Chesterfield F.C.
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| Full name | Chesterfield Football Club | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nickname(s) | The Spireites | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Founded | 19 October 1867 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ground | Recreation Ground Saltergate Chesterfield |
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| Capacity | 8,504 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chairman | Barrie Hubbard | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Manager |  Roy McFarland |
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| League | League One | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2005-06 | League One, 16th | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Chesterfield Football Club are an English football team currently playing in Football League One. Its home is the Recreation Ground better known as Saltergate, in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. The team are nicknamed the Spireites after the famous crooked spire in Chesterfield. They have spent most of their existence in the lower divisions of the English league, and have never progressed beyond the second tier of the league.
The club is fierce rivals with neighbouring Mansfield Town. The rivalry between the two is considered by some to be amongst the fiercest in the lower leagues. The Spireites also enjoy rivalries with Derby County, Notts County, Nottingham Forest, Rotherham United, Sheffield Wednesday, Huddersfield Town and Doncaster Rovers.
Chesterfield's biggest successes came in the 1990s. They won the Division Three playoffs in 1995 and reached the F.A Cup semi finals two years later, and were the most recent club from outside the top two divisions to progress this far in the competition until Wycombe Wanderers repeated this feat five years later.
In 2000, Chesterfield were relegated to Division Three and long-serving manager John Duncan was sacked. Despite ongoing financial problems, they returned to Division Two under Nicky Law the following season and have remained at this level ever since.
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[edit] Overview
The fourth oldest club in The Football League (after Notts County, Nottingham Forest, and Sheffield Wednesday, although some claim that Stoke City is the second oldest), although there are claims that Chesterfield was founded in 1866. The first official document was a notice in a local paper placed by members of Chesterfield Cricket Club, which was dated 19 October 1867. They were first admitted to The Football League in 1899, when they were elected to the Second Division.
The Spireites currently play at Saltergate, also known as the Recreation Ground. It has a capacity of 8,500, although the present maximum is around 7,700 due to safety reasons. The club is planning to build a new ground on the 25 acre Dema Glass site on Sheffield Road. It is expected to be a 10,000 all-seater stadium, built by Alfred McAlpine, which should be opened in time for the 2007-2008 season. The old Dema Glass site has been demolished and planning for building the football club's new ground is under way.
Chesterfield has spent most of their history in the lower divisions, and have never played in the English top flight. The team's most notable achievement of recent years occurred in 1997, when they reached the semi-final of the FA Cup, losing to Middlesbrough in a replay following a 3-3 draw at Old Trafford. It turned out to be one of the most controversial games in recent history with Chesterfield having a goal not given when referee David Elleray decided the ball had not crossed the goal line from a Jonathan Howard shot, a decision which was later proved incorrect by video replays. Had the goal stood, the club would have progressed to the final of the FA Cup for the first time in its history - a feat which no club in the third tier of the league has achieved.
[edit] Carling Cup 2006-07
In the current season (2006-2007), Chesterfield has pulled off a giant-killing in the Second Round of the Carling Cup, by defeating Premier League side Manchester City 2-1. The Spireites had been 1-0 down at half-time, but fought back to win the game, with goals from Caleb Folan and Derek Niven.
The club were then handed an exciting draw for the Third Round, as they drew last season's FA Cup finalist's West Ham United at Saltergate, and a possibility to claim another Premiership scalp in cup competition. The game went much as the previous round's with the Spireites heading in at the interval one goal down following Marlon Harewood's 4th minute goal. Colin Larkin drew the game level 10 minutes into the second period, and a second top-tier scalp was claimed by Chesterfield when Second Round hero Caleb Folan scored what would prove to be the match-winner in the 87th minute of play.
The Fourth Round tie against Charlton Athletic was played on the 7th of November and ended 3-3 after extra time. The Spireites eventually lost on penalties after what was a close contest. Chesterfield took the lead early on from a corner kick which Colin Larkin flicked into the Charlton goal, only to be cancelled out by a Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink strike later in the half.
The second half started in similar fashion with Chesterfield again taking the lead through their man of the moment, Caleb Folan. Charlton again drew level after a miss-kicked Jerome Thomas shot was turned in off Darren Bent. The game went to extra time and with the Spireites defence looking somewhat jaded, Hasselbaink took his second goal of the game and the dream seemed to be over for Chesterfield until Wayne Allison headed home in the dying seconds of extra time.
