- Chesterfield F.C.
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Chesterfield 
Full name Chesterfield Football Club Nickname(s) The Spireites Founded 19 October 1867 [1] Ground B2net Stadium
Chesterfield
(Capacity: 10,300)Chairman Barrie Hubbard Manager John Sheridan League League One 2010–11 League Two, 1st
(champions)Website Club home page 
Home coloursAway colours
Third colours
Current seasonChesterfield Football Club (
/ˈtʃɛstərfiːld/) is an English football club based in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. The club currently plays in Football League One, the third tier of English football. Despite being the fourth oldest Football League club in England, they have spent most of their existence in the lower divisions of the English league and have never played in the top flight. They first joined the Football League in the 1899-1900 season, but failed re-election in 1908-09. They were later founder members of Football League Third Division North in 1921-22 and have remained in the Football League since.Chesterfield's most notable successes came in the 1990s, when they won the Division Three playoff final at Wembley in 1995 and reached the FA Cup semi-finals two years later. They were the first club from outside the top two divisions to reach this stage of the competition since 1984 (Plymouth Argyle). On 7 May 2011 Chesterfield beat Gillingham to secure the League 2 title.
Chesterfield play their home games at the 10,300 capacity B2net Stadium, having moved from their old home Saltergate, for the 2010-11 season.
John Sheridan is the current manager having been given a three year contract in June 2009, along with his assistant Tommy Wright.
Contents
History
Chesterfield F.C. crest until 2010
The first Chesterfield Football Club was formed in the late 1860s, as an offshoot of Chesterfield Cricket Club. The exact date of its foundation is disputed: many sources list the year as 1866, but the current club's official site states that there is no evidence for its existence prior to October 1867, although other club memorabilia and literature carries 1866 as the year of formation. The cricket and football clubs moved to the Recreation Ground at Saltergate in 1871, the same year that they became separate entities. However, a souring of the relationship between the two led to the closure of the football club a decade later, in 1881, when it found itself homeless.[1][2]
Three years later a new Chesterfield Football Club was formed, again making its home at Saltergate.[1] After changing its name to Chesterfield Town, the club turned professional in 1891 and won several local trophies in the following two seasons, entering the FA Cup for the first time in 1892. Chesterfield joined the Midland League in 1896, and successfully applied for a place in the Second Division of the Football League at the start of the 1899-1900 season, finishing seventh. After finishing bottom of the League three years in a row, the club failed to gain re-election to the League in 1909, returning to the Midland League.[3]
In 1915 Chesterfield Town was put into voluntary liquidation and a new club with the same name formed. It lasted only two years before its management and players were suspended by the FA for illegal payments, and the club shut down. Chesterfield Borough Council formed a new club in April 1919, Chesterfield Municipal F.C., to fill the gap. It was run by the council itself, but the FA forced the club to become independent in December 1920. The club's name was changed to Chesterfield F.C. as a result of the ownership change.[1]
In 1921-22, Chesterfield became a founder member of the new Football League Third Division North. Following the arrival of new manager Ted Davison in 1926 and chairman Harold Shentall in 1928, the club won the Third Division North title in the 1930-31 season with an 8-1 victory over Gateshead on the final day, and were promoted to the Second Division. Relegation followed in 1933, but the Third Division North title was again won in 1936.[3]
After the war the club achieved their best League position, finishing fourth in the Second Division in 1946-47. However, the sale of several players at the end of the season reduced their overall quality, and Chesterfield were relegated at the end of the 1950-51 season. They were placed in the Third Division on its formation at the start of the 1958-59 season; future England international goalkeeper Gordon Banks made his professional debut in a Third Division game in November 1958, but was sold to Leicester City for a then-club record £7,000 fee at the end of the season. In 1961 Chesterfield were relegated to the Fourth Division for the first time.[3]
