TT No.49: Mike Latham - Mon 23 Oct 2006.  Derbyshire Senior Cup First Round: New Mills 2-3 Matlock Town.  Attendance: 266; admission: £3; 44pp programme: £1; FGIF Match Rating: 4* 

The road journey to New Mills from J1 of the M60 through Stockport and along the A6 in the direction of Buxton can be one of the most frustrating around.

Even if the traffic is not heavy there are innumerable traffic lights, junctions, parked car obstacles along a mostly two-lane road that require constant switching of lanes and too many speed cameras to mention.  If you are in a hurry for kick-off you could lose your licence in a single journey, for getting 12 points would be easy along one of the most difficult stretches of road in the country.

But once the built-up areas start to change to more open countryside and the leafy suburb of Disley is passed, frustrations begin to melt away.  New Mills, just into Derbyshire, is a pleasant small town on the edge of the Peak District and its football club, situated on Church Lane at the top end of town, has spectacular views across distant countryside from the well appointed ground.

Parking along the road or on a spacious car park is easy and a warm welcome is given out at the gate where a superb 44 page programme with impressive full colour cover is a bargain at £1.  So, too, was the £3 admission for a terrific free-flowing cup-tie.

Tailoring the editorial for the occasion there were interesting articles on New Mills’ Derbyshire Cup Final against Matlock in 1977 and their 1967 Derbyshire Cup Final appearance against Heanor Town.  There was an informative account of their recent trip to Bootle and a superb statistical section as well as good features on the opposition.

Since joining the NWCL from the Manchester League New Mills have consolidated well and clearly derive a lot of support from the local business community.  Their tree-lined ground is overlooked by the church and has a pleasant and peaceful ambience helped by the sturdy brown painted wooden fence that surrounds the enclosure.

There is an excellent club house behind the near-side goal where the dressing rooms are located.  The club house is quite spacious and had a friendly feel.  There is a superb tea bar here, too, with freshly ground coffee and a good range of freshly prepared rolls and pies offering a standard of fare way above average.

On the Church Road side of the ground is a small seated stand and cover and the rest of the ground is open standing behind a post and rail fence.  At the club house end there are a number of tables and benches and as the pitch slopes gently away from this end a lot of the spectators gathered for a close-up view of an intriguing game.  The floodlights were good and the pitch, though a bit on the heavy side, helped a fast and flowing game

New Mills started the brighter and deserved their 2-0 lead early in the second half.  But Matlock, backed by an enthusiastic travelling support, ensured that they would not suffer their third cup exit in the space of a few days after going out of the FACup and Trophy with a stirring recovery, warding off the looming threat of extra-time on an increasingly chilly evening with a late winner to climax their second half revival down the slope.

A friendly and progressive club in the High Peak, a visit to New Mills comes heartily recommended and the near-by station affords the chance of a railway journey from Manchester and beyond to save on that frustrating road journey.  Mind you, the A6 back into Stockport did not seem half as bad with the incidents of a great game fresh in the memory.  This was an evening to savour. 

contributed on 24/10/06