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28
February 2007
WRIGHT PRAISES DEFENCE
City had to be content with a point from hard earned draw
with
Hereford
United last night. At a blustry Deva Stadium the Blues were given the lead through
Simon Yeo with half an hour remaining. However the Bulls applied the pressure
and forced an equaliser eight minutes from time.
A win would have lifted City
above their opponents, instead the Blues swapped
placed with Peterborough United.
Manager Mark Wright praised his defence after the game
after they’d put in another slid display. “I
still think we’re not firing on all cylinders and it’s
hard to keep bouncing back. I don’t think we’re playing anywhere
near as well as we did when we had all our players in. But we’ve
got to adjust
to the
situation
and we’re still searching for new players. Definsively I can’t
possibly complain because we’ve only conceded two goals in our
last five games. Our defenders
have
been big and strong, and they’re at the races, but I feel we need
to dictate a little bit more in midfield and have a bit of width.”
Wright added: “It was nice to see Simon
(Yeo) getting his goal. We know he’s a goalscorer, but if we get
a big man in and things drop down for him I’m sure you’ll
see him scoring more
goals.
Simon
is a preditor, but it was also good to see young Chris Holroyd come on
in the second half and I’m sure he would have scored if it hadn’t
have been for
Wayne
Brown who is one of the best keepers in the League.�
City are next in action on
Friday night (19.45hrs) when bottom club Torquay
United visit Deva Stadium. It will mean a first return
for
Gulls
coach Keith Curle following his departure from City
last season.
All Match Day admission prices have
been reduced by £2.00 for the match. The following
admission prices will apply.
East Stand/West Stand
Adult £15.00, Concession £10.00, Junior £4.00
Harry McNally Terrace
Adult £13.00, Concession £8.00, Junior £3.00
South Stand
Adult £13.00, Concession £8.00, Junior £3.00
Picture © Evening
Leader
27
February 2007
TESTIMONIAL FOR GRAHAM BARROW
Assistant manager Graham Barrow
is to be given a testimonial in recognition of his services
as both a player and manager at Chester City. A Sportsman’s
Dinner and a match against Premier League opposition
next summer are possible options. City chairman Steve
vaughan told the Daily Post: �This is a well deserved
accolade and we have awarded Graham this testimonial
as a thank you for the service he has given to the club
as a player, manager and assistant manager.�
INJURY PROBLEMS MOUNT
City
have injury problems ahead of tonight’s rearranged
home League Two game against Hereford United. Ashley
Westwood,
Laurence Wilson and Lee Steele are all carrying knocks
and struggling to be fit. Hereford
have no fresh injury worries and goalkeeper Wayne
Brown
should make his first return to Deva Stadium since
leaving the Blues to join the Bulls, initially on
loan, in July
2005.
Hereford are currently three points ahead of City and
occupy ninth spot. They have five League victories
on their travels so far this season. The two sides last
met in
early August with the home side running out 2-0 winners
at Edgar Street.
A reminder that the club are running
a Kids for Free Scheme tonight.
Children aged 12 or under will
be admitted free of charge in The West Stand if accompanied
by a paying adult, this is on a one for one basis
i.e.one free kid with one paying adult additional
kids will be charged £6.00.
Tickets must be pre purchased
from the ticket office prior to the kick-off.
26 February 2007
BARROW ENDS SPECULATION
There’s
good news for City fans as assistant manager Graham
Barrow has ended speculation about him joining Roberto
Martinez as his assistant at Swansea City, and stated
that he’s staying put at Chester. Speaking of
his decision Barrow told the Daily Post:
“I was flattered to receive the approach from
Roberto, and I know he will make a success of his career
in management but my heart and affection is and always
has been with Chester City. Mark and the chairman have
always been fair to me, I have always been an extremely
loyal person and I want to repay the faith that Mark
and Mr Vaughan have shown in me.”
“I believe that we have the makings of creating
something extremely positive at Chester City. We have
an enthusiastic chairman who backs his management team
to the hilt and a progressive manager who has some excellent
ideas about the game. That's why I have come to my decision.”
25 February 2007
CITY PAY THE PENALTY
Chester
suffered their first defeat in six matches on Saturday.
An early Jack Smith penalty, given for a handball by
David Artell, was all that separated the sides at the
County Ground. City had goalkeeper John Danby to thank
though for keeping the score down with a series of great
saves to deny Swindon Town.
The win gave the Robins the double
over Chester who slip to 13th in League Two after
the weekend’s fixtures.
Manager Mark Wright, obviously not
happy at losing key players in recent weeks said after
the Swindon defeat:
“When everyone seems to be
improving, we seem to be depleting our resources.
