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30
December 2013
PAUL COMSTIVE
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Former Chester
City star Paul Comstive has died at the age
of 52 after suffering from a heart attack.
The Southport-born player signed from Bolton
Wanderers for £10,000 in November 1991
and featured in 56 league games for the Blues
scoring six times. Perhaps the best-remembered
of these goals came in the first ever league
game at the Deva Stadium when he rounded off
the scoring as the Blues beat his former club
Burnley 3-0 in September 1992. Obituary
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28 December 2013
BLUES HELD BY GATESHEAD
Chester
drew the second of their holiday fixtures despite
taking an early lead against Gateshead at Deva Stadium.
Manager Neil Young made five changes from the side
that drew at Southport on Boxing day. Ross Killock
along with Lewis Turner returned from injury, Jason
Jarrett returned from suspension, Joe Heath replaced
Kevin McIntyre and Alex Titchiner came back to replace
Tom Peers, who started on the bench.
Jamie Menagh had already seen an early effort saved
by Adam Bartlett before Killock opening the scoring
for Chester on ten minutes rising at the back post
to head home a John Rooney free-kick. The Blues
dominated much of the opening period with menagh,
Jamie Reed, Jarrett and George Miller all seeing
efforts not converted. Titchiner and Turner both
saw efforts saved by Bartlett as the first half
ended with just that one goal advantage.
Gateshead came more and more into the game following
the break and came close to an equaliser as Liam
Hatch saw his goalbound effort cleared from the
line by George Miller, the follow-up being squirmed
wide.
The equaliser eventually came on 68 minutes as James
Marwood raced through onto a long ball, John Danby
came half-way out but seemed to hesitate and Marwood
duly drilled the ball past him into the bottom corner.
Both sides had chances in the closing stages but
it was the Blues who were left frustrated with just
a point after they had dominated for so much of
the opening half.
Table
after Gateshead match | More
pictures
Picture © Rick Matthews
(Chester Leader)
26 December 2013
BOXING DAY STALEMATE
Southport and Chester fought out a goalless
draw on Boxing Day. The Blues, backed by a following
of over 700 supporters, created plenty of chances
throughout the 90 minutes but were left to rue those
missed opportunities, in particular a last minute
one from Jamie Reed, as a result Chester remain
fourth from bottom. With the squad depleted through
injury and suspension Tom Peers was handed a full
debut by Neil Young and the youngster impressed
from the start forcing the first save of the game
in the opening minutes.
20 December 2013
HALIFAX MATCH SWITCHED
Chester’s home league game against
FC Halifax Town will be screened live by BT Sport.
As a result the game had been brought forward 48
hours and will now take place on Thursday 13 February,
kick-off 19.30hrs.
18 December 2013
CHESTER TO HOST ENGLAND MATCH
Chester have been selected to host the forthcoming
England U19 match against Turkey U19 on Wednesday
5 March 2014. Chairman Tony Durkin said: “We
would like to thank the FA for allowing Chester
FC to host this prestigious fixture. This is an
opportunity for our community club to show off our
capabilities to stage an international event, provide
a fantastic match day experience for its existing
fans and to encourage new supporters to the Swansway
Chester Stadium to sample what should be a fabulous
atmosphere.”
16 December 2013
TAMWORTH REARRANGED
Chester’s scheduled league game at
Tamworth on Saturday 11 January will now be played
on Tuesday 25 February, kick-off 19.45hrs, as the
Staffordshire side are involved in the FA Trophy
on the original date.
Fixtures
13 December 2013
REARRANGED MATCHES
Dates for the two outstanding fixtures are
now finalised. The Woking game at Kingfield Stadium
originally scheduled for tomorrow will now take
place on Tuesday 21 January. The away game at Macclesfield
Town, originally the 4 January, will now take place
on Tuesday 4 February. Both games kick-off at 19.45hrs.
9 December 2013
TEN MAN BLUES BEATEN AT HOME
Blues
defender Paul Linwood received his second red card
of the season on Saturday for a foul on Braintree
forward Dan Holman. Linwood was adjudged by referee
Jason Whiteley to be the last defender. Linwood
saw red for a similar offence at the away game with
the Iron earlier in the season. Holman went on to
score twice for the visitors who completed the double
over Chester without reply.
Manager Neil Young handed a full debut to youth
player Sean Miller while another of the promising
youth players, Tom Peers, came off the bench for
his debut in the second half. Other changes from
the side beaten at home to Barrow AFC in the Trophy
last week saw Jason Jarrett, Kevin McIntyre and
Craig Mahon drop to the bench with Ashley Williams,
Michael Kay and Joe Heath starting.
