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  Downward spirites

Chesterfield v Darlington

Coca-Cola League Two

Saturday April 19th 2008, 3pm

Could be one of those seasons for the Spireites, who are touch and go with the promotion pack. So much depends on their star man Jack Lester this season.


Man to watch Jack Lester Seen as a promising striker with a big potential at Nottingham Forest at one time, he's signed on a three-year deal and is lined up as the danger man for the Spireites.
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Full match previews on the D@rlo Uncovered website.


Away fans at Saltergate are in the Cross Street terrace behind the goal, with room for 1,400 fans. As it's uncovered, if wet, choose the allocation in the rickety Main Stand instead. The away end has a reasonable catering selection - the pies were OK. The toilet block, like the terrace, is roofless too and was presented by the supporters' club in 1936! The plaque relating this fact is all you need to know. Admission: Adults £15, under 18 and over 65's £9 under 14's £5. The club is planning a move to a new 11,00-seater stadium off the A61 Sheffield road, possibly in time for next season, although planning permission is due to be submitted this summer. It will take about a year to build, once it gets the final go-ahead.

Chesterfield FC:
Recreation Ground, Saltergate, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, S40 4SX
Tel: 01246 209765

History: Chesterfield has had a football club since 1867 - the fourth oldest in England - but the current incarnation was 'officially' formed in 1919. The club was elected to Div 2, with Middlesborough, in 1899, after playing in the local Sheffield and Derbyshire leagues, but lost their status before World War 1, not helped by a row involving bonuses involving a player. Reformed eventually in the new Third Division, its history has been spent in the lower leagues, with a heyday being in the 1930s. A recent high point was the unlucky FA Cup semi-final against to Middlesborough at Old Trafford in 1997, which ended 3-3. The Spireites were denied a goal which crossed the line when 2-1 up and eventually lost a replay. There had also been a win over Rangers along the way to lifting the now forgotten Anglo Scottish Cup in 1981 and a 4-4 draw in the League Cup at Anfield against Liverpool in 1992. Despite relegation last season they enjoyed wins over Wolves, Man City snd West Ham in their Coca-Cola Cup run. The club was beset by financial scandal and a points deduction at the start of the decade, but after a fans' rescue, the club recovered. It is planning to move to a new stadium after 135 years at the Recreation Ground.
Record Attendance: 30,968 v Newcastle Utd, 1939, Div 2
Capacity: 8,504
Last season: 21st (relegated from League One)
Honours: Div 3N champions 1930-1931, 1935-1936, Div 4 champions 1969-1970, 1984-1985, Anglo Scottish Cup winners 1981

Record victory: 10-0 v Glossop, 1903, Div 2
Defeat: 0-10 v Gillingham, 1987, Div 3
Nickname: Spirites.
Colours: Blue and white.
Manager: Lee Richardson
Chairman: Barrie Hubbard
Players in: Michael Barnes (Man Utd, loan), Brendan Maloney (Nott Forest, loan), Kevin Gray (Carlisle), Steve Fletcher (Bournemouth), Jack Lester (Nott Forest), Gregor Robertson (Rotherham), Nicky Travis (Sheff Utd, loan).
Players out: Adam Smith (Chesterfield, loan), Paul Hall (Walsall), Mark Allott (Oldham), Colin Larkin (Northampton)
Famous fans/players/connections: Gordon Banks, Steve Orizovic, Stan Milburn (players), Steve Tutill, Darren Roberts, Mike Pollitt (also Darlo), Arthur Cox, John Duncan, Roy McFarland (managers).

Click for Streetmap of ground


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From the North: M1 South, leave at junction 29 follow the A617 into the town centre then follow "football" signs for Saltergate - at the roundabout you follow the A619 Markham Road (signposted Bakewell) and at the next roundabout turn right into Foljambe Road towards the stadium.

There are quite a few parking options in the nearby town centre or at the town hall, close to the ground. A school in Cross Street close to the away turnstiles also has matchday parking.


A 10-15 minute walk from the station. Left into Corporation St, past the Chesterfield Arms, over the footbridge across the A61, then follow the signs for the town centre, across the roundabout with the carpark in the middle and into Saltergate itself. The ground is up the hill on the right.

Club Taxis 01246 22 1111
Spire Cars 01246 456654
Big D's Taxis 01246 558300
A Line 01246 555555

Darlington FC Supporters Club
Coach 11am, £17. Contact: 01325 243911. See Darlington Supporters' Club for more details.

