Match preview: FC Halifax Town (a)

The Spireites are looking to extend their impressive run of form today when they face FC Halifax Town (12:30pm kick-off). They will be looking to keep the pressure on Notts County and Wrexham as the two teams show no signs of slowing down. 

Here’s all you need to know…

Match details

Date: Saturday, December 3, 2022

Kick-off: 12:30pm

Competition: National League

Opponents: FC Halifax Town

Location: The Shay 

Matchday Coverage

Live radio commentary

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

Commentary is provided by Phil Tooley. It is sponsored by National Windscreens.

Social media

Our official Twitter page (https://twitter.com/ChesterfieldFC) will provide regular updates on the match. It is also the place to find our exclusive goal GIFs, which are used when a player scores a goal. 

Key news will also be posted on our Facebook page, which can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/ChesterfieldFC.

Our official Instagram page will keep you posted with key moments and content throughout the day on our stories: https://www.instagram.com/chesterfieldfc/?hl=en.

The post-match interview with manager Paul Cook will be posted to our YouTube Channel soon after the game is finished: https://youtube.com/user/OfficialChesterfield.

Highlights of the game will also be posted to our YouTube Channel.

The Opposition

Fact file

Name: FC Halifax Town 

Nicknames: The Shaymen

Founded: 2008

Stadium: The Shay

Capacity: 14,401

Manager: Chris Millington

On FC Halifax Town

FC Halifax Town have only been around for a small number of years after they replaced Halifax Town AFC, which went into administration in the 2007/08 season. Huge tax debts buried Halifax Town A.F.C. after almost 100 years as a football club.

Halifax’s three main rivals are Burnley, Rochdale and Huddersfield Town. They have spent their years floating around the non-league pyramid and reached the National League in 2013. They have endured promotion pushing campaigns but are yet to be successful in their attempts to get to the Football League. They went close in 2019/20, losing to Boreham Wood in the play-off semi-final and also last season, when they were defeated by the Spireites in the play-off eliminator.

This season they sit in 15th position, after a poor start they have recently picked up some impressive results and will be looking to finish the year strong, with one eye on still finishing in the play-offs come the end of the season. 

One to watch

Jordan Slew is an English striker, born in the heart of Sheffield. Beginning his career at Sheffield United, he has had a number of clubs since such as Blackburn Rovers, Plymouth Argyle and Cambridge United.

He has also played for the Spireites – signing for the club in 2016 from Cambridge United – but only made seven appearances for the club, without scoring a goal. He is well renowned for his lightening quick pace and his ability to get in behind the defensive line.

He signed for FC Halifax Town in 2021 and has scored 12 goals in 44 appearances for the club. This season he has scored two goals in 14 appearances but has recently suffered with an injury that has kept him out of the side.

Recent Form

Chesterfield FC: W/W/W

FC Halifax Town: D/W/L

Last time we met

The last time the two sides met was back in June 2022, when the Spireites defeated the Shaymen 2-0 in the National League play-off eliminator – Danny Rowe and Jeff King scoring for the Blues.

Danny Webb’s thoughts

Speaking to the media, he said: “It’s always going to be difficult against Halifax; they’ve got a manager who was the assistant there for years. I’m sure players will run through brick walls for him.

“They had a really indifferent start, picked up some decent results and are now in an okay position now. I’m sure Chris [Millington] and his staff would like to be in a higher position.

“They are always built on hard work, Halifax teams. It’s a club where I think we’ve won probably more than we’ve lost, since I’ve been here. It’s still a tough place to go.

“They lost a lot of players [in the summer] but have recruited well. We’ll have to be ready for anything they throw at us.”

Ash Palmer made his debut early on in the FA Cup win over AFC Wimbledon, winning the fans’ Man of the Match for his solid performance.

The defender has fitted in straight away, according to Webb, as well as taking part in a practice match against Burton Albion.

He said: “He’s settled in really well. We had a behind-closed-doors game at Burton Albion on Tuesday. The boys did really well with ‘Palms’ being one of them.

“He’s basically had nearly two games since he’s arrived, so we’re getting his fitness up to scratch. Not just Palms but other players as well.”