 | |||
| Full name | Chesterfield Football Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Town, The Spireites | ||
| Founded | 19 October 1867; 157 years ago (1867-10-19)(original) 24 April 1919; 105 years ago (1919-04-24)(current)[1][2] | ||
| Ground | SMH Group Stadium | ||
| Capacity | 10,600 | ||
| Owner | Phil Kirk and Ashley Kirk[3] | ||
| Chairman | Mike Goodwin | ||
| Manager | Paul Cook | ||
| League | EFL League Two | ||
| 2023–24 | National League, 1st of 24 (promoted) | ||
| Website | chesterfield-fc | ||
 Current season | |||
Chesterfield Football Club is a professionalassociation football club based in the town ofChesterfield,Derbyshire, England. The team competes inEFL League Two, the fourth level of theEnglish football league system, after winning the2023–24 National League title.
Chesterfield play their home games at the 10,500 capacitySMH Group Stadium, having moved from their historic home ofSaltergate during the summer of 2010. Notable former players include record appearance holderDave Blakey, who played in 617 of Chesterfield's league games, and 162 league goal club record holderErnie Moss. The club contests numerous local rivalries, most notably with Nottinghamshire clubMansfield Town.
Chesterfield FC was officially established in 1867, though it would be the third incarnation of that name that turned professional in 1891 and changed its name to Chesterfield Town. Town entered theFA Cup for the first time the following year, and competed in theSheffield & District League andSheffield & Hallamshire Senior Cup, before joining theMidland League in 1896–97. A third-place finish in 1898–99 resulted in a successful application to theFootball League Second Division for the following season. After ten seasons in the Second Division they failed to gain re-election to the League and returned to the Midland League in 1909. They were champions of that league in 1909–10. The club entered liquidation in 1915, and were reformed as Chesterfield Municipal in April 1919. They again rejoined the Midland League and finished as champions in 1919–20.
The club was renamed Chesterfield in December 1920, and became founder members of theThird Division North in 1921–22. They marked their tenth season in the division, 1930–31, by winning the title, though they only managed two seasons in the Second Division before suffering relegation. They again won the Third Division North title in 1935–36, and afterWorld War II recorded their best ever league finish of fourth in the Second Division in 1946–47. However they were relegated again in 1950–51, and were relegated out of theThird Division in 1960–61. Chesterfield won theFourth Division in 1969–70, and then won theAnglo-Scottish Cup in 1980. After relegation in 1982–83, they again won the Fourth Division title in 1984–85, though would again be relegated after five seasons in the third tier. They secured their return to the third tier with a 2–0 win overBury in the1995 play-off final atWembley.
Chesterfield reached theFA Cup semi-finals in 1997, but were relegated back to the basement division in 1999–2000. They made an immediate return to the third tier after securing a Third Division automatic promotion place in 2000–01. Relegated in 2006–07, they secured theLeague Two title in 2010–11, but were relegated fromLeague One the following season. In 2011,Dave Allen took full ownership of the club and oversaw progress to twoLeague Trophy finals; Chesterfield won the trophy with a 2–0 victory overSwindon Town in 2012, and finished as runners-up after losing 3–1 toPeterborough United in 2014. Chesterfield were crowned champions of League Two for a record fourth time in 2013–14, but remained inLeague One for just three seasons. Back-to-back relegations saw the club relegated out of theEnglish Football League at the end of the 2017–18 season, before returning to League Two after winning theNational League title in the 2023–24 season.
