Chasetown F.C.
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| Chasetown | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Chasetown Football Club | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nickname(s) | The Scholars, The Chase | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Founded | 1954 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ground | The Scholars, Church Street, Chasetown | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Capacity | 2,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chairman |  John Donnelly |
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| Manager | Charlie Blakemore |
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| League | Southern League Division One Midlands |
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| 2005-06 | Midland Football Alliance, 1st (promoted) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Chasetown Football Club based at ChasetownFC.com are an English football club based in Chasetown in Burntwood, Staffordshire.
The club is nicknamed The Scholars, in reference to the fact that the club were formed by former members of a local school.
The club are in the Southern Football League and came to national attention in November 2005 when the BBC decided to televise their FA Cup first round home tie with Oldham Athletic. It was watched by 3.2 million people - a BBC record for that round of the FA Cup.
Despite 130 places separating the two sides in the English football league system, Chasetown caused some surprise by holding the Latics to a 1-1 draw, ensuring that the club's Cup run would continue with a visit to Oldham's Boundary Park ground for a replay,which Chasetown lost 4-0.
They went on in the 2005/06 season to finish as Midland Alliance champions after a dramatic finale to the season. Stourbridge pushed them all the way, but a final day 2-0 win over Romulus in front of over 800 people clinched the title, as well as promotion.
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[edit] History
Chasetown Football Club were thrust into the national spotlight in November 2005 when the Staffordshire side upset all the odds by reaching the First Round of the F.A. Cup for the first time in their history.
After local TV and radio had broadcast “little Chasetown” (as they were so often dubbed) overcoming famous non-league side Blyth Spartans in front of a record Chasetown attendance of 2,134 the BBC, nationally, were quick to bring this feat to a Sunday lunch-time audience of 3.2 million on “Match of the Day Live”.
In front of 1,997 supporters, Chasetown took the lead through Nicky Harrison, only for veteran David Eyres to level the scores a few minutes later and send the game into a replay. Chasetown took 2,436 supporters up to the replay – the highest away following that Oldham Athletic had seen at Boundary Park all season as the Scholars fell to a credible 0-4 defeat as the part-timers tired in the final half-hour.
The cup run saw the financial success of landing a shirt sponsorship deal with Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Holidays for the 2006-07 season, while central defender, Chris Slater, who made a dramatic goal-line clearance in the cup-tie, had trials with League sides Walsall, Tranmere Rovers and Blackpool.
Several other records were set during the monumental 2005-06 season. The Scholars notched a record eight consecutive victories in the league, went 22 games unbeaten in league and cup games, and regularly smashed their record league attendance, topping 500 for the first time when Leamington came to the Scholars Ground in January 2006 and then ending the season with 839 for the visit of Romulus.
With games-in-hand aplenty, lying in 14th place and 20 points adrift of league leaders Malvern Town, Chasetown began one of the most amazing comebacks in football history. 12 wins out of 13 in December, January and February lifted Chasetown into the top 8 of the division. 5 more wins in March put the Scholars into 4th place, just one point behind the leaders.
Still, the task seemed exceedingly difficult with 9 league fixtures and 3 cup games to play in 29 days in April! With no knowledge at that time as to how many teams would be promoted to the Southern League, the Scholars had to go for the league title seeing off the challenge of Malvern and Romulus, taking points off them both in early April.
On April 20th, Chasetown topped the league table for the first time in the season (this after losing their first two fixtures). Stourbridge overhauled them briefly, but the final day saw Chasetown in pole position and the locals came out in support to see Karl Edwards notch two goals and Chasetown lift the Midland Alliance trophy to gain promotion to the Southern League Division 1 Midlands.
There was only one down-side to an illustrious season. Immediately after the Oldham game, Chasetown were knocked out of the F.A. Vase 0-1 by Nantwich Town in a very disappointing game. The Cheshire side went on to lift the trophy at St. Andrews, Birmingham City – something that surely Chasetown believed they could have achieved themselves.
