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Chester City v Barnet
Nationwide Conference
Saturday 19th January 3.00pm

Updated 16/01/02
Updated 17/01/02

Chester's season so far has not been very promising, but is this about to change with new Manager Mark Wright coming in?

Well, they didn't get off to a very good start on Saturday, only holding Dr. Martens Western League side Stourbridge Swifts to a One All draw. Stourbridge are sixth in their league, the same as Fisher in the Eastern and look what happened to them against the 'Mighty Bees'! But, according to the Non League Paper they are going to bring in some new players before their next home game.

The Blues last home win was against lowly Hayes (3-1) on 29th December, the other two were Hereford United (2-0) on 9th October and in their second home game this season they beat Nuneaton Borough 1-0.

Three days before the Hereford game Margate had inflicted Chesters highest home defeat by 3-0.

In away game Hayes were also Chester's first win this term, again a 3-1 scoreline, Morecambe (3-0) and surprisingly Yeovil 1-0 were the other two.

They must like a 3-1 result, this was the margin Barnet beat them by back on 1st September in front of 1,197 fans. Away to Northwich Victoria on Boxing Day also ended, yes you've guessed it, a 3-1 defeat!!

With The Bees putting five past Fisher on Saturday their confidence must be back and with both Gower and Purser back in the team, not to mention tremendous form, we should put our disasterous run in the league behind us and come away with a win.

Hopefully any new signings Chester might get before then won't have settled in. There's just the problem of every one picking their game up for the new Boss. (Good excuse if we lose though!!)

There is more information about Chester's new manager here.

Updated 16 January

Chester City beat Stourport Swifts 3-0 in the FA Trophy on Tuesday. New manager, Mark Wright was not present. Instead, his former Derby County team-mate and long-time friend, Ted McMinn took charge. McMinn is quoted on the Non-League Paper website as saying that they need to get new players quickly, in order to give Chester a kick-start.

However, it would seem Chester are not having much luck signing new players in time for Saturday. Telford United have rejected an offer for one of their players from Chester City.

Central defender Mark Albrighton was the latest player to be targeted by Chester, but a £5,000 bid was rejected. That followed two other failed bids within the past week, while Chester had previously tracked Telford skipper Neil Moore and striker Jake Edwards.

All of Telford's players are available as the cash-strapped club prepares to revert to part-time status in the summer. But Telford have been less than impressed with some of the bids being made by Chester.

Updated 17 January

Chester City also have also failed in a double bid to bring in Rushden and Diamonds duo Jim Rodwell and Shaun Carey to the Deva Stadium, but they they failed to agree terms.

Both Rodwell and Carey played key roles for Diamonds in their Conference championship campaign, but they have hardly played since September. Carey has just completed a months loan with Stevanage and Rodwell has attracted interest from four unnamed Conference clubs, although they were unwilling to match the transfer fee.

Diamonds boss Brian Talbot said: "They went to speak to Chester and both turned them down. Stevenage want to keep Carey on loan, but he wants to get himself fixed up and sort out his future as his contract is up in the summer and Stevenage only want him on loan again. They haven't offered him a permanent deal."

Meanwhile, Chester chairman, Stephen Vaughan, revealed that he was about to contact Telford United in another bid to sign defender Neil Moore.

Vaughan said:"We agreed a fee for Moore with Telford the last time we inquired, and I'm hoping we can still strike a deal. I know Telford are currently annoyed with Chester after we approached them twice with bids for Gary Fitzpatrick and Jim Bentley. The Bentley and Fitzpatrick deal is now officially dead, but we're hoping to be successful with our bid for Moore."

Chester were still awaiting an answer from 26-year-old Lincoln City striker, Dave Cameron, who had been offered terms by Chester, and manager Mark Wright was also attempting to capture Oxford United centre back, Phil Bolland, on loan, in time for Saturday. Bolland followed Wright from Conference side Southport to Oxford last season.

Last Six (Including FA Trophy match on 15 January)

All games
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Home
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Away
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Below is Barnet and Chester City league details based on their Home and Away performances.

On New Years Day in the 1965/66 season (the same season Barnet turned semi-pro) Chester had two players carried off with broken legs! Despite this, they still went on to beat fellow Fourth Division opponents, Aldershot 3-2. (I think I'm correct in saying that there was only one substitute allowed in those days?)

