The charitable would call it "character". There are less charitable descriptions for Saltergate as well.....

As new boys we should probably be more respectful, and there are long-standing League clubs who've done less, but the self-protectionist racket the Football League increasingly became makes us, we will cheerfully admit, somewhat bitter / envious. Throughout their time in the FL Chesterfield have tended to the top end of the bottom division (under whatever terminology) for long periods, with briefer spells towards the lower end of the next division up. To be fair to them they never had to apply for re-election during this second spell in the League.

Younger football fans will probably know the club for two things. Firstly the fairy tale. In 1996-97 they got to the semi-finals of the F.A. Cup, and but for an atrocious bit of officiating would have beaten Middlesbrough and made the Final. Boro survived through extra time, and then comfortably won the replay. Secondly the disgrace. In 1999-2000 they were relegated bottom of Division Two. Their turn around seemed spectacular, as the following season they were challenging for the title. However their relatively new owner was cheating financially, to such an extent there was a serious groundswell of opinion and moves at the AGM to expel the club from the Football League completely. In the end they got a nine point deduction and £55,000 in fines and costs.

The Main Stand looks a bit better from the inside than the outside.

Since then Chesterfield has been recovering from the debacle of that period, as they try to rebuild their finances honestly. They have rather struggled in Division Two / League One for five seasons in a row, dicing with the drop on several of those occasions. Off the field they have now reached the position where they can seriously consider moving from their ground of over 130 years to a new stadium.

Prediction Corner : Last season Chesterfield were going surprisingly well, and they were in the hunt for a play-off spot until they met the Glovers at Saltergate in early March. A surprise 0-3 defeat seemed to knock the stuffing out of them, and their season fell apart with just five points from their final eleven games. They eventually finished in 16th. It's as good a number as any, so we'll pick that as our prediction for this season.

The home end at Saltergate.

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FORTHCOMING FIXTURES

CLUB GOALSCORERS

Name

LGE

FAC

FAT

LGC

CC

Total

ATTENDANCE STATISTICS

Highest League Attendance: 0, vs ,
Lowest League Attendance: 999999, vs ,
Average League Attendance: Not Applicable

CURRENT LEAGUE SEQUENCE STATISTICS

Games Without A Win:	0		Games Without A Home Win:	0
Games Without An Away Win:	0		Games Without Defeat:	0
Games Without A Home Defeat:	0		Games Without An Away Defeat:	0
Games Without A Draw:	0		Games Without A Score Draw:	0
Games Without A No-Score Draw:	0		Games Without Scoring:	0
Games Without Conceding:	0		Home Results Sequence:
Away Results Sequence:			Overall Results Sequence:

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Chesterfield has a spire. It's crooked.

From The North:
At Junction 30 exit towards Barlborough (also signposted Chesterfield). Approaching Barlborough there's a roundabout. Take the last exit, which is signposted Staveley and Chesterfield, onto the A619. You cross back over the M1. This is a slow old A road through small villages and general built up areas nearly all the way along. Don't be tempted to break the limit - there are loads of speed cameras all the way.

In Staveley there's the Speedwell Arms, a brew-pub (mentioned further down), on your right if you fancy a stop.

In Brimington follow the A619 round the large island. Keep in the left-hand lane and following signs to Chesterfield. At the bottom of Brimington Hill you'll see a Sainsburys. On your right is the proposed site for Chesterfield's new stadium. Around this time the Chesterfield Official Site begins to go into complex and convoluted directions which doubtless are fine and shorter if you know where you're going in the first place. In our opinion you are better carrying on down the A619 until the roundabout which is the junction with the A61. Take the first exit and go south on the dual carriageway. After a mile and a half at the next roundabout take the third exit onto the A617 and into Chesterfield. You have now joined up with the same route as your southern based fellow fans.

Keep to the left-hand lane and at the next roundabout take the first exit onto the A619. Follow the A619 past retail shops. As you approach the West Bars roundabout move into the right hand lane to take the third exit into Foljambe Road. The ground is at the top of the hill. Once there start looking for parking.

Parking

The closest car parks are one at the top of Ashgate Road, next to Manor College, and two next to Chesterfield Town Hall. All three are one to two minutes walk from Saltergate. As a town centre ground the car parks created for shoppers are mostly within five minutes. There is also a fair amount of street parking in the area, particularly round the back of the ground which also happens to be the away end.

The Cross Street End, open terrace for the away fans.

By Rail

When we visited it the train enquiry service was screwed up, and try as we might we couldn't get any sensible times out of it. Last season one could get to Chesterfield, see the game, and return to Yeovil on the day. If keen to use the train you might want to give it a try yourself and see if you get any more joy.

For those going from the South-East, London St Pancras is your station. Again we could get no sense out of the various train service sites. We'll try again another day.

From the station follow the path that leads past the Chesterfield Hotel and over a footbridge. You pass a theatre on your left, and can't miss the crooked spire. Bear right there, following the road round for 400 yards. This brings you into Saltergate. Carry on along Saltergate and fairly shortly the stadium is to your right. No more than ten minutes walk in total.

