Latest news from Deva Stadium

30 November 2010
CUP MATCH POSTPONED
Tonight’s League Cup match at Newcastle Town has been postponed due to a froxen pitch. It is hoped to now play the tie on Tuesday 14 December, kick-off 19:45hrs.

28 November 2010
REARRANGED FIXTURES
Following the postponement of Saturday’s match against Durham City due to a frozen pitch, the game has now been rearranged for Monday 27 December, kick-off 15:00hrs. The AFC Fylde match originally scheduled for that Bank Holiday will now take place on Wednesday 12 January, kick-off 19:45hrs. These two switches were made by the Evo-Stik League. The away match at Leigh Genesis has also been rearranged and will now take place on Tuesday 1 February, again with a 19:45hrs kick-off.

• Fixture List

26 November 2010
HOPING TO BEAT THE FREEZE

Weather permitting Chester welcome Durham City tomorrow afternoon in their latest Evo-Stik league Division One North match. There will be a pitch inspection at 08:30hrs tomorrow morning to ascertain whether the game will go ahead. The pitch was playable this afternoon but overnight temperatures are expected to drop to around -3° which must put the game in some doubt.

The visitors currently lie mid-table with 18 points from 17 matches and have lost just on of their past five matches.

Blues manager Neil Young will be without the services of captain George Horan who sits out a one match suspension after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season at Ossett Albion.

• League table

JOHN BUTLER 1937-2010

John Butler, one of Chester’s unsung heroes from the much loved 1964/65 team, died recently at the age of 73. Our condolences go out to his family and friends.

Bill Lambton brought John to Sealand Road in the summer of 1962. For the next four seasons John was a consistent performer as centre half for the club where his no-nonsense style saw him play 121 consecutive games between 1963 and 1966.

• Obituary

24 November 2010

PAUL RAYNOR 1957-2010

It’s very sad to report the death of former Chester player Paul Raynor who passed away at the age of 53 after a long illness. Paul made 200 league appearances for the club, in two separate spells, between 1976 and 1983. He was a member of the successful Chester team that finished fifth in the old Division Three in 1977/78 and was the club’s regular penalty taker in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

A minute’s silence will be observed before Saturday’s home match with Durham City.

• Obituary

22 November 2010
BLUES IN CONTROL

Chester cemented their place at the top of the Evo-Stik Division One North with an emphatic 4-0 win over Skelmersdale United on Saturday. They remain six points clear of second placed side Clitheroe.

The Blues weathered some early pressure from the visitors before taking the lead through goal-machine Michael Wilde midway through the first half, the striker heading home from a near post Tom Field corner. Two minutes later the striker had a chance to double the advantage having bee brought down in the box. However, after defender Steven Akigg had receives his marching orders for the challenge Skem ‘keeper Andy Paxton saved low down to deny the second goal.

Chester needed a second goal and it came five minutes after the break. Antoni Sarcevicweaved his way into the City box on the right before being tripped from behind. A change of penalty taker saw Field smash the ball past Paxton in font of the delighted home terrace.

With the eleven men now in control Chester chased fmore goals and a third duly arrived from Stuart Jones who poked home a loose ball from close range after George Horan had seen an effort blocked by Paxton.

New signing Jimmy McCarthy completed the scoring with a cool solo goal six minutes from time. He smartly chested down a long through ball to race clear on goal, dummied the keeper and after a cheeky stepover rounded Paxton and flicked the ball home with the outside of his foot.

A delighted Neil Young told the Chester Chronicle: “I know they had a man sent-off in the first half and, while I thought the football they played in the first 10 to 15 minutes was very good, I always thought if we could get in behind them we would cause them problems. We did that and I thought we deserved to win the game.

“Over the last four or five weeks the lads have been really sharp. We’re getting the ball forward a lot more and playing with a really high tempo. We’ve just got to keep it up now.”

The Blues are next in action on Saturday when they entertain Durham City, kick-off 15:00hrs.

• League table | More pictures

Picture © Evening Leader

19 November 2010
TOP TWO CLASH

Another bumper crowd is expected tomorrow as Chester entertain second placed Skelmerdale United (15:00hrs). Both teams are in top form with the visitors on a high after beating Cammell Laird 8-0 last weekend.

The Skem are the top scorers in the league with 46 goals in their 13 matches and they currently lie six points behind Chester but have two games in hand. The top end of the table is familiar territory to the West Lancashire side who’ve reached the play-off’s for the last three seasons.

