Legends of the Spire: Recent Episodes
legendsofthespire
The podcast interviewing the legends and cult heroes of English lower league football team Chesterfield FC.
After over three years I’ve decided that Legends of a Spire is coming to an end. It’s been a huge honour to talk to so many footballers, managers and fans over the last few years and hope you’ve enjoyed the podcasts.
I’ve also had loads of fun producing zines, scarves, prints and more with an amazing group of artists and designers. I may be back with something football related in a broader sense and under a new guise but for now I’m looking forward to a good rest and enjoying our return to the EFL.
I’m signing off with ‘The National League Years’ book (out next week) with Michael South photography. It’s been a big project and something we are really excited to be sharing with you all. We’ve got less that 50 of the first edition left and you can get yours here. https://thenationalleagueyears.bigcartel.com/
I’ll also be releasing a print about our Great Escape of 2003/4 with more news on that soon. Everything in the Etsy shop is now half price as a thank you and last chance to buy https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/LegendsOfTheSpire
For now though a huge thanks for your support over the years, it’s meant so, so much to me and I’ve made friends for life along that way. The podcast only lasted as long as it did thanks to the support of everyone that came along for the journey. Come on you blues!
It was two years ago when I first interviewed Ollie Banks about his first spell at Chesterfield. Little did I know then that the Barrow player was soon to re-sign for Chesterfield and help the Spireites win promotion this season.
Ollie and I had a catch up recently about his last two seasons at Chesterfield and the highlighs of this amazing season. Ollie has also contributed to 'The National League Years', a new book by myself and Michael South featuring matchday photography and player quotes from the last six seasons.
If you are interested in ordering a copy of 'The National League Years' book then the first numbered edition is now availble for preorder at the following link and limited to 204 copies (our tally of league goals and points from the title winning season).
You can find it here https://thenationalleagueyears.bigcartel.com/...
A big thanks to Ollie for coming on and I hope you enjoy it.
In the spell between our title winning game against Boreham Wood and the end of the season I had a chat with Jamie Grimes about his career and memories of this amazing season at Chesterfield FC.
We were actually having a chat because Jamie has written the foreword for a new book that I have compiled with Michael South Photography called 'Chesterfield FC - The National League Years'. The conversation wasn't originally intended for release but was such an interesting chat that Jamie was happy for me to put it out there to you all. Thanks Jamie!
If you are interested in ordering a copy of 'The National League Years' book then the first numbered edition is now availble for preorder at the following link and limited to 204 copies (our tally of league goals and points from the title winning season).
You can find it here https://thenationalleagueyears.bigcartel.com/
I hope to be bringing you more podcasts over the next few weeks and months and thanks for all of the support this season!
Sam Hird sits easily in the top 50 of players who have made the most appearances for Chesterfield FC and from 2012-2018 he virtually saw it all!
From a League 2 title win under Paul Cook and a near promotion to the Championship the season after, right through to relegation down to the National League only a handful of years later. Sam came to the club as captain but also in his time with the Spireites had to fight his way off the transfer list and work under a whole selection of different managers.
Now working for the PFA, Sam joined me to talk about how his experiences at Chesterfield, Doncaster and Barrow have shaped his life and career.
Matthew Greenan, aka The Stone Ranger on YouTube, is a lifelong Chesterfield FC fan, stone carver, and Peak District park ranger.
On Sunday 4 February, Matthew will be carving the Chesterfield FC badge into a piece of Derbyshire stone live on YouTube. The final work will be raffled off to raise money for the Ernie Moss Foundation, with tickets available via the Chesterfield FC website and social media channels.
I caught up with him in the days before the event to find out more about his history of stone carving and why he chose to take up the challenege of carving Chesterfield FC into stone.
You can see the stone carving live on his YouTube page below. youtube.com/@TheStoneRanger
Glyn Chamberlain is one of a small group of people who were born in Chesterfield, grew up supporting Chesterfield, and then went on to play for the club too.
After starting his footballing career as a youth player at Burnley, he then went on to represent Chesterfield from 1976-1981 under the management of the legendary Arthur Cox.
Since retiring from playing he has both coached and managed, but found his niche as a scout under managers like Neil Warnock, Sean Dyche, and now Paul Warne at Derby.