How can any side as small as us suffer the loss of
our strike force, winger Stephen Vaughan, and now
our skipper Roberto Martinez?
“I don’t think we have
replaced them, but we are looking. The question is
how do I replace four key players like them? How can
I keep pulling rabbits out of the hat at this stage
of the season? Clubs aren’t letting players
go at this stage of the season which is disappointing
for us because we want to improve and do things right.
The players and I are frustrated. If we’d have
had widemen against Swindon I think we could have
hurt them big time.”
Picture © Evening Leader
23 February 2007
MARTINEZ LEAVES CITY
Good luck to Roberto Martinez
who has left Chester City today to take the managerial
job at his former club Swansea City. Martinez joined
City in the summer from the Welsh club and scored 3
goals in 38+0 appearances for City this season. A compensation
package is to be agreed between the two clubs.
REDUCED ADMISSION NEXT WEEK
Chester City are running reduced
admission offers for the home games next week against
Hereford United (Tuesday 27 February) and Torquay United
(Friday 2 March)
Hereford United
Kids for Free Scheme
Children aged 12 or under will be
admitted free of charge in The West Stand if accompanied
by a paying adult, this is on a one for one basis
i.e.one free kid with one paying adult additional
kids will be charged £6.00.
Tickets must be pre purchased
from the ticket office.
Hours of opening
Monday 26 February 10.00 –16.00
Tuesday 27 February 10.00 – kick-off.
Torquay United
Kids for Free Scheme
Children aged 12 and under will
be admitted free of charge in The West Stand if accompanied
by a paying adult, this is on a one for one basis
i.e. one free kid with one paying adult, additional
kids will be charged £4.00.
Tickets must be pre purchased
from the ticket office and only after the 27th February.
Hours of opening
Wednesday 28 February 10.00 – 16.00
Thursday 1 March 10.00 – 16.00
Friday 2 March 10.00 – kick-off
Reduced Matchday Admission
for the Torquay United game
All Match Day admission prices have
been reduced by £2.00. The following admission
prices will apply.
East Stand/West Stand
Adult £15.00, Concession £10.00, Junior
£4.00
Harry McNally Terrace
Adult £13.00, Concession £8.00, Junior
£3.00
South Stand
Adult £13.00, Concession £8.00, Junior £3.00
MARTINEZ DEADLINE
City
captain Roberto
Martinez has been given a 14:00hrs deadline today
to decide whether he remains at Chester or moves back
to Swansea. The popular player has been linked with
the managerial vacancy at the Liberty Stadium but City
want to bring an end to the speculation one way or another
and have asked for an answer before the team set off
for tomorrow’s game at Swindon Town. Martinez
has already been interviewed for the post.
Blues manager Mark Wright told the Western Mail: “Roberto
has got a good rapport with the chairman down there,
but it’s got to be resolved by Friday at the latest
because we’ll be travelling to Swindon by 2pm.
So, if it’s not done by then, I’ll be trying
to speak to our chairman to say, ‘Finish it, that’s
it, because it’s unfair to us all.’”
“Roberto is one of those people who you would
want to marry your daughter because he’s so damn
nice. I understand why they like him down in Swansea.
But it has to be resolved one way or the other. If it’s
not resolved, he’s staying here. Plain and simple.
There is no way we can turn round and let it go on and
on and on. The chairman and myself have been very fair
in everything we’ve done and letting them (Swansea)
speak to Roberto. If he goes, it will be a big loss.
Then it would be up to us to pull a rabbit out of the
hat from somewhere. I’m hoping Roberto stays with
us because it’s important to me that he’s
around.”
Picture © Evening
Leader
TOUGH TASK FOR CITY
City travel to the west country
this afternoon in preparation for tomorrow’s match
at fourth placed Swindon Town. The Robins, relegated
last season, are looking to bounce back to League One
at the first attempt. They currently lie in fourth place
but have failed to win in their last four matches. Jamie
Hand returns the the squad after serving a two-match
ban, while Laurence Wilson looks to have recovered from
an ankle ligament knock. The two sides last
met back in September with Swindon running out 2-0
winners at Deva Stadium.
22 February 2007
BACK TO WINNING WAYS
A
last-gasp penalty from Simon Yeo brought three welcome
home points for City who recorded their first League
victory at the Deva since 9 December. The game was petering
out to a draw before Dave Challinor fouled Yeo in the
box and the striker, making his home debut, slotted
away the spot-kick to secure the three points. After
a lacklustre first-half City showed more determination
after the break and Phil Bolland saw a header cleared
off the line and Yeo shot over when well placed before
the last minute drama.
