June 2000 News

30 June 2000
ISA FOOTBALL TEAM
Following a meeting with the League Committee, the ISA FC finally had its League application accepted at the Chester and District Sunday Football League AGM on June 13th. The Club will start in Section D.

Whilst we await the fixture list, the other teams in the Division are:

Marks and Spencer Financial Services, The Lock Vaults Athletic, The Highfield Reserves, Pace Telecom, Ye Olde Deva, The Custom House, St Werburghs Parish Centre, Global Travel, The Bulls Head (Frodsham), The Red House, Saltney Ferry

The first games are on September 3rd, and the ISA have received a bye to the Second Round of the League Cup. Our home pitch will be on the Roodee, and our home pub is to be Joes Wine Bar. More details of training and social events can be found on the ISA web pages.

29 June 2000
REID TEAMS UP WITH ATKINS

Shaun Reid has left Chester and is expected to become assistant manager to Ian Atkins at Carlisle United. Reid was released from his playing role at the end of the season and made 50 appearances for The Blues. He was previously at Rochdale, Preston, Bury and York.

Carlisle United have also stated that City defender Stuart Hicks will sign a two year deal with them when he returns from holiday next week.

28 June 2000
EXPERIENCED DEFENDER FOR CITY?
Graham Barrow has agreed a deal with an experienced defender who will be the manager's right hand man. The player is expected to start at the Deva next week. “I always insisted that Colin Greenall was one of my best signings ever and I think this will be the same. You need someone you know and trust and you know you can bank on them on the field and in the dressing room. The man I've got in mind comes into the same category. He has had a good career but he's got plenty of football left in him.” added Barrow.

A press conference will be held on Monday when the player will be introduced. More new players are soon expected to follow. “We need new faces, as many as possible. The club needs an infusion of fresh blood. The players that were here failed and failed miserably. They were bottom, rock bottom, not relegated as fourth from bottom.” said Barrow.

Meanwhile the players contracts run out on 30 June. Several players are yet to accept new terms, with defender Stuart Hicks expected to join former manager Ian Atkins at Carlisle. Still high on the manager's wanted list will be a goalkeeper. Whether Wayne Brown signs on or not next season, he's suspended for the first three games and City are currently without a replacement.

The draw for the first round of the FA Trophy takes place next week.

27 June 2000
ON THE BOX AGAIN
Once again The Blues will be featuring on television, this time at 11.40 on Saturday 1 July on Discovery's Home and Leisure channel.

23 June 2000
HARRY RESIGNS AFTER DISAGREEMENTS
[Harry]

After just two weeks Harry McNally has quit his post as chief scout at Chester City following a series of bust-up's with owner/chairman Terry Smith. No doubt there may be repercussions when manager Graham Barrow returns from holiday in Portugal on Monday.

Said an angry Harry: “I have been in professional football for nearly 40 years, but working with Mr Smith for a week or so was more than enough. I am sad that the future of the club is in his hands. I haven’t discussed this with Graham Barrow because he is on holiday, but I have no intention of returning to work here.”

According to clubcall, McNally was only on a trial and didn’t have a contract. “Unfortunately, the club found that McNally’s negatives outweighed his positive contributions. This is not a setback for Chester City FC because Chester City will now utilise a scout who brings the positives without the negatives.”

CITY SIGN RUSCOE
Chester have signed 22-year-old attacking Newtown midfielder Scott Ruscoe on a two year deal. He’s previously spent two years at Stoke City and a year at Port Vale. A number of clubs were interested in the player including Shrewsbury Town and Tranmere Rovers. He’s just been named Players Player of the Year by the League of Wales club.

21 June 2000
ISA MEETING OFF
The ISA meeting scheduled for 26 June has been postponed. Ian Atkins, who was expected to speak has now declined the offer.

NO SIGNINGS
With Graham Barrow on leave and Terry Smith on holiday don’t expect any signings or much news from the Deva this week. One player City are believed to be interested in though is Newtown midfielder Scott Ruscoe.

