....the summer when goalscoring midfielder Andrew Wright joined up with the Gladiators from Coalville Town for an undisclosed fee.

Wright, 22, had a short loan spell at the Proctor Cars Stadium from Lincoln City in 2016/17 but only made a handful of appearances.

When he was released by the Imps shortly afterwards, he joined Grantham Town where he played a key role in the Gingerbreads’ successful 2017/18 campaign when they were beaten NPL Premier Division play-off finalists.

When manager Adam Stevens went to Coalville from Grantham last summer, Wright followed him and was again prominent, netting 17 league and cup goals as the Ravens narrowly missed out on a play-off spot in the Evo-Stik Southern League Premier Division Central.

Kittrick believes players of Wright’s calibre are worth their weight in gold. He told the club`s Ian Richardson: “We’ve got a very good player and goalscoring midfielders are very hard to come by. Anyone who can score seventeen goals from midfield will enhance a football team. He’s a good lad and wants to play for Matlock and I’m very glad to have him here.”

Wright is hoping that after two near misses at promotion, it will be third time lucky at Matlock: “My hope is to get promotion. I’ve come close in the last two seasons losing in a play-off final and then just missing out on the play offs by two points last season so I’m hoping this is the year and it would be great to do it with my local side. Everything attracted me to the club, its facilities, the way they’re trying to move forward as a unit, and I can’t wait to get started”.

Ian Richardson