Chesterfield set for reunion with popular midfielder who they tried to re-sign
Chesterfield are set for a reunion with a popular former Spireite this Saturday.
Sam Clucas was a fan favourite with supporters in the 2014/2015 season when they reached the League One play-off semi-finals and he remains well thought of 10 years on. The 35-year-old went on to play in the Premier League, commanding a reported transfer fee of £15m when he signed for Swansea City from Hull City.
Nowadays the midfielder is at Shrewsbury Town, who the Blues travel to this weekend. Clucas has two goals and five assists for the struggling Shrews, who are just two points above the drop zone, but are unbeaten in four in all competitions.
Interestingly, Spireites first-team coach Gary Roberts has recently revealed that they tried to bring Clucas back to the club a few years ago. “He’s a really good lad,” Roberts told 1866 Sport. “Always kept in contact with Clucas, had a great career, ended up Premier League. We tried to sign him back, we tried to get him back here. It was the season before last, last season possibly, but it never materialised and I think he went to Rotherham in the end. He’s a good pal of ours, good pal of the manager, really good player.”
As well as Clucas, Shrewsbury have another ex-Spireite in Tom Anderson. The centre-back has two loan spells at the Blues and won the League Two title with Doncaster Rovers last season before joining the Shrews in the summer.
On the flip side, Chey Dunkley will return to his former club for the first time since leaving them for Chesterfield in summer 2024. The defender spent two seasons at New Meadow before linking up with Paul Cook again at Town.