News from Deva Stadium May 2025

31 May 2025
DEFENDER SIGNS
Central defender James Jones has signed for Chester on a one year deal having left Altrincham. The 28 year old has previously played for The New Saints and Barrow. He joined Altrincham in 2022 and made 71 appearances for The Robins, scoring three goals.

30 May 2025
NEW DEAL FOR MURRAY
Midfielder Iwan Murray has signed a new one year contract at Chester. Murray has made 96+42 appearances for the Blues, scoring 12 goals.

FIRST CONTRACT FOR BRISCOE
Defender Henry Briscoe has been awarded his first senior contract at Chester. The 18-year-old made his debut in the 3-0 victory at King’s Lynn Town in the last league game of the season.

TOM LEAK SIGNS IN
Defender Tom Leak has put pen to paper and signed a one year deal at Chester. The defender, who made 8+4 appearances on loan from Boston United towards the end of the season, was released by the Pilgrims at the end of the season.

28 May 2025
GRENVILLE MILLINGTON 1951-2025
Former player Grenville Millington has sadly passed away at the age of 73. Grenville made over 300 appearances for the club between 1969 and 1983 and was widely recognised as the best goalkeeper to ever wear the Chester shirt.

• Obituary

27 May 2025
PRE-SEASON FRIENDLY
Chester have announced their first pre-season friendly that will take place at Northern Premier League West Division side Bury FC on Saturday 12 July. The match at Gigg Lane kick’s-off at 15.00hrs.

NEW DEAL FOR BAINBRIDGE
Jack Bainbridge has signed a new one year with Chester. The 27-year-old midfielder had a tremendous first season with Blues making 38+1 appearances and scoring two goals.

24 May 2025
RETAINED LIST ANNOUNCED
The club have released their retained list for the 2025/26 season as follows...

The following players are currently under contract for 2025/26 season
Harrison Burke, Tom Peers, Oskar Rosenblatt, Declan Weeks and Connor Woods.

The following have been offered a new contract
Jack Bainbridge, Iwan Murray and Matty Williams.

The following players have been offered terms of re-engagement as under 24, or an option has been exercised
Alex Brown and Nathan Woodthorpe.

Discussions ongoing regarding contract offers for next season
Scott Burgess, Dan Mooney, Dylan Mottley-Henry, Connell Rawlinson and Kevin Roberts.

The following loan players have returned to their parent clubs
Tom Leak (Boston United), Taelor O’Kane (AFC Fylde), Jimmy Storer (Wolverhampton Wanders) and Kurt Willoughby (Oldham Athletic).

Players departing the club following the expiry of their contract
Adam Bott, Reece Daly, Ollie Heywood, Jordan Hunter, Jack Lambert and Dan Turner.

21 May 2025
ON THE BORDERLINE UPDATE PAGES
For those of you who like to update your copies of Chas Sumner’s popular book, Chas has produced three update stats sheets for last season which can be downloaded from here.

NATIONAL LEAGUE NORTH COMPETING CLUBS
Following the conclusion of the play-off's the make up for the National League North for next season has been finalised and includes a first ever meeting for the Blues with Bedford Town and Merthyr Town.

AFC Fylde
AFC Telford United
Alfreton Town
Bedford Town
Buxton
Chester FC
Chorley
Curzon Ashton
Darlington
Hereford
Kidderminster Harriers
King’s Lynn Town
Leamington
Macclesfield
Marine
Merthyr Town
Oxford City
Peterborough Sports
Radcliffe
Scarborough Athletic
South Shields
Southport
Spennymoor Town
Worksop Town

19 May 2025
HEARTBREAK FOR BLUES WHO ARE BEATEN IN FINAL
Chester were beaten 2-1 after extra-time in yesterday’s play-off final at Scunthorpe United. A crowd of just over 9,000, including 1,608 Chester supporters, packed the Attis Arena and created a tremendous atmosphere all afternoon. Chester started well with Nathan Woodthorpe firing just wide of goal in the opening minutes.

The Iron responded well attacking down both wings though Chester also carved out an opening at the other end as Jack Bainbridge headed high over when well placed from a Declan Weeks free kick.

