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30
November 2007
INJURY UPDATE
Both Tony Grant and Tony Dinning
face a long lay-off following injuries sustained at
Wrexham on Sunday. Grant injured a hamstring and Dinning
has sustained suspected knee ligament damage. On Dinning’s
injury City boss Bobby Williamson said: “We’re
waiting for Tony’s knee to settle down to find
out the full extent of the damage. It’s certainly
a concern for him just now and it will be a while before
he’s back in contention.”
The injuries will give other players the chance to shine
and Williamson is expecting youngster Kevin Roberts
could be just the man to fill the midfield role alongside
Mark Hughes as City entertain Barnet on Tuesday night.
On a brighter note both John Murphy is hoping to be
ready for tomorrow night’s match after picking
up an injury in the 2-1 defeat at Bradford City. James
Vaughan is now fit and striker Nathan Lowndes has recovered
from a knock picked up at the Racecourse.
29 November 2007
DRAW FOR RESERVES
Despite a seventh minute goal
from Chris Holroyd the reserves were held 1-1 at home
by Burnley last night in a Pontins Holiday League game.
It was the second match this week for the second string
who lost 3-1 at home to Morecambe in a League Cup match
on Monday.
25 November 2007
HONOURS EVEN
City
had to be content with a point from a well fought derby
match at the Racecourse despite taking the lead twice
in the opening period. A spectacular goal from Kevin
Roberts sent the 2,000 away fans wild on 27 minutes
only to be silenced with a Michael Procter equaliser
on 37 minutes. A lengthy delay due to an injury to Tony
Dinning, which saw him replaced by Tony Grant, resulted
in five minutes stoppage time in the opening period
during which Paul Linwood headed the Blues (for some
reason playing in yellow) back in front.
They held the lead, despite having to reshuffle after
two more forced substitutions, until 15 minutes from
time when Procter volleyed home his second goal of the
game.
Before that second equaliser City had created but failed
to take several half-chances with Richie Partridge,
Kevin Ellison and Paul McManus all testing Anthony Williams
in the home goal.
Tony Dinning, Tony Grant and Nathan Lowndes all hobbled
off during the game which forced manager Bobby Williamson into changing
the system on more that one occasion.
After the match Bobby Williamson expressed his delight
at the contribution of two of City’s younger players Kevin Roberts and
Paul McManus. “We’ve got a lot of talented kids at Chester, and
it gives our youth coaches a bit of belief if I select them. They know
that if they produce a kid that is capable, then he will get an opportunity
at some stage. It was a great goal from Kevin
Roberts after he got a flick on from Nathan Lowndes off the throw in.
As soon as the ball left Kevin’s
foot I knew it was in. The goalkeeper was helpless in that situation
and it was good to get a lead at that
stage of the game.”
Williamson admitted though that the draw was perhaps
a fair result over the 90 minutes. He added: “It was a good game – both
teams tried to win the match and I felt it was an end-to-end contest.
On reflection maybe a draw was a fair result. There was a great atmosphere
and both sets of fans made it enjoyable. There was good banter from the
Wrexham supporters, nothing malicious
or vindictive, just good-natured and that’s what football is all
about, and hopefully both sets of fans can be happy with their team’s
performances.”
Following the draw City drop one place to seventh in League Two. The
Blues have no match next weekend, which is FA Cup second round day, so
the physio staff have a few extra days to get the injured players ready
for their next match which is at home to Barnet on Tuesday 4 December,
kick-off
19:45.
Picture © Evening Leader
23
November 2007
SELL-OUT BACKING FOR CITY
Chester
have sold their full ticket allocation for Sunday’s
derby at Wrexham
and will be backed by about 1,900 fans at the Racecourse. The Blues go into
the match on the back of a three game losing streak and will be looking to
regain
the form that has seen them pick up six victories away from Deva Stadium
so far this season.