Chesterfield spent eight seasons in the Fourth Division, earning promotion as champions in 1969-70 under manager Jimmy McGuigan. The Anglo-Scottish Cup was won in 1981. The club was relegated in 1983-84, and won the Fourth Division title the following season. Financial difficulties forced Chesterfield Borough Council to bail out the club in 1985 and the club's training ground to be sold. Relegation followed in 1988-89; Chesterfield reached the play-off competition a year later, but were beaten by Cambridge United in the play-off final. The arrival of John Duncan as manager in 1993 was followed in the 1994-95 season by play-off victories over Mansfield Town and Bury to earn promotion to the redesignated Second Division.[3]
The 1996-97 season saw Chesterfield beat four clubs including Premier League side Nottingham Forest to reach the semi-final of the FA Cup for the first time. The semi-final match against Middlesbrough was drawn 3-3 after extra time; Chesterfield lost the replay 3-0.[4]
The club were relegated to the Third Division in 2000 following a run of 21 games without a win, and chairman Norton Lea was replaced by Darren Brown. The following year, Chesterfield were deducted nine points for financial irregularities after Brown attempted to avoid paying Chester City the fee agreed by the FA for Luke Beckett. Amid mounting evidence of fraud, he relinquished control of the club in March 2001 and ownership passed to a hastily organised fans' group, the Chesterfield Football Supporters Society. Massive debts run up by Brown forced the club into administration, but the team still secured the division's final automatic promotion place. (Brown was later sentenced to four years in prison following a Serious Fraud Office investigation that led to charges including false accounting, furnishing false information and theft).[5]
The Second Division was renamed to Football League One for the 2004-05 season. Two years later Chesterfield were relegated to Football League Two, although they did reach the regional semi-final of the Football League Trophy and the fourth round of the Football League Cup in the same year. The following three seasons saw no change in their League status.[6]
On 22 April 2011 Chesterfield were promoted to League One after a 0-0 draw between Wycombe Wanderers and Torquay United confirmed that the former could not catch Chesterfield, who had been top of League Two since the 16th October 2010.[7] On the 7th May 2011 Chesterfield FC were crowned League 2 champions following a 3-1 victory against Gillingham.[8]
Stadium
Chesterfield now play their home games at the new £13 million B2net Stadium. The first match at the B2net Stadium was against Derby County in a pre season friendly in which Derby won 5-4. The first goalscorer at the B2net Stadium was Craig Davies. The last game to take place at Saltergate was against AFC Bournemouth on Saturday 8 May 2010. Chesterfield were 1-0 down at half time, but second half goals from Lester 10 minutes from time and Niven in the sixth minute of injury time, saw supporters invade the pitch for the 1st time, meant Saltergate was sent off with an impressive 2-1 win over already promoted AFC Bournemouth. Emotions spilled over at the final whistle as the capacity crowd invaded the pitch for a 2nd time in celebration, and to say goodbye. The club moved to the B2net Stadium in July 2010. Chesterfield suffered their first home league defeat at the B2net Stadium after a 2-1 loss at Burton Albion on 13 November 2010. The highest attendance at the B2net Stadium was 10,089 at home to Rotherham United which they won 5-0 with Jack Lester getting a hat-trick.[9]
Honours
- Midland Football League Champions: 1909/10, 1919/20
- Third Division (North) Champions: 1930/31, 1935/36
- Third Division Play Off Winners (Currently known as Football League Two): 1994/95
- Fourth Division Champions (Currently known as Football League Two): 1969/70, 1984/85, 2010/11
- Anglo-Scottish Cup winners: 1980/81.
Minor Honours
- Bass Charity Vase Winners: 1900/01
- Derbyshire Senior Cup winners: 1898/99, 1920/21, 1921/22, 1924/25, 1932/33, 1936/37
- Derbyshire F.A. Centenary Cup winners: 1994/95, 2000/01, 2001/02, 2009/10
- Banner Jones Middleton Cup winners: 2003/04, 2004/05, 2005/06, 2006/07, 2007/08, 2008/09, 2009/10, 2010/11, 2011/12
- Derbyshire Senior Cup is competed by all registered Derbyshire FA clubs. Until season 2010/11, Chesterfield and Derby County did not enter clubs and in turn competed in their own competition called the Derbyshire FA Centenary Cup. Both Chesterfield and Derby County will field reserve sides in the Derbyshire Senior Cup from season 2010/11.