Potentially five or more teams have been called Chesterfield Football Club at different times. ADerbyshire Times newspaper report from 2 January 1864 noted a scheduled game between "Chesterfield and Norton football clubs", suggesting that a Chesterfield FC, whether loosely or formally organised, was active from at least 1863.[4]
A second Chesterfield FC was formally created as an offshoot of Chesterfield Cricket Club in October 1867.[1]The cricket and football clubs moved to the Recreation Ground atSaltergate 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 in 1881, when it found itself homeless.[5] Many players joined other local sides, notably Chesterfield Livingstone, a club that took up using the Saltergate site, and Chesterfield Spital, a team which competed in the early years of theFA Cup.[6]
Three years later, in 1884, a third entity called Chesterfield Football Club was formed, again making its home atSaltergate.[1] It drew in players from the preceding club and both Chesterfield Livingstone and Chesterfield Spital, though records show Spital continued as a separate club.[6] After changing its name toChesterfield Town, the club turned professional in 1891 and won several local trophies in the following two seasons, entering theFA Cup for the first time in 1892. For the 1892–93 season, the club wore an extraordinary playing strip of all dark blue with theUnion Jack emblazoned across the front of the shirt.[7] Chesterfield joined theMidland League in 1896, and successfully applied for a place in theSecond Division of theFootball League at the start of the 1899–1900 season, finishing seventh. After finishing bottom of the League for three consecutive seasons, the club failed to gain re-election to the League in 1909, returning to the Midland League.[8]
In 1915 Chesterfield Town was put into voluntary liquidation and a new club with the same name was formed by a local restaurateur to play wartime football using locally based "guests" from Football League clubs. It lasted only two years before its management and players were suspended by the FA for illegal payments and the club shut down.[1][9]
The current Chesterfield FC was formed on 24 April 1919 byChesterfield Borough Council, seeing it as a way to spearhead improvements in local recreational provision. Initially called "Chesterfield Municipal", the club made great strides on the pitch in its first season, lifting the Midland League title – and did so despite three changes of management. However,The Football Association and theFootball League had already made clear their vehement opposition to a council-run club and ultimately forced it to cut its ties and become independent, reflected in a name change to Chesterfield FC in December 1920.[1][9][10][11]
In 1921–22, Chesterfield became a founder member of the newFootball League Third Division North. Following the arrival of new managerTed 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 overGateshead 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.[8]
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 theThird Division on its formation at the start of the 1958–59 season; future England international goalkeeperGordon Banks made his professional debut in a Third Division game in November 1958, but was sold toLeicester City for a then-club record £7,000 fee at the end of the season. In 1961 Chesterfield were relegated to theFourth Division for the first time.[8]
Chesterfield spent eight seasons in the Fourth Division, earning promotion as champions in 1969–70 under managerJimmy McGuigan. TheAnglo-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 byCambridge United in the play-off final. The arrival ofJohn Duncan as manager in 1993 was followed in the 1994–95 season by play-off victories over local rivalsMansfield Town andBury to earn promotion to the redesignated Second Division.[8] The 1996–97 season saw Chesterfield beat six clubs includingPremier League sideNottingham Forest to reach the semi-final of the FA Cup for the first time. The semi-final match againstMiddlesbrough was contentiously drawn 3–3 after extra time; Chesterfield lost the replay 3–0.[12]
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 payingChester City the fee agreed by the FA forLuke 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 aSerious Fraud Office investigation that led to charges including false accounting, furnishing false information and theft.[13]
Chesterfield were relegated toLeague Two at the end of the 2006–07 season, although they did reach the regional semi-final of theLeague Trophy and the fourth round of theLeague Cup in the same year.[14] The club departed its historic home atSaltergate at the end of the 2009–10 season, and moved to newly builtB2net Stadium. Chesterfield were promoted toLeague One after winning the League Two title in 2010–11 season.[15] Later that year,Dave Allen took a majority shareholding of the football club from the Supporters Society. They went on to win the Football League Trophy for the first time in March 2012, defeatingSwindon Town 2–0 in thefinal.[16] However, they were relegated from League One the following month,[17] with Allen taking over as chairman from Barrie Hubbard in the off-season. The club again returned to the third tier as League Two champions at the end of the 2013–14 season for a record fourth time under the guidance of managerPaul Cook.[18]
Chesterfield secured sixth-place in League One at the end of the 2014–15 campaign, and went on to lose 4–0 on aggregate toPreston North End in the two-legged play-off semi-final.[19] Cook departed at the end of the season. On 14 November 2016, Dave Allen resigned from his roles as chairman and director of the club.[20] This signaled a crisis, and four days later a further four directors resigned from their roles.[21] It was announced that Chesterfield was openly up for sale, and desperately needed some kind of investment in order to avoid administration. Mike Warner was installed as chairman on 19 November.[22]
