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NEWS FROM DEVA STADIUM 2004
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JULY 04
30 July 2004
CITY REMAIN UNBEATEN
Goals from Danny Collins and Ben Davies gave City a 2-0 victory at Connah’s Quay Nomads last night, the Blues remain unbeanen in their six match pre-season build-up. Experienced defender Paul Warhurst played for 65 minutes.

Match report and pictures.

City’s final scheduled friendly match is against Blackburn Rovers at Deva Stadium on Monday (kick-off 19:45). According to the official Rovers website, they are listing this as a Reserve team game for them, the first-team play Sporting Lisbon on the Wednesday, though some first-team players may be in the party that travels to the Deva.


28 July 2004
BLUES HELD AT HESWALL
A City side comprising of first team players, reserves and trialists drew 1-1 at Heswall last night. Three new trialists turned out, Argentinean Joseph Belfortti played in the centre of the defence, Australian Jay Lucas (ex-Southampton and Australian side Wollongong Wanderers) played up front as did Frenchman Gregory Thil (Beauvais FC) who scored City’s equaliser on the night. Manager Mark Wright said: “I thought Gregory Thil showed a good touch, awareness, and good feet. He’s a 22-year-old centre forward who has come to us from France, but I don’t know what we’re going to do.”

VAUGHAN IN TALKS WITH POSSIBLE INVESTORS
City chairman Steve Vaughan is having talks with an as yet unnamed group of Dubai businessmen who are interested in investing in the club.

The buisiness men see Chester as an opportunity to enter the English football market, learn coaching techniques and perhaps progress players through the system. City chairman Steve Vaughan has stated they they would take no part in the running of the club but would wish to place two people on the board at the Deva.

Vaughan told the Daily Post: “The group of businessmen see us as a progressive club which has developed impressively, and they also see marketing and reciprocal coaching opportunities with Chester City. The Gulf States are virtually an untapped market as far as English football is concerned, and the gentlemen would also like to see coaches coming over to learn from our methods, as well as a possible junior player progression in the future.”

27 July 2004
CITY DECLARE INTEREST IN CLARKE
Steve Vaughan has indicated that Chester are interested in 22-year-old Everton defender Peter Clarke. Clarke began as a trainee at Goodison Park in 1988 and has made 10+4 appearances for the Toffees.

He has had loan spells at Blackpool (16+0, 3 goals), Port Vale (10+0, 1 goal) and Coventry City (5+0) over the last three seasons. Clarke is an England u-12 International and Vaughan stated: “We have contacted Everton about Peter’s availability, and if we receive a positive reaction we will take the matter further.”

26 July 2004
GAME BACK ON
The pre-season game at Connah’s Quay Nomads on Thursday night is back on. Kick-off at Deeside Stadium is 19:30hrs. Before that City take a mixed side to play at Heswall tomorrow (Tuesday) night, kick-off there is earlier at 19:00hrs and the Blues may feature trialist Iyseden Christie, the ex-Mansfield Town and Leyton Orient striker.
25 July 2004
BLUES PEGGED BACK
City looked to be cruising to a comfortable victory against Queen of the South on Saturday after goals from Michael Branch and Ben Davies had given them a two-goal lead just after half-time. However, they let things slip in a ten minutes spell midway through the second period allowing the visitors to score twice and clinch a draw. Mark Wright gave another run-out to trialists Mike Sheron, Paul Weller and Stuart Roberts, while there was no sign of striker Daryl Clare who made a return from injury on Thursday.
COURT APPEARANCE FOR CITY
Club representatives have a date in court tomorrow at the Queen Elizabeth 11 Law Courts in Liverpool after the club was issued with a winding-up order for alleged unpaid VAT recently. “This situation is historic and we are having dialogue with Customs and Excise.” said chairman Steve Vaughan.
22 July 2004
CLARE OFF THE MARK
A second-half header from striker Daryl Clare, in his first appearance of the summer, brought City victory at Colwyn Bay and extended the pre-season run to three wins in three matches. The Blues fielded a strong starting line-up with, apart from Wayne Brown, a selection of reserves on the bench. The only goal of the game came on 56 minutes as Clare headed home a McIntyre cross from a corner after trialist Mike Sheron’s shot had been pushed out for the flag-kick.

