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| Full name | Chasetown Football Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nicknames | The Scholars, The Chase | ||
| Founded | 1954; 72 years ago (1954) (as Chase Terrace Old Scholars) | ||
| Ground | The Scholars Ground,Chasetown,Burntwood | ||
| Capacity | 3,000(500 Seated) | ||
| Chairman | Steve Jones | ||
| Manager | Jamie Hawkins | ||
| League | Northern Premier League Division One West | ||
| 2024–25 | Northern Premier League Division One West, 4th of 22 | ||
| Website | www | ||
Chasetown Football Club is an Englishfootball club based in theChasetown area ofBurntwood, Staffordshire. The club plays in theNorthern Premier League First Division West and is nicknamedThe Scholars, having been formed by affiliates of nearbyChase Terrace High School in theChase Terrace area of Burntwood.
Chasetown gained national recognition in November 2005 when theBBC televised the club'sFA Cup first round home tie withOldham Athletic, in which the team held theirFootball League opponents to a 1–1 draw. They went on to finish the 2005–06 season asMidland Alliance champions and gain promotion. In the2007–08 F.A Cup the Scholars defeatedPort Vale 1–0 in a Second Round replay. In doing so, they became the lowest ranked club to reach the Third Round Proper of theFA Cup[1] before losing to eventual finalistsCardiff City.
Chasetown Football Club was founded in 1954 as Chase Terrace Old Scholars Youth Club by Brian Baker and schoolmaster Ray Derry. The club initially competed in the Cannock Youth League before moving to the Lichfield and District League in 1958, and then to the Staffordshire County League in 1961.
In 1972, the club adopted its current name, Chasetown FC, upon joining the West Midlands (Regional) League Division One. Under manager Larry Percival, the club won a league title, although promotion was denied due to inadequate facilities. A move to The Scholars Ground in 1983 enabled progression to the Premier Division.
Under Mervyn Rowe, Chasetown won the West Midlands League Cup (1990) and the Walsall Senior Cup (1991, 1993). His tenure also included a 36-game unbeaten league run before stepping down in 1993. Following several managerial changes, his son Michael Rowe took over in 2002, with Charlie Blakemore assuming the role in 2004.
Chasetown gained national attention during the 2005–06 FA Cup, reaching the First Round Proper for the first time and drawing against Oldham Athletic in a match broadcast live on the BBC. In 2007–08, they became the lowest-ranked side to reach the FA Cup Third Round, defeating Port Vale before losing to Cardiff City.
The club earned promotion to the Southern League in 2006 and was later transferred to the Northern Premier League. In 2010–11, Chasetown made a notable run in the FA Trophy, defeating Grimsby Town on the way to the quarter-finals.
Blakemore departed in 2011, and the club was relegated that season. Under Craig Harris, Chasetown claimed another Walsall Senior Cup in 2014. Subsequent managers included Marcus Law, Scott Dundas, and Mark Swann, who took charge in 2020.
In 2021–22, Chasetown reached the play-off final, attracting a then-record crowd of 2,500.
In 2023, upgrades to The Scholars Ground included the installation of an artificial pitch, a new 300-seat stand at the Chasewater end, a club shop, and improved spectator facilities. The 2024–25 season marked further success, with Chasetown winning the Staffordshire Senior Cup for the first time.
Chasetown's crest features a deer, in reference to nearbyCannock Chase, and aStafford Knot.
The Scholars Ground has been Chasetown's home since 1983. The ten highest official attendances recorded at the ground for competitive fixtures are as follows:
| Attendance | Opponents | Match | Date | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2,706 | Hednesford Town | Northern Premier League Division One Midlands | 1 January 2025 | 0-3 |
| 2,500[2] | Belper Town | Northern Premier League Division One Midlands play-off final | 30 April 2022 | 0-1 |
| 2,420 | Cardiff City | FA Cup 3rd round Proper | 5 January 2008 | 1-3 |
| 2,134 | Blyth Spartans | FA Cup 4th Qualifying Round | 25 October 2005 | 1-0 |
| 2,031 | Hednesford Town | Northern Premier League West | 1 January 2024 | 0-0 |
| 2,000 | Mansfield Town | FA Trophy 4th round Proper | 1 March 2011 | 2-2 |
| 1,997 | Oldham Athletic | FA Cup 1st round Proper | 6 November 2005 | 1-1 |
| 1,986 | Port Vale | FA Cup 2nd round Proper, Replay | 11 December 2007 | 1-0 |
| 1,842 | Witton Albion | Northern Premier League West | 2 December 2023 | 3-2 |
| 1,408 | Nuneaton Borough | FA Cup 4th Qualifying Round | 27 October 2007 | 2-1 |
There are 4 sides at The Scholars Ground. A seated stand with a clubhouse and wooden seats is the oldest of them. There is also turnstiles on this side, with another seated stand behind the goal. In November 2022, a new 350 seated stand was put in place through the clubs twenty20 lottery funds of £13,000, 5 rows of metal terracing for away fans in league and cup games after a final end running across the far side of the pitch where the dugouts are.
In December 2023, Chasetown re-opened their ground to the public after months of work on the ground, including an artificial pitch for the first time as well as brand new facilities around the ground. A then home league record crowd of 1,842 were in attendance as they watched Chasetown beat Witton Albion 3–2.
Correct as of 21 February 2025.[3]
(1972–73 onwards)
