View source for Chester City F.C.

{{Short description|Former association football club in Chester, England}}
{{About|the original club from Chester that existed until 2010|the re-formed club|Chester F.C.|}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2021}}
{{Infobox football club
| clubname    = Chester City
| image       = Chester City FC.svg
| image_size  = 180px
| fullname    = Chester City Football Club
| nickname    = The Seals<br />The Blues
| founded     = {{start date and age|1885}} (as Chester F.C.)
| dissolved   = {{start date and age|10 March 2010}}
| ground      = [[Deva Stadium]], [[Chester]], England
| capacity    = 6,500 (5,500 seated)
| pattern_la1 = |pattern_b1 = _thinwhitestripes |pattern_ra1 = |pattern_so1 = _bluehorizontal
| leftarm1    = 0000CC |body1 = 0000CC |rightarm1 = 0000CC |shorts1 = FFFFFF |socks1 = FFFFFF
| pattern_la2 = |pattern_b2 = |pattern_ra2 =
| leftarm2    = 0000CC |body2 = FFFF00 |rightarm2 = 0000CC |shorts2 = FFFF00 |socks2 = FFFF00
}}
'''Chester City Football Club''' was an [[association football]] team from [[Chester]], England, that played in a variety of leagues between 1885 and 2010. The club played its home games at [[Sealand Road]] from 1906 to 1991 and moved to the [[Deva Stadium]] in 1992 after playing two seasons of home games at [[Macclesfield Town F.C.|Macclesfield Town]]'s [[Moss Rose]]. Chester held [[cross-border derby]] matches with Welsh club [[Wrexham A.F.C.|Wrexham]].

The club was founded in August 1885 as '''Chester F.C.''' and entered [[The Combination]] five years later. They won the Combination title in 1908–09 and were admitted into the [[Lancashire Combination]] in 1910, gaining promotion out of Division Two in 1910–11. They entered the [[Cheshire County League]] in 1919 and were crowned champions three times: 1921–22, 1925–26 and 1926–27. Chester were elected into the [[English Football League|Football League]] in 1931 and remained in the [[Football League Third Division North|Third Division North]] until they were placed in the [[Football League Fourth Division|Fourth Division]] in 1958. Promoted in 1974–75, they were relegated in 1982 and were renamed Chester City the following year. City were promoted out of the Fourth Division in 1985–86 and regained their third tier status in 1993–94 after being relegated the previous season.

Chester City were relegated out of the Football League in 2000, but managed to regain their Football League status after winning the [[National League (division)|Conference]] title in 2003–04. Relegated back into non-League football in 2009, Chester City was placed into [[Administration (law)|administration]]. [[HM Revenue and Customs]] served a demand a £ 29,000 Winding-up order on the club in January 2010.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thefa.com/TheFA/NewsAndFeatures/2009/ChesterCity_Statement.aspx |title=FA Statement: Chester City/Football Conference |publisher=TheFA.com |date=13 August 2009}}</ref> The Conference National subsequently suspended Chester&nbsp;– which had been put up for sale&nbsp;– for breaching its financial rules and for cancelling matches. A month after the winding-up order was served the club was expelled from the league, with all its results for that season expunged and future fixtures cancelled.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/c/chester/8483487.stm |work=BBC News |title=Chester handed 42-day adjournment |date=27 January 2010 |access-date=28 April 2010}}</ref><ref>[http://www.heraldseries.co.uk/sport/oxfordunited/unitednews/5031116.Oxford_United_left_without_a_game_as_Chester_are_expelled_from_Conference/ Oxford United left without a game as Chester are expelled from Conference] Herald Series 26 February 2010</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_conf/8499219.stm |title=Chester City results erased from Blue Square Premier |date=8 March 2010 |publisher=BBC |access-date=8 March 2010}}</ref> In March 2010, Chester was formally wound up after unsuccessfully trying to join the [[Welsh Premier League]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/c/chester/8558713.stm |title=Chester City seek Welsh Premier spot |date=9 March 2010 |publisher=BBC Sport |access-date=10 March 2010}}</ref><ref name="refname_windup">{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/c/chester/8559704.stm |title=Chester City wound up in High Court |date=10 March 2010 |publisher=BBC Sport |access-date=10 March 2010}}</ref> With the official winding-up of Chester City, supporters immediately began organising the formation of a new [[Phoenix club (sports)|phoenix club]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cheshire-live.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/chester-city-fc-blues-supporters-5211480|title=Chester City FC: Blues supporters name new City Fans United club 'Chester FC'|date=25 March 2010|work=Chester Chronicle|access-date=14 March 2023}}</ref> The resulting new club, [[Chester F.C.]], was officially established in May 2010.

==History==
{{Further|History of Chester City F.C.}}
{{For|a statistical breakdown by season|List of Chester City F.C. seasons}}

===Formation and early years===
Chester F.C. was founded in 1885 as an amalgamation of Chester Rovers and Old King's Scholars F.C. and initially played their home games at Faulkner Street.<ref name="history">{{cite news |url=http://www.chester-city.co.uk/archive.asp |title=Chester City&nbsp;– a brief history |publisher=chestercity.co.uk |access-date=15 September 2007 |date=15 September 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327161505/http://www.chester-city.co.uk/archive.asp |archive-date=27 March 2010}}</ref>

After a few years of playing only friendly and occasional cup matches, Chester joined [[The Combination]] League in 1890.<ref name="history"/> In 1898 the club moved to The Old Showground, but were forced to leave a year later when the ground was demolished to make way for housing, leaving the club temporarily disbanded.<ref name="history"/> In 1901, however, they moved to Whipcord Lane;<ref name="history"/> again, their stay was only brief, as they moved out in 1906. Their new stadium on Sealand Road, called simply [[Sealand Road|The Stadium]], became their first long-term home and provided them with their first league success, as they won the Combination League in 1909.<ref name="history"/> In 1910, Chester moved to the [[Lancashire Combination]] League and stayed there until after [[World War I]], when they became founder members of the [[Cheshire County League]].<ref name="history"/> [[Charlie Hewitt (footballer)|Charlie Hewitt]] was appointed manager in 1930, and in 1931 Chester were elected into the [[English Football League|Football League]], replacing [[Nelson F.C.|Nelson]]<ref name="history"/>

===1930s to 1970s===
[[File:Sealand Road -geograph-1224050.jpg|thumb|Chester F.C. playing in front of the south stand at [[Sealand Road]] in September 1983.]]
Throughout the 1930s Chester never finished outside of the top ten in Division Three North.<ref name="history"/> During this period Chester recorded their biggest win in the [[FA Cup]], beating [[Fulham F.C.|Fulham]] 5–0 in 1933, and in 1936, they recorded their highest league victory; beating [[York City F.C.|York City]] 12–0.<ref name="history"/>

The period also saw Chester win the [[Welsh Cup]] for the second time after beating growing rivals [[Wrexham A.F.C.|Wrexham]] at Sealand Road in May 1933 and successive [[Football League Third Division North|Third Division North]] Cup wins. Unfortunately, the side was to be split up by the outbreak of the [[Second World War]]. Although the [[1946–47 in English football|1946–47]] brought a third-place finish and another [[Welsh Cup]] triumph, grim times lay ahead. No top half placings would be achieved until the lower divisions were merged in 1958, when Chester were placed in the [[Football League Fourth Division|Fourth Division]]. They would still have to wait another six years until they finished in the top half of the league.

