My Astras gearbox feels loose?

I have a P reg 1.4 Manual Astra Expressions with just 34K on the clock. I have recently replaced the clutch as it was slipping. The gear stick now seems to have a lot more play in it when in neutral.

If the engines running and i push the clutch down and select reverse the gear either grinds or if i feed it in slowly i feel it slow down and then slip in. If i press the cluth and try to get any gear from a stand still i have to push hard to get it in gear, on the move it is easier but the longer it is driven the harder it becomes.

Also on the move i have to search the gearbox to select gear sometimes.

When I drive the car for more than an hour, the clutch pedal gets stiffer and sounds as if it is grating against something.

Any thought as to what could be the cause, it was happening before i replaced the clutch but for a few hundred miles after it all seemed fine, the clutch is still ok but the original problems are still there and they are getting worse?