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NEWS FROM DEVA STADIUM 2004
January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December
FEBRUARY 2004
27 February 2004
UNITED CLOSE GAP
Hereford United’s 9-0 demolition of Dagenham & Redbridge equalled the Conference away winning margin and lifted the Bulls to within five points of City. There was a goal for former Blue Mark Beesley and a hat-trick for another ex-player David Brown as the Bulls equalled a record set by Sutton United who won 9-0 at Gateshead in 1990/91. The rout also now gives Hereford a one goal better goal difference that City.
CARDEN AVAILABLE FOR CITY
Paul CardenPaul Carden should be available for inclusion in Saturday’s squad as the Blues travel to Surrey to play eigth placed Woking in a live televised match that will kick-off at 17:35hrs. Kingfield has proved a bad hunting ground for City who have lost there on each of their three previous visits. Last season’s 1-0 defeat will be remembered for two City players being red-carded, Wayne Hatswell and Kevin Mcintyre as the Blues conceded their first away goal of the season to a controversial penalty; it was also the first game in charge for Cards boss Glenn Cockerill.

The Cards have lost just once at home this season (to Hereford United 0-1) and their Kingfield record reads: P16, W8, D7, L1, F31, A18. They have also signed Luke Oliver on loan from Wycombe Wanderers until the end of the season but will be missing striker Raphael Nade through a one game suspension. This will be a tough game for City who have lost only twice on their travels this season, at Exeter City and Forest Green Rovers, against a Woking side pushing for a play-off place in their first season as a full-time club.

Unlike last season, when the ‘Jon Brady factor’ forced a change, there will be NO segregation at Saturday’s game so fans (who don’t suffer from vertigo!) will be able to enjoy the view from the impressive main stand, though there is a £2.00 transfer charge. The social club will be open to all from 14:30hrs.

For those who can’t get to the match tomorrow, it’s being screen in the Deva Stadium social club, food will also be available.
26 February 2004
HEREFORD UNITED

As expected, City’s last game of the season against Hereford United at Edgar Street on Saturday 24 April will be all-ticket. Chester have been given an allocation of 1,900 (inc about 400 seats) and details of sales arrangements are expected in the next week or so.
23 February 2004
SHOP RESTOCKING
The Deva Stadium club shop is now being run on a franchise basis by Queensferry Sports and is stocking up on goods just in time for the promotion run-in. Training tops, T-shirts, polo shirts etc are all currently for sale before and after the game.

Umbro Travel Polo Shirts Junior £14.99, Adult £19.99
Umbro Sweatshirts Adult £24.99
Royal Blue Summer Jackets Adult £24.99
Rain Jackets Junior £19.99, Adult £24.99
Navy Polo Shirts Adult £14.99
Toffs Seals 1974-75 Shirts Adult £29.99
White T-Shirts Junior £5.99, Adult £7.99
Scarves £6.99
Hats with badge £6.99
Hats with lettering £4.99
Badges £1.00
Keyrings £1.99
Umbrellas £9.99
Tankards £24.99
Teddy Bears £9.99
Coffee Mugs £6.00

22 February 2004
BLUES GO EIGHT POINTS CLEAR

Darryn StampDarryn Stamp’s winning goal in the third minute of injury time against Dagenham & Redbridge could prove priceless. City’s 2-1 victory leaves them eight points clear of Hereford United after the Bulls were beaten at home 1-0 by Woking, our opponents next week. City opened the scoring on 17 minutes as Daryl Clare sent Tony Roberts the wrong way to score from the penalty spot after the ‘keeper had brought down Alex Smith.

The striker has now reached the 20 goal spot and has impressively scored in each of the last eight league matches. Leon Braithwaite headed the Daggers’ equaliser on 71 minutes before an inspired substitution saw Ben Davies and Michale Twiss introduced for the last 15. Twiss’ surging left wing runs caused all sorts of problems as City pushed forward for a winner in the closing minutes.

The Blues had a goal disallowed, a shot cleared off the line and saw a Clare shot well saved by Roberts before Stamp pounced from eight yards to turn home Twiss’ pull-back for his 19th goal of the season and complete a remarkable last five minutes.

Manager Mark Wright hinted aftert the match that a right winger was next on his shopping list. “I’ve now got to go and see the chairman and see what we can do. I’ve got to go out and find a right-winger, and if we can then it becomes impressive for us. We’re looking to improve all the time, and now is the time when I’ve got to go and see the chairman. But that right winger can’t just be anyone. We need someone with pace because that would be a massive bonus to everyone at this football club.” he told the local press.