It was only five years earlier that the Scholars were at the lowest point of their recent history. In 2000-01, the side were in a transitional period after long-serving Manager Mervyn Rowe had left the club. A home defeat to Oldbury United (0-7) was quickly followed by an 0-8 drubbing at Stratford Town, with the Scholars only escaping relegation as no-one was promoted from the leagues below that season.
In the early 1990s, Chasetown F.C. became a force to be reckoned with, lifting the West Midlands League Cup twice, finishing runners-up in the West Midlands League twice, and lifting the Walsall Senior Cup twice at Bescot Stadium. In 1992, the Scholars recorded their largest ever victory, beating Stoke-based Hanford Old Boys 14-1 in a Walsall Senior Cup tie. All-time leading goalscorer Tony Dixon (197 goals) notched a hat-trick in the tie and current Chasetown boss Charlie Blakemore came off the bench to net two.
Chasetown were formed in 1954 as Chase Terrace Old Scholars Youth Club, when Brian Baker – who is still involved with the club today – and schoolmaster Ray Derry formed a soccer section from the Chase Terrace Secondary Modern School. The side played their first competitive games in the Cannock Youth League, remaining there until 1958-59 when they were accepted into the Lichfield and District League. An impressive debut season saw them finish third. During their three-year stay in the League, the Old Scholars were runners-up in the League and Challenge Cup competition.
1961-62 saw them enter the Staffs County League, while a reserve team stayed on in the former League. First-team success followed with the Lichfield and Rugeley Charity Cups, before the club were admitted to the West Midlands (Regional) League Division One and changed to their current title of Chasetown FC in 1972-73.
The newly renamed club soon established themselves as one of the leading clubs in the division. In 11 seasons they won the title in 1977-78, finished second five times, third twice and fourth twice to earn a much-respected record. Chasetown were, however, prevented from promotion because they were playing on a park pitch at Burntwood Recreation Centre, but a breakthrough came in 1983 when they re-homed with a move to the current ground, The Scholars Ground, which coincided with a move up into the West Midlands (Regional) League Premier Division.
The club took their time to adapt to life at the top, finishing in the lower reaches of the table in their first three seasons. Manager Mervyn Rowe then began to bring about an improvement in the playing squad and they captured their first trophy in 1989-90 when they lifted the League Cup with a 1-0 win over Oldbury in the Final, shortly followed by winning the Walsall Senior Cup, overcoming Blakenall at Bescot Stadium, Walsall F.C., retaining the trophy in 1992-93 beating Pelsall Villa 3-1.
The Scholars were one of the founder members of the newly formed Midland Football Alliance but failed to make an impression in the early seasons.
Present Manager Charlie Blakemore returned to the club in partnership with Michael Rowe, son of previous manager Mervyn, and the club gradually began to return to success. An excellent end to the 2002-03 season saw the club finish 9th, after languishing near to the relegation zone all season. Rowe left in Februay 2004 but, under Blakemore’s leadership, the Scholars improved again, finishing 6th.
In Blakemore’s first full season in complete control of the First Team, 2004-05, Chasetown lifted the Walsall Senior Cup for the third time and finished second to Rushall Olympic in the Midland Alliance, after the Scholars had led the way for most of the campaign.
His second season was Chasetown's most successful season ever. So, the Scholars fans can look forward to his third season with real anticipation.
[edit] Honours
- Midland Football Alliance
- Champions: 2006
- West Midlands (Regional) League Division One
- Champions: 1978
- West Midlands (Regional) League Premier Division Cup
- Winners: 1990, 1991
- Walsall Senior Cup
- Winners: 1991, 1993, 2005
- Joe McGorian Cup - Midland Football Alliance Winners v. Polymac Services League Cup Winners
- Winners: 2006
[edit] Crest
Chasetown's crest features a deer, in reference to nearby Cannock Chase, and a Stafford Knot.