The club have a long history being formed back in 1882 and were founder members of the Lancashire Combination nine years later. In 1967 they reached the final of the FA Amateur Cup drawing 0-0 with Enfield before a crowd of 75,000 at Wembley Stadium, they went on to lose the replay at Maine Road. They finally went on to win the Cup in 1970/71. Chester hero Harry McNally spent most of his playing career at Skem and went on to coach the club.

Blues manager Neil Young will be boosed with the news that on-loan midfielder Antoni Sarcevic has had his loan period extended by at least another month. He’s called on the Chester support to turn up in numbers really get behind the side tomorrow.Young said: “Our fans have been fantastic this season and we need them to continue showing the same support on Saturday. In big games like these, crowds can sometimes can get a little bit quiet and a little bit tense. You can feel that out on the pitch, so my message to the supporters would be we need as many of you as possible and we need you to make as much noise as possible.”

Needless to say that with another large crowd expected the club have asked supporters to arrive in plenty of time tomorrow to ease the congestion at the turnstiles.

• League table

18 November 2010
CHESTER EASE THROUGH
Goals from Antoni Sarcevic, Jimmy McCarthy and an own goal from Nick Dodd saw Chester book a quarter-final spot in the President’s Cup after defeating First Division South side Sutton Coldfield Town 3-0 last night.

17 November 2010
LANDMARK FOR JUNIOR BLUES

Another milestone was reached last week for the Junior Blues, as the under 16’s arm of City Fans United passed the 350 members mark.

The Junior Blues who celebrate their Christmas Parties at both the Exacta Stadium and the Ten Pin Bowling centre in December, are now hoping to see membership increase to 500 in 2011.

Dave Cartwright, Chairman of the Junior Blues said, “It’s been a fantastic year, and to see so many of the children wearing Chester tops in and around the City bodes really well for the future. A lot of people have helped us reach this milestone, and special thanks must go to the Junior Blues committee members who have worked relentlessly to help develop the membership.”

The Junior Blues are also holding a Quiz at the Exacta Stadium Blues Bar on Friday 3rd December (19.30 start), where teams are encouraged to take part. The winners will receive the new Junior Blues Quiz Shield which will be displayed inside the Blues Bar.

To join the Junior Blues, please visit www.cityfansunited.com or e-mail juniorblues@cityfansunited.com for further details.

BLUES IN CUP ACTION

Chester host Division One South side Sutton Coldfield Town tonight (19:45hrs) in the second round of The President’s Cup.

Following promotion the previous season, the visitors currently lie in ninth place in their league with 22pts from 12 matches, they are fifth top scorers in the league with 30 goals but have also conceded 23. They will be without striker Mark Bellingham who has a hamstring injury.

Chester are once again expected to make changes from the side that won at Ossett Albion at the weekend with some of the fringe first teamers getting another chance to impress manager Neil Young.

Admission for tonight’s game is Adults £7.00, Concessions £5.00, Under-18s £3.00. The game is played to a conclusion tonight with extra-time and penalties used if necessary.

16 November 2010
McCARTHY SIGNS
Manager Neil Young has strengthened his squad further with the signing of striker Jimmy McCarthy from Kidsgrove Athletic. Young has been monitoring the player, who has previously had a trial at Crewe Alexandra and played for Altrincham in the Football Conference, for some time.

Young said: “If the paperwork can be completed in time and we get confirmation that Jimmy is not cup tied he will go straight into the squad for Wednesday evening (against Sutton Coldfield).”

• Transfer activity 2010-11

HALF-SEASON TICKETS ON SALE
The club have announced that Half-Season Tickets are now available with the home game against AFC Fylde on Monday 27 December the first match that is covered by them. Prices are as follows:

East / West Stand
Adults: £100, Concessions £70, Ages 16-17 £30, Ages 5-15 £20.

Harry McNally Terrace
Adults: £90, Concessions £60, Ages 16-17 £30, Ages 5-15 £20.

Application forms will be available at the club and may be downloaded HERE on the official club website. Tickets may collected from Monday 13 December.

15 November 2010
BLUES EXTEND LEAD

Goals from Rob Hopley, Bradley Barnes and Michael Wilde gave Chester a 3-0 win at Ossett Albion on Saturday and extend their lead at the top of the divison to six points from second placed Skelmersdale United who visit the Blues this Saturday. Skelmersdale moved second after Chorley were held to a draw at Wakefield.

