Chasetown F.C.

History

The club was formed in 1954 as Chase Terrace Old Scholars Youth Club and initially played in the Cannock Youth League. At the start of the 1958–59 season the club joined the Lichfield and District League, where the club spent three seasons, finishing as runners-up in the league and Challenge Cup.

For the 1961–62 season the club stepped up to the Staffordshire County League before moving to the West Midlands (Regional) League Division One and adopting the new name of Chasetown F.C. in 1972.

In eleven seasons in this division Chasetown never finished outside the top four, winning the championship in 1977–78, but were prevented from gaining promotion because they were playing on a park pitch at Burntwood Recreation Centre. In 1983 the club moved to a new ground, The Scholars Ground, and gained entry to the Premier Division. Although the Scholars initially struggled to finish outside the lower reaches of the table, the team won their first trophy in 1989–90, defeating Oldbury United to win the League Cup, soon followed by winning the Walsall Senior Cup. Chasetown beat Blakenall at the Bescot Stadium and retained the trophy in 1992–93, beating Pelsall Villa 3–1.

In the early 1990s, Chasetown won the West Midlands League Cup twice and finishing as runners-up in the twice. The Scholars were among the founder members of the newly formed Midland Football Alliance in 1994 but failed to make an impression in the early seasons.

In 2000–01 the club in a transitional period after the departure of long-serving manager Mervyn Rowe, and only escaped relegation due to the fact that no clubs were promoted from the lower division. Present manager Charlie Blakemore returned to the club in partnership with Michael Rowe, son of previous manager Mervyn, and the club's fortunes began to turn around, with two top-half finishes. In Blakemore's first full season in complete control of the first team, 2004–05, Chasetown won the Walsall Senior Cup for the third time and finished second to Rushall Olympic in the Midland Alliance.

Chasetown were placed the national spotlight in November 2005 when the club reached the first round of the FA Cup for the first time in their history. After defeating Blyth Spartans the team took on Oldham Athletic in a match broadcast live on television. A peak audience of 3.2 million people watched the game live. In front of 1,997 supporters, Chasetown took the lead through Nicky Harrison, only for veteran David Eyres to level the scores and send the game into a replay. Chasetown took 2,436 supporters to the replay but succumbed to a 0–4 defeat. As a result of this cup run the club was able to secure a shirt sponsorship deal with Richard Branson's Virgin Holidays for the 2006–07 season. Meanwhile, in the league, Chasetown rallied from 14th place at Christmas, 20 points behind leaders Malvern Town, to win the Midland Alliance championship and gain promotion to the Southern League Division One Midlands.

In 2007–08, Chasetown beat Team Bath 2–0 to reach the second round proper of the FA Cup for the first time in their history. This set up an away tie against Staffordshire rivals Port Vale, which they drew 1–1 before winning the replay 1–0 to set up a Third Round match at home to Championship side Cardiff City and making Chasetown the lowest ranked club ever to make the third round of the competition. While Chasetown lost the third round match to Cardiff City 3–1, they went ahead because of a Kevin McNaughton own goal, and held the lead until just before half-time.

During the 2008–09 season, Chasetown's dreams of repeating their FA Cup heroics were cut short in the 3rd qualifying round by Southern League Premier Division team Evesham United, losing 2–0 after two late goals from substitute Danny Lennon and Mark Owen.

In November 2008, Chasetown submitted plans for a new 500 seater stand to Lichfield District Council, which would increase the capacity to 3,100. The new facility would include the 500 person seated grandstand, sauna & mini gym, offices & club shop, disabled spectators area, directors' and sponsors' boxes and conference & function room to name a few. It is also planned that the upper floor of the new stand would include a 200 seated restaurant facility that will be available for private hire functions and outside the ground an increase in capacity of the main car park from 70 to 150.

As a result of playing the F.A Cup tie in 2008, Cardiff City invited Chasetown to be the first official opponent at the Cardiff City Stadium, played on Friday 10 July, resulting in a 4–0 win for the Welsh side.

On 1 May 2010, Chasetown won the Northern Premier League Division One South play-offs, beating Glapwell 1–0 in front of a crowd of 1,265 to gain promotion to level 7 of the English football league system for the first time in their history.

On 16 November 2010 Chasetown won a £10,000 Makeover Competition from the Northern Premier League, winning a £10,000 voucher from Travis Perkins builders' merchants in order to improve facilities at the Scholars Ground.

On 14 December 2010 Chasetown beat Kettering Town 2–1 in an FA Trophy replay, another cup upset as two divisions separated the sides and Kettering were at home. On 15 January 2011 Chasetown produced another upset by defeating Conference National side Grimsby Town to reach the last sixteen of the competition. In the last sixteen they defeated Eastleigh of Conference South to gain a place in the quarter finals.

Crest

Chasetown's crest features a deer, in reference to nearby Cannock Chase, and a Stafford Knot.

Ground and supporters

The Scholars Ground has been Chasetown's home since 1983. The ten highest official attendances recorded at the ground for competitive fixtures are as follows:

Significant crowds in pre-season friendly games:

Attendance levels in recent years have been as follows:

Note: 4,134 of the 2005–06 total attendance represents the games against Blyth Spartans and Oldham Athletic. 4,406 of the 2007–08 total attendance represents the games against Port Vale and Cardiff City.

Attendance figures correct as 22:00 8 September 2013

First-team squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

Team management

Chairmen

Directors

Frank Carson, the Irish comedian, was one of the directors of the club.

Honours and records

National cup record

Team records

(1972–73 onwards)

Individual records