Chesterfield were relegated from League One in 2016–17, finishing bottom of the league.[14] At the end of the 2017–18 season, Chesterfield suffered a second consecutive relegation, with the club playing outside theFootball League for the first time since 1921.[14][23] On 6 August 2020, it was announced that Chesterfield FC Community Trust, a charity associated with the club, had bought the club from previous owner Dave Allen.[24] The following day, the Trust announced thatJohn Pemberton had been appointed full-time manager, following a spell as caretaker manager from January 2020, during which time he was able to prevent the club's relegation toNational League North.[25]
In January 2022, the club facedChelsea in the third round of theFA Cup, losing 5–1 to thePremier League side.[26] After relegation from the Football League, Chesterfield had three unsuccessful play-off attempts, including losing the2023 National League play-off final on penalties toNotts County.[14][27] The club then won theNational League title in the following season to return to the Football League after six seasons in non-League.[28] During this season, the ownership of the club was transferred to brothers Phil and Ashley Kirk by the Community Trust.[29]
Table of kit suppliers and sponsors:[30]
| Period | Sportswear | Sponsor |
|---|---|---|
| 1976–1979 | Bukta | No shirt sponsor |
| 1979–1982 | Adidas | |
| 1982–1983 | Latif | |
| 1983–1988 | Coalite | |
| 1988–1990 | Bukta | |
| 1990–1992 | Matchwinner | |
| 1992–1994 | North Derbyshire Health Authority/Gordon Lamb | |
| 1994–1996 | North Derbyshire Health Authority/GK |
| Period | Sportswear | Sponsor |
|---|---|---|
| 1996–1998 | Super League | North Derbyshire Health Authority |
| 1998–2000 | Kenning Autos | |
| 2000–2001 | Aspire | Gordon Lamb |
| 2001–2002 | TFG | |
| 2002–2003 | Turf Sports | Gordon Lamb/Vodka Kick |
| 2003–2004 | Uhlsport | |
| 2004–2005 | Branded | Autoworld/Vodka Kick |
| 2005–2007 | TFG |
| Period | Sportswear | Sponsor |
|---|---|---|
| 2007–2008 | Lotto | Vodka Kick |
| 2008–2010 | Bukta | |
| 2010–2012 | Respect | |
| 2012–2013 | Puma | Kick Energy |
| 2013–2016 | NAPIT | |
| 2016–2019 | G F Tomlinson[31] | |
| 2019–2022 | Technique Learning[32] | |
| 2022– | Leengate Valves |
Chesterfield's historic ground was Saltergate, officially named the Recreation Ground, which was in use from 1872 to 2010. Saltergate's record attendance was 30,561, which was set when Chesterfield hostedTottenham Hotspur in the FA Cup fifth round in February 1938.[33]
Since the 2010–11 season, Chesterfield have played their home games at the £13 million B2net Stadium. The first match was againstDerby County in a pre-season friendly, which Derby won 5–4,Craig Davies becoming the first goalscorer at the stadium. The first competitive fixture was againstBarnet, which ended in a 2–1 win afterDwayne Mattis scored the opening League goal at the ground in the first half. Chesterfield suffered their first home league defeat at the B2net Stadium after a 2–1 loss toBurton Albion on 13 November 2010.[34]
On 13 August 2012, it was announced that, after the acquisition of b2net by Proact, the stadium would be renamed the Proact Stadium. On 15 May 2020, it was announced that, from August, the stadium would be renamed again, this time to the Technique Stadium, after local education provider Technique acquired the naming rights. In 2023 the stadium was renamed for the new sponsors, financial services company SMH group, for a minimum of three years. The highest attendance at the SMH group stadium was 10,108 at home in their last match of the 2023–24 National League season againstMaidenhead United which Chesterfield won 3–2.[35]
Chesterfield's geographical position means that the club holds many local derbies. Their main rival is considered to be the Nottinghamshire clubMansfield Town,[36] with the club contending a number of fiery encounters. This was intensified due to theMiners' Strike, with those in Derbyshire largely striking, while those in Nottinghamshire did not, leading to the latter being referred to as 'scabs'.[37][38] The last fixture between the sides finished in a 1–0 win for Mansfield at the Proact Stadium in April 2018.[39] Chesterfield also have rivalries with nearby South Yorkshire clubsRotherham United,Sheffield Wednesday andSheffield United.[40][additional citation(s) needed] The rivalries with Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday both came to the fore with the two playing in League One at periods in the 2010s.[41][42] The Spireites have encountered United much more in recent years, continuing to meet in the third level of English football until 2017.[41]
A slight rivalry withGrimsby Town intensified with a number of feisty encounters over the years.[43]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
|
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
|
Management and backroom staff
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Manager | Paul Cook |
| Assistant manager | Danny Webb |
| First team coach | Gary Roberts |
| Kieron Dyer | |
| Paddy Byrne | |
| Goalkeeping coach | Dave O'Hare |
| Head of recruitment | Neill Hornby |
| Kit Man | Jason Baker |
| First-team analyst | Jack Stephenson |
| Academy manager | Neil Cluxton |
Source:[46]
|
Source:[47]
League
Cup
| Highest Football League finish | 1946–47, 4th place inFootball League Second Division (second tier)[48] |
| Best FA Cup finish | 1996–97, semi-finalists[49] |
| Best League Trophy finish | Winners:2011–12 |
| Highest home attendance | 30,561: vs.Tottenham Hotspur, 12 February 1938[33] |
| Most league appearances | Dave Blakey: 617, 1948–1967[50] |
| Most league goals | Ernie Moss: 162, 1968–1975, 1979–1981, 1984–1986[51] |
| Youngest player | Dennis Thompson: 16 years 159 days[52] |
| Oldest player | Billy Kidd: 40 years 232 days[53] |
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... Chesterfield Borough Council formed of the Chesterfield Municipal FC on April 24th, 1919... That Chesterfield FC is the one that we watch today...
| International | |
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| National | |
