A global pandemic and a takeover: one year of covering Chesterfield FC

Boos rang around the now named Technique Stadium and a large chunk of Chesterfield fans had already headed for the exits when Scott Boden pulled a goal back with four minutes to go, but it wasn’t enough. A 2-1 home defeat to Woking it was.

It was my first match and just my second day covering the Spireites for the DT and I couldn’t help but think to myself: “What the bloody hell have I got myself into here?!”

In the next home game, Barrow could easily have had six before half-time. ‘I thought Graham said they had a chance of promotion this year?’ I said under my breath.

Not a lot has happened in my first year to be honest...apart from a managerial sacking, a takeover and a global pandemic. Did I mention #riflegate?

One player - who has since left the club - questioned my match ratings (join the queue, mate) and why I had given him such a low score. It won’t take too much head scratching to work out who that was! Fair to say the rest of the press room rather enjoyed that moment.

In all seriousness, I’ve really enjoyed the last year and I feel very lucky to be doing the job I do. Don’t get me wrong, I’d like a few more victories. Well, a lot more. It sounds daft but you feel part of it when they win.

Some people seem to think journalists want the team they are covering to lose all of the time because it makes for more ‘sensational headlines’. But nothing could be further from the truth. Winning makes the job much easier because everyone is happy to talk to you and fans want to read everything. Why would I not want to be reporting on wins, promotions, cup finals? There’s been a few times when I’ve punched the air or sent my laptop flying after a goal. Wrexham at home springs to mind.

I never thought I would become so connected to a club which is not the one I grew up supporting but I have. I’m hooked. I’ve come home happy after a win and gutted after a loss.

I’m desperate for them to do well this season. The second half of the last campaign gave me a little taste of what it could be like and I hope the good times are just around the corner.

A new era now starts under the guidance of the community trust and I know everyone has their fingers crossed that they can make a success of it. I think they’ll need a bit of luck especially with the challenges of Covid-19 so I’d urge you to help in any way you can whether it be signing up to Spire Lotto, spending in the club shop or volunteering.

Talking of support, yours is always much appreciated by everyone at the DT. More people read our stories now than ever before. Our Spireites content is always incredibly well read, so thank you for that. We’d love it if a few more of you would consider buying the paper, but we understand reading habits have changed and people don’t always have time to sit down and read something cover-to-cover. We’re a bit busy aren’t we?

For now, the Spireites players are due to start pre-season on August 24, the fixtures are set to be released on September 8 and the new campaign is scheduled to get underway on October 3. I’ll be doing my best to bring you the best coverage I can from every single game and I can't wait for it to start. Hopefully this time we’ll get to complete a full season. COYB.