Reply To: Matlock

[CMC]

Club Statement time.

Matlock Town Football Club can confirm that our owner, Mr Hilton, invested £20,000 into the ladies setup this season.

Late in 2025, we were notified that the Ladies First Team Manager had stepped down due to personal health issues. The Ladies section Treasurer also stepped down at the same time.

Following this, Mr Hilton informed the Development Squad that the club’s current infrastructure could not support the administrative requirements of running a Men’s First Team (our main revenue generator), alongside two ladies sides. As a result, the Development Squad would need to operate sustainably and independently for the 2026/27 season. The Ladies Development Squad Manager was notified of this in November 2025.

The club has provided ongoing financial and administrative support throughout the season, along with guidance to help the squad become fully self-sufficient. This has been successfully achieved, and the Development Squad will continue next season on a standalone basis.

After the First Team Manager’s departure, Mr Hilton appointed a new manager and continued to provide significant financial support to the Ladies First Team.

This included covering the costs of training venues, kits, balls, match pitches (due to our own pitch being unavailable for large parts of the season because of poor weather), all FA fees and fines, and even a coach for their FA Cup away trip.

Club staff, including the Club Secretary and an accounts assistant, also handled all administrative paperwork for the team.

Unfortunately, the Ladies First Team has been relegated to a lower level of the pyramid, where all clubs are self-funded, independently administered, and typically run by volunteers with funding from sponsors and player subscriptions.

After discussions with the current management team (who themselves receive expenses from the main club), they have confirmed they are unable to continue operating the side without the club’s ongoing financial and administrative support. While the option to continue on a fully sustainable, independent basis (as was the case prior to Mr Hilton’s investment) was offered, it has not proved viable.

We can also confirm that the club has not received a single penny in external funding, sponsorship, or grants for the ladies section.

We are deeply saddened by the false information being circulated on social media by one of our players’ mothers.

Matlock Town Football Club remains committed to the long-term development of all sections of the club and thanks everyone who has supported the ladies teams this season.