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31
May 2007
MORE PRE-SEASON MATCHES ANNOUNCED
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Chester have
announced that Scottish League Division Two champions
Greenock Morton will visit Deva Stadium on Monday
23 July (19:45) for a pre-season fixture, two
days before the Blues will send a side to play
at neighbours Vauxhall Motors.
• Pre-season
matches |
28 May 2007
OFFER REJECTED
Tranmere Rovers have rejected
a bid from Chester for former winger Kevin Ellsion describing
the offer as ‘unsatisfactory’. City chairman
Steve Vaughan said: “We were all disappointed
that Tranmere rejected our bid to bring Kevin Ellison
back to Chester because we knew what he could have given
us. But Bobby knows of another attacking left-sided
midfielder who can do a job for us and he has identified
a couple of players who he would like to sign. We now
plan to speak to the players that Bobby has identified
and try to strike a deal for his targets.”
24 May 2007
BRIAN WOODALL 1948-2007
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Former Chester
player Brian Woodall died recently at the age
of 58 our condolences go out to his family and
friends.
• Obituary
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SEAGULLS VISIT CHESTER
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Chester have
arranged a pre-season friendly against Brighton
& Hove Albion on Saturday 4 August at Deva
Stadium. Kick-off 15:00hrs. Before then on Saturday
28 July, City will send a side to play Droylsden
who have just been promoted to the Conference.
• Pre-season
matches |
23 May 2007
CITY ENQUIRE FOR ELLISON AGAIN
The club have made another
approach for former player Kevin Ellison. Ellison, now
at Tranmere, has a year to run on his current contract
and ha been the target of bids from the club on more
than one occasion since leaving Deva Stadium in 2005
for Hull City. City chairman Steve Vaughan said: “Bobby
Williamson has identified Kevin as a player who would
improve our squad, so I have made an approach to Tranmere.”
The Blues have also enquired about Rovers’ goalkeeper
John Achterberg.
AWAY TERRACE
It’s been reported
that the club have applied to the City Council for permission
to make the away supporters’ terrace area to an
all-seated area. This is expected to reduce the capacity
of the ground to just over 5,000.
NEW HOME SHIRT
The Blues have revealed
their new home kit for next season which retains the
stripes but in a much wider form and the blue has also
changed from Royal blue to a lighter shade.
21 May 2007
ON THE BORDERLINE UPDATES
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Club historian
Chas Sumner has produced update sheets for the
first team fixtures, player who’s-who details
and reserves fixtures for last season. You can
download these from here.
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18 May 2007
PRE-SEASON FRIENDLY
The club have lined up
their first pre-season friendly as Scottish League Division
Two side Raith Rovers are to visit Deva Stadium on Saturday
14 July, kick-off 15:00hrs.
• Pre-season
matches
17 May 2007
THREE PLAYERS RELEASED
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Following
news yesterday that Drewe
Broughton had been paid-off it’s been
announced that defender Dave
Artell (pictured) won’t be offered a
new contract and midfielder Alex
Meechan has been released.
Artell, who signed for City in the summer of 2005,
was a solid performer last season that was recognised
by the support who awarded him runner-up in the
Player of the Season, he also picked up the ISA
Player of the Season award for his efforts. Meechan
signed for City from Forest Green Rovers in January
and made 2+6 appearances for the first team.
Artell told The Chronicle: “Things will
probably work out for the better but it’s
sad to be leaving and I’d like to thank
the fans. They were brilliant to me and if I do
ever return I hope they’d applaud me because
I gave my all for Chester. They have been great
to me really.”
Picture ©
Evening Leader
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15 May 2007
WILIAMSON PLANS FOR CITY FUTURE
Manager
Bobby Williamson has begun his plans for rebuilding
his City side for next season. The new boss has been
busy contacting several players he’d be interested
in bringing in but isn’t expected to make mass
changes that have happened at the Deva every summer
for several years.
He said: “I won’t be
bringing in 16 new players like happened at Chester
before last season, but I’ll see what the budget
is. I won’t be putting too much pressure on
the board for money to spend. There are players available
who could add to what we’ve got and complement
to what we’ve got, but I can’t see me
signing 16 players.”