A victory at the Racecourse Ground is long overdue, you have to go back to 1978 when
City last tasted victory, on that occasion Ian Mellor and Ian Howat gave
Chester a 2-1 victory in front of a crowd of just over 19,000. There has
been a 2-1 FA Cup
win in
the snow of January 1987 and a 3-1 victory in the Freight Rover Trophy two
months later with no wins since. Chester have only won ten of the last 42
derbies, while Wrexham have won 20.
City manager Bobby Williamson is well aware of
what the occasion means to both sets of fans. He said: “I’m
looking forward to Sunday because I always look forward to a game of
football. But we've got to remind ourselves that it is a game
of football and not a war.”
“I’m aware that there’s a bit of
hatred between the fans, but they should look at themselves because we
don’t
want any trouble anywhere
on a Sunday afternoon. We want to win the match for our fans and we’ll
give it our best shot, but what we have all got to remember is that it’s
a game of football.”
“We’ll be approaching the game in the same
way as we approach our other fixtures, but we know the significance
of the game and about the
rivalry between Chester and Wrexham. There aren’t many teams in
the world that have got a derby match which is against teams separated
by a border.
That fact adds a bit more
spice to the match. We’ll make sure our players are up for the
challenge, like I’m sure Wrexham will be as well.”
Wrexham will be playing their first game under new manager Brian
Little. Little, who celebrates his 54th birthday on Sunday, is
expected
to
include
former
Chester
winger
Sam
Aiston
in
his
squad
after the winger signed on loan from Northampton Town yesterday. Mark Jones
and Danny Williams are still out while striker Neil
Roberts and defender Shaun Pejic are battling to be involved.
For Chester, centre back Paul Linwood
is included in the squad after being substituted at half-time
in last Saturday’s 2-0 home defeat against MK Dons with blurred vision.
Midfielder Mark Hughes is available for selection after serving a one
game suspension, but striker John Murphy remains a doubt with a knee
injury.
A special rail service from Chester to Wrexham will operate on
Sunday. The train will accommodate 650 people and will depart Chester
Station
at 10:30.
The return journey will leave Wrexham at 14:38.
Picture © Evening Leader
22
November 2007
YOUTH WIN SHOOT-OUT
The youth team have progressed
through to the third round of the FA Youth Cup after
winning their second round tie at Curzon Ashton 6-5
on penalties. The game had ended 1-1 after extra time
in front of 146 spectators. Andy Mitchell scored City’s
equaliser and the Blues now entertain York City in round
three on Wednesday 12 December, kick-off 19:00. Admission
will be £3.00 for adults and £1.00 for children.
CRONIN RELEASED
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Midfielder Glenn
Cronin has been released by Chester.
He signed for Chester in July 2006 from Exeter
City but broke a metatarsal in the pre-season
and has made just 1+3 appearances in a first
team shirt.
Chairman Steve Vaughan said: “Unfortunately
Glen was extremely unlucky with injuries
during his time with us, and as such we didn’t
see the best of him. Despite his injury
setbacks, Glenn was a bubbly character and
it was a pleasure
to have him around the club. Obviously
we would like to wish him well, for the
rest of his career.”
Picture © Evening
Leader |
21 November 2007
HARTSON TURNS DOWN MOVE
According to the club chief executive
Bob Gray, John Hartson has rejected a loan move to Chester
before tomorrow’s temporary loan transfer deadline.
Chester chief executive, Bob Gray, said an agreement
had been made with West Bromwich Albion for the loan
to go ahead but the player didn’t want to drop
to League Two.
Gray told the Evening Leader: “The
move to try and bring John Hartson to Chester underlines
the ambition of our chairman, Stephen Vaughan, and
the directors at Chester City Football Club. West
Bromwich Albion had agreed to John Hartson joining
us on loan with a view to us signing him permanently
in the January transfer window, but the player won’t
drop down to play in League Two.”
“John Hartson feels that he
needs to play at a higher level, but he was pleased
to hear of Chester’s interest and he spoke to
our manager, Bobby Williamson, who is a good friend
of Hartson.”