History

CHESTER CITY – A BRIEF HISTORY
With thanks to Chas Sumner (Chester City official historian). chester-city.co.uk

Chester Football Club were founded in 1885 as an amalgamation of Chester Rovers and Old King's Scholars and initially played their home games at Faulkner Street in the Hoole area of the city. For the first five years of their existence they only played friendlies until joining the Combination League in 1890. A first senior trophy, the Cheshire Senior Cup, was won in 1895 and in 1898 the club relocated to the Old Showground also in Hoole. The stay was only brief as, twelve months later, the club were forced to temporarily disband when the ground was lost to housing.

In 1901 a new home was found in Whipcord Lane and the club went from strength to strength, winning the Combination League in 1909 after finishing runners-up in the preceding 5 seasons. The early 1900s saw the first of Chester's Welsh Cup victories, against Connah's Quay in 1908, (further victories followed in 1933 and 1946). By now the club had moved to the much loved Stadium, in Sealand Road, which remained home for 84 years until the final game against Rotherham in April 1990. In 1910 Chester were elected to the Lancashire Combination and after the First World War were founder members of the Cheshire County League which they won in 1922, 1926 and 1927. The appointment of Charlie Hewitt as manager in 1930 saw a concerted effort to attain League status and crowds flocked to the Stadium to see the goalscoring exploits of Salford school master Arthur Gale who scored an incredible 73 goals in 39 League games. On June 1st 1931 Chester were elected to the Football League, in place of Nelson, and throughout the 1930s never finished outside the top 10 in Division Three North. In 1933 Chester hammered Second Division Fulham 5-0, their finest FA Cup performance, and in 1936 the club achieved their highest League victory, a 12-0 win over York City.

Chester struggled in the years following the Second World War but were well served by stalwarts Ray Gill (a record 406 appearances), Ron Hughes, Eric Lee and Tommy Astbury. In 1964/65 the "Famous Five" forward line of Talbot, Metcalf, Ryden, Morris and Humes (pic left) scored 116 of Chester's record 119 League goals while, in the FA Cup, the club were narrowly beaten 2-1 by League champions Manchester United after leading at half time. Promotion from Division Four was achieved under Ken Roberts in 1974/75. The club also reached the League Cup Semi-Final where they were narrowly defeated by Aston Villa following wins over League champions Leeds United (the 3-0 victory is arguably the club's greatest result) and Newcastle United. The late 1970s saw the emergence of Ian Rush, who became the club's record transfer when he moved to Liverpool for £300,000. Relegation in 1982 was followed by a name change, to Chester City, in 1983 and three years later Harry McNally led the club back into Division Three.

The sale of the Sealand Road ground in 1990 saw Chester forced to play their home games at Macclesfield for two years. Unfortunately a return to the city, and the new 6000 capacity Deva Stadium, culminated in relegation although there was one bright spot when Stuart Rimmer broke Gary Talbot's club league scoring record. Rimmer, who was also the club's record signing, went on to score a total of 135 League goals for Chester. In 1994 Graham Barrow led City back to Division Two but the yo-yo existence continued with relegation in 1995 when Kevin Ratcliffe took over as manager. Ratcliffe led the club to the play-offs in 1997 and was also in charge during the traumatic 1998/99 season when the club almost folded due to financial problems.

In July 1999 controversial American Terry Smith purchased the club and installed himself as manager following the departure of Ratcliffe in August. However, Chester struggled at the foot of the table and former Northampton manager Ian Atkins was belatedly given the job of trying to retain League status. Despite an heroic effort Atkins was unable to prevent relegation to the Conference after 69 years in the Football League.

Graham Barrow returned as manager for City's first season in the Conference and the club won silverware when they beat Kingstonian in the final of the Nationwide Variety Trophy. The club also reached the semi-final of the FA Trophy and Third Round of the FA Cup but this could not prevent the sacking of Barrow during Summer 2001. Former youth team coach, Gordon Hill, took control on the playing side but it was all change in October when Smith sold the club to Stephen Vaughan. With Chester at the bottom of the Conference, Hill was replaced by former Tranmere stalwart Steve Mungall.

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