Chester F.C.
Full name | Chester Football Club | ||
---|---|---|---|
Nickname(s) | The Seals | ||
Founded | 2010 | ||
Ground | Deva Stadium | ||
Capacity | 5,400 | ||
Owner | City Fans United | ||
Chairman | Kieron Shiel | ||
Manager | Calum McIntyre[1] | ||
League | National League North | ||
2023–24 | National League North, 10th of 24 | ||
Website | Club website | ||
| |||
Chester Football Club is an association football club based in Chester. They are currently members of the National League North, the sixth tier of English football, and play at the Deva Stadium.
The club was founded in 2010 following the liquidation of Chester City.[2] In its inaugural season it competed in Division One North of the Northern Premier League, following a successful appeal to the Football Association against its initial placement in the North West Counties League. After winning this division, it then won the Northern League Premier Division in 2011–12 and the Conference North in 2012–13. Chester returned to the National League North following relegation in 2017–18.
History
Background and formation
The
City Fans United (CFU) had been formed in October 2009, following growing disquiet among fans with the running of Chester City, who at that point were already in deep financial trouble.
Following the official winding up of Chester City in March 2010, a ballot was held to choose the name for the new club. Over 1,000 people participated in the ballot and 70% voted for the name Chester FC, which had been the old club's name for its first 98 years.[13] The club received the support of Cheshire West and Chester Council, which granted the lease of the Deva Stadium (subsequently renamed the Exacta Stadium as part of a sponsorship arrangement), Chester City's former ground, to Chester FC in May 2010.[14]
Chester FC started competing in the
Neil Young (2010–14)
The club was formally relaunched on 20 May 2010, when Neil Young and
Following Chester's promotion to the
Chester began the 2012–13 season as second favourites with bookmakers for the
Conference Premier (2013–18)
As expected, for the 2013–14 season, Chester remained as a semi-professional club, despite the presence of a number of full-time clubs in the Conference Premier.
Chester remained in the
Chester played in the National league (originally named Conference Premier) for the duration of their 2015–16 season, where they picked up 8 wins and 6 draws from their first 23 matches to position themselves at 14th for the first half of the season. However, a dip in form saw Chester pick up 11 losses in their remaining fixtures. With four games remaining in the season, Chester sacked Steve Burr and he was replaced by his assistant manager, Jon McCarthy. Three wins in the final three games of the season however saw Chester finish in 17th in the Conference Premier with 54 points. [36]
Chester's form declined even more in the 2016–17 season where their 14-10-22 record saw them sit at 19th at the end of the season with 52 points; just 4 above the relegation zone.[37]
Chester's fortune in the National league finally turned sour in the
National League North (2018–present)
Johnson & Morley (2018–21)
Bignot was replaced by joint managers Anthony Johnson and Bernard Morley.
In the following season, Chester finished in 6th place after a decision to end the season in March due to the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.[49][50] The season was finished on a points per game basis, however, Chester lost out by 3–2 in the play-offs to Altrincham.[51] In January 2021, the National League North season was declared null and void with Chester in 3rd place after 17 matches.[52][53]
Steve Watson (2021–22)
Steve Watson was appointed manager on 23 December 2021. In his first game he recorded 3–1 victory away to Telford United on Boxing Day. He left the club by mutual consent at the end of the season.[54]
Calum McIntyre (2022–present)
On 12 May 2022, the club's former academy head coach Calum McIntyre was appointed as the new first team coach at the age of 28.[55]
Crest and colours
Crest
The crest was designed by Martin Huxley, a Chester-based graphic artist and Chester F.C. fan,
In keeping with the club's crest, Chester's mascot is a friendly wolf called 'Big Lupus'.[57]
Colours
Chester play in blue and white top with black shorts and blue socks, similar to their predecessors
Shirt sponsors and manufacturers
Period | Kit Manufacturer | Shirt Sponsor |
---|---|---|
2010–2012 | Joma | MBNA |
2012–2015 | Puma
| |
2015–2020 | MBNA & Skywheels Group | |
2020–2023 | Kappa | MBNA |
2023– | Hope + Glory |
Stadium
Chester F.C. play at the Deva Stadium, the home of their predecessor. It has a capacity of 6,500 with 4,170 seated. The stadium was leased to the club by Cheshire West and Chester Council.[14]
The highest home league attendance at the Stadium was in April 2012 against Northwich Victoria, with a crowd of 5,009.
