Defender Mark Williams impressed many people with his performances during the tail end of last season after joining City from Hereford United. He made 5+3 appearances for Chester but was released during the summer. Liverpool born Mark started his career as a junior with Tranmere Rovers but dropped down into non-league football with Northwich Victoria and Barrow before making his Football League debut with Rochdale in 1998. In March 1999 he moved on to Rotherham and played for the Millers at the Deva Stadium in the final game of the 1998/99 season, in what proved to be Chester’s last game in administration. After leaving Chester his career took an interesting development when former Everton defender Mike Lyons contacted Joe Hinnigan and asked if he knew of any players who might be interested in playing in the Far East. Lyons, the national team coach of Brunei, invited Mark over and in September he represented a team called BAFA X1 in the Brunei Invitational Cup. BAFA were essentially the Brunei national team but like all the clubs in the tournament they were allowed to include five imported players. BAFA X1 reached the semi-final of the tournament but Mark missed the game after being sent off against the Indonesian side Persita in an earlier round.

Veteran Dave Linighan was signed on non-contract terms by Gordon Hill after being released by Southport. He made his Chester debut against Boston United in the same game as David McNiven but only made three appearances all of which resulted in defeats. Dave had a lengthy league career with Hartlepool United, Derby County, Shrewsbury Town, Ipswich Town, Blackpool, Dunfermline Athletic and Mansfield Town before dropping into the Conference with Southport. It was actually Mark Wright who signed Dave for the Sandgrounders at the start of the 2000/01 season and he lined up in the defence alongside Scott Guyett and Phil Bolland. Earlier this season Gordon Hill appointed Dave as player\assistant manager at Hyde United but after only a handful of appearances Dave unfortunately broke his leg.

Hill also signed another former City player at the end of October. Kevin Hulme made four appearances on loan from Bury in City’s last season at Sealand Road. However he will best be remembered for two incidents when playing against Chester. In the first game of the 1993/94 season Kevin played at the Deva Stadium for Doncaster Rovers and a punch-up with Eddie Bishop resulted in Eddie being dismissed while Kevin stayed on to help Rovers to a 1-0 victory. By the 1998/99 season he was playing for Halifax and he played a key role in the Shaymen’s ill-tempered 3-2 victory in November 1998. With the score at 1-1 he was sent off, along with Chris Priest, as 20 players got involved in a touchline brawl. Since leaving Halifax Kevin has played for York City, Altrincham, Mossley and now Hyde. Another player to join Hyde United recently is Andy Shelton who had previously been with Caernarfon Town.