City manager Mark Wright thought
his side deserved the points: “I thought we
deserved the victory, particularly after our second-half
performance. You’ve got to remember that we
are working with two new strikers and I thought tonight
they began to look impressive which was a plus. Some
of our football in the second half was a delight.
We used the width particularly well, which was pleasing.”
The Blues are next in action on Saturday when they
travel to play fourth placed Swindon Town. This will
be out first visit to the County Ground since September
1986 when a Graham Barrow goal secured a 1-1 draw.
Picture © Evening Leader
MARTINEZ TALKS
|
Following
speculation linking Roberto
Martinez with the vacant manager's position
at Swansea City, chairman Steve Vaughan and manager
Mark Wright will be holding talks with the City
captain today to ascertain his future plans.
Vaughan told the Daily Post: “We will talk
to Roberto and ask him to give a decision to us.
Do you want to go or do you want to stay? If he
wants to move on, he can do so and will be allowed
to go with our best wishes, but hopefully he will
want to stay and see out the remaining 18 months
of his contract with us. The one thing I won’t
allow is indecision or prevarication, it is unsettling
for Chester City and its management and players
and that is unacceptable. I want a decision one
way or another, then we can all get on with our
lives.”
Picture ©
Evening Leader
|
21 February 2007
SHAKERS RETURN
City entertain Bury at Deva Stadium in tonight’s
only League Two match (19:45hrs). The Blues will once
again be without the suspended Jamie Hand while both
Laurence Wilson and Ashley Westwood are struggling to
be fit. Result last night saw City once again drop to
14th spot so they will be eager to record thirst first
home league win for 5 matches to lift them three places.
Bury, who of course knocked City out of this season’s
FA Cup, only to be expelled from the competition, have
not won for ten matches and lie just six points from
the relegation trapdoor in 19th place. The Shakers have
Brian Barry-Murphy returning from injury and manager
Chris Casper, who signed a new contract with the club
today, has no further injury worries.
20 February 2007
CHESHIRE SENIOR CUP DEFEAT
Chester failed to make their first Cheshire Senior Cup
final appearance since 1932 when their youthful side
were well beaten 5-0 at Cammell Laird in tonight’s
rearranged semi-final.
Chester City: Palethorpe, Rule, Newton,
Roberts, Kelly, Smith, Rutherford, Gregory, Cadwallader,
McManus, Carroll. Subs: Mitchell, Thorpe, Robson, Vernon,
Inderjeet.
18 February 2007
DERBY STALEMATE
|
A point from
today’s scrappy match at Wrexham has lifted
City back to 12th place on League Two. The Blues
never really looked like getting maximum points
at the Racecourse, indeed it was the home side
struggling at the wrong end of the table who had
the better of the first half with Chris Llewellyn
heading against the crossbar.
There was more of a showing from City after the
break but their only real threat came form a Sean
Hessey header that was well saved by John Ruddy
in the home goal. City had no less that six players
shown a yellow card by referee Beeby.
Picture ©
Evening Leader |
FORMER PLAYER DIES
|
Former Chester
player Don Weston has recently died. He played
more than 250 Football League games in a 10 year
career, with Chester being the last of six different
sides he represented. Don also played for Wrexham
and one minute’s silence was held in remembrance
before today’s game. •
Obituary
|
16 February 2007
STRIKER SEARCH CONTINUES
The
club are aiming to bring in another striker on loan
in time for Sunday’s all ticket cross-border derby
at Wrexham. City chairman Steve Vaughan said: “We
have missed out on a couple of targets in the last couple
of weeks, but hopefully we will be successful with this
attempt. I won’t reveal the player yet but we
are close to concluding a deal, and hopefully everything
can be completed prior to Sunday’s match.”
For the game at the Racecourse City will be without
defender Ashley Westwood and midfielder Lawrence Wilson
through injury, while Jamie Hand serves the first a
two-game suspension after picking up ten yellow cards
this season. However both Simon Marples and Kevin Sandwith
are expected to have recovered from knocks.
City’s recent away League form has been impressive
with four wins and a draw in their last five outings.
They will be determined to carry that form into Sunday’s
passionate all ticket encounter where they will be backed
by around 1,800 supporters.
The home side are struggling at the wrong end of the
table and only Torquay United sit below them in League
Two. The Dragons have not won a game for 11 matches,
their last victory coming on 23 December. Juan Ugarte
remains sidelined with a hamstring injury though there
could be a debut for striker Mike Carvill who signed
on loan last week from Charlton Athletic.
The two sides last
met in August when a late Jamie Hand goal couldn’t
prevent the Blues losing 2-1 in a match at that saw
Ricky Ravenhill red-carded. City haven’t won a
league game at the Racecourse since the 1977/78 season.