Chester's fortunes began to take a turn for the better after the surprise appointment of [[South Africa]]n [[Peter Hauser (footballer)|Peter Hauser]] as manager in 1963, who put Chester in contention for promotion from the Fourth Division. In [[1964–65 in English football|1964–65]] all five forwards managed 20 goals&nbsp;– a unique achievement&nbsp;– as Chester scored 119 in the league, though they missed out on promotion.

Apart from missing out on promotion by just a point in [[1970–71 in English football|1970–71]] the next few years were largely uneventful. Chester kicked off the [[1974–75 in English football|1974–75]] season as the only [[the Football League|Football League]] team to have never won promotion – they finally broke their duck by finishing fourth in Division Four and pipping [[Lincoln City F.C.|Lincoln City]] to promotion by the narrowest of goal averages. [[Ken Roberts (footballer, born 1936)|Ken Roberts]] had the honour of being the first Chester manager to win promotion in the Football League, although much credit went to inspirational coach [[Brian Green (footballer)|Brian Green]], who for his efforts was presented the ''Coach of the Year'' award by the ''League Trainers’ and Coaches’ Association'' and went on to head the [[Australian men's national football team|Australian national team]].<ref>"New Coach for Socceroo Squad", The Australian Jewish Times (Sydney), 28 August 1975, Page 32</ref> 

[[File:Chester City FC League Performance.svg|thumb|left|Chart of Chester's annual table positions in the League.]]
That season also saw Chester reach the [[Football League Cup]] semi-finals. After beating Walsall, Blackpool and Preston North End, Chester hosted Football League champions [[Leeds United F.C.|Leeds United]] in round four. Two goals from [[John James (English footballer born 1948)|John James]] and one from [[Trevor Storton]] gave Chester a 3–0 win that is regarded as one of the greatest shocks in the competition's history. In the next round a goal from James meant [[Newcastle United F.C.|Newcastle United]] were defeated in a home replay to set up a semi–final tie with [[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]]. [[Brian Little (footballer)|Brian Little]]'s late goal in the second leg at [[Villa Park]] sealed a 5–4 win for eventual cup winners Villa.

Chester began to consolidate their position in the [[Football League Third Division|Third Division]] and enjoyed runs to the [[FA Cup]] fifth round in both 1976–77 and 1979–80 under former [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]] midfielder [[Alan Oakes]]. They achieved their best position since the lower divisions were re-organised in the late 1950s by finishing fifth in 1978, missing out on promotion (in the pre-play-off era) by just two points. Chester were also one of just two sides to win the short-lived [[Debenhams Cup]], a competition competed for by the two sides from outside the top two divisions to go farthest in the [[FA Cup]]. They beat [[Port Vale F.C.|Port Vale]] 4–3 on aggregate in 1977 to win their first English national trophy. Chester also continued their giant killing exploits by knocking [[Football League Division One|First Division]] [[Coventry City F.C.|Coventry City]] out of the [[Football League Cup|League Cup]] in [[1978–79 in English football|1978–79]] and [[Football League Division Two|Second Division]] leaders [[Newcastle United F.C.|Newcastle United]] from the [[FA Cup]] a year later. One of the goalscorers was homegrown teenager [[Ian Rush]],<ref name="rush interview">{{cite web |url=http://www.lfchistory.net/redcorner_articles_view.asp?article_id=2740 |title=Exclusive interview with Ian Rush |publisher=LFChistory.net |access-date=5 May 2009 |archive-date=9 May 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090509160016/http://www.lfchistory.net/redcorner_articles_view.asp?article_id=2740 |url-status=dead }}</ref> who would move for £300,000 to [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]] at the end of the season<ref name="rush interview"/> and go on to be one of the most famous Welsh strikers in history.

===Chester City===
[[Image:ccfcstadium.jpg|thumb|Chester City moved to the [[Deva Stadium]] in 1992.]]
After Rush departed the goals dried up for Chester and they were back in the basement by 1982. Two years later they finished bottom of the entire [[the Football League|Football League]] but were comfortably re-elected. By this point the club was known as Chester City, having added the suffix in 1983. A future star playing for Chester during this period was full back [[Lee Dixon]], who went on to win several major honours with [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]] and was capped 22 times by [[England national football team|England]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.claretsmad.co.uk/news/loadfeat.asp?cid=ED35&id=342602|title=Lee Dixon|publisher=Clarets Mad|access-date=5 May 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071020165253/http://www.claretsmad.co.uk/news/loadfeat.asp?cid=ED35&id=342602|archive-date=20 October 2007}}</ref>

Thanks to the signing of players including [[Milton Graham]], [[John Kelly (footballer born 1960)|John Kelly]] and [[Stuart Rimmer]], and astute management of [[Harry McNally]], Chester returned to the Third Division in 1986. Three years later they narrowly missed out on a play-off spot as McNally worked miracles on a limited budget, but further bad times lay ahead. In 1990, Chester moved out of their [[Sealand Road]] home and temporarily shared [[Macclesfield Town F.C.|Macclesfield]]'s [[Moss Rose]] ground. Despite regularly attracting tiny crowds, Chester defied the odds to avoid relegation from [[Football League Third Division|Division Three]] in both 1990–91 and 1991–92. They returned to the city, moving to the new Deva Stadium in 1992 in the renamed [[Football League Second Division|Division Two]] after a Football League restructure. The first competitive match at the Deva Stadium took place on 25 August 1992 against [[Stockport County F.C.|Stockport County]], with the visitors running out 2–1 victors. The following Saturday saw the first League game at the new home of Chester City, which saw the Blues overcome Burnley 3–0. The Deva Stadium is notable for being right on the England–Wales border: the pitch is in Wales, but the entrance and part of the club offices are in England.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.geograph.org.uk/showmap.php?gridref=SJ383662|title=Geograph Map|work=geograph.org.uk}}</ref>

Chester suffered a landslide relegation in their first season back in Chester, before winning promotion straight back as Division Three runners-up. The unexpected resignation of manager [[Graham Barrow]] and the departure of several key players in the close season of 1994 left Chester with a threadbare squad, and they were comfortably relegated back to Division Three in 1995. They would stay there for five years, suffering a play-off semi-final defeat to [[Swansea City A.F.C.|Swansea City]] in 1997.<ref>{{cite news|title=Summary |url=http://www.chester-city.co.uk/may97news.asp |publisher=chester-city.co.uk |date=30 May 1997 |access-date=5 May 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071202061553/http://www.chester-city.co.uk/may97news.asp |archive-date=2 December 2007 }}</ref>

