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
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.
6d to get in in 1878. The game's gone.
October 22, 2025 at 9:22 AM
6d to get in in 1878. The game's gone.
These are the clippings we like. By a roundabout way I find forenames etc for JJ Banks, the Sheffield footballer who also played for Chesterfield in 1873-4. Since he ran for money, it is perhaps fair to assume that he played football for it, too. There is so much more to unearth about this era.
October 18, 2025 at 11:18 AM
These are the clippings we like. By a roundabout way I find forenames etc for JJ Banks, the Sheffield footballer who also played for Chesterfield in 1873-4. Since he ran for money, it is perhaps fair to assume that he played football for it, too. There is so much more to unearth about this era.
Also born on this day, in 1869: Walter “Wash” Bannister, miner. Shares with Arthur Vickers the distinction of being the club’s first pro footballer. The only Town player to have died as a result of injuries received in a game. Biography here:
sites.google.com/view/cfchistory/biographies
sites.google.com/view/cfchistory/biographies
October 18, 2025 at 8:59 AM
Also born on this day, in 1869: Walter “Wash” Bannister, miner. Shares with Arthur Vickers the distinction of being the club’s first pro footballer. The only Town player to have died as a result of injuries received in a game. Biography here:
sites.google.com/view/cfchistory/biographies
sites.google.com/view/cfchistory/biographies
Ah, the price of fame.
I have every sympathy with "Wm. Cookson." When I successfully auditioned for the National Youth Theatre my local rag conjured up a few paragraphs. My surname was mentioned three times, and each time they spelt it differently and incorrectly.
I have every sympathy with "Wm. Cookson." When I successfully auditioned for the National Youth Theatre my local rag conjured up a few paragraphs. My surname was mentioned three times, and each time they spelt it differently and incorrectly.
October 17, 2025 at 9:20 AM
Ah, the price of fame.
I have every sympathy with "Wm. Cookson." When I successfully auditioned for the National Youth Theatre my local rag conjured up a few paragraphs. My surname was mentioned three times, and each time they spelt it differently and incorrectly.
I have every sympathy with "Wm. Cookson." When I successfully auditioned for the National Youth Theatre my local rag conjured up a few paragraphs. My surname was mentioned three times, and each time they spelt it differently and incorrectly.
Born in South Shields on this day in 1891: John McLaverty, Chesterfield Town's centre-half for the 1914-15 season. 28a 3g. Signed from Aston Villa; joined the Royal Marines in 1917. Played out his post-war career in the north-east while working as a miner. Became a publican. Died 1961, Oxfordshire.
October 14, 2025 at 8:04 AM
Born in South Shields on this day in 1891: John McLaverty, Chesterfield Town's centre-half for the 1914-15 season. 28a 3g. Signed from Aston Villa; joined the Royal Marines in 1917. Played out his post-war career in the north-east while working as a miner. Became a publican. Died 1961, Oxfordshire.
You don't have to hire a crane to get a view like this - just put the match on your phone at the bottom of your stairs, and stand at the top to watch it.
Be a shame if it started peeing down.
Be a shame if it started peeing down.
October 11, 2025 at 1:29 PM
You don't have to hire a crane to get a view like this - just put the match on your phone at the bottom of your stairs, and stand at the top to watch it.
Be a shame if it started peeing down.
Be a shame if it started peeing down.
On this day in 1969 the ref allowed Notts County to kick off in both halves of our match at Saltergate but it did them no good - they went home beaten 5-0. Here is possibly our first goal, but the scorer - Tom Fenoughty - appears to be nowhere in shot (our man looks more like Tony Moore.)
October 11, 2025 at 8:08 AM
On this day in 1969 the ref allowed Notts County to kick off in both halves of our match at Saltergate but it did them no good - they went home beaten 5-0. Here is possibly our first goal, but the scorer - Tom Fenoughty - appears to be nowhere in shot (our man looks more like Tony Moore.)
This week’s random reserve player de-mystified: 🧵
On January 22nd, 1927, for their Midland League game against Barnsley Reserves, Chesterfield fielded a goalkeeper named JC Colquhoun. It was his only recorded game in Chesterfield colours, and he was said to be (1/5)
On January 22nd, 1927, for their Midland League game against Barnsley Reserves, Chesterfield fielded a goalkeeper named JC Colquhoun. It was his only recorded game in Chesterfield colours, and he was said to be (1/5)
October 10, 2025 at 5:06 PM
This week’s random reserve player de-mystified: 🧵
On January 22nd, 1927, for their Midland League game against Barnsley Reserves, Chesterfield fielded a goalkeeper named JC Colquhoun. It was his only recorded game in Chesterfield colours, and he was said to be (1/5)
On January 22nd, 1927, for their Midland League game against Barnsley Reserves, Chesterfield fielded a goalkeeper named JC Colquhoun. It was his only recorded game in Chesterfield colours, and he was said to be (1/5)
Chesterfield Town’s last (official) casualty of the Great War died on this day in 1919 of asthma, while in a military hospital in Bath. Born in Crich on May 4th 1895, Vernon Bowmer signed for Chesterfield Town from Crich United in 1913, joining his elder brother Alf on our playing staff. 1/3
October 9, 2025 at 10:00 AM
Chesterfield Town’s last (official) casualty of the Great War died on this day in 1919 of asthma, while in a military hospital in Bath. Born in Crich on May 4th 1895, Vernon Bowmer signed for Chesterfield Town from Crich United in 1913, joining his elder brother Alf on our playing staff. 1/3
This day in 2014 saw full-back Dan Jones break dance his way into Spireite folklore when, having been fouled by Michael Higdon, he box-stepped, down-rocked, windmilled and headspun with relentless vigour until the ref sent the Sheffield United man off.
October 4, 2025 at 8:29 AM
This day in 2014 saw full-back Dan Jones break dance his way into Spireite folklore when, having been fouled by Michael Higdon, he box-stepped, down-rocked, windmilled and headspun with relentless vigour until the ref sent the Sheffield United man off.