With Chesterfield returning to the Football League after a six-year exodus, we thought we would take a look at the last Spireites team to play in the Football League.
The Derbyshire club will play Swindon Town in their opening clash on Friday 9 August under Paul Cook, who led his side to the National League title just one year on from their Wembley heartbreak against Notts County.
Town were condemned to back-to-back relegations with three games to go after Morecambe‘s point tally became insurmountable after drawing with Cambridge United. Manager Jack Lester left his role the previous day, meaning their season was seen out under caretaker manager and club captain Ian Evatt.
Now the boss of Bolton Wanderers, the 42-year-old led his team to Barnet, who were in their own fight against the drop needing a win to keep their hopes of survival alive. Morecambe claimed a point against Coventry City to also send the Bees down to non-league, where they remain today.
Goals from John Akinde, Richard Brindley and Alex Nicholls secured an easy win for the home side and ended a horrid season for Chesterfield on yet another whimper.
Joe Anyon was the man between the sticks, having returned from an arm break to play on the final day. He replaced a young keeper by the name of Aaron Ramsdale, who had played 19 games since January. Anyon only played twice more for the club, before moving to Chorley and retired in 2019.
At right-back was Brad Barry, who joined that summer from Swindon Town. He was initially loaned out to Dover Athletic, but an injury crisis saw him recalled after six games. The nephew of Aston Villa icon Gareth Barry, the defender ended up at Barrow and is now captain of Eastbourne Borough.
Laurence Maguire was the last player of that final squad to leave the Proact Stadium, departing this summer to join MK Dons. He played 173 times for Spireites across his time at the club and was loaned out to Crawley Town last season as they gained promotion to League One.
His partner in the middle of the defence was Alex Whitmore, in what was his final appearance for town after joining from Burnley for a free transfer. Grimsby Town was his next team and later played for AFC Fylde. He currently plays for Solihull Moors.
The final member of the back four was Jerome Binnom-Williams. He stayed for the club’s first season in non-league but soon moved on to FC Halifax Town. The 29-year-old has also played for Barnet and Maidstone United before ending up at Isthmian Premier side Dulwich Hamlet.
Drew Talbot was involved in the last game after returning to the club following a failed move to Portsmouth after his contract expired. He would retire at Chesterfield the following season having played a total of 259 times for the club across three spells.
Jordan Sinnott joined the club on a short-term deal in 2018 and played eight times in the league, scoring once against Port Vale. He moved on to Alfreton Town and Matlock Town before his tragic death in January 2020 at the age of 25.
The captain on the day was Robbie Weir, who stayed at the club until 2020. The former Burton Albion midfielder returned to the island of Ireland and joined Waterford, before moving to Belfast club Crusaders where he still plays today.
Jacob Brown was loaned into the club from Barnsley in January, making 13 appearances for Chesterfield. He would return to Oakwell before moving to Stoke City in 2020. Luton Town signed him for their maiden season in the Premier League and scored the winner that sealed their first home win in the top flight.
Up front was Louis Dodds, who joined in January from Shrewsbury Town. He would be loaned out to Port Vale the following season and dropped into non-league football with Chorley. Dodds retired from football this season with Hanley Town, where he is also a coach.
Partnering him up top was Kristian Dennis who was far and away the club’s top scorer that season. He netted 19 of the team’s 47 total league goals. He joined Notts County the following summer, and later moved to Carlisle United and Tranmere Rovers, where he plays today.
Evatt’s substitutes were Giles Coke, who later played for Grimsby before retiring, Joe Rowley, who plays for AFC Fylde and Luke Rawson, who plays for Stocksbridge Park Steels.
