Chesterfield Vs Swindon Town

Matchday 64 took us to one of the newest clubs promoted from the National League to the Football League, making it a truly exciting venue to officially kick off the 2024-2025 season. The anticipation was palpable as we prepared for this journey, knowing that we were about to witness a historic moment for Chesterfield FC as they embarked on their new chapter in the Football League.

I had the benefit of working from home, which allowed me to plan the trip with more flexibility. By finishing up work early, I was able to leave around 4 p.m., avoiding the worst of the local traffic. Grandad Steve, who has become an essential part of our football journeys, joined me once again as we continue to share this challenge together. Our goal is to eventually complete the 92, with hopes of finishing at the same club—an ambition that keeps us motivated with each matchday.

The drive to Chesterfield was typical for rush hour, with the first significant congestion appearing around M5 Junction 2 as we merged onto the M6. We navigated through this slow-moving traffic, only to hit another bottleneck near Tamworth. During this time, Liam suddenly became unwell and started to feel sick. Concerned that our adventure might need to be canceled, we decided to pull over at a nearby service station. Liam got some fresh air and used the toilet, which helped to settle his stomach. After a short break, we were relieved to see that he felt better and could continue with the journey. He fell asleep in the car, resting all the way to Chesterfield.

Despite the unexpected stop, we arrived in Chesterfield just 10 minutes later than Google’s initial prediction, which was quite impressive given that the journey took just over 2.5 hours during peak travel time.

However, our arrival in Chesterfield marked the beginning of a new challenge—finding parking. After speaking with some staff at a local Tesco, we were advised to download the “Horizon Parking” app. What followed was a frustrating ordeal, with both Grandad Steve and I struggling to set up an account due to constant error messages. The app, as well as the website, turned out to be a nightmare, ultimately preventing us from parking at Tesco or Asda. This left us with no choice but to search for alternative parking nearby. After a bit of driving around, we finally found some street parking about a 15-minute walk from the stadium.

As we made our way to the stadium, there was a palpable buzz in the air. Fans were gathered outside, chatting excitedly about the upcoming match. We paused to take a few photos to capture the moment, then headed towards the club shop. To our surprise, the queue was quite long, a situation exacerbated by the fact that ticket collections were being handled inside the shop—a setup that seemed less than ideal given the shop’s small size. When we finally reached the counter, we were disappointed to learn that scarves were not yet available, a surprising oversight given the season had just started. It felt like a missed opportunity, as scarves are often one of the first purchases fans make.

Undeterred, we grabbed a matchday program from a seller outside and took a leisurely stroll around the stadium, snapping more photos as we went. The energy outside the ground was infectious, with fans eagerly discussing their hopes for the match. After soaking in the atmosphere, we made our way to the turnstiles, where we encountered no issues with our paper tickets.

Once inside, we headed straight for the toilets before locating our seats. There was a bit of confusion as we tried to find the correct block, but eventually, we settled into our seats, which offered a great view of the pitch. The only minor inconvenience was the setting sun, which was initially glaring in our eyes. Fortunately, as the game kicked off, the sun dipped below the stands, leaving us to enjoy the match comfortably.

The atmosphere inside the stadium was electric, with both sets of fans in full voice, creating a vibrant and lively environment. The match itself was a thrilling contest, with end-to-end football that kept us on the edge of our seats. Both teams played with passion and determination, and either side could have easily come away with the victory. However, as the final whistle blew, a 1-1 draw seemed like a fair result, reflecting the evenly matched performance of both teams.

As the crowd dispersed, we made our way back to the car, ready to face the journey home. Unfortunately, the drive back was slower than expected due to 50mph speed restrictions on the motorway for roadworks. What should have been a straightforward drive turned into a more prolonged and tiring experience. By the time we finally arrived home, the day had taken its toll, and my bed was calling out to me—a welcome retreat after such a long and eventful day. With another road trip to Barrow scheduled for tomorrow, there was little time to rest, but the excitement of another matchday kept our spirits high.

Five Facts About Chesterfield FC:

1. Historic Founding: Chesterfield FC was founded in 1867, making it one of the oldest football clubs in the world. The club has a rich history and has played in various leagues over the years.
2. FA Cup Glory: The club’s most notable FA Cup run came in 1997 when they reached the semi-finals, narrowly missing out on a place in the final after a controversial 3-3 draw with Middlesbrough, which led to a replay that they lost 3-0.
3. Proact Stadium: Chesterfield FC’s home ground is the Proact Stadium, which opened in 2010, replacing the old Saltergate ground where the club had played for over 130 years. The modern stadium has a capacity of 10,504.
4. Community Ownership: In 2020, Chesterfield FC became community-owned, with the Chesterfield FC Community Trust taking control of the club. This move has strengthened the bond between the club and its supporters.

5. Return to the Football League: After being relegated to the National League in 2018, Chesterfield FC worked their way back up and were promoted back to the Football League in 2024, marking a significant milestone in the club’s history.