View source for Chesterfield F.C.

{{Short description|Association football club in Chesterfield, England}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2012}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}
{{Infobox football club
| nickname = Town, The Spireites
| ground   = [[SMH Group Stadium]]
| capacity = 10,600
| season   = {{English football updater|Chesterf2}}
| pattern_la1 = _chesterfield2425h
| pattern_b1 = _chesterfield2425h
| pattern_ra1 = _chesterfield2425h
| pattern_sh1 = 
| pattern_so1 = _chesterfield2425hl
| leftarm1 = 0042FF
| body1 = 0042FF
| rightarm1 = 0042FF
| shorts1 = FFFFFF
| socks1 = 0042FF
| pattern_la2 = _chesterfield2425a
| pattern_b2 = _chesterfield2425a
| pattern_ra2 = _chesterfield2425a
| pattern_sh2 = _chesterfield2425a
| pattern_so2 = _chesterfield2425al
| leftarm2 = 000000
| body2 = 000000
| rightarm2 = 000000
| shorts2 = 000000
| socks2 = 000000
| pattern_la3 = 
| pattern_b3 = 
| pattern_ra3 = 
| pattern_sh3 = 
| pattern_so3 = 
| leftarm3 = 
| body3 = 
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| clubname = Chesterfield
| image = Chesterfield FC crest.svg
| image_size = 155px
| fullname = Chesterfield Football Club
| founded = {{nowrap|{{start date and age|1867|10|19|df=yes}} ''(original)''<br>{{start date and age|1919|4|24|df=yes}} ''(current)''<ref name="four clubs" /><ref>{{cite book|title=When Saturday Comes : A Half Decent Football Book|publisher=Penguin Books|year=2005|isbn=9780141927039|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lg7k-Y5vF8kC&q=chesterfield+football+club&pg=PT178}}</ref>}}
| owner = Phil Kirk and Ashley Kirk<ref>{{cite web|url=https://chesterfield-fc.co.uk/supporters-club|title=Club Ownership|publisher=Chesterfield FC|access-date=11 August 2024}}</ref>
| chrtitle = Chairman
| chairman = Mike Goodwin
| manager = [[Paul Cook (footballer)|Paul Cook]]
| league = {{English football updater|Chesterf}}
| position = {{English football updater|Chesterf3}}
| website = {{URL|https://chesterfield-fc.co.uk/}}
| current  = 2025–26 Chesterfield F.C. season
}}

'''Chesterfield Football Club''' is a professional [[association football]] club based in the town of [[Chesterfield, Derbyshire|Chesterfield]], [[Derbyshire]], England. The team competes in [[EFL League Two]], the fourth level of the [[English football league system]], after winning the [[2023–24 National League]] title.

Chesterfield play their home games at the 10,500 capacity [[SMH Group Stadium]], having moved from their historic home of [[Saltergate]] during the summer of 2010. Notable former players include record appearance holder [[Dave Blakey]], who played in 617 of Chesterfield's league games, and 162 league goal club record holder [[Ernie Moss]]. The club contests numerous local rivalries, most notably with Nottinghamshire club [[Mansfield Town F.C.|Mansfield Town]].

Chesterfield FC was officially established in 1867, though it would be the third incarnation of that name that turned professional in 1891 and changed its name to Chesterfield Town. Town entered the [[FA Cup]] for the first time the following year, and competed in the [[Sheffield & District Football League|Sheffield & District League]] and [[Sheffield & Hallamshire Senior Cup]], before joining the [[Midland Football League (1889)|Midland League]] in 1896–97. A third-place finish in 1898–99 resulted in a successful application to the [[Football League Second Division]] for the following season. After ten seasons in the Second Division they failed to gain re-election to the League and returned to the Midland League in 1909. They were champions of that league in 1909–10. The club entered liquidation in 1915, and were reformed as Chesterfield Municipal in April 1919. They again rejoined the Midland League and finished as champions in 1919–20.

The club was renamed Chesterfield in December 1920, and became founder members of the [[Football League Third Division North|Third Division North]] in 1921–22. They marked their tenth season in the division, 1930–31, by winning the title, though they only managed two seasons in the Second Division before suffering relegation. They again won the Third Division North title in 1935–36, and after [[World War II]] recorded their best ever league finish of fourth in the Second Division in 1946–47. However they were relegated again in 1950–51, and were relegated out of the [[Football League Third Division|Third Division]] in 1960–61. Chesterfield won the [[Football League Fourth Division|Fourth Division]] in 1969–70, and then won the [[Anglo-Scottish Cup]] in 1980. After relegation in 1982–83, they again won the Fourth Division title in 1984–85, though would again be relegated after five seasons in the third tier. They secured their return to the third tier with a 2–0 win over [[Bury F.C.|Bury]] in the [[1995 Football League Third Division play-off final|1995 play-off final]] at [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley]].

Chesterfield reached the [[FA Cup]] semi-finals in 1997, but were relegated back to the basement division in 1999–2000. They made an immediate return to the third tier after securing a Third Division automatic promotion place in 2000–01. Relegated in 2006–07, they secured the [[EFL League Two|League Two]] title in 2010–11, but were relegated from [[EFL League One|League One]] the following season. In 2011, [[Dave Allen (football executive)|Dave Allen]] took full ownership of the club and oversaw progress to two [[EFL Trophy|League Trophy]] finals; Chesterfield won the trophy with a 2–0 victory over [[Swindon Town F.C.|Swindon Town]] in 2012, and finished as runners-up after losing 3–1 to [[Peterborough United F.C.|Peterborough United]] in 2014. Chesterfield were crowned champions of League Two for a record fourth time in 2013–14, but remained in [[EFL League One|League One]] for just three seasons. Back-to-back relegations saw the club relegated out of the [[English Football League]] at the end of the 2017–18 season, before returning to League Two after winning the [[National League (division)|National League]] title in the 2023–24 season.