In this episode we spoke about his time at Chesterfield as a footballer, his career experiences elsewhere and what it takes to become a good scout.
Issue 5 of Legends of the Spire fanzine is out now!
This is the independent Chesterfield FC fanzine, formerly called Linda's Sandwich shop. The zine features 44 pages of content and this issue includes...
Cupets, Michael South's photos of 2023, Spanish Spireites, Cycling to Bangkok, Observations of National League streaming, a transcript of the podcasts interview with Ollie Banks in 2022, and lots more.
The zine is only £3 and includes free postage...and usually a few free postcards too.
You can buy the fanzine on the link below! https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/legendsofthespire
Adie Shaw spent two seasons as a player at Chesterfield from, from 1988-1990, after starting out under Brian Clough at Nottingham Forest and then spending some time at Halifax.
Injury forced retirement at a young age in 1990 but he stayed at Chesterfield to start on community projects for the club which included youth coaching and development of the first women's team in the town.
Adie now works for the EFL and joined me to talk about Cloughie, Paul Hart's Chesterfield, retirement, his love of the sport and the benefits of a positive mindset.
If you would like the latest issue of Legends of the Spire fanzine please visit etsy.com/uk/shop/legendsofthespire
Bob Bloomer started his Chesterfield FC career as a youngster, around the club during the title win the in 1984/85 season. Over the coming years he quickly became a feature in the Spireites midfield and was with the club until early 1990.
He then went on to enjoy a long spell at Cheltenham, via a couple of years at Bristol Rovers, and since retirement has had a successful coaching career.
Bob is now working for the EFL and joined me to talk about his memories from Chesterfield, including a stand out moment scoring against Sheffield United at Bramall Lane.
Chesterfield FC fan Daniel Cresswell is currently on an incredible adventure with his mate Alain, cycling from London to Bangkok.
I caught up with Dan as he was taking some much needed downtime in Albania to recharge the muscles and the bank account!
He told me about where the thirst for adventure came from, the highlights of the journey so far, and how he is keeping in touch with match results on the way.
You can follow their adventure here youtube.com/@DanielCresswell
And you can also follow him on X @djcresswe11 and Instagram @djcresswe11
They are also fundraising for The Spireites Trust, Islington Foodbank and CALM and you can donate on the following link https://givestar.io/gs/ER79M30
Despite growing up in the south, Steve Spooner actually made his name as a footballer at clubs like Derby County, Halifax and Chesterfield in the late 70's and early 80's.
After moving to Chesterfield in 1983, the midfielder was a key member of John Duncan's title winning team in the 1984/85 season. He moved to Hereford in 1986 but came back to Chesterfield, again under the management of John Duncan, in 1993.
After playing in non league up until he was 40, Steve then moved into coaching and has been at his current club, Birmingham City, for nearly two decades.
In this podcast Steve talks to me about his upbringing in the sport, fond memories of his time at Chesterfield and his love of coaching.
A fans favourite during his time at the club, striker Tom Denton was at Chesterfield from 2018-2022. He played under Martin Allen, John Pemberton, John Sheridan, James Rowe and Paul Cook.
Standing at 6"7, Tom was an imposing presence at the top end of the pitch during his time with the club, and scored important goals that stopped a drop into regional football and turned the club around in the process.
He joined me to talk about starting out with Wakefield, a Wembley trip with North Ferriby United, and those four seasons with the Spireites.
Something a little different for this weeks interview as I got in the car and drove to Nottingham to meet former Spireite defender, Bryn Gunn.
Due to us being in a pub beer garden this weeks episode is a little different and features some of what Bryn and I spoke about during my trip to Nottinghamshire.
The European Cup winner with Nottingham Forest spoke to me about his time under Brian Clough, signing for Paul Hart's Chesterfield, playoff defeats and how to take the perfect penalty.
Writer Stepehen Poxon joins Dave Garratt this week to talk his new book, ERNIE!
Ernie! is a heartfelt tribute to lower-league football hero Ernie Moss, a local boy made good who became a Chesterfield goalscoring legend. Ernie earned his place in footballing folklore for his phenomenal longevity and as Chesterfield's record goalscorer. It's a story of skill and success, heartbreak and honesty, football and family.
The book brings together memories from former teammates and fans to tell the story of a true legend and Stephen joins me to talk about the process of putting it together, his memories of putting it together and what he learnt about the Spireite number 8.
