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30
November 2005
CURLE LINKED TO POMPEY
ROLE
There
is speculation that City manager Keith Curle will be
approached to be assistant manager to Neil Warnock should
the Sheffield United manager take over at Portsmouth.
The Blades have now given Pompey permission to talk
to Warnock, who is favourite to take over the hot seat
at Fratton Park following the dismissal of Alain Perrin.
Chester chairman Stephen Vaughan said this evening:
“It is our understanding that if Neil Warnock
gets the job, Keith will go as his assistant. We have
a decent working relationship and I won’t stand
in his way. We can’t compete with the wages or
level of football they would be offering.”
Earlier this morning manager Curle commented: “It’s more than
flattering to be linked with Neil Warnock and working with him at Portsmouth
but I haven’t
been approached by Neil and Chester City Football Club haven’t had any
approach. That’s it.”
Picture © Evening
Leader
RESERVES LOSE
City’s reserves lost 2-0
at home to Shrewsbury Town at Deva Stadium tonight.
HALF PRICE SEASON TICKETS
The club are selling a limited
number of half-season tickets from 5 December. The prices
are:
East and West Stands are: £150 (adults); £100
(concessions); £60 (under 16s).
North Terrace tickets are priced at: £130 (adults);
£80 (concessions); £50 (under 16s).
29 November 2005
BRANCH DOUBT FOR SATURDAY
Michael
Branch looks set to miss Saturday’s eagerly awaited
FA Cup encounter with Nottingham Forest. The striker
limped off on Saturday after picking up a knee injury
minutes after City had taken a three goal lead over
Peterborough. Branch will see a specialist this week
before a final decision is made but it looks likely
he’ll miss out on the big match.
Manager Keith Curle told the Evening Leader: “Branchy
is likely to miss Saturday’s match but we are
advising him to see a specialist because we don’t
know the extent of his knee damage. He impressed me
with his performance against Peterborough at the weekend
and, without a shadow of a doubt I think we’ll
really miss him against Nottingham Forest.
Picture © Evening
Leader
27 November 2005
POSH DOUBLE FOR CITY
Chester completed the double over Peterborough United
and as a result moved up to fifth in League Two. A penalty won and converted
by
Michael
Branch
was
the
difference between the sides at the break but a close range effort from
Stewart Drummond, and a superb 25 yard volley from Ryan Lowe, wrapped up the
points
before
substitute
Ryan
Semple
pulled
back
a
consolation
goal for the visitors. City also gave a League debut for Paul Rutherford who
replaced Branch for the final 17 minutes and looked lively up front
Following the match manager
Keith Curle declined to shake hands with his opposite
number Mark Wright. Curle said: “People who
disrespect me or my players in public don’t get
my acknowledgement
– end of story.”
Wright said: “All in all
we didn’t deserve anything today and we are very
disappointed with
two of the three goals. Despite all of this, I’m
not taking anything away from Chester who as I said
deserved the win.”
Picture � Evening Leader
• League
Two table
YOUTH TEAM BEAT WREXHAM
Two goals from Chris Holroyd
and a third from Wayne Morgan gave the youth team a
3-0 victory over rivals Wrexham on Saturday morning
in the Youth Alliance League.
• Youth
fixtures | Youth
stats | Youth
table
25 November 2005
FORMER TRIO RETURN TO THE DEVA
City
will be without four players tomorrow as Mark Wright
brings his Peterborough United side to Deva Stadium.
Phil Bolland and Tom Curtis are both suspended while
Sean Hessey and Gregg Blundell are once again sidelined
through injury.
It will be Wright’s first
return to the club since his controversial exit on
the eve of last season. Wright will be joined tomorrow
by two other familiar ex-City faces, his assistant
Steve Bleasdale and former captain Paul Carden.
The teams last met on the opening
day of the season at London Road where a late Stewart
Drummond strike brought City three points.
Posh currently lie just above
half-way in League Two, three points behing City, and
have lost only one of their last ten matches, that was
the surprise FA Cup replay defeat at Burton Albion.
Their away record is also pretty good with four wins
and three draws in ten matches. Tomorrow they will be
without Lee Thorpe whose loan spell from Swansea City
has ended, and Sagi Burton who is suspended.
•
Opening day victory at Peterborough
FOREST TICKETS ON GENERAL
SALE
Tickets for the forthcoming FA
Cup clash with Nottingham Forest on Saturday 3 December
go on general sale today at normal matchday prices.