===Financial problems and demise===
[[Image:ccfc.jpg|250px|thumb|right|Chester City at the [[Deva Stadium]], 2007.]]
Under owner Mark Guterman, Chester entered [[Administration (British football)|administration]] in October 1998. The club consolidated their position in [[Football League Third Division|Third Division]] under [[Kevin Ratcliffe]] in 1998–99 and were bought by the American sportsman [[Terry Smith (American football, born 1959)|Terry Smith]] in July 1999. Ratcliffe resigned the following month and Smith took over as manager, overseeing just four league wins in as many months in charge. [[Ian Atkins]] was brought in as manager, but Chester lost their 69-year [[English Football League|Football League]] status on 6 May 2000 on goal difference after losing to [[Peterborough United F.C.|Peterborough United]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Posh bury sorry City; Chester 0 Peterborough 1 |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4161/is_20000507/ai_n14506216/ |work=Sunday Mirror|date=7 May 2000 |access-date=3 May 2009 }}</ref>

The first season in the [[National League (English football)|Football Conference]] saw Chester finish 8th, but the campaign was overshadowed by continuing off-field problems. By the summer of 2001, Chester were in grave danger of going out of business and the appointment of the owner's friend [[Gordon Hill (footballer)|Gordon Hill]] as manager was deeply unpopular with fans. The arrival of new chairman [[Stephen Vaughan Sr.|Stephen Vaughan]] in September 2001 saw [[Mark Wright (footballer, born 1963)|Mark Wright]] appointed as manager and Chester avoided relegation in 2002. A year later they qualified for the Conference play-offs, but missed out on promotion by losing a penalty shoot-out to [[Doncaster Rovers F.C.|Doncaster Rovers]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Chester City 1 Doncaster Rovers 1|url=http://www.chesterchronicle.co.uk/chester-city-fc/chester-city-fc-news/2003/05/06/chester-city-1-1-doncaster-rovers-1-1-after-extra-time-doncaster-win-4-3-on-penalties-59067-12925054/|publisher=Chester Chronicle |date=6 May 2003 |access-date=3 May 2009 }}</ref>

Starting the [[2003–04 in English football|2003–04]] season as favourites to win the [[Football Conference]], Chester suffered just four defeats during the campaign, winning the title and promotion back to [[the Football League]] with a 1–0 victory over [[Scarborough F.C.|Scarborough]] in the penultimate match of the season.<ref>{{cite news |title=Chester City 1, Scarborough 0|url=http://www.chesterchronicle.co.uk/chester-city-fc/chester-city-fc-news/2004/04/19/chester-city-1-scarborough-0-59067-14160538/|publisher=Chester Chronicle |date=19 April 2004 |access-date=3 May 2009 }}</ref> It was the club's first national league title.
The day before the start of the 2004–05 season [[Mark Wright (footballer born 1963)|Mark Wright]] resigned.<ref>{{cite news |title=Wright resignation rocks Chester|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2004/aug/06/newsstory.sport12|work=The guardian|date=6 August 2004 |access-date=3 May 2009 |location=London }}</ref> [[Ray Mathias]] was left as the caretaker charge and by the end of August, Chester were bottom of the League. New manager [[Ian Rush]] helped the club avoid relegation, but was criticised by opposing managers for using "long ball" tactics.<ref>{{cite news |title=Chester frustrated in bid for Dragons |url=http://www.dailypost.co.uk/sport-news/wrexham-fc//tm_objectid=14851220&method=full&siteid=50142&headline=chester-frustrated-in-bid-for-dragons-name_page.html |publisher=Daily Post North Wales |date=9 November 2004 |access-date=3 May 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120229202420/http://www.dailypost.co.uk/sport-news/wrexham-fc//tm_objectid%3D14851220%26method%3Dfull%26siteid%3D50142%26headline%3Dchester-frustrated-in-bid-for-dragons-name_page.html |archive-date=29 February 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Rush resigned in April 2005 after chairman Stephen Vaughan dismissed assistant manager [[Mark Aizlewood]] without Rush's knowledge.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/c/chester/4415035.stm |title=Rush walks out as Chester manager |publisher=BBC Sport |date=6 April 2005 |access-date=4 June 2016}}</ref>

In April 2005, [[Keith Curle]] took over. A series of poor results saw Chester fall from fourth to bottom in [[EFL League Two|Football League Two]]. [[Mark Wright (footballer, born 1963)|Mark Wright]] surprisingly returned to the club and a run of five successive wins late in the season secured another campaign in the Football League. The 2006–07 season was most notable for the club's reinstatement in the [[FA Cup]] after [[Bury F.C.|Bury]], who had beaten Chester 3–1 in a second round replay, were thrown out for fielding an ineligible player, [[Stephen Turnbull (footballer, born 1987)|Stephen Turnbull]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Chester take Bury's FA Cup place |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/fa_cup/6186407.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=20 December 2006 |access-date=21 January 2008 }}</ref> Wright was sacked in April 2007, being replaced by Scotsman [[Bobby Williamson]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Williamson named new Chester boss |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/chester/6648759.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=11 May 2007 |access-date=21 January 2008 }}</ref> Williamson was sacked as manager in March 2008, after Chester had won only one of their last fourteen games.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/c/chester/7273561.stm |title="Chester manager Williamson sacked"&nbsp;– BBC Sport |work=BBC News |date=2 March 2008}}</ref> Club coach [[Simon Davies (footballer, born 1974)|Simon Davies]] replaced him after a spell as caretaker manager.<ref name="Chester appoint Davies as manager">{{cite news |title=Chester appoint Davies as manager |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/c/chester/7290262.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=11 March 2008 |access-date=11 March 2007}}</ref> Survival was clinched in the penultimate game of the season after a 0–0 draw with [[Stockport County F.C.|Stockport County]]. They ended their season at 22nd, their lowest position at the time since returning to the Football League in [[2004–05 in English football|2004–05]].

