Chester FC’s Community arm, The Seals Foundation, have been extremely busy working with the schools and communities of Chester, and recently the head of Personal, Social and Health Education at Blacon High School approached Chester FC to get involved with their Year 8 programme for this first term.

PSHE encourages the children to take responsibility for their own futures, and think about their treatment of others. The school approached the Club to become involved as the first term for these children would be themed New Beginnings, a perfect fit!

The night after the Trafford match, board members Mark Howell and Chris Pilsbury attended the school assembly where they spoke to the children about new beginnings, and about how they are responsible for their own outcomes. Mark spoke proudly about how our members had made their own dreams come true by building, working for and paying for their Club to be reborn. Furthermore the children were told that as supporters we could have sulked, and we could have blamed the rest of the world for our problems and our lack of a football club. Mark told them that by working together, and by listening to each other opinions and ideas, we were able to get to where we are today. The children were clearly excited by the prospect asking whether the Chester FC players would be at the club.

Our partners in delivering this programme are the school and Cheshire Fire and Rescue. The children will have lessons in how to cope under pressure, and how to make the correct decisions. This may be regarding fireworks, it may be about getting into a car with someone who has taken drink or drugs, or it may be about what to do if a pan catches fire. What it does do is arm these children with the knowledge and the self belief to make the right decision in some very difficult circumstances.

Last Thursday, 23rd September, saw the whole of year 8 at Blacon High School attend the Exacta Stadium for their weekly PHSE lesson. The Chester and District FA referees secretary Dave Powell came down and spoke to the pupils in the Blues Bar for half an hour. He explained to them the principles of the Respect campaign, and how the referees courses that they run encourage the younger referees to be confident at decision making. Dave spoke about Mike Jones, who had qualified originally under Dave, and how he had become a Premier League referee after taking a course at 14.

Following Dave’s lesson, Danny Jones and his team of coaches took over 80 children out onto the Exacta pitch, in the sun, and did some basic skills training with them as a reward for their good work so far. The kids were thrilled when Chester FC midfield maestro Andy Burgess helped out, and the look of sheer enjoyment on their faces told us that this would be a day out they would never, ever forget.

The course has a couple of lessons left to run, including a talk on inclusivity from fellow board member Rich Wightman, and an assessment / prize giving lesson whereby the club and the Cheshire Fire get the chance to reward some of the children for their efforts.

The Blues bounced back from their home league defeat last week against Chorley with another solid away performance on Saturday that saw a 4-0 league win at Salford City. Goals from Bradley Barnes and Michael Wilde gave Chester a two goal advantage at the break. Iain Howard and Mark Connolly doubled the lead in the second half and there could have been more goals before the final whistle such was Chester’s dominance in the second period. A delighted manager Neil Young said: “We were very clinical. Look at the first half – we had three or four chances and we took two of them. If that would have happened against Chorley it would have been a different game.” “Today we have taken our chances and I think if we continue to take our chances we will get stronger and teams will find it hard to live with us. All credit to the lads as they’ve bounced back. We could have had more in the end but 4-0 away from home is a very good result.” • League table | More pictures Picture © Evening Leader

Chester take a break from League action tonight when they travel to Leek Town for a Preliminary Round match in the Evo-Stik President’s Cup against their Division One South opponents.

The sides last met 20 years ago in the second round of the FA Cup with Chester City being held 1-1 at Harrison Park before winning the replay at Moss Rose 4-0 with goals from Keith Bertschin, Carl Dale, Graham Abel and Robbie Painter.

Leek have yet to win any of their five home league and Cup matches so far this season, having drawn one and lost four. Last Saturday they were beaten 2-1 at home by Sutton Coldfield Town in front of a crowd of 236.

Blues manager Neil Young will be looking for a good reaction from the players following Saturday's 2-1 home defeat by leaders Chorley in front of a bumper 3,092 crowd. Chester created several good first half chances but could only score once through ex-Leek player Rob Hopley three minutes after Chorley had taken the lead at the other end. Aaron Grundy was a man inspired in the visitors goals making several first class saves to deny Chester. A second half penalty conceded by George Horan 30 minutes from time presented Jack Dorney the chance to score the winner for the visitors.

Young said: “Their keeper has had a stormer first half and if we had put our chances away we could have been four or 5-1 up. The penalty when it happened knocked the stuffing out of us because we were starting to up the ante.”

“The disappointing thing from our point of view was that we didn’t pass the ball well enough in the second half. Not enough people took ownership of their roles, particularly in the midfield area, and that’s why we lost the game.”