==History==
{{Further|List of Chesterfield F.C. seasons}}
[[File:Chesterfield FC.svg|thumb|A former Chesterfield FC crest giving an 1866 foundation date of Chesterfield FC. The design was first used in 1997 and replaced in 2009]]
[[File:ChesterfieldFC League Performance.svg|thumb|300px|right|Chart of historic table positions of Chesterfield in the Football League]]
Potentially five or more teams have been called Chesterfield Football Club at different times. A ''[[Derbyshire Times]]'' newspaper report from 2 January 1864 noted a scheduled game between "Chesterfield and Norton football clubs", suggesting that a Chesterfield FC, whether loosely or formally organised, was active from at least 1863.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cfchistory.com/apps/blog/show/18880920-formation-cogitation-1|work=Sky is Blue|title=Formation cogitation 1|access-date=25 June 2013|archive-date=20 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131020034350/http://www.cfchistory.com/apps/blog/show/18880920-formation-cogitation-1|url-status=dead}}</ref>

A second Chesterfield FC was formally created as an offshoot of Chesterfield Cricket Club in October 1867.<ref name="four clubs" />
The cricket and football clubs moved to the Recreation Ground at [[Saltergate]] in 1871, the same year that they became separate entities. However, a souring of the relationship between the two led to the closure of the football club in 1881, when it found itself homeless.<ref name="basson_sunset">Basson, Stuart (2010) "Saltergate Sunset: The Story of the Recreation Ground, Chesterfield", Chesterfield F.C., p27</ref> Many players joined other local sides, notably Chesterfield Livingstone, a club that took up using the Saltergate site, and [[Spital F.C.|Spital]], a works team which competed in the early years of the [[FA Cup]].<ref name="concise history">{{cite web|url=http://www.chesterfield-fc.co.uk/staticFiles/2b/45/0,,10435~17707,00.doc|title=Football in Chesterfield&nbsp;– a concise history|last=Basson|first=Stuart|publisher=Chesterfield F.C.|access-date=21 May 2012}}{{dead link|date=August 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

Three years later, in 1884, a third entity called Chesterfield Football Club was formed, again making its home at [[Saltergate]].<ref name="four clubs">{{cite web|url=http://www.chesterfield-fc.co.uk/page/History/0,,10435~897585,00.html|title=Four clubs for Chesterfield|last=Basson|first=Stuart|publisher=Chesterfield F.C.|date=6 June 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120329032257/http://www.chesterfield-fc.co.uk/page/History/0%2C%2C10435~897585%2C00.html|archive-date=29 March 2012|url-status=dead|quote=Although there is a widely-held belief that the first Chesterfield club was formed in 1866, no contemporary documentary evidence has been found to substantiate a claim for formation earlier than October 19th., 1867... The Chesterfield Town FC (1899) Ltd was put into voluntary liquidation in 1915... Chesterfield Borough Council formed of the Chesterfield Municipal FC on April 24th, 1919... That Chesterfield FC is the one that we watch today...|access-date=31 August 2011|df=dmy-all}}</ref> It drew in players from the preceding club and both Chesterfield Livingstone and Chesterfield Spital, though records show Spital continued as a separate club until 1888.<ref name="concise history" /> After changing its name to '''Chesterfield Town''', the club turned professional in 1891 and won several local trophies in the following two seasons, entering the [[FA Cup]] for the first time in 1892. For the 1892–93 season, the club wore an extraordinary playing strip of all dark blue with the [[Union Jack]] emblazoned across the front of the shirt.<ref>{{cite web|title=Strange Hues&nbsp;– Exotic Early Football Kits|url=http://www.historicalkits.co.uk/Chesterfield/images/chesterfield_1892-1893-a.gif|work=Historical Football Kits|access-date=26 May 2012}}</ref> Chesterfield joined the [[Midland Football League (1889)|Midland League]] in 1896, and successfully applied for a place in the [[Football League Second Division|Second Division]] of the [[English Football League|Football League]] at the start of the 1899–1900 season, finishing seventh. After finishing bottom of the League for three consecutive seasons, the club failed to gain re-election to the League in 1909, returning to the Midland League.<ref name="Rough Guide">{{cite book|last=Goldstein|first=Dan|title=The Rough Guide to English Football: A fans' handbook 1999–2000|year=1999|publisher=[[Rough Guides|Rough Guides Ltd]]|pages=154–158|isbn=1-85828-455-4}}</ref>

In 1915 Chesterfield Town was put into voluntary liquidation and a new club with the same name was formed by a local restaurateur to play wartime football using locally based "guests" from Football League clubs. It lasted only two years before its management and players were suspended by the FA for illegal payments and the club shut down.<ref name="four clubs" /><ref name="potted history">{{cite web |url=http://www.chesterfield-fc.co.uk/page/History/0,,10435~1053686,00.html |title=Chesterfield FC: a potted history |last=Basson |first=Stuart |publisher=Chesterfield F.C. |date=13 June 2010 |access-date=18 March 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100413200325/http://www.chesterfield-fc.co.uk/page/History/0%2C%2C10435~1053686%2C00.html |archive-date=13 April 2010}}</ref>