Scunthorpe opened the scoring on 20 minutes, a Joseph Starbuck long throw-in from the right was not dealt by the Blues defence, the ball fell to Michael Clunan who’s shot hit the post, the ball rebounded to Danny Whitehall who was first to react and smash the ball home with Jimmy Storer beaten.

As in the semi-final at Kidderminster, Chester started the second half on the front foot and drew level on the hour mark. Woodthorpe’s cross into the box was handled under no pressure by Will Evans and referee Isaac Searle pointed to the spot. Connor Woods stepped up to send Ross Fitzsimons the wrong way with the penalty kick to the delight of the Blue supporters behind the goal.

Tyler Denton, who was already on a yellow card, looked certain to receive another one following a heavy challenge on Iwan Murray, despite issuing an astonishing 13 yellow cards throughout the match referee Searle declined to offer another one and Murray had to limp off following the challenge.

The game was heading to extra-time but there was still time for Tom Peers to shoot wide from a narrow angle and at the other end Whitehall to see a free kick rebound off the post.

Tom Leak saw a close range header saved by Fitzsimons before the winning goal came in the final minute of the first period of extra time as a cross found its way to Carlton Ubaezuonu, his shot was thwarted by an outstanding block from Kevin Roberts’ outstretched leg but the rebound fell kindly to the striker who buried the rebound.

8 May 2025
YOUTH TEAM BEATEN IN FINAL
The U19’s were beaten 1-0 by Maidstone United in yesterday’s National League U19 Alliance Academy Cup Final at St George’s Park near Burton upon Trent. The only goal of the game was an own goal that came early in the match.

5 May 2025
SUPERB BLUES REACH PLAY-OFF FINAL
A fantastic performance from Chester saw them overcome Kidderminster Harriers 2-1 at Aggborough yesterday and reach the National League North play-off final. Backed by a vociferous 1,300 supporters the Blues came from behind to clinch the victory that leaves then one step away from promotion back to the National League.

The Blues fell behind on 20 minutes as Kyle Morrison broke through a crowd of players to meet a far post corner and volley past Jimmy Storer from close range. Chester responded well with Iwan Murray and Dylan Mottley-Henry both going close. The equaliser came ten minutes before the break as Connor Woods tried a shot from distance, the ball was parried by Christian Dibble but the ball broke to Mottley-Henry to turn the ball home from six yards.

Chester started the second half strongly and were awarded a penalty soon after following a foul on Murray. Kurt Willoughby stepped up but saw his effort well saved by Dibble to maintain parity.

With eight minutes to go Chester sealed the victory as ex-Harrier Declan Weeks intercepted a headed clearance to control the ball and strike across Dibble from distance.

The Blues now travel to Scunthorpe United for the final on Sunday 18 May, kick-off 16.00hrs.

2 May 2025
SEMI-FINAL SELL OUT
All 1,300 tickets in the Chester allocation for Sunday’s play-off semi-final at Kidderminster Harriers sold out in under half an hour this morning.

1 May 2025
BLUES THROUGH ON DRAMATIC DEVA NIGHT
There was a tremendous atmosphere at Deva Stadium last night as Chester defeated Buxton 2-1 in extra time to book a place in Sunday’s semi-final at Kidderminster Harriers.

The kick-off was delayed 15 minutes due to congestion at the turnstiles but once underway it took the Blues just three minutes to open the scoring as Iwan Murray squeezed a shot past True Grant in the Bucks goal from the edge of the box. The visitors, shocked by the early goal, soon came into the game probing down both wings and enjoying plenty of possession. They drew level on 18 minutes as Tom Elliott was on hand to score from close range after Johnny Johnston’s free header at the back post was blocked.

Jimmy Storer produced a fingertip save to push a Johnston effort onto the post and back into his saving hands to keep the Blues level.

There were few clear-cut chances in the second period as Chester had to replace three strikers in Tom Peers, Kurt Willoughby and Connor Woods for fresher legs. With the game entering an extra 30 minutes the Blues found more momentum and pushed on. Dylan Mottley-Henry twice tested Grant, Harrison Burke headed an effort over and Taelor O’Kane saw an effort saved.

The winning goal came on 108 minutes as Declan Weeks’ floated free-kick was fed through to Mottley-Henry who headed back to Jack Bainbridge, he set the ball up for Burke to turn and shoot past Grant to the delight of a packed Harry McNally terrace behind the goal.

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