NEWS
Chesters Fish bar Sponsors the Over 50's team kit
The winners of The Restaurant of The Year 2021 and Best Fish and Chip shop in Chesterfield, Chesters, as voted on multiple occasions by Derbyshire Times readers, have generously sponsored the Senior Spireites Walking Football Club’s newly formed Over 50s team Kit.
Malc Perks, Chair of the Senior Spireites said, "The proprietors of Chesters, Chris and Chrisoulla have been so generous helping us set up our Over 50s team. Our oldest member is 86, and with the average member age of 69, most of our members are pensioners and we try to keep our subscription charges to a minimum to encourage participation, so sponsorship of playing kit really helps us keep Walking Football affordable to all. Our members are extremely grateful for Chesters' kindness and generosity and we obviously wish them continued success and many more years serving the folks of Chesterfield with the very Best Quality Fish and Chips"
Neil Haddy contributes to Swedish book on the origins of walking football
One of the original Senior Spireites, Neil Haddy, was contacted by a Swedish writer who was putting together a book about the origins and benefits of walking football as there isn't one in the Swedish language - until now!
The book is titled "It is never too late" and is a combination of 50 articles from players, leaders, referees, scientists, doctors and even the UEFA put together by Stefan Loden.
A link to the articles is from the image of the book with Neil's contribution on page 20 in English which makes an interesting read.
Staff from Inkersall Spencer Academy fund raise in memory of Sue Jacques
A large group of staff from Inkersall Spencer Academy Primary School are walking 10km together on Saturday 28 June 2025 in memory of a much loved colleague Sue Jacques, wife of Pete who is Kit Manager for the Senior Spireites.
The aim to raise as much as possible to help support Ashgate Hospice so that it can continue providing specialist care to patients and those important to them. Click on the image to link to the Just Giving website to donate towards this very important local charity.
Club's 2025 AGM Reports
The Senior Spireites AGM was held on March 24th 2025. Reports from the Chair, Malc Perks, the Secretary, Ian Edmundson and the Treasurer, Neil Haddy were presented to the meeting. Copies of the reports can be viewed on the buttons below and a copy of the Accounts can be viewed using the image to the right (or below if using a mobile).
Chesterfield FC history book features the Senior Spireites Walking Football Club
A book written about the recent history of Chesterfield FC and how the local community took over the football club features a chapter on the birth of Walking Football and the creation of the Senior Spireites as the world's first walking football club.
The book is an uplifting story of a passionate and committed community of Chesterfield FC supporters who rallied together to rescue their beloved club from the brink of disaster after it fell victim to a fraudulent owner who was imprisoned for his actions. The supporters envisioned a deep connection between the club and the local community, aiming to benefit everyone in the town. With support from the local council, they managed the club precariously for several years before passing it on to a reliable new owner, who ushered in a fresh chapter.
Copies of the book can be purchased at Chesterfield FC's shop or online.
Keith Jackson awarded Club shirt for 10 years service to the Community Trust
Keith Jackson, one of the Senior Spireites honorary members, received a commemorative shirt from Chesterfield FC at a recent home game.
The shirt was to recognise the 10 years that Keith has worked for the Community Trust that is an integral part of the football club. Well done to Keith for all he does for the local community and his support of the Senior Spireites.
.jpg)
Donations to Ashgate Hospice raised over last 2 months a total of £262
The Senior Spireites have raised a total of £262 during November and December 2024 in donations to Ashgate Hospice in Chesterfield. The money has come from a variety of events including the Christmas Photo Challenge set by the Chair, Malc Perks. (Click on Link to see photos)
Commenting on the money raised Malc said "my thanks go to the Last Man Standing winner for their donation, a special thanks to Paul Hancox for his super donation and also to all of the members who went above and beyond to look ‘silly’ for my photo challenge".
Mel Pullen becomes the first Life Member of the Mansfield Reds
Over 60's vs Doncaster Rovers played in a competitive spirit
Mel Pullen has become the first Life Member of his former walking football club, Mansfield Reds.
10 years ago four lads from Mansfield were members of the Chesterfield club for a time before they started Mansfield SR. Mel went to their first playing session and has played with and against both teams ever since.
Accepting the award Mel said "it is a honour to be the first person to be given Life Membership and it is much appreciated. I have enjoyed my time playing with everyone at the club from the very beginning. I have made a lot of friends and enjoyed my time (except when we lost)".