The current Chesterfield FC was formed on 24 April 1919 by [[Chesterfield Borough Council]], seeing it as a way to spearhead improvements in local recreational provision. Initially called "Chesterfield Municipal", the club made great strides on the pitch in its first season, lifting the Midland League title&nbsp;– and did so despite three changes of management. However, [[The Football Association]] and the [[English Football League|Football League]] had already made clear their vehement opposition to a council-run club and ultimately forced it to cut its ties and become independent, reflected in a name change to Chesterfield FC in December 1920.<ref name="four clubs" /><ref name="potted history" /><ref name="history basics">{{cite web|url=http://www.chesterfield-fc.co.uk/news/article/history-the-basics-195679.aspx|title=Chesterfield History: The Basics|last=Basson|first=Stuart|publisher=Chesterfield F.C.|date=1 May 2012|access-date=23 July 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130319115634/http://www.chesterfield-fc.co.uk/news/article/history-the-basics-195679.aspx|archive-date=19 March 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Basson|first=Stuart|publisher=Chesterfield F.C.|date=8 June 2011|url=http://www.chesterfield-fc.co.uk/page/History/0,,10435~2373653,00.html|title=Seasons of Plenty 3|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120413210530/http://www.chesterfield-fc.co.uk/page/History/0%2C%2C10435~2373653%2C00.html|archive-date=13 April 2012}}</ref>

In 1921–22, Chesterfield became a founder member of the new [[Football League Third Division North]]. Following the arrival of new manager [[Ted Davison]] in 1926 and chairman Harold Shentall in 1928, the club won the Third Division North title in the 1930–31 season with an 8–1 victory over [[Gateshead F.C.|Gateshead]] on the final day, and were promoted to the Second Division. Relegation followed in 1933, but the Third Division North title was again won in 1936.<ref name="Rough Guide" />

After the war the club achieved their best League position, finishing fourth in the Second Division in 1946–47. However, the sale of several players at the end of the season reduced their overall quality, and Chesterfield were relegated at the end of the 1950–51 season. They were placed in the [[Football League Third Division|Third Division]] on its formation at the start of the 1958–59 season; future England international goalkeeper [[Gordon Banks]] made his professional debut in a Third Division game in November 1958, but was sold to [[Leicester City F.C.|Leicester City]] for a then-club record £7,000 fee at the end of the season. In 1961 Chesterfield were relegated to the [[Football League Fourth Division|Fourth Division]] for the first time.<ref name="Rough Guide" />

Chesterfield spent eight seasons in the Fourth Division, earning promotion as champions in 1969–70 under manager [[Jimmy McGuigan]]. The [[Anglo-Scottish Cup]] was won in 1981. The club was relegated in 1983–84, and won the Fourth Division title the following season. Financial difficulties forced Chesterfield Borough Council to bail out the club in 1985 and the club's training ground to be sold. Relegation followed in 1988–89; Chesterfield reached the play-off competition a year later, but were beaten by [[Cambridge United F.C.|Cambridge United]] in the play-off final. The arrival of [[John Duncan (footballer)|John Duncan]] as manager in 1993 was followed in the 1994–95 season by play-off victories over local rivals [[Mansfield Town F.C.|Mansfield Town]] and [[Bury F.C.|Bury]] to earn promotion to the redesignated Second Division.<ref name="Rough Guide" /> The 1996–97 season saw Chesterfield beat six clubs including [[Premier League]] side [[Nottingham Forest F.C.|Nottingham Forest]] to reach the semi-final of the FA Cup for the first time. The semi-final match against [[Middlesbrough F.C.|Middlesbrough]] was contentiously drawn 3–3 after extra time; Chesterfield lost the replay 3–0.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.football-england.com/Chesterfield_Football_Club_CFC_Spireites_FC.html|title=Chesterfield Football Club&nbsp;– The Spireites|publisher=football-england.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927181215/http://www.football-england.com/Chesterfield_Football_Club_CFC_Spireites_FC.html|archive-date=27 September 2011}}</ref>

The club were relegated to the Third Division in 2000 following a run of 21 games without a win, and chairman Norton Lea was replaced by Darren Brown. The following year, Chesterfield were deducted nine points for financial irregularities after Brown attempted to avoid paying [[Chester City F.C.|Chester City]] the fee agreed by the FA for [[Luke Beckett]]. Amid mounting evidence of fraud, he relinquished control of the club in March 2001 and ownership passed to a hastily organised fans' group, the Chesterfield Football Supporters Society. Massive debts run up by Brown forced the club into administration, but the team still secured the division's final automatic promotion place. Brown was later sentenced to four years in prison following a [[Serious Fraud Office (United Kingdom)|Serious Fraud Office]] investigation that led to charges including false accounting, furnishing false information and theft.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2005/sep/28/chesterfield|last=Conn|first=David|author-link=David Conn|title=Prison finally catches up with Chesterfield's crooked Spireite|work=The Guardian|date=28 September 2005}}</ref>

Chesterfield were relegated to [[EFL League Two|League Two]] at the end of the 2006–07 season, although they did reach the regional semi-final of the [[EFL Trophy|League Trophy]] and the fourth round of the [[EFL Cup|League Cup]] in the same year.<ref name=fc>{{fchd|id=CHESTERF|name=Chesterfield}}</ref> The club departed its historic home at [[Saltergate]] at the end of the 2009–10 season, and moved to newly built [[B2net Stadium]]. Chesterfield were promoted to [[EFL League One|League One]] after winning the League Two title in 2010–11 season.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/13247192.stm|title=Chesterfield 3&nbsp;– 1 Gillingham|publisher=BBC Sport|date=2 May 2011}}</ref> Later that year, [[Dave Allen (football executive)|Dave Allen]] took a majority shareholding of the football club from the Supporters Society. They went on to win the Football League Trophy for the first time in March 2012, defeating [[Swindon Town F.C.|Swindon Town]] 2–0 in the [[2012 Football League Trophy final|final]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Chesterfield 2–0 Swindon|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17419742|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=25 March 2012}}</ref> However, they were relegated from League One the following month,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/17796281 |title=Yeovil Town 3–2 Chesterfield |publisher=BBC Sport |date=28 April 2012 |access-date=5 October 2022}}</ref> with Allen taking over as chairman from Barrie Hubbard in the off-season. The club again returned to the third tier as League Two champions at the end of the 2013–14 season for a record fourth time under the guidance of manager [[Paul Cook (footballer)|Paul Cook]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2 May 2014 |title=Chesterfield 2–1 Fleetwood Town |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/27168214 |access-date=31 May 2024 |work=BBC Sport}}</ref>

