News from Deva Stadium May 2013

It’s sad to report that former Chester player Ron Davies has died in hospital in Albuquerque USA aged 70. Ron played for Chester from 1959-62 before moving to Luton Town for £12,200. He went on to play for Norwich City, Southampton, Portsmouth and Manchester United and earned 29 caps for Wales. He had suffered from ill health for several years and passed away on Friday 24 May.

• Obituary | Southampton website tribute

STRIKER SIGNS

Chester have signed 24-year-old Accrington Stanley winger Craig Lindfield. Lindfield has previously made 5+2 appearances for the club in a loan spell from Liverpool in January 2008.

Picture © Rick Matthews (Chester Leader)

28 May 2013
NEW DEAL FOR DANBY

Goalkeeper John Danby has signed a new two year deal at Chester. The 29-year-old shot stopper first joined Chester City in 2006 and made just over 130 appearances in a four year spell with the club. He moved to Eastwood Town when City were expelled from the Conference and has gone on to make 82+0 appearances for Chester since his return.

After securing his services a delighted manager Neil Young told the Chester Leader: “John is key to what we are trying to do this season and he is an integral part of the squad. Goalkeepers are always judged on the mistakes they make, but John has done really well for us. The understanding between John and his defenders proved so important last season and, he and George Horan have been the backbone of the team. But John is also good with the other players in the dressing room and you can’t put a price on that.”

Picture © Rick Matthews (Chester Leader)

27 May 2013
GRAY JOINS TELFORD
Transfer listed striker Tony Gray has joined AFC Telford United for a “nominal” fee, joining Matty McGinn, Wes Baynes and Sean Clancy at the Bucks Head from last years squad. Gray signed from Southport last summer and made 19+14 appearances scoring 14 goals for the Blues.

• Transfer activity

HORAN SIGNS NEW CONTRACT
Great news for Chester fans as George Horan has signed a new one year contract for next season. The captain, has guided the club to three successive championships, and a delighted manager Neil Young said: “It was great to get George to sign for another year. He’s been here since it all started and he’s been a fantastic player for the football club. He turned down a more lucrative offer in the Welsh Premier to stay at the Exacta and have a go in the Football Conference. This signing is as good a signing as we’ll make this Summer.”

26 May 2013
HARRISON SIGNS FROM TRANMERE
The squad building for next season continues with the signing of 30-year-old Danny Harrison from Tranmere Rovers. The experienced midfielder has made over 130 appearances in two spells for the Prenton Park side and has also made over 180 appearances for Rotherham United.

24 May 2013
WINGER SET TO SIGN
Chester are poised to sign 23-year-old Vauxhall Motors winger Craig Mahon. The former Wigan Athletic player is out of contract withe the Ellesmere Port based side. Manager Neil Young told the Chester Chronicle: “Every time I’ve watched Craig he’s been outstanding. He can play on the left, on the right and in behind the forward. He’s very clever and knows the game.”

“His work ethic, willingness to learn, attitude and commitment is also first class.“He’s had a fantastic time under Carl Macauley at Vauxhalls and hopefully we’ll give him an opportunity to showcase his skills in the Conference. I’ve never seen a lad more keen to come to Chester FC than Craig Mahon. He realises it’s a massive opportunity for him.”

22 May 2013
WILLIAMS THE LATEST TO LEAVE

Marc Williams is the latest player to leave Chester. The striker, who signed from Kidderminster Harriers in February 2012, has been released without being offered a new contract. Williams made 37+21 appearances for Chester, scoring 14 goals.

Picture © Rick Matthews (Chester Leader)

THREE PLAYERS SIGN IN

Manager Neil Young has made his first three signings of the close season, all have one year contracts. Returning to the club is 35-year-old defender Kevin McIntyre (pictured). McIntyre was a member of the 2003/04 Conference winning Chester City side and has after being released by Rochdale.

Midfielder Jason Jarrett has joined the club from Airbus UK. The 33-year-old started last season for FC Halifax Town and impressed during the Yorkshire sides defeat at Chester early in the season. He has also been on the books of Football League sides: Blackpool, Bury, Wigan Athletic, Norwich City, Preston North End, Brighton & Hove Albion, Port Vale and Oldham Athletic.

The third of a trio of signings is left back Lee Pugh from Clitheroe.

Goalkeeper Martin Fearon has also signed a new one year deal at the club.

