30 March 2003
CITY ON COURSE FOR PLAY-OFF SPOT
City’s 2-1 win at Farnborough Town on Saturday keeps them well on course for an end-of-season play-off spot. Leading striker Daryl Clare was missing from the starting line-up, suffering with a knee injury picked up last week, which left the way open for Mark Beesley to start his eighth game of the season and he gave a good account of himself throughout the game, as did Danny Collins who seems to get better with every match.

The Blues fell behind to an early Joff Vansittart goal after the defence failed to clear a far post corner. Ben Davies equalised for City midway thought the half after converting a Mark Beesley cross. City had to weather some home pressure after the break and the game looked to be heading for a draw until Dave Cameron converted a last minute penalty, in front of the City fans, after Ben Davies’ free-kick was adjudged to have been handled in the box by Christian Lee.

Chester City have signed 21-year-old ex-Montrose and Kidderminster Harriers midfielder Ian Joy on loan until the end of the season. City boss Mark Wright said: “Ian has been training with us recently, and he has impressed. He is a left-sided defender or midfielder, and he extends the options I have in that department, it’s up to him to prove to us in this short period that he’s worth a longer contract.” Joy, born in San Diego USA, appeared in the same Kidderminster side last season as Ben Davies and goes straight into the squad for the match at Farnborough Town on Saturday.

Goalkeeper Wayne Brown has been capped six times before for England while Scott Guyett was selected while he was playing at Southport.

It’s Chester-born Collins’ first involvement with the national side, and comes after a series of impressive performances at the heart of the City defence and a successful loan spell at Vauxhall Motors earlier in the season, where the ex-Buckley Town striker took on a new role of defender and was a key player in their tremendous FA Cup run that saw the UniBond Premier League side knock-out Queens Park Rangers.

“ They are a good set of lads there and I enjoyed my time with Vauxhall. I was just going there to see if I could improve as a player, so I didn't expect to do as well as we did in the Cup. It was a fantastic time though and beating QPR was probably the biggest game in my career so far. I’ll always remember it.” said Collins.

Manager Paul Fairclough said: “Danny Collins has done exceptionally well, keeping more experienced players out of the first team. And after speaking to Mark Wright we agreed that the trip would also add to Danny’s learning curve.”

Manager Mark Wright said after the win: “I thought we dominated for for long spells. We started well and finished well too. There’s no doubt that the two substitutions at the break game us a little more impetus and I thought Paul Carden’s goal was a little gem and thoroughly deserved.”

Coach Steve Bleasdale said after the game: “This result gives us a great incentive, but we’ve got to build on this scoreline, and I believe that four more wins will secure us a play-off place. If we reach the play-offs it will be a fantastic achievement for the gaffer and me. The truth is that nobody wants to play us because they’re frightened of playing us.”

City will be looking to build on this win for Saturday’s visit of 14th placed Southport. Skipper Phil Bolland will once again miss out through suspension.

Eagle-eyed viewers will have noticed that the players are now wearing the ISA Final Countdown t-shirts for their pre-match warm-ups. These are still on sale at Corals, Bridge Street and also at the ground on match days, and the club Open Day. Price £5.00. Colours: royal blue and a few navy blue. If anyone wants one by post, email Les Smith or send a cheque to ISA address (add 50p postage). Sizes are M, L, XL.

A crowd of 2,928 (coincidentally the same gate as the previous home game!) turned out last night, though over 4,000 would have been expected for a Saturday fixture between the sides.

Ahead of the game manager Mark Wright said: “The media have termed Monday’s match against Doncaster as a big game, but it’s no bigger to me than a home or away match against Farnborough Town. Every game we play is big, but if we play as well as I know we can I think we can beat Doncaster. I’m pleased the match is being televised because it raises the profile of the club. We’re without our central defender, Phil Bolland, who is serving the first of his two-game suspension, but Scott Guyett is back for us.”

Wright continued: “The game against Doncaster, of course, is important but so are the matches against Southport, Farnborough Town, Woking and the rest. When you are in a challenging position like ourselves, all the games take on an equal importance. We are ambitious and totally focused on the job in hand, and that is achieving a play-off placing at the end of the season.”

An FA spokesperson said the international had proved a big hit: �Everyone representing England at the match thought the night had been a big success. We were obviously delighted to see England win 2-0, but Chester did another very good job in hosting the match. We�re now looking forward to tomorrow�s international involving Scotland and the Czech Republic.�

•England U-17 match report (FA website)

Some of the CCFC Juniors who were ball boys at the match.	Adam Howell and Timmy Newman from the U-8s side with England U-17 goalkeeping coach Ray Clemence after the international.

ENGLAND INTERNATIONAL

City manager and former England player Mark Wright said: “It is great that England’s stars of the future are coming to the Deva Stadium and I hope that Chester fans will give them a big welcome and create great atmosphere for them. Representing England at any level is a great honour and I am sure that the lads will enjoy playing here, I hope that a big crowd will turn out and cheer them on.”

Weather conditions, namely a very blustery wind, prevented the helicopter rides from taking place, however there were bouncy castles, face painting and Tyson the rescued Shetland pony to amuse the youngsters. You could even practice your penalty skills against Wayne Brown.

The ISA and the Supporters Trust both had stands and the Exiles even signed up two new members in Stephen Vaughan and Ian Knox.

Commercial manager Ian Knox commented: “Sunday was a day for the fans and gave all our loyal supporters over the years, over the months, and definitely during this season, a chance to look behind the scenes. Fans were encouraged to watch a training session on the pitch, have a drink in our supporters lounge, have a look in the boardroom, have a look in the changing rooms, and do all the things they can’t normally do.

The open day was a great opportunity for the fans to come along and have their photograph taken with their favourite players, talk to the players, and hopefully the players assured the fans that they were doing their best. The day was a really good public relations initiative, and we were trying to instill the feel-good factor at the club.

We hope the fans had a really good time, and I now hope they can come down to the club more often. And in the pre-season we’re keen to run another open day. Mark Wright and his players embark on weekly visits to local schools, and I’d like to think we are approachable, and my door is always open, and that’s the key, and I want that to continue.”

6 March 2003 ON THE ROAD TO RECOVERY

Both Ben Davies and Chris Blackburn (pictured) are making good progress in their recovery from injury. City�s first team coach Steve Bleasdale said: �Chris Blackburn came through 70 minutes of the reserves� match last night and looks on course to claim a place in the first team squad on Saturday. And Ben Davies is expecting to have the stitches out on his leg injury today. He will be starting light jogging in training soon, and we are targeting the Doncaster Rovers home match on Monday week for his return.�

The City playing staff will undergo a public training session on the pitch, and afterwards will be available for photographs and autographs with supporters. There will also be the chance of a helicopter flight over the stadium during the day.

The newly installed stadium gates will be opening at 11.00am for the event and refreshments will be available throughout.

Chester have now taken delivery of club kits which will be on sale on the day and the club shop will be open throughout the open day. Chester City ISA will also be present on the day, selling flags and T-shirts, in a bid to promote the club�s promotion push.