Chesterfield secured sixth-place in League One at the end of the 2014–15 campaign, and went on to lose 4–0 on aggregate to [[Preston North End F.C.|Preston North End]] in the two-legged play-off semi-final.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/32575855 |title=Preston North End 3–0 Chesterfield (4–0 agg.) |author=Nathan Middleton |publisher=BBC Sport |date=10 May 2015 |access-date=5 October 2022}}</ref> Cook departed at the end of the season. On 14 November 2016, Dave Allen resigned from his roles as chairman and director of the club.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11746/10657909/chesterfield-chairman-and-director-dave-allen-leaves-roles|title=Chesterfield chairman and director Dave Allen leaves roles|date=14 November 2016|website=Sky Sports News|access-date=19 November 2016}}</ref> This signaled a crisis, and four days later a further four directors resigned from their roles.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11746/10662185/four-chesterfield-directors-resign-as-boardroom-crisis-deepens|title=Four Chesterfield directors resign as boardroom crisis deepends|date=18 November 2016|website=Sky Sports News|access-date=19 November 2016}}</ref> It was announced that Chesterfield was openly up for sale, and desperately needed some kind of investment in order to avoid administration. Mike Warner was installed as chairman on 19 November.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngMXjsRgVf8&t=0s| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211110/ngMXjsRgVf8| archive-date=2021-11-10 | url-status=live|title=Ashley Carson – Director's interview|date=19 November 2016|via=YouTube|access-date=19 November 2016}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

Chesterfield were relegated from League One in 2016–17, finishing bottom of the league.<ref name=fc/> At the end of the 2017–18 season, Chesterfield suffered a second consecutive relegation, with the club playing outside the [[English Football League|Football League]] for the first time since 1921.<ref name=fc/><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/43885346 |title=Chesterfield relegated from League Two after Morecambe draw |publisher=BBC Sport |date=24 April 2018 |access-date=14 December 2023}}</ref> On 6 August 2020, it was announced that Chesterfield FC Community Trust, a charity associated with the club, had bought the club from previous owner Dave Allen.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/2020/08/chesterfield-fc-sold-to-community-trust/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200918014026/https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/2020/08/chesterfield-fc-sold-to-community-trust/|archive-date=18 September 2020|title=Chesterfield FC sold to Community Trust|date=7 August 2020}}</ref> The following day, the Trust announced that [[John Pemberton (footballer)|John Pemberton]] had been appointed full-time manager, following a spell as caretaker manager from January 2020, during which time he was able to prevent the club's relegation to [[National League North]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.derbyshiretimes.co.uk/sport/football/give-us-chance-new-chesterfield-fc-chairman-appointing-john-pemberton-hopes-more-financial-support-and-his-message-spireites-fans-2936145 |title="Give us a chance" - New Spireites chairman on appointing Pemberton, more financial support and his message to fans |last=Norcliffe |first=Liam |date=8 August 2020 |access-date=28 January 2024}}</ref>

In January 2022, the club faced [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]] in the third round of the [[FA Cup]], losing 5–1 to the [[Premier League]] side.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://chesterfield-fc.co.uk/club-news/that-time-we-took-on-the-champions-of-europe |title=That time we took on the champions of Europe |date=9 January 2022 |work=[[Chesterfield FC]]}}</ref> After relegation from the Football League, Chesterfield had three unsuccessful play-off attempts, including losing the [[2023 National League play-off final]] on penalties to [[Notts County F.C.|Notts County]].<ref name=fc/><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/65521672 |title=Chesterfield 2–2 Notts County (3–4 on penalties) |first=Andrew |last=Aloia |publisher=BBC Sport |date=13 May 2023 |access-date=14 December 2023}}</ref> The club then won the [[2023–24 National League|National League]] title in the following season to return to the Football League after six seasons in non-League.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/68583425 |title=Chesterfield 3–0 Boreham Wood |publisher=BBC Sport |date=23 March 2024 |access-date=24 March 2024}}</ref> During this season, the ownership of the club was transferred to brothers Phil and Ashley Kirk by the Community Trust.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.derbyshiretimes.co.uk/sport/football/like-winning-the-lottery-chesterfield-chairman-excited-for-future-with-new-owners-4610493 |title='Like winning the lottery' - Chesterfield chairman excited for future with new owners |publisher=Derbyshire Times |date=30 April 2024 |access-date=11 August 2024}}</ref>