England–Wales border
The stadium is located in the Sealand Road Industrial Estate and straddles the
Rivals
The club's predominant
Players
Current squad
- As of 6 March 2024[68]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
|
|
Out on loan
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
|
International appearances
The following table shows players who have received an international cap while playing for the club (including substitutions) arranged alphabetically by nation in descending order:
Time at Club | Player | Nation | Appearances | Goals | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2010, 2011–2013 | Antoni Sarcevic | England C
|
1 | 1 | [69] |
2014–2015 | Kingsley James | England C
|
3 | 1 | [70][71][72] |
2014–2016 | Ben Heneghan | England C
|
3 | 0 | [72][73][74] |
2013–2014 | Danny Higginbotham | Gibraltar | 1 | 0 | [75] |
2015 | Jamie McDonagh | Northern Ireland U21s | 1 | 0 | [76] |
2015 | Oli McBurnie | Scotland U19s | 3 | 1 | [77][78][79] |
2016–2017 | James Alabi | England C
|
2 | 0 | [80][81] |
2017–2018 | Tom Crawford | England C
|
1 | 0 | [82] |
2022 | Robert Apter
|
Scotland U19s | 3 | 0 | [83] |
2022– | Kole Hall | Bermuda | 5 | 0 | [84] |
2022– | Wyll Stanway | England C
|
1 | 0 | [85] |
Management
Current management and coaching staff
As of 19 February 2024[86]
Name | Role |
---|---|
Manager | |
Colin Woodthorpe | Assistant Manager |
Neil Ebbrell | Goalkeeper Coach |
Jimmy Soul | Kit Manager |
Michael Allcock | Academy Head Coach, First Team Coach |
Managerial history
- As of 17 March 2024
Name | From | To | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Win % | Honours |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Neil Young | 20 May 2010 | 8 Jan 2014 | 182 | 114 | 35 | 33 | 62.64 | Supporters Direct Cup Winners 2011
NPL Premier Division Champions 2011–12 Peter Swales Shield Winners 2012 Cheshire Senior Cup Winners 2012–13 Conference North Champions 2012–13 |
Gary Jones (caretaker) | 8 Jan 2014 | 18 Jan 2014 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 | |
Steve Burr | 18 Jan 2014 | 7 Apr 2016 | 125 | 45 | 26 | 54 | 36.00 | |
Jon McCarthy (caretaker) | 7 Apr 2016 | 7 May 2016 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 75.00 | |
Jon McCarthy | 7 May 2016 | 6 Sep 2017 | 58 | 16 | 15 | 27 | 27.59 | |
Tom Shaw (caretaker) | 6 Sep 2017 | 20 Sep 2017 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 00.00 | |
Marcus Bignot | 20 Sep 2017 | 11 Apr 2018 | 36 | 6 | 10 | 20 | 16.67 | |
Calum McIntyre (caretaker) | 11 Apr 2018 | 15 May 2018 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 33.33 | |
Anthony Johnson & Bernard Morley | 15 May 2018 | 24 Nov 2021 | 131 | 54 | 37 | 40 | 41.22 | Supporters Direct Shield Winners 2019
|
Danny Livesey (caretaker) | 24 Nov 2021 | 23 Dec 2021 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 33.33 | |
Steve Watson | 23 Dec 2021 | 7 May 2022 | 25 | 7 | 7 | 11 | 28.00 | |
Calum McIntyre | 12 May 2022 | Present | 102 | 44 | 39 | 19 | 43.14 |
Includes all league and cup competitions
Honours
League
- Conference North (Tier 6)
- Northern Premier League Premier Division(Tier 7)
- Northern Premier League Division One North(Tier 8)
Cups
- Cheshire Senior Cup
- Winners: 2012–13[90]
Other trophies
- Peter Swales Shield
- Brian Lomax Supporters Direct Cup
- Winners: 2011[92]
- Supporters Direct Shield
- Winners: 2019[93]
References
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External links
- Official website
- City Fans United website
- Chester FC coverage from the Chester Chronicle
- Chester F.C. on BBC Sport: Club news – Recent results and fixtures
- Chester at the Football Club History Database