Picture © Evening
Leader
MARTINEZ SPECULATION
|
City captain
Roberto
Martinez is being linked with the vacant manager’s
position at his former club Swansea City following
the departure of Kenny Jackett. Martinez has no
previous managerial experience but is being touted
as an early favourite for the role. The 33-year-old
Spaniard is a huge favourite with the Swan’s
fans after three-and-a-half successful years with
the South Wales club.
Picture ©
Evening Leader
|
14 February 2007
RESERVES DEFEAT
The reserves will remain bottom of the Pontins League
after they were beaten 1-0 at home by Oldham Athletic
tonight.
NEW DATE FOR HEREFORD MATCH
City have rearranged their home
game against Hereford United for Tuesday 27 February
(kick off 19.45hrs). The reserves were scheduled to
host Rochdale at Deva Stadium at 14:00hrs on the same
day but that game has now been moved.
KEARNEY COMPLETES LOAN MOVE
Alan
Kearney has completed his emergency loan move Chester
from Everton and will remain with the Blues for a month.
The young midfielder is expected to make an appearance
for the reserves in their home Pontins Holiday League
match against Oldham Athletic at Deva Stadium tonight
(19:00hrs). The Blues currently lie bottom of the league
with opponents Oldham in third place.
Earlier in the day chairman Steve Vaughan told the Evening
Leader: “I’m hoping that Alan Kearney can
sign for Chester on loan by the close of play today.
I’m also hoping
we can sign more additions including a right-sided midfielder
because we haven’t replaced my son, Stephen, we’ve
only accommodated players in that position since Stephen
signed for Boston.”
SPECIAL
TRAIN TO WREXHAM
A special train service will run to and from Wrexham
from Chester on Sunday. The train, which can accommodate
300+ people, departs Chester at 10:37 and returns from
Wrexham at 14:37. The fare is £3.70. Note that
all other scheduled services on the day have been replaced
by buses.
13 February 2007
CITY STEP UP LOAN SEARCH
Everton midfielder Alan Kearney is currently training
with Chester as the Blues hope to complete an emergency
loan deal with the 19-year-old Irishman. Kearney is
a former Republic of Ireland under-18 international
and has made 4+1 appearances for the reserves this season.
The City management hope to sign the player in time
for Sunday’s noon derby match at Wrexham.
10 February 2007
MATCH OFF
Despite the hard efforts of Gary Kent, his groundstaff
and a number of volunteers, following a second pitch
inspection at 10:45 today’s game against Hereford
United is postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.
Secretary Tony Allan said: “It’s a shame
that the game was postponed, because the ground staff
had been here since 6.30am and of course we invested
a lot of money for pitch coverings as well, but unfortunately
the weather has conspired to defeat us. The police and
the safety committee requested the noon kick-off, so
presumably we will now have to re-schedule the match
on a midweek date in April, when the lighter evenings
are with us.”
Pictures © Evening Leader
6 February 2007
CUP MATCH ABANDONED
|
Tonight’s
Cheshire Senior Cup semi-final match at Cammell
Laird was abandoned at half-time due to a frozen
pitch with Chester winning 1-0. Neil Carroll (left)
scored the goal with a deflected shot from 25-yards
five minutes before the interval. Moments later
Chris Holroyd missed a great opportunity to double
the lead.
Chester City: Palethorpe, Roberts,
Newton, Allen, Kelly, Gregory, Rutherford, Smith,
Cadwallader, Holroyd, Carroll. Subs: Vernon, Mitchell,
Morgan, Barnes, Aujla.
The game has now been rearranged for Tuesday 20
February, kick-off 19:45hrs.
Picture
© Evening Leader |
SEMI-FINAL ACTION TONIGHT
Chester will be sending a strong squad to Birkenhead
tonight as they play UniBond League first division club
Cammell Laird in the semi-final of the Cheshire Senior
Cup, Northwich Victoria await the winners in the final
after they overcame neighbours Witton Albion 2-1 in
the other semi. Glenn Cronin may make an appearance
for Chester in the competition that is usually contested
by the reserve side. The Blues have not won the Cup
since 1932 which was their last appearance in the final.
Tonight’s game will kick-off at Kirklands at 19:45hrs.
HAND SUSPENDED
|
Jamie Hand
has been given a two match suspension
after picking up his tenth yellow card of the
season at Accrington Stanley on Saturday. He will
miss the home game with Hereford United on Saturday
and the match at Wrexham the following weekend.
