Continuing our look at former Chester players still playing in the Football League:

Luke Beckett (Stockport County) was a former Barnsley player who failed to make the first team at Oakwell despite being a regular scorer for the Reserves. He joined Chester during summer 1998 following the retirement of Stuart Rimmer. In his first season with City he scored 13 goals, including two in a two legged Worthington Cup tie against Port Vale. Luke started the 1999/2000 season with another three Worthington Cup goals, against Port Vale, and was the only player, besides Wayne Brown, to play in every league game. He was also voted Player of the Season and has the dubious distinction of scoring Chester’s final Football League goal in a 2-0 win over York. During summer 2000 Luke was transferred to Chesterfield in a controversial transfer that later resulted in the Spireites being fined and having nine points deducted. On the positive side Luke got off to a flier at Saltergate with yet another two goals in a Worthington Cup tie against Port Vale who by now must have been getting sick of the sight of him. In December 2001 Luke was on the move again in a £100,000 transfer to Stockport County. He has been a consistent scorer for County and was second highest scorer in Division Two last season behind Robert Earnshaw. Unfortunately Luke has missed most of this season with injury as County struggle to avoid relegation to Division Three.

Centre forward John Murphy (Blackpool) graduated through the youth ranks at Chester and made his debut, as a substitute against Wrexham, in October 1994 although it was another 18 months before he made his first start in City colours. His first goal for Chester was certainly one to remember, the finishing touch of a brilliant team effort, in a 5-1 victory against Lincoln City. Kevin Ratcliffe had high hopes for Murph and believed the big centre forward had a bright future in the game. This was proved in the 1998/99 season when Murph developed a useful partnership with Luke Beckett and finished the season as leading scorer with 12 goals. The arrival of Terry Smith, during summer 1999, saw Murph move on to Blackpool where he has continued to find the net regularly. He has now scored a very creditable 61 goals in 160+16 games for the Seasiders. Over the last few years it has often looked like he has been on the verge of a move to a bigger club with Portsmouth being favourites to sign him a couple of years ago. Any move will benefit Chester who will stand to gain from a sell-on clause in his original transfer deal.

Chris Priest (Macclesfield Town) originally joined Chester on loan from Everton in September 1994 and signed permanently in February 1995 after some impressive performances in the centre of midfield. A player with great drive and determination he scored some spectacular goals for Chester and in 1995/96 finished equal top scorer with 13 goals. When Chester reached the play off semi finals in 1996/97 he was sent off in the second leg at Swansea as the Blues were beaten 3-0 on aggregate. Chris was another player who left the club following the arrival of Terry Smith, after 26 goals in 162+5 appearances, and moved to newly relegated Macclesfield Town. Chris is now in his sixth season at Moss Rose and has amassed 13 goals in 129+10 appearances. For trivia buffs Chris’s second goal for Macclesfield against Carlisle, in December 1999, was reckoned to have been the last goal scored in the 20th century by a Nationwide League player.

Another former Blue, who played in midfield alongside Chris Priest at both Chester and Macclesfield, is David Flitcroft (Bury). David, brother of Blackburn’s Gary and Acccrington’s Steve, joined Chester from Preston North End in December 1993 and made his Chester debut, as a substitute at Shrewsbury, the following month.

A great character both on and off the pitch Flicker made up for his lack of pace with his enthusiasm for the game and on his day could be a tremendous creative influence on the team. In 1998/99 he was awarded the Away Travellers Player of the Year award but like both Chris Priest and John Murphy moved on during the summer to fresh pastures at Rochdale. In four seasons at Spotland he amassed 141+19 appearances but was released at the end of last season and joined Macclesfield Town. In January this year he was released by Macclesfield and was one of Graham Barrow’s first signings at Bury.

Centre-half Andy Crosby (Oxford United) joined Chester on a free transfer from Darlington in 1998 and only missed five of Chester’s games in the 1998/99 season. In July 1999 he joined Brighton for £10,000 and was a member of the team that won promotion, as champions of Division Three, in 2000/01. After losing his place in the Brighton team at the start of the following season he joined Oxford United on a free transfer in December 2001. Andy is currently team captain at Oxford and a dominant figure in a side that is currently chasing promotion to Division Two.

Chas Sumner [Published 06/3/04]