£2 The Official Match Day Programme of Chasetown Football Club Chasetown v Kidsgrove Athletic Tuesday 6th October 2020 SCHOLARS The Match Day Sponsors – Crown Highways Chasetown Members Club Northern Premier League Division 1 South East Swanny’s Scribbles Good evening and welcome to The Scholars Ground for tonight's visit of Kidsgrove Athletic. We extend a warm welcome to the management, players and directors from Kidsgrove and hope they enjoy our hospitality. First and foremost I have to start by saying how immensely proud I am of our whole squad in how we performed against Telford on Saturday. Every player must hold their heads high as I thought that they were excellent and the better side over the 90 minutes than a National League side. Personally, I like the fact that ties now go straight to penalties but unfortunately that also means that inevitably someone has to miss. Oli was brave enough to take one and more importantly, he is a strong enough character to put it behind him. He has been superb for us so far this season. Now it is time to concentrate on what is our bread and butter, the league! Cup runs are nice but our primary focus has always been the league. We know that we are coming up against a very strong Kidsgrove side with a lot of quality throughout their squad so we will have to make sure our own performance levels are bang at it this evening. I believe that Kidsgrove will be one of the sides in the promotion conversation at the end of the season, so regardless of the stage in the season, this becomes a huge game. Points are very hard to come by in this league, let alone from rivals such as Kidsgrove who it is our ambition to compete with at the top end of the table. Finally, another word to the supporters. From the dressing room we cannot thank you enough for turning out in your numbers and for the fantastic support you give the players. We all know how difficult the current climate is, so we really do appreciate you coming along to back the lads home and away. Enjoy the game! Chasetown Football Club Press Officer Paul Mullins The Scholars Ground, Church Street, Photographer Dave Birt Chasetown, WS7 3QL Kit Manager Dave Harrison 01543 682222 Programme Editor Lauren Lincoln Covid Officer Richard Lamb Chairman Mike Joiner Vice-Chairman Mark Prince First Team Manager Mark Swann Chief Executive Mike Joiner Assistant Jamie Hawkins Club Secretary John Franklin Goalkeeping Coach John Birt Treasurer Janice Brookes Sports Therapist Jake Moore Match Secretary Terry Dando Groundsman Bob Brookes Programme Printers Excel Print Limited Safety Officer Mark Prince Facebook Chasetown FC Child Welfare Office JohnFranklin Twitter Chasetownfc1954 Instagram Chasetownfc1954 SCHOLARS FA CUP FACTFILE After our exit in the FA Cup on Saturday here are the up to date stats for Chasetown FC in that competition. A few stats from our FA Cup history. Played 103 games Won 44, Drawn 27, Lost 32 Scored 166, Conceded 134 Leading Appearances Chris Slater 48 Danny Smith 27 John Branch 26 Mark Branch 25 Leading Goalscorers Dean Perrow 16 Lee Bullimore 9 Tony Dixon 9 Karl Edwards 9 Total Number of Players who have appeared for us 283 Record home crowd 2,420 Record away crowd 7,235 Record win 9-0 Record defeat 2-8 Kidsgrove Athletic- History Athletic were formed in December 1952 after a meeting in the Blue Bell public house ten minutes walk from the present ground. It was formed as a breakaway club from Kidsgrove United when it was thought the club were bringing in too many ’outsiders’ from the potteries instead of local players. The main instigator, Ernie Langford, endured a sixty year tenure with the club as chairman then president and served many years on the Staffs FA until his passing a few years ago. The main stand is named after him. Eric Hibbitt and Frank Timmis, who both attended that first meeting, still support the club today. The club started life in the now defunct Burslem and Tunstall League playing on the Vickers and Goodwin pitch on the A50 just down the road. In 1961 the present ground was acquired from a local farmer and the club took a year out to develop the pitch. After success in cup and league in the Burslem and Tunstall league the club joined the Staffordshire County league in 1963 where again they had success winning the league and Staffs Challenge cup. In search of more success the club joined the Mid Cheshire league, a move not entirely liked by the Staffs FA but eventually they did allow a Kidsgrove reserve side back into the County league. The Seventies and Eighties saw the club have huge successes winning the Mid Cheshire league four times and the challenge cup three