N.B.: Update. All is revealed. The reason travel info was hard to track down is that engineering works means there are NO TRAIN SERVICES stopping at Chesterfield on this weekend. If still needing to travel by train consult the National Rail web site for details of replacement bus services.

Hmm, what a very nice stand: Compton Street at Saltergate.

By Bus

Saltergate is so close to the town centre buses are unnecessary.

Taxis

If you feel you are likely to need a taxi in Chesterfield a selection of companies can be found here.

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The Saltergate Social Club.

Local Pubs :

With a population of around 100,000 Chesterfield has over 100 pubs and bars, which is a very good ratio. The ground is only five minutes from the town centre which has all the usual fast food outlets.

As well as those pubs selected below for more detailed descriptions, around the centre you'll also find a Yates' Wine Lodge, the Slug & Fiddle, The Blue Bell, Barkers, Carters, Bar 69, Ritters, Chandlers, The Golden Fleece, the family orientated Barrow Boy, The Barking Badger, which is about the first you'll see if arriving by train, and plenty more.

Then there are the hostelries along Saltergate itself : the Gardeners Arms, Local Heros, Barley Mow (detailed below), and the County Hotel, which serves good food. All are predominately 'home' pubs, and very busy on matchdays, but if you aren't looking for trouble you won't find any.

The third area is the "Brampton Mile", which runs along Chatsworth Road towards the suburb of Brampton. We've detailed three below: the Royal Oak, which is at the stadium end, and the Peacock and Victoria Inn which are further out. But along this stretch there's also The Star, The Britannia, Rose and Crown, Brampton Ale House, The Brampton Mile, Red Lion, New Inn, The Alma, The Barrel, The Anchor, amd that probably doesn't exhaust the list.

If you can't find a pub you like around Chesterfield you're not trying.

The most local beer comes from Townes Brewery in Staveley, four miles North-East of Chesterfield. It's a brew-pub and principly supplies itself - the Speedwell Inn - but around forty other oulets in the region take its production on an occasional basis. Whim Ales, from Hartington on the western edge of Derbyshire, appear in number of pubs in Chesterfield, and with the South Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire borders close by beers from those counties sometimes show up.

N.B. With the change in licencing laws on November 24th 2005 pub opening times have become far more variable. However where we are uncertain whether a pub has extended its opening times those given will be the minimum, so there will be longer drinking not shorter in the event of any discrepancy.

Mainly a home pub © Martin Baker Barley Mow: Not to be confused with another Barley Mow much further away in Langer Lane. This one is just a couple of minutes from the ground on Saltergate itself. Mostly home fans, and very busy on matchdays. Has Marston's Pedigree and John Smith's Bitter. Serves good food. According to The Essential Football Fan the barmaids are scantily dressed in Chesterfield colours for those who find that a determining factor in choice of pub. Barley Mow, 52, Saltergate, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, S40 1JR. Tel: 01246 232792. Map: Click Here.

Derby Tup: Although over a mile and a half from the ground we really do like pubs in the tiny Tynemill chain. We've been in ones in Boston, Nottingham and York and they've all been excellent. Regular beers are the likes of Bateman XXXB, Burton Bridge Top Dog Stout, Everards Original, Copper Dragon Golden Pippin and local ales like Whim's Arbour Light and Hartington. There are usually four or five more occasional guest ales, plus a traditional cider, most commonly Biddenden Dry or Pheasant Plucker Dry. What more could you want? Well there's Hoegaarden Wit, a traditional Belgian wheat beer, Stella Artois and Heineken Lager, Murphy's Stout on tap and a range of continental bottled beers. Food is available lunchtimes from noon to 2.30 p.m. Wheelchair friendly, and No Smoking areas in the snug and a backroom. Opening times are : Monday - Thursday 11.30 a.m. - 3.00 p.m. and 5.00 p.m. - 11.00 p.m.; Friday - Saturday 11.30 a.m. - 11.00 p.m.; Sunday noon - 10.30 p.m. Although there seems to be flexibility at some venues in the main Tynemill pubs have a no children policy. Welcomes football fans. Derby Tup, 387, Sheffield Road, Whittington Moor, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, S41 8LS. Tel: 01246 454316. Map: Click Here.

Closest pub to the away end © Martin Baker Industry Inn: Frequented by visiting fans as the nearest pub to the away end, about a minute's walk. Industry Inn, Queen Street, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, S40 4SF. Tel: 01246 554123. Map: Click Here.

Peacock Inn: A mile South-West of the stadium along the A619. Two roomed family friendly inn even though it doesn't do food. Large garden that's very pleasant in good weather. Beers are Adnams Broadside, Black Sheep Best Bitter, Deuchars IPA, Tetley and a guest. Opens 12 noon - 4.00 p.m. and 5.30 p.m. - 11.00 p.m. Monday - Thursday, 12.00 noon - 11.00 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 12.00 noon - 10.30 p.m. Sunday. Peacock Inn, 412, Chatsworth Road, Brampton, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, S40 3BQ. Tel: 01246 275115. Map: Click Here.

