News from Deva Stadium October 2014

Chris Iwelumo has announced his retirement from football, the 36-year-old former Scotland international signed from St Johnstone in the summer and made ten appearances for Chester scoring one goal in the 3-1 win at Braintree Town in August.

Chester chairman Grenville Millington said: “Chris has had a glittering career in football for over 20 years. I’m sure that he retires with a heavy heart but I’ve no doubt that he will continue his relationship with professional football for many years to come.”

Picture © Rick Matthews (Chester Leader)

27 October 2014
FA CUP
Chester have been drawn away to League Two side Southend United in the first round of the FA Cup. The game will take place over the weekend of November 8/9.

BLUES AWAIT CUP DRAW
Chester fans will be eagerly awaiting news of the draw for the first round of the FA Cup which will be made live on BBC2 tonight at 19.00hrs. It is the first time the reformed club have reached this stage of the competition and Chester are ball number 59. The Blues won a pulsating fourth qualifying round match at Stockport County 4-2 on Saturday with former County player Sean McConville scoring twice against his former club. Also on the scoresheet with Matty Hughes and Ben Heneghan. Defender Michael Kay was sent-off late in the game.

Chester picked up £12,500 in prize money on Saturday and also receive a share of the gate money from a bumper crowd of 4,621 that included 1,228 travelling fans.

Manager Steve Burr said: “You look at the big clubs and obviously Sheffield United are in it aren’t they, Portsmouth and one or two other big clubs are there. It would be nice to get a big club at home, that would be fantastic, but anybody at home as well and hopefully we can get a bit of luck because that’s what you need in this competition.”

24 October 2014
HUGHES GIVEN CUP CLEARANCE
On loan Fleetwood Town strker Matty Hughes will be available to play for Chester in tomorrow’s FA Cup 4th Round Qualifying match at Stockport County after permission was granted from his parent club. Manager Steve Burr told the clubs website: “I’m delighted that Fleetwood have given Matty permission to play on Saturday. Graham Alexander was working on a few things, and they have come together meaning that we can now use Matty, so naturally I’m pleased that we can have him available for the big match on Saturday.”

19 October 2014
CHESHIRE SENIOR CUP
Chester have been draw away in the first round of the Cheshire Senior Cup to West Counties League side Runcorn Town, the same opponents as last year’s first round. The match will take place at The Pavilions on Monday 3 November, kick-off 19.45hrs. Admission prices are: Adults £5.00, Concessions £3.00 and Under 16s £1.00.

LATE GOAL LIFTS BLUES
Chester came from a goal behing to beat Alfreton Town 2-1 on Saturday and moved up to 13th in the Conference as a result. Tom Shaw had given the visitors the lead against the run of play in the 15th minute before on-loan striker Matty Hughes scored the equaliser on the half hour. The Blues moved the ball around well created and missed several chances to claim all the three points. The game looked to be heading for a draw before substitute Jamie Menagh’s cross found Graig Mahon who lifted the ball over ‘keeper Cameron Dawson for a dramatic stoppage time winner.

18 October 2014
CFU BOARD CHANGES

Tony Durkin has stepped dowwn as chairman of City Fans United but will continue as a Director and serves on the Operations Board also. Replacing Tony is Grenville Millington who was elected to the CFU board at the AGM last month.

Millie needs no introduction to many Chester fans having made over 200 appearances in goal for the club between 1969-1983. Other appointments at last night’s board meeting were: Jim Keegan, as Vice-Chairman, Jonathan Freeman as CFU Treasurer and Marion Needham as Board Secretary.

Picture © Rick Matthews (Chester Leader)

17 October 2014
FA CUP PRICES
Chester have been allocated the Railway End seated stand at Stockport County for the match on Saturday 25th. Cash admission prices on the date are: Adult – £12.00
Students – £8.00
Age 65+ – £8.00
Disabled Fan – £8.00
Students – £8.00
18-21 year olds – £8.00
11-17 year olds – £3.00
10 years and under – £1.00

13 October 2014
FA CUP DRAW
Chester have been handed an away tie at Conference North side Stockport County in the fourth qualifying round of the FA Cup. The match is due to take place at Edgeley Park on Saturday 25 October. County beat Ilkeston at home on Saturday in front of a gate of 2,562 to reach this stage of the competition.

DOVER DEFEAT
The Blues dropped to 16th place following Saturday’s defeat at Dover Athletic. After a scrappy first period of few chances two second half goals from The Whites were enough to take all three points at the Crabble Athletic Ground. Dover took the lead two minutes into the second period as Ben Henighan deflected a Tom Murphy shot past Jon Worsnop. Connor Essam added a second goal with a free header on 64 minutes to seal the victory. Kingsley James saw an effort ruled out for offside but Chester, who had six players booked, were guilty of poor finishing from the several half-chances they did create.

Manager Steve Burr, who is now on England C duty in Turkey, told the Chester Chronicle: “I didn’t think we quite got going in the first half but we changed things around a little bit in the second half but to concede right after half-time after talking about at half-time was disappointing.”

“It was a bit of a fluke goal and then the second one where he’s shanked the shot and the lad’s crossed it for a free header and we were chasing the game after that.”