times, and they also lifted the Staffs FA Vase and the challenge cup once more. They also lifted the prestigious Sentinel Cup three times. The Eighties saw the club grow more and more and the clubhouse and ground started developing further and further with the aid of a strong committee, supporters, and local tradesmen. In 1986 the club applied for membership of the North West Counties league but this was rejected twice until facilities were improved. The club were accepted in 1989, the same year they became the first team to win the Staffs FA Vase twice. Three years later Kidsgrove were promoted to the first division after finishing tenth in the second division, the result of the league introducing strict ground criteria. Part of this was the installation of floodlights, (acquired free off the council from run down tennis courts at Chinky Park) and on the 29th October 1991 Lou Macari brought his Stoke City team to officially switch on the floodlights. Kidsgrove Athletic - History Within the next ten years the south and west stands were completed but the club struggled financially on and off the field but after the demise of Eastwood Hanley in 1997 the playing side were strengthened when their manager Jimmy Wallace took over. The team of 97-98 had unparalleled success winning the league and challenge cup and narrowly missing out in an FA Vase final at Wembley losing 3-2 to Tiverton in the semi-final in front of Kidsgrove’s record crowd of 1903. Promotion to the NPL was not forthcoming because of facilities but in 2002 after winning the league promotion was gained. The team struggled on and off the field and two years later they faced relegation for the first time in their history after finishing bottom of the league. The restructuring of the league however saved this from happening and to celebrate the club won the Staffs Senior cup for the first time beating Stafford Rangers 1-0 at the Britannia Stadium, a feat they have won four times since. The club have only picked up one piece of silverware in the league winning the Chairmans Cup 7-6 on aggregate against Woodley Sports and reached the play-offs once, losing 1-0 to Glapwell in 2010. Struggles have ensued and re-election twice saved relegation and despite reaching the FA Trophy quarter finals losing 2-0 to Ilkeston, and the FA Cup 4th qualifying round losing 2-0 to Bradford PA, Kidsgrove have had to settle for fair play awards. The club reached the FA Cup 4th qualifier again in 2018 and faced the long journey to Conference side Hartlepool United and were unlucky in losing 1-0. Last season the club did well on the pitch at first before going out in the third qualifier of the FA Cup 1-0 to Gateshead. The Grove slipped slightly in the league though were still in with a chance of the play-offs before the season was halted. The club parted company with manager Ryan Austin in April and former player Scott Dundas was appointed as the new manager. With plans approved for new floodlights, clubhouse, and other facilities, the club and supporters remain very optimistic about the future on and off the field. Kidsgrove Athletic – Pen Pics Kieran Harrison: Former Manchester United and Crewe Alex youngster joined the club in January on returning from a scholarship in America. Signed a new contract in the summer following a number of outstanding performances last season. William Byers: Twenty year old student signed in the close season from Stone Old Alleynians. Ricky Bridge: A former player who has been at Leek, Newcastle, Chester and Congleton Town signed this season. Spencer Gunnell: Recently returned to football after a long injury layoff. Ex Stafford Rangers and Chasetown player. Josh Thorpe: Former captain of Hanley Town brought here by Scott Dundas this season. Kyle Blake: Defender/Midfielder signed from Leek Town. Suffered a cruciate ligament injury at the height of his career but returned last season and is back to his influential best. Lewis Bergin: Powerful midfield/defender who was persuaded to return for this season. Formerly on the books at Port Vale. Sam Hall: Former Leek Town and Nantwich Town captain. Previously with the club before leaving for Leek Town in the summer of 2012. Disciplined, defensively minded midfielder who has a range of passing. Power house in the middle of the park. Callum Lovatt: Twenty four year old Data Analyst recently signed from Chasetown. Former captain of Uttoxeter Town. Jack Bromfield: Young teenage groundsman for Stoke City had previously been at Burton Albion. Started his career at Redgate Clayton. Tom France: Winger, who has battled back from 2 cruciate injuries. Match winner on his day.