Derbyshire's Glapwell Football Club came in for some high praise for giving free admission to all Her Majesty's Armed Forces personnel for the coming season.

The Evo-Stik First Division South club is playing its senior home games at Field Mill, home to Blue Square Premier side Mansfield Town, this season and within hours of making the announcement it received an email from Sergeant Adam McIntyre from 212 (Yorkshire) Field Hospital (Volunteers), who is also a qualified football referee.

The email read: "I just thought I should drop the club a line to say very big thank you for the gesture you have recently made by allowing members of the forces to come to your games for nothing. I am currently a Level 3 Referee and have officiated several times at the club, and the hospitality I have received has been excellent!

"I have also spent the last 23 years in the Army and whilst we do not go looking for recognition and praise it is nice when you get it. Many clubs have offered discounts and free entry on certain games in the past, but to offer free entry to all games, especially in the current climate is a fantastic gesture that I hope many servicemen & women will enjoy. I hope the club has a fantastic season and I look forward to being appointed to one of your games in the Evo-Stik League during the months ahead."

Graham Parker, Marketing Manager for Glapwell FC, welcomed the praise, saying: "It's always nice to be recognised for what we do for the community, but no one deserves more recognition for what they do than our Forces at the moment. We are just glad to be able to do our bit to show we care."