'Matchdays bring us together as a town and there is not a lot does that these days' - Chesterfield chairman on the the beauty of home games
Another year in League Two is not going to stop Chesterfield FC trying to improve the matchday experience and bring in more supporters.
The SMH Group Stadium was busier last season than when it was hosting League One football more than a decade ago.
Earlier this year the club launched Project 9000 to investigate ideas to bring 9,000 fans through the turnstiles on a regular basis.
Past years often saw steep ups and downs in attendances at Chesterfield and other clubs depending purely upon results from week to week, but the hope is that those days are disappearing.
"There’s not a deal going on in Chesterfield. We are definitely the biggest show in town,” chairman Ashley Kirk told the Derbyshire Times.
"People are beginning to realise it is not just about the winning and losing. It is a good community day out. People come to have a great time.
"Matchdays bring us together as a town and there is not a lot does that these days.”
Those comments are backed up by the increasing number of women and children going to home matches.
While a loud, vociferous and partisan crowd helps the team, Mr Kirk says that winning shouldn’t necessarily be the be all and end all.
He added: "If we win, great. If we draw, fair enough. If we lose then you have to shake the opposition’s hand sometimes because they are allowed to play against you
"For every Chesterfield there is a Port Vale or a Burton or a Sheffield Wednesday and they all want to do well too.”
Meanwhile, supporters have until midday on Monday to retain their currently held seat for the 2026/27 season if they haven’t yet renewed.
Any seats that haven’t been renewed will go on general sale from next Friday.