You can find out more about ERNIE! by visiting https://www.pitchpublishing.co.uk/shop/ernie
Rob Edwards had three seasons at Chesterfield FC from 2000-2003. During that time he was part of the promotion winning squad under the management of Nicky Law and played alongside previous podcast guests like David Reeves, Sean Parrish and Ryan Williams.
He also had two long spells at Huddersfield Town either side of his stint with the Spireites and scored a legendary goal in the playoffs in 2004.
Rob joined me to talk about his whole career from being up front, to in defence, and everything in-between.
Josh Law has an interesting past with Chesterfield FC. His Dad Nicky was a player in the 90s and manager in the 00s so he has fond memories of having a kick about around Saltergate with his cousin, a certain Ollie Banks.
He was then a youth player, and then pro, at Chesterfield in the 00s himself, so it was great to share some Spireites memories from his time from time associated with the club.
Now a coach at Harrogate time we also chatted about his time at clubs like Motherwell, Oldham and York and his move into coaching for the future.
Thanks for supporting the podcast. Please do grab the latest Linda's Sandwich Shop zine at etsy.com/uk/shop/legendsofthespire or by popping into Tallbird Records in Chesterfield town centre.
Steve Fletcher is a huge legend at Bournemouth but in just one season at Chesterfield he became a firm fan favourite there too.
Back in the 2007/08 season he moved up north to join Lee Richardson's Spireites as they tried to build for promotion. He formed a great partnership with Jack Lester that season and although the club missed out on promotion he is well remembered in the town.
Steve joined me to talk about that strike partnership, trips to the Old Firm derby with Jamie Winter and Peter Leven, and returning to Chesterfield for the last game at Saltergate after re-joining Bournemouth.
Still only 22yrs old, Levi Amantchi first joined Chesterfield back when the club was in League One. He was a youth player during the slide down from League One into the National League but got his chance under the management of Martin Allen as the Spireites started life in the National League.
A pacey and strong striker, Levi is currently at National League North club Brackley Town and he joined me to talk about life at Chesterfield, working with Martin Allen and being a footballer during Covid.
Ashley Foyle has enjoyed two spells at Chesterfield FC. Firstly as a product of the youth team and first team squad in the mid 00's, and then as a returning coach for the youth team a decade ago.
From printing his own number on his first team shirt to coaching a young Laurence Maguire during his return to the Spireites as a coach, I delved into his career so far and current role at Lincoln City.
Emma Young has been a Chesterfield fan since being lifted into the air by David Reeves during the pitch invasion after the dramatic last day relegation escape vs Luton in 2004.
She since went on to become the Head Physio at the Spireites before moving onto Coventry City at the start of the season.
Emma joined me to talk about working for the team she supports, managing players physical and mental health and what's in a physio's kit bag!
As Chesterfield fans we've all been extremely excited to see the new Matchwinner retro range go on sale this week.
To celebrate the new partnership between the iconic brand and the team I support I popped along to their HQ in Dewsbury to have a look around and chat with their Head of Design, Alistair Wood.
You can find the new Matchwinner retro range by visiting https://matchwinner.co.uk/product-category/licensed-products/chesterfield-fc/
With bags of pace and a willingness to take on any opponent Ryan Williams was a popular figure at Chesterfield FC.
After growing up in the town he finally got the chance to play for the Spireites in 1999 in a difficult season where the team ultimately got relegated. But they bounced back the season after with a promotion under Nicky Law, in a season full of turmoil behind the scenes.
Ryan joined me to talk about rooming with Michael Owen, celebrating in front of the away fans and the joys of an old fashioned winger.
I welcome Kieran Maguire from the excellent The Price of Football podcast on to the show this week to have a look at Chesterfield FC's recently published accounts for the year ending 30 June 2022.
Kieran cast an objective eye over some of the figures in the accounts whilst also picking up on some of the key trends in football finance today.
You can see the accounts on Companies House by visiting Companies House, searching for CFC 2002 Ltd and visiting the Filing History section.
A big thanks to Kieran for spending some time on the podcast. You can find The Price of Football podcast on all of your usual podcast platforms.
I spoke to Premier League Referee Graham Scott about taking charge of the last ever match at Chesterfield FC's beloved Saltergate ground.
