Match preview: Kettering Town (h)

The Spireites enter the Emirates FA Cup for the 2023/24 season as they face Kettering Town in the fourth qualifying round.

Chesterfield have reached the third round of the competition in the last two seasons and will be hoping for a repeat.

Here’s everything you need to know…

Match Details

Date: Saturday, October 14, 2023

Opponents: Kettering Town

Kick-off: 3pm

Competition: Emirates FA Cup

Location: SMH Group Stadium

Tickets

Tickets are available for the fixture here: https://tickets.chesterfield-fc.co.uk/en-gb/categories/match

Live Radio Commentary

Our in-house radio station, 1866 Sport, will provide exclusive full match commentary on the game, as well as pre and post-match analysis.

Don’t forget that 1866 Sport is on air 24-hours a day, seven days a week!

You can download the app from the Apple Store here: https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/1866-sport/id1580041321

If you’re an Android user, you can download the app here: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.radio.ma57501030

Alternatively, you can listen online here: https://streaming.radio.co/s47db4a4f3/listen

It is also available via Alexa.

Our dedicated matchday show is sponsored by National Windscreens and will see commentator Phil Tooley joined by a special co-commentator.

Social Media

You can follow the action on our Twitter page (https://twitter.com/ChesterfieldFC), where we will provide regular updates.

Key news and moments will also be posted onto our Facebook and Instagram pages.

Pre/post-match interviews and highlights will be posted to our YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6hnRkCdElagLJlOqlgukPA) throughout the weekend.

The Opposition

Name: Kettering Town Football Club

Nickname: The Poppies

Founded: 1872

Stadium: Latimer Park

Capacity: 4,500

Manager: Andy Leese

Honours:

Conference North Champions | 2007/08

Conference League Cup Winners | 1986/87

Midland League Champions | 1895/96 & 1899/00

Southern League Champions | 1927/28, 1956/57, 1972/73 & 2001/02

Southern League Premier Division Central Champions | 2018/19

Southern League Division One Champions | 1960/61

Southern League Division One Central Champions | 2014/15

Southern League Division One North Champions | 1971/72

Southern League Eastern Division Champions | 1927/28 & 1928/29

Southern League Cup Winners | 1974/75

United Counties League Champions | 1904/05 & 1938/39

On Andy Leese

Andy Leese has vast experience of managing in non-league football. He has managed the likes of Enfield Town, Chesham United, Potters Bar Town, Boreham Wood and Somersett Armoury. Leese joined Kettering Town in the summer following the club’s relegation from the National League North but has so far struggled as the Poppies currently lie in the relegation zone of the Southern League Premier Central.

One to watch

Despite a difficult start to the season for Kettering Town, one player that has been a shining light is Tyrone Lewthwaite. The striker joined the Poppies last October after having stints at Aylesbury United, Beaconsfield Town, Chesham United and Hampton & Richmond.

This season in numbers:

Appearances – 13

Goals – 8

Assist – 1

Yellow Cards – 0

Red Cards – 0

Minutes Played – 1,150

Played for both

Leon Clarke spent three months on loan at Chesterfield back in 2011, joining from League Two Swindon Town. The striker quickly became a fans’ favourite, scoring nine times in 14 appearances. Unfortunately, Clarke returned to Swindon in January and subsequently joined Charlton Athletic in the same month.

After spending a good portion of his career in the Championship and the Premier League, the 38-year-old joined Kettering Town at the end of September. Clarke has played two games so far for the Poppies.

View from the dugout

Danny Webb said: “Kettering are a serious team, they can cause problems. I’m really looking forward to the game and the FA Cup just never gets old, does it?

“The buzz of the FA Cup and its fixtures just get you going. It’s a competition we all love to be involved in and play in.”