The ticket office will be open from 11:00-17:00hrs.
Any unsold tickets will then go on sale after tomorrow’s
match against Peterborough United. There is no limit
on the number of tickets that can be purchased.
23
November 2005
YOUTH TEAM PROGRESS
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Congratulations
to the youth team who won 1-0 in the second
round of the FA Youth Cup at Cheshire neighbours
Stockport County last night. Wayne Morgan scored
the all important winner on 59 minutes at Edgeley
Park.
The team have been rewarded with a third round home tie against Wigan Athletic
which must be played on or before Saturday 17 December. The last time the
club reached this stage of the competition was back in 1999/2000. |
DUO
SUSPENDED
Phil Bolland and Tom Curtis
will be suspended for Saturday’s home clash against
Mark Wright’s Peterborough United. Both have
picked up five bookings and receive a one match ban.
Also out is Gregg Blundell who has been told he will have to sit out another two weeks on the sidelines in an effort to prevent him rupturing his haematoma.
Meanwhile manager Keith Curle is attempting to bring
in a midfielder on loan ahead of the weekend clash.
Tomorrow is the deadline for loan signings and Curle
told the Evening Leader: “I�ve been in touch with
a number of clubs and I can confirm I have been looking
to sign a midfielder, but I�m not prepared to reveal
the name of the player at this stage. One thing I won�t
do is just sign players to fill my changing room. I
only want to bring in people who can improve or bring
a different dimension to my side. �I can�t afford
to carry people or just fill up the changing room
with
extra bodies.”
CUP TICKETS ON SALE
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Tickets for the forthcoming
FA Cup clash with Nottingham Forest on Saturday
3 December go on sale to season Ticket holders
today from 12:00-19:00hrs, Voucher B must be
exchanged for them.
Tickets will then go on general sale on
Thursday, at normal matchday prices, from 11:00-19:00hrs,
and again on Friday from 11:00-17:00hrs.
Any unsold tickets will also be on sale following
the match with Peterborough United on Saturday.
There is no restriction on the number of tickets
you can buy. |
21 November 2005
BROWN INJURY
Goalkeeper Wayne Brown who is
on a season-long loan at Hereford United will be out
of action for some time after breaking his wrist in
training.
20 November 2005
BLUES LET TWO-GOAL LEAD SLIP
City
came away with a point from fellow promotion chasers
Rochdale
on
Saturday but will be disappointed not to have closed the game off after taking
a two-goal lead just after the hour mark. Phil Bolland, earning a recall to the
side at the expense of Luke Dimech, side-footed City into the lead on 19 minutes
and industrious midfielder Ben Davies volleyed the Blues two up on 62 minutes.
However the home side struck back with 20 minutes remaining as Blair Sturrock
chested the ball home unmarked and eight minutes from time substitute Nicky Lambert
drilled
a
free-kick
under the City wall for the equaliser.
Manager Keith Curle reflected after the match: “We have snatched a draw
from the jaws of victory. At 2-0 up you have to do the horrible things in the
game.
You
don’t need to entertain the travelling fans anymore. They are quite happy to
see you kill the game off.”
City remain sixth in League Two, seven points behind leaders
Wycombe
Wanderers who extended their lead at the top with a home win over Grimsby Town
to continue their remarkable unbeaten start to the season.
• League
Two table
18
November 2005
YOUTH TEAM MATCH OFF
Tonight’s Youth Alliance Cup third round match against
Burnley has been postponed due to a frozen pitch at Airbus UK. No new date has
yet been
arranged.
ROCHDALE NEXT UP
City travel the short distance
to Spotland tomorrow to play Steve Parkin’s fourth
placed Rochdale. The sides met last month at Deva Stadium
when the Lancashire side won by the odd goal in five
in a pulsating Friday
night clash. Dale have won five
and lost three of their nine home matches this season
and sit just three points above the Blues in League
Two. They are expected to have top scorer Grant Holt
fit after a neck injury in their 2-1 win at Bristol
Rovers last Saturday.
17 November 2005
RESERVE DEFEAT
The reserves lost 3-1 to Rochdale in
their latest Pontins Holiday League match at Deva Stadium last night. Justin
Walker
scored
the
consolation
goal for the Blues who remain bottom of the league.
15 November 2005
RESERVE SWITCH
The Pontins Holiday League reserve game against Rochdale
tomorrow
with
now
kick-off
at 19:00hrs at Deva Stadium. Admission is £3.00 (adults) £1.00 (under
16).
