Chesterfield v Grimsby Preview

Overview

One of the oldest clubs in the Football League Chesterfield was formed in 1867 by Chesterfield Cricket Club of course, who had yet to discover the delights of 20/20 cricket. Originally formed as Chesterfield Municipals they moved to Saltergate in 1884 where they stay till this day. Rumours that Saltergate has yet to have been improved upon, cleaned, painted, checked or scrubbed since the opening day are obviously unfounded as it had to be painted for that film a few months ago. The crummyness of Saltergate aside Chesterfield have bobbled hitherto and back again in the lower leagues for years and of course I have to mention FA Cup, Elleray, Ball, line, over, awwww.

Disappointing for the Spireites after splashing a bit of cash around Chesterfield were one of the favourites for promotion until a bad start with just 3 wins in 11, one of which was unsurprisingly against ourselves. After falling to 15th in October Chesterfield rallied and managed to stay comfortably a few places higher up and always threatened to snatch a play off place, that dream died a death on the penultimate day of the season with a defeat away to Accrington. Chesterfield managed to fill the huge loss left by talisman Jamie Ward who left for pastures new and well just better in January. Ward packed his bags and was last seen sprinting out of the town heading just down the road to the lovely city of steel which I'm sure the Spireite faithful don't mind one bit. That aside last season was deemed a failure and as such that lovely cock of a man Lee Richardson was kicked out of the front door which was most probably still sporting a Derby County sign above it which had yet to be removed after the filming had finished.

Starting out pretty much like the last. Even with £4million invested in the club for the year by chairman Dave Allen. Chesterfield only have a point more then ourselves and though undefeated at home the kings of the Spire have yet to win on their travels in the league collecting just one point away from Saltergate and amassing a goal difference of -8 already on the road. At home its story Chesterfield are undefeated with only a draw against Morecambe a blot on their copybook.

A beautiful reminder of days gone by, when men with flat caps gathered on terraces, with woodbines clinging to their worn fingers. The sound of mills echoing down in the valley and the distinctive smell of tobacco filled the air. Where men were men, women looked like men and children dare not speak for been hit with a shovel or a BETA video thing whatever the hell one of those is. Nevertheless this bastion of archaic football, the museum of a bygone age is nothing more then a decrepit cesspit, which makes Blundell Park look like the Palace of Versailles. And which will most likely blow down anytime soon when a wind over gale force ability hits the top of that windswept hill. Chesterfield know this most probably due to the fact that doors are held up by plastic guitar strings bought from Argos and will hopefully move to a new flat pack stadium any season soon or if they were Town sometime before those damn dirty apes takeover the world.

Steven Ogrizovic who despite what you might think because of the name was born just across the way in Mansfield shooting to notoriety in Coventry and holds the record for the most caps there, the keeper who also played for Liverpool started his career at Chesterfield in 1977 he retired in 2000! Another great keeper to graced Saltergate was a little known keeper called Gordon Banks who if memory serves me right made an alright save against a team who play in yellow and blue, think it was Torquay. Also to play for Chesterfield was good old Pineapple Head Jason Lee and many other former Mariners recently of course including Martin Gritton, Peter Till, Jack Lester and Paul Warhurst but you can keep him.

I usually go for Jack Lester it seems certain one day he will score against us and it’s becoming slightly unnerving that he has yet to do it. I'm fully expecting some double hat trick performance where he manages to re-enact those great dives of yore to perfection winning countless penalties as we all look on in disbelief knowing we should have known better. He’s quick sharp got a cheeky grin and if only he was back here with Jevons as a fellow striker. So yes I'm going super Jack and the current feeling of doom growing in my stomach.

Recent Form

Top Scorers

Team News

Squads

Head to Head

Town have a reasonable record against Chesterfield in recent years, although Chesterfield did the double over them last season.

P 93 W39 D25 L29F148A121

Head-to-Head (23rd on The Opposition Ladder)

Last Meeting

Chesterfield 2 Grimsby 1 (Wed 11th Mar 2009)

The Mariners huffed and puffed but couldn't manage a point after going 2-0 down.

Report

Prediction