Chesterfield Football History
@spireitehistory.bsky.social
Stuart Basson.
A Luton-born, Portsmouth-raised Chesterfield FC historian.
Website: sites.google.com/view/cfchistory
Facebook: facebook.com/CFChistory
A Luton-born, Portsmouth-raised Chesterfield FC historian.
Website: sites.google.com/view/cfchistory
Facebook: facebook.com/CFChistory
Unfathomably tacky, but so well-designed considering its only likely recipient, the FIFA Peace Prize trophy could have been made by a first-year theatrical prop-making student in 24 hours* with fibreglass and tins of green and gold spray paint.
*Including 23 hours for the fibreglass to set.
*Including 23 hours for the fibreglass to set.
December 6, 2025 at 10:18 AM
Unfathomably tacky, but so well-designed considering its only likely recipient, the FIFA Peace Prize trophy could have been made by a first-year theatrical prop-making student in 24 hours* with fibreglass and tins of green and gold spray paint.
*Including 23 hours for the fibreglass to set.
*Including 23 hours for the fibreglass to set.
"..and for a bonus point, Donald, how many more people have died since you brought peace to Gaza?"
December 5, 2025 at 6:24 PM
"..and for a bonus point, Donald, how many more people have died since you brought peace to Gaza?"
Our best-looking win on November 22 came at Leicester in 1947. Here's a report from our opponent's local paper. One note of interest: our equaliser came while their keeper was off injured, and the future Town player Walter Harrison was temporarily in goal for them.
November 22, 2025 at 12:04 PM
Our best-looking win on November 22 came at Leicester in 1947. Here's a report from our opponent's local paper. One note of interest: our equaliser came while their keeper was off injured, and the future Town player Walter Harrison was temporarily in goal for them.
As the 2005-6 Ashes series begins and effectively ends over the course of two days, here's Henry Rupert James Charlwood. England cricketer in the very first test in Australia and former Chesterfield FC footballer. (1872-3, one known appearance.)
November 22, 2025 at 11:38 AM
As the 2005-6 Ashes series begins and effectively ends over the course of two days, here's Henry Rupert James Charlwood. England cricketer in the very first test in Australia and former Chesterfield FC footballer. (1872-3, one known appearance.)
Born on this day in 1891: Percy Stevens. Part of a quadruple-winning 2nd XI in 1913-14. Joined from Aylesbury Rivet works in summer 1913 (his brother Tom was already here;) signed for Reading in June 1914. Two years in Salonika in WW1. Died Dec. 1922 in his native Aylesbury at the age of 31.
November 16, 2025 at 8:45 PM
Born on this day in 1891: Percy Stevens. Part of a quadruple-winning 2nd XI in 1913-14. Joined from Aylesbury Rivet works in summer 1913 (his brother Tom was already here;) signed for Reading in June 1914. Two years in Salonika in WW1. Died Dec. 1922 in his native Aylesbury at the age of 31.
This match preview from a 1961 paper pops up on the BNA. The "Layne" in question is of course David "Bronco" Layne, who became embroiled in the football betting scandal of the mid-1960s. The idea that he was a former triallist of ours is news to me.
November 16, 2025 at 6:16 PM
This match preview from a 1961 paper pops up on the BNA. The "Layne" in question is of course David "Bronco" Layne, who became embroiled in the football betting scandal of the mid-1960s. The idea that he was a former triallist of ours is news to me.
Born on this day in 1869 on the shores of Loch Ederline, in Argyllshire: Gilbert Gillies. A Derbyshire Times reporter who was appointed Secretary/Manager of Chesterfield Town in 1895 at the age of 26. Guided the club through its first FL season before resigning in December 1900. 1/2
November 15, 2025 at 9:15 AM
Born on this day in 1869 on the shores of Loch Ederline, in Argyllshire: Gilbert Gillies. A Derbyshire Times reporter who was appointed Secretary/Manager of Chesterfield Town in 1895 at the age of 26. Guided the club through its first FL season before resigning in December 1900. 1/2
Looking for something else, but how could I not share the invention of the parachute by a Chesterfield boy in 1842?