That last game at the Recreation Ground, a 2-1 win over Bournemouth, in 2010 was memorable for a last minute winner from club legend Derek Niven.
We spoke about his memories of that day as well as his rise to the Premier League, pitch invasions, booking Jack Lester for diving and donating his shirt to the club after that final whistle.
Thanks to Graham Scott for giving up his time for the chat and the PGMOL for permission to publish.
I commissioned a German Heavy Metal band to make a new Chesterfield FC run out song!
Yes, you read that right! I found a chap called Tim Nightpain of Nebelhaus and commissioned him to write a new Rammstein inspired Chesterfield FC anthem for the team to run out to.
Here is the story behind it and the finished song!
Goalkeeper Billy Stewart only played two and a half games for Chesterfield but they were crackers, featuring in the famous 5-2 playoff game vs Mansfield and the Wembley final vs Bury.
Billy also had a long association with Chester as a player and has also coached every age group of goalkeeper at Liverpool.
He joined me to talk about his long career as a player, move into coaching, and washing Steve Ogrizovic's mammoth kit!
From Dundalk to Wembley, Colin Larkin enjoyed a long career in football playing for teams like Wolves, Mansfield and Chesterfield from 1999 through to 2014.
He was part of the Roy McFarland Chesterfield squad that had an amazing Carling Cup run in 2006 beating the likes of Wolves, Man City and West Ham along the way.
Colin joined me to talk about the qualities of the pressing forward, falling out with managers over a pub lasagne, punishing runs through Chesterfield town centre and his new career in teaching.
On Legends of the Spire this week I welcome our first choice goalkeeper from the 2021/22 season, Scott Loach.
Current Derby goalkeeper Scott is well known for spells at clubs like Watford, Ipswich, Hartlepool and Barnet and came on the podcast to talk about ghost goals, England call ups, and the smell of a fresh pair of gloves!
We also had a good chat about his eventful season with the Spireites which included managerial changes, title challenges and a memorable FA Cup trip to Chelsea!
Thanks for supporting the podcast. You can find me on social media @SpireLegends and even buy some merch at etsy.com/uk/shop/legendsofthespire.
Sam Clucas had a meteoric rise from Non League to Premier League in just five seasons, scoring in each league along the way. It all started after being released from Leicester as a youngster for 'being too small' and it was a spell in Glenn Hoddle's Spanish academy that got him back on track.
Sam is well remembered for his season spell at Chesterfield under Paul Cook which resulted in so nearly getting to the promised land of the Championship.
From Hereford to Hull, with spells at Mansfield and Chesterfield in between, Sam joined me to talk about that incredible journey and some unforgettable Spireite memories.
Nottingham born Calvin Plummer started his career at Brian Clough's Forest but had two spells at Chesterfield in the early and late 1980's. His highlight with the Spireites being a hattrick vs Stockport in the 1989/90 playoffs.
The flying, tricky winger was a crowd favourite at the club and also had spells at Derby, Barnsley, Plymouth and a short time abroad in Finland. He joined me to talk about his footballing career on and off the pitch so I hope you enjoy another trip down memory lane!
You can also buy the latest issue of Linda's Sandwich Shop Fanzine by visiting www.etsy.com/uk/shop/legendsofthespire
Thanks for listening!
Brian 'Fergy' Ferguson had a short playing career at Chesterfield due to injury but still managed to be a pivotal figure in the 1984/85 title winning team.
The full back (converted after a career in midfield) joined from Southend where he was playing under World Cup winner Bobby Moore and also played for Newcastle and Hull City amongst others.
He joined the Chesterfield coaching team under John Duncan after his early retirement from playing and joined me to tell some great stories about his time playing and coaching in the 1980's. Oh and he's a massive David Bowie fan. Enjoy!
If you want to write about your passion for football where do you start? That was the question I posed to writer Daniel Gray on the podcast this week.
Dan has a huge amount of experience as an author, screenwriter and podcaster. He joined me to talk about his new book 'The Silence of the Stands' and give some words of advice to any aspiring football writers out there.
Oh, and he's also a Middlesbrough fan so we had to talk about the 1997 FA Cup Semi Final too!
You can find out more about Dan's writing by visiting danielgraywriter.com
With just under 400 league appearances under his belt for Chesterfield Andy Kowalski proudly sits at number nine in the top ten appearance makers for the club.
