Match preview: FC Halifax Town (h)

The Spireites are aiming to secure a fifth successive victory when they face FC Halifax Town at the SMG Group Stadium this evening.

Chesterfield currently sit at the top of the National League, three points ahead of both Solihull Moors and Barnet.

Here’s everything you need to know…

Match Details

Date: Tuesday, September 19, 2023

Opponents: FC Halifax Town

Kick-off: 7:45pm

Competition: Vanarama National League

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: FC Halifax Town

Nickname: The Shaymen

Founded: 2008

Stadium: The Shay

Capacity: 14,081

Manager: Chris Millington

Honours:

National League North Play-Off Winners | 2012/13 & 2016/17

Northern Premier League Champions | 2010/11

Northern Premier League Division One North Champions | 2009/10

FA Trophy Winners | 2015/16 & 2022/23

West Riding County Cup Winners | 2012/13

On Chris Millington

Chris Millington never had a professional playing career, going into management with stints at Oldham Athletic and Curzon Ashton. He joined FC Halifax Town in 2019 alongside Pete Wild. Upon Wild leaving for Barrow in 2022, Millington stepped up to the manager role. In his first season, he won the FA Trophy with his side winning 1-0 against Gateshead at Wembley Stadium.

One to watch

After early career spells at Bury, Burnley and a loan stint at Hartlepool United, Rob Harker joined FC Halifax Town in July 2022. The striker earned regular first-team football at The Shay and scored eight goals last campaign – as well as also being part of the FA Trophy winning side. So far this season, Harker is Halifax’s top scorer with a goal every three games.

This season in numbers:

Appearances – 9

Goals -3

Assist – 0

Yellow Cards – 0

Red Cards – 0

Minutes Played – 740

Played for both

The only current player from either side to have played for FC Halifax Town and Chesterfield, Jeff King spent two years in West Yorkshire. The full-back started out as a winger at The Shay. King scored seven goals in 68 appearances as Halifax challenged for the play-offs in both seasons.

He swapped Yorkshire for Derbyshire in 2021, signing for Chesterfield. King very quickly became a fans’ favourite at the SMH Group Stadium. In the two seasons he has spent with the Spireites, the 27-year-old has played over 80 times and scored 12 goals.

Pre-match view

Ryan Colclough said: “The fans inside this stadium are fantastic and they really are our 12th man.

“Winning our home games is important and we want to win as many as we can here inside this fantastic stadium.

“We have two home games now so we have to try our best to make them count.

“Both opponents are strong but we have to focus on ourselves and do our best to pick up maximum points. I’m really looking forward to the game.”