Youth Honours
- North & Midlands East Conference Winners: 2005/06, 2008/09, 2010/11
- FA Youth Cup Runners Up: 1955/56
Other Awards
- FA Cup Giantkillers Trophy: 1996/97
Player records
- Most League Appearances: 617 Dave Blakey (1948–1967)[10]
- Most League Goals: 162 Ernie Moss (1968–1975, 1979–1981, 1984–1986)[11]
- Youngest Player: Dennis Thompson - 16 Years 159 Days[12]
- Oldest Player: Billy Kidd - 40 Years 232 Days[13]
Club records
- Best League position: 4th in Division 2 (level 2), 1946–47
- Best FA Cup performance: Semi-final replay, 1996–97
- Highest Attendance (Saltergate/Recreation Ground): 30,561 v Tottenham Hotspur 12 February 1938 (previously quoted record figure of 30,968 (against Newcastle United Division Two, 7 April 1939) is now recorded as only having been 28,636)[14]
- Highest Attendance (B2Net Stadium): 10,089 v Rotherham United 18 March 2011
Players
Current squad
- As of 16 June 2011.
Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
No. Position Player 1 
GK Tommy Lee 2 DF Neal Trotman (on loan from Rochdale) 3 
DF Gregor Robertson 4 DF Jamie Lowry 6 
DF Simon Ford 7 MF Mark Allott 9 FW Craig Westcarr 10 MF Danny Whitaker 11 
MF Dwayne Mattis (captain) 13 GK Greg Fleming 14 FW Jack Lester 15 
DF Aaron Downes 16 
MF Alexandre Mendy 17 MF Dean Morgan No. Position Player 18 MF Lee Johnson (on loan from Bristol City) 21 FW Jordan Bowery 22 DF Jonathan Grounds (on loan from Middlesbrough) 23 MF Mark Randall 24 MF Craig Clay 25 FW Drew Talbot 27 MF Tendayi Darikwa 28 DF Nathan Smith 29 MF Ben Watkis 30 DF Matt Needham 31 FW Leon Clarke (on loan from Swindon Town) 33 
GK Ole Söderberg (on loan from Newcastle United) 34 FW Tope Obadeyi (on loan from Bolton Wanderers) Out On Loan
Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
No. Position Player 5 DF Dean Holden (on loan to Rochdale) 8 MF Derek Niven (on loan to Northampton Town) 19 FW Scott Boden (on loan to Macclesfield Town) 20 DF Dan Gray (on loan to Macclesfield Town) 26 FW Jordan Burrow (on loan to Boston United) Notable former players
For a list of notable Chesterfield players in sortable-list format see List of Chesterfield F.C. players.