He spent the whole of the 1970s and part of the 1980s at the club and played under half a dozen different managers and alongside some of the most iconic players in the clubs history.
The former holding midfielder took me through the managers he played under, his experiences at the club and his life post playing.
Thanks for supporting the podcast. You can find me on social media @SpireLegends and find all the links for the podcast, fanzine and merchandise at https://linktr.ee/legendsofthespire
This week I'm joined by professional cricketer and Spireite supporter Ben Slater. Ben was born and grew up in Chesterfield and picked up a cricket bat at an early age.
After playing for his home county Derbyshire he now plays for Nottinghamshire and has just won the Championship title with the Trent Bridge based club.
He joined me to talk about his favourite grounds, Brian Lara Cricket on the Playstation, who serves the best tea, his memories of Chesterfield FC and playing alongside former Sprieite Chris Marples.
You can follow the podcast on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by finding us @SpireLegends
Thanks for listening!
Goalkeeper Barry Roche joined Chesterfield on trial in the summer of 2005 and featured in friendlies against opposition including Matlock, Scarborough and...Malaga!
He played well over 100 games for the Spireites with the high point most definitely being the Carling Cup run of 2006 when we came up against the likes of Manchester City and West Ham.
Barry joined me on the podcast to talk about cup highs, league lows, finding resilience as a young professional and his long career in the sport.
I'm delighted to welcome Danny Wilson to the podcast this week. Danny spent nearly three years as a player with the Spireites in the early 1980's, lining up alongside legendary players like Alan Birch and Geoff Salmons.
He then came back to the club in late 2015 to become manager of a team on the slide and kept Chesterfield up against the odds in his first season as gaffer.
Danny joined me to talk about his two spells at the club as well as his new autobiography 'I Get Knocked Down'.
You can buy the excellent book at www.morganlawrence.co.uk/product/i-get-knocked-down-danny-wilson/
Please like, share and subscribe and you can support the podcast by treating yourself to some merch at www.etsy.com/uk/shop/LegendsOfTheSpire
Jamie joined Chesterfield's youth team as a child and was with the club throughout his teenage years under the watchful eyes of Dave Bentley and Mark Jules.
He didn't gain a professional contract with the club during a few tumultuous years when the management changed from John Sheridan to Paul Cook but has since enjoyed a great career playing and coaching in the USA.
We spoke about his time at Chesterfield, move to the USA and his coaching journey so far.
Please support the podcast by liking, sharing and subscribing.
You can also follow us on social media @spirelegends and even buy some merchandise at www.etsy.com/uk/shop/LegendsOfTheSpire
Thanks for listening!
This week I delve into the world of the Sports Journalism degree and welcome Holly Bacon to the podcast.
Holly is just starting the second year of her degree and has already worked for Morecambe FC, the Non League Paper, The Telegraph and Radio Sheffield.
She joined me to talk about her experience of working in sport so far and there is also plenty of Spireites based chat too!
George Carline was a member of the Chesterfield FC squad in the 20/21 and 21/22 seasons becoming a firm fan favourite during his time with the club.
He started his career at Cadbury Athletic with the smell of the chocolate factory in the air and found his way to Chesterfield after spells at clubs like Redditch, Solihull and Gloucester.
George joined me to talk about positional versatility, long throws, injury and the memories of his time with the Spireites.
You can support the podcast by liking, subscribing and leaving a review wherever you watch or listen to the pod.
You can also buy merchandise and the new Linda's Sandwich Shop fanzine at www.etsy.com/uk/shop/LegendsOfTheSpire
On the podcast this week I spoke to Alicia, Katie, Megan, Ruth and Stella about their experiences of being a female football fan.
We firstly talked about their history of supporting Chesterfield FC including memorable matches, favourite players and the highs and lows of the last few years.
We then spoke honestly about the negative side of supporting your team and the sexist abuse found on a matchday on a regular basis.
After spending time with Brentford as a youngster, goalkeeper Melvin Minter has played for a number of non league clubs and also had full time spells at Harrogate Town and Chesterfield.
Melvin joined me to talk about a rollercoaster year at Chesterfield last season including managerial changes, FA Cup runs and a dance that went viral.