[edit] The Scholars Ground
- Address: Church Street, Chasetown, Staffordshire, WS7 3QL
- Directions: Head into Chasetown from either Highfields Road or the High Street. Church Street is an exit off the painted island by the Uxbridge Arms Public House and the Citreon Garage (straight on from Highfields Road and right from the High Street). Pass the church, take a right fork with the Primary School on your right and the ground is on the left. Parking is available in the ground and at the end of the road (to the right)
- Opened: 1983
- Record Attendance: 2,134 Chasetown versus Blyth Spartans, The FA Cup, Fourth Qualifying Round Replay, October 25th 2005
- Record League Attendance: 839 Chasetown versus Romulus, Midland Football Alliance, April 29th 2006
[edit] Supporters
During the 2005/2006 season Chasetown had an average home League attendance of 243, up from 108 the previous season. This figure is just under 300 for the 2006/07 campaign so far
- A total of 11,706 people saw Chasetown's 33 league and cup home games in 2005/06.
- This figure was 5,102 for the 21 home league games.
- Top Attendances at The Scholars Ground
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- 2,134 v. Blyth Spartans (F.A. Cup 4th Qualifying Round, October 2005)
- 1,997 v. Oldham Athletic (F.A. Cup 1st Round Proper, November 2005)
- 902 v. Aston Villa XI (pre-season friendly, July 2006)
- 839 v. Romulus (Midland Football Alliance, April 2006)
[edit] Famous Supporters
- Premiership and F.A. Cup Final 2006 Referee Alan Wiley is a regular supporter at Chasetown's matches
- Comedian Frank Carson is friends with current Chairman John Donnelly, and attended all the home matches covered live by the BBC
- PA announcer Paul Burrell also does the PA for Arsenal and for the 2006 F.A. Cup Final
[edit] Statistics and records
- British Gas Business Southern League Division 1 Midlands: 2006-2007
Attendance
Aug 5 H Barwell (JMC Final) W 3-0 Parsons, Bullimore, McMahon 133
19 a Bishop's Cleeve W 1-0 Edwards 200
22 H Malvern T L 0-1 306
26 H Solihull Boro W 3-0 Edwards, Bullimore, Steane 307
28 a Rushall Olym L 0-1 257
Sep 2 a Coalville T (FAC) D 0-0 180
5 H Coalville T (FACr) W 3-1 Egan (3) 343
9 H Berkhamsted T W 2-0 Egan (pen), McMahon 304
16 a Shepshed D (FAC) W 2-0 Horler, Bullimore 218
23 a Brackley T L 1-2 Edwards 193
26 H Bromsgrove Rv (ELC) W 1-0 Parsons 312
30 a Halesowen T (FAC) L 1-3 Bullimore 598
Oct 3 a Cinderford T D 2-2 Edwards, Smith 100
7 H Bedworth U W 1-0 Holland 346
14 a Stourport Sw (SSC) W 3-1 Newall (2), Steane 88
17 H Evesham U L 1-2 Edwards 273
21 H Chorley (FAT) W 3-1 J. Branch, Bullimore, Egan 320
24 H Newcastle T (WSC) W 3-1 Egan, Smith, Thompson 215
28 a Aylesbury U L 1-2 Thompson 171
31 H Malvern T (ELC) W 1-0 Bullimore 207
Nov 4 a Kidsgrove Ath (FAT) D 0-0 193
7 H Kidsgrove Ath (FAT) D 1-1 aet Huckfield (Won 4-3 on pens) 302
11 H Barton Rv W 2-1 Smith, Huckfield 246
14 a Willenhall T L 1-2 Horler 172
18 H Woodford U W 2-0 Bullimore, Horler 243
21 H Rothwell T W 3-1 Smith (2), Aulton 207
28 H Hyde U (FAT) L 0-3 418
Dec 2 H Dunstable T D 0-0 268
6 a Solihull Boro L 1-3 Aulton 103
9 H Cinderford T W 1-0 J. Branch 221
13 H Stoke C (SSC)
16 a Barton Rv
23 a Bromsgrove Rv
26 a Rushall O
30 H Sutton Coldfield T
Jan 1 a Stourport Sw
6 a Berkhamsted T
9 a Malvern T
13 H Brackley T
20 a Leighton T
27 H Stourbridge
Feb 3 a Bedworth U