20 November 2007
CITY SHOW HARTSON INTEREST
Chester have made enquiries to
West Bromwich Albion regarding taking their experienced
Welsh international striker John Hartson on loan. The
Baggies have yet to respond to City’s enquiries
for the 32-year-old striker who has just completed a
loan spell at Norwich City where he made 2+2 appearances.
Hartson joined West Brom in June 2006 and has scored
6 goals in 16+8 appearances for thee Black Country side.
19
November 2007
BOBBY RUES MISSED CHANCES
Blues
manager Bobby Williamson blamed missed chances as his
side lost 2-0 at home to Milton Keynes Dons on Saturday.
However City faced a visiting French goalkeeper in Willy
Gueret who was on top form, with several outstanding
saves including one from Simon Yeo’s penalty and
another from Kevin Ellison moments later late in the
second period as City tried to claw their way back into
the game.
The visitors controlled much of the play in the opening
period and took the lead on 34 minutes through Mark
Wright. City had to adjust things after having to replace
defender Paul Linwood at the break who was suffering
from blurred vision.
City had much the better of the play after the break
but just as they seemed to be getting close the Dons
doubled their lead on 64 minutes though Jemal Johnson
who tucked the ball home off the post after Dyer had
outpaced Richie Partridge before cutting in and crossing
for Johnson at the near post.
City were handed a lifeline 13 minutes from time as
goalscorer Wright was adjudged to have handled in the
area. Substitute Yeo, who’d only been on for two
minutes, stepped up but saw his shot well saved. Yeo
and Murphy both missed chances as City’s poor
home form, where they have won just two games in eight,
continued. The defeat drops Chester to sixth place in
League Two.
After the defeat Williamson said: “We dominated
in the second half and created good chances, but on
the day we couldn’t put them away. If you don’t
take your chances your not going to win and that’s
what happened. The shots we hit, we hit at their keeper
and we made it look easy for him really, and that was
disappointing.
Big John Murphy had a great opportunity to score but
he miss-hit it slightly when he should have put it in
the back of the net. But it was a good build up and
a good ball in from Tony Grant, and John did everything
right really, but the goalkeeper made a good save and
then he also made a great save from Kevin Ellison, and
he also made a penalty save.”
Picture © Evening
Leader
DEFEAT FOR YOUTH TEAM
Despite a goal from Lloyd Ellams
the youth team were beaten 2-1 at home by Tranmere Rovers
on Saturday. The defeat drops the team to 14th in the
Youth Alliance North West Conference.
• Youth
Alliance table
16 November 2007
BOBBY HOPEFUL DUO WILL BE FIT
City
manager Bobby Williamson is hopeful that striking duo
John Murphy (left) and Richie Partridge will both be
fit to return to the side for the visit from League
leaders Milton Keynes Dons tomorrow. Both missed last
weeks FA Cup defeat at Bradford City as the Blues struggled
to break down a dogged home defence for most of the
match.
Williamson said: “Both of these players are capable
and they’ve played their part so far this season.
We’ve not got a massive squad and we’ve
not got any outstanding players, but we’ve got
very good, capable players, and when we miss any two
players from our first eleven it’s always going
to be a struggle. I always hope that players can come
into the team and stake a claim for a place. But it
never happened the way we would have liked, and I now
hope that both Partridge and Murphy will come into my
reckoning.”
Chester will definitely be without midfielder Mark Hughes
who serves a one match ban after picking up five yellow
cards. Like City, the Dons have lost just once on their
travel this season, at Rochdale, and currently lie four
points clear of Chester.
Dons Manager Paul Ince returned to his former club Macclesfield
Town this week to capture the loan signing of Jordan
Hadfield, he will be available to play tomorrow. Former
Chester player Drewe
Broughton makes his first return to Deva Stadium
since leaving for Boston United just over a year ago.
Picture © Evening
Leader
BACKPASS MAGAZINE
|
A new football
magazine has recently been launched. Backpass,
will appear quarterly and is dedicated to football
in the 1960s, 70s and 80s.