In late January 2025 the Over 60's Senior Spireites played Doncaster Rovers in a friendly at Queens Park, Chesterfield. Doncaster took an early 3-0 lead despite a tactical team talk given by stand-in captain Keith Arrowsmith. Keith's wife had provided him with a useful spreadsheet to ensure that every Spireite had equal game time and at least six players on the pitch at any one time!
Ultimately it was a close game with Doncaster just shading it by nine goals to three. At the debriefing over coffee, platitudes like “ it was played in a good spirit” and “everybody did their best” were bandied about in an attempt to ease the collective depression but it is the taking part that counts...
The squad performed well as a unit and will be more match ready for their next competitive fixture as a result of the experience.
Chesterfield Senior Spireites -v- Sheffield Wednesday
Two friendly matches took place with Sheffield Wednesday Walking Football Club in September as part of their warm up games before the Sheffield League starts. The Senior Spireites squad was partly made up of players who cannot usually attend daytime competitive matches due to work commitments or age restrictions with the remaining players including some Owls fans.
The game on pitch one was a topsy-turvy game where the winning team switched several times to finish up 4-3 to Wednesday over the course of 4 x 12 minute sessions. On pitch two the Senior Spireites had the upper hand at 6-2 with one playing session to go but Wednesday put on their shooting boots and scored four goals to finish the game 6-6!
Thanks to Malc Perks and Andy Norcliffe for organising the event and to the teams for the competitive matches.
Four Derbyshire Men in victorious England World Cup Squad
The Over 75s World Cup Competition 2024 was held in Cardiff from August 20th to 23rd and there were four Derbyshire men in the England team which won the cup. All four have played with Chesterfield Senior Spireites F.C. which is an over 60s small-sided running football club playing at Queen's Park. Two also play for the Senior Spireites F.C. walking football club. The four are Terry Fletcher, Dave Goucher, John Longstaff and Ian Edmundson, who are pictured.
The tournament was played with teams of seven-a-side and there were two games per day for the first three days, which was pretty tiring, but the England squad of thirteen players was well motivated, with an excellent team spirit and roll-on, roll-off substitutes were allowed to share the workload.
Well Done England for lifting the Over 75's World Cup!
Tony Bettison wins the Club's 2024 Unsung Hero Award
The winner of the Club's Unsung Hero Award for 2024, announced at the CFC Community Trust Awards in late July, was Tony Bettison.
Tony gained over 40% of the votes cast and is a worthy winner for all the time and effort he puts in to make the Dronfield playing sessions run smoothly, along with others. Tony was joined at the event by the two other members on the shortlist of Malc Emberton and John Dacey.
Tony would like to thank all those who voted for him as he is chuffed to bits to gain this award.
Plaque unveiled to mark Chesterfield as the birthplace of walking football
A blue plaque has been unveiled outside the HUB at the SMH Group Stadium to mark Chesterfield as the birthplace of walking football.
The event was attended by Chesterfield FC Community Trust representatives, local walking football players from the men's and women's teams and senior officials from walking football bodies.
John Croot, CEO of Chesterfield FC/Chesterfield FC Community Trust, was part of the Trust team who devised walking football, along with Andy Morris, Adam Norman and others.
John said: “It’s a real privilege and it’s great for the people who have been involved in it from the very early sessions. We heard from people who were coaching at the first sessions, along with those who were playing and watching. Part of having this plaque here recognises the role that the Trust, myself and others have all put in since they were playing two-a-side at Queen’s Park Sports Centre!
“It’s helping people get into a healthy lifestyle and it’s as much about what doesn’t happen on the pitch in that, they (walking football players) go and do other activities and get to know each other.
“To think that it all started here at Chesterfield all those years ago, it’s quite humbling.”
Alan Rose, president of the International Walking Football Federation, who recently held their World Championships at the SMH Group Stadium, attended the unveiling. He expressed delight at the growth of the sport and urged others to get involved in walking football, saying: “Don’t think about it – get down and do it and enjoy it.”
Senior Spireites play Australia’s Walkeroos and help at World Championships
The World Championships of Walking Football’s international organisation were held in Chesterfield in May 2024. To help the team from Australia warm up for the tournament Chesterfield’s walking football club, the Senior Spireites, played a series of games against them. These matches are the first international games that the Spireites, as a large group of players, have taken part in during their 12 year history.
For many of the Senior Spireites this was their first chance to play against an overseas team. The Club’s members were divided into one of four age groups to play against the opposition, Over 50’s, Over 60’s Over 65’s and Over 70’s, to provide an opportunity for as many people to participate as possible. The games were competitive in all age groups with the Senior Spireites giving the visitors a good workout prior to the World Championships.