A poor start to 2008–09 saw Davies sacked in November 2008 with the club out of all cup competitions and struggling in the league table.<ref name="Manager Simon Davies sacked">{{cite news|title=Manager Simon Davies sacked |url=http://www.chester-city.co.uk/latest.asp |publisher=chester-city.co.uk |date=10 November 2008 |access-date=10 November 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081108153341/http://www.chester-city.co.uk/latest.asp |archive-date=8 November 2008 }}</ref> Mark Wright returned for his third spell as manager on a non-contract basis.<ref name="Chester reappoint Wright as boss">{{Cite news |title=Chester reappoint Wright as boss |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/c/chester/7730031.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=13 November 2008 |access-date=13 November 2008 }}</ref> Beset by an ongoing transfer embargo,<ref name="Chester stuck with transfer embargo">{{Cite news |title=Chester stuck with transfer embargo |url=http://www.ellesmereportstandard.co.uk/12201/Chester-stuck-with-transfer-embargo.4916599.jp |work=Ellesmere Port Standard|date=27 January 2009 |access-date=19 April 2009 }}{{Dead link|date=November 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Chester continued to struggle throughout the remainder of the campaign, and a 2–1 home defeat by [[Darlington F.C.|Darlington]] on the final day of the season sealed Chester's demise and a return to non-league football after five years back in The Football League.<ref name="Chester City 1 Darlington 2">{{Cite news
|title=Chester City 1 Darlington 2 |url=http://www.chesterchronicle.co.uk/chester-city-fc/chester-city-fc-match-reports/2009/05/02/chester-city-1-darlington-2-59067-23527564/ |publisher=Chester Chronicle |date=2 May 2009 |access-date=2 May 2009 }}</ref> Two weeks after the final match the club entered administration.<ref name="Chester enter administration">{{Cite news |title=Chester enter administration |url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11750_5330942,00.html |publisher=Sky Sports |date=17 May 2009 |access-date=17 May 2009 }}</ref>

The following month, creditors voted in favour of a rescue package by Stephen Vaughan's family,<ref name="Chester come out of administration">{{Cite news |title=Chester come out of administration |url=http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/sport/chester-fc/2009/06/12/chester-come-out-of-administration-92534-23852060/ |work=Liverpool Daily Post|date=12 June 2009 |access-date=13 June 2009 }}</ref> ahead of the [[National League (English football)|Football Conference]] board's AGM where the club was accepted into the [[National League (division)|Conference National]] with a 10-point deduction.<ref name="Manager Mark Wright leaves by mutual consent">{{Cite news |title=Manager Mark Wright leaves by mutual consent |url=http://www.chesterchronicle.co.uk/chester-city-fc/chester-city-fc-news/2009/06/22/chester-city-fc-web-exclusive-manager-mark-wright-leaves-by-mutual-consent-59067-23945443/ |publisher=Chester Chronicle |date=22 June 2009 |access-date=22 June 2009 }}</ref> He was replaced as manager by [[Mick Wadsworth]].<ref name="Chester appoint Wadsworth as boss">{{Cite news |title=Chester appoint Wadsworth as boss |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/c/chester/8124988.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=29 June 2009 |access-date=29 June 2009 }}</ref>

In the summer of 2009 Chester City was placed into the hands of administrators with debts of £7&nbsp;million, inclusive of Stephen Vaughan's £5.5&nbsp;million investments,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.football.co.uk/chester_city/chester_out_of_administration_286634.shtml |title=Chester out of administration&nbsp;– Chester City News from |publisher=football.co.uk |date=13 September 2011}}</ref> which incurred a 10-point penalty. This in turn was increased to a 25-point penalty once the [[HM Revenue and Customs|HMRC]] overturned a [[Company voluntary arrangement|CVA]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/david-conn-inside-sport-blog/2009/nov/18/chester-city-fit-proper-person-test |title=Chester City owner told by FA to surrender his majority shares |newspaper=The Guardian |last=Conn |first=David |date=18 November 2009 |access-date=26 December 2018}}</ref> A potential buyer emerged over the summer, when local fan Mike David Green sought to create a consortium with northern businessman Andy Jinks. However, any potential deal fell through due to Jinks' commitment issues. A new buyer was found for the club on 26 May 2009 in the shape of ''Chester City FC (2004) Ltd'',<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.chestercityfc.net/article/2784689/Club-press-release |title=Archived copy |access-date=8 August 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121108074741/http://www.chestercityfc.net/article/2784689/Club-press-release |archive-date=8 November 2012 }}</ref> a company set up by former chairman Stephen Vaughan and his family. The Football Association withheld the transfer of the affiliation membership from Chester City Football Club to Chester City Football Club 2004 Ltd, and on the eve of the new season stopped Chester City F.C. playing the first game of the 2009–2010 season away at [[Grays Athletic F.C.|Grays Athletic]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.footballconference.co.uk/news/1580/Statement_From_The_Board_of_th.html |title=Statement From The Board of the Football Conference Ltd Regarding Chester City FC (2004) Ltd |work=footballconference.co.uk |publisher=Football Conference |date=7 August 2009 |access-date=26 August 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090810213239/http://www.footballconference.co.uk/news/1580/Statement_From_The_Board_of_th.html |archive-date=10 August 2009}}</ref> This came less than 24 hours after the Football Conference released an "interim" press release stating Chester could take their place in the fifth tier of English football.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.footballconference.co.uk/news/1565/Official_Statement_by_Board_of.html |title=Official Statement by Board of the Football Conference Regarding Chester City (2004) Ltd |work=footballconference.co.uk |publisher=Football Conference |date=6 August 2009 |access-date=26 August 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090918133832/http://www.footballconference.co.uk/news/1565/Official_Statement_by_Board_of.html |archive-date=18 September 2009}}</ref> The club reluctantly cut back on the Centre of Excellence youth training scheme by retaining only their youth team. Fans waited at the Deva Stadium for a meeting with Stephen Vaughan and other board representatives to find out the truth regarding the future<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.chesterfirst.co.uk/news/76910/blues-chief-tells-fans-to-stay-positive.aspx |title=Blues chief tells fans to stay positive |first=Shaun |last=Best |work=chesterfirst.co.uk |date=7 August 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090813120734/http://www.chesterfirst.co.uk/news/76910/blues-chief-tells-fans-to-stay-positive.aspx |archive-date=13 August 2009}}</ref> and showed their support for the club by meeting in the city at the time that they should be kicking off the new season.

Chester City F.C. issued a press release on 10 August 2009 describing the meetings that took place between the club, FA and Football Conference regarding the transfer of the FA membership at the beginning of the 2009–2010 season. They confirmed that the home match against [[Gateshead F.C.|Gateshead]] had also been called off by the Football Conference, and that the FA had asked the other clubs to vote on whether Chester City should be allowed to continue in the division.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gateshead-fc.com/ |title=Gateshead Football Club&nbsp;– Official Website |publisher=Gateshead-fc.com }}</ref> The press release ended: ''We have now been informed that we must again await an FA decision which will be taken at some time on Thursday [13 August 2009] and can do no more than publicly express our ever increasing frustration with the entire process''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Club Press Release |url=http://www.chestercityfc.net/article/2819951/Club-Press-Release |website=chestercityfc.net |date=10 August 2009 |access-date=10 August 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090813234006/http://www.chestercityfc.net/article/2819951/Club-Press-Release |archive-date=13 August 2009 }}</ref> The FA granted the transfer of membership to Chester City Football Club 2004 Ltd at 16:00 on 13 August 2009.

