Chesterfield Club Profile

Chesterfield Football Club was formed in 1866, making them the fourth oldest club in the Football League, behind Notts County, Nottingham Forest and Sheffield Wednesday (although there are claims that Stoke City were formed earlier).

The club did not turn professional until 1891, and had to wait until 1899 before being elected into Division Two. They had a brief spell being known as Chesterfield Town, but that period saw them lose their league status when they failed in a bid for re-election in 1909.

The Spireites later returned to the Football League in 1921 when the Division Three North was formed in that year, winning the title in 1931.

Chesterfield managed only two seasons at that level before being relegated but were promoted again in 1936, this time managing eight seasons in that division until their relegation once more.

Since that date, the club has spent much of its time alternating between the bottom two divisions, although they did enjoy a spell in the second tier in the 1980s.

In 1997, the club drew national attention after reaching an unlikely FA Cup semi-final. Under manager John Duncan they almost pulled off a shock victory after a 3-3 draw against Middlesbrough.

Indeed, had referee David Ellery not ruled out a Jonathan Howard effort that appeared to cross the line, the club could have been in the final for the first time in their history.

More recently, Chesterfield managed a Carling Cup giantkilling by beating Manchester City in the 2006-2007 season.

Jimmy Cookson holds the record for the most goals in a season for the club with a tally of 44 in the 1925-26 campaign, while Ernie Moss is the all-time record scorer with 161 to his name between 1969 and 1986.