14
November 2005
CITY PLAY FOREST
Nottingham Forest will visit
Deva Stadium in the second round of the FA Cup, the
match on Saturday 3 December will be all-ticket. The
League One side won their replay against Conference
South
club
Weymouth
2-0 at
the Wessex
Stadium
tonight. Forest have won the FA Cup on two occasions
in 1898 and 1959, and were runners-up in 1991, it will
be their first visit to
Deva Stadium.
The Blues have met Nottingham Forest
once before in the FA Cup back in 1935 at the third
round stage, when Forest ran out 4-0
winners at Sealand Road in front of 13,127 spectators.
Click for larger picture.
BLUES
RUE MISSED CHANCES
The defences were on top as Chester fought out a goalless
draw
with Northampton Town at Deva Stadium on Saturday. The Blues missed several
chances
in the
first
half, notably to Ryan Lowe and Marcus Richardson as they looked on top at
the break. The visitors saw more of the game after the interval and Chris MacKenzie
saved well from a sharp Mendes effort.
Manager
Keith Curle appeared satisfied with the performance, after the game he said: “It
was always going to be a tight match. We knew in our preparations they would
be extremely hard to break down. There are a number of positives we can take
from the match. I thought most of the chances were created by us and I didn’t
think we were really threatened. We knew that Northampton, who had reached
the play-off’s for the last two seasons would be a handful. This is the
start of an important little run of matches for us and this was a good performance
that gives us a lot to work on.”
13 November 2005
FA CUP OPPONENTS
City will know their second
round FA Cup opponents tomorrow night. Weymouth and
Nottingham Forest replay after the first game was drawn
1-1 at the City Ground. The match at the Wessex Stadium
is being screened live on SKY TV at 19:45hrs.
DRAW FOR YOUTH TEAM
Goals from Adam Wade and Paul
Rutherford gave the youth team a 2-2 draw at home to
Macclesfield Town in the Youth Alliance on Saturday
morning.
The team are next in action on Friday night
when they entertain Burnley in the third round of
the Alliance Cup. Burnley currently top the League
and are unbeaten this season, so the team would certainly
appreciate some City support on the night. The match
takes place at the Airbus UK ground with a 19:00hrs
kick-off.
• Match
report | Youth
fixtures | Youth
stats | Youth
table
CHESTER CITY CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE
RESULTS
City’s under 9, 10, 12,
14 and 16 squads travelled up to Bradford City on Sunday
and
returned with some good results. The under 9s having
only lost once this season put in a solid performance
with Jamie Hayes and Tom Brady getting the all important
goals in a 2-2 draw.
Coach Danny Jones will be disappointed in the under
10s 5-1 defeat as the team desperately missed the
normal
keeper and had to put an outfield player in goal, Ryan
Pimlett getting the consolation for the blues.
The under 11s picked themselves up after last weeks
narrow 2-1 defeat at Wrexham with a gritty 2-1 home
win against the Bantams, Mike Hulse and a full blooded
strike from Taylor Sheehan giving the boys a deserved
win.
Robbie Mills will be a happy man after super sub Jack
Cartwright came on for City and grabbed two goals in
a fine 5-4 win away with other strikes from Gino King,
James Carey and Gareth Hewitt.
The under 13s played host to Bradford but found the
going tough against a very large and physical side
loosing out 5-2 with consolation strikes from Kai Morris
and Gethin Maxwell.
New coach and ex-City first team player Sean Carey will
be very happy with his new team as they took full control
at home with a fine 5-2 win with strikes from Christian
Platt (2), James Evans (1) and Louis Denham (2).
Both the under 15s and 16s visited Bradford and returned
with 1-1 draws with goals from Lloyd Ellams and Danny
Wilson.
11
November 2005
GETTING BACK ON TRACK
Colin
Calderwood brings his eighth placed Northampton Town to Deva Stadium tomorrow
for what promises to be a tight encounter, kick-off
is at 15:00hrs.
The
Cobblers
have
won
three
and
drawn
four
of
their
eight
matches away from Sixfields this season, an away record similar to City’s,
and
are expected to have the backing of a large following.
The Blues will be hoping
to get back to winning ways; they have suffered a dip in form recently that has
seen
only one
League
Two
victory
in
six games,
and once again will be without striker Gregg Blundell who is still carrying a
thigh
injury
picked up on the training ground. There appear to be no other injury worries
though for Keith Curle.
The two sides last met in April as City concluded a disappointing season with
a 2-0 home defeat by Northampton.
