Sky Bet League 2 – Saturday 9th December 2017 – Kick Off: 3.00pm

Ground: Proact Stadium Sheffield Road Whittington Moor Chesterfield, Derbyshire S41 8NZ
Telephone: 01246 209765
Club Colours: Blue and White
Nickname: Spireites

Key Personnel

Jack Lester is the current Manager at Chesterfield. Sheffield born Lester was a striker for Chesterfield, Grimsby and Nottingham Forest amongst others and made around 650 appearances in a 20-year career. Retiring as a player in 2014 he was Under 18’s and Under 23’s Manager at Forest before taking over at The Proact in September 2017.

Brief Directions By Road

The M1 until Junction 29. At the roundabout take the second exit

signposted Chesterfield A617. After approx. 8 miles of dual carriageway keep right at a roundabout and take the A61. At the next roundabout, with a very large Tesco’s take the first exit (stadium signposted at this point) into Lockoford Lane. At the next roundabout take the 3rd exit B6057 (Sheffield Road) and you will see the stadium.

Car Parking

Parking is very limited in the surrounding streets. However, if you arrive early enough it is available. There are also a few pay and display car parks in the local area for a reasonable charge.

Eating and Drinking Locally

The adjacent retail park has the normal array of Hooded Fried Chickens and McMobiles type eateries. Inside the ground food and drink is reasonably priced but pretty run of the mill football fare.

The Spireite pub close by welcomes all and has numerous real ales. The Derby Tup is another local with good beers and is close to a rather decent Fish and Chips according to my spy called the Mermaid.

For those with time on their hands, the Reckless Recommendation is The Spread Eagle Pub, 7 Beetwell Street, Chesterfield, S40 1SH. This little place comes highly recommended by my contacts – Homemade Steak Pie or a very agreeable Curry.

The Ground Description

The stadium is a brand new state of the art arena and has a capacity of 10,400. It cost £13,000,000 to build.

The ground consists of 4 stands the HTM Stand (Main), Spencers Solicitors Community Stand (East), The Rubicon Print Stand (North), and the Karen Child Stand (South). Visiting supporters are situated either in the North or more likely in the East depending on numbers. Out is the character and homeliness of the old Recreation Ground (whose exterior and interior was cleverly disguised and utilised for the Brian Clough biography film Damned United) and in is the clean lines and efficiency of the 21st century. The viewing lines are however exceptional and the stadium has all the mod cons that supporters have come to expect from a new football stadium.

Admission Prices and how to buy

Adults – £20
Concession 65+ – £13
17-20 – £10
16 & Under £8

Tickets can be purchased on the day or pre ordered over the phone for collection.

Our last visit was in October 2012 when a last minute Mark Byrne penalty won the day for the Edgar Davids’ Bees. Just 5 years on and only Elliott Johnson is still part of the set up at Barnet. We were honoured to be the first competitive opposition at the new stadium in August 2010 when 6,431 saw the Bees lose out 2-1 with the only cheer a goal by Glen Poole.

Back at Saltergate – In 2000 goals from Robbie Sawyers and King Kenny Charlery were enough in a 2-1 win. A Gary Bull brace bought home the spoils again by 2-1 in 1991 but the highlight of the duels for me personally was Dougie Freedman’s, admirably aided I must add by Gerry McMahon, majestic performance at Underhill in

October 1994. Dougie scored two in a 4-1 win that frankly didn’t tell the whole story of a wonderful Bees performance.

In 1997 Chesterfield reached the FA Cup semi-final losing to Middlesbrough in a replay but not before a most controversial refereeing decision occurred in the first 3-3 draw at Old Trafford.

With Chesterfield leading 2-1 Jonathan Howard’s shot clearly crossed the line, and this was confirmed in TV replays, but Referee David Elleray ruled it to have not. Had the goal stood the club would have been in the final of the FA Cup for the first time in its history and accomplished a feat which no club in the third tier of the league has achieved.

Celebrity Watch

The Rt. Hon. Baroness Barbara Castle MP was born here, as were two Arsenal goalkeepers Bob Wilson and John Lukic. If you are just looking for “fillers” for your autograph books then ex-Blue Peter presenter Simon Groom can often be seen wearing his Spireites badge proudly alongside his gold Blue Peter one. Also, you may bump into Princess Diana’s ex-Butler and The Queens ex-Footman Paul Burrell.