1) Chester 3 (Hedley (2), A Ferguson) Halifax Town 1 (McLachlan) – League Division Three North – 12 September 1931 The first meeting between the two sides and only Chester’s second home game in the Football League. On a waterlogged pitch Chester secure a comfortable victory although Halifax are hampered by the loss of John McFarlane with a leg injury. Archie Ferguson scores one of the Chester goals in his only league appearance for the club. The Halifax consolation is scored by Fred McLachlan, his only goal for the Shaymen.	2) Chester 0 Halifax Town 0 – FA Cup Fourth Round – 28 January 1933 The first FA Cup meeting between the sides and top of the table Chester are firm favourites to go through to the next round. On a treacherous, frosty surface a resolute Halifax defence holds out for a replay. Five hundred Chester fans travel to the Shay for the replay but it is Halifax who go through to meet Luton Town thanks to a “Charlie” Davies goal in the first minute of extra time.
3) Chester 5 (Burgess (4), Davies) Halifax Town 1 (Scott) – League Division Three North – 1 October 1949 Albert “Cam” Burgess scores four goals for Chester in this convincing win at Sealand Road. Despite the scoreline it is not a particularly good performance against a poor Halifax side. Burgess is not the first Chester player to score four against the Shaymen, Joe Mantle also scored four, in March 1933, in a 6-3 victory.	4) Chester 1 (Ireland) Halifax Town 1 (Priest) – League Division Three North – 1 March 1958 The final Division Three North game between the two sides. In the previous game at Sealand Road Chester had hammered York City 9-2 but this was a totally different display. George Griffiths missed a penalty for Halifax who were nevertheless indebted to an excellent show from keeper Arthur Johnson. At the end of the season Halifax went into Division Three while Chester’s 21st position left them in Division Four.
5) Chester 5 (Corbishley (pen), Talbot, Read, Metcalf (2)) Halifax Town 2 (Carlin, Westlake) – Division Four – 25 January 1964 The first Division Four meeting between the sides following Halifax’s relegation. Sixth placed Chester overcome the struggling Shaymen who are without an away win all season. In a rugged game, that threatened to get out of hand at times, Mike Metcalf proved what a great signing he was with two goals and a Man of the Match performance. One of the Halifax goals is scored by Brian Westlake, a recent signing from Doncaster Rovers.	6) Chester 2 (Provan, Talbot) Halifax Town 2 (Massie, Lawther) – Division Four – 12 March 1969 Promotion challenging Halifax snatch a point at Sealand Road with two goals in the last ten minutes from Les Massie and Ian Lawther. Chester, in the middle of an eleven match unbeaten run, finish the season in 14th position while Halifax are promoted as runners-up behind Doncaster Rovers.
7) Halifax Town 5 (Bell, Rhodes (2), McHale, Phelan) Chester 2 (Owen, Whitehead) – Division Three – 27 September 1975 The first Division Three meeting between the sides and struggling Chester lose to third placed Town. For Chester it is a second crushing away defeat in succession following a 6-0 setback at Brighton. Despite this win Halifax are relegated at the end of the season while Chester finish 17th. Three of the Chester players Dave Lennard, Tony Loska and Chris Dunleavy played for the Shaymen at some point in their careers.	8) Chester City 1 (Rimmer) Halifax Town 1 (Ward) – Division Four – 17 August 1985 The final game between the sides at Sealand Road and the first league game under Harry McNally. Only 1762 are present to see the opening game of Chester’s promotion season. David Glenn, Wakeley Gage, Milton Graham and substitute Lee Harley all make their Chester debuts. Steve Ward, a veteran of more than 200 appearances for Halifax, scores the equaliser.
9) Halifax Town 0 Chester City 1 (Beckett (pen)) – Division Three – 1 April 2000 The final Football League meeting between the sides and Chester’s hopes of avoiding relegation are boosted with a Luke Beckett penalty after 14 minutes. The narrow win gives Chester back to back wins for the only time that season. Neil Fisher, Tony Hemmings and Carl Heggs all come close for City who are indebted to Wayne Brown for some fine saves. In the final moments a looping header from Steve Kerrigan hits the top of the bar much to the relief of the 800 travelling Chester fans.	10) Halifax Town 0 Chester City 0 – Nationwide Conference – 17 September 2002 The first meeting in the Conference finishes as a stalemate in an entertaining game. Second placed Chester play the better football but are unable to convert any of the numerous chances they create. Chester are denied what appears to be a clear penalty when Carl Ruffer is felled by Paul Stoneman just before half time.With nine games of the season gone Chester remain unbeaten, with only two goals conceded, while Halifax remain mid-table.

• We take a look back at a classic FA Cup encounter between the sides back in 1969 here.

Chas Sumner [Published 10/01/04]