On the pitch, Mick Wadsworth was sacked after a bad start to the season, during which he branded the club's atmosphere even worse than that of the original [[Gretna F.C.]], which he had managed during the club's final months of existence in 2008. [[Jim Harvey]] replaced Wadsworth and managed an immediate upturn in form, which gave fans some slim hope that the club might still survive in the Conference National. However, dwindling attendances, a pitch protest and continued financial problems meant that the playing squad was gradually released to cut the wage bill though, and Chester's improved form did not last. Harvey was himself sacked in January 2010 by Morrell Maison, the club's new director of football, who then installed himself as the new manager. He oversaw what was arguably the club's lowest moment when just 518 people turned up to see the team beaten 1–0 by lower-league [[Fleetwood Town F.C.|Fleetwood Town]] in the FA Trophy. By this point Chester were well adrift at the bottom of the table, and results did not improve. What proved to be the club's final match was a 2–1 home defeat against [[Ebbsfleet United F.C.|Ebbsfleet United]].

On 9 February 2010, Chester City failed to fulfil a fixture at [[Forest Green Rovers F.C.|Forest Green Rovers]]. It was reported by the [[BBC]] that the players refused to get on the team bus and that the players had also threatened twice to strike following non-payment of wages.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_conf/8493550.stm |work=BBC News |title=Chester City squad refuse to play |date=9 February 2010 |access-date=28 April 2010}}</ref> Three days later, the [[National League (English football)|Football Conference]] suspended Chester for seven days, during which their fixtures were suspended.

The suspension was to allow them to put their finances in order and respond to the charge of breaking five separate Conference rules. The breaches include the abandoned game against Forest Green and the cancelling of a game due to an unpaid police bill.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/c/chester/8471345.stm |work=BBC News |title=Chester hit by Conference charge |date=12 February 2010 |access-date=28 April 2010}}</ref> At a meeting of the [[Football Conference]] board on 18 February, it was recommended that Chester be expelled from the league because the members of the board "failed to be convinced" that the club would fulfil its fixtures. The decision ultimately rested with the other member clubs. An independent valuation at the time valued the club at just £1.

At this point Chester remained anchored to the bottom of the [[Conference National]] on −3 points.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/c/chester/8521746.stm |work=BBC News |title=Chester face Conference expulsion |date=18 February 2010 |access-date=28 April 2010}}</ref> The club was expelled following a vote at a general meeting between the member clubs of the league on 26 February at [[Nene Park]].<ref name="expel_2">{{cite news|url=http://www.heraldseries.co.uk/sport/oxfordunited/unitednews/5031116.Oxford_United_left_without_a_game_as_Chester_are_expelled_from_Conference/|last=Murray|first=Jon|date=26 February 2010|title=Oxford United left without a game as Chester are expelled from Conference|publisher=Herald Series|access-date=26 February 2010}}</ref> The results for the season so far were expunged from the record. On 9 March the club submitted an application to join the [[Welsh Premier League]],<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/c/chester/8558713.stm|title=Chester City seek Welsh Premier spot|date=9 March 2010|publisher=BBC|access-date=10 January 2017}}</ref> but the club was formally wound up in the [[High Court of Justice|High Court]] the following day.<ref name="woundup">{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/c/chester/8559704.stm |work=BBC News |title=Chester wound up at court hearing |date=10 March 2010}}</ref> The club's supporters' group, City Fans United (CFU), announced that they were looking to reform in the lower divisions of the English football hierarchy, with a CFU spokesman claiming the club would play football once again in the pre-season.<ref name="refname_windup" />

Falling attendances had done the club no favours during its final few years. The club's average attendance had stood at nearly 3,000 in the 2005–06 season, but in the relegation season of three years later it fell below the 2,000 mark. In the club's final season, attendances average less than 1,300; the lowest attendance on 19 January was a mere 425 (the lowest league attendance in the club's history in any division) and the attendance at the club's final home game on 6 February was 460.<ref name="woundup" />

On 25 March 2010 it was announced that CFU's new club would be called [[Chester F.C.]], and would play at the old club's [[Deva Stadium]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/c/chester/8586808.stm |work=BBC News |title=Chester fans choose new club name |date=25 March 2010 |access-date=28 April 2010}}</ref> The club began playing in July 2010 in time for the 2010–11 season, and was placed in [[Northern Premier League Division One North]], three tiers below where Chester City had been prior to their collapse. Three successive promotions took Chester F.C. into the Conference Premier in 2013.

==Colours and badge==
{{Football kit box
| align      = right
| pattern_la = 
| pattern_b  = 
| pattern_ra = 
| leftarm    = DD0000
| body       = DD0000
| rightarm   = DD0000
| shorts     = FFFFFF
| socks      = FFFFFF
| title      = Chester's original home colours
}}
Chester's original colours were red and white, and these colours were used until the club temporarily disbanded in 1899.<ref name="colours">{{cite web |url=http://www.chester-city.co.uk/club_colours.asp |title=A look back at City's colours |publisher=chester-city.co.uk |access-date=16 September 2007 |date=16 September 2007 }}</ref> The colours were changed to green and white, in 1901 when the club moved to Whipcord Lane.<ref name="colours"/> Various combinations were used until the outbreak of the First World War; these included green shirts and white shorts, green and white stripes and green and white halves.<ref name="colours"/> In 1919 the colours changed again, with their new dark green shirts earning Chester the nickname the ''Ivies''.<ref name="colours"/> 1920 saw another change of colours, this time to black and white, which earned Chester the nickname ''Magpies''.<ref name="colours"/> Black and White remained the colours until 1930, when they were changed to blue and white stripes.<ref name="colours"/> For the next thirty years the colours remained unchanged, with the exception of the [[1952–53 in English football|1952–53]] season, when Chester adopted white shirts and black shorts.<ref name="colours"/>

The colours were changed yet again in the [[1959–60 in English football|1959–60]] season, when it became green shirts and socks with gold trim and white shorts.<ref name="colours"/> 1962 saw Chester revert to blue and white stripes, albeit with a much thinner blue stripe, and blue shorts instead of the previous black ones.<ref name="colours"/> The [[1968–69 in English football|1968–69]] season saw Chester change to an all-sky blue kit, which remained for four years.<ref name="colours"/> In the [[1972–73 in English football|1972–73]] season the club again reverted to blue and white stripes, and in 1974 the seals badge appeared on the kit for the first time.<ref name="colours"/> A shirt sponsorship first appeared on Chester's kit in the [[1982–83 in English football|1982–83]] season.<ref name="colours"/> The blue and white and seals badge disappeared in the [[1983–84 in English football|1983–84]] season, as the re -named Chester City F.C. changed to blue shirts and white shorts.<ref name="colours"/> The shirt became predominately blue in the [[1988–89 in English football|1988–89]] season for the final season at Sealand Road.<ref name="colours"/> The first season at the [[Deva Stadium]] saw the colours change to a blue shirt with white speckles.<ref name="colours"/> The colours returned to blue and white stripes the following season.<ref name="colours"/> From 1995, the club appeared in blue and white stripes of varying thickness and shades.<ref name="colours"/>

