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30 July 2007
TROPHY SHARED
City
drew their latest pre-season friendly 1-1 at Droylsden
on Saturday. Dean Bennett headed City into an early
lead only for the Bloods to draw level midway through
the second half to share the Tony Downes Memorial
Cup played in memory of a local soldier recently killed
in Afghanistan.
Manager Bobby Williamson was happy
with the work out and told the Evening Leader “I
was looking for the type of game we got at Droylsden.
They were a well organised and well drilled outfit
and they gave us a game. We still looked a bit rusty,
but there were a lot of pleasing aspects. As the weeks
go on we’ll hopefully get fitter, stronger, and the
players will get to know one another a bit better
and turn in better performances. It was good to see
Dean Bennett getting his head to the goal. We always
encourage at least one midfielder to get into the
box and the bonus was to see Dean heading home.”
“The equaliser was a lesson
for us, but thankfully it happened in a pre-season match.
I felt we stopped and didn’t play to the whistle. I
felt Kevin Roberts was exceptional, but there were also
good performances from Chris Holroyd and Rob Marsh-Evans
on the left wing. We did have a lot of opportunities
and I didn’t see a lot wrong with Kevin Ellison’s goal
because he got up well and got his head to the ball,
but the referee deemed there was a foul somewhere.”
City’s pre-season continues with a rearranged
game at Vauxhall Motors on Tuesday night, kick-off 19:30.
The youth team are also in action with a game at Airbus
UK.
Picture © Evening
Leader
27 July 2007
COMFORTABLE WIN FOR BLUES
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Chester chalked
up a comfortable 8-1 victory against a young League
of Wales Connah’s Quay Nomads side at Deeside
Stadium last night, as the pre-season campaign
restarted following a couple of postponements.
The goals came from Chris Holroyd (2), John Murphy,
Nathan Lowndes, Simon Yeo, Richie Partridge, Phil
Bolland, and Kevin Roberts.
New signing Paul Butler played for the first half
and in all manager Bobby Williamson ensured that
19 players had a run out.
Speaking after this latest work out manager Bobby
Williamson said: “Our game at Nomads was
a good work-out and thankfully we didn’t
pick up any knocks which is the most important
thing. Seeing so many of the players getting on
the scoresheet is good news for our fans I suppose,
but that doesn’t really bother me too much
to be honest.
At this stage of the year it’s just about
getting the players fitness levels up and coming
through the game unscathed. I think we’ve
achieved that. I don’t want the players
to peak their fitness at the moment – if
the boys have got a bit of rustiness about their
play that’s the way it should be.”
The squad are next in action on Saturday when
they travel to play newly promoted Blue Square
Premier side Droylsden at The Butchers Arms ground.
Picture ©
Evening Leader
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TWO MORE FRIENDLIES
Chester have re-arranged their
Vauxhall Motors friendly for Tuesday 31 July, at Rivacre
Park (kick-off 19.30), They will now also travel to
play Northwich Victoria on Monday 6 August, (kick-off
19.45).
GRANT COMPLETES MOVE
City have completed the signing of midfielder Tony Grant
who has signed a one year deal with the club.
• Transfer
Activity
26 July 2007
PRE-SEASON CONTINUES
Having had their last two friendlies against Vauxhall
Motors and Greenock Morton postponed due to waterlogged
pitches Chester are expected to field a strong side
when they travel to play Connah’s Quay Nomads
at Deeside Stadium tonight. Kick-off is 19:30. Nomads
are now managed by former Chester youth team boss, Jim
Hackett.
Midfielder Tony Grant who has been on trial with City
is expected to sign today subject to passing a medical.
The former Everton player spent last season at Accrington
Stanley where he made 6 appearances.
25 July 2007
BUTLER SIGNS ON
City have captured their sixth pre-season signing as
experienced 34-year-old defender Paul Butler joins from
MK Dons on a one year contract. Butler began his career
as a trainee at Rochdale before moves took him to Bury,
Sunderland, Wolves, Leeds United and in January this
year to the MK Dons where he made 18+0 appearances.
Pictures
© Evening Leader
24 July 2007
ERIC DAVIS 1932-2007
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Former Chester
forward Eric Davis died recently at the age of
75. Our condolences go out to his family and friends.
•
Obituary |
NO
CITY FUTURE FOR SEAN HESSEY
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Like striker
Lee Steele before him, defender Sean Hessey has
been placed on the transfer list by manager Bobby
Williamson. Hessey signed for the Blues in July
2004 and has since scored twice in 89+3 apparances
for Chester.
Picture ©
Evening Leader
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LEE STEELE ON HIS WAY
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Striker Lee
Steele has been told he doesn’t feature
in manager Bobby Williamson’s plans this
season and has had his name circulated to clubs
in both League Two and the Blue Square Premier
(former Conference).
Manager Williamson said: �After careful consideration
I have made Lee available for transfer. �Lee doesn�t
fit into my plans for the forthcoming season,
so I think it�s only fair to him and to the club,
that we give him the opportunity to find another
club.�
Steele joined City from Leyton Orient in October
2006 and has scored 3 goals in 13+11 appearances.
