Gladiators finally get their man as former Football League striker signs up

MATLOCK TOWN joint- bosses Glenn Kirkwood and Craig Hopkins finally got their man in Shaun Harrad this week – ending a three-year battle for his signature!

The 32-year-old – who played over 250 games in the Football League for Burton Albion, Notts County and Northampton Town – recently turned down an offer from Kevin Nicholson to become a player/coach at Torquay United to be closer to his Nottingham home.

After talks with the joint-bosses, Harrad pitched up at Causeway Lane last week and scored twice on his debut for the Gladiators last Saturday – a 3-1 win over Mansfield Town Under 23s.

He followed that up with another goal and assist at South Normanton Athletic 48 hours later, prompting Kirkwood and Hopkins to swoop and end their lengthy pursuit for the experienced front man.

“We’ve been speaking to him on and off for three years but this has been our first real chance of getting him” explained Hopkins, who also added ex-Alfreton midfielder Todd Jordan this week.

“He knows how much we wanted him to come here and it’s paid off in the end. He’s very good in front of goal, very good with his back to goal and has massive experience plus a first class attitude.

“Let’s face it, you don’t play for Nigel Clough at Burton without having a good attitude. He showed his class with his goal against South Normanton, it was a great finish.”