==Kit manufacturers and sponsors==

Table of kit suppliers and sponsors:<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.historicalkits.co.uk/Chesterfield/Chesterfield.htm |title=Chesterfield FC |publisher=Historical Football Kits |access-date=5 October 2022}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center; float:left; margin-right:1em"
|-
!Period
!Sportswear
!Sponsor
|-
|1976–1979
|[[Bukta]]
|rowspan=3|No shirt sponsor
|-
|1979–1982
|[[Adidas]]
|-
|1982–1983
|rowspan=2|Latif
|-
|1983–1988
|rowspan=3|Coalite
|-
|1988–1990
|[[Bukta]]
|-
|1990–1992
|rowspan=3|Matchwinner
|-
|1992–1994
|North Derbyshire Health Authority/Gordon Lamb
|-
|1994–1996
|North Derbyshire Health Authority/GK
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center; float:left; margin-right:1em"
|-
!Period
!Sportswear
!Sponsor
|-
|1996–1998
|rowspan=2|Super League
|North Derbyshire Health Authority
|-
|1998–2000
|Kenning Autos
|-
|2000–2001
|Aspire
|rowspan=2|Gordon Lamb
|-
|2001–2002
|TFG
|-
|2002–2003
|Turf Sports
|rowspan=2|Gordon Lamb/[[Vodka Kick]]
|-
|2003–2004
|[[Uhlsport]]
|-
|2004–2005
|Branded
|rowspan=2|Autoworld/Vodka Kick
|-
|2005–2007
|TFG
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center; float:left; margin-right:1em"
|-
!Period
!Sportswear
!Sponsor
|-
|2007–2008
|[[Lotto Sport Italia|Lotto]]
|rowspan=3|Vodka Kick
|-
|2008–2010
|[[Bukta]]
|-
|2010–2012
|Respect
|-
|2012–2013
|rowspan=5|[[Puma SE|Puma]]
|[[Kick Energy]]
|-
|2013–2016
|NAPIT
|-
|2016–2019
|G F Tomlinson<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chesterfield-fc.co.uk/news/article/new-150th-anniversary-kit-revealed-3056518.aspx|title=New 150th Anniversary Kit revealed|work=Chesterfield F.C.|access-date=12 April 2016}}</ref>
|-
|2019–2022
|Technique Learning<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.chesterfield-fc.co.uk/news/2019/may/20190501-technique-learning-named-as-new-shirt-sponsor/|title=Technique Learning named as new shirt sponsor|work=Chesterfield F.C.|access-date=1 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190501195312/https://www.chesterfield-fc.co.uk/news/2019/may/20190501-technique-learning-named-as-new-shirt-sponsor/|archive-date=1 May 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
|2022–
|Leengate Valves
|}
{{clear left}}

==Stadium==
{{Main||Saltergate|SMH Group Stadium}}
[[File:Chesterfield v Aldershot.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Proact Stadium in February 2011]]
Chesterfield's historic ground was Saltergate, officially named the Recreation Ground, which was in use from 1872 to 2010. Saltergate's record attendance was 30,561, which was set when Chesterfield hosted [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]] in the FA Cup fifth round in February 1938.<ref name="Record attendances and receipts">[http://www.chesterfield-fc.co.uk/staticFiles/e/33/0,,10435~78606,00.xls Record attendances and receipts] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120229151057/http://www.chesterfield-fc.co.uk/staticFiles/e/33/0%2C%2C10435~78606%2C00.xls |date=29 February 2012 }}</ref>

Since the 2010–11 season, Chesterfield have played their home games at the £13 million B2net Stadium. The first match was against [[Derby County F.C.|Derby County]] in a pre-season friendly, which Derby won 5–4, [[Craig Davies (footballer)|Craig Davies]] becoming the first goalscorer at the stadium. The first competitive fixture was against [[Barnet F.C.|Barnet]], which ended in a 2–1 win after [[Dwayne Mattis]] scored the opening League goal at the ground in the first half. Chesterfield suffered their first home league defeat at the B2net Stadium after a 2–1 loss to [[Burton Albion F.C.|Burton Albion]] on 13 November 2010.<ref name="Chairman's AGM New Stadium Statement">{{cite news|url=http://www.chesterfield-fc.co.uk/page/ClubAnnouncements/0,,10435~1529604,00.html|title=Chairman's AGM New Stadium Statement|date=22 January 2009|publisher=Chesterfield Football Club|access-date=22 January 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111004122714/http://www.chesterfield-fc.co.uk/page/ClubAnnouncements/0%2C%2C10435~1529604%2C00.html|archive-date=4 October 2011}}</ref>

On 13 August 2012, it was announced that, after the acquisition of b2net by Proact, the stadium would be renamed the Proact Stadium. On 15 May 2020, it was announced that, from August, the stadium would be renamed again, this time to the Technique Stadium, after local education provider Technique acquired the naming rights. In 2023 the stadium was renamed for the new sponsors, financial services company SMH group, for a minimum of three years. The highest attendance at the SMH group stadium was 10,108 at home in their last match of the 2023–24 National League season against [[Maidenhead United]] which Chesterfield won 3–2.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.derbyshiretimes.co.uk/sport/football/chesterfield-stadium-renamed-following-new-sponsorship-deal-4180807 |title=Chesterfield stadium renamed following new sponsorship deal |date= 13 June 2023 |access-date= 19 June 2023}}</ref>

==Rivalries==
Chesterfield's geographical position means that the club holds many local derbies. Their main rival is considered to be the Nottinghamshire club [[Mansfield Town FC|Mansfield Town]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/2288869/football-rivals-the-census |title=Football Rivals: The Census |author=Patrick Goss |website=Sky Sports |access-date=2 December 2023}}</ref> with the club contending a number of fiery encounters. This was intensified due to the [[UK miners' strike (1984–85)|Miners' Strike]], with those in Derbyshire largely striking, while those in Nottinghamshire did not, leading to the latter being referred to as 'scabs'.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/news/local-news/chesterfields-historic-rivalry-mansfield-laid-6579644 |title=Chesterfield's historic rivalry with Mansfield laid bare |author=Jonathan Chubb |website=Derby Telegraph |date=5 February 2022 |access-date=15 January 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-47401859 |title=Miners' strike: The decades-old feud that still divides communities |author=David Pittam |website=BBC News |date=6 March 2019 |access-date=15 January 2024}}</ref> The last fixture between the sides finished in a 1–0 win for Mansfield at the Proact Stadium in April 2018.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.11v11.com/teams/chesterfield/tab/opposingTeams/opposition/Mansfield%20Town/ |title=Chesterfield football club: record v Mansfield Town |website=11v11 |publisher=AFS Enterprises |access-date=2 December 2023}}</ref> Chesterfield also have rivalries with nearby South Yorkshire clubs [[Rotherham United F.C.|Rotherham United]], [[Sheffield Wednesday F.C.|Sheffield Wednesday]] and [[Sheffield United F.C.|Sheffield United]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.footballfanscensus.com/issueresults/Club_Rivalries_Uncovered_Results.pdf |title=Club Rivalries Uncovered |website=Football Fans Census |access-date=15 January 2024 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131020074918/http://www.footballfanscensus.com/issueresults/Club_Rivalries_Uncovered_Results.pdf |archive-date=20 October 2013}}</ref>{{additional citation needed|reason=Rotherham rivalry unsourced|date=January 2024}} The rivalries with Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday both came to the fore with the two playing in League One at periods in the 2010s.<ref name="SHU"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.11v11.com/teams/chesterfield/tab/opposingTeams/opposition/Sheffield%20Wednesday/ |title=Chesterfield football club: record v Sheffield Wednesday |website=11v11 |access-date=15 January 2024}}</ref> The Spireites have encountered United much more in recent years, continuing to meet in the third level of English football until 2017.<ref name="SHU">{{cite web|url=https://www.11v11.com/teams/chesterfield/tab/opposingTeams/opposition/Sheffield%20United/ |title=Chesterfield football club: record v Sheffield United |website=11v11 |access-date=15 January 2024}}</ref>

