The Spireites kick-off the 2023/24 National League season with the visit of Dorking Wanderers to the SMH Group Stadium.
Paul Cook’s side will look to immediately bounce back from last season’s promotion final disappointment.
Here’s everything you need to know…
Match Details
Date: Saturday, August 5, 2023
Opponents: Dorking Wanderers
Kick-off: 3pm
Competition: Vanarama National League
Location: SMH Group Stadium
Tickets
Tickets are available for the fixture against Dorking Wanderers here: https://tickets.chesterfield-fc.co.uk/en-gb/categories/match
Please note that away fans must use block E1 and home fans can buy tickets in the Auto Windscreens (North) Stand.
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 Spireites legend Dave Waller.
Social Media
You can follow the action on our Twitter page (), where we will provide regular updates as well as our exclusive goal graphics, which are used when a player scores.
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 throughout the weekend.
The Opposition
Name: Dorking Wanderers Football Club
Nickname: The Wanderers
Founded: 1999
Stadium: Meadowbank
Capacity: 3,000
Manager: Marc White
Honours: Isthmian League Premier Division Champions | 2018-19
Southern Combination Division Three Champions | 2010-11
West Sussex League Premier Division Champions | 2006-07
West Sussex Division Two North Champions | 2003-04
West Sussex Division Four North Champions | 2000-01
Surrey Senior Cup Winners | 2021-22
On Marc White
The Dorking Wanderers manager/owner is certainly one of the biggest characters in the National League. White founded the team in 1999 and quickly saw the side rise up the leagues. In 2021, he became manager of Dorking and has since won promotion to the National League and kept the team in the fifth tier – their highest ever finish.
Ahead of the game, White said: “Chesterfield is definitely going to be a tough one that. We will have to come up with a game plan to combat Chesterfield.
“I think we are going to give them a lot more respect than we normally do opposition but I just feel like, the continuity that they have kept with the signings they have made at the back end of last season puts them in a really good stead this year.”
One to watch
Dorking do have an influx of talent that can cause problems and one player that signifies that is James McShane. The Wanderers man can play throughout the midfield and certainly has an eye for goal – scoring in both fixtures against the Spireites last campaign.
Last season in numbers: Appearances – 47
Goals – 17
Assist – 1
Yellow Cards – 8
Red Cards – 0
Minutes Played – 3,577
Played for both
Darren Oldaker is the only player to have spells with both Dorking Wanderers and Chesterfield. He joined the former in November 2021 and had a pretty short stint at Meadowbank. However, during that time he helped Dorking win promotion to the National League via the play-offs.
His form resulted in a move to Chesterfield in that summer and DJ immediately became a fan-favourite at the SMH Group Stadium. Four goals in 45 games helped the Spireites to the National League Promotion Final at Wembley. Oldaker was rewarded with a new contract last month.
View from the dugout
Danny Webb said: “I feel we’re ready to go, we’re ready for it. All this preparation in pre-season is for tomorrow, simple as that. The players are buzzing to get going and so are we.”
