Match Preview: Matlock Town (A - FA Trophy), Sat 12th Sept, 3pm

Date: Saturday 12th September 2026
Time: 3pm
Competition: FA Trophy 2nd Qualifying Round
Opponent: Matlock Town FC
Venue: Causeway Lane, Matlock, Derbyshire, DE4 3AR
Admission Prices: Adults £12, Concession (over 65 & students) £8, 11-18 £4, U11s free with an adult
Buy tickets in advance: https://matlocktownfc.ktckts.com/event/2627fat1/matlock-town-v-nuneaton-town

Nuneaton Town continue their FA Trophy run on Saturday looking to get through another round, as they take on Matlock Town in yet another away cup game.

Nuneaton will be looking to bounce back from a spirited defeat to Bromsgrove Sporting in the FA Cup in which they could have easily secured a replay but ran out of steam in the end against their higher ranked opponents. With a rare full week to prepare for this game having had a free midweek for the first time this season, Nuneaton will hope to be well rested ready to put in a strong performance again.

Matlock Town sit in 5th in the Northern Premier League Division 1 East, having made a solid start to the season which has seen them achieve 4 wins, 2 draws and 3 defeats in all competitions, and sit in 5th in the table with 11 points from 7 games. It's likely to be a very even contest. Like Nuneaton, Matlock have had a free midweek, and have drawn their last 2 games both in the league, but beat Lichfield City 5-0 in the previous round of the Trophy. Of course Nuneaton had that thrilling win on penalties at Lincoln United in the previous round after being behind for nearly all of the game until James Harrison's late equaliser.

Matlock and Nuneaton meet competitively for the first time in 33 years, with a preseason friendly a decade ago their only meeting since.

Will the contenders beat the Gladiators? Get behind the team in Derbyshire on Saturday to find out!

About our opponents:

Formed in 1878 as Matlock FC, they played in regional leagues up until the First World War, after which they were renamed Matlock Town. Success started to follow after World War 2, reaching the FA Cup 1st Round for the first time in 1959, losing to Crook Town, but moved up through the Midland League to the Northern Premier League by the end of the 60s. In 1974-75 they lost to Blackburn Rovers in another first round tie, but won the FA Trophy beating Scarborough 4-0 at Wembley, the only time 3 brothers have been in a winning team at a Wembley final. A run to the FA Cup 3rd round came in 1976-77, beating Wigan Athletic and Mansfield Town before losing to Carlisle United.

In 2003-04 they were promoted to the NPL Premier Division, and lost in 3 promotion play offs before being relegated in 2024-25 to Division 1 East. They finished runners up in 2025-26, losing to Bradford Park Avenue in the play offs.

Previous meetings:

Sat 26 Sep 1993 - FA Cup
Matlock Town 1-2 Nuneaton Town
(Symonds 2)

Tue 14 Nov 1978 - FA Cup replay
Matlock Town 1-2 Nuneaton Town
(Smithers, Campbell)

Directions from Nuneaton town centre:

Take the A444 north out of Nuneaton towards Burton, joining the A42 north towards Nottingham at Appleby Magna. Continue onto the M1 north and then at J28 take the slip road and turn left at the roundabout onto the A38. After passing Alfreton turn right onto the A61 north, before an immediate left onto the A615 Wingfield Road. Follow the A615 into Matlock and as you pass the cricket club the ground is on the right.

Public transport:

Coach tickets are available for this fixture priced at £13 per seat or £11 for coop members. Please see below link to book tickets: https://www.nuneatontownfc.co.uk/news/coach-travel-to-matlock-sat-12th-sept

For trains - take the 12:24 to Leicester arriving at 12:50, then the 13:06 to Sheffield arriving in Derby at 13:27, then the 13:49 to Matlock arriving at 14:23. Exit the station down Snitterton Road, then turn right onto Causeway Lane where the ground is on the left after the roundabout.

Returning, take the 17:41 train to Lincoln, arriving in Derby at 18:17, then the 18:32 to London St Pancras arriving in Leicester at 19:03, then the Birmingham New Street train at 19:18 arriving at 19:44