CLUB GUIDE: Chesterfield

Full name: Chesterfield Football Club
Nickname(s): The Spireites
Founded: 1866
Ground: Recreation Ground, Chesterfield
Capacity: 8,504

Chesterfield Football Club are an English football team currently playing in Football League One. Its home is the Recreation Ground better known as Saltergate, Chesterfield. The team are nicknamed the Spireites after the famous crooked spire in Chesterfield.

Club Overview

The third-oldest club in The Football League (after Notts County, and Nottingham Forest although some claim that Stoke city are the third oldest), Chesterfield were formed in 1866 by members of Chesterfield Cricket Club. They were first admitted to the Football League in 1899, when they were elected to the Second Division. Chesterfield have spent most of their history in the lower divisions, and have never played in the 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 disallowed 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.

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: 7th in Division 2 (level 3), 1995-96

Best FA Cup performance: Semi-final replay, 1996-97

Best Football League Cup performance: 4th round, 1964-65

Best Football League Trophy performance: (regional) semi-final (three times), in 1992-93, 1995-96, 2000-01

Honours

Third Division (North) Champions 1930/31, 1935/36

Fourth Division Champions 1969/70, 1984/85

Anglo-Scottish Cup Champions 1980/81.

Best League position: 7th in Division 2 (level 3), 1995-96

Best FA Cup performance: Semi-final replay, 1996-97

Noteable Players

Gordon Banks

Kevin Davies

Dennis Westcott

Directions By Car

Coming Soon

Lifts To Chesterfield

If there is anyone looking to do a car share to home/away matches whether needing a lift or offering one, Please register with our forums and leave your details in the section called ‘Away Match Information’ with the following details and hopefully someone will be able to fulfill your request.

– Name and E-mail

– Where you live (i.e Trowbridge)

– Whether your offering a lift or looking for a lift

– If offering a lift, how far within your geographical location you would travel to pick up or if looking for a lift how far you would travel to meet your lift.