News from Deva Stadium May 2014

Former Chester player, Mickey Fields, has died at the age of 78 after a battle with cancer. The local-born forward made 22 league appearances for the club in the 1950s and was also a prolific goalscorer for the Cheshire County League team. He had the distinction of scoring the only goal of the game when Chester beat Burnley to win the Lancashire Cup in 1957. Mickey was also an enthusiastic supporter of the club and was not only a season ticket holder at the Deva Stadium but also regularly attended away matches.

• Obituary

29 May 2014
PRE-SEASON FRIENDLIES
Chester have announced the first of their pre-season friendlies. The club will be sending a side to play Vauxhall Motors on Saturday 12 July, this is then followed by two home matches as they entertain Crewe Alexandra on Saturday 19 July followed by the visit of Burnley on Tuesday 22 July.

24 May 2014
KAY SIGNS NEW DEAL

Defender Michael Kay has signed a new one year contract with Chester with the option of a further 12 month on top. Kay made 25+5 appearances for the Blues last season after joining from Tranmere Rovers in July 2013.

Manager Steve Burr, currently away with the England C squad said: “Michael is a key signing for us and we are delighted to have him on board.”

Picture © Rick Matthews (Chester Leader)

20 May 2014
JOHN DANBY TRANSFER LISTED

Goalkeeper John Danby has been placed on the transfer list. The 30-year-old shot stopper still has one year left on his contract with Chester.

Danby first joined Chester City in 2006 from Kidderminster Harriers and made 133 appearances for the Blues before the old club was wound up. After a spell at Eastwood Town he re-joined Chester FC in June 2011 making 114+1 appearances.

He holds two club records, one for the record for games without conceding a goal (781 minutes), and the most consecutive appearances which stands at 133 games (between 2006-2010).

• Clean Sheet record

Picture © Rick Matthews (Chester Leader)

16 May 2014
BOARD MEMBERS WANTED
Vice Chairman Steve Ashton is to stand down from he board at the end of this month as he is taking up a new job in the West Midlands as a Director of a national company that prevents him from holding other directorships elsewhere.

With Media Officer Jeff Banks also leaving recently, this will leave the board with just four elected and two co-opted members and the club and now urgently appealing for more volunteers to come forward to fill the vacant roles.

If you would like further information about what Board membership involves, or would like an informal chat, then we are holding an Open Event at the Club on Thursday 12th June 2014 between 18.00 - 19.00hrs, immediately prior to the CFU Members’ meeting in the Blues Bar that night.

You can also email the secretary Marion Needham at: marion.needham@chesterfc.com and leave your name and phone number and Marion will arrange for one of the Directors to call you back at a time convenient for you.

The club are also recruiting for volunteers to serve on the new Operational Board which will look after the daily running of the club. Applicants are invited who have experience in the following fields:

- Financial and Business Planning
- Commercial and Marketing and Profile Building
- Legal and Governance
- The Football Industry/Sector

Postal applications should reach us by 17.00hrs on Friday 30 May 2014, and should be sent under “private and confidential” cover to: Marion Needham, Board Secretary, Swansway Chester Stadium, Bumpers Lane, Chester CH1 4LT.

15 May 2014
STRIKER SIGNS FOR BLUES
Manager Steve Burr has made his first signing as the club prepare for the new season in the Conference North. Striker Sean McConville (25) has joined from Stalybridge Celtic and has previously played for Accrington Stanley (62+27 apps, 14 goals), Stockport County (21+2 apps, 4 goals), Rochdale (2+2 apps) and Barrow (16+11 apps).

Burr told the Chester Leader: “Sean scored plenty of goals when he played for Accrington, but he has recently experienced a poor season at Stalybridge. I feel he is the type of lad that can do well if we can provide him with the service in front of goal and hopefully he can be a 25-30 goals a season forward rather than score 15 goals.”

“Sean has agreed to join Chester for one season and he will be on less money than he received at Stalybridge, but I know he will fit in and do a job for us. I’m really pleased that Sean has chosen Chester over a couple of other Conference Premier clubs.”

MACAULEY LEAVES CHESTER
Assistant manager Carl Macauley has left Chester and taken up the managerial position at Northern Premier League club Marine. Macauley joined from Vauxhall Motors as Steve Burr’s assistant on 11 March following the departure of Gary Jones a few weeks earlier.

8 May 2014
HAT-TRICK OF AWARDS FOR LEWIS
Defender Lewis Turner was given three awards at the end of season Presentation Night in Chester on Saturday night. Lewis, playing in his second season on loan from Leeds United, made 46 league and cup appearances last season scoring two goals, including one at rivals Wrexham. Turner told the Chester Leader: “I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at Chester and it was great to pick up three awards at Saturday night’s presentation evening. I have been very fortunate to have played a lot of games for Chester and I am grateful to both Neil Young and Steve Burr who have given me many chances to play. I’d like to think that I have given my all in every game and it was nice on a personal level to get so many opportunities, but I and the rest of the lads were very disappointed to see Chester relegated.”

The full list of winners on the night were:

Players Player of the Year: Lewis Turner
CFU Player of the Year: Lewis Turner
Away Travel Player of the Year: Lewis Turner
Young Player of the Year: Tom Peers
Golden Boot: Gareth Seddon and John Rooney (7 goals each)
Best Goal: Paul Linwood (at Wrexham)
Clubman of the Year: Brian Burns

3 May 2014
BURR SIGNS TWO YEAR DEAL AT CHESTER

Steve Burr has signed a new two deal to stay on as manager of Chester. The news was announced at the annual end of season awards night last night at the Crown Plaza Hotel in Chester.

Burr initially signed a four month contract taking him until the end of last season following the departure of Neil Young back in January and will now be a full time manager at the club as they look to bounce back following their relegation to the Conference North last week.

Burr, who missed the awards night due to a previously booked holiday said: “I am delighted to sign my new contract with Chester FC and feel that, despite the Club’s relegation I have, since my appointment earlier this year, built up a good relationship at the club from the fans through to the board of directors.”

“Despite other offers, I feel that this is a fantastic opportunity for me. The club has ambitions plans for the future and I will now be part of those plans. Chester has both a city and a club to be proud of and I will do everything possible to achieve success.”

Burrs first job will be to assemble his squad for the Conference North. Of the current players only John Danby, Danny Harrison and John Rooney have contracts for next season. Training facilities have been earmarked for the coming season and the club plans to work with West Cheshire College as they prepare to go full time.

The club board were fully behind Burr as the man they wanted to take the club forward next season. Vice chairman Steve Ashton said: “The thinking of the board is that there is an opportunity to move towards full-time status with a mix of senior pros, younger pros and some part-time players.”

“That will mean that, at the point at which we move back to the Conference Premier, we are ready to compete in that league as a full time club. We are aiming to challenge next season but this is about building for the future and putting foundations in place for further success.”

Picture © Rick Matthews (Chester Leader)

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