An uneventful opening period saw chances at a premium,
Gareth Seddon sent a long range effort well wide
and John Danby pulled off a good save to deny Holman
before the controversial sending-off changed the
game.
Braintree took the lead with a twice taken free-kick
following the red card. The first effort his the
wall but Ashley Williams was adjudged to have encroached,
the retaken kick then took a big deflection before
finding the net. Just before the hour mark Holman
added a second skipping through several tackles
before lifting the ball over Danby to seal the game.
A frustrated Young told the Chester Leader after
the match: “There was a referees assessor
in the stand on Saturday and the referee needed
to be told how bad a game he has had. Not just in
terms of the decision to send Paul off, but his
general decision-making throughout the game. There
were some bookings for both sides that were ridiculous.
Braintree scored from a retaken free kick and that
costs us games.”
“If you look at our last three league games
we’ve had a handball at Nuneaton, we should
have had a penalty at home to Luton, and now a ridiculous
decision on Saturday. But when you’re down
there these things happen. It’s all about
how you bounce back, but it’s getting harder.
I’m aware that people want results instead
of excuses, and unfortunately I haven’t been
able to give them that.”
Chester are not inaction now until Saturday 21 December
when they have a home game against Lincoln City,
kick-off 15.00hrs.
Table
after Braintree match | More
pictures
Picture © Melissa
Cross (Chester Leader)
MACCLESFIELD
With Macclesfield Town progressing through
to the third round of the FA Cup, the scheduled
away league game at Moss Rose on 4 January 2014
will now have to be rescheduled.
5 December 2013
CLUB CALENDAR 2014
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The Exiles
have produced a limited edition commemorative
Chester FC calendar for 2014 that looks
back over the three years of success since
the club was reformed.
The calendar is full colour and A3 in size
and is available now from the club shop
priced at £10.00. It is also available
from the club by post at a cost of £14.00
to include the postage and packing.
Order
form |
3 December 2013
HALF SEASON TICKETS
The club are now selling half season tickets
which come into effect with the home game against
Gateshead on 28 December. The ticket gives admission
to eleven games for the price of nine and of course
includes the home game over Easter against Wrexham.
The prices are as follows: Adults £144 (seat)
£126 (terrace), concession £99 (seat)
£90 (terrace), 16/17 year olds £45 (seat
or terrace), under 16 £20 (seat or terrace).
BOARD CLARIFY HARVEY POSITION
The board have issued a statement clarifying
the position of ex-manager Jim Harvey and his role
with the current club. The statement, follows information
given at last weeks AGM and reads:
1. Neil Young is under contract to Chester FC
until May 2014, as explained by Tony Durkin, Chairman,
talks will commence in the coming weeks with Neil
Young and his advisor regarding his contract.
2. The football club is facing its biggest challenge
since re-birth and Neil Young has had and has
the unequivocal support of the Board to address
the current challenges. Tony Durkin urged all
members and fans to get behind Neil and the team
at the AGM.
3. As confirmed at the AGM, Jim Harvey has offered
to volunteer unpaid, for a limited period to prepare
a report that could see the development of complimentary
infrastructure to the current youth section and
first team i.e. 18 - 21 years. In light of the potentially
damaging and inaccurate speculation, the Board will
now review with the manager and the youth section
whether the consultation will take place or not.
4. Most importantly the CFC Board have an obligation
to the members, and fans, to look at ways to improve
the football club, it is unfortunate that rumours
have circulated and incorrect assumptions have been
made.
2 December 2013
TROPHY EXIT FOR BLUES
Chester
crashed out of the FA Trophy at the first round
stage after suffering a 2-1 home defeat by Conference
North strugglers Barrow AFC. Both new loan signings,
John Rooney and George Miller, started out for Chester
who got off to a perfect start with a goal on three
minutes from Gareth Seddon and went on to dominate
much of the opening half without adding to their
slender advantage.
Inexplicably Chester totally lost their way in the
second period once Marcus Carver had grabbed the
equaliser on 58 minutes following a defensive error.
Manager Neil Young made to substitutions but the
Blues fell behind on 71 minutes as Carver took advantage
of some more poor defending to give the Bluebirds
the lead. Alex Titchiner saw an effort well saved
five minutes from time and defender Andy Higginbotham,
pushed up as a makeshift striker, was just unable
to meet a teasing Seddon cross in the dying minutes.
Young said after the defeat: “I apologise
to everyone who has watched that the game because
that's just not good enough. That was as bad as
it gets but I can't keep apologising. The form of
the team and certain individuals is just not good
enough.”
More
pictures Picture
© Rick Matthews (Chester Leader)
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