Picture ©
Evening Leader
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THOSE WERE THE DAYS!
The Chester team from the mid 1950s are put through
their paces with some pre-season training at Sealand
Road. Jumpers for goalposts...
23 July 2007
CRONIN SETBACK
Glenn Cronin has suffered a career threatening setback
after had suffered a recurrence of a broken metatarsal
in his foot during training. It is the third time in
two years he has suffered this type of injury and he’s
expected to be out for nine months.
22 July 2007
RAY JONES 1944-2007
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One of Chester’s
most popular players from the 1960s, full back
Ray Jones, sadly died recently at the age of 63.
Our condolences go out to his family and friends.
•
Obituary |
21 July 2007
WEATHER TAKES ITS TOLL
Today’s friendly at Vauxhall Motors was called
off after the pitch became unplayable after heavy rain.
The same circumstances have also led to Monday night’s
home friendly against Greenock Morton to be called off.
The Blues are next in action at Connah’s Quay
Nomads on Thursday 26 July, kick-off at Deeside Stadium
is 19:30.
20 July 2007
PITCH INSPECTION
Tomorrow’s friendly at Vauxhall Motors is subject
to an 11:15 pitch inspection.
YOUTH TEAM WIN
A goal from long range by John Corrigan on 33 minutes
gave City victory at Formby in a youth friendly last
night watched by Bobby Williamson and his assistant
Malcolm Thompson. The best effort in the second half
came from Jimmy Ryan whose superb long range effort
was tipped on to the crossbar.
19 July 2007
CITY REJECT YEO APPROACH
City chairman Steve Vaughan
has “firmly but
politely” turned down Bury’s approach for
striker Simon Yeo. Vaughan said: “Simon is a natural
goalscorer, which he proved on Tuesday against Telford
United when he registered a fine hat-trick. Strikers
of Simon’s quality are very few and far between,
and we have never even contemplated transferring him.”
18 July 2007
WILLIAMSON HAPPY WITH OPENER
City
manager Bobby Williamson was happy, though admitted
there was still a lot of work to be done, after seeing
his side run out 5-3 winners in their opening pre-season
friendly at AFC Telford United last night. Simon Yeo,
subject of an official enquiry from Bury, notched a
hat-trick and John Murphy added the fifth after the
Blues had been gifted a bizarre own goal in the opening
minute.
Williamson fielded 20 players during the course of the
evening and strikers Yeo and Murphy were quick to gel
after just over a week in training. At the other end
of the pitch two centre-half pairing’s were tried
with youngster Robert Marsh-Evans making an appearance
after the break.
Williamson said: “I felt at times that the back
four were not bad, but it is a case of trying to get
the right pair in there. We had Bolland and Linwood
as centre backs in the first half and they did alright,
but I felt at times they overcompensated and got caught
over on the one side. In the second half I felt Ashley
Westwood and Marsh-Evans were to far apart at times
– we have just got to keep working at that and
hopefully get it to gel.”
Picture © Evening Leader
17 July 2007
NEW PLAYERS ON DISPLAY
After
Saturday’s postponement against Raith Rovers,
the Blues will once again be hoping to start their pre-season
preparation when they travel to the New Bucks Head to
play Telford United tonight (Kick-off 19:30hrs). Manager
Bobby Williamson has said that most of the City squad
are expected to play a part during the 90 minutes though
one or two carrying small injuries may watch from the
sidelines. There may well be a complete new XI at the
break.
Ahead of the game Williamson said: “I don’t
really know how the players are feeling ahead of the
match as I don’t really know them well enough
yet. What I do know is that they have all worked really
hard pre-season and as yet there have not been any complaints
from them as yet. No doubt once the team starts getting
picked there will be a few noses put out of joint but
that will be up for me to manage.”
Following tonight’s match City will be on the
road again on Saturday when they make the short journey
to play Ellesmere Port based Vauxhall Motors, kick-off
15:00hrs.
ALAN COTTERELL
Foremer chief scout Allan
Cotterell sadly died at the weekend following a short
illness. As well as scouting duties for the club he
also acted as kit-man under the two spells when Mark
Wright was in charge at City and was a familiar figure
on the bench during those times.
Chairman Steve Vaughan praised Alan and told the Daily
Post: “Alan will be sadly missed, he had a great
personality, and he was extremely knowledge-able about
football. He was always happy to turn his hand to anything,
whether it was watching prospec-tive signings or looking
after the playing kit on match days. I would like to
extend the sympathies of everybody at Chester City to
Alan’s family, our thoughts are with you all at
this extremely sad time.”
13 July 2007
MATCH OFF
Tomorrow’s game
against Raith Rovers has been called off due to a waterlogged
pitch. The Blues will now hope to kick-off their pre-season
on Tuesday night when they travel to play AFC Telford
United. Kick-off at the New Bucks Head is 19:45.