10 H Leighton T
17 a Woodford U
24 H Spalding U
Mar 3 H Willenhall T
10 a Dunstable T
17 a Evesham U
24 H Bromsgrove Rv
31 H Aylesbury U
Apr 7 a Sutton Coldfield T
9 H Stourport Sw
14 a Spalding U
21 H Bishop's Cleeve
28 a Rothwell T
TBA H Eccleshall (WSC)
TBA a Stourbridge
TBA H Willenhall T/Woodford U (ELC)
- Final Midland Alliance Table (Top 4)
PL W D L F A G.D. Pts
Chasetown 42 29 7 6 74 32 + 42 94 Promoted into the Southern Football League Division One Midlands
Stourbridge 42 29 5 8 110 55 + 55 92 Promoted into the Southern Football League Division One Midlands
Malvern Town 42 27 4 11 95 56 + 39 85 Promoted into the Southern Football League Division One Midlands
Romulus 42 23 11 8 84 49 + 35 80
[edit] League Record
- 1954-1958 - Cannock Youth League
- 1958-1961 - Lichfield & District League
- 1961-1972 - Staffordshire County League
- 1972-1983 - West Midlands (Regional) League Division One
- 1983-1994 - West Midlands (Regional) League Premier Division
- 1994-2006 - Midland Football Alliance
- 2006- Southern Football League Division One Midlands
[edit] National Cup Record
- Best FA Cup performance : First Round Proper - 2005/2006
- Best FA Vase performance : Fifth Round Proper - 1999/2000
- Best FA Trophy performance : Third Qualifying Round - 2006/2007
[edit] Team records
(1972/73 Onwards)
- Most league goals (season) : 94 (West Mids Div 1 ; 1975/76)
- Most points scored :
- Two points for a win : 64 (West Mids Div 1, 40 Games, 1975/76)
- Three points for a win : 94 (Midland Alliance, 42 Games, 2005/06)
[edit] Individual Records
- Most goals scored (career) : Tony Dixon - 197
- Most goals scored (match) : Keith Birch - 11 versus Lichfield Laundry (21-1)
- Highest transfer fee received : £200 for Chris Aullet (Telford United)
[edit] Current squad
- Goalkeepers
- Simon Bryan, Lee Evans
- Defenders
- Neil Aulton, John Branch, Mark Branch, Richard Huckfield, John Newall, Chris Slater, Gavin Stone, Vaughan Thomas, Kevin Thompson, Joe Williams, Ian Wright
- Midfielders
- Dave Egan, Craig Harris, Duncan Horler, Nathan Jackson, Lee Parsons, Sam Smith, Ben Steane, Andy Turner
- Strikers
- Lee Bullimore, Daniel Dubidat, Karl Edwards, Paul McMahon, Steve Piearce, Ashley Robinson, Danny Smith
- Leading goalscorer 2006-2007 : Lee Bullimore 7 goals
- Leading goalscorer 2005-2006 : Lee Bullimore 34 goals
- Most appearances 2005-2006 : Chris Slater
- Karl Edwards once scored in 10 consecutive league games - a club record
- Danny Smith was Chasetown's youngest modern day goalscorer aged 17 years and 143 days
[edit] Famous players
- Andy Turner is ranked alongside James Vaughan, James Milner, Wayne Rooney and Michael Owen as a former Premiership youngest goalscorer when he was with Tottenham Hotspur, aged 17 years and 166 days
- Chris Slater recently toured Latvia on trial with Blackpool
[edit] Managers
- J. Garbett
- Brian Baker
- M. Boot
- L. Percival
- B. Murray
- Bryn Scorey
- Paul Darby (two spells)
- Mervyn Rowe (two spells)
- Graham Smith
- Benny Brown
- Cliff Painter
- Kevin Foster
- Mick Rowe
- Charlie Blakemore
[edit] Chairmen
- Ray Derry
- A. Heath
- F. Sarsfield
- A. Stratton
- J. Selvey
- Arthur Scorey
- Graham Rollins
- Brian Baker
- John Walker
- Bryn Scorey
- Bernard Davies
- John Donnelly
[edit] References
- Mike and Tony Williams (2006). Non League Club Directory 2006. Tony Williams Publications Ltd. ISBN 1-869833-54-6.