A slight rivalry with [[Grimsby Town F.C.|Grimsby Town]] intensified with a number of feisty encounters over the years.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/chesterfield-feisty-grimsby-town-form-6331911 |title='Needle' – Chesterfield boss expecting feisty game and dismisses Grimsby Town form |author=Elliott Jackson |website=Grimsby Telegraph |date=10 December 2021 |access-date=15 January 2024}}</ref>

==Players==
{{Further|List of Chesterfield F.C. players}}

===Current squad===
{{updated|1 July 2025}}
{{fs start}}
{{fs player|no=2|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=[[Ryheem Sheckleford]]}}
{{fs player|no=4|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=[[Tom Naylor]]|other=[[Captain (association football)|vice-captain]]}}
{{fs player|no=5|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=[[Jamie Grimes]]|other=[[Captain (association football)|captain]]}}
{{fs player|no=7|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=[[Liam Mandeville]]}}
{{fs player|no=9|nat=NIR|pos=FW|name=[[Will Grigg]]}}
{{fs player|no=11|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=[[Ryan Colclough]]}}
{{fs player|no=12|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=[[Tyrone Williams (footballer, born 1994)|Tyrone Williams]]}}
{{fs player|no=13|nat=SCO|pos=MF|name=[[John Fleck (footballer)|John Fleck]]}}
{{fs player|no=15|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=[[Bailey Hobson]]}}
{{Fs player|no=17|nat=ALB|pos=MF|name=[[Armando Dobra]]}}
{{fs player|no=18|nat=IRL|pos=FW|name=[[Dylan Duffy]]}}
{{Fs player|no=19|nat=SCO|pos=DF|name=[[Lewis Gordon (footballer)|Lewis Gordon]]}}
{{Fs player|no=20|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=[[Vontae Daley-Campbell]]}}
{{Fs player|no=22|nat=JAM|pos=DF|name=[[Chey Dunkley]]}}
{{Fs mid}}
{{fs player|no=23|nat=ENG|pos=GK|name=[[Ryan Boot]]}}
{{Fs player|no=25|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=[[Kyle McFadzean]]}}
{{Fs player|no=33|nat=IRL|pos=FW|name=[[Paddy Madden]]}}
{{fs player|no=37|nat=AUS|pos=GK|name=[[Ashton Rinaldo]]}}
{{Fs player|no=38|nat=GIB|pos=MF|name=[[Liam Jessop]]}}
{{fs player|no=40|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=[[Connor Cook (footballer, born 2004)|Connor Cook]]}}
{{fs player|no=41|nat=MLT|pos=FW|name=[[Gunner Elliott]]}}
{{fs player|no=44|nat=LCA|pos=DF|name=[[Janoi Donacien]]}}
{{fs player|no=|nat=NIR|pos=FW|name=[[Lee Bonis]]}}
{{fs player|no=|nat=ENG|pos=GK|name=[[Zach Hemming]]}}
{{fs player|no=|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=[[Adam Lewis (footballer)|Adam Lewis]]}}
{{fs player|no=|nat=ENG|pos=FW|name=[[Dilan Markanday]]}}
{{fs player|no=|nat=WAL|pos=MF|name=[[Ryan Stirk]]}}
{{fs end}}

<!--===Out on loan===
{{fs start}}
{{fs end}}-->

===Retired numbers===
{{fs start}}
{{fs player|no=14 |nat=ENG |pos=FW |name=[[Jack Lester]]|other=2007–2013 as a player; 2017–2018 as manager}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chesterfield-fc.co.uk/news/article/20130802-number-14-shirt-retired-960941.aspx#batqr7ukMIgSIZFm.99|title=Number 14 Shirt Retired|date=2 August 2013|work=chesterfieldfc.co.uk|access-date=7 August 2013|archive-date=7 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130807002559/http://www.chesterfield-fc.co.uk/news/article/20130802-number-14-shirt-retired-960941.aspx#batqr7ukMIgSIZFm.99|url-status=dead}}</ref>
{{fs end}}

==Club officials==
'''Management and backroom staff'''
{{updated|7 December 2022}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://chesterfield-fc.co.uk/club/staff-directory |title=Staff Directory |website=Chesterfield FC |access-date=2 December 2023}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
! Position
! Name
|-
| Manager || [[Paul Cook (footballer)|Paul Cook]]
|-
| Assistant manager || [[Daniel Webb (footballer)|Danny Webb]]
|-
| rowspan="3"| First team coach || [[Gary Roberts (footballer, born 1984)|Gary Roberts]]
|-
| [[Kieron Dyer]]
|-
| Paddy Byrne
|-
| Goalkeeping coach || Dave O'Hare
|-
| Head of recruitment || Neill Hornby
|-
| Kit Man || Jason Baker
|-
| First-team analyst || Jack Stephenson
|-
| Academy manager || Neil Cluxton
|}

