Looking back on the players from the 2006/07 season ... Part 1

Chester used 31 players in the Football League last season of which 16 are still registered with the club at the time of writing (Dean Bennett, Phil Bolland, Glenn Cronin, John Danby, Jamie Hand, Sean Hessey, Chris Holroyd, Shaun Kelly, Paul Linwood, Simon Marples, Paul Rutherford, Kevin Sandwith, James Vaughan, Ashley Westwood, Laurence Wilson and Simon Yeo). John Danby was the only ever present and didn’t miss a minute of the action while, at the other end of the scale, Jermaine McSporran was on the pitch for a mere 21 minutes in the first game of the season against Accrington Stanley.

Jon Walters (left) proved to be a profitable signing for Chester. Signed on a free transfer from rivals Wrexham he scored 9 goals in 24+2 appearances and two outstanding games in the FA Cup tie against Ipswich Town prompted a transfer to the Suffolk club at the end of January. Jon made 11+5 appearances at Portman Road scoring four goals including a double against Cardiff at the end of the season. He started 2007/08 in Ipswich’s opening game against Sheffield Wednesday. Jon’s striking partner, Gregg Blundell (right), also moved in the transfer window when he was transferred to League Two rivals Darlington. A £100,000 signing from Doncaster Rovers in August 2005 Gregg started his Chester career in fine style with two goals in the 4-4 draw with Darlington but his season was interrupted after a collision with Rochdale’s goalkeeper Michael Gilkes. Gregg struggled to regain his form after the injury but seven goals in nine games towards the end of 2006 suggested a change in his fortunes. After his transfer to Darlington Gregg made 14+1 appearances and scored three goals including a last minute penalty equaliser for the Quakers at the Deva Stadium in April. In the opening game of this season he came off the bench for Darlington against Wrexham.

Stephen Vaughan (left) started last season as Chester captain and played 20 league games for City in 2006/07. After a brief loan spell with Rochdale Stephen made a permanent move to Boston United in January but after a bright start ruptured his achilles in only his seventh game forcing him to miss the remainder of the campaign. With Boston going into administration at the end of the season and suffering a second relegation to the Blue Square North Stephen was not retained by the Pilgrims. Drewe Broughton (right) also finished last season with Boston United after joining the Lincolnshire club on loan at the end of October. Drewe had made a goalscoring start to his Chester career with the first goal of 2006/07 against Accrington Stanley but was soon relegated to the bench and after 9+5 league appearances and a goal against Torquay moved to the Pilgrims. He proved to be a hit at Boston with 8 goals in 25 appearances and was a member of the side that played in the final Football League game at Wrexham. Drewe was released by Chester during the summer and was signed by Paul Ince for MK Dons.

Popular centre half Dave Artell (left) made 42+1 appearances for City last season and scored one goal in the 2-0 victory at Grimsby. Dave was released at the end of the season and joined League Two new boys Morecambe where he played in the club’s opening day fixture against Barnet.

Former England youth international Graham Allen joined Chester from Rushden and Diamonds but only started two games for City. He was forced into retirement at the end of the season because of a long-term hip problem. Another player who retired from the game was Roberto Martinez (right) who left the Deva Stadium in February to take over the manager’s role at his former club Swansea City. The Spaniard made 31 appearances in his brief stay at the Deva Stadium and his influence was badly missed in the latter part of the campaign.

Chas Sumner [Published 12/8/07]