Issue 1 features the epic Chester v Leeds United
League Cup clash of 1974/5 in its Cup Classics
section as well as:
The Management — Jim Smith
on the spot
Memories of Ted MacDougall, Jim
McCalliog, Don Rogers, Bobby Smith, Bobby Ham,
Mick Kearns, Mark Loram and Geoff Crudgington.
Insight on Nottingham Forest’s
1979 European Cup winners
Great TV goals of the seventies
— Blackpool’s Tony Green
Fashion Disasters — Coventry
City’s choc horror
Cup Classics — Chester
City’s famous victory over Leeds United
Remembered — The much-travelled
Frank Large, and George’s six of the Best
World Cup Wonders — Poland’s
Grzegorz Lato
Focus on the 1970-71 season
Issue 1 is now available for £2.50 and more
details can be found on the magazine website.
•
Backpass
magazine website
|
15 November 2007
RESERVES BEATEN AGAIN
The reserve side suffered their
third defeat on the run last night when they were beaten
2-0 at Blackpool in a Pontins Holiday League match.
• Reserve
fixtures | Stats
| Table
WREXHAM
TICKETS
Tickets for the match at the
Racecourse Ground on Sunday 25 November (KO 12:00) are
currently still on general sale at the following times.
Thursday 15 November |
10:00-16:00 |
Friday 16 November |
10:00-16:00 |
Saturday 17 November |
After the MK Dons match |
Tickets for the Eric Roberts
stand are priced at £16.00 (adult), £10.00
(OAP), £5.00 (junior).
Tickets are also available by post. You should send
your cheque, made payable to ‘Chester City Football
Club’ indicating which ticket(s) you are ordering
to The Secretary, (Wrexham Away), Chester City FC, The
Deva Stadium, Bumpers Lane, Chester, CH1 4LT.
12 November 2007
CUP KNOCKOUT FOR CITY
City
were knocked out of the FA Cup at the first round stage
on Saturday when they suffered their second defeat at
Bradford City in five days to miss out on a second round
home tie with local rivals Tranmere Rovers. As feared
both Richie Partridge and John Murphy were missing from
the Chester ranks through injury and both were missed
as City struggled to break down a home side that defended
in numbers having been reduced to ten men for half of
the match following a red card for Guylain Ndumbu-Nsungu
for a second bookable offence.
The only goal of the game came on 28 minutes as Peter
Thorne headed home unchallenged Paul Evans’ right
wing cross in front of over 600 travelling fans.
Manager Bobby Williamson was disappointed with the performance
blaming the defence and midfield for not getting behind
the Bantams rearguard.
Williamson said: “Richie Partridge and John Murphy
were obviously missed – we can’t afford
to be without big players like them. I think it was
obvious that we missed Richie and John. We ask a lot
of Richie when he’s performing well. He’s
a handful, he troubles defenders, and we haven’t
got anybody else like him. Everybody else we’ve
got in the team duck back out, come back behind their
man and roll the ball back to a midfielder or full back,
but we want them to go at people and be positive, but
we’ve not got such a player as that.
We’ve
got depth and we’ve
got players that are capable and who have got potential
that has yet to be fulfilled. We’re
hoping for big things from players like Paul McManus
and Paul Rutherford. But it’s
not down to them that we got beat. I felt from midfield
on, and even our full backs, didn’t
get behind Bradford at all.
We played everything in front
of them and never troubled them. It was very hard for
us to try and break Bradford down with them having every
player behind the ball.”
City must pick themselves up for another tough encounter
on Saturday when table topping Milton Keynes Dons visit
Deva Stadium, kick-off is at 15:00hrs.
Picture © Evening
Leader
YOUTH TEAM WIN AGAIN
Goals from Lloyd Ellams and Stephen
Thorpe gave the youth team a 2-1 win at Macclesfield
Town on Saturday.
HESSEY ON LOAN
|
Defender
Sean
Hessey has joined Macclesfield Town on a two
month loan deal with the view of a permanent contract
at the end. Hessey has not played for the first
team this season but made three appearances for
the reserves.
