Bradford (Park Avenue) will be looking to return to winning ways on Tuesday evening (29 September), when they make the difficult trip to the Proctor Cars Stadium to take on Matlock Town.
The Avenue will arrive in Matlock sitting third in the league and as the only side to remain unbeaten in the Northern Premier League East Division, this season. Craig Elliott’s side will be keen to get three points on the board after drawing their previous two games.
On Saturday, the Green Army looked set to suffer defeat as they trailed Garforth Town 1-0 with the game entering its final stages. However, a late Robbie Fox equaliser ensured Bradford rescued a point, from a losing position, for the second consecutive league game.
The Avenue have accumulated four more points than Tuesday’s hosts, Matlock Town, who currently occupy the final play-off position in seventh place. The Gladiators endured a mixed start to the season, losing two of their opening four league games before parting company with manager Ricky Ravenhill. However, they have since steadied the ship and are now unbeaten in their last four league outings.
Matlock will be aiming to bounce back from their FA Trophy exit at the hands of Kettering Town on Saturday, when the Gladiators suffered an uncharacteristic 4-0 defeat. They will be hoping to put that disappointing result behind them quickly as they return to league action, with the opportunity to respond immediately in front of their home supporters.
The Green Army will have fond memories of last season’s encounters with Matlock Town. The 2025/26 season opener saw the Avenue grind out a determined 0-0 draw at Causeway Lane against a Matlock side widely tipped for promotion, before producing one of their best performances of the campaign in the reverse fixture at the Horsfall Community Stadium. On a chilly Tuesday evening in February, debutant Ben Andreucci announced himself in style, netting twice in the first half to secure a convincing 2-0 victory over the Gladiators.
The most memorable encounter, however, came in the Northern Premier League East Division Play-Off Semi-Final. Marcus Carver’s 23rd-minute strike gave the Avenue a first-half lead, only for Cameron Wilson to level from the penalty spot on the stroke of half time. Bradford battled ferociously after the break, withstanding wave after wave of Matlock pressure, before Ben Andreucci haunted the Gladiators once again, striking five minutes from time to send the Avenue into the final.
The Proctor Cars Stadium is never an easy place to visit, and Bradford (Park Avenue) will face another stern test as they look to maintain their unbeaten start to the campaign. With two successive league draws behind them, the Avenue will be determined to return to winning ways and claim a significant scalp against one of the division’s most ambitious sides. Matlock Town, meanwhile, will be equally motivated to put Saturday’s disappointment behind them and continue their push up the table, with the Gladiators harbouring ambitions of challenging at the top end of the division. The Green Army will need to be at their best if they are to come away from Derbyshire with all three points.
Match preview by Ste Grimshaw
Matlock Town vs. Bradford (Park Avenue)
Pitching In Northern Premier League East Division
Tuesday 29 September
Kick-off: 19:45pm
Admission prices: Adults £12 / Concessions (65+ / Student) £8 / 11-18 years old £4 / Under 11 £0
Address: Proctor Cars Stadium, Causeway Lane, Matlock, Derbyshire, DE4 3AR
Getting there
The Proctor Cars Stadium is situated just 200 yards from Matlock Town centre. We encourage visitors to travel to the ground by public transport or organised fan coaches (in the case of visiting supporters) wherever possible to reduce congestion and emissions. Parking at the Stadium is limited to special match days only. For evening matches parking is available on Causeway Lane right outside the ground on a first come, first serve basis, or on local streets. Please, do NOT park on Causeway Lane for weekend games. SatNav users can find the Stadium by entering the post code DE4 3AR.
Please park legally and have consideration for local residents getting on and off drives. Please note: it is illegal to park on a stretch of road which has a continuous centre white line. Local traffic wardens will enforce fines in any of these locations, especially Lime Tree Road. The most centrally located car parks are as follows:
Imperial Road – DE4 3NL
Three car parks: Front of Town Hall, the Lido, & above Marks &Spencer’s Food Hall – all of which are cash or pay by phone app.
Bank Road – DE4 3NN
Behind the town hall and opposite the police station. Further up the hill the County Hall car park does offer car parking at weekends, however this is 10-15 minutes climb.
Egdefold Road – DE4 3NJ
Old Englishe – DE4 3NX
By Public transport:
Train: Matlock Rail Station is just a nine minute walk from the Proctor Cars Stadium. From the front entrance, walk towards the town centre. Cross over the A6 main road using the pelican crossing (please note: this particular crossing has no sound warnings, observe the illuminated signs for when it is safe to cross). Go over the River Derwent via the Town Bridge. The entrance to Hall Leys Park will be on your right. Cross over to the right hand side of the road near the Park entrance then turn right along side Causeway Lane. It is advisable to cross Causeway Lane by the pelican crossing so you are on the correct side of Causeway Lane for the Stadium. Walk along the Lane, crossing over Firs Parade and then Steep Turnpike. The entrance to Steep Turnpike is guarded by Maazi’s Indian Restaurant, housed in a former cinema. Continue along Causeway Lane past some retail outlets, the stadium is immediately after a new apartment block with retail units on the ground floor.
Bus: Matlock Bus Station fronts onto Bakewell Road, next to the Marks & Spencer Food Hall. It is approximately a six minute walk to the Proctor Cars Stadium. From the station turn left onto Bakewell Road and walk towards Crown Square. At Crown Square turn left into Bank Road and use the pelican crossing to cross over the road (this one does have sound!). Turn right to go back to Crown Square then turn left into Causeway Lane. Costa Coffee will be on this corner. Then continue along Causeway Lane to the Stadium, as above. If by any chance you alight at Matlock Interchange, this is next to the Rail Station, so follow the directions for arriving by train, above.
What is it like for visiting fans?
The Proctor Cars Stadium allows fans to move freely on all three accessible sides of the ground. There is no ‘away end’ as such for visiting fans, this may still be the case should a stand be built at the cricket pitch end of the ground.
Catering and hospitality
In line with the stadium’s modernisation plans, changes are taking place on the catering front. Currently fans can purchase hot food – including popular pies – and beverages from the kiosk on the Twigg Stand side of the ground.
For all matches fans can buy alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks at the Darwin Lake Sports Bar. There is no restriction with regard to drinks being taken out side the Sports Bar, so long as they are in a plastic glass.
Match coverage
The best way to follow us is being there on the terraces. If you’re unable to make the journey, match updates will be posted on our X channel (@BPAFCOfficial) and we’ll provide live match commentary on AvenueOnAir from 7:35pm).