CFC To The Future

Welcome back my fellow Spireites. Hope you all had a fantastic crimbo!

It's the new year, so join me in loosening our belts and getting some exercise as we head into the home straight of the season. Destination promotion! Promotion out of this rotten league and maybe, just maybe a bit further in the FA Cup too (think of the money!).

At the time of writing the Spireites have played all their football fixtures of 2022 and there are 2 days left of the year. In 9 days time we will be playing West Brom in the 3rd round of the cup. So did we win? I'll come back to that next month. But I will quickly mention this. Paul Cook played for West Brom you know, for 5 years. He was the fans favourite at Molineux playing just shy of 200 games for them between 1989-94. So will he have mixed emotions when they come to town? Personally I doubt it, judging by his reaction to the ref and decision making at our last league game away at Scunthorpe on Boxing Day. Cookie is definitely a Spireite at heart. So much so he got sent off for his verbal passion for Chesterfield, but we did leave with all three points, thanks to Quigley's 2 goals.

Since my last article we’re still on track for 3rd place in the league despite Notts Co and Deadpool fighting it out amongst themselves for the top spot. Again personally (PLEASE COVER YOUR EARS…OR EYES NOW IF YOU ARE EASILY OFFENDED) I can't see us winning this league outright due to the aforementioned teams. I know I should be “keeping the faith” here but unless both teams have catastrophic injuries in the next few weeks/months, I can't see it. Currently Notts Co are 11 points clear from us.

On the goal front, we continue to have multiple goal scorers including Tshimanga on the books. Granted, his came from a few penalties but still.

Not bad to say we don't seem to be solely reliant on him. No, we have at least 20+ players on this season's tally, including Geoff King. A defender! There is an old school debate to be had here. Should a club have a 25+ a season goal scoring striker? Or is it more modern to have many players finding the net from all across the park? Personally I don't care as long as we win.

In any decent team though, you really do need a solid keeper between the posts, to block the shots should you need to balance the goal difference in the league table come the end of the season. Luckily however we do have one. Fitzsimons is still the gaffer's first choice keeper. He has kept quite a few clean sheets, including in the FA Cup run. None conceded in that! Fitzsimons was awarded a new contract too for all that. Remember when he came into the squad at short notice a few months back, replacing Lucas Covolan due to suspension? And here he remains. In my mind, this is a good thing judging by the FA Trophy defeat recently at home against Coalville Town (yeah I'd never heard of them either) but Covolan let in 3 against them. 1-3 it ended. This game also stirred a few comments among the fans on social media land as it had to be rescheduled (due to the snow) on a Tuesday evening replacing the league game at home against fellow playoff team Woking, which has yet to be played. So a game in hand may be helpful?

I'm going to end this month's article by mentioning Matlock Town FC. I was at the Coalville defeat and saw a few young CFC lads on the pitch who looked pretty impressive. The only Spireite goal that game came from the young defender George Wilkinson of the Chesterfield Academy. Another player to start and looking equally attack minded was 17 year old Alex Duhameauwho, who has since moved out on loan to The Gladiators. His first appearance against Belper ended in a 4-0 victory, of which Alex played an important part. I was there. He even set up their first goal.

By the time you read this either the Spireites are in the 4th round of the FA Cup or we lost. Either way folks, keep the faith (unless you agree with me that we’ll finish 3rd in the league) and I’ll see you next month to discuss.

COYBs!

Words & Images: Michael South