In previous roles Williamson has
utilised his clubs youth teams to the full which will
be good news to Simon Davies and his young squad,
several of whom have made it through to the first
team ranks towards the end of the last campaign.
“I’ve been very pro-youth
at every club I have been at because I feel it is
so important to develop what a club has and see them
come through. I feel Chester is a club that has ambition
and drive to take it further forward.” said
Williamson.
The manager will be meeting with
the players soon and informing them who does, and who
doesn’t, feature in his plane for next season.
City’s pre-season campaign, including a possible
tour, are expected to be announced soon.
Picture © Evening
Leader
12 May 2007
ASSISTANT APPOINTED
Manager Bobby Williamson
has appointed Malcolm Thomson, a current member of
the Rangers coachng staff, to be his new assistant
at Deva Stadium.
11 May 2007
BOBBY WILLIAMSON NAMED NEW MANAGER
The
club have announced that Bobby Williamson has been appointed
the new manager after today’s interviews. Williamson
has signed a two year deal.
The 45-year-old Scottish born manager has a playing
career that has taken him from Clydebank to Rangers,
West Bromwich Albion, Rotherham United and Kilmarnock.
During his time at Millmoor, Williamson played in the
Rotherham side that took to the field in the last match
at Sealand Road.
He took over the managerial reigns at Kilmarnock in
1997 and moved five years later to hold a similar post
at Hibernian. In April 2004 he moved to manage at Plymouth
Argyle and was dismissed in September 2005. He has since
worked with the Scottish national ‘B’ team.
Williamson told the Daily Post: “I am delighted
that S.V. has given me the oppurtunity to manage Chester
City. Like myself the club is ambitiuos and hopefully
we can maximise these ambitions together. I have had
good reports about the current Chester squad and have
worked with Sean Hessey before at Kilmarnock. I would
like to meet the players as soon as possible and lay
down my plans for the future. The players will have
one of the toughest pre-seasons they can imagine as
peak fitness at the begining of the season is vital.”
Picture © Evening
Leader
• Last
match at Sealand Road
8 May 2007
FIVE SHORTLISTED
The
club have received 22 written applications for the vacant
manager’s position. A short list of five has been
drawn up and these are to be interviewed by chairman
Steve Vaughan on Friday and an announcement is expected
to be made at the weekend.
Vaughan stressed the importance of making the right
decision and said: “I have been happy with the
interest shown in the Chester job. People keep telling
me how small Chester is, but the applications I’ve
received speak volumes about how big we can be. I feel
that this appointment has got to be the right one. I’ve
been holding back and giving people a chance to apply,
but this will be a big appointment.
We have had an horrendous time since we returned to
the Football League, finishing 22nd the first season,
15th last season, and we’ve just seen the club
fall short by finishing 18th. The appointment of a new
manager will be made, but I’ll be making sure
that the successful applicant knows all about our level
of football and can produce some silverware for this
club. There have been plenty of applicants, but now
we have to make sure that we appoint the right person.”
The list of potential candidates has not been revealed
but one name on it is youth team manager Simon Davies
who took charge of training last week and first team
affairs at Lincoln City on Saturday.
7 May 2007
CURTAIN COMES DOWN ON DISAPPOINTING SEASON
City’s
season came to an end on Saturday with a 2-0 defeat
at Lincoln City, a result that sees the Blues finish
the season in 18th position in League Two. For the Imps
their victory was enough to seal a two-leg play-off
semi-final against Bristol Rovers. Two second half defensive
errors cost City dear at Sincil Bank though things could
have been so different.
Chris Holroyd missed a glorious opportunity to give
City the lead from the penalty spot in the opening period
but his weak shot was easily saved by Alan Marriott
in the home goal. After the interval a slip from Dave
Artell led to the opening goal on 64 minutes through
Mark Stallard.
Ex-Imp Simon Yeo came off the bench and looked to have
forced an equaliser only to have his effort ruled out
for offside. The points were wrapped up in the last
minute with Jamie Forrester netting from the spot after
a handball in the City area.