19 June 2000
BECKETT JOINS CHESTERFIELD

Luke Beckett today left Chester to join third division Chesterfield. The club's could not agree a fee so that will be set by a tribunal. Barnsley, Beckett's previous club to Chester are due for a slice of the transfer fee. Beckett was City's leading scorer last year and had been offered a five year contract with Chester.

�I spoke to several clubs, but I am happy with the deal at Chesterfield, who have the potential to bounce back,� said Beckett, City�s player of the season.

�I enjoyed my spell at Chester and I will miss the supporters who had been very good to me. Chester�s results will be the first I look for next season and I hope they can get back into the League quickly. I am sorry to be leaving Chester, but I had to try to stay in the League.�

14 June 2000
YORK BID FOR BECKETT
According to tonight's Chester Evening Leader York City have tabled a bid, believed to be £150,000 for City striker Luke Beckett. Chief Scout Harry McNally said: "York have tabled an offer but I can't say how much. The next step is talking to Luke and his agent Mark Curtis. I think it would be wonderful for Luke to stay but it looks as if he wants to stay in the Football League." Beckett was also due to have talks with Mansfield Town today.

PRE SEASON FRIENDLIES
The Chester police have refused permission for City to play their friendly with Sheffield Wednesday on 15 July as it clashes with Chester races. It's unclear as yet whether the fixture will be re-scheduled.

Other first team friendlies lined up are:

22 July Connah's Quay Nomads v Chester City – 3pm
25 July Runcorn v Chester City – ko TBA
29 July Aberystwyth v Chester City – 3pm
1 August Chester City v Bristol City – ko TBA
8 August Vauxhall Motors v Chester City – ko TBA
12 August Stafford Rangers v Chester City – ko TBA

AWAY KIT
City's away strip next season will be all white. This strip was used in Graham Barrow's last period in charge at the Deva and is clearly a favourite choice. Like the blue and white striped home kit, it will be manufactured by Scottish company Secca. Secca currently produce kits for Partick Thistle, Morton, Stirling Albion, and several other Scottish League clubs.

13 June 2000
FORMER SECRETARY DIES
Sad to report that Derek Barber, who was secretary at Chester City until a couple of years ago has died. Barber, who was in office for four years from 1994 to 1998, suffered a heart attack on Saturday.

Supporters' chairman Barrie Hipkiss, who worked closely with Barber, said:. "He was very well respected and I had a lot of dealings with him. It's a very sad day because Derek was totally professional. Everything he did, he did in a quiet and dignified manner."

FIXTURES
The fixtures for next season's Nationwide Conference will be published on 5 July.

ROBINSON WANTS OUT
Jamie Robinson has told the club that he intends to involve the clause in his contract allowing him to leave this summer. Shrewsbury Town are believed to also be interested. Luke Beckett, who has been offered a five year deal by the club has had talks with manager Graham Barrow. "I spoke to Graham, he told me what he wanted and tried to persuade me to stay. I told him that I wanted to play at the highest level that I could so read into that what you want. I have spoken to a lot of clubs and it is really up to me whether the move would be right for me and Chester City. If a club came to me with an offer I would certainly consider it, but I am not going to move for moving's sake." said Beckett.

1-10 June 2000
HINNIGAN STAYS
Joe Hinnigan has agreed to stay at Chester and has taken on the dual role of phisio/assistant manager. Hinnigan and Barrow have been together at Chester, Wigan and Rochdale and the City physio had been linked with a similar role at Walsall.

SHELTON GOES
City coach Gary Shelton has left the club. He arrived as a player at the Deva in July 1994 and following his retirement from playing was Kevin Ratcliffe's assistant and a coach at the club.

RESERVES TO BE SCRAPPED
Graham Barrow has scrapped City's reserve team and the club have resigned from the Pontin's League next season. "This is something we have considered and we will have further talks. I believe you can easily arrange friendly matches when you want them. Sometimes you have to play Pontin's League matches when you don't want them, and when you want a game there isn't one scheduled." said Barrow.

HARRY'S BACK
Former City manager Harry McNally has returned to the club as chief scout. McNally was in charge of the club between 1985-1992. Another former manager Ken Roberts had been overseeing the job in recent years.

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