Chesterfield Football History

'I've never been back. It's a Morrisons now but I'll never go.

To me it should still be Brockville, not a supermarket.'

- Kevin McAllister

Our stadiums are cultural spaces. They belong to us.

They deserve better than being replaced by soulless constructs like supermarkets and retail parks.

If like me you've enjoyed watching the same few people lose their shit on social media after Saturday's result (poor as it was) you'll have lamented its absence in 1921, when we lost our first two consecutive away games in the Third Division North by 6-0 and 7-0 margins. Somehow, we're still here.

Am pumping up a 750-word programme article about the five games between us and Salford, and I notice that 102 players have appeared for one side or the other in those games - very nearly equivalent to a new XI for each side for every game! Neatly reflects each side's changing circumstances.

Yesterday's debacle was our third 6-2 away defeat in the Football League. The others came at Aston Villa in 1936-7 and at Milton Keynes in 2011-12.

There is a footballer's cliche that you win as a team and lose as a team. And by crikey, we lost as a team. Horrible to watch.

It may not be surprising that we have lost all but one of the 112 games in which we've conceded a hat-trick. The odd one? A 3-3 draw at Clapton Orient on September 23rd, 1905.

We've conceded a first-half hat-trick for the first time since Oldham's Robbie Simpson did it in November 2011. We've conceded two second-half hat-tricks since, most notably that by Frank Nouble over 13 minutes against Newport in 2017-18.

Chesterfield go in 4-1 down at half time for the first time in five games.

This day in 2014 saw full-back Dan Jones break dance his way into Spireite folklore when, having been fouled by Michael Higdon, he box-stepped, down-rocked, windmilled and headspun with relentless vigour until the ref sent the Sheffield United man off.

1: Ryan Fulton, Connor Dimaio, Liam "Six Names" Graham.

2: Aaron Chapman, Jordan Clark, Gary Taylor-Fletcher (trial, Sep 2016) and Janoi Donacien.

This day in 2016 saw just 976 file wearily into the JPT game against Accrington at our place. A Chesterfield side rendered no more useless than usual by three international call-ups (1) lost to a Stanley outfit that contained four ex- or future-Spireites, one of whom plays for us now. (2)

The reserves, walloped 6-2 at Nottingham Forest on Friday, had to go to Grimsby today, and were beaten 3-0.
Around 750 spectators came to The Rec today to watch the Chesterfield Rugby Club take on Sheffield. The football club’s share of the gate amounted to £5.3/1. 3/3 #CFC100

placed himself well to receive passes from others and pressed with real purpose. His first came from an Oxley cross and gave Chesterfield a halftime lead. Cookson’s second came from a header from a Fisher cross and the third was a penalty, given for hands. Whitfield got the other goal. 2/3 #CFC100

The experiment that saw right-back Jimmy Cookson play at centre-forward at Tranmere today was an unqualified success. The Spireites won 4-0 to claim their first away points of the season, with Cookson performing the “hat-trick.” Cookson played a strong bustling game, 1/3 #CFC100

The Derbyshire Times is out today (Friday) and it includes the news that Chesterfield are to try their reserve right-back Jimmy Cookson at centre-forward at Tranmere tomorrow. Something must be done, as they are the division's lowest scorers. Cookson at least has strength on his side. #CFC100

I wish this commentator would stop calling the WHU Manager "Nuno." He doesn't know him, and he isn't his friend.

This is hilarious and brilliant and should win awards, even if I can't work out which one's Frodo Baggins and which one's Samwise Gamgee.

Man arrested on suspicion of sexual assault at football club A man has been arrested on suspicion of sexual assault after an incident at King’s Lynn Town Football Club.

www.lynnnews.co.uk/sport/man-ar...

They didn't cover them especially well, in my experience - often failed to include LU line-ups and so on. The Leeds Utd historical site leeds-fans.org.uk was a great help. Worksop won. Just got to turn a Lincoln Reserves draw into a defeat now, to get the WDL part of the table to balance.

Trying to work out home & away tables for the 1919-20 Midland League because, why shouldn't I? Found all the results, which is an achievement in itself, but now the fun commences.

Here's the results for Dec 6th (Green 'Un, p5) and a report on the Leeds/Worksop game of that day (Green 'Un, p6.)

Anthony Gordon's dedication to recreating all of Princess Diana's iconic looks is to be admired

Golf. More effing and jeffing than Sunday League football.

This only happens to you once

Born on this day in 1912: James "Boy" McCormick. You'll see why he got his nickname. 19 y/o when signed from Rotherham, being swapped for the ageing Albert Pynegar. Sold to Spurs for $1500 eight months later. Coached extensively after playing and died in 1968 while on his jollies in Marbella.

Born on this day in 1885: Alf Smelt, right-back, from a famous footballing family and brother to his left-back partner Len in our 1914-15 Midland League side. WW1 service with the 5th Yorks & Lancs. Made one FL app for Leeds at the age of 35 when they were forced to field two teams on the same day.

A bid for the transfer of Robson, of Grimsby, ended when they demanded a £1,000 fee – a ridiculous amount for a player with only eight games behind him. The Board have instructed the Manager to “Make enquiries from all sources” in the search for a centre-forward.4/4 #CFC100

The reserves lost full-back Jack Whitworth at halftime and after going 1-0 up, went down 7-2 at Spotland to Rochdale’s second string. A trial was given up front to Abram Kay, a local policeman who plays with the Chesterfield Wednesday club. 3/4 #CFC100

Whitfield pulled one back soon after Dale’s second but The Spireites eventually fell to a third straight 2-1 defeat.
Cookson, the former Manchester City full-back who has shaped up well in the reserves, made his debut for the injured Saxby and caught the eye. 2/4 #CFC100

After failing to take chances in the first half, Chesterfield were punished at home to Rochdale today when Bill Dennis headed into his own net to extend Rochdale’s 1-0 halftime lead. To compound his misery, Dennis planted a penalty kick against the post. 1/4 #CFC100

First-class sh*thousery from the lads at Furnace Hill Rovers (a Barrow Hill side) in 1898, as the visiting Clowne team appear to have been sent to get changed in someone's sh*thouse.