Doomed to the Conference!

Another defeat for Chesterfield at the hands of fellow-relegation contenders Grimsby Town leaves the Blues in a perilous position.  Relegation to the Conference is seemingly inevitable.  At least I shall have the opportunity next season to watch them play in Kent!

However the problem is that the downward spiral may continue.  A number of former League clubs play in Conference North.

What has gone wrong?

The Fish

Earlier this week I watched a video on YouTube about railways in the Grimsby area.  Many lines served the fish docks.  All are closed, mainly because road transport took the traffic away.  Now the road transport has gone as the trawler fleet has been decommissioned as a result of government and EU fishing policies.

My memory of the railway fish traffic is that of a train of empty fish vans being returned to Grimsby by way of Chesterfield and the 'Old Line' towards Barrow Hill. The van doors were left open for the return journey. The stench lasted for minutes after the train had gone.

Tunbridge Wells FC on the move?

It is reported that Tunbridge Wells Borough Council is so strapped for cash that it intends to buy out the lease to Tunbridge Wells FC and sell the land to a property developer for housing. In return the council will provide the club with a well-drained pitch, a practice pitch and modern dressing room and club facilities

The playing fields in Southwood Road, Rusthall and adjoining fields have been identified as a possible location.  One advantage of the move is that the proposed ground is close to a bus route which cannot be said of Culverden.

What Rusthall FC will make of the proposals is not difficult to determine and doubtless local residents will complain about noise, traffic congestion and parking issues.  Should all go well the move will take place in time for the 2020-21 season.

This time of year is interesting!

Chesterfield FC: doomed to non-league football?

Six points adrift from safety and matches running out it is increasingly likely Chesterfield will be relegated from the Football League for the first time in its history. What has brought about this sad state of affairs?  The first match I saw was in the 1950s when Leeds United played Chesterfield in Freddie Capel's benefit match. John Charles played for Leeds.

I lived within the sound of cheering from Saltergate when Chesterfield scored.  I saw Gordon Banks play and in the late 50's early 60's I remember seeing Powell, Clarke, Sears, Havenhand, Hutchinson, Blakey, Smallwood, Lewis, Frear, Rackstraw, Randall, Frost, Fenoughty, Kettleborough, Moss and Maddison.  I saw Neil Warnock play a few times.

Chesterfield only once challenged for promotion to the second tier and failed through being caught up in the Anglo-Scottish Cup, beating Rangers. The very idea that Chesterfield could lose its league status was anathema.  But it has come to pass and it is probable that Chesterfield will join the long list of clubs relegated to the Conference, or even worse a further relegation to Conference North.

Opposition to Rusthall Parish Council

On the bus into town yesterday two people sat behind me expressing vehement opposition to having to pay money to the useless parish council.  Oh joy.