Picture ©
Evening Leader
|
9 November 2007
DUO DOUBT FOR CITY
Chester
could be without both Richie Partridge (groin) and John
Murphy (knee) through injury as the Blues return to
Bradford City tomorrow for the first round of the FA
Cup. Both players were injured in Tuesday night’s
encounter between the two sides. Youngsters Paul Rutherford
and Kevin Roberts replaced the duo in midweek and both
may be in contention again after turning in solid performances
as City lost their unbeaten away run.
Regarding the injuries manager Bobby Williamson said:
“I don’t think those two will be available
the way things are shaping up, so we’ll have to
look at other players in the squad. I’m quite
confident that whoever comes in will do a job and we’ll
get the result we need. I know what to expect and we’ll
go there and give it our best.”
The Bantams will be without on-loan midfielder Nicky
Law as Sheffield United have not given him permission
to play in the FA Cup.
The winners of the first round tie will pick up £16,000
prize money. The draw for the second round will take
place on Sunday after the live televised game between
Torquay United and Yeovil Town.
8 November 2007
FA YOUTH CUP
The youth team won 4-0 at Marine
last night in the first round of the FA Youth Cup. City's
goals were scored by Kieran Morrin, Glenn Rule, Paul
McManus and Andy Mitchell. Their reward is another away
tie in round 2 at Curzon Ashton. The match will take
place at 19:30hrs on 21 November. Curzon Ashton won
through against Chesterfield 7-6 on penalties after
the two sides had drawn 1-1.
7 November 2007
DEFEAT FOR CITY
A 2-1 defeat at Bradford City
last night brought to an end City’s unbeaten away
run and saw the Blues drop to fourth in League Two.
John Danby saved a Nicky Law spot-kick early in the
game before the home side took the lead through John
Danby saved a Nicky Law spot-kick on 36 minutes. Chester
had a great chance to draw level just after the break
with a penalty themselves but Tony Dinning saw his spot-kick
saved. Despite dominating for most of the second period
City rarely threatened to score and the home side doubled
their lead two minutes from time as Alex Rhodes ended
a mazy run with a goal from a narrow angle. Kevin Ellison
scored a stoppage time consolation for Chester who must
now pick themselves up for a return to Valley Parade
for Saturday’s FA Cup clash.
Both Richie Partridge and John Murphy picked up knocks
and were substituted during the game. It remains to
be seen if they will be fit for Saturday.
Manager Bobby Williamson reflected after the defeat:
“I felt we did enough to get something, but it
never happened for us and obviously we are disappointed.
We'll go away and lick
our wounds and we come back here on Saturday.
I thought Bradford started better than us and we were
chasing the game at times. We never passed the ball
as well as I would have liked. We had to change it and
we had to change the shape at times as well and at the
end we even pushed the full backs further forward.
I think we had all the play, we certainly had the ball
switched about at times but nothing penetrating really.
We never really got the ball into dangerous areas and
didn't cause them enough problems.”
• League
Two table
6 November 2007
ON THE ROAD AGAIN
City
make their first trip to Valley Parade for 13 years
tonight looking for a win that could take them top of
League Two should MK Dons drop points at home to Grimsby
Town. City, who notched their sixth away win of the
season on Friday night, have no fresh injury worries
as they prepare to face Bradford twice in a week with
Saturday’s FA Cup clash to follow.
Home manager Stuart McCall is under pressure as his
side, who were relegated last season, have got off to
a poor start and have now gone eight games without a
win and lie 21st in League Two. Despite their indifferent
start, the home fans still turn out in numbers with
over 13,000 at Saturday’s 2-1 home defeat by Brentford.
McCall may have to do without the services of Ndumbu-Nsungu
who is struggling with fitness, so Peter Thorne and
Barry Conlon may start up front for the Bantams.
3
November 2007
BLUES REMAIN SECOND
City
remain second in League Two following the weekend’s
results. MK Dons top the division but only now by a
single point after today’s 1-1 draw at Wycombe
Wanderers.
