Chesterfield FC

Address: Saltergate Town: Chesterfield If you like to watch an entertaining football match - look no further than Saltergate. The Spireites (Chesterfield FC) home ground is handily within walking distance of the town centre and offers the spectator an afteroon in the terraces amongst some of the lower divisions strongest support. Chesterfield prides itself on it's family vaues and you will see some very young people among the crowd - a great way to spend time with the family on a winters afternoon. The fourth oldest club in The Football League (after Notts County Nottingham Forest, and Sheffield Wednesday, although some claim that Stoke City is the second oldest), although there are claims that Chesterfield was founded in 1866. The first official document was a notice in a local paper placed by members of Chesterfield Cricket Club, which was dated 19 October 1867. They were first admitted to The Football League in 1899, when they were elected to the Second Division. The Spireites currently play at Saltergate, also known as the Recreation Ground. It has a capacity of 8,500, although the present maximum is around 7,700 due to safety reasons. The club is planning to build a new ground on the 25 acre Dema Glass site on Sheffield Road. It is expected to be a 10,000 all-seater stadium, built by Alfred McAlpine, which should be opened in time for the 2007-2008 season. The old Dema Glass site has been demolished and planning for building the football club's new ground is under way. Chesterfield has spent most of their history in the lower divisions, and have never played in the English top flight. The team's most notable achievement of recent years occurred in 1997, when they reached the semi-final of the FA Cup, losing to Middlesbrough in a replay following a 3-3 draw at Old Trafford. It turned out to be one of the most controversial games in recent history with Chesterfield having a goal not given when referee David Elleray decided the ball had not crossed the goal line from a Jonathan Howard shot, a decision which was later proved incorrect by video replays. Had the goal stood, the club would have progressed to the final of the FA Cup for the first time in its history - a feat which no club in the third tier of the league has achieved. In the current season (2006-2007), Chesterfield has pulled off a giant-killing in the Second Round of the Carling Cup, by defeating Premier League side Manchester City 2-1. The Spireites had been 1-0 down at half-time, but fought back to win the game, with goals from Caleb Folan and Derek Niven. The club were then handed an exciting draw for the Third Round, as they drew last season's FA Cup finalist's West Ham United at Saltergate, and a possibility to claim another Premiership scalp in cup competition. The game went much as the previous round's with the Spireites heading in at the interval one goal down following Marlon Harewoods 4th minute goal. Colin Larkin drew the game level 10 minutes into the second period, and a second top-tier scalp was claimed by Chesterfield when Second Round hero Caleb Folan scored what would prove to be the match-winner in the 87th minute of play. Chesterfield FC - Notable Players Gordon Banks Steve Blatherwick Ian Breckin Jamie Hewitt Kevin Davies Billy Mercer Steve Ogrizovic Frank Thacker Danny Wilson For further information on this entry please contact Chesterfield Guide at: info@chesterfieldguide.co.uk When contacting this business please mention that you found them on Chesterfield Guide