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You can follow the podcast on Twitter and Instagram @SpireLegends and also on Facebook at Legends of the Spire.
You can also support the podcast by buying some merch at https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/LegendsOfTheSpire
In only the third round of games in the 22/23 season two of the favourites for the title come face to face as Chesterfield face Wrexham on Tuesday evening.
I spoke to Nathan from the 'Rob Ryan Red - Wrexham AFC' podcast to talk about the the last decade as a Wrexham fan, the well publicised takeover and (of course) a dig into the players that will decide who comes out on top when the two teams meet.
With the 2022/23 season just a few days away I'm joined by Dorking Wanderers match reporter Dan Stobbart to get the lowdown on Chesterfield's first opponents of the season.
Only founded in 1999, Dorking Wanderers have had an incredible rise through the leagues and will be aiming to surprise a few teams in the National League this season.
Dan joined me to talk about the history of the club, incredible promotions, Darren Oldaker and where to have your pre match pint.
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You can follow the podcast on Twitter and Instagram @SpireLegends and on Facebook by searching Legends of the Spire
Bennett Steele joined Chesterfield from Everton in 1958 and spent just one season with the Spireites before being sold to Gateshead but has some lasting memories of the club.
I went along to Bennett's house to record some of his career memories from his encyclopaedic mind. Featuring tactics and training in the 1950's, 'the best headed goal Saltergate ever saw' and playing alongside Gordon Banks. ___________________________________________________________________________
You can follow the Legends of the Spire on social media @SpireLegends and support the podcast by finding our merchandise at https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/LegendsOfTheSpire
Please like, subscribe and share to keep in touch with future episodes of the podcast that talks to the former players and managers of Chesterfield FC.
On the podcast this week I spoke to Dean Morgan, another one of the 2010/11 title winners at Chesterfield FC.
After a career that took him to places like Colchester, Luton and Reading, Dean joined the Spireites via MK Dons in the Summer of 2010. The winger formed great partnerships with forwards like Craig Davies and Dean Morgan that season to earn himself a title medal.
He joined me to talk through his career and highlights of that memorable first season at the B2net Stadium! ___________________________________________________________________________
You can follow the podcast on Twitter and Instagram @SpireLegends and on Facebook by searching Legends of the Spire.
You can also support the podcast by visiting the merch store at www.etsy.com/uk/shop/LegendsOfTheSpire
This week I spoke to commentator Adam Summerton about his broadcasting work for companies such as BT Sport and Amazon. From supermarket carparks to Champions League footage Adam joined me to talk about his career in the industry to date.
As the voice of the Vanarama National League coverage on BT Sport we also talked about his opinion on Chesterfield's 21/22 season and his thoughts on the upcoming season ahead.
You can find Adam on Twitter @adamsummerton
Thanks for supporting the podcast. Please like, share and subscribe. You can also support the podcast by visiting our merch shop on Etsy by visiting https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/legendsofthespire
Lawrie Madden made his name at clubs like Charlton Athletic and Sheffield Wednesday before joining Chesterfield as a veteran in 1993.
The defender joined me to take me through his whole career in 60 minutes featuring managers like Howard Wilkinson and Ron Atkinson, Cup finals, playing alongside Paul Cook and John Sheridan and writing match reports as a journalist after just playing in the match.
Please like, share and subscribe and you can also buy podcast merch at the Legends of the Spire Etsy store by visiting www.etsy.com/uk/shop/LegendsOfTheSpire
Ollie Banks spent three seasons at Chesterfield from 2013-2016, winning a league title and reaching a cup final along the way.
But that wasn't his first experience of life with the Spireites, as he was around the club over a decade earlier when his Dad was assistant to Nicky Law during our promotion campaign in 2000-01.
Ollie joined me to to talk about his early memories of Saltergate, the successful Chesterfield years and what happens when football and parenting meet. ___________________________________________________________________________
You can support the podcast by checking out our Legends of the Spire merch at https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/LegendsOfTheSpire
And follow the podcast on Twitter or Instagram at @SpireLegends and on Facebook by searching for Legends of the Spire.
I'm delighted to have Nathan Smith on Legends of the Spire this week. He was a hugely popular figure during his three seasons a Chesterfield from 2011-2014 where he experienced the lows of a relegation alongside the highs of a league title, a man of the match cup win at Wembley and player of the season accolades.