Picture © Rick Matthews (Chester Leader)

20 May 2013
AWARDS NIGHT SUCCESS
The club staged its third awards presentation night at Chester Racecourse on Saturday hosted by Colin Murray and Jonathan Legard in front of 500 supporters. The award winners for 2012/13 were as follows:

Players’ Player of the Season: George Horan
Player of the Season: George Horan
Away Travel Player of the Season: George Horan
Managers Player of the Season: Antoni Sarcevic
Golden Boot Winner: Nathan Jarman
Goal of the Season: Antoni Sarcevic (winning goal at Bishop’s Stortford)
Youth Player of the Season: Sean Miller
Ladies Player of the Season: Sue Fennell
Clubman of the Year: Chris Graham

• More pictures

Picture © Rick Matthews (Chester Leader)

18 May 2013
BAYNES LATEST TO LEAVE
Defender Wes Baynes is the latest player to be released by Chester. Baynes made 61+15 appearances for Chester scoring nine goals. Four players are under contract for next season: Antoni Sarcevic, Ben Mills, Paul Linwood and Ashley Williams. Four more players are out of contract and will be holding discussions with manager Neil Young before the retained list is released. They are: George Horan, John Danby, Marc Williams and Martin Fearon.

CONFERENCE MAKE UP
The Football Association have finalised the allocation of teams for the various non-leagues for next season and have confirmed the Football Conference National league, subject to changes at the League AGM, as follows:

Team	From
Aldershot Town	Football League Two
Alfreton Town	Football Conference
Barnet	Football League Two
Braintree Town	Football Conference
Cambridge United	Football Conference
Chester	Football Conference North
Dartford	Football Conference
FC Halifax Town	Football Conference North
Forest Green Rovers	Football Conference
Gateshead	Football Conference
Grimsby Town	Football Conference
Hereford United	Football Conference
Hyde	Football Conference
Kidderminster Harriers	Football Conference
Lincoln City	Football Conference
Luton Town	Football Conference
Macclesfield Town	Football Conference
Nuneaton Town	Football Conference
Salisbury City	Football Conference South
Southport	Football Conference
Tamworth	Football Conference
Welling United	Football Conference South
Woking	Football Conference
Wrexham	Football Conference

17 May 2013
MORE PLAYERS TO LEAVE CHESTER

More players are set to leave Chester following Dom Collins and Iain Howard out of the club. Those leaving, some due to work commitments, include: Matty McGinn and Scott Brown, while Nathan Jarman, Tony Gray and Dave Hankin have been transfer listed

McGinn (pictured) will forever be remembered for the stunning equaliser in the home match against Northwich Victoria last season that clinched the Northern Premier League championship. He signed from Southport, initially on loan in August 2011, and made 78+6 appearances scoring 22 goals.

Scott Brown was signed from Macclesfield Town and scored one goal in 18+12 outings for Chester.

Tony Gray also arrived from the Sandgrounders where he had been a proven Conference goalscorer, he made 19+14 appearances for Chester scoring 14 goals including the winning goal in the Cheshire Senior Cup Final against Stalybridge Celtic. Midfielder Scott Brown signed from Macclesfield Town in December 2012, he went on to make 18+12 appearances, scoring one goal.

Picture © Rick Matthews (Chester Leader)

BLUES PICK UP NATIONAL AWARD
Manager Neil Young was in London on Wednesday night as he received, on behalf of the club, the Non-League Paper’s National Game Awards Team of the Year award at Craven Cottage. A delighted Young told the Chester Chronicle: “This is not just for the management team or the players – who have been exceptional – but for the whole football club. It’s for the volunteers, the supporters – everybody involved at Chester FC – and it is great reward for what we’ve achieved these three years.”

15 May 2013
COLLINS LEAVES CHESTER

Defender Dom Collins has announced that he is leaving. The former Northwich Victoria player signed a one year deal in May 2012 and made 28+9 appearances for Chester, scoring two goals. Collins announced on his Twitter account: “I will not be a Chester FC player next season. Like to thank the management team and the fans who have been brilliant to me!”

The club are expected to announce the retained list following Saturday’s sell-out presentation evening at Chester Racecourse.

Picture © Rick Matthews (Chester Leader)

14 May 2013
HUNDREDS TURN OUT TO SEE PARADE
Despite the wet weather hundreds of Chester supporters turned out to see the third Chester FC victory parade through the city to the Town Hall on Saturday. The Blues showed off the silverware with the Conference North and Cheshire Senior Cup’s on display. Following the parade the players and staff were given a civic reception by The Lord Mayor of Chester, Councilor Pam Booher.

• More pictures

PLAYER OF THE SEASON
Captain George Horan has been named Player of the Season following a vote by CFU members. Horan led the side to a third successive title last season. Second place went to midfielder Antoni Sarcevic, with goalkeeer John Danby third.

10 May 2013
CIVIC RECEPTION FOR BLUES
For the third successive year the club will be honoured with a civic reception by Cheshire West and Chester Council and an open top bus parade through Chester, this will take place tomorrow afternoon.

