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28
May 2025
GRENVILLE MILLINGTON 1951-2025
Former player Grenville
Millington has sadly passed away at the age of 73.
Grenville made over 300 appearances for the club
between 1969 and 1983 and was widely recognised
as the best goalkeeper to ever wear the Chester
shirt.
Obituary
27 May 2025
PRE-SEASON FRIENDLY
Chester have announced
their first pre-season friendly that will take place
at Northern Premier League West Division side Bury
FC on Saturday 12 July. The match at Gigg Lane kick’s-off
at 15.00hrs.
NEW DEAL FOR BAINBRIDGE
Jack Bainbridge has
signed a new one year with Chester. The 27-year-old
midfielder had a tremendous first season with Blues
making 38+1 appearances and scoring two goals.
24 May 2025
RETAINED LIST ANNOUNCED
The club
have released their retained list for the 2025/26
season as follows...
The following players are currently under contract
for 2025/26 season
Harrison Burke, Tom Peers, Oskar Rosenblatt, Declan
Weeks and Connor Woods.
The following have been offered a new contract
Jack Bainbridge, Iwan Murray and Matty Williams.
The following players have been offered terms of
re-engagement as under 24, or an option has been
exercised
Alex Brown and Nathan Woodthorpe.
Discussions ongoing regarding contract offers
for next season
Scott Burgess, Dan Mooney, Dylan Mottley-Henry,
Connell Rawlinson and Kevin Roberts.
The following loan players have returned
to their parent clubs
Tom Leak (Boston United), Taelor O’Kane (AFC
Fylde), Jimmy Storer (Wolverhampton Wanders) and
Kurt Willoughby (Oldham Athletic).
Players departing the club following the expiry
of their contract
Adam Bott, Reece Daly, Ollie Heywood, Jordan Hunter,
Jack Lambert and Dan Turner.
21 May 2025
ON THE BORDERLINE UPDATE PAGES
For those of you who
like to update your copies of Chas Sumner’s
popular book, Chas has produced three update stats
sheets for last season which can be downloaded from
here.
NATIONAL LEAGUE NORTH COMPETING
CLUBS
Following the conclusion
of the play-off's the make up for the National League
North for next season has been finalised and includes
a first ever meeting for the Blues with Bedford
Town and Merthyr Town.
AFC Fylde
AFC Telford United
Alfreton Town
Bedford Town
Buxton
Chester FC
Chorley
Curzon Ashton
Darlington
Hereford
Kidderminster Harriers
King’s Lynn Town
Leamington
Macclesfield
Marine
Merthyr Town
Oxford City
Peterborough Sports
Radcliffe
Scarborough Athletic
South Shields
Southport
Spennymoor Town
Worksop Town
19 May 2025
HEARTBREAK FOR BLUES WHO ARE BEATEN IN FINAL
Chester were beaten
2-1 after extra-time in yesterday’s play-off
final at Scunthorpe United. A crowd of just over
9,000, including 1,608 Chester supporters, packed
the Attis Arena and created a tremendous atmosphere
all afternoon. Chester started well with Nathan
Woodthorpe firing just wide of goal in the opening
minutes.
The Iron responded well attacking down both wings
though Chester also carved out an opening at the
other end as Jack Bainbridge headed high over when
well placed from a Declan Weeks free kick.
Scunthorpe opened the scoring on 20 minutes, a Joseph
Starbuck long throw-in from the right was not dealt
by the Blues defence, the ball fell to Michael Clunan
who’s shot hit the post, the ball rebounded
to Danny Whitehall who was first to react and smash
the ball home with Jimmy Storer beaten.
As in the semi-final at Kidderminster, Chester started
the second half on the front foot and drew level
on the hour mark. Woodthorpe’s cross into
the box was handled under no pressure by Will Evans
and referee Isaac Searle pointed to the spot. Connor
Woods stepped up to send Ross Fitzsimons the wrong
way with the penalty kick to the delight of the
Blue supporters behind the goal.
Tyler Denton, who was already on a yellow card,
looked certain to receive another one following
a heavy challenge on Iwan Murray, despite issuing
an astonishing 13 yellow cards throughout the match
referee Searle declined to offer another one and
Murray had to limp off following the challenge.
The game was heading to extra-time but there was
still time for Tom Peers to shoot wide from a narrow
angle and at the other end Whitehall to see a free
kick rebound off the post.
Tom Leak saw a close range header saved by Fitzsimons
before the winning goal came in the final minute
of the first period of extra time as a cross found
its way to Carlton Ubaezuonu, his shot was thwarted
by an outstanding block from Kevin Roberts’
outstretched leg but the rebound fell kindly to
the striker who buried the rebound.