Managers
- E. Timmeus (1891–1895)
- Gilbert Gillies (1895–1901)
- E. Hind (1901–1902)
- Jack Hoskin (1902–1906)
- W. Furness (1906–1907)
- George Swift (1907–1910)
- G. Jones (1911–1913)
- R. Weston (1913–1917)
- T. Callaghan (1919)
- J. Caffrey (1920–1922)
- Harry Hadley (1922)
- Harry Parkes (1922–1927)
- Alec Campbell (1927)
- Teddy Davison (1927–1932)
- Bill Harvey (1932–1938)
- Norman Bullock (1938–1945)
- Bob Brocklebank (1945–1948)
- Bobby Marshall (1948–1952)
- Ted Davison (1952–1958)
- Duggie Livingstone (1958–1962)
- Tony McShane (1962–1967)
- Jimmy McGuigan (1967–1973)
- Joe Shaw (1973–1976)
- Arthur Cox (1976–1980)
- Frank Barlow (1980–1983)
- John Duncan (1983–1987)
- Kevin Randall (1987–1988)
- Paul Hart (1988–1991)
- Chris McMenemy (1991–1993)
- John Duncan (1993–2000)
- Nicky Law (2000–2002)
- Dave Rushbury (2002–2003)
- Roy McFarland (2003–2007)
- Lee Richardson (2007–2009)
- John Sheridan (2009-)
Notes
- ^ a b c d Basson, Stuart (6 June 2010). "Four clubs for Chesterfield". Chesterfield F.C.. http://www.chesterfield-fc.co.uk/page/History/0,,10435~897585,00.html. Retrieved 2011-08-31. "Although there is a widely-held belief that the first Chesterfield club was formed in 1866, no contemporary documentary evidence has been found to substantiate a claim for formation earlier than October 19th., 1867... The Chesterfield Town FC (1899) Ltd was put into voluntary liquidation in 1915... This left a vacuum that the Chesterfield Borough Council filled by the formation of the Chesterfield Municipal FC on April 24th, 1919... That Chesterfield FC is the one that we watch today... Having done the research I favour the 1919 date."
- ^ Basson, Stuart (2010) "Saltergate Sunset: The Story of the Recreation Ground, Chesterfield", Chesterfield F.C., p27
- ^ a b c d Goldstein, Dan (1999). The Rough Guide to English Football: A fans' handbook 1999–2000. Rough Guides Ltd. pp. 154–158. ISBN 1-85828-455-4.
- ^ "Chesterfield Football Club - The Spireites". football-england.com. http://www.football-england.com/Chesterfield_Football_Club_CFC_Spireites_FC.html.
- ^ Conn, David (28 September 2005). "Prison finally catches up with Chesterfield's crooked Spireite". The Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2005/sep/28/chesterfield.
- ^ Chesterfield at the Football Club History Database
- ^ "Chesterfield promoted to League One after Wycombe draw". BBC Sport. 22 April 2011. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/13171930.stm.
- ^ "Chesterfield 3 - 1 Gillingham". BBC Sport. 2 May 2011. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/13247192.stm.
- ^ "Chairman's AGM New Stadium Statement". Chesterfield Football Club. 2009-01-22. http://www.chesterfield-fc.co.uk/page/ClubAnnouncements/0,,10435~1529604,00.html. Retrieved 2009-01-22.
- ^ Chesterfield players with 100+ Football League appearances
- ^ "Ernie Moss". Chesterfield FC Official Site. 2 January 2008. http://www.chesterfield-fc.co.uk/page/PastPlayersDetail/0,,10435~73800,00.html. Retrieved 23 April 2010.
- ^ Chesterfield youngest debutants
- ^ Chesterfield oldest debutants and oldest players
- ^ Record attendances and receipts
External links
Grounds Football League One 2011–12 clubs Bournemouth · Brentford · Bury · Carlisle United · Charlton Athletic · Chesterfield · Colchester United · Exeter City · Hartlepool United · Huddersfield Town · Leyton Orient · Milton Keynes Dons · Notts County · Oldham Athletic · Preston North End · Rochdale · Scunthorpe United · Sheffield United · Sheffield Wednesday · Stevenage · Tranmere Rovers · Walsall · Wycombe Wanderers · Yeovil TownCompetition Statistics and awards Record · All-time table · Top Goalscorer · Macron Golden Glove · Manager of the Month · Player of the Month · Hat-tricksFinances Sponsors Associated competitions Seasons 2004-05 · 2005-06 · 2006-07 · 2007-08 · 2008-09 · 2009-10 · 2010-11 · 2011-12Prospects Promotion to Football League Championship; Relegation to Football League TwoCategories:- Chesterfield F.C.
- Association football clubs established in 1867
- Football League clubs
- Derbyshire football clubs
- 1867 establishments in England
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