Derby County’s Under-21s will play their home fixtures at Matlock Town from the start of the 2024/25 season.
The club and Matlock have penned a three-year agreement, until the end of the 2026/27 season, which will see the Rams’ Under-21s stage all their home games at the Proctor Cars Stadium.
Jake Buxton’s side will once again compete in Premier League 2 next year as a result of the club holding Category One Academy status, while this season has seen the Under-21s also play in the Central League to vary and extend their games programme.
There is already a close working relationship between the Rams and the Gladiators, who hosted a pre-season friendly against Derby’s first team last July ahead of the current campaign.
Matlock’s home was also the venue for the Under-21s’ 4-2 win over Manchester City Under-21s earlier in the campaign.
Clowes Developments (UK) Ltd, who purchased the Rams almost two years ago, oversaw the building of the new luxury apartment development next to Matlock’s Causeway Lane home, and recently sponsored one of their first team kits.
Reacting to the news, Chief Executive Officer Stephen Pearce said: “We are pleased to confirm that Matlock Town will be the new home of our Under-21s side from the start of next season.
“We weighed up various options and felt that Matlock ticked all the boxes for what we required.
“We have built up a strong working partnership with Matlock in recent years and we’re happy to see that become formalised for the next three years.
“We’re looking forward to building on those foundations and we’re looking forward to seeing the Under-21s in action at the Proctor Cars Stadium next season.”
The move to Matlock will see the Under-21s’ six-year spell playing most of their home matches at Loughborough University Stadium come to an end.
Pearce added: “We would like to thank Loughborough University for being excellent hosts over the last few years. They have been a pleasure to work alongside and have been incredibly supportive towards the club.”
Matlock Town Chairman Jay Beaumont said: “This is a great long-term deal for both clubs building further on the close ties that have been developed. This deal will enable us to accelerate the development of our Causeway Lane facilities both on and off the pitch.
“These works will be starting in early May with the upgrade of the toilet block and pitch side drainage in that same corner of the ground. Further works are being planned over the next eighteen months focussed largely on the playing surface which I can confirm will be grass.”
An Under-21 Season Ticket is available via Matlock Town for £20 for Adults, £10 for Concessions (Over 65s and Students) and FREE for Under-18s. Purchases can be made at: matlocktownfc.ktckts.com/package/dcfcu212425st/derby-county-u21s-season-ticket.
Match-by-match ticketing arrangements for those supporters wishing to attend Under-21s matches at Matlock Town will be confirmed ahead of their 2024/25 campaign getting under way.