Clare is currently the speculation of transfer approaches by three clubs, believed to include his former employers Boston United and ambitious Nationwide South side Hornchurch. City chairman Steve Vaughan has stated that: “As far as I am concerned, Daryl is not for sale at any price, but out of courtesy to the player, Mark (Wright) and I will discuss the situation.” City fans will no doubt be anxious that the Blues can hold on to their main striker who has scored almost a goal a game in his 50+3 appearances for City.

Tomorrow, City welcome Scottish First Division side Queen of the South to Deva Stadium who are likely to include ex-City striker David McNiven in their line-up. The game at Deva Stadium will kick-off at 15:00hrs.

21 July 2004
FINE RUN CONTINUES
City’s pre-season form continued at Deva Stadium last night with a 2-0 win over Championship League side Cardiff City. Once again City gave trials to Mike Sheron, Kevin Ellison and Stuart Roberts and also included Burnley midfielder Paul Weller in the starting line-up. It was Sheron who gave City the lead on the stroke of half-time with a superb 25-yarder that gave Margetson in the Bluebirds goal no chance.

Manager Mark Wright rung the changes at half-time sending out a different X1 (with the exception of Kevin McIntyre, again having a very good game), though injuries to Cortez Belle and Darryn Stamp meant that Danny Collins and Sean Hessey returned off the bench later in the game. City doubled their lead on 69 minutes with a deflected shot from Michael Branch following a short corner.

Once again the Blues kept a clean sheet, with Robert Earnshaw having the visitors best chance in the first half, and Thorn late on with a header for the Bluebirds.

City are in action next tomorrow night when they take a side to play at UniBond League First Division side Colwyn Bay, kick-off 19:30hrs.

19 July 2004
IMPRESSIVE START FOR CITY

Blues fans will take encouragement from Saturday’s opening pre-season victory over League One side Walsall at Deva Stadium. Manager Mark Wright gave a run-out to four trialist’s; Kevin Ellison, Mike Sheron, Peter Handyside and Stuart Roberts and it was the first of these, Ellison, who headed Darryn Stamp’s cross home after just three minutes. Debutant Michael Branch added two more goals before the break to give City a 3-0 half-time advantage that they kept through the second period. New signing Cortez Belle played in defence for the full 90 minutes while Stewart Drummond, Stephen Vaughan, Darren Edmondson and Richard Hope also played a part in the victory. Striker Daryl Clare missed the game with a hip injury and midfielder Paul Carden is recovering from a knee operation in the summer. Both are expected to be back soon.

City are in action again on Tuesday night when the opposition steps up a division with the visit of Championship League side Cardiff City to Deva Stadium, kick-off 19:45hrs.


16 July 2004
FIRST RUN OUT FOR NEW LOOK BLUES
City fans will have their first glimpse of Mark Wright’s new-look City side tomorrow as the Blues host Walsall at Deva Stadium, kick-off at 15:00hrs.

No fewer that nine players have been signed during a busy summer in the transfer market and there’s even a possibility of a tenth with Stockport County’s Kevin Ellison a target to join Stewart Drummond, Chris Mackenzie, Cortez Belle, Stephen Vaughan, Michael Branch, Sean Hessey, Richard Hope, Andy Watson, and Darren Edmondson as City prepare for their return to Football League action on 7 August.

