Tooley’s Take

Phil Tooley takes a look at the game and its context

Chesterfield 3 Maidenhead United 2 National League Game #46

Was our six-year National League sojourn ever going to end differently? Comfortable. Whoops. Late Winner. 3-2. The match certainly seemed to sum up this season, it was our sixth 3-2 win in this championship campaign, all of them (perhaps bar Wealdstone) full of drama.

Two-up, cruising, but remember, it’s Maidenhead United in the stripes. Then the Magpies nick two rapid responses and Tinky-Winky and her mates go wild (BTW, what fantastic support for them). We should have expected that after our previous record against Alan Devonshire’s side, probably the team that has said ‘National League’ more than any other. Tough, dedicated, unheralded but determined and uber-fit.

Tumbledown ground, smallish crowds but a proud history and a lot of very good footballers who we may never of heard of, but footballers that never know when to stop, footballers who know how to win football matches, regardless of the status of their opponents. Much that I’ve come to hate Maidenhead United and their ilk, I’ve equally grown to love what they are, what they stand for, how they continue to survive in a generally unfair football world (no replays? Who do they think they are?). That said, I’m so glad we’re out of there!

The game ended right on cue, a bit of Banks magic, his tenth of the season (nine NL plus one cup), in front of the Kop to ensure the post-match celebrations weren’t a tad flat.

That goal, #106 (a club record) in the NL, led to win #31 (a club record) meaning Town only failed to beat Oldham Athletic this season (they’ve never beaten every team in a single season); pity we ended on a club record 98 points, two more would have been very nice, but nevertheless, we can all lay on the beach in the summer, be it Blackpool or Bondi, looking back on a job well done, an end to the most unwanted spell in the club’s history. But we return to the EFL a stronger team, a stronger club than when we left it.

We can all relax now and observe the play-offs in both the NL and EFL2 plus the EFL1 relegation battle to see who will join us. We know there’ll be plenty of familiar foes against whom we’ll be able to renew our acquaintances. Grimsby Town, Swindon Town, Tranmere Rovers, Notts County, Bradford City, Carlisle United, Port Vale are all in the mix along with several of the ‘newer’ league clubs like Harrogate Town, Accrington Stanley, Morecambe, Salford City, AFC Wimbledon, Newport County and Fleetwood Town.

Can you see Paul Cook’s squad being able to compete with those guys? Of course! When the bookies start to formulate their odds, Chesterfield will be right up there in at least a play-off place, so if the gaffer can tempt a bit more quality into an already strong group, there’s nothing to say our competitiveness won’t continue.

Remember, the last four seasons have seen play-off eliminators, play-off semi-finals, play-off final, champions. This club has a winning record and a willing mentality stretching back over a long period of time.

Over the course of the season, many supporters have criticised the defence with skipper Jamie Grimes frequently getting some stick. His win percentage when starting the Spireites: First season at Chesterfield 43%, second season 52%, third season 69%. Looks good. Tyrone Williams, 43%, 57%, 71%. Far from shabby. Ash Palmer, two seasons, 48% and 66%. Not at all bad. As a comparison, FC Halifax Town reached the play-offs this season with a 41% win rate.

On the face of it, whilst too many goals may have been leaked, Chesterfield’s goal difference of +41 is ten better than the next best, Barnet, which says the balance between attack and defence has been about right. It’s our biggest GD since the 1969/70 season.

Do we need to improve? Of course, no doubt about that. I’d like to see a bit more pace at the back end, plus we’re not going to be as lucky with injuries as we have been this season, so a third quality striker is a must. Tweaks here and there will happen all over the park, but just remember, Paul Cook has improved players no end, Liam Mandeville and Joe Quigley leap out to tell that story, he’s attracted players to drop down much lower than you’d expect, last summer’s triumvirate of Grigg, Naylor and Jacobs are testimony to that, and with four championship medals in his underpants draw, he’s a record of success that beats any manager Chesterfield have ever employed.

And we all like and respect the ownership, we have a 50-year high level of support, so despite some of the ire that was blurted out in the post-BW run of LLLL, things at 1866 Sheffield Road are pretty rosy at the moment. No guarantee of success, but the opposite of what we’ve got (as well we know from recent history) is a guarantee of failure.

After going off air on the conclusion of the Maidenhead game, after saying hi to the family, I had to go and sit outside, on my tod, to compute what we’ve been through since losing at Preston North End in May 2015. Thoughts of desperate times on and off the park, threats of losing the club forever, Covid, bad people associated with my club. Every emotion flowed through my mind, tears were shed, mostly happy, as I’d just seen Chesterfield Football Club, along with 10,000 soul mates, wrap up the most incredible campaign the club has ever known.

Believe me, the cards are stacked in our favour, we’re on an upward trajectory. Remain positive, if you’re able, get your season ticket, potholes along the road are inevitable (real and metaphorical) and in a year’s time, whilst the team may not go straight through League Two, I’m pretty sure we’ll stretch the season into May!

Enjoy your summer, thanks for reading my words and cheers to the many who tell me they actually enjoy them!

Phil’s Positive: We’re back from Hell!

Next Match: Who knows? But it won’t be on a plastic pitch!

Chesterfield (4-2-3-1 to start): Tyrer; King (Clements 70), Williams, Grimes, Freckleton; Naylor, Oldaker; Mandeville Jacobs, Dobra (Banks 75); Quigley (Hobson 85). Subs (not used): Jones, Curtis.