Matlock Town progress in the FA Cup but Quorn AFC have greater ambitions to fulfill

Tuesday night’s FA Cup 1st round qualifier threw up a potential banana skin for Northern Premier League Premier side Matlock Town as they took on Quorn AFC, who currently sit two divisions below them.

Whilst the game promised an early opportunity to conjure up some early magic of the FA Cup on the pitch, the story behind the Leicestershire village club is a more than an interesting one.

Sitting down in Quorn’s clubhouse an hour before kick-off, I had a reminder of more traditional days gone by; my own football experiences starting in a similar family environment. Presented almost as a traditional working man’s club, the music playing over the sound system was anything but. An environment that had something for all, on the opposite table to where I sat, an unassuming elderly gentleman sat quietly with a cup of tea.

Stuart Turner is a modest but forthright speaking man. The Chairman of Quorn AFC, this is a man that has built a dream. Quorn AFC is his passion project and as a local village man, he discussed how the club has meant so much to him over the years. Recalling how his family have all been involved in the club, Turner’s own Quorn career came to an end in 1969 having sustained a broken leg aged 34.

Now Chairman, Turner has done a remarkable job in developing his local club, both on and off the pitch. The Farley Way Stadium is a tremendous facility. The stadium in itself was built by Turner’s building company with only the materials being bought by the club, the physical erection of the stands from his own expertise, and investment.

A man that believes running the club on a self-sustainable basis is the most efficient model, the stadium also homes Leicester City Ladies Football Club. Used for community use throughout the rest of the week, Turner was quick to point out that his club doesn’t ‘borrow money’, and even in these uncertain times, he wasn’t envisaging any major financial problems as far as Quorn’s future is concerned.

Aside from his achievements off the pitch, Turner was proud to highlight his role in the journey of ex-Premier League footballer Luke Varney. Plucked from a night shift at a local Hosiery factory, Varney started his career at Quorn before being sold to Crewe Alexander for £50,000 in 2003. Significantly, a large sell-on fee was included in the deal with Crewe, which culminated in a £500,000 dividend for Quorn in 2007 when Varney joined Charlton Athletic for £2m. The achievement clearly documented on the clubhouse wall.

On the pitch, we discussed his aspirations for this coming campaign, the hurt from last season’s disappointment clearly rankled at the tender age of 82. You could sense the fire in his belly as he talked of achieving promotion this time around having cruelly felt Quorn’s promotion push null and voided by the lockdown in March. With a handful of new signings, Turner had high hopes for giving Matlock more than a game in the FA Cup at Farley Way…

For what promised to be a classic David vs Goliath encounter with two divisions between the sides, it was a really competitive opening 45 minutes. Matlock started the brightest with Liam Hughes and Andre Johnson looking a threat up front; with their classic Little and Large combination.

Declan Walker went close for Matlock, hitting the bar with a 25-yard free kick in the opening stages as the away side looked to put an early mark on the game. The Quorn centre halves were really being tested as Charlie Alexiou’s no-nonsense defending and Tom Mason’s reading of the game kept Matlock at bay. Quorn’s Jurelle Phillip impressed at left-back, showing much-needed composure as boss Cleveland Taylor urged his players to relax when in possession.

Once midfielder Nathan Dale put his foot on the ball, Quorn showed that Matlock that they weren’t just there to make up the numbers. With the pace and trickery of Tawanda Mandongoza and Leke Shodunke on either flank, Quorn grew in belief as the half went on. Full-back Matt Dawson produced their best effort with a left-footed shot that whistled just wide of the post following good work from Mandongoza.

With the game finely poised at half time, Matlock started the second half as the brighter of the two sides. Quorn’s inability to hold onto the ball further up the pitch provided little respite for their defence but having withstood some early pressure, it was Quorn that almost took the lead.

Talisman Stephen Hart, who had been well marshalled in the first period, began to show his quality on the ball, and a great cut back to the far post almost brought the opener. As the Matlock keeper could only parry his cross, the loose ball broke to Mandongoza but his goal-bound shot was well blocked by The Gladiator’s defence.

Unable to capitalise on their momentum, it was Matlock’s Liam Hughes that opened the scoring on 66 minutes. The big frontman nodded home from six yards after a good ball into the box from Declan Walker.

Matlock’s pacey front man Osebi Abadaki caused further problems with his second-half introduction and he almost put Matlock 2-0 ahead on seventy-eight minutes with a well-struck shot that ‘keeper Max Culverwell did well to palm away to safety.

Hughes wrapped things up for Matlock in the 85th minute with a well taken second goal. Calmly shielding a cross into his path, Hughes held off the intentions of his marker as he rolled the ball into the net from 8 yards out. It rounded off an impressive performance from Matlock’s frontman, his hold up play had been excellent throughout proceedings and he left the pitch as deserved match-winner.

Quorn captain Leavi Oshungbure upended Abadaki in the final moments to receive a straight red card as The Fox Hunters finished the game with 10 men.

Quorn boss Cleveland Taylor will have been pleased with his sides effort but greater belief and composure may have easily conjured up a different result on another night. One thing is for sure though; Quorn possesses some exciting prospects in their side from front to back and they simply have bigger fish to fry than progression in the FA Cup; as they look to achieve promotion.

Matlock had completed their mission objective for the evening with an all-round professional display. With £2,500 reward in the club coffers for making it through to the next round, the Gladiators will be looking on in anticipation for Friday lunchtime’s FA Cup draw.

On final reflection, as I left the ground, what Stuart Turner has built in the village of Quorn goes beyond housing a game of football. With a welcoming atmosphere and a fan demographic which consists of all ages, Turner has built a legacy for all to enjoy.

The experience was almost a sobering one for me; a reminder that football shouldn’t always be about the glitz and glamour that comes with the modern game. The game was built from a platform. The platform of your local community.

Go and experience it for yourself; the draw for the next round takes place on Friday lunchtime.

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