Veteran defender Kyle McFadzean admits he should have joined Chesterfield at the start of the season, rather than extending his time at Blackburn Rovers.
The 38-year-old made just one league appearance for the Championship club before switching to the Spireites on a free transfer in January. Now back playing regularly and living closer to home, McFadzean says he regrets not making the move sooner.
“I should have probably signed here at the start of the season. It is probably one of the only decisions I have got wrong in my career. I am buzzing to be here.”
Short-Term Deal With Purpose
The experienced centre-back has signed a short-term contract and is aiming to earn a longer stay. Having initially suffered a knee injury just two games into his Chesterfield career, he has since returned to start key matches against Gillingham and Fleetwood Town.
“That is what I am driving for,” he said of earning an extension. “We will see what happens.”
McFadzean also shared a more personal reason behind his motivation – wanting his young son to witness him play in person. “He watched me on TV last week. My missus said he sat through the whole game. Hopefully he gets to see me live,” he added.
Chesterfield boosted their play-off chances with a commanding 3-0 win over Fleetwood, leaving them four points off the top seven with four games remaining. McFadzean believes the momentum is building at just the right time.
“We’ve still got a slight chance,” he said. “We’ve got to take one game at a time and take care of ourselves. If we don’t do that, then nothing else matters.”
Reflecting on the Fleetwood match, McFadzean praised his team’s discipline after a cagey first half.
“They sat back, as many teams do here. We had to stay patient and we took our chances in the second half.”
The Spireites struck through Ryan Colclough, Ash Palmer and Paddy Madden after the break, keeping their promotion hopes alive heading into the final weeks of the campaign.
Writer’s View
McFadzean’s arrival may have come later than he or Chesterfield would have liked, but his presence could be crucial in their play-off hunt. His honesty and commitment shine through, and his leadership offers something extra both on and off the pitch. If he can help steer the club into the top seven, that new deal may well write itself.