TRAIN TIMES (UPDATED FEB 2008): Darlington: 09.56-arr 11.54; return 17.33-arr 19.14. Advance returns from £19; £41.20, saver return.

Birmingham New Street: 0930-arr 10.36 or 10.30-arr 1.36; rtn: 17.35-arr 18.36. Fares: Saver return, £26.20, advance returns from £16.

London St Pancras: 09.25-11.31. Rtn: 17.39-19.51. Fares: £48 saver return, from £14 advance return.


Chesterfield is not just that crooked spire. It is close to the delights of the Peak Distiict, a particular favourite spot of mine. As well as tourist attractions like Chatsworth (11 miles) and the National Tram Museum at Crich (14 miles), the "plague" village of Eyam (13 miles) and the "pudding" town of Bakewell (14 miles), there is plenty of scenery and good walking country. A good spot to stay is either in the Dales around Bakewell or the High Peak area, such as Castleton (20 miles), with its surrounding hills and mines, pubs, tea shops and Blue John jewellery outlets.

Chesterfield Tourist Information Centre, Rykneld Square, Chesterfield S40 1SB Tel: (01246) 345777/8 plus town centre map


Real ale:

Market Hotel, 95 New Square, town centre
Close to the markey square, recommended by the local CAMRA and with Taylor's landlord and guest ales among the Greene King and Marston's, taking it up to nine hand-pumps. They also serve lunches from 11am. Click for Streetmap

There are also two real ale pubs north of the town centre, 1.5 miles out towards where the new stadium will eventually be built and which will probably be the DAFTS pubs of choice:

Derby Tup, 387 Sheffield Rd, Whittington Moor
Three-roomed football-friendly Tynemill pub with a good beer selection (it promises seven changing ales and has been in the Good Beer Guide for 23 years) ,a log fireand it also does lunches. Quiet on our visit, but bound to be popular once the new stadium is built. Open from 11.30am, food from 12 noon. DAFTS recommended. Click for Streetmap

Red Lion, 570 Sheffield Rd, Whittington Moor
Lovely looking old pub which has Old Mill bitter and mild. DAFTS recommended.

Rutland Arms, 23 Stephenson Place, town centre
Best real ale choice in the town centre, with 10 beers usually served and good pub food - including all-day breakfast - from 12 noon. Between five and 10 minutes walk from the station. DAFTS recommended.

A 10 minutes walk from the ground is the Wetherspoon choice, The Portland, West Bars, S40 1AY (01246 293600) , which also does accommodation at around £48 a room.

See also the Chesterfield CAMRA website, which is really excellent and has a local town centre pub guide and map (PDF) - which points out the station and ground too.

In the country:

Monsal Head Hotel, Monsal Head, B6465 near Bakewell
If staying over or with time to spare for the Peaks, this pub has some good real ales on and also a great view of the limestone valley and disused railway bridge below. About 15 miles away, DAFTS recommended..

Alternatively, try Lathkill Hotel, Over Haddon, near Bakewell
For an evening stop - a cosy real ale bar with a real fire, also does good pub food and a restaurant. Another place with a great view over the Dale. About 14 miles away.

Near the ground:

The Chesterfield Arms, 40 Newbold Rd, junction with Queen St

More a home pub but popular with away fans, which does Mansfield beers - bouncers on the door.

The Industry, 49 Queen Street.
Next door to the Chesterfield Arms, another busy matchday boozer, with a beer garden, which has some local real ale choice and home-made pies.

The Masons Arms, 3 Chatsworth Road A619 (off Folijambe Rd).
Promises Wychwood Hobgoblin ale, a little further away from the ground.

The Barley Mow, Saltergate, which has Tetleys, Abbots and Pedigree on, but is another "home" pub.

The Gardeners, Glumangate (off Saltergate).
Large, modern pub with food and TV, which hopes to serve cask ale.

At the ground:

The Saltergate Social Club at the front of the ground, near the home end, allows away supporters.

Close to the ground there is a chip shop on St Helens Street and the Dolphin Chip and Burger Bar.

Rail timetables Virgin Trains GNER National Express Online map Football HotelsHotels/B&Bs
Derbyshire Times Visit Chesterfield Chesterfield council Chesterfield CAMRA

Surfing there...

The Official Chestefield site is very well updated and includes one of the most comprehensive stats and history sections I've come across.

Last away match: Peterborough Utd, Sat May 3rd

No responsibility is taken for accuracy, if in doubt check before travelling.


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