Saturday 18 September, 09.30-12.30hrs – Season Ticket holders (limit of one ticket per person, on production of Voucher B). And then after the match from 17.00-18.00hrs they go on general sale.

The form for this year’s competition is now ready to download. To reflect our newly found status we’ve substituted the Conference for the Evo-Stik Division One North! so you may need to give your friends a bit of guidance as to who’s hot and who’s not when it comes to filling in this section. The deadline has been extended to allow for the later than usual appearance of the form. • Download form

There will be another bumper crowd tomorrow as league leaders Chorley come to Chester.

Chorley are managed by Garry Flitcroft, brother of ex-Chester player David, and they are expected to include on-loan striker Chris Simm in their squad. Simm recently turned down a permanent move to Chester from Southport after the two clubs had agree a a fee.

Blues manager Neil Young should have a full squad to pick from tomorrow as he prepares his team for their hardest test of the season so far.

Young said: “Chorley are the leaders, but from our point of view we’re going out there to win the game as we’re at home. We can’t worry about what anyone else is doing, as the main thing for me is that we’re scoring goals and not conceding them at the same time.

A five goal rout at Bamber Bridge tonight moved Chester into second place behind Saturday’s opponents Chorley. Two goals either side of the break from defender Stuart Jones (pictured), and further goals from Michael Wilde and Iain Howard ensured the Blues remain unbeaten in the league so far. The fifth goal on the night was an own goal from Michael White, who had a trial for Chester pre-season. • League table Picture © Evening Leader

Chester travel to eighth placed Bamber Bridge tonight as their league season continues against the only side with a 100% record in the league. The Lancashire team have won all three of their league games so far by a 1-0 scoreline, away at Mossley and Harrogate Railway Athletic, and at home to Cammell Laird. They have also won two FA Cup ties as well.

Manager Neil Young will be looking for an improved performance from his side who eventually overcame bottom of the table Garforth Town 2-0 on Saturday. Ahead of tonight’s match there are doubts over both Andy Burgess and George Horan who both took knocks in the last week.

After the win which lifted the Blues to fifth spot Young said: “I thought we were very, very poor in the first half and if it wasn’t for our goalkeeper Richard Whiteside we could have been a couple of goals down.”

“So first half we were woeful and they were told so at half-time. Second half we were much better, but it still wasn’t the standard that is expected.”

It was a night that really couldn’t have gone any better! No one lucky enough to be there last night in a crowd of 2,743 will ever forget Chester’s triumphant return to Deva Stadium which ended with an emphatic 6-0 victory over Trafford. Three goals in either half did the damage with a rampant Michael Wilde completing a hat-trick against a side that had started the match unbeaten and third in the League.

The turnstile queues were forming long before kick-off as supporters gathered in anticipation of something special – and that’s exactly what they got. Joining the crowd were Colin Murray, Pat Nevin, Perry Groves after the former had promised CFU £2,000 on his radio Five programme if the club would name his fellow presenters Nevin and Groves as unused substitutes for the season.

With the first half proving a stalemate the Blues took the lead on 25 minutes in bizarre fashion as a miscued shot from Hopley that appeared to be heading out of play hit a corner flag, Wilde chased after the loose ball, pulled it back for Chris Williams whose cross was headed home from close ranger by Bradley Barnes. Wilde added a second heading home unchallenged after Andy Burgess had sent in a pinpoint free-kick and moments later he sent in another superb cross that was converted by George Horan to send the Blues in at half-time three up, and off to a standing ovation.

Wilde added his second and Chester's fourth on 71 minutes as he raced through onto a Greg Stones pass, shrugged off his marker to bear down one-on-one before lashing the ball past Damien Rooney in the Trafford goal from the edge of the box, a quality finish in front of the home terrace. The fifth goal came five minutes later as Wilde notched his third controlling a far post cross before scoring low down in the corner. A breathless seven minute three-goal spell ended with the sixth goal of the night as Wilde set-up Barnes to score his second from close range.

To their credit the visitors battled to the end and it took a superb fingertip save by Richard Whiteside to deny Tom Bailey whose superb volley in the dying seconds looked goalbound all the way.

“The club will receive significant financial benefit from this agreement over the next five years, and once again we thank a locally based business for their support. Stuart had sponsored Chester through a previous company Truetone, and after being impressed by what he saw on and off the pitch against Tranmere decided to once again become involved.”