20 February 2004
TOUGH TEST FOR CITY
City entertain Dagenham & Redbridge at Deva Stadium tomorrow (15:00hrs) without midfielder Paul Carden who sits out the game through suspension. Manager Mark Wright will include recent loan signings Chris Lane and Danny Williams in his squad, though whether either player starts remains to be seen. The sides last met in early October sharing the spoils in a 0-0 draw at Victoria Road.

Dagenham currently lie in 11th place on 41 points and will be looking to close the nine point gap between themselves and a play-off position. The Daggers have won five games on their travels so far this season including recent victories at Accrington Stanley (3-2), and Barnet (4-2), they also caused a shock with a 5-0 home win over promotion hopefuls Shrewsbury Town in early January.
19 February 2004
CITY SIGN WILLIAMS ON LOAN

Following on from Iain Turner and Chris Lane, Kidderminster Harriers 24-year-old midfielder Danny Williams has today become City’s third loan signing in quick succession. He started his career as a trainee at Liverpool in 1997 before signing, two years later, for Wrexham. During his time at the Racecourse he made 47+1 appearances for the Dragons scoring 2 goals, he also made 6 loan appearances at Doncaster Rovers before signing for Kidderminster in June 2001. He has since clocked up 122+4 appearances for Shropshire side scoring 8 goals. He is expected to go straight into Saturday’s squad who entertain Dagenham & Redbridge. Williams currently has four bookings to his name this season.

City manager Mark Wright said: “Danny is training with us and is eligible for selection for Saturday’s home game against Dagenham and Redbridge. He’s 6ft 1in tall, mobile, and a very good footballer who can play in midfield or defence. Danny’s wife wants to move back into this area and we’ve managed to get him on board for a month.”
18 February 2004 
BUCKS HEAD VISIT

City with travel to play Telford United on Tuesday 16 March which is the new date for the fixture postponed last week due to the home side’s FA Trophy commitments.

15 February 2004
VAUGHAN HINTS AT SIGNING

City chairman Steve Vaughan has hinted, through the Liverpool Daily Post, that City could be signing and experienced midfield player from a Football League side in time for Saturday’s game against Dagenham & Redbridge. Vaughan said that a deal is finalised with the player and that he will bring a wealth of experience to the side. “I’m always looking to strengthen my squad and I’m quite close to bringing someone in with Football League experience. I’m not going to say who I’m going to sign, but the player I’m looking at will improve us. I’ve also been looking at a big centre forward, and a goalkeeper, as well as a left-sided midfielder.” said manager Mark Wright.

CONTRACT TALKS
The club have offered new contracts to two of their key players, defender Scott Guyett and goalkeeper Wayne Brown. Brown, who is currently the club’s longest serving player with over 260 appearances to his name, is still recovering from a broken bone in a foot and is expected to still be out until the end of the month.
11 February 2004
LANE JOINS ON LOAN AS FOSTER MOVES OUT
Ian FosterChris Lane has completed his loan move to Chester and may compete in tonight’s reserve game against Southport. The former Hereford United, Southport and Morecambe defender has signed on for City until the end of the season.

Meanwhile, striker Ian Foster has returned to his previous club Kidderminster Harriers on a one month loan. With competition for places in the forward line fierce, Foster has played just 10+9 time for City in the Conference this season scoring two goals in the process.

City manager Mark Wright told the Liverpool Daily Post: “We wish Ian well in his spell at Aggborough, with his first team opportunities being limited here at the Deva Stadium, the agreement suits both parties. Ian has a lot to offer, and obviously knows Kidderminster extremely well, and I am sure he will be keen to repeat his previous successes down there.” Foster is expected to play in tonight’s game against Cheltenham Town.
HEARD STAYS
Jamie Heard is staying put at Chester after turning down the chance to join Leigh RMI on loan in the deal that brought Chris Lane to the Deva until the end of the season. “I’m not going to make Jamie go to Leigh if he doesn’t want to go. I think it’s great that he wants to stay and fight for his place.” said City manager Mark Wright.
10 February 2004
CITY LOOK TO BOOST SQUAD

