Robbie Foy joined Chester on loan from Liverpool in February 2005 as the Anfield club looked to give the Edinburgh born player some Football League experience. A left footed player, who featured in the forward line and on the left side of midfield for Chester, Robbie was a regular in the Reserves at Liverpool without ever making a first team appearance. The diminutive youngster made his debut in the home defeat against Yeovil and played in the next 13 games without finding the back of the net and he returned to Anfield at the end of the season.

At the start of the 2005/06 the Scottish Under 21 international joined Wrexham on a similar long-term loan deal and scored in his first two games for the club. Although a regular in the first few weeks of the season he was thereafter used mainly as a substitute and returned to Anfield in January 2006.

Robbie was released by Liverpool in summer 2006 and after trials with Dunfermline Athletic and Grimsby Town was offered a contract with Scunthorpe United. Although Robbie started the campaign on the left wing for the Iron he found opportunities limited at Glanford Park and was released at the end of the season after only nine first team appearances. Last summer he returned to his native Scotland and impressed in pre-season friendlies for Clyde but was unfortunate to break his foot before the season started. After seemingly recovering from that injury Robbie broke his foot again which once again put him on the sidelines.

Prestwich born Jake Edwards was given a Football League lifeline when he joined Chester on loan from Conference side Exeter City in March 2006. After only one win in the previous 16 games the big centre forward was brought in by Mark Wright to strengthen a forward line that had only managed seven goals in the same period. The former Telford and Yeovil striker made a goalscoring debut in the 2-1 defeat against another one of his previous clubs, Wrexham, and his partnership with Derek Asamoah played a significant part in Chester’s fight against relegation.

Following the defeat at the Racecourse Ground City went on to win the next five games with Asamoah scoring seven goals aided by Jake’s aerial ability. After ten appearances the experienced forward returned to Exeter but was released in summer 2006 and signed for financially troubled Crawley Town. Jake played 21 times for the Red Devils before signing for Tamworth where he had spent some time on loan in 2005/06. Despite a reasonable return of seven goals in 21 games Jake could not prevent Tamworth’s relegation from the Conference and in May 2007 signed for Burton Albion where he plays in the forward line alongside the prolific former City star, Daryl Clare.

Much-travelled centre-forward Marcus Richardson was a Keith Curle signing from Yeovil Town before the start of the 2005/06 season. The former Lincoln, Hartlepool and Torquay striker made his debut in the opening game of the campaign at Peterborough United where City came away with a surprise 1-0 win. An unselfish, hard-working forward Marcus made 22+12 league appearances at Deva Stadium and scored four goals.

The most memorable of these were the two goals against Darlington where Marcus came off the bench to score two goals in an exciting 4-4 draw. He also scored one of the goals in the 3-0 FA Cup victory over Nottingham Forest. The arrival of Mark Wright and subsequent loan signing of Jake Edwards saw Marcus out of the side and he finished the season on loan at Macclesfield Town where his late strike against Bristol Rovers secured the Silkmen’s place in the football League.

Following his release by Chester in the summer Marcus briefly signed for Weymouth but after only six weeks was on the move again to one of his former clubs, Cambridge United. In January 2007 the nomadic striker was on the move again, to another Conference team Crawley Town where he saw out the remainder of the season. In summer 2007 Marcus made a surprise return to the Football League with Bury and featured in the Shakers 2-1 win at MK Dons before being released from his short term contract at the end of August.

In October 2007 he moved back to his non-league roots and signed for Farnborough FC of the BGB Football League Division 1 South & West where he is currently averaging a goal every other game.

Chas Sumner [Published 9/3/08]