Outside of football he has been developing his own health drinks and working a motivational speaker so great to hear all about his journey from street footballer to entrepreneur .
So join me and Nathan for a trip down memory lane where we talk about his early career, record league appearances for Yeovil, book clubs with Sam Morsy, silent retreats and THAT tackle at Wembley. ____________________________________________________________________________________ You can find out more about Blendy here www.drinkblendy.com
Or by visiting Vegan Food 'n' Vibes veganfoodnvibes.com
The closing song is Town Song by Carl Newton https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0X99kk0yZc&t=80s
____________________________________________________________________________________ You can support the podcast by buying some merch from our Etsy page here https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/LegendsOfTheSpire?ref=simple-shop-header-name&listing_id=1186557421
Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @spirelegends and also on Facebook by searching for Legends of the Spire
Any footage used remains owned by the original license holder
This week I spoke to former New Zealand international Liam Graham about his incredible decade in football.
Starting out in Australia, and then a short spell in Japan, he found himself at Vicenza in Italy and then got caught up in a match fixing (not him) scandal at Pro Patria.
He arrived at Chesterfield in 2015 and after initially having to play under fake names in the reserves due to a registration issue he found his place in the team under Danny Wilson.
Injury sadly cut short his career but not before grabbing some caps for New Zealand and having his own Panini sticker.
It's bonkers this week! Enjoy!
Neal Trotman experienced a bit of everything in his football career. Starting with Burnley's youth academy the defender went on to play for clubs like Oldham, Preston, Southampton and, of course, Chesterfield.
Experiencing injury, big money moves, being released and early retirement it seems fitting that he has gone on to be a trained psychotherapist working with footballers to find their way through a career in the game.
You can hear the story of his playing and post playing career here and also find him at nealtrotman.com
Player, captain, coach and even referee! Steve Baines has done it all.
After a career at clubs like Nottingham Forest, Huddersfield and Bradford Steve joined Chesterfield in 1983, reuniting with John Duncan after their spell together at Scunthorpe. He captained the side that won the league in the 84/85 season whilst also assisting John Duncan with the coaching.
Amazingly he also went onto have a football league career as a referee and joined me to talk about his career on and off the pitch.
I'll be back with more former Chesterfield players in the coming weeks but in the meantime I thought it would be good to check in with another Chesterfield football podcast, SpireitesWrite.
We got together to talk about the ups and downs of podcasting about the spireites, highlights of the last few years and speculating about the legends of the future.
Give them a follow on social media @SpireitesWrite
On the podcast this week is Luke Feather, a boyhood Chesterfield fan and currently in his third year studying for a degree in Sports Media.
He joined me to talk about his media duties at Marine FC, his first memories of watching Chesterfield and his recent social media poll to find the best post Saltergate first XI.
Andy Leaning started his career with British Rail before a chance to become a professional goalkeeper with York City came alone. He was well liked at clubs like York, Lincoln and Bristol City before joining Chesterfield in the mid 1990's.
He combined being competition with Billy Mercer as well as being a coach while at Chesterfield and joined me to talk about memorable games, the FA Cup run and his move into coaching.
On the podcast this week I spoke with Luke Beckett, a striker that lived for scoring goals. He is well remembered at clubs like Chesterfield, Chester, Stockport, Huddersfield and Oldham in the early 2000s
He joined me to discuss finding his way in football, controversy around signing for Chesterfield, the qualities needed to be a goalscorer and his legendary strike partnership with David Reeves.
With over 200 appearances for Chesterfield FC in the 1990s, Tony Brien became a firm fan favourite with the Spireites. He joined me to talk about some of his favourite games including a 4-4 draw at Anfield and a trip to Wembley.
He also spoke about his experience of abuse when starting out in a career in football and I thank Tony for his openness and honesty on the podcast.
Legends of the Spire 1990s 'Top Trumps' cards can be purchased here https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1132644757/1990s-chesterfield-trumps-cards?click_key=3083309e772851c8574376e0b06ff648517a95fc%3A1132644757&click_sum=8fb2543e&ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=legends+of+the+spire&ref=sr_gallery-1-4&organic_search_click=1&frs=1
Goalkeeper Cameron Mason joined Chesterfield from Oldham in 2012 when he was just a teenage as an understudy to Tommy Lee and Richard O'Donnell. He was then nearly back at the club last season but I'll let him explain why that didn't eventually happen.