“It’s hard to say sometimes but both sides sort of cancelled each other out a little bit but we gave the ball away too easily in the first half. I think if we’d have got one we might have got something out of it but in front of goal it just didn’t happen for us.”

• League table after Dover game

ACADEMY ROLE FOR WILDE
Former player Michael Wilde has been appointed as a Technical Advisor to the Youth Academy. Wilde, who now plays for TNS, will be working in a voluntary capacity. The role will see Wilde attending training sessions and matches whenever he is able to.

Head of Youth Academy, Calvin Hughes told the official club website: “His Club have been fully co-operative with Michael on this matter, but obviously it is of the understanding that it will not interfere in any way with his schedule at TNS. He enjoyed his time with Chester FC, and is prepared to put something back, by helping out in this role, in his own time, for which I am very grateful.”

“Michael is currently looking to complete his UEFA ‘A’ LICENCE in Coaching, and this role will enable him to gain more experience ’in the field’ and at the same time will enable our coaches and managers to gain valuable knowledge and skill from a very good player and an excellent role model, who the children within the teams in the Academy, can also learn from, and look up too.”

10 October 2014
CUP DEFEAT FOR YOUTH TEAM
The Youth Team were knocked out of the FA Youth Cup 5-3 at home by Irlam last night in front of an attendance of 296.

8 October 2014
DREAM DEBUT FOR MATTY

A man-of-the-match performance capped wth the winning goal ten minutes from time gave Matty Hughes a dream debut against Aldershot Town last night. Hughes, signed for a month from Fleetwood Town, made an immediate impact with his winning goal lifting Chester to 14th – the highest placing the reformed club has reached.

Manager Steve Burr said: “It was very good. I thought some of our play was excellent and we got our rewards for sure. I didn’t think they could live with us, particularly in the first half.”

“You always want to score more goals but I was delighted that we saw it out and got the three points. It was really pleasing how we passed the ball around, we kept our shape and kept our composure and obviously tried to create chances. All round it was a really good, professional performance from the players and full credit to them.”

On debut player Hughes Burr added: “He gives us a bit of an option in behind and he’s lively. It’s always great to have a debut like that and I’ve told him it’s about the next one now He took his goal very well but I thought we could have had a couple more.”

Chester make the long away trip to Dover Athletic on Saturday, kick-off 15.00hrs.

• League table after Aldershot game

CHAIRMAN AND MANAGER TO MEET THE EXILES
Chairman, Tony Durkin and Manager, Steve Burr have kindly accepted an invitation from the Exiles to meet with their members on Friday evening, 10 October prior to the away fixture with Dover Athletic on the Saturday. The meeting will take place at 19.00 for 19.30 start in a private room on the first floor of the Rugby Tavern, Great James Street, London WC1N 3ES which is very close to Holborn, Chancery Lane and Russell Square tube stations.

The evening will be hosted by BBC London sports presenter and Blues fan, Phil Parry and take the form of a Q&A session with Tony and Steve. If you would like to ask a question, please would you email your name, your question/s and who you would like to answer it to the Exiles asap so that we can make sure that the evening covers a number of topics.

We will provide a light buffet during the evening, so if you hope to be there, it would be very helpful if you could also email the Exiles by the same date so that we make sure we have enough food to go round!

If you are a student and have recently moved to London or have taken up a new job or moved home in the area, we would be pleased to see you at this meeting. As a member of CFU, you are automatically a member of the Exiles if you live 25 miles away from Chester.

6 October 2014
STRIKER SIGNS ON LOAN
Chester have signed Fleetwood Town striker Matthew Hughes on a one month loan deal. Hughes played for both Wigan Athletic and Everton as a youngster. He’s expected to go straight onto the squad for tomorrow night’s home game against Aldershot Town.

BLUES FALL TO LATE GOAL
A goal in the 94th minute denied Chester all three points against Welling United on Saturday. Chester had led the Wings with a 10th minute 18-yard strike from Craig Mahon that slipped through the fingers of visiting ‘keeper Jonathan Henly. The disappointing match threw up few chances with the best of them going to the visitors in the opening half hour but the Chester back four held firm. The equaliser came deep into stoppage time as a Harry Beautyman left wing corner was headed into the mix at the back post with Tyrone Marsh on hand to tap the ball home through a crowd of players.

2 October 2014
AWAY WIN LIFTS BLUES

Chester made it three wins out of four matches as they continue to climb the table following their 2-1 victory at AFC Telford on Tuesday night. Over 550 Blues fans made the midweek trip to the New Bucks Head and they made themselves heard as Chester fought back from going an early goal down to beat off their opponents.

The Bucks took the lead on 19 minutes as Mike Grougan pounced on a loose ball after the Blues defence had failed to clear a Ryan Higgins cross.

John Rooney got Chester on level terms scoring from a free-kick on 29 minutes and Sean McConville headed the winner on 66 minutes to move the Blues up to 16th.

Chester will be looking to push further up the table as they now face two home games against sides around them. On Saturday 17th placed Welling United visit Chester (kick-off 15.00hrs) and on Tuesday night 15th placed Aldershot Town are the visitors (kick-off 19.45hrs).

• League table after Telford game | Match highlights (YouTube)

Picture © Rick Matthews (Chester Leader)

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