There is an unusual breeze of optimism floating around the Deva Stadium. Twelve months ago supporters were picketing the entrance gates in discontent yet now the atmosphere has dramatically changed full circle. Season Ticket sales are soaring and supporters just can’t wait for the big kick off on August 17. How often do we get to say that? Well we don’t get to observe an impressive summer recruitment drive down the Deva every season, but is seems Chairman Stephen Vaughan has pushed the boat out in the hope of making his first full season down the Deva one to remember. “I've broken the bank this summer, given Mark Wright my full backing and he has brought in a number of quality players” said Vaughan whilst explaining his aims and ambitions for the new campaign.

“When Mark took the job he told me he’d get a side together that will keep us in the Conference, but the following season he said he would get me a side that he feels can win it. We think we’ve got a side that are certainly going to challenge, if not win a promotion place this coming season.” No fewer than nine new signings have arrived during the summer break and form part of a impressive squad. We extend a warm welcome to them all, Micky Brown, Dave Cameron, Ryan Sugden, Steve Brodie, Michael Twiss, James Kelly, Kevin McIntyre, Wayne Hatswell and Ben Davies.

Not only have changes been made on the pitch, as you’ll soon be able to see around the stadium, a lot of changes have been made off field. “We’ve spoken to the safety people and the football league during the close season and they suggested one or two jobs that needed to be done in order to bring us up to scratch and comply with the criteria set out by the Football League,” explained Vaughan. “We're installing new eleven man dug outs and they’ll be ready for the first game of the season and we’ve done a lot of work to both the home and away changing rooms. We’ve extended the dressing rooms and tiled all the way through both of them. We’ve actually swapped dressing rooms and Chester players will now be using the old Away team room during home games.”

The response from supporters now becomes a crucial piece towards completing the jigsaw and Vaughan hopes the fans will share in his ambition by pledging their much-needed support. “We’ve sold a lot of season tickets and the response has been generally good but I’m not reading anything into pre-season or any signings, it’s over to the players now. Financially we owed one million and seventy eight thousand pounds at this company when we walked through the door last season, today we owe less than one hundred thousand pounds. We’re moving in the right direction but we need the help of the people of Chester, with their support, together we can try to climb back into the football league.”

Rob Ashcroft
22 July 2002