In the [[1958–59 in English football|1958–59]] season the city's coat of arms was augmented onto the shirt.<ref name="colours"/> During the early to mid-1960s, the supporters association badge was used.<ref name="crest">{{cite web |url=http://www.chester-city.co.uk/crest.asp |title=The club's crests |publisher=chester-city.co.uk |access-date=18 September 2007 |date=18 September 2007 }}</ref> From [[1974–75 in English football|1974–75]] to [[1982–83 in English football|1982–83]], the club used the seals badge. The design was picked from a competition held by a local newspaper, with the winner coming from the school of art in Handbridge.<ref name="crest"/> The club's final crest was an adaptation of the City of Chester crest.<ref name="crest"/>

===Shirt sponsors and manufacturers===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
!Period
!Kit manufacturer
!Shirt sponsor
|-
|1976–83
|rowspan=3|[[Umbro]]
|''None''
|-
|1979–82
|Barratt
|-
|1982–83
|OkOK
|-
|1983–84
|[[Bukta]]
|Chester Engineering
|-
|1984–89
|rowspan=3|Hobott
|''None''
|-
|1986–87
|Chester Motor Auctions
|-
|1987–1991
|rowspan=2|Greenall's
|-
|1989–92
|rowspan=2|Ribero
|-
|1991–92
|Trident Metals
|-
|1992–95
|En-s
|rowspan=2|Corbett's
|-
|1995–96
|rowspan=2|[[Le Coq Sportif]]
|-
|1996–97
|rowspan=3|Saunder's Honda
|-
|1997–98
|[[Erreà|Errea]]
|-
|1998–2000
|Super League
|-
|2000–01
|Socca
|Gap
|-
|2001–02
|rowspan=2|Vilma
|Red Square
|-
|2002–04
|Pentagon
|-
|2004–05
|Prostar
|truetone
|-
|2005–08
|[[Nike, Inc.|Nike]]
|UK Sameday & Sekur Mortgages
|-
|2008–09
|Prostar
|Cestrian Trading & ASH Waste Services
|-
|2009–10
|Vandanel
|Anderson & Co. Solicitors
|}

==Reserve and youth teams==
Chester's reserve team played in the [[Central League (England)|Central League]] Division One West until [[2007–08 in English football|2007–08]] but after that point only staged friendly matches.

The club's youth set-up was enjoying its most fruitful spell since the late 1990s, with several products having graduated to the senior ranks. The youth team competed in the Youth Alliance North West Conference, while they were hoping to emulate their achievements in [[2006–07 in English football|2006–07]] of reaching the [[FA Youth Cup]] fourth round, when they surprisingly{{Citation needed|date=April 2010}} knocked out [[Tottenham Hotspur]].

Chester's [[Center of excellence|Centre of Excellence]] was officially closed down at the start of the 2009–2010 season, due to the club's relegation to the [[Conference National]], although most players remained at the club, with several, such as [[James Owen (footballer)|James Owen]], Jack Rea and [[Lloyd Ellams]] playing in the senior side in the club's final season.

==Managerial history==
Source:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chester-city.co.uk/managers.asp|title=First Team Managers|publisher=Chester City|access-date=18 March 2019}}</ref>
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}

*Selection committee (prior to 1930)
*{{flagicon|England}} [[Charlie Hewitt (footballer)|Charlie Hewitt]] (May 1930 – Apr 1936)
*Harry Mansley (caretaker, Apr – Jun 1936)
*{{flagicon|Scotland}} [[Alex Raisbeck]] (Jun 1936 – May 1938)
*{{flagicon|England}} [[Frank Brown (footballer, born 1890)|Frank Brown]] (May 1938 – May 1953)
*{{flagicon|England}} [[Louis Page (footballer, born 1899)|Louis Page]] (May 1953 – May 1956)
*{{flagicon|Scotland}} [[John Harris (footballer, born 1917)|John Harris]] (Jun 1956 – Apr 1959)
*{{flagicon|England}} [[Stan Pearson]] (Apr 1959 – Nov 1961)
*Selection committee (Nov 1961 – Jan 1962)
*{{flagicon|England}} [[Bill Lambton]] (Jan 1962 – Jul 1963)
*{{flagicon|South Africa}} [[Peter Hauser (footballer)|Peter Hauser]] (Aug 1963 – Feb 1968)
*Selection committee (Feb – Mar 1968)
*{{flagicon|Wales}} [[Ken Roberts (footballer, born 1936)|Ken Roberts]] (Mar 1968 – Sep 1976)
*{{flagicon|England}} [[Alan Oakes]] (Sep 1976 – Mar 1982)
*{{flagicon|Wales}} [[Cliff Sear]] (caretaker, Mar – Jun 1982)
*{{flagicon|Wales}} [[Cliff Sear]] (Jun – Nov 1982)
*{{flagicon|England}} [[John Sainty (footballer)|John Sainty]] (Nov 1982 – Nov 1983)
*{{flagicon|England}} [[Trevor Storton]] (caretaker, Nov 1963 – Jan 1984)
*{{flagicon|Wales}} [[Cliff Sear]] (caretaker, Jan 1984)
*{{flagicon|England}} [[John McGrath (footballer, born 1938)|John McGrath]] (Jan – Dec 1984)
*{{flagicon|England}} [[Mick Speight]] (caretaker, Dec 1984 – Mar 1985)
*{{flagicon|England}} [[Mick Speight]] (Mar – Jul 1985)
*{{flagicon|England}} [[Harry McNally]] (Jul 1985 – Oct 1992) 
*{{flagicon|England}} [[Graham Barrow]] (caretaker, Oct – Nov 1992)
*{{flagicon|England}} [[Graham Barrow]] (Nov 1992 – Jun 1994)
*{{flagicon|England}} [[Mike Pejic]] (Jul 1994 – Jan 1995)
{{col-2}}
*[[Derek Mann]] (caretaker, Jan – Mar 1995)
*[[Derek Mann]] (Mar – Apr 1995)
*{{flagicon|Wales}} [[Kevin Ratcliffe]] (caretaker, Apr – May 1995)
*{{flagicon|Wales}} [[Kevin Ratcliffe]] (May 1995 – Aug 1999) 
*{{flagicon|USA}} [[Terry Smith (American football, born 1959)|Terry Smith]] (Aug 1999 – Jan 2000)
*{{flagicon|England}} [[Ian Atkins]] (Jan – May 2000)
*{{flagicon|England}} [[Graham Barrow]] (May 2000 – Jun 2001)
*{{flagicon|England}} [[Gordon Hill (footballer)|Gordon Hill]] (Jun – Oct 2001)
*{{flagicon|Scotland}} [[Steve Mungall]] (caretaker, Oct 2001)
*{{flagicon|Scotland}} [[Steve Mungall]] (Oct – Dec 2001)
*{{flagicon|England}} [[Owen Brown (footballer)|Owen Brown]] (caretaker, Dec 2001)
*{{flagicon|England}} [[Mark Wright (footballer, born 1963)|Mark Wright]] (Jan 2002 – Aug 2004)
*{{flagicon|England}} [[Ray Mathias]] (caretaker, Aug 2004)
*{{flagicon|Wales}} [[Ian Rush]] (Aug 2004 – Apr 2005)
*David Bell (caretaker, Apr 2005)
*{{flagicon|England}} [[Keith Curle]] (Apr 2005 – Feb 2006)
*{{flagicon|England}} [[Mark Wright (footballer, born 1963)|Mark Wright]] (Feb 2006 – Apr 2007)
*{{flagicon|Wales}} [[Simon Davies (footballer, born 1974)|Simon Davies]] (caretaker, Apr 2007)
*{{flagicon|Scotland}} [[Bobby Williamson]] (May 2007 – Mar 2008)
*{{flagicon|Wales}} [[Simon Davies (footballer, born 1974)|Simon Davies]] (caretaker, Mar – Apr 2008)
*{{flagicon|Wales}} [[Simon Davies (footballer, born 1974)|Simon Davies]] (Apr – Nov 2008)
*{{flagicon|England}} [[Wayne Allison]] (caretaker, Nov 2008)
*{{flagicon|England}} [[Mark Wright (footballer, born 1963)|Mark Wright]] (Nov 2008 – Jun 2009)
*{{flagicon|England}} [[Mick Wadsworth]] (Jun – Sept 2009)
*{{flagicon|England}} [[Tim Ryan (footballer)|Tim Ryan]] / Billy Gerrard (caretaker, Sep – Oct 2009)
*{{flagicon|Northern Ireland}} [[Jim Harvey]] (Oct 2009 – Jan 2010)
*{{flagicon|England}} Morrell Maison (caretaker, Jan 2010 – Mar 2010)
{{col-end}}