November 14, 2025 at 11:51 AM
Looking for something else, but how could I not share the invention of the parachute by a Chesterfield boy in 1842?
after left-back Jack Whitworth was called up to the first team. Herbert Tyler, pictured, was absent – his return to the club lasted only one match before he suffered a compound double-fracture of the leg when a sheet of steel fell on him at work at Campion’s Engineering, in Manchester. 3/3 #CFC100
November 14, 2025 at 11:36 AM
after left-back Jack Whitworth was called up to the first team. Herbert Tyler, pictured, was absent – his return to the club lasted only one match before he suffered a compound double-fracture of the leg when a sheet of steel fell on him at work at Campion’s Engineering, in Manchester. 3/3 #CFC100
Idly trawling the BNA for stuff about our Victorian players so that I don't have to watch England. I am entranced by the prizes awarded to Staveley Works cricketers in 1876. Bats for the top batsman & bowler, and then whatever else was kicking about in the pavilion for everyone else.
November 13, 2025 at 8:06 PM
Idly trawling the BNA for stuff about our Victorian players so that I don't have to watch England. I am entranced by the prizes awarded to Staveley Works cricketers in 1876. Bats for the top batsman & bowler, and then whatever else was kicking about in the pavilion for everyone else.
Can't think of that song without thinking of this film!
November 8, 2025 at 8:31 PM
Can't think of that song without thinking of this film!
Also on this day in 1980: Supporters Club reps Phil Tooley and Howard Borrell present a bicycle to Chesterfield physio Steve Wanless. Just the thing for some poor apprentice to have to nip down to the shop on, to fetch Bob Pepper's pipe tobacco.
November 8, 2025 at 10:41 AM
Also on this day in 1980: Supporters Club reps Phil Tooley and Howard Borrell present a bicycle to Chesterfield physio Steve Wanless. Just the thing for some poor apprentice to have to nip down to the shop on, to fetch Bob Pepper's pipe tobacco.
Phil Bonnyman dives to head in one of his goals in our 2-1 win over Brentford on this day in 1980. From the lens of Alan Roe.
November 8, 2025 at 10:32 AM
Phil Bonnyman dives to head in one of his goals in our 2-1 win over Brentford on this day in 1980. From the lens of Alan Roe.
Tue Nov 4th, 1986. Fulham, home, won 3-1. Moss 2, Caldwell. The debut of Phil Greaves, by no means the first, but certainly the the last man ever to play for Chesterfield after having done a shift at a coal mine. Ernie is pictured here scoring from one of Phil's crosses. 1/2
November 4, 2025 at 11:27 AM
Tue Nov 4th, 1986. Fulham, home, won 3-1. Moss 2, Caldwell. The debut of Phil Greaves, by no means the first, but certainly the the last man ever to play for Chesterfield after having done a shift at a coal mine. Ernie is pictured here scoring from one of Phil's crosses. 1/2
Just the sort of press snippet to give you the willies a week before our remembrance service. Happily, our man was found, albeit by the Germans. He saw out the rest of the war in a POW camp, rather than having his name hastily added to our memorial with a sharpie.
November 1, 2025 at 4:23 PM
Just the sort of press snippet to give you the willies a week before our remembrance service. Happily, our man was found, albeit by the Germans. He saw out the rest of the war in a POW camp, rather than having his name hastily added to our memorial with a sharpie.
Chesterfield’s four-game winning streak came to a halt this afternoon as Doncaster Rovers took a point from Saltergate in an entertaining 2-2 draw. Oliver Thompson, pictured, came back in for Jack Meads at left-half after a 9-game injury lay-off, 1/4 #CFC100
October 31, 2025 at 9:02 AM
Chesterfield’s four-game winning streak came to a halt this afternoon as Doncaster Rovers took a point from Saltergate in an entertaining 2-2 draw. Oliver Thompson, pictured, came back in for Jack Meads at left-half after a 9-game injury lay-off, 1/4 #CFC100
28/12/1885. No pen, obviously.