Picture ©
Evening Leader
|
3 February 2007
DOUBLE FOR BLUES
Paul
Linwood’s first ever League goal brought City
their first double of the season as they beat Accrington
Stanley 1-0 at a foggy Fraser Eagle Stadium on Saturday.
The Blues could have won by a greater margin but had
to be content with Linwood’s first half effort.
There was a debut for Simon Yeo who partnered Lee Steele
up front and City’s other signing of last week
Alex Meechan came on after the break and almost added
a second goal when he was put through one-on-one.
Chester’s assistant manager Graham Barrow said:
“We fully deserved the win, and that adds to our
growing away performances. I’m disappointed we
didn’t get more goals. Now all we need to do is
to get back into some sort of form at home.”
The victory lifts Chester to 10th place in League Two,
nine points behind Wycombe Wanderers who occupy the
last play-off spot.
The Blues are next in action on Saturday when Hereford
United visit City for a match that has a noon kick-off.
The Bulls sit one place below Chester with the same
points but have an inferior goal-difference. Former
Chester goalkeeper Wayne Brown, now with Hereford, could
make his first return to Deva Stadium.
Picture © Evening
Leader, new signing Alex Meechan in action.
YOUTH TEAM HELD
|
Despite taking
the lead through an early goal from Andy Mitchell
(left) the youth team were pegged back by rivals
Wrexham on Saturday morning with the home mini-derby
ending 1-1.
Picture ©
Evening Leader
• Youth team: Fixtures
| League
table | Player
stats | Team
picture |
2 February 2007
CITY FINED BY FA AGAIN
Chester
and Shrewsbury Town have each been fined £3,000
by the Football Association following incidents at the
match at Gay Meadow on 25
November. A mass brawl broke out at the final whistle
after a controversial last minute penalty was awarded
to the home side.
The two clubs admitted charges of failing to ensure
that their players conducted themselves in an orderly
fashion in relation to two separate incidents during
and following the match. Both clubs were reprimanded
and warned as to their future conduct.
Two weeks ago the club were fined £1,000 and warned
as to their future conduct after admitting a charge
of failing to ensure its players conducted themselves
in an orderly fashion during the away match at Barnet
on 28 October 2006.
DEFENSIVE DUO BACK FOR CITY
Manager Mark Wright will have
both David Artell and Paul Linwood available at Accrington
Stanley tomorrow after the two players served a one
match suspension last week. City will be looking for
their first double of the season in Lancashire having
beaten Stanley 2-0 on the opening day of the season.
New signings Simon
Yeo and Alex
Meechan will also be available in attack as the
Blues start with a new-look front line at the Fraser
Eagle Stadium following the recent sales of Jon Walters
and Gregg Blundell. Glenn Cronin played for the reserves
in the midweek defeat by Wrexham and will also be in
contention for the starting squad.
1 February 2007
BLUNDELL MOVES ON
Good
luck to striker Gregg
Blundell who has joined Darlington for an undisclosed
five figure fee. Blundell again joins up with Dave Penney
who managed him during his days at Doncaster Rovers.
Blundell joined City as the club’s record signing
when the Blues paid a reported �100,000 for him from
Doncaster in July 2005. He got off to a great start
scoring 6 goals in his first 8 matches before a terrible
neck injury received in the home game with Rochdale
forced him on the sidelines for 14 matches. In all Blundell
scored 15 goals in 52+15 appearances in a Chester shirt.
Chairman Steve Vaughan said: “We wish Gregg well
with his new club, and obviously we welcome Simon to
Chester City. Basically the fee we received from Darlington
has financed the deal to bring Simon Yeo to the club.
He is a strong type of player, and I am sure will be
an asset to Chester City.”
Blundell told the Evening Leader:
“I didn’t want to leave Chester, but I
had three months left on my existing contract and
Chester decided to accept an offer from Darlington.
The deal at Darlington is good for me and offers me
security because I’ve signed a two and a half
year contract.
The move to Darlington is just one
of those things. I was devastated not to make a success
of my time at Chester in terms of scoring goals or
helping the club win more games. The move is purely
business for football clubs because players come and
go – that’s the nature of the beast.
I was genuinely disappointed about
not making a success of my time at Chester because
it was ideal for me – especially with me being
a local lad. But I had a great time at Chester and
I wish everyone there every success. It was disappointing
to leave, but I’m leaving on good terms which
is always good news.
It would now be great to see
both Chester and Darlington winning places in the play-offs.
I’ve played under Dave before during my Doncaster
days and I was successful in his sides because of the
way his teams play.”
The sale of Blundell follows a week after the departure
of his strike partner Jon Walters to Ipswich Town.
Picture © Evening
Leader
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GAME OFF The away match at Leamington on Tuesday has been postponed. |
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