===Managerial history===
Source:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.soccerbase.com/teams/team.sd?team_id=656&comp_id=9&teamTabs=managers |title=Chesterfield Manager History |website=Soccerbase |access-date=2 December 2023}}</ref>

{{col-begin|width=auto}}
{{col-break}}
{| class="toccolours"
!bgcolor=silver|Name
!bgcolor=silver|Nationality
!bgcolor=silver|Years
|- bgcolor=#eeeeee
|Edwin Russell Timmeus||{{flagicon|England}} English||1891–1895
|-
|Gilbert Gillies||{{flagicon|Scotland}} Scottish||1895–1901
|- bgcolor=#eeeeee
|Edmund Francis Hind||{{flagicon|England}} English||1901–1902
|-
|Jack Hoskin||{{flagicon|England}} English||1902–1906
|- bgcolor=#eeeeee
|Walter Furness||{{flagicon|England}} English||1906–1907
|-
|[[George Swift (footballer)|George Swift]]||{{flagicon|England}} English||1907–1910
|- bgcolor=#eeeeee
|Ben Sharpe||{{flagicon|England}} English||1910–1911
|-
|George H. Jones||{{flagicon|England}} English||1911–1913
|- bgcolor=#eeeeee
|Reg Weston||{{flagicon|England}} English||1913–1917
|-
|Tom Callaghan||{{flagicon|England}} English||1919
|- bgcolor=#eeeeee
|Jim Caffrey||{{flagicon|England}} English||1920–1922
|-
|[[Harry Hadley]]||{{flagicon|England}} English||1922
|- bgcolor=#eeeeee
|[[Harry Parkes (footballer, born 1888)|Harry Parkes]]||{{flagicon|England}} English||1922–1927
|-
|[[Alastair Campbell (athlete)|Alec Campbell]]||{{flagicon|England}} English||1927
|- bgcolor=#eeeeee
|[[Teddy Davison]]||{{flagicon|England}} English||1927–1932
|-
|[[Bill Harvey (footballer, born 1896)|Bill Harvey]]||{{flagicon|England}} English||1932–1938
|- bgcolor=#eeeeee
|[[Norman Bullock]]||{{flagicon|England}} English||1938–1945
|-
|[[Bob Brocklebank]]||{{flagicon|England}} English||1945–1948
|- bgcolor=#eeeeee
|[[Bobby Marshall (footballer, born 1903)|Bobby Marshall]]||{{flagicon|England}} English||1948–1952
|-
|[[Teddy Davison]]||{{flagicon|England}} English||1952–1958
|- bgcolor=#eeeeee
|[[Doug Livingstone|Duggie Livingstone]]||{{flagicon|Scotland}} Scottish||1958–1962
|-
|[[Tony McShane]]||{{flagicon|Northern Ireland}} Northern Irish||1962–1967
|- bgcolor=#eeeeee
|[[Jimmy McGuigan]]||{{flagicon|Scotland}} Scottish||1967–1973
|-
|[[Joe Shaw (footballer, born 1928)|Joe Shaw]]||{{flagicon|England}} English||1973–1976
|- bgcolor=#eeeeee
|[[Arthur Cox (footballer)|Arthur Cox]]||{{flagicon|England}} English||1976–1980
|-
|[[Frank Barlow (footballer)|Frank Barlow]]||{{flagicon|England}} English||1980–1983
|- bgcolor=#eeeeee
|[[John Duncan (footballer)|John Duncan]]||{{flagicon|Scotland}} Scottish||1983–1987
|-
|[[Kevin Randall (footballer)|Kevin Randall]]||{{flagicon|England}} English||1987–1988
|- bgcolor=#eeeeee
|[[Paul Hart]]||{{flagicon|England}} English||1988–1991
|-
|Chris McMenemy||{{flagicon|England}} English||1991–1993
|- bgcolor=#eeeeee
|[[John Duncan (footballer)|John Duncan]]||{{flagicon|Scotland}} Scottish||1993–2000
|-
|[[Nicky Law (footballer, born 1961)|Nicky Law]]||{{flagicon|England}} English||2000–2001
|- bgcolor=#eeeeee
|[[Dave Rushbury]]||{{flagicon|England}} English||2002–2003
|-
|[[Roy McFarland]]||{{flagicon|England}} English||2003–2007
|- bgcolor=#eeeeee
|[[Lee Richardson (footballer)|Lee Richardson]]||{{flagicon|England}} English||2007–2009
|-
|[[John Sheridan (footballer)|John Sheridan]]||{{flagicon|Republic of Ireland}} Irish||2009–2012
|- bgcolor=#eeeeee
|[[Paul Cook (footballer)|Paul Cook]]||{{flagicon|England}} English||2012–2015
|-
|[[Dean Saunders]]||{{flagicon|Wales}} Welsh||2015
|- bgcolor=#eeeeee
|[[Danny Wilson (footballer, born 1960)|Danny Wilson]]||{{flagicon|Northern Ireland}} Northern Irish||2015–2017
|-
|[[Gary Caldwell]]||{{flagicon|Scotland}} Scottish||2017
|- bgcolor=#eeeeee
|[[Jack Lester]]||{{flagicon|England}} English||2017–2018
|-
|[[Martin Allen]]||{{flagicon|England}} English||2018
|- bgcolor=#eeeeee
|[[John Sheridan (footballer)|John Sheridan]]||{{flagicon|Republic of Ireland}} Irish||2019–2020
|-
|[[John Pemberton (footballer)|John Pemberton]]||{{flagicon|England}} English||2020
|- bgcolor=#eeeeee
|[[James Rowe (footballer, born 1983)|James Rowe]]||{{flagicon|England}} English||2020–2022
|-
|[[Paul Cook (footballer)|Paul Cook]]||{{flagicon|England}} English||2022–
|}
{{col-end}}
{{clear left}}

