, and with Stott dominating the middle, a Boston goal never really looked on.
Matlock made certain of victory in the 74th minute when Peter Scott scored to ensure his hands would lift the prestigious prize. He touched off and completed the move which brought Town’s third goal. Scott had sent Palmer racing down the right and then raced into the goalmouth to meet the return cross from the winger, beating Stewart with a splendidly taken header.
The crowd were chanting ‘easy, easy,’ long before the final whistle and after the presentation, the Matlock players paid tribute to their loyal fans.
MATLOCK TOWN: Barker, Porteous, Wilson, Chambers, Stott, Lukasic, Palmer, N Fenoughty, Scott, T Fenoughty, M Fenoughty.Sub: (Hall for Nick Fenoughty after 64 mins). Attendance 2,132.

FAREWELL TO OLD FAVOURITES
Just a few days after Matlock Town’s victory at Maine Road, the club announced a major shake-up of players - despite three glorious years of cup success - with several familiar names parting company with the Gladiators.
It was said to be the biggest split yet in the team that had first put the town on the map with the 4-0 Wembley win over Scarborough. Three of those Wembley men were to leave. They included Colin Oxley, Dave Goodwin and Nick Fenoughty.
And it was also confirmed that goalkeeper David Fell was to stay with Heanor in the Midland League.
Oxley and Goodwin were two of four players released by manager Tom Fenoughty - the others being Brian Skelton and Mick Harmston.
Nick Fenoughty, who despite mising the start of the season still finished second top goalscorer with 19 strikes to his credit, had already returned to Australia where he was due to play with South Sydney side Croatia. This would be Nick’s second spell
with them and this time he intended to stay for about two years.
Colin Oxley was leaving at his own request. He admitted to having a disappointing season by his own high standards, and Melvin Palmer had already become first choice of the number 7 jersey. At 33, Colin thought he could still do a good job for another club and was considering other offers.
Goodwin, one of the club’s longest-serving players had struggled with injury all season with a nagging knee problem and had broken down again after returning to the side.

ANGLO-ITALIA TOURNAMENT
The Alitalia Challenge Tournament was first played from March 1976. English clubs invited to take part in the inaugural competition included Wimbledon, Nuneaton, Wycombe Wanderers, Scarborough, Stafford Rangers and Enfield.
They competed against Monza, Teramo, Pistoiese, Udinese, Bevento and Siracusa. The final league table produced Wimbledon as top of the English section and they played Monza who headed the Italian division. Monza had remained unbeaten throughout the tournament and in a hard-fought encounter, finally defeated Wimbledon 1-0 in the final at Monza.

In the second year, Matlock’s former Trophy rivals Scarborough again took part and were joined by Bath City, Yeovil Town, Redditch United, Northwich Victoria and Chelmsford City. Their Italian opponents this time included Lecco, Teramo, Bari, Cremonese, Parma and Turris.
After just one defeat, Bath City topped the English section and played Lecco in the grand final away. Lecco had finished at the head of the Italian section on goal difference despite losing one of their away matches 0-2 to Redditch United; and being held 1-1 at home to Scarborough. They qualified mainly on the strength of their emphatic 8-0 home win over Northwich. In a one-sided final though, Lecco easily defeated Bath City 3-0.

In the 1978 third tournament, Bath City once again topped the English section which this time included Bangor City, Nuneaton Borough, Minehead, Maidstone United and Wealdstone; Bath losing just one of the preliminary matches in a 1-3 defeat away
to Udinese. In between they had thrashed Arezzo 5-0, Paganese 2-0, and also won 2-0 away to Treviso.
Unfortunately for Bath City, Udinese were the best team in the Italian section, finishing unbeaten and ahead of Reggiana, Arezzo, Treviso and Panganese. Bath’s second meeting with the Italian pacesetters resulted in another defeat for the English club, this time 0-5 in the final.

MATLOCK’S EUROPEAN DEBUT
Matlock Town’s first entry into this prestigious competition - and their debut in a major international soccer tournament was delayed several years after their initial taste of glory over Gibraltar — and only came about due to that magnificent 3-0 Greenall’s League Cup success over league champions Boston United at Manchester City’s Maine Road ground in April 1978.
Goals from Nick Fenoughty, Andy Porteous and Peter Scott had proved to of vital significance - for not only did it add another welcome and unexpected piece of silverware to the Causeway Lane trophy cabinet; but it guaranteed automatic entry to the developing Alitalia Challenge tournament.
At first though, emotions were mixed over the prospect of competing on foreign soil and rumours were rife about other Northern Premier League clubs suffering severe financial problems after travelling overseas. The more the club considered the package, the more their entry at first seemed unlikely for such a small but highly successful club.
However, unlike many other top English non-league teams in previous Italian tournaments, Matlock placed all their administration and fundraising in the hands of volunteers and this helped reduce overall costs. Therefore, when the invitation finally arrived for them to compete, the management eventually decided it was too good an opportunity to miss.
Estimates of £5,000 were initially considered, with much new revenue hopefully recouped through gate receipts - and the balance obtained via club raffles, sponsorship and donations. To help the cause, the Matlock players all voluntarily agreed to give
up a week of their holidays in order to play and vetoed any other potential compensation claims against the club which had crippled many of their rivals.
The Gladiators could then also count on peculiar support and enthusiasm from some of the most loyal fans anywhere in non-league football - a situation often envied by many competitors.
The whole town rallied once again to their cause with numerous gifts and messages of goodwill but unfortunately the cost of actually following Matlock into Europe for a tough six-day tournament proved financially prohibitive to all bar a few dedicated supporters.

Matches against Chieti and Pisa
With matches scheduled against Chieti and Pisa however, some fans, at a special price of £200 per head opted to fly out for their last match against Pisa Sporting Club on Saturday March 17, 1979. Indeed, five extremely loyal supporters took the opportunity to fly out to Pisa for the Saturday fixture. They included Gladiators social club chairman Tom Wright, treasurer Ian Cameron, Tim Oliver, John Lord and Roy Marchant (*Pictured).

The party though suffered an unfortunate ten-hour delay before taking off from Stanstead on the Friday - they had been due to fly from Luton but the airport was closed due to the snow. They eventually landed at Genoa and travelled by coach to Pisa where they later met the Matlock players before and after the game.
The club were delighted by the possible encouragement of a Derbyshire contingent and the team promised to ‘do their best’ in a new international competition that would set another memorable and historical milestone. It was a European journey of hope and anticipation that had taken the club via Wembley, Maine Road and Mansfield - the other major milestones which had charted Matlock Town’s spectacular successes over the previous four and a half years.
This Italian venture was believed to be the most exciting of them all with their entry into a prestigious European competition reserved for an elite few non-league clubs, who had been invited to take part following outstanding achievements.