Caretaker manager Simon Davies said
after the defeat: “I enjoyed the experience
of being in charge, but two mistakes gave Lincoln
two goals. I thought it was a bit harsh on us, things
didn't go our way. On another day we could have won
by two goals. Lincoln did not cause us any real problems
except from set-pieces, the goals came from our own
errors. We made some wrong decisions, but there was
nothing we could do about the penalty. The ball fizzed
across the box and the lad could not get out of the
way.”
• Final
League Two table | First
team stats
Picture © Evening
Leader
4 May 2007
DAVIES ENJOYING HIS NEW ROLE
City
wrap up their season at Sincil Bank tomorrow as caretaker
manager Simon Davies (pictured) takes charge of the
side for the first time and will be planning to put
a dent in Lincoln City’s play-off hopes. Davies
will be able to recall ex-Lincoln player Kevin Sandwith
after suspension but looks likely to will be without
the services of Laurence Wilson who faces a hernia operation.
The Imps need a point to guarantee a place in the play-off’s
and will have a near full strength squad to choose from,
only striker Leon Mettam looks set to miss out through
injury. They have dropped out of an automatic spot after
failing to win in their last seven games.
Davies, who took over the youth team following the resignation
of Jim Hackett at the beginning of March, is enjoying
his new role and would relish the opportunity to make
the position his on a permanent basis. He said; “I’d
be lying if I said I wasn’t interested in the
Chester City manager’s job. I’m ambitious
the same as any professional footballer and I’m
definitely showing an interest in the position. I want
to go higher and improve myself in football and, like
the club, reach as high as I can.”
“I’m really enjoying my role as caretaker
manager of the first team and I suppose our performance
at Lincoln this weekend will provide an indication of
how good my chances are of getting the job. I think
coaching the first team is similar to my role with the
youth team in many ways. The Lincoln match should be
a very interesting game because they are one of the
better teams in the league and their league position
proves that. They have done very well and have been
playing good football. It would be nice to go there
and win, but more importantly go there and play the
right way.”
A big crowd is expected tomorrow for the match that
kick’s-off at 15:00 and will be refereed by Kevin
Friend from Leicestershire.
• League
Two table
Picture © Evening Leader
ALLEN FORCED TO QUIT
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Graham
Allen has been forced to retire from professional
football after suffering from a hip problem. Allen
signed for City last June from Rushden & Diamonds
but only made 2+1 appearances for the Blues.
On Allen’s retirement chairman Steve Vaughan
said: “Graham was a model professional,
but his hip injury has meant he has had to quit
the game, and obviously we wish him well in whatever
direction his career takes him in the future.
He will always be welcome back at the Deva Stadium.”
Picture ©
Evening Leader
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2
May 2007
PAUL BAKER CONTINUE’S SPONSORSHIP
UK
Sameday Ltd. are to sponsor Chester City football club
for a third successive season. The Flintshire-based
company are owned by lifelong City fan Paul Baker who,
until recently, was also on the board of directors at
the football club. The company will once again sponsor
the home and away shirts as well as it is hoped a number
of other initiatives.
Chairman Steve Vaughan said: “I would like to
thank Paul Baker and his company for their continued
support of the club, it gives Chester City and Sameday
continuity as well as being a valued partnership.”
1 May 2007
CANDIDATES LINE UP
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The CV’s
have been arriving at Deva Stadium since the announcement
of Mark Wright and Graham Barrow’s departure
yesterday.
City chairman Steve Vaughan has proclaimed he’ll
wait until next week before drawing up a short
list of prospective managers for interview.
Vaughan said: “As expected we have already
received a fair number of applications from managers
and some of their agents. Some of the people who
have shown interest are extremely experienced
at this level. But I will wait for a week or so
before drawing up a short list of candidates who
we will invite to come in for an interview.”
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Picture
© Evening Leader
RESERVES DEFEAT
The reserves wrapped up
their disappointing Pontins Holiday League campaign
with a 3-0 defeat at Manchester City.
• Final
Pontins League table | Reserve
Appearances and stats
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FA TROPHY Chester have been drawn away to Gainsborough Trinity in the second round of the FA Trophy.
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LAST
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DEFEAT AT DARLO
A goal five minutes into the second half by Cedric Main brings defeat at Darlington. |
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