As Newport County prepare to host Chesterfield on Friday night, we take a closer look at The Spireites.
What’s their story?
Founded in 1867, Chesterfield turned professional in 1891 and was initially known as Chesterfield Town. They entered the FA Cup the following year and joined the Midland League in 1896–97. The club achieved a successful application to the Football League Second Division in 1899 but faced challenges, including a return to the Midland League after failing to gain re-election in 1909.
Chesterfield was reformed as Chesterfield Municipal in 1919 and returned to the Midland League, winning the title in 1920. Renamed Chesterfield in December 1920, they became founder members of the Third Division North in 1921. They won the title in 1931 but struggled in subsequent years, suffering multiple relegations.
Significant achievements include winning the Fourth Division in 1969–70 and the Anglo-Scottish Cup in 1980. The club secured promotion to the Third Division via the play-offs in 1995 and reached the FA Cup semi-finals in 1997. After several ups and downs, including winning the League Two title in 2013–14, Chesterfield faced back-to-back relegations, dropping out of the English Football League in 2018. They returned to League Two after clinching the National League title last season.
Notable former players include record appearance holder Dave Blakey and all-time leading scorer Ernie Moss, with local rivalries most prominently featuring Mansfield Town.
Who’s the boss?
Paul Cook is the current manager of Chesterfield FC. Born in Kirkby, he began his career in 1983 at Marine but did not make any appearances. Cook enjoyed a 23-year playing career as a central midfielder, notably in the Premier League with Coventry City and also with Wigan Athletic, Norwich City, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Tranmere Rovers, Stockport County, and Burnley.
He began his management career in 2006 with Southport, followed by a stint at Sligo Rovers in 2007. Cook returned to English football in 2012 with Accrington Stanley before joining Chesterfield later that year, leading them to the League Two title in the 2013–14 season.
In May 2015, he became manager of Portsmouth, winning the League Two title in 2016–17. He moved to Wigan Athletic in May 2017, guiding them to the League One title and promotion to the Championship. However, after the club went into administration, Wigan was relegated in 2019-20, and Cook resigned in July 2020.
After a brief period without a club, he became manager of Ipswich Town in March 2021 but was dismissed by December. Cook returned to Chesterfield in February 2022 and led the club to promotion as champions in the 2023–24 season.
Who’s the skipper?
Jamie Grimes is the current captain of the Spireites, having joined the club in June 2021, after a successful season at Hereford, where he helped reach the FA Trophy final.
Grimes began his professional career at Cheltenham Town in July 2017 after signing from Dover Athletic. He made his EFL debut against Morecambe on August 5, 2017. After leaving Cheltenham in May 2018, he spent a year at Macclesfield Town, facing issues with unpaid wages, and then returned to Kent to play for Ebbsfleet United, departing after one season due to relegation.
On August 4, 2020, Grimes joined Hereford, where he notably played in the FA Trophy Final, though they lost to Hornchurch.
As Chesterfield’s captain, Grimes led the team to promotion back to the Football League as champions in the 2023-24 season, scoring a crucial brace against Boreham Wood on March 23, 2024. The 30-year-old central defender has previously played for clubs including Ebbsfleet United and Macclesfield Town.
Key players
Paddy Madden is a key player for Chesterfield. At 31, the forward is a prolific scorer in the Football League, with over 100 goals, primarily in League One. He began his career at Bohemians in Ireland before moving to Carlisle United in January 2011.
After struggling for first-team opportunities, Madden was loaned to Yeovil Town in October 2012, where he made an immediate impact, scoring twice on his debut. His nine goals in 16 games led to a permanent transfer, and he finished that season with 23 goals, earning the League One Golden Boot and scoring the winner in the Play-Off final against Brentford, securing Yeovil's first-ever promotion to the Championship. His performances earned him a cap for the Republic of Ireland in 2013.
In January 2014, he joined Scunthorpe United for around £300,000, helping the team secure promotion back to League One with five goals in his first season. Over three seasons, he scored 60 goals, becoming the club's top scorer.
Madden then moved to Fleetwood Town in January 2018, where he continued his scoring form, netting six goals in his first season and 19 in each of the next two. He has been crucial this season, contributing seven goals to help the Cod Army avoid relegation. He leaves Fleetwood as their all-time leading EFL scorer with 43 goals and is just ten goals shy of the all-time League One record.
With over 650 career appearances and a recent League Two title, Madden's career continues to flourish.
Another key player is Will Grigg. The Northern Ireland international, 31, began his football career at Birmingham City, joining their youth team at age seven. He moved to Walsall in 2008, where he excelled in the 2012–13 season, scoring 20 goals and winning Player of the Season honors. After 109 appearances and 28 goals, he transferred to Brentford in 2013.
At Brentford, Grigg faced injury setbacks, finishing the 2013–14 season with 4 goals in 36 appearances. A loan to MK Dons in 2014 reignited his form, with 22 goals in 50 games, helping the team earn promotion to the Championship.
In 2015, Grigg signed with Wigan Athletic for about £1 million, scoring 25 goals in the 2015–16 season and playing a key role in their promotion. Notably, he scored the winner against Manchester City in the FA Cup.
In January 2019, he joined Sunderland for a record fee of £3 million but struggled to find his form, scoring just once in the 2019–20 season. Before rejoining MK Dons, he had already won two League One promotions with Wigan and was part of Northern Ireland's Euro 2016 squad.
Returning to MK Dons on loan in early 2021, he made a significant impact, including a four-goal match against Swindon Town. After a loan to Rotherham in the 2021–22 season, he returned to MK Dons permanently in July 2022, netting seven goals in 48 appearances.
In June 2023, Grigg signed with Chesterfield in the National League, reuniting with former manager Paul Cook. He has represented Northern Ireland at various youth levels and made his senior debut in 2012, contributing to the national team during Euro 2016.
