News from Deva Stadium January 2015

29 January 2015
FREDDIE WILLCOX 1922-2105
Former Chester defender Freddie Willcox has died in Liverpool at the age of 92. The St Helens born right back made 16 Division Three North appearances in the 1947/48 season and was also a member of the team that reached the Fourth Round of the FA Cup.

• Obituary

WINN OUT ON LOAN
Peter Winn has joined Kings Lynn Town on a one month loan.

28 January 2015
BACK TO BACK WINS
Chester produced their best 45 minutes of the season as they put Lincoln to the sword on Tuesday night. Goals from John Rooney, Sean McConville and Ryan Higging gave Chester a 3-0 lead at the break as Lincoln, reduced to nine men were swept away. Brad Abbott added a fourth goal midway through the second period before the Imps were reduced to nine men. The victory gave Chester their biggest victory since returning to the Conference Premier last season and listed them up to 13th place, just six points off a play-off position.

A delighted Steve Burr said: “I hope Lincoln don’t use the fact they were down to 10 men and then nine men because the first-half performance was as good as we’ve had here.”

“Some of the attacking play was excellent and I was just disappointed that they did get people sent off because you can easily say ‘well you’ve scored four against Lincoln and they’re down to nine men’ but with 10 men, 11 men and they could have had 12 men on the park in the first-half as far as I'm concerned.”

“Our performance was excellent and some of the chances that we created we should have had more really but that’s the type of football that gets me excited and it was a pleasure to watch.”

Chester are back in action on Saturday when they make the trip to Kent to play Welling United, kick-off 15.00hrs.

26 January 2015
BACK TO WINNING WAYS
Chester recorded their first win of 2015 with a battling 1-0 victory over play-off chasing Kidderminster Harriers on Saturday. The only goal of the game came on the half hour from Craig Mahon who curled in a shot from the edge of the box. The Blues were forced into an early change with captain Matty Brown picking up a third minute injury and having to be replaced by Ben Heneghan who joined Michael Kay in the centre of the defence.

Chester were the better team for the opening half creating a series of chances with on-loan Bradford City forward Oliver McBurnie impressing. The second half saw Harriers pressing more to look for the equaliser and they would have got it but for two fantastic saves from Jon Worsnop late in the game to deny James Tunnicliffe and Danny Wright.

Manager Steve Burr said: “It’s nice to get the three points and I suppose obviously it’s nice to beat your old club but I was just pleased that out of the two games we’ve took four points off a side who are going for promotion through the play-offs and trying to get into the Football League. That was pleasing but that’s where we want to be and where I want to get this club to in time.”

The Blues are back in action on Tuesday night with the rearranged home game against Lincoln City.

• League table after Kidderminster game

23 January 2015
BRADFORD STRIKER JOINS ON LOAN
Bradford City striker Oliver McBurnie has joined Chester on loan. McBurnie is 22-years-old and has made 14 appearances for the Bantams and has played for the Scotland U19 side.

20 January 2015
THOMSON SET TO SIGN
Chester are set to sign 22-year-old midfielder George Thomson from Kings Lynn Town. Thomson played two matches pre-season for Chester, scoring two goals against Marine. The two clubs were unable to agree a deal at the time but the midfielder is expected to tie up the deal in the next day. There is a sell-on clause built into the transfer. Thomson has already scored 22 goals this season for The Linnets.

Manager Steve Burr said: “We wanted to sign George earlier, but we weren’t able to do so after his spell in pre-season with us, however I have followed his progress since he returned to Kings Lynn, and he’s done very well for them, scoring plenty of goals. He’s the type of player that will fit in well at the club and I’m sure the fans will be pleased with the news.”

MATCH OFF
Following a lunchtime pitch inspection tonight’s home match against Lincoln City has been postponed due to a frozen pitch. The match will now be played next Tuesday night, kick-off 19.45hrs.

HARRISON LEAVES CHESTER
Midfielder Danny Harrison has had his contract at Chester terminated and has left the club. The former Tramere Rovers player made 22+7 appearances for the Blues but suffered a hip injury that saw his miss most of last season.

16 January 2015
MATTY HUGHES RETURNS ON LOAN
Chester have completed the loan signing of 22-year-old Fleetwood Town striker Matty Hughes until the end of the season. Hughes scored five goal in nine games in a two month loan spell earlier in the season before being recalled by the Lancashire side. Manager Steve Burr said: “We’re naturally pleased that we’ve got Matty back. We’ve kept an eye on him since he went back to Fleetwood, and they have since strengthened which means he’d dropped down the pecking order there. It’s been a game of patience but we have him until the end of the season, so that’s really good for us.”

Chester have also taken on two more players: Barnsley midfielder Brad Abbott, who has played eight times for the Tykes this season including the 0-0 draw with Chester, has joined on a one month loan, while 23-year-old Canadian goalkeeper Jon Viscosi has joined on non-contract terms. He has recently played for Bishops Stortford and Brackley Town.