City are poised to sign former Southport and Morecambe defender Chris Lane on loan. He’s currently playing at Leigh RMI and the deal looks set to involve both Jamie Heard and Steve Brodie heading in the opposite direction on loan until the end of the season. Lane began his career at Everton before signing for Hereford United in 1998 where he made 55+2 appearances scoring 3 goals. In 2001 he signed for Southport (managed by Mark Wright) where he went on to make 92+2 appearances scoring 2 goals before joining Morecambe last May, he was released in December. “We are delighted and hopefully this will give us all a big boost. Jamie Heard is strong and gets up and down and Steve Brodie has done it in the Football League and scored goals for clubs in the Conference. Hopefully he will do the same for us.” Leigh boss Phil Starbuck told the BBC.
7 February 2004
CITY GO EIGHT POINTS CLEAR
Daryl ClareThe Blues extended their lead at the top of the Nationwide Conference today to eight points after beating Farnborough Town 3-2 and hearing of Hereford United’s defeat. City got off to a dream start with a goal on 45 seconds from Darryn Stamp, touching home a Daryl Clare cross; and doubled their lead just before the half-hour mark as Daryl Clare drove home following Stamp’s flick-on. City missed several chances to extend their lead, with Stamp hitting the bar before the break as City reached half-time with a two-goal lead.

However, as against Gravesend, the Blues surrendered their advantage. First Nick Burton to fired home from close range on 52 minutes the Richard Hodgson equalised on 68 minutes as visitors Farnborough battled back. The game looked to be heading for a draw, and a disappointing two points dropped for City, before Clare seized on a lay-off from Stamp on the edge of the box to fire home into the bottom right-hand corner from 20 yards out.

With City’s closest rivals Hereford United losing at home 2-1 to Burton Albion, the Blues are now left eight points clear of The Bulls, having played one game more.
6 February 2004
DEBUT FOR TURNER
City are back in action tomorrow with the visit of Farnborough Town to Deva Stadium (15:00hrs). This is City’s first game for a fortnight since the 4-0 victory at Northwich Victoria. On-loan goalkeeper Iain Turner will make his Blues debut while City’s midfield will be without Paul Carden who serves the first game of a two-match ban having reached ten bookings this season.

The sides last met in September at Cherrywood Road when two goals from Darryn Stamp gave the Blues three points in a 2-1 victory. Farnborough currently lie in 19th position and have taken Swindon defender Ben Martin on a month’s loan this week. Their away record so far this season reads: P14, W2, D1, L11, F13, A26.
4 February 2004
TURNER JOINS CITY ON LOAN
EvertonChester City have recruited Everton reserve goalkeeper Iain Turner on a one-month loan. Turner is a regular on the Toffees’ reserve side which is managed by ex-City player Andy Holden. The young Scot is a highhly rated keeper and joined Everton for £50,000 from Stirling Albion twelve months ago. He is capped at under-16 and under-18 level for Scotland and was called up to the under-21 squad in December 2002.

City manager Mark Wright praised his opposite number at Goodison Park David Moyes saying: “This is a major coup for us, Iain comes with glowing recommendations and I know he will be a great plus for us. I would like to publicly thank David Moyes who has been extremely helpful in this matter. David has bent over backwards to help us, and the gesture to assist a local club in this way should not be forgotten.”
FOSTER STAYS
Nuneaton Borough have failed in their attempt to sign City forward Ian Foster. Borough manager Alan Lewer was hoping to sign Foster to bolster the Manor Park attack but he told the Coventry Evening Telegraph: “I thought we’d got Ian but he doesn’t want to come. He didn’t want to drop out of the Nationwide Conference as he’s determined to get back into the Chester team. Obviously I’m disappointed but that was his decision and we can’t do anything about it.”

JUNIORS JUST KEEP ON WINNING
City’s Junior sides are in tremendous form this season. The under 12s, 13s, 14s and 16s all currently top, or joint top, of their respective leagues. For the latest reports and a link to current tables and forthcoming fixtures click here.
2 February 2004
TELFORD MATCH OFF
The FA website confirms that Telford United will be playing Weston-super-Mare in the FA Trophy on 14 February leaving City with another blank weekend.
KEEPER SEARCH CONTINUES
Manager Mark Wright’s search for an experienced goalkeeper continues. With Ian McCaldon having left to start a new career in Australia, and Wayne Brown still sidelined with a broken bone in a foot, the Blues have just five days to sign a replacement either on loan or full-time. Coventry City’s Frenchman Pegguy Arphexad has already turned down a Deva move not wanting to drop below the second division and there’s no more news regarding Tony Pennock whose name was linked with a possible move last week.

Another name being linked is that of Stuart Jones. Jones, like Wayne Brown, started his career at Weston-super-Mare in 1997 before moving to Sheffield Wednesday for £20,000 a year later. He stayed at the Hillsborough club for two years, but after loan spells at Crewe Alexandra and Torquay United he joined The Gulls in 2000 for a reported £30,000 where he went on to make 34 appearances for the Devon side. He moved on and had a loan spell at Deva Stadium in January/February 2002 making one appearance for City�s reserves at Lancaster City. He moved to Barry Town in February 2002 and is now back at Weston-super-Mare.
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