October 26, 2025 at 11:32 AM
28/12/1885. No pen, obviously.
Whatever happens on the Wirral this afternoon will not ruin my day, for I've ended a years-long search by finding a birth for Tommy Bishop, who was the greatest player to come out of the first version of a Chesterfield FC.
A thread... (1/7)
A thread... (1/7)
October 25, 2025 at 10:45 AM
Whatever happens on the Wirral this afternoon will not ruin my day, for I've ended a years-long search by finding a birth for Tommy Bishop, who was the greatest player to come out of the first version of a Chesterfield FC.
A thread... (1/7)
A thread... (1/7)
Among this week's work I returned to this match. I knew about the game but it didn't dawn on me at the time that this is the first mention I've found of a programme being issued for a CFC home game. It would have been produced by the opponents to raise funds. 24/11/1879.
October 25, 2025 at 9:17 AM
Among this week's work I returned to this match. I knew about the game but it didn't dawn on me at the time that this is the first mention I've found of a programme being issued for a CFC home game. It would have been produced by the opponents to raise funds. 24/11/1879.
Died on this day in 1918: Willie Bryant, who had one decent season at Chesterfield Town in 1893-4 on his way up. Entered the licensed trade in Rotherham after giving up the game. No photo, sadly, so here's my record of his career.
October 25, 2025 at 9:17 AM
Died on this day in 1918: Willie Bryant, who had one decent season at Chesterfield Town in 1893-4 on his way up. Entered the licensed trade in Rotherham after giving up the game. No photo, sadly, so here's my record of his career.
On this day in 1930, 10,840 saw 2nd-placed Chesterfield bring a point back from 1st-placed Lincoln with a Fred Wallbanks 📸 goal. The teams would swap positions by the season's end. One of five brothers to play League football, Fred would be killed in 1938 in an accident at the Consett steelworks.
October 25, 2025 at 8:55 AM
On this day in 1930, 10,840 saw 2nd-placed Chesterfield bring a point back from 1st-placed Lincoln with a Fred Wallbanks 📸 goal. The teams would swap positions by the season's end. One of five brothers to play League football, Fred would be killed in 1938 in an accident at the Consett steelworks.
There must be a joke in here about Rangers lacking the fibre...
October 23, 2025 at 6:29 PM
There must be a joke in here about Rangers lacking the fibre...
Although it might be supported by this claim to a game being arranged, apparently as a side-attraction to the Norton club's January 1864 steeplechase from Sheffield to Chesterfield.
October 23, 2025 at 11:34 AM
Although it might be supported by this claim to a game being arranged, apparently as a side-attraction to the Norton club's January 1864 steeplechase from Sheffield to Chesterfield.
As the relationship between the Chesterfield and Spital clubs soured, "Concord" (clearly a Chesterfield FC man) began writing (cobblers, mostly) to local papers. This October 1879 missive appears to do itself no favours with the idea of a CFC formation date of 1879 minus 16...
October 23, 2025 at 11:34 AM
As the relationship between the Chesterfield and Spital clubs soured, "Concord" (clearly a Chesterfield FC man) began writing (cobblers, mostly) to local papers. This October 1879 missive appears to do itself no favours with the idea of a CFC formation date of 1879 minus 16...
Chesterfield at Forest in 1879. Chesterfield's traditional 2-2-6 formation comes up against Forest's newfangled 1-2-2-5 set-up that uses just one full-back and two three-quarter backs. The Magpies (us, on account of our kit) lose 5-1.
October 23, 2025 at 8:55 AM
Chesterfield at Forest in 1879. Chesterfield's traditional 2-2-6 formation comes up against Forest's newfangled 1-2-2-5 set-up that uses just one full-back and two three-quarter backs. The Magpies (us, on account of our kit) lose 5-1.