General Information
• For all the pre-match build-up, live coverage and general information click here.
• Ticket prices can be found by clicking here.
• Travel prices can be found by clicking here.
• The weather forecast for Satuday’s match is for light rain with maximum temperatures of 8C.
Introduction
• Barnet FC travel to Chester on Saturday in the Skrill Premier, kick-off is at 3pm.
• The Blues are currently without a manager following the departure of Neil Young.
• It has been reported in local news that Chester are hoping to appoint a new manager before Saturday’s match but if they cannot caretaker Gary Jones will lead the team.
• Barnet almost have a fully fit squad to choose from but Graham Stack is set to miss out once more.
• Nick Jupp will again deputise and the goalkeeper spoke to Barnet Player yesterday ahead of what he hopes to be a second consecutive clean sheet. Click here to watch.
• The Bees will also be without Dani Lopez who has returned to Stevenage following the end of his loan spell at The Hive.
• Wayne Rooney’s younger brother John Rooney is expected to start after signing a permanent contract with the Blues earlier this week.
Team News
Barnet Football Club
• Graham Stack is unlikely to make the trip to Chester FC with Nick Jupp continuing between the sticks.
• Keanu Marsh-Brown is expected to return after missing the 1-0 win over Alfreton Town.
• Marciano Mengerink is also unavailable but he has returned to full training.
The Opposition
• Chester Football Club were founded in 2010 following the winding-up of Chester City FC.
• Since restarting in the Northern Premier League Division One North they have achieved successive promotions in the NPL Division One North (2010/11), The NPL Premier Divisions (2011/12) and the Conference North 2012/13.
• The original Chester FC was founded in 1885 and joined the Football League for the 1931/32 season.
• They were members of the Football League until 2000 when the club was relegated to the Football Conference but they returned to the Football League as champions in 2004.
• Following their relegation back to the conference in 2009 the club hit financial difficulties and this led to them starting the season with a 25-point deduction after failing to agree an adequate CVA prior to the start of the season. They were wound up on 10 March 2010.
• The club play their matches at the Deva Stadium, currently known as the Swansway Chester Stadium due to a sponsorship deal. Its capacity is 5,376.
• Despite three successive promotions under manager Neil Young the former Colwyn Bay midfielder parted company with the club on January 8th.
• No replacement has been installed but the club are hoping to reveal their new manager before Saturday’s match, so keep your eyes out for an announcement later today.
• If a new manager is not installed in time caretaker Gary Jones will take charge of the Blues.
Last Time Out
4 January 2014
Skrill Premier
Barnet 1-0 Alfreton Town
Barnet FC: Jupp, Stephens, Saville, Johnson, Weston, Byrne, Villa (Vilhete 95), Cadogan (Abdulla 95), Yiadom, Hyde, Lopez (Crawford 86)
Subs not used: Barnes, Acheampong.
Goals: Lopez 40.
28 December 2013
Skrill Premier
Chester 1-1 Gateshead
Chester: Danby, Turner, Kilock, Horan, Heath, Rooney, Miller, Jarrett, Menagh (McIntyre 77), Titchiner, Reed (Peers 73).
Subs not used: Kay, Mahon, Williams.
Goals: Kilock 10.
Previous Meeting
10 August 2013 – Barnet 3-0 Chester
• Edgar Davids’ Barnet began life in the Conference Premier with a routine victory against promoted Chester FC.
Davids did not select himself but looked on as Luke Gambin slotted home from inside the area to give the Bees the lead early in the second half.
Mark Byrne then crossed for Jake Hyde, who fired in to put the hosts 2-0 up.
Striker Hyde then added his second of the game soon after, converting a centre from Luisma Villa to seal a superb opening-day win for the Bees.
Chester FC, the club formed after Chester City were liquidated in 2010, were playing their first game at the top level of non-league football after winning three consecutive promotions.
[Report from BBC Sport]
Barnet: Stack, Johnson, Saville, Yiadom, Stephens, Weston, Marsh-Brown (Villa 68), Byrne, Gambin (Mengerink 77), Casabella, Hyde (Crawford 83).
Subs Not Used: Jupp, Vilhete.
Goals: Gambin 46, Hyde 63 73.
Chester: Danby, Kay, Horan, Lindwood, Harrison, Jarrett (N Turner 68), McIntyre, Mahon (Williams 83), Reed (Mills 61), Lindfield, Seddon.
Subs Not Used: Fearon, L Turner.
Goals: n/a.
Background
• Barnet have faced Chester 25 times. Both teams have won ten with five ending level.
• The first meeting between the two sides came on the 23rd December 1995 and Barnet gave the travelling Bees an early Christmas present with a 2-0 win.
• Barnet have done the double over Chester twice. The first came in the 1997/98 season when he Bees picked up a 2-1 home win and a 1-0 away win. Shaun Devine got the winning goal on both occasions. The second came in the 1999/2000 season when the Bees picked up successive 2-0 wins in a season that saw Chester relegated from the Football League.
• Barnet’s biggest win over Chester is 3-0. This result came during the current season on the opening day.
• Chester’s biggest win came on 30th August 2008 when they secured a 5-1 win.
Last Six Meetings
10 August 2013 Barnet 3-0 Chester
7 March 2009 Barnet 3-1 Chester
30 August 2008 Chester 5-1 Barnet
15 March 2008 Barnet 3-1 Chester
4 December 2007 Chester 3-0 Barnet
24 March 2007 Chester 2-0 Barnet
Overall Record v (all competitions) W 10 D 5 L 10