The Blues continued their fine away form with a 1-0
win at Lincoln City on Friday night, but they are sure
to find themselves in hot water with the Football League,
after turning up at Sincil Bank 35 minutes after the
scheduled 19:45 kick-off time having been stuck in traffic.
It took a controversial second-half penalty following
a challenge on Chris Holroyd to secure all three points,
Tony Dinning converting the spot kick on 57 minutes.
The home side also had a goal disallowed later in the
game.
Manager Bobby Williamson said: “It took us a bit
of time to get started, Lincoln came out of the traps
flying as you would imagine with a new manager, they
were certainly very impressive, I think we may be fortunate
to come away with the three points. The pitch looked
a bit treacherous at times and a lot of people were
sliding about out there and I think our boys hurt themselves
out there as the pitch was very hard.
We had to dig deep, Lincoln were throwing everything
forward, not to many touches on the ball but trying
to get into the dangerous areas but Paul Linwood, Paul
Butler and the rest of the guys did their jobs and defended
well.”
Chairman Steve Vaughan is prepared to receive a fine
from the League, he said: “Lincoln City have put
in an official complaint to the Football League about
our late arrival. We are preparing for a fine and we’ll
pay whatever fine they give us. The coach left in plenty
of time but we’ll just have to suffer the consequences.
I have not yet got any idea what the fine will be, but
we’ve got no option but to pay it.”
City now face two trips to Bradford City, on Tuesday
night for a League Two clash and again on Saturday when
the two sides meet in the FA Cup.
Picture © Evening
Leader
WREXHAM TICKETS
Tickets for the match at the
Racecourse Ground on Sunday 25 November (KO 12:00) will
go on sale on Wednesday 7 November at the Deva Stadium
ticket office (10:00-16:00) for Season Ticket and TRUEBLUE
card holders only. From Thursday 8 November they will
go on general sale at the following times.
Thursday 8 November |
10:00-16:00 |
Friday 9 November |
10:00-16:00 |
Monday 12 November |
10:00-16:00 |
Tuesday 13 November |
10:00-16:00 |
Wednesday 14 November |
10:00-19:00 (late) |
Thursday 15 November |
10:00-16:00 |
Friday 16 November |
10:00-16:00 |
Saturday 17 November |
After the MK Dons match |
Tickets for the Eric Roberts
stand are priced at £16.00 (adult), £10.00
(OAP), £5.00 (junior).
Tickets are also available by post. You should send
your cheque, made payable to ‘Chester City Football
Club’ indicating which ticket(s) you are ordering
to The Secretary, (Wrexham Away), Chester City FC, The
Deva Stadium, Bumpers Lane, Chester, CH1 4LT.
2
November 2007
AWAY TEST FOR CITY
Chester
take their impressive unbeaten away record to Lincoln
City tonight facing an Imps side that are bound to be
buoyed following the appointment of new manager Peter
Jackson during the week. Jackson, a former Deva favourite
replaced John Schofield, who was sacked along with director
of football John Deehan earlier this month. He has taken
on a side who lie bottom of the Football League with
just nine points from their opening 13 matches. Their
last win came on 25 August with a home victory over
Accrington Stanley.
City boss Bobby Williamson should be able to include
former Imp Simon Yeo, Nathan Lowndes and Tony Grant
to his squad after all three, having recovered from
injury, took part in Wednesday’s 5-0 reserve defeat.
Ahead of tonight’s only League Two match Williamson
said: “I’m sure Peter’s arrival will
make it more difficult. The Lincoln players will be
out to impress him and will lift their game, I’m
sure. That’s one of the disappointing aspects
in football. You do see a reaction. These players should
maybe have reacted a few weeks ago and they may have
kept their past manager in place.”
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NEWS |
FA TROPHY Chester have been drawn away to Gainsborough Trinity in the second round of the FA Trophy.
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LAST
MATCH |
BLUES WELL BEATEN A day to forget as Chester are well beaten 4-0 at Curzon Ashton. |
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