Matlock legend Hannah is back
STRIKER Ross Hannah has made a surprise return to Matlock Town, 10 years after leaving the club for a Football League career.
Hannah, now 34, joins from Cleethorpes Town.
His League career was relatively short-lived, encompassing 27 games and three goals for Bradford City in 15 months before more productive spells with Grimsby Town and Chester in the National League.
At Matlock, he was fans’ player of the year in each of his three seasons after joining from Belper Town and his 52 goals in 2010-11 beat Bobby Mountain’s club record by three, winning the non-League golden boot.
“I’ve always had great admiration for Ross, he’s a top striker,” said Matlock manager Paul Phillips.
“I spoke to him during the summer but at the time the move didn’t seem right for him.
“He still has the hunger and desire to score goals and be successful, in fact he blew me away with what he wants to achieve and he can’t wait to come back and contribute. He’s still as fit as a fiddle, a very clever player, so it was a no-brainer.”
Hannah said: “I’m really happy to have the opportunity to come back to Matlock. As soon as I spoke to the gaffer it felt right.
“I was really impressed with what he had to say and his ambitions. Matlock was a great club for me and I thoroughly enjoyed my time there.
“Obviously it’s been a while and it will be good to see some old faces again. I always felt I’d come back but you never know in football.
“Hopefully, I can continue from where I left off all those years ago but I probably won’t get 52 – not this season anyway!”