== Honours ==
Source:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.11v11.com/teams/chesterfield/tab/honours/ |title=Chesterfield football club honours |publisher=11v11 |access-date=8 September 2023}}</ref>

'''League'''
*[[Football League Third Division North|Third Division North]] (level 3)
**Champions: [[1930–31 Football League#Third Division North|1930–31]], [[1935–36 Football League#Third Division North|1935–36]]
*[[Football League Fourth Division|Fourth Division]] / [[Football League Third Division|Third Division]] / [[EFL League Two|League Two]] (level 4)
**Champions: [[1969–70 Football League#Fourth Division|1969–70]], [[1984–85 Football League#Fourth Division|1984–85]], [[2010–11 Football League Two|2010–11]], [[2013–14 Football League Two|2013–14]] 
**Promoted: [[2000–01 Football League#Third Division|2000–01]]
**Play-off winners: [[1995 Football League Third Division play-off final|1995]]
*[[National League (division)|National League]] (level 5)
**Champions: [[2023–24 National League#National League|2023–24]]
*[[Midland Football League (1889)|Midland League]]
**Champions: [[1909–10 in English football|1909–10]], [[1919–20 in English football|1919–20]]

'''Cup'''
*[[EFL Trophy|Football League Trophy]]
**Winners: [[2011–12 Football League Trophy|2011–12]]
**Runners-up: [[2013–14 Football League Trophy|2013–14]]
*[[Anglo-Scottish Cup]]
**Winners: [[1980–81 Anglo-Scottish Cup|1980–81]]
*[[Derbyshire Senior Cup]]
**Winners (7): 1898–99, 1920–21, 1921–22, 1924–25, 1932–33, 1936–37, 2017–18

;
;Notes
*Derbyshire Senior Cup is competed for by all registered Derbyshire FA clubs. Until season 2010–11, Chesterfield and Derby County did not enter teams and in turn competed in their own competition called the Derbyshire FA Centenary Cup. Both Chesterfield and Derby County have fielded reserve sides in the Derbyshire Senior Cup since season 2010–11.

===Club records===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
| '''Highest Football League finish'''||1946–47, 4th place in [[Football League Second Division]] (second tier)<ref>{{cite news|url=http://european-football-statistics.co.uk/attnclub/nonleague/chef.htm |title=Chesterfield FC |publisher=European Football Statistics |access-date=5 October 2022}}</ref>
|-
| '''Best FA Cup finish'''||[[1996–97 Chesterfield F.C. season|1996–97]], semi-finalists<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/the-set-pieces-blog/2022/apr/20/chesterfield-whisker-fa-cup-final-25-years-ago |title=When Chesterfield came within a whisker of an FA Cup final 25 years ago |author=Chris Evans |work=The Guardian |date=20 April 2022 |access-date=5 October 2022}}</ref>
|-
|'''Best League Trophy finish''' ||Winners: [[2012 Football League Trophy Final|2011–12]]
|-
| '''Highest home attendance'''||30,561: vs. [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]], 12 February 1938<ref name="Record attendances and receipts"/>
|-
| '''Most league appearances'''||[[Dave Blakey]]: 617, 1948–1967<ref>[http://www.chesterfield-fc.co.uk/staticFiles/34/3b/0,,10435~146228,00.xls Chesterfield players with 100+ Football League appearances] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120329032317/http://www.chesterfield-fc.co.uk/staticFiles/34/3b/0%2C%2C10435~146228%2C00.xls |date=29 March 2012 }}</ref>
|-
| '''Most league goals'''||[[Ernie Moss]]: 162, 1968–1975, 1979–1981, 1984–1986<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.chesterfield-fc.co.uk/page/PastPlayersDetail/0,,10435~73800,00.html |title=Ernie Moss |date=2 January 2008 |publisher=Chesterfield FC Official Site |access-date=23 April 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111004124214/http://www.chesterfield-fc.co.uk/page/PastPlayersDetail/0%2C%2C10435~73800%2C00.html |archive-date=4 October 2011}}</ref>
|-
| '''Youngest player'''||Dennis Thompson: 16 years 159 days<ref>[http://www.chesterfield-fc.co.uk/staticFiles/ec/36/0,,10435~145132,00.xls Chesterfield youngest debutants] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120329032416/http://www.chesterfield-fc.co.uk/staticFiles/ec/36/0%2C%2C10435~145132%2C00.xls |date=29 March 2012 }}</ref>
|-
| '''Oldest player'''||[[Billy Kidd (footballer)|Billy Kidd]]: 40 years 232 days<ref>[http://www.chesterfield-fc.co.uk/staticFiles/28/37/0,,10435~145192,00.xls Chesterfield oldest debutants and oldest players] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120329032421/http://www.chesterfield-fc.co.uk/staticFiles/28/37/0%2C%2C10435~145192%2C00.xls |date=29 March 2012 }}</ref>
|}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*{{Official website}}

{{Chesterfield F.C.}}
{{Chesterfield F.C. managers}}
{{EFL League Two}}
{{EFL League One}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Chesterfield F.C.| ]]
[[Category:Football clubs in England]]
[[Category:Association football clubs established in 1866]]
[[Category:1866 establishments in England]]
[[Category:Sheffield & District Football League]]
[[Category:Midland Football League (1889)]]
[[Category:EFL Trophy winners]]
[[Category:National League (English football) clubs]]
[[Category:English Football League clubs]]
[[Category:Football clubs in Derbyshire]]
[[Category:Fan-owned football clubs in England]]