Today we went to watch Chesterfield play in there second to last Pre Season Friendly ever at Saltergate, against Sheffield United.

Before the Game

We arrived at around 6.45pm as it was a 7.45pm kick off. We had our usual walk round and Dad took lots of photos with this being the final season at Saltergate. I think it is finally starting to become real that we are leaving Saltergate. I think it will be sad when we leave as I have many memories at Saltergate, as has my Dad who has been coming for over 30 years, but I do feel that we do need to leave if the club is ever going to move forward onto better things.

The Match

We entered the ground about 20 minutes before kick off and the players were warming up on the pitch. The whole match was rather poor and scrappy. Sheffield United’s Leigh Bromby put the blades 1-0 up on the 21st minute. A corner was only half cleared from Chesterfield’s Derek Niven and it fell right to Bromby to slot home. The blades went 2-0 ahead with a penalty scored by former Chesterfield player Jamie Ward who received a warm reception back to Saltergate after his move in January. Apart from the goals there were no real highlights in what was really a rather poor quality match.

The Spirites warm up

Sat on Compton Street, it will never quite be the same at the new stadium.

The teams walk out before the game

After the Game

After the game I managed to meet Sheffield United manager Kevin Blackwell, along with Sheffield United striker Jamie Ward and there new signing Andy Taylor while watching all there interviews along with an interview with John Sheridan where he stated that Jack Lester would not be leaving the club.

Sheffield United manager Kevin Blackwell

Jamie Ward

Andy Taylor

I listen to John Sheridan’s interview

 

Date of Event:22nd July 2009