Pictures
© Rick Matthews
8 May 2025
YOUTH TEAM BEATEN IN FINAL
The U19’s were
beaten 1-0 by Maidstone United in yesterday’s
National League U19 Alliance Academy Cup Final at
St George’s Park near Burton upon Trent. The
only goal of the game was an own goal that came
early in the match.
5 May 2025
SUPERB BLUES REACH PLAY-OFF FINAL
A fantastic performance
from Chester saw them overcome Kidderminster Harriers
2-1 at Aggborough yesterday and reach the National
League North play-off final. Backed by a vociferous
1,300 supporters the Blues came from behind to clinch
the victory that leaves then one step away from
promotion back to the National League.
The Blues fell behind on 20 minutes as Kyle Morrison
broke through a crowd of players to meet a far post
corner and volley past Jimmy Storer from close range.
Chester responded well with Iwan Murray and Dylan
Mottley-Henry both going close. The equaliser came
ten minutes before the break as Connor Woods tried
a shot from distance, the ball was parried by Christian
Dibble but the ball broke to Mottley-Henry to turn
the ball home from six yards.
Chester started the second half strongly and were
awarded a penalty soon after following a foul on
Murray. Kurt Willoughby stepped up but saw his effort
well saved by Dibble to maintain parity.
With eight minutes to go Chester sealed the victory
as ex-Harrier Declan Weeks intercepted a headed
clearance to control the ball and strike across
Dibble from distance.
The Blues now travel to Scunthorpe United for the
final on Sunday 18 May, kick-off 16.00hrs.

Pictures
© Rick Matthews
2 May 2025
SEMI-FINAL SELL OUT
All 1,300 tickets
in the Chester allocation for Sunday’s play-off
semi-final at Kidderminster Harriers sold out in
under half an hour this morning.
1 May 2025
BLUES THROUGH ON DRAMATIC DEVA NIGHT
There was a tremendous
atmosphere at Deva Stadium last night as Chester
defeated Buxton 2-1 in extra time to book a place
in Sunday’s semi-final at Kidderminster Harriers.
The kick-off was delayed 15 minutes due to congestion
at the turnstiles but once underway it took the
Blues just three minutes to open the scoring as
Iwan Murray squeezed a shot past True Grant in the
Bucks goal from the edge of the box. The visitors,
shocked by the early goal, soon came into the game
probing down both wings and enjoying plenty of possession.
They drew level on 18 minutes as Tom Elliott was
on hand to score from close range after Johnny Johnston’s
free header at the back post was blocked.
Jimmy Storer produced a fingertip save to push a
Johnston effort onto the post and back into his
saving hands to keep the Blues level.
There were few clear-cut chances in the second period
as Chester had to replace three strikers in Tom
Peers, Kurt Willoughby and Connor Woods for fresher
legs. With the game entering an extra 30 minutes
the Blues found more momentum and pushed on. Dylan
Mottley-Henry twice tested Grant, Harrison Burke
headed an effort over and Taelor O’Kane saw
an effort saved.
The winning goal came on 108 minutes as Declan Weeks’
floated free-kick was fed through to Mottley-Henry
who headed back to Jack Bainbridge, he set the ball
up for Burke to turn and shoot past Grant to the
delight of a packed Harry McNally terrace behind
the goal.

Pictures
© Rick Matthews
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LATEST NEWS |
GRENVILLE MILLINGTON Former player Grenville Millington has sadly passed away at the age of 73. |
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LAST
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HEARTBREAK Chester fall at the final hurdle as they are beaten in extra time in the play-off final at Scunthorpe. |
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Everything you need to know about the club’s history, honours, records and kits. Complete list of fixtures from 1885 and much more. |
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