PRE-SEASON GETS UNDERWAY
City
entertain Scottish second division side Raith Rovers
at Deva Stadium tomorrow (15:00) in the first match
of their pre-season campaign. Blues fans will get their
first taste of football under new manager Bobby Williamson
who has promised that all five of his summer signings
will take some part in the game.
Williamson will play with four at the back but insists
that his formation used will be flexible. He said: “With
the formation we’re playing, it will mean defenders
chopping and changing, strikers chopping and changing,
wingers with full-backs interchanging so they all get
to know each other’s play. I want the players
all to be comfortable with each other. The players are
all desperate to get fit, desperate to play football
and desperate to get selected.”
Only the East stand seating will be open for tomorrow’s
game and admission will be £13.00 for adults,
£8.00 for concessions and £3.00 for under
16s.
12 July 2007
FORMER PLAYERS
Two players released by
the Blues at the end of last season have found new clubs.
Dave Artell has joined Moecambe and Alex Meechan has
moved to York City.
9 July 2007
ALAN WILKES 1951-2007
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It’s very
sad to report the death of Chester City supporter
Alan Wilkes who passed away after a short illness
aged 55.
Alan, a boyhood Arsenal fan, married into the
Blues after meeting Helen in the early 1980s
and was one of the early members of the Exiles
(known then as the Southern Branch). Alan worked
tirelessly on the Exiles committee as membership
secretary for ten years from the summer of 1989
before the pressure of work forced him to step
down.
He worked as the Disciplinary Manager with the
Football Association and joked in an Exiles
newsletter back in 1989 that his favourite City
player was Graham Barrow — “because
he keeps me in work!” He had been with
the organisation for 36 years.
Our thoughts are with his
wife Helen, family and friends.
Chester secretary Tony Allen knew Alan well
and said: “I have known Alan for many
years, he was a gentleman and a good friend
to football, on behalf of the club I would like
to extend my sincere condolences to his family.”
A minute’s silence will
be observed prior to next Saturday’s friendly
match against Raith Rovers at the Deva Stadium.
• Obituary
from the FA |
6 July 2007
PLAYERS REPORT BACK
Under the watchful eye’s
of manager Bobby Williamson and his assistant Malcolm
Thompson the first team squad reported back for pre-season
training today.
Pictures © Evening Leader
PRE-SEASON PRICES
The club have now announced
prices for their pre-season matches. Only the main East
stand will be open the the games and admission will
be: Adults: £13.00,
Concessions: £8.00, Under 16’s: £3.00.
• Pre-season
matches
AWAY TERRACE
General manager Rob Gray
looks on as the crush barriers are removed to make way
for seating on the away terrace.
Picture © Evening Leader
6 July 2007
DEVA OPEN DAY
The club are to hold an
open day from 13:00hrs on Sunday 29 July. Amongst other
attractions on the day, supporters will be able to meet
the playing squad, manager Bobby Williamson and his
assistant Malcolm Thomson. Fans will also be able to
have a tour around the stadium including areas such
as the changing rooms, treatment room and boardroom.
For the children there is also a chance to take part
in a coaching session run by Bobby Williamson.
4 July 2007
ON THE BORDERLINE UPDATE
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Club historian
Chas Sumner has released the 2006/07 update page
covering the Youth Team league and cup results
which can be downloaded from here.
[This is a two page PDF file] |
2 July 2007
WARD JOINS CITY
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The Blues
have made their fifth pre-season signing as
37-year-old goalkeeper Gavin Ward today joined
from Tranmere Rovers on a two year contract
as a player/goalkeeper coach.
Ward began his career as a junior at Aston Villa
in 1987 and since leaving there a year later
has been at: Shrewsbury Town, West Bromwich
Albion, Cardiff City, Leicester City, Bradford
City, Bolton Wanderers, Burnley (loan), Stoke
City, Walsall, Coventry City, Barnsley (loan),
Preston North End and finally last season Tanmere
Rovers.
Ward told the Evening Leader:
“It’s a new progression in a way
for me. I’m looking forward to being a
goalkeeping coach in the future, but first and
foremost I’m here to play.”
He continued: “I see
at least another two or three years left in
my playing career, if not more hopefully, so
that’s my main aim. I enjoyed my time
at Tranmere, but at the end of the day it was
probably best for both of us that I left the
club. I just needed to move on and that was
it.
I’ve never come across
John Danby. I’ve seen his name and I know
he was with Kidderminster. He’s only a
young keeper, so hopefully we can get on well
and hopefully he can pick up a few tips to make
him a better keeper.
It’s important
to have competition for places. You’ve
got to have two keepers who can do a job for
any team, so me coming to Chester will provide
good competition for John. He did well last
season, so hopefully he can push me and I can
push him which will be good for the club.”
• Transfer
Activity
Picture ©
Evening Leader
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LATEST
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AWAY TIE FOR REPLAY WINNERS Should Chester win their replay, they have been handed an away tie in the Fourth Round Qualifying of the FA Cup at Scarborough Athletic. |
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LAST
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BLUES PROGRESS Harrison Burke finds the net as ten man Chester squeeze past Stockton Town to earn an away FA Cup tie at Scarborough Athletic. |
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