Saddlers manager Paul Merson needs no introduction and has promised to play some part in tomorrow’s match which is sure to be a tough test for the Blues. Admission prices are £10.00 (£5.00 concessions) in the Main Stand and £8.00 (£4.00 concessions) on the terrace, the west stand will remain closed.
ON THE BORDERLINE UPDATES
Club Historian Chas Sumner has produced the Reserve stats update pages for last season. The two page PDF file can be downloaded from here.
13 July 2004
EDMONDSON SIGNS
City have completed the signing of York City wing back Darren Edmondson on a one-year contract. He is manager Mark Wright’s ninth new signing of a busy summer and, along with City’s other new recruits will be introduced to the Deva fans at the opening pre-season friendly on Saturday against Paul Merson’s League One side Walsall, kick-off 15:00hrs. Admission prices for the game are £10.00 (£5.00 concessions) in the Main Stand and £8.00 (£4.00 concessions) on the terrace.
9 July 2004
PONTINS LEAGUE FIXTURES
City’s reserve fixtures have now been released. Home game’s in the Pontins League Division One West will take place at Deva Stadium on Wednesday afternoon’s, kick-off’s at 14:00hrs with the exception of the Manchester United game.
EXILES ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
The Exiles Annual General Meeting will take place in London on Thursday 15 July. The venue is the Sekforde Arms, Sekforde Street, London EC1R 0HA starting at 19:30hrs in the upstairs room. The nearest tube/train station is Farringdon.
Location map
8 July 2004
CARLING CUP
The draw for the first round of the Carling Cup has taken place and City have been given an attractive away tie against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light. The game will take place on Tuesday 24 August, with a 20:00hrs kick-off.

The sides last met in the second round stage back in 1998/99. City lost 3-0 away in the first leg in front of a crowd of 20,618 and lost the return leg at Deva Stadium a week later 1-0. Unlike then, this tie is a one-off game.

JOE LEAVES
Good luck to Joe Hinnigan, who has left the club by mutual consent. Joe, a former player with City had two spells as physio and was a popular figure among the fans. League rules stipulate that the club’s have a chartered physiotherapist, Joe had an FA Diploma.
7 July 2004
WRIGHT CLOSE TO NINTH SIGNING
It’s reported that City will be discussing personal terms with York City defender Darren Edmondson this afternoon with the view to signing the player, he would be the ninth new signing of a busy summer. Edmondson joined City for pre-season training last week and has impressed enough to be considered for a contract. Edmondson began his career in 1990 as a trainee at Carlisle United before a £225,000 move to Huddersfield Town seven years later. He left the Terriers for York City in 2000 and has made 142+5 appearances for them scoring 6 goals.
5 July 2004
GUYETT JOINS YEOVIL
Central defender Scott Guyett has joined fellow League Two side Yeovil Town on a two-year deal. City lost patience with the player after he apparently failed to respond to a new contract offer at the end of last season before leaving for a trip to Australia. There was no word when he returned and, after failing to turn up to training last week, Blues chairman Steve Vaughan withdrew the improved offer made.

After the contract was withdrawn City manager Mark Wright said: “We offered Scott a generous financial package to re-sign, but apparently he hasn't been able to make up his mind. Nobody is bigger than the club and now that the offer has been withdrawn we can prepare for the new season accordingly. I would like to thank Scott for his contribution to Chester City and I wish him well for the future.”

“I’d been at Chester for two years and had a great time but I felt the time was right for a new challenge which is the main reason I came here.” Guyett told the official Yeovil website.

Guyett signed for City from Oxford United in August 2002 and went to to make 63+4 appearances for the Blues scoring 4 goals. Good luck to Scott.

1 July 2004
DEFENDER SIGNS
City have made their eigth signing of the pre-season with Blackpool defender Sean Hessey joining the Blues. The 25-year-old six-footer can play at either central defence or central midfiel. Hessey has played for Wigan Athletic and Huddersfield Town before he moved to Kilmarnock where he made 40+6 appearances scoring 1 goal. Last season Hessey made 4+3 appearances for Blackpool.

Summer transfer activity.

ANOTHER FRIDAY NIGHT MATCH!
CobblersChester have agreed to switch the away game against Northampton Town at Sixfields Stadium to Friday 19 November, to avoid a clash with the local rugby team that are also at home on the Saturday.

The Blues have also agreed to Cheltenham Town’s request to bring forward the game at Whaddon Road 24 hrs to Friday 8 October to avoid the England v Wales World Cup qualifying game on the Saturday. Both switches, that have yet to be approved by the Football League, will no doubt affect the number of City supporters able to travel to each game.

Note that Mansfield Town (A) on 26 March clashes with England v Northern Ireland so another switch is also possible there.
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