With the game into penalties, either side could have emerged victorious but it wasn't going to be Chesterfield this time. Hurst, Allison and Smith all converted their spot kicks but two saves from Scott Carson against Niven and Allott's attempts set up Hermann Hreidarsson to take the decisive kick.
Although Chesterfield are out of the competition, they can be proud of their achievements and the financial revenue can only assist in their ultimate quest for promotion.
[edit] History
- 1896-97 - Joined Midland League
- 1899-00 - Joined Football League Division Two
- 1909 - Failed to be re-elected to the Football League
- 1909-10 - Rejoined Midland League; Midland League Champions
- 1912-13 - Midland League runner-up
- 1919-20 - Midland League Champions (2nd time)
- 1921-22 - Founder member of Football League Division Three North
- 1930-31 - Football League Division Three North Champions; Promoted to Division Two
- 1933 - Relegated to Division Three North
- 1935-36 - Football League Division Three North; Promoted to Division Two
- 1939-40 - Football League programme abandoned due to outbreak of war
- 1951 - Relegated to Division Three North
- 1958-59 - Placed in Division Three upon re-organisation
- 1961 - Relegated to Division Four
- 1969-70 - Football League Division Four Champions; Promoted to Division Three
- 1983 - Relegated to Division Four
- 1984-85 - Football League Division Four Champions; Promoted to Division Three
- 1989 - Relegated to Division Four
- 1989-90 - Qualified for play-offs on goal difference, but not promoted
- 1992-93 - Division Four re-designated Division Three on formation of F.A. Premiership
- 1994-95 - Promoted to Division Two after play-offs
- 1996-97 - F.A. Cup semi-finalists
- 2000 - Relegated to Division Three
- 2000-01 - Nine points deducted for financial irregularities, denying them runner-up spot. Promoted to Division Two in third place.
- 2004-05 - Football League Division Two renamed "League One"
- Best League position: 4th in Division 2 (level 2), 1946-47
- Best FA Cup performance: Semi-final replay, 1996-97
- Best Football League Cup performance: 4th round, 1964-65, 2006-07
- Best Football League Trophy performance: (regional) semi-final (three times), in 1992-93, 1995-96, 2000-01
Source: Chesterfield at the Football Club History Database
[edit] Honours
- Third Division (North) Champions: 1930/31, 1935/36
- Fourth Division Champions (Currently known as Coca-Cola League Two): 1969/70, 1984/85
- Anglo-Scottish Cup Champions: 1980/81.
[edit] Player Records
- Most League Appearances: 617 David Blakey (1948-1967)
- Most League Goals: 162 Ernie Moss (1968-1974)
- Youngest Player: 16 Years 159 Days Dennis Thompson
- Oldest Player: 40 Years 232 Days Billy Kidd
[edit] Club Records
- Best League position: 4th in Division 2 (level 2), 1946-47
- Best FA Cup performance: Semi-final replay, 1996-97
- Highest Attendance: 30,413 Tottenham Hotspur FA Cup, 5th round 12/2/1938
[edit] Notable players
- Gordon Banks
- Steve Blatherwick
- Ian Breckin
- Jamie Hewitt
- Kevin Davies
- Billy Mercer
- Steve Ogrizovic
- Frank Thacker
- Danny Wilson
[edit] Current squad
As of November 5, 2006
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[edit] Famous Fans
- Jo Guest - model
- John Lukic - former Leeds United and Arsenal F.C. goalkeeper.
[edit] Trivia
- Once played in a Union Jack strip design (1892)
- Gordon Banks made his league debut for the club.
[edit] External links
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Blackpool | Bournemouth | Bradford City | Brentford | Brighton & Hove Albion | Bristol City | Carlisle United | Cheltenham Town | Chesterfield | Crewe Alexandra | Doncaster Rovers | Gillingham | Huddersfield Town | Leyton Orient | Millwall | Northampton Town | Nottingham Forest | Oldham Athletic | Port Vale | Rotherham United | Scunthorpe United | Swansea City | Tranmere Rovers | Yeovil Town edit |
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