Portland Hotel: A better than average Wetherspoon (one of two in the town), in their J D Wetherspoon Lodge guise, ten minutes walk from the stadium, south of Saltergate. Currently allows smoking. Has parking and a child certificate. Opening is 9.00 a.m. – midnight Sunday - Thursday, 9.00 a.m. - 1.00 a.m. Friday - Saturday. Marston's Burton Bitter and Pedigree, Greene King Abbot and Theakston Best Bitter are the less than exciting regulars but it makes more effort than many Wetherspoon outlets with its guests, offering a wide range including frequently those from the Wentworth Brewery. Portland Hotel, West Bars, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, S40 1AY. Tel: 01246 245410. Map: Click Here.

Royal Oak: In the market area of the town about five minutes walk from the ground (access by walkway from Market Place). Two rooms on different levels (the top one is no smoking) and with different entrances, but served by a single central bar. Up to six real ales on, with Deuchars IPA, Greene King Abbot and Stones Bitter as the regulars. Food is lunchtimes. Only opens evenings on Monday and Tuesday (7.00 p.m. - 11.00 p.m.) but is 11.00 a.m. - 11.00 p.m. the rest of the week. Er, except Sunday, when it doesn't open at all. Royal Oak, 1, The Shambles, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, S40 1PX. Tel: 01246 237700. Map: Click Here.

Royal Oak: Plenty of hostelries called 'Royal Oak' in the area but this is on the A619 less than ten minutes walk from the ground. Large pub with Ruddles Best and Theakston's Best and Old Peculiar, Whim's Hartington and Arbor Light and a weekly guest. Has Sky Sports on a big screen. Royal Oak, 41-43, Chatsworth Road, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, S40 2AH. Tel: 01246 277854. Map: Click Here.

Good all round pub © Hugh Gleave Rutland Arms: Ten minutes walk from the stadium, just off the eastern end of Saltergate and adjacent to the crooked spire itself. Opening is 11.00 a.m. - 11.00 p.m. (12 noon - 10.30 on Sundays), with a wide range of reasonably priced food served from 12.00 noon - 7.00 p.m. every day. Beers are two or three from the excellent Deuchars IPA, the equally excellent Taylor Landlord, Greene King Abbot and Badger Best. There are guests and regular mini beer festivals. Weston's Old Rosie cider is usually available. There's darts and a No Smoking area (not one and the same). Children welcome. Rutland Arms, 23, Stephenson Place, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, S40 1XL. Tel: 01246 205857. Map: Click Here.

Spa Lane Vaults: Second J D Wetherspoon in town, slightly further away from the stadium than the Portland Hotel (above). Allows smoking - but see Portland Hotel (above) and has a child certificate. Also an outside area. Under the new laws opening is 9.00 a.m. – midnight Sunday - Thursday, 9.00 a.m. - 1.00 a.m. Friday - Saturday. No parking. Spa Lane Vaults, 34, St Mary’s Gate, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, S41 7TH. Tel: 01246 246300. Map: Click Here.

The Market: Less than ten minutes stroll from the railway station and half that from the stadium, this is a busy town centre tavern with a 'local' feel. Although a chain outlet with Greene King Abbot, Marston's Pedigree, Taylor Landlord and Tetley as the house beers the owning Pubco offers its landlords a couple of dozen guests a month, and this one likes to offer as many as possible - with up to five on at a time. Food lunchtimes only. Opening 11 a.m. - 11.00 p.m. (7.30 p.m. - 10.30 p.m. Sunday). Smoking throughout. Can get very busy at the weekend. The Market, 95, New Square, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, S40 1AH. Tel: 01246 273641. Map: Click Here.

Victoria Inn: Victoria Inn is a popular name in Chesterfield, there being three. This one is very close to the Peacock (above), a mile from the ground just off the A619. Two roomed back-street local. Real ale comes as Adnams Bitter, Deuchars IPA, Greene King IPA, Tetley's Mild and Bitter and one guest. No food. Has own parking and outside drinking areas. Opening is 12.00 noon - 4.00 p.m. and 7.00 p.m. - 11.00 p.m. Victoria Inn, 21-23, Victoria Street West, Brampton, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, S40 3QY. Tel: 01246 273832. Map: Click Here.

Woodside Inn: Twenty minute walk west from the stadium straight along Ashgate. Modern pub with traditional style food and a pleasant terrace. John Smith's Bitter, Marston's Pedigree and Bombardier from Charles Wells are the real ales. No children allowed. Open all day. Woodside Inn, 343, Ashgate Road, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, S40 4DB. Tel: 01246 234014. Map: Click Here.

Likelihood the Natives Will Understand You :

Not a clue. Derbyshire is just a county you go through. The Peak District is nice and worth stopping in, but that's to the west of the county. O.K. East Derbyshire is just a place you go through. Chesterfield is in the east of Derbyshire.

Top-Tip :

There's a spire. It's crooked. It'll still be crooked even when you sober up.

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[No responsibilty is taken for any inaccuracies. This page is entirely the product of bias and prejudice.]

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