• The
last meeting
YOUTH TEAM AT HOME
The youth team entertain Macclesfield
Town tomorrow morning in a Youth Alliance game at Airbus,
kick-off 11:00hrs..
10
November 2005
EARLY WREXHAM KICK-OFF
City’s
home game against Wrexham on 28 December will be a
noon kick-off, despite
this being the first normal working day after Christmas.
The change has come about after consultation between
the
club,
the
Football
League, the
Safety Advisory Group and the local police, no doubt
worried by potential public order disturbances.
The
match will be all-ticket and details of the selling
arrangements
will be released soon. This controversial decision
is bound to anger the vast majority of well-behaved
fans from both clubs, many of whom will now not be
able to get time off work to see their side, the precedent
has also been set for this to possibly happen again.
8 November 2005
CUP WIN FOR YOUTH TEAM
Congratulations to the youth
team who won 2-1 at Hartlepool United in the first
round
of the FA Youth Cup. Mark Cadwallader and Graham Mealand
were on the scoresheet for the young Blues at Victoria
Park. The boys must travel in round two as well, as
they have been drawn to play at either Stockport County
or Scunthrope United (who are due to play on 15 November).
The tie must be played on or before 26 November.
6
November 2005
FA CUP SECOND ROUND DRAW
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Following yesterday’s 2-1 FA Cup win over
Folkestone Victoria, Chester will play at home to either Nottingham Forest
or Weymouth in the second round, the tie was the last one to be drawn
out. The match will take place over the weekend 2/4 December. Prize money
from
the FA for the second round winners is £24,000. If Nottingham Forest
are the opponents then the game will be all-ticket.
The two sides drew 1-1 yesterday at the City ground, with ex-Chester player
Andy Harris heading the equaliser for the Terras in front of almost 2,000 traveling
fans after the Conference South side had fallen behind in the first half. Weymouth
also have another ex-City player in their ranks, Lee Elam. The replay will
take place at the Wessex Stadium on Tuesday 15 November and is
screened live on SKY.
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The Blues have met Nottingham Forest once before
in the FA Cup back in 1935 at the third round stage, when Forest ran out 4-0
winners at Sealand Road in front of 13,127. City have met Weymouth on just
one occasion
before, that was an away pre-season friendly in July 1996 with Andy Milner
scoring both goals in a 2-1 win.
Second
round draw in full:
Walsall v Macclesfield Town or Yeovil Town
Southport or Woking v Northwich Victoria
Peterborough United or Burton Albion v Burscough
Aldershot Town v Bury or Scunthorpe United
Shrewsbury Town v Colchester United
Hartlepool United v Tamworth
Cheltenham Town v Eastborne Borough or Oxford United
Mansfield Town v Grays Athletic
Hereford United v Stockport County
Stevenage Borough v Northampton Town
Port Vale v Bristol Rovers
Swindon Town or Boston United v Doncaster Rovers
Halifax Town or Rushden & Diamonds v Leyton Orient or Chesterfield
Nuneaton Borough v Histon
Chasetown or Oldham Athletic v Brentford
Southend United v Lincoln City or MK Dons
Chippenham Town or Worcester City v Huddersfield Town
Torquay United or Harrogate Town v Notts County
Barnsley v Bradford City
Chester City v Nottingham Forest or Weymouth
After the draw City boss Keith Curle said. “Whoever
we
face it should prove to
be
a
cracking
cup
tie,
and
the prize of a third round place for the winners against possibly a Premiership
club
is
a
great
incentive. ”
ON THE BORDERLINE UPDATE PAGE
The 2004/05 Players Update page for On The Borderline
has
now
been
completed
and can be downloaded from here.
EXILES PREDICTION
COMPETITION
The first table from this season’s competition can
be downloaded
from here.
5 November
2005
CITY THROUGH TO ROUND TWO
Second
half goals by Michael Branch from the penalty spot
on 55 minutes, and a great
strike by Ryan Lowe on 71 minutes, prevented City from
making the cup headlines for all the wrong reasons
as a Chris MacKenzie fumble had handed Folkestone Invicta
a shock lead on 10 minutes.
Manager Keith Curle, who watched the second half next
to the chairman at the back
of the stand, was full of praise for the part-time
opposition following the game.