Manager Young told the Chester Evening Leader: “I’ve always said that once we hit the top it’s all about other teams trying to catch us. We’ve got to make sure that we do our job and not worry about Chorley because I think it's a bit disrespectful to the other clubs who are also chasing us, such as Curzon Ashton and Skelmersdale United.”

“I still feel that we’ve just got to concentrate on what Chester do and if we keep doing what we are doing then we will win the league – it’s as simple as that.”

• League table| More pictures

Picture © Evening Leader

12 November 2010
CHESTER LOOK TO EXTEND AWAY SUCCESS

Chester are back in League action tomorrow with a visit to Yorkshire to play Ossett Albion. The club are looking to record their seventh successive away victory at a side that currently lie 19th in the division. Manager Neil Young is expecting a tough game tomorrow but will be able to recall the services of on-loan Crewe Alexandra midfielder Antoni Sarcevic who missed the home win over Mossley last weekend through suspension. There may also be a place for Danny Meadowcroft (pictured) recalled from his loan spell at Bamber Bridge and played in midweek against Congleton.

Osett are unbeaten in their last five home matches and haven’t lost a home League match since the opening day of the season when they were beaten 3-1 by Warrington Town. Young said: “Ossett is a tough place to go. They get in your face and they are a lot better team at home than they are away. But we go there confident. We’re not top of the table by fluke, we’ve got a settled side – certainly in league matches – and we’re growing in belief by the game.”

• League table

Picture © Evening Leader

11 November 2010
CUP EXIT FOR CHESTER

Chester were knocked out of the Cheshire Senior Cup last night beaten 3-2 at home by Congleton Town of the Vodkat League. Manager Neil Young rested no fewer than nine of the players that played against Mossley on Saturday. This gave several of the fringe players a run-out including Danny Meadowcroft who has been recalled from his loan spell at Bamber Bridge.

The Blues fell behind on 26 minutes through Mark Beeston, but equalised through Tom Field nine minutes later following good work from Stuart Graves. A great goal from Joshua Hancock on the stroke of half-time restored the lead for the Bears.

Chester created chances to equalise again after the break but had to wait until the 62nd minute before Kyle Wilson leveled matters scoring past ex-City goalkeeper Matt Conkie. Parity only lasted a couple of minutes though as a mix-up in the home defence saw Chris Oldfield drop a cross allowing Beeston to score his second goal of the game and book a place in the quarter-final at Warrington Town for the visitors.

An unhappy manager Neil Young to the official website: “I was very disappointed with the overall all team performance and very angry with certain individuals attitude and application to the game. Players were given opportunities to show me that they want to play at Ossett on Saturday but clearly failed to take that opportunity. With the exception of Kyle Wilson when he came on, there were poor performances all over.”

8 November 2010
BLUES EXTEND LEAD AT THE TOP

Chester extended their lead at the top of the Evo-Stik Division One North to four points after another fine home performance saw them beat Mossley 3-0 on Saturday. Their position at the top was boosted by a surprise first defeat of the season of Chorley at home to the bottom club Harrogate Railway Athletic 2-1.

Chester gave a debut to goalkeeper Chris Sanna, signed this week from Colwyn Bay, and the 23-year-old showed his worth with a fine save to deny Mossley’s Connor Hampson in the 25th minute before Chester took the lead through captain George Horan’s third goal of the campaign moments later. City extended their lead with two goals after the break from top scorer Michael Wilde including the club’s first penalty of the season following a handball.

Manager Neil Young said after this latest victory: “I don’t worry about what Chorley or any other team is doing. I know fans do because that’s football. But from a manager’s point of view I’ve just got to concentrate on my own side because if we get it right here, we’ll win the league.”

“The lads are playing really well. For me, the performances in the last four games have been what I want from my Chester sides. We’ve been tinkering and moving people in and out because as I’ve said on numerous occasions, in football it’s not just about a player’s technical ability, but also about their personality and how they into fit a system, and I think we’re getting it right now.”

“It was a great team performance. Everyone is now contributing whereas maybe before the last four games we were relying on Michael Wilde too much.”

• League table | More pictures

Picture © Evening Leader

CHESHIRE SENIOR CUP
The Blues are next in action on Tuesday night with a home second round tie in the Cheshire Senior Cup against Congleton Town, kick-off 19:45hrs. Admission prices are: Adults £5.00, Concessions £3.00, Under 18s £1.00. The match programme will cost£1. Only the East Stand and Harry McNally Terrace will be open for this match. Chester have won the cup on seven previous occasions though you have to go way back to 1931/32 for the last occasion.

