Chesterfield

Howard Borrell gives us a brief history of Chesterfield

1866 Chesterfield FC founded, making them the fourth oldest league club still in existence. They take their nickname from the town’s twisted church spire constructed from unseasoned timbers.

1890 Become the first and surely only club to wear Union Jack shirts, having changed from cardinal and light blue.

1899 First League game. Herbert Munday scores in 5-1 defeat at Sheffield Wednesday, on a Saturday.

1903 Biggest League win, 10-0 v neighbours Glossop. Goalkeeping legend Sam Hardy makes his debut, the start of the club’s net-minding dynasty, later continued by Gordon Banks, Bob Wilson, Alan Stevenson and Steve Ogrizovic.

1931
First major honour, the Third Division North championship.

1966
Under-fire manager Tony McShane reputedly throws the players’ shirts up in the air before a game at Lincoln and tells them to pick their own. Chesterfield lose 2-1.

1967
Having been the first club to install floodlights at their training ground, in 1956, the Spireites have the dubious honour of being the last League club to install them at their stadium.

1970 Sweep to the FourthDivision title, with Ernie Moss, signed from Chesterfield Tube, scoring the first 20 goals of his career.

1979
Ernie Moss rejoins from Peterborough.

1980
Spireites, under Arthur Cox, would have been promoted to the old Second Division for the first time since 1951 at the expense of local rivals Sheffield Wednesday, if three points for a win had been in operation.

1981
Three points for a win introduced. Chesterfield win Anglo Scottish Cup (and remain the holders) after beating Notts County; to reach the final Chesterfield walloped Rangers 4-1 on aggregate and remain the last English team to beat them in a competitive fixture.

1984 Ernie Moss rejoins from Doncaster.

1986 Ernie Moss leaves for the last time – only three more League clubs to go before he retires.

1987 Top of the Second Division in September, having not conceded a League goal, Spireites suffer record league defeat, 10-0 at Gillingham.

1995
Wembley victory, 2-0 against Bury in the Third Division play-off final – making up for the awful day in 1990 when Dion Dublin edged it for Cambridge in our first visit.

1997
David Elleray denies a valid Jonathan Howard goal that would have given Chesterfield a 3-1 lead in their FA Cup semi-final against Middlesbrough.

1999
Worthington Cup rerun against Boro. Pesky Juninho, making his return debut, makes the winner in the 88th minute.

From WSC 153 November 1999. What was happening this month