He said: “They
came at us well early on, and full credit to
them for that. It was a typical cup tie and, at times,
was extremely ugly. I told the players at half
time that the first half performance was unacceptable,
and I wanted an improvement in the second period
and we got it. Before I went out for the second
half
I had to tell the players that I was going to
watch
the rest of the match from the main stand because
the first half looked horrible. The first thing
I did when I sat by the chairman was ask him whether
the first half had looked any different from
the stand. He said it had better be a lot better in
the
second half. I thought Folkestone gave a great
account of themselves. I hope they enjoyed their
visit and I wish them well in their league.”
LIVE MATCH COVERAGE
For those who can’t get
to today’s match, you can hear live internet
coverage/updates on the BBC Radio Kent website here.
YOUTH TEAM MATCH OFF
This morning’s youth team match
against Blackpool was postponed due to a waterlogged
pitch at Airbus UK.
4
November 2005
DRUMMOND BACK FOR CITY?
FA
Cup action comes to Deva Stadium tomorrow as Ryman Premier League side
Folkestone Invicta arrive for a first round tie.
Midfielder Stewart Drummond is expected to return following his three match
suspension. Defender Carl Regan should be included in the squad but there
is still a big doubt
over striker
Gregg
Blundell who picked up an injury in training a week ago.
The visitors will be back by
four coaches of fans making an early journey north.
This is the furthest the Kent
side have ever been in the FA Cup (although the town’s
old club, Folkestone, reached this stage twice before
folding in 1990) and will be a historic
first match against a Football League side for them.
The winners of the match will pick up a handy £16,000
prize money. Should a replay be necessary it will
take place at Cheriton Road on Monday 14 November,
kick-off 19:45hrs.
The draw for the second round
will take place at approximately 15:00hrs on Sunday
following
the BBC live televised match between Chasetown v Oldham
Athletic. Either City of Folkestone Invicta (or both!)
will be ball 18.
ENGLAND LOSE
Northern Ireland beat England
1-0 at Deva Stadium last night in the Victory Shield
match. The match was played in difficult weather conditions
and was watched by 1,109 spectators.
3 November 2005
INTERNATIONAL AT THE DEVA
Local
football fans have a rare opportunity to see international
action in Chester tonight as Deva Stadium hosts the
England v Northern Ireland U16 Victory Shield match,
kick-off 19:45hrs. Admission
prices for this match are as follows: Adults £5.00,
Children under 16 and OAP’s £1.00.
City chairman Steve Vaughan told the Daily Post: “It
is a great honour for Chester City Football Club to
be selected to stage this match, and is an indication
of the high esteem that the Football Association appear
to have for our facilities. My hope is that one day
a youngster from Chester City will emerge from our
ranks,
and catch the eye of the international selection team.”
The results so far in the Home International tournament
have been:
Northern Ireland 1 Scotland 1 (at Ballymena)
England 4 Wales 0 (at Telford)
Wales 1 Scotland 0 (at Rhyl)
RESERVES DEFEAT AT CARLISLE
The reserves remain bottom
of the Pontins Holiday League Division One West
after a 1-0 defeat at Carlisle United yesterday
afternoon.
Chester City: Lake, Potter,
Marsh-Evans, Cadwallader, Bolland, Dove, Rutherford,
Noon (Wade 76), Richardson (Holroyd 67), Curle, El
Khoti. Subs not used: Wilson, Humphries, Brookfield.
• Reserve
team fixtures | Reserve
league table
2 November 2005
RESERVES IN ACTION
The reserves travel to play Carlisle
United at Brunton Park this afternoon, kick-off 14:00hrs.
Carlisle currently top the Pontins Holiday League Division
One West table, whilst the Blues are bottom. Several
first teamers are expected to play whilst there should
be a run out for ex-Everton goalkeeper Sean Lake who
is on trial at the Deva. Admission prices are £2
adults £1 concessions.
CARROLL SUSPENDED
Rseerve/youth team player Neil
Carroll has received a three match suspension that takes
effect from 22 October.
1 November 2005
MIDFIELDER RELEASED
Midfielder Leo Bertos has been
released by Chester. The New Zealander made 3+4 appearances
during his two months spent at the club since signing
from Rochdale.
Bertos has now signed non-contract terms with Barrow.
FREE CUP ADMISSION FOR JUNIORS
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Junior
supporters under the age of 14 are eligible for
free admission in the West stand at Saturday’s
home FA Cup first round match with Folkestone
Invicta. The
children must be accompanied by a paying adult
who must also have proof of age for the child.
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FA TROPHY Chester have been drawn away to Gainsborough Trinity in the second round of the FA Trophy.
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LAST
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