The Conference North championship and Cheshire Senior Cup’s will be on parade as the bus leaves the ground at 14.00hrs before heading to the Town Hall. The route will be: Bumpers Lane, Sealand Road, Southview Road, Raymond Road, Canal Street and Northgate Street. It is expected to arrive at the Town Hall at 14.30hrs. The Player of the Season awards will be made on the Town Hall steps once the team have arrived.

SARCEVIC GETS ENGLAND CALL

Congratulations to midfielder Antoni Sarcevic who has been picked for the England C Squad to play in Bermuda on 4 June at the National Sports Centre in Hamilton.

The 16 players in the squad picked by manager Paul Fairclough are: Preston Edwards (Ebbsfleet United), Mitchell Walker (Dover Athletic ), Daniel Bradley (Alfreton Town), Antoni Sarcevic (Chester), James Norwood (Forest Green Rovers), Christopher Stokes (Forest Green Rovers), Joshua Gillies ( Gateshead), Sam Clucas (Hereford United), Ryan Bowman (Hereford United), Michael Demetriou (Kidderminster Harriers), Anthony Malbon (Kidderminster Harriers), Andre Gray (Luton Town), Ryan Jackson (Macclesfield Town), Harry Beautyman (Sutton United), Anthony Acheampong (Welling United) and Fraser Franks (Welling United).

• Previous international Chester players

Picture © Rick Matthews (Chester Leader)

PRE-SEASON FRIENDLIES
Chester have lined up two more home pre-season friendlies as they entertain Mansfield Town on Tuesday 16 July, kick-off 19:30hrs, and Cheshire neighbours Crewe Alexandra on Saturday 20 July, kick-off 15:00hrs.

HANKIN ON TRANSFER LIST

Dave Hankin has been placed on the transfer list at his own request. The 27-year-old midfielder signed a two year deal from Kidderinster Harriers last summer. The club will want a fee for the player. Hankin made 38+9 appearances for the club last season, scoring four goals.

Picture © Rick Matthews (Chester Leader)

7 May 2013
SUPPORTERS’ PLAQUE COMES HOME
Prior to the open top bus tour departure from the ground on Saturday at around 12.30hrs, there will be the unveiling of the 1935 Supporters Committee Plaque that has been painstakingly restored over the past three months by master mason Altomont Townsend and the students at West Cheshire College. Volunteer Learning Co-ordinator Carol Bennett’s has a connection with the college and helped set up the restoration project.

The sandstone plaque, which was originally located in the wall at the corner of the Sealand Road ground (pictured top), and was rescued by a supporter from the rubble after demolition of The Stadium in 1992 and given to the ISA for safekeeping. It was recently presented back to the club by former ISA chairman George Rogers for the restoration work to commence.

There will be an information board detailing the history of the plaque next to where it has now been embedded in the wall near to the players entrance at the ground (pictured below).

You can read more about the project on Chas Sumner’s history site at http://chesterfootballhistory.com

3 May 2013
SEASON TICKET SALES
Season Tickets for the 2013/14 season which starts on Saturday 10 August will go on sale at the ground ticket office from Tuesday 7 May from 10.00-16.00hrs.

The prices have been increased following promotion to the Conference Premier and were voted in favour by the vast majority of CFU members who completed the recent Big City Census, in which the board recommened the increase.

The club have set a target of selling 750 adult tickets by 9 August, should this be achieved then a scheme is in place to offer a cash refund equivalent to about two matches. The refund will be £26 for terrace season tickets and £31 to stand tickets. The refunds must be claimed by 30 August.

Existing season ticket holders have until 28 June to renew if they wish to retain the same seat. They should take along their 2012/13 Season Ticket to help speed up the process.

SEASON TICKETS
Standing Harry McNally Terrace
Adults £259.00
Concession £190.00
Juniors aged 16-17 £99.00
Children aged 5-15 £40.00 (or £60 with Junior sized shirt package, £65 if Adult sized shirt required for Child)

Seating: Exacta Main, and Centurian Community stand’s
Adults £299.00
Concession £209.00
Juniors aged 16-17 £99.00
Children aged 5-15 £40.00 (or £60 with Junior sized shirt package, £65 if Adult sized shirt required for Child)

Legends Lounge
Individual £499.00
Corporate £599.00

MATCHDAY PRICES
Standing Harry McNally Terrace
Adults £14.00
Concession £10.00
Juniors aged 16-17 £6.00
Juniors aged 5-15 £3.00

Seating: Exacta Main, and Centurian Community stand’s
Adults £16.00
Concession £11.00
Juniors aged 16-17 £6.00
Juniors aged 5-15 £3.00

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