13 January 2015
FORWARD WILLIAMS SIGNS
The Blues have signed 19-year-old forward Cory Williams from Caernarfon Town. The striker played at Hereford United last season making ten appearances from the bench and has been training with Chester since leaving Edgar Street in the summer. He also had trials at Leicester City and Bristol City.

TWO PLAYERS DEPART
Both John Disney and Wayne Riley have left Chester. Riley has agreed to rejoin one of his previous clubs Welsh Premier League club Airbus UK Broughton.

VILLA FRONTMAN JOINS ON LOAN
Chester have signed 19-year-old Aston Villa forward Thomas Strain on a one month loan. The Coventry born striker was a regular for Aston Villa's under 18 side last season and has scored two goals in three appearances for the U21 side this season.

Both Jamie Menagh and Liam Black have gone to Marine on loan. Despite reports to the contrary Menagh is still under contract at Chester and has joined until the end of the season. Blake is on a one month loan.

8 January 2015
DUO STEP DOWN FROM BOARD
The club have confirmed that both Tony Durkin and Steve Harvey have resigned from the Operations Board.

6 January 2015
HOME DEFEAT FOR BLUES
Chester’s miserable start to the new season continued with a 3-2 home defeat by Braintree Town on Sunday. Sean McConville had given the Blues a 1-0 half-time lead but two goals in four minutes soon after the restart swung the game in the Iron’s favour. Matt Brown restored parity heading home from a John Rooney corner only for the visitors to race down field and take the lead a minute later.

Manager Steve Burr said: “I was very disappointed because we seem to be hitting a brick wall.”

“One or two of the players don't look like they want the ball in case they make a mistake, and we’re not creating any chances. I thought we might get a point, but today was the worst we have played and soon as we got an equaliser they went up the other end and scored.”

“I couldn’t defend the way played because there was nothing to take from it – even a basic throw in – and it beggars belief sometimes. I think each one of the boys in the team have had a fair crack since I have been here and I have made it obvious we need to strengthen, but there are players that I know can perform that disappeared against Braintree.”

The Blues are not in action next Saturday, FA Trophy day, and next head to Southport on the 17th.

• League table after Braintree game

4 January 2015
MIDFIELDER SIGNS ON LOAN
Chester have signed 19-year-old midfielder Josh Green on loan from Fleetwood Town.

SAM MORRIS 1940-2013
Chester FC are sorry to learn of the death of former player, Sam Morris, who has died at the age of 84. A right wing back or centre half, Sam made 90 league appearances for the club in the 1950s and also represented the reserves in the Cheshire County League on more than 100 occasions.

• Obituary

THREE PLAYERS TO MOVE ON
With manager Steve Burr not able to guarantee them first team football for the remainder of the season, the club have made Danny Harrison, Wayne Riley and John Disney available for transfer.

Danny Harrison 22+7 appearances, 0 goals
Wayne Riley 1+6 appearances, 1 goal
John Disney 2+0 appearances, 0 goals
Jamie Menagh 16+22 appearances, 4 goals

The news follows the announcement from Jamie Menagh that had agreed to terminate his contract with the club. Menagh joined the Blues from Prescot Cables in October 2013 and scored two goals on his debut against Lincoln City.

2 January 2015
DEFENDER SIGNS
Chester have signed 20-year-old Liverpool born right back Ryan Higgins from AFC Telford United. Higgins was on non-contract terms at the Bucks Head and Chester put in a seven day notice in on him on Christmas Eve. Telford offered him a new contract but he agreed to joion Chester following talkse with Steve Burr.

Burr said: “We’re very pleased to have added Ryan to the squad. He’s done well against us this season and we have been playing without a recognised right-back really so when we found out he was non-contract we were keen to get him. He reminds me very much of Lee Vaughan, who I took from Telford to Kidderminster and he’s now playing in the Football League.”

POOR BLUES BROUGHT BACK DOWN TO EARTH

Hopes were high pre-match that following the 2-0 win at FC Halifax Town Chester could register back-to-back away wins and avenge the home defeat by Altrincham on Boxing Day.

However Nicky Clee and Damian Reeves both scored a brace for the Robins who completed the festive double over Chester with an emphatic 4-1 victory. John Rooney had scored to bring Chester back into the game at 2-1 but a red card for Ibou Touray in the opening minutes of the second period effectively ended Chester’s challenge.

Manager Steve said after the game: “I’m very, very disappointed with that. We take one step forward then take a giant step back. It was just nowhere near good enough or the type of performance we showed just a few days ago up at Halifax.”

“We had a great following and we literally took the ground over with Chester fans so I just feel for them because they back us so much. After the travelling support at Halifax and to come here and put on that type of performance in front of the people who have come here, I really do feel we’ve let them down massively, really massively.”

• League table after Altrincham game

Picture © Rick Matthews (Chester Leader)

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