==Rivals==
{{Main|Cross-border derby}}
Chester had a long-running rivalry with [[Wrexham A.F.C.|Wrexham]]. The clubs were just 12 miles apart but separated by the border between England and Wales. Wrexham edged the English–Welsh [[Local derby|derby]] with 30 victories to Chester's 26 in [[English Football League|Football League]] meetings. Between 1986 and 2005, the sides were in the same division in just one season ([[1994–95 in English football|1994–95]]) but they were then [[Football League Two]] opponents in the three campaigns from [[2005–06 in English football|2005–06]] to [[2007–08 in English football|2007–08]]. In [[2009–10 in English football|2009–10]] the sides clashed again in the [[Conference National]] after Chester followed Wrexham out of the Football League, resulting in a 0–0 draw before the club was recently dissolved.

[[Tranmere Rovers F.C.|Tranmere Rovers]] and [[Crewe Alexandra F.C.|Crewe Alexandra]] were traditionally strong rivals but Chester had not met either in a league game since the early 1990s. In recent times, a growing rivalry developed between Chester and [[Shrewsbury Town F.C.|Shrewsbury Town]], following a series of controversial meetings. In November 2006, a large brawl broke out between players of both sides at the end of Chester's 2–1 defeat at [[Gay Meadow]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Shrewsbury & Chester fined by FA |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_3/6323481.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=2 February 2007 |access-date=21 January 2008 }}</ref>

Following an alleged biting incident on [[Stockport County F.C.|Stockport County]] striker [[Liam Dickinson]], by [[Sean Hessey]], commenced a short-lived rivalry with their Cheshire rivals.

[[Macclesfield Town F.C.|Macclesfield Town]] were county rivals with Chester.

==Player records==
{{more citations needed section|date=August 2020}}
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Most Football League appearances
|-
!#
!Name
!Years
!Apps
!Goals
|-
|1
|{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Ray Gill]]
|1951–1962
|406
|3
|-
|2
|{{flagicon|WAL}} [[Ron Hughes (footballer, born 1930)|Ron Hughes]]
|1951–1962
|399
|21
|-
|3
|{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Trevor Storton]]
|1974–1984
|396
|17
|-
|4
|{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Eric Lee (footballer)|Eric Lee]]
|1946–1957
|363
|10
|-
|5
|{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Stuart Rimmer]]
|1985–1988; 1991–1998
|361
|135
|-
|6
|{{flagicon|WAL}} [[Derek Draper (footballer)|Derek Draper]]
|1968–1977
|322
|54
|-
|7
|{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Billy Stewart (footballer, born 1965)|Billy Stewart]]
|1986–1994; 1995–1996
|317
|0
|-
|8
|{{flagicon|WAL}} [[Tommy Astbury]]
|1946–1955
|303
|38
|-
|9
|{{flagicon|WAL}} [[Nigel Edwards (footballer)|Nigel Edwards]]
|1968–1978; 1982–1983
|299
|16
|-
|10=
|{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Graham Abel]]
|1985–1993
|296
|30
|-
|10=
|{{flagicon|WAL}} [[Billy Foulkes]]
|1948–1952; 1956–1961
|296
|37
|}
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Most Football League goals
|-
!#
!Name
!Years
!Apps
!Goals
|-
|1
|{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Stuart Rimmer]]
|1985–1988; 1991–1998
|361
|135
|-
|2
|{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Gary Talbot]]
|1963–1967; 1968–1968
|154
|83
|-
|3
|{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Frank Wrightson]]
|1935–1938
|89
|73
|-
|4
|{{flagicon|WAL}} [[Elfed Morris]]
|1963–1968
|167
|69
|-
|5
|{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Mike Metcalf]]
|1963–1968
|221
|68
|-
|6
|{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Cam Burgess]]
|1948–1951
|111
|64
|-
|7=
|{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Gary Bennett (footballer born 1962)|Gary Bennett]]
|1985–1988; 1990–1992; 1997–1999
|254
|63
|-
|7=
|{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Joe Mantle]]
|1932–1935
|74
|63
|-
|9
|{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Frank Cresswell]]
|1931–1934; 1935–1938
|173
|57
|-
|10
|{{flagicon|WAL}} [[Derek Draper (footballer)|Derek Draper]]
|1968–1977
|322
|54
|}

===Other player records===
*Most league goals in a season&nbsp;– 36 [[Dick Yates]] (1946–47)
*Record signing&nbsp;– £150,000 [[Kevin Ellison (footballer)|Kevin Ellison]] (2007)
*Record sale&nbsp;– £300,000 [[Ian Rush]] (1980)
*Most consecutive league appearances&nbsp;– 133 [[John Danby (footballer)|John Danby]] (2006–2009)
*Oldest league appearance&nbsp;– 40 yrs, 101 days [[Stan Pearson]] (April 1959)
*Youngest league appearance&nbsp;– 15 yrs, 350 days [[Aidan Newhouse]] (May 1988)
*Most capped player&nbsp;– 35 [[Angus Eve]], [[Trinidad & Tobago national football team|Trinidad & Tobago]]; (home nations)&nbsp;– 13 [[Billy Lewis (footballer, born 1864)|Billy Lewis]], [[Wales national football team|Wales]]

