Match preview: Solihull Moors (a)

The Spireites end 2023 by travelling to The ARMCO Arena to take on promotion hopefuls Solihull Moors.

Paul Cook’s side are aiming to finish what has been a fantastic year with a victory against a very good Solihull side.

Here’s everything you need to know…

Match Details

Date: Tuesday, December 26, 2023

Opponents: Solihull Moors

Kick-off: 3pm

Competition: Vanarama National League

Location: The ARMCO Arena

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: Aldershot Town Football Club

Nickname: The Moors

Founded: 2007

Stadium: The ARMCO Arena

Capacity: 5,500

Manager: Andy Whing

Honours:

National League North Champions | 2015/16

Birmingham Senior Cup Winners | 2015/16

On Andy Whing

Andy Whing had a 12-year professional playing career with spells at clubs such as Coventry City, Brighton & Hove Albion, Leyton Orient and Oxford United. The right-back also joined Chesterfield on loan from Brighton in 2010. Whing played 11 times for the Spireites, including the final ever game at Saltergate in a 2-1 victory against AFC Bournemouth. He had stints as a coach before becoming manager of Banbury United in May 2020. The 39-year-old spent three years at the Puritans and secured promotion to the National League North in the process. Whing joined Solihull Moors as manager in June 2023 and won the National League Manager of the Month award just two months later.

One to watch

After losing Andrew Dallas, Ryan Boot, Callum Howe and more, as well as being without Joe Sbarra, Solihull Moors went under a bit of a transformation in the summer. It was one of the players they signed back in July 2022 that has stepped up. Josh Kelly, who was in great form for Maidenhead United, continued his goalscoring antics with the Moors last campaign. However, the 25-year-old has already beaten his total for the 2022/23 season.

This season in numbers:

Appearances – 23

Goals – 12

Assist – 0

Yellow Cards – 2

Red Cards – 0

Minutes Played – 1,663

Played for both

George Carline joined Solihull Moors in 2016 from Hednesford Town and was part of a strong side that threatened promotion to the Football League. The versatile midfielder made over 100 appearances in his four years at the ARMCO Arena, scoring five goals. He left the club at the end of the 2019/20 season before joining National League North side Gloucester City.

Carline made nine appearances for the Tigers as he attracted interest from Chesterfield – he joined the club in December 2020. He immediately became a fans’ favourite despite the stadiums being empty because of the COVID pandemic. The 30-year-old made scored five times in 40 appearances for the Spireites and won the Player of the Year award for the 2020/21 campaign.

View from the dugout

Danny Webb said: “Solihull are a tough team; they’re fourth in the league. For us, it’s all focus on Boxing Day.

“They had a great start. We’re coming into town, taking a packed away end, and we have to deal with the pressure. If we turn up and play well, I’m sure we’ll get a good result.”