News from Deva Stadium August 2018

13 August 2018
MATCH OFF
Tomorrow night’s home game against Kidderminster Harriers has been postponed after certain areas of the stadium, notably the Control Room and PA Room, sustained severe water damage following heavy rain on Sunday. The game will now be played next week on Tuesday 21 August, kick-off 19.45hrs.

DREADFUL BLUES THRASHED AT BLYTH

Chester’s steady start to the season came to a crashing end on Saturday when they were demolished 8-1 at Blyth Spartans at Croft Park, their worst defeat in over 50 years. The Blues were three down at the break and Spartans added a fourth before captain Gary Roberts sent-off with a straight red card in the second period. Two goals followed before Gary Stopworth temporarily stopped the rot to make it 6-1. Two more late Blyth goals completed the rout.

A shell shocked joint manager Anthony Johnson (pictured) said after the defeat: “I’ve never been involved with anything like that in my life. The supporters probably never had, for all the bad results that they’ve had through the years. What can you say except for embarrassing? I’m shaking, I’m that mad. I’ve never seen anything like it in my life.”

“We’ve got a game on Tuesday, but one or two need to understand what’s happened. I’ve just gone in there and I’ve said to one or two of them ‘rip your contracts up and leave the football club’ because after that performance, I wouldn’t dare turn up again.”

“I feel the same about myself, to be honest with you. I’m embarrassed to be able walk out there on Tuesday night in front of however many people are going to be there – I feel embarrassed about it, so God knows what one or two of them are thinking.”

“I’ve gone over, there must have been 250 supporters here, we got booed off at half time and rightly so. I’ve never been booed off before in 10 years of management, so straight away I’m embarrassed. They’ve not waited to clap us off at the end, they’ve waited to see the response off the lads and I’ve never seen anything like it. You go over to the supporters, myself and Bernard and one or two of the lads, and you can hear what they’re thinking.”

Chester must now somehow pull themselves together before the visit of Kidderminster Harriers on Tuesday night, kick-off 19.45hrs.

Picture © Rick Matthews (Chester Leader)

DUO LOANED OUT
Both Nathan Brown and Alex Downes have joined Ramsbottom United on loan until the end of October.

7 August 2018
TABLE TOPPERS
Goals from Simon Grand, Anthony Dudley and John Pritchard saw Chester go top of the league (for 24hrs at least!) last night after a comprehensive 3-0 victory at Curzon Ashton.

The home side had the better of the opening period but Chester were ruthless in front of goal and scored twice in the first half at the Tameside Stadium through a header from Grand and a Dudley strike. After the break there was only going to be one winner with Gary Roberts bossing midfield Chester added a third goal through Pritchard to seal the points in front of a large away following.

Joint manager Bernard Morley said after the game: “We’ve taken four points out of our first two games. There is still lots to work on and I think you can highlight that in the first half when our quality at times wasn’t good enough. Apart from that we have come out after half time and told them to relax, take the reins off and go and enjoy it and I think we managed the game really well.”

“I think we looked really organised for a side that has only been together for four or five weeks and that is playing an unfamiliar shape.”

Chester are on the road again on Saturday when they travel to Blyth Spartans, kick-off 15.00hrs.

5 August 2018
BLUES HELD AT HOME
It was honours even on the opening day of the season as Chester and Spennymoor Town fought out a goalless draw. Both goalkeepers, Grant Shenton and Matthew Gould, made important saves throughout the game, Chester had the better of the opening 45 minutes that saw Anthony Dudley hit the bar for the Blues who fielded ten players making their full debuts. After the break it was the visitors who had the better chances with Shenton denying both Stephen Brogan’s piledriver and Jake Hibbs.

3 August 2018
TWO LOANED OUT
In an effort to gain match experience Chester have loaned out two players. Midfielder Rhain Hellawell has joined Barnoldswick Town for three months, while goalkeeper Theo Roberts has joinEd Buxton on a season long loan.

STRIKERS SIGN
Former Barnsley striker Shaun Tuton has signed for the Blues. The 26-year-old spent much of last season on loan from the Oakwell club at FC Halifax Town. Meanwhile after impressing in pre-season Deane Smalley (29), brother of defender Dominic has also signed for the coming season.

1 August 2018
BLUES LAUNCH ONLINE TICKETING SYSTEM
Chester have launched a new online ticketing system ahead of Saturday’s opening game of the season against Spennymoor Town so fans are able to pre-book tickets for home matches should they wish to. Cash turnstiles are still available on the day.

Supporters who wish to pre-book should visit the online ticketing website and follow these instructions from CFU:

- Select the ‘Match Tickets’ button
- Fixtures will be in front of you, click ‘buy’ on the fixture you want to attend
- Select your preferred stand and block from the drop down list (there is a stadium plan to help)
- Select your ticket(s) (adult, concession etc.) and select ‘add to cart’
- You can review your tickets in the cart and proceed to checkout
- Simply login – or register. You will only be required to register if you are a first time user
- Confirm your billing information and then click ‘place order’
- Once paid through PayPal, your ticket will be sent via email
- Print off your ticket, or bring it along on your phone, to the appropriate gate for entry.

• Buy tickets online from here.

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