5 November 2010
ARMED FORCES DAY

As Remembrance Day approaches in a few days time, the club have designated tomorrow’s home match against Mossley ‘Armed Forces Day’. Soldiers from the 1st Battalion The Royal Welsh will be in attendance for the day.

On the pitch, Chester will be looking for three more points to retain their place at the top of the Division One North table. Manager Neil Young will be without on-loan midfielder Antoni Sarcevic who serves a one match ban following his red card against Lancaster City. Sarcevic has added a much needed steel in midfield since arriving from Crewe Alexandra.

Goalkeeper Richard Whiteside misses the game through injury as do Roger Sharrock, Mark Connolly and Tom McCready. Either Chris Oldfield or new signing Chris Sanna will play in goal tomorrow, Oldfield’s transfer to Darlington has fallen through.

Visitors Mossley have no less that four players serving suspension tomorrow and have been busy drafting in four players: defender Cavell Coo, goalkeeper Josh Ollerenshaw and midfielder's Michael Thomas and Callum Byrne.

Mossley currently lie in 20th position with nine points though they have only played eight league matches so far, five fewer than the Blues!

• League table

4 November 2010
KEEPER SET TO SIGN
Chester have agreed terms with Colwyn Bay for their 23-year-old goalkeeper Chris Sanna. Personal terms have been agreed with the player and the deal is expected to be completed tonight, the club will then seek international clearance from the Football Association to enable Sanna to play.

Sanna has appeared in a Chester shirt before, he had a pre-season trial in July/August 2008, playing three matches against Southport, Vauxhall Motors and Telford United.

2 November 2010
CUP MATCH POSTPONED
Tonight’s League Cup match at Newcastle Town has been postponed as the Chester team coach, that set off from the ground at 16:30hrs was stuck in a motorway gridlock following accidents on the M56 and was unable to exit the motorway, taking three hours to get to Elton services! A rearranged date will be announced as soon as possible.

BLUES BACK IN CUP ACTION

Chester travel to Division One South side Newcastle Town tonight for a second round League Cup match. The Castle are in fine form and currently lie fourth in their table with 22 points from ten matches. They only played two league games in October with FA Cup, FA Trophy, President’s Cup and League Cup matches taking preference. They won 3-2 at Market Drayton Town in the first round of the competition.

Blues manager Neil Young is expecting to name the same 16 players as Saturday, with the exception of Richard Whiteside, as they travel for tonight’s match in Stafforshire.

Young told the Evening Leader: “We’ve got 16 fit players and I think I’m going to have to ask the same lads to play again because it doesn’t look like we’re going to get anyone back in terms of fitness, so the lads who were on duty on Saturday, apart from Richard Whiteside, will be the lads who are on duty tonight.”

“I’m also hoping that Rob Hopley will be fit and there are a number of options as far as the goalkeeping position is concerned.”

Tonight’s game will be played to a conclusion with extra-time and penalties used if needed.

1 November 2010
BLUES RIDING HIGH

Chester sit at the top of the Evo-Stik Division One North after a brace of goals from top-scorer Michael Wilde brought victory at neighbours Cammell Laird on Saturday to lift Chester a point clear of Chorley, though they have played two matches more than their Lancashire rivals. The Blues created a hatful of chances in the opening half at Kirklands but only had one goal to show for their dominance.

The home side equalised after the break through player-manager Alex Hay after confusion between goalkeeper Richard Whiteside and his defence. Cammell Laird were reduced to ten men with the dismissal of Anthony Gardiner for deliberate handball.

It looked like it was going to be an afternoon of frustration as the Blues had three efforts ruled out for offside. However, twelve minutes from time Wilde scored the winner with a fine volley from a pin-point cross from on-loan midfielder Antoni Sarcevic.

Hero Wilde wasn’t finished though, and he donned the orange ‘keeper’s shirt with two minutes remaining as Whiteside had to leave the field with injury. Seven minutes of stoppage time were added by referee Richard Bartlett but ‘Lairds failed to test the stand-in goalie once and the 1,000 away supporters left happy after seeing their sides fifth away victory on the run.

The attention now turns to finding an emergency loan replacement for Whiteside in time for Tuesday night’s League Cup match at Newcastle Town.

• League table

Picture © Evening Leader

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