==Honours==
'''League'''
*[[Football League Division 3 North|Third Division North]] (level 3)
**Runners-up: [[1935–36 Football League Third Division North|1935–36]]
*[[Football League Fourth Division|Fourth Division]] / [[Football League Third Division|Third Division]] (level 4)
**Runners-up: [[1985–86 Football League Fourth Division|1985–86]], [[1993–94 Football League Third Division|1993–94]]
*[[Football Conference]] (level 5)
**Champions: [[2003–04 Football Conference|2003–04]]
*[[Cheshire County League]]
**Champions: [[1921–22 in English football|1921–22]], [[1925–26 in English football|1925–26]], [[1926–27 in English football|1926–27]]
**Runners-up: [[1930–31 in English football|1930–31]]
*[[The Combination]]
**Champions: [[1908–09 in English football|1908–09]]
**Runners-up: [[1903–04 in English football|1903–04]], [[1904–05 in English football|1904–05]], [[1905–06 in English football|1905–06]], [[1906–07 in English football|1906–07]], [[1907–08 in English football|1907–08]]

'''Cup'''
*[[Welsh Cup]]
**Winners: 1908, 1933, 1947
**Runners-up: 1909, 1910, 1935, 1936, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1958, 1966, 1970
*[[Football League Third Division North Cup|Third Division North Cup]]
**Winners: 1936, 1937
**Runners-up: 1946
*[[Conference League Cup]]
**Winners: 2001
*[[Debenhams Cup]]
**Winners: 1977
*Conference Championship Shield
**Runners-up: [[2001–02 in English football|2001]]
*[[Lancashire Senior Cup]]
**Winners: 1957

==International players==
{| class="wikitable"
|+Appearances and goals
|-
|Years
|Nationality
!Name
!Apps
!Goals
|-
|1887–1892
|align=center|{{flagicon|WAL}}
|align=center|[[Samuel Jones (footballer born 1866)|Sam Jones]] <br/>([[Wales national football team|Wales international]])
|align=center|—
|align=center|—
|-
|1888–1891
|align=center|{{flagicon|WAL}}
|align=center|[[Robert Lee Roberts]] <br/>([[Wales national football team|Wales international]])
|align=center|—
|align=center|—
|-
|1889–1891<br/>1895–1896
|align=center|{{flagicon|WAL}}
|align=center|[[Benjamin Lewis (footballer)|Ben Lewis]]<br/>([[Wales national football team|Wales international]])
|align=center|—
|align=center|—
|-
|1892–1898
|align=center|{{flagicon|WAL}}
|align=center|[[Billy Lewis (footballer, born 1864)|Billy Lewis]] <br/>([[Wales national football team|Wales international]])
|align=center|—
|align=center|—
|-
|1907–1914
|align=center|{{flagicon|WAL}}
|align=center|[[Robert William Matthews|Billy Matthews]] <br/>([[Wales national football team|Wales international]])
|align=center|—
|align=center|—
|-
|1938–1955
|align=center|{{flagicon|WAL}}
|align=center|[[Tommy Astbury]]<br/>([[Wales national football team|Wales international]])
|align=center|303
|align=center|38
|-
|1948–1951 <br/>1956–1961
|align=center|{{flagicon|WAL}}
|align=center|[[Billy Foulkes]]<br/> ([[Wales national football team|Wales international]])
|align=center|118
|align=center|14
|-
|1957–1959
|align=center|{{flagicon|ENG}}
|align=center|[[Stan Pearson]]<br/> ([[England national football team|England international]])
|align=center|57
|align=center|16
|-
|1961–1964
|align=center|{{flagicon|IRE}}
|align=center|[[Peter Fitzgerald (footballer)|Peter Fitzgerald]] <br/> ([[Republic of Ireland national football team|Republic of Ireland international]])
|align=center|80
|align=center|12
|-
|1978–1980
|align=center|{{flagicon|WAL}}
|align=center|[[Ian Rush]]<br/>([[Wales national football team|Wales International]])
|align=center|34
|align=center|18
|-
|1983–1986
|align=center|{{flagicon|WAL}}
|align=center|[[Andy Holden (footballer)]]<br/>([[Wales national football team|Wales International]])
|align=center|100
|align=center|16
|-
|1984–1985
|align=center|{{flagicon|ENG}}
|align=center|[[Lee Dixon]]<br/>([[England national football team|England international]])
|align=center|57
|align=center|1
|-
|1986–1996
|align=center|{{flagicon|ENG}}
|align=center|[[Billy Stewart (footballer, born 1965)|Billy Stewart]]<br/> ([[England C national football team|England semi-pro international]])
|align=center|317
|align=center|0
|-
|1991–1993
|align=center|{{flagicon|SCO}}
|align=center|[[Arthur Albiston]]<br/> ([[Scotland national football team|Scotland international]])
|align=center|68
|align=center|10
|-
|1993–1998
|align=center|{{flagicon|NIR}}
|align=center|[[Iain Jenkins]]<br/> ([[Northern Ireland national football team|Northern Ireland international]])
|align=center|195
|align=center|1
|-
|1995–1996
|align=center|{{flagicon|ENG}}
|align=center|[[Cyrille Regis]] <br/>([[England national football team|England international]])
|align=center|29
|align=center|7
|-
|1999–2000
|align=center|{{flagicon|TRI}}
|align=center|[[Angus Eve]]<br/> ([[Trinidad and Tobago national football team|Trinidad and Tobago international]])
|align=center|14
|align=center|0
|-
|align=center|2006
|align=center|{{flagicon|GHA}}
|align=center|[[Derek Asamoah]]<br/>([[Ghana national football team|Ghana international]])
|align=center|17
|align=center|8
|-
|align=center|2006
|align=center|{{flagicon|LUX}}
|align=center|[[Stephane Gillet]]<br/>([[Luxembourg national football team|Luxembourg international]])
|align=center|8
|align=center|0
|-
|align=center|2006–2007
|align=center|{{flagicon|ESP}}
|align=center|[[Roberto Martínez]] <br/>(Belgium national coach)
|align=center|31
|align=center|3
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070925152350/http://www.chester-city.co.uk/ Unofficial website] (archived)
* {{fchd |id=CHESTERC |name=Chester City }}

{{Chester City F.C.}}
{{Chester City F.C. seasons}}
{{Chester City F.C. managers}}
{{Former football league members}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chester City}}
[[Category:Chester City F.C.| ]]
[[Category:Defunct football clubs in Cheshire]]
[[Category:English Football League clubs]]
[[Category:Association football clubs established in 1885]]
[[Category:Association football clubs disestablished in 2010]]
[[Category:Defunct football clubs in England]]
[[Category:1885 establishments in England]]
[[Category:2010 disestablishments in England]]
[[Category:Lancashire Combination]]
[[Category:Companies that have entered administration in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Cheshire County League clubs]]
[[Category:National League (English football) clubs]]