Chesterfield - a look ahead

Last updated : 11 September 2003 By Richard Brown

Form (last six): L-L-D-D-D-L

2002/03 Finish: Second Division; 20th

FA Cup: First Round

League Cup: Second Round

2002/03 Top Scorer: Chris Brandon – 10

2002/03 Discipline: 88 yellow, 4 red

Another away game, eh Bill?
Saturday’s tie at Saltergate appears to be the nearest that Notts are likely to see to a local derby after seeing Mansfield Town relegated. The same however cannot be said for Chesterfield who have seen their neighbours, Sheffield Wednesday, relegated to Division Two.

As we all know, Saturday’s fixture with Chesterfield would not have gone ahead had the Football League not have made the decision to grant the Magpies ANOTHER deadline to sort out there financial plight. Although, Chesterfield may well have traded a place in the Second Division for one in the Third after escaping relegation on the final day of last season.

So anyway now that it’s game on, lets concentrate on what will be played instead on the what-might [or not]-have been.


Chesterfield currently lie 22nd in the League with 4 points, with Notts in 24th with 2 so it must be said that this tie isn’t exactly going to be a ‘hairy-bear’ however on the contrast Notts must lay some demons to rest as they have not won at Saltergate in their past six visits.


To be honest, when I write this preview I can’t really pick out a strength that the Spireites possess on paper. This is due to the fact that Chesterfield leading goal-scorer, Chris Brandon, only managed a pitiful 10 goals last season from the right side of midfield and with a defence that managed to leak a massive 73 league goals last season. Therefore I think you’ll agree that it would be a disappointment to come away empty handed on Saturday.


However,
Chesterfield fans will be the first to disagree with my views and their objection comes in the form of Caleb Folan, a 20-year-old striker traded life at Elland Road of all places for a chance of first-team football with Chesterfield.

Folan spent part of the 2001/02 season on loan at Rushden & Diamonds and Hull City running out seven times for Rushden and only once for Hull. The youngster made his Chesterfield debut in February last season on 15th February 2003 in a league game away at Barnsley and since then has made 16 appearcances, 6 of which came from the bench, and scored 1 goal against, yes you guessed it, Notts County.


***Star Player*** - Mark Hudson

Mark Hudson - key man in the Chesterfield midfield
The cultured 22-year-old midfield anchorman signed for the Spireites following his release from Premiership side, Middlesborough, in March 2003 following three-month loan spells away from the Riverside at Carlisle United and earlier at Chesterfield.

Hudson has been highly rated by the Saltergate faithful after putting in his most memorable performance for the club during Chesterfield’s Worthington Cup tie against none other than West Ham United.

The youngster also gained the praise of his former manager, Dave Rushbury, as he described the midfielder as “a real boost to the squad for the season and for the future.”