'A season to forget but one which will be remembered forever' - review of Chesterfield's unprecedented 2019/20 National League campaign

A 46-game campaign cut down to 38 because of a global pandemic.

Unthinkable. Unbelievable. Unprecedented.

It was a season to forget but one which will be remembered forever.

A worst-ever league finish for the Spireites in front of record low attendances.

A shortened campaign which seemed to drag on forever.

For Chesterfield it started and, unexpectedly, finished against Dover.

The hope and expectation of a successful year under John Sheridan was crushed early doors. No wins in 10.

A first victory at the 11th attempt against Torquay United. It was a blip. Sutton away? Hammered 4-0.

The captain, Anthony Gerrard, stripped of the armband in mid-September for those social media comments. Released by mutual consent in January.

Results picked up in October with wins over Fylde, Wrexham and Notts County.

Ernie Moss turned 70. His standing ovation was one of the moments of the season.

Off the field, chief executive Graham Bean left after less than a year at the club as part of “ongoing cost-cutting measures.”

The win against County in front of the TV cameras was another false dawn.

November and December were awful with five straight home defeats.

Rock-bottom Chorley, with just one win prior, of course triumphing 3-2 at the Proact.

Hartlepool United ran riot as they hit Town for five causing a tumble into the bottom four. They looked doomed. A third relegation in four years looked likely.

Mike Fondop scored after just 12 seconds against Solihull Moors on Boxing Day - a record for the Proact Stadium.

The New Year arrived and after a 3-0 loss in the reverse fixture at Solihull Sheridan was sacked on January 2 after just one win in 12. Third bottom and five points from safety. The writing had been on the wall for a while.

John Pemberton was appointed as caretaker manager the same day and suddenly there was light at the end of the tunnel.

A takeover by the community trust was six weeks away, we were told.

Back-to-back wins in Pemberton’s first two games against Sutton and Eastleigh lifted spirits.

At the end of January the club paid tribute to former player, Jordan Sinnott, 25, who was killed on a night out. In the next home game, his good friend, Tom Denton, scored in the 25th minute. It was written in the stars.

In February, goalkeeper Ross Fitzsimons was recalled from his loan spell by Notts and went on to save Scott Boden’s first half penalty when the sides met later that week. He then rejoined the Spireites two days later. You couldn’t write it.

A dramatic last-minute winner against Wrexham was followed by a 23-minute hat-trick from 37-year-old Nathan Tyson to stun Ebbsfleet. He wrote his name into the history books by becoming the first Spireites substitute to score a treble.

An incredible seven-goal thriller against Harrogate Town ended in defeat, this time the Blues suffered late heartbreak. But what a game.

They did not know it at the time but Chesterfield’s survival was secured with a narrow and nervy win at Chorley on March 7. Finally, out of the relegation zone for the first time in almost four months. Phew.

The last match of the season at Dover came just a week later. All other games in the Premier League and EFL cancelled because of the pandemic. Not this one. Bonkers. 1-1.

The Spireites, in 19th, survive after clubs vote to cancel the remaining fixtures.

There was no six-pointer against fellow strugglers Maidenhead, no Easter double-header against Stockport and Barrow and no ‘squeaky bum time’ at Dagenham.

What would have happened if they had still been in the bottom four? Sleepless nights.

Would they have stayed up anyway if the season had resumed? Just, I think.

It could be a while before we are all back at the Proact cheering on the Blues.

There’s always next season, isn’t there? Let’s hope there is one.