He racked up hundreds of games for Curzon Ashton and now Southport and joined me to talk about his beginnings in the game, England C call ups and life as a part time pro footballer.
Spireites
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On today's podcast we revisit some memories of the 1997 FA Cup Final between Chesterfield and Middlesbrough. An epic encounter full of goals and controversy.
Interspersed with clips from the match we hear from manager John Duncan and players Jamie Hewitt, Lee Rogers, Mark Jules, Tom Curtis, Tony Lormor and Andy Morris.
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James Montgomery joined Chesterfield at the tail end of the 2020/21 season and battled it out with Grant Smith for the #1 goalkeepers jersey.
Some impressive performances from him got Chesterfield into the playoffs but an injury vs Notts County (with no keeper on the bench) put an end to the season for him and the club.
He joined me to talk about famous relatives, horrific injuries and the characters around the Spireites squad.
For more information on his goalkeeping gloves company visit montegk.co.uk
Today on Legends of the Spire I'm joined by Martin Gritton. Martin joined Chesterfield from Macclesfield in January 2009 after a goal scoring performance against the Spireites influenced his purchase.
The forward talked to me about the pressures of being 'the replacement striker', the role of the target man and what music was playing in the Chesterfield dressing room.
Bob Newton has often been described as a barrel-chested forward and his no nonsense determined style was a favourite with the fans. He featured for teams like Huddersfield, Hartlepool, Port Vale and, of course, his hometown club Chesterfield.
He joined me to talk about his career, share some funny stories about life with John Duncan and recall a rather unbelievable encounter with Franz Beckenbauer.
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Chris Tingay was part of the Chesterfield FC youth set up from the age of 10 and signed a pro-contract with the club in the summer of 2010.
He joined me to talk about what it's like coming through the youth ranks of the team you support, that feeling when you get a pro contract and reconnecting with the club after being let go.
In this special episode I bring together some of my interviews from the last year to tell some of the stories from the 1994/95 promotion winning season. With incredible unbeaten runs, a 5-2 win vs Mansfield and a Wembley triumph over Bury this was a season to remember!
Featuring contributions from John Duncan, Lee Rogers, Jamie Hewitt, Nicky Law, Mark Jules, Tom Curtis, Steve Wilkinson, David Reeves, Andy Morris and Tony Lormor.
PC Adam Collins is a Dedicated Football Officer for Derbyshire Police with his role focussing on the whole police operation around football games for Chesterfield FC and other clubs in Derbyshire.
A boyhood Chesterfield fan it's been a strange journey for Adam, from the terraces as a supporter to working with the club to create a matchday that is safe and trouble free.
On this podcast we find out about a week in the life of a Dedicated Football Officer, how policing has changed over the years and his hopes for the future.
With a League Two title, Football League Trophy final and League One playoff finish, Paul Cook will go into the record books as one of the greatest Chesterfield FC managers of all time.
Not only was he a successful manager but he did it with style! Paul joined me to talk about his career to date, memories of his time at Chesterfield, his footballing philosophy and hopes for football going forward.
For more Legends of the Spire content you can find us on Twitter and Instagram using @SpireLegends and on Facebook by searching for 'Legends of the Spire'.
Beginning his football career in the Arsenal youth ranks, Alex Bailey signed for Chesterfield in the summer of 2004 thanks to the relationship between Pat Rice and Roy McFarland.
He went on to play nearly 100 games for the Spireites over three seasons and featured in the amazing League Cup run of 2006. Alex joined me to talk about coming up the M1, adjusting to League football and his career since retirement.
Mark Jules is well known in Chesterfield for being given the unenviable task of marking Juninho in the FA Cup Semi Final vs Middlesbrough in 1997. He spent much of the 1990's with the Spireites after moving from Scarborough in 1993 and was well liked by the supporters during his time there.
He went on to work with the academy at Chesterfield until 2013 and joined me to talk about his time at the club, man marking Brazilians and the evolution of the wing back role.
Jane Haslam is a pivotal football figure in North Derbyshire and beyond. Starting out playing in the works team when she was a teenager she went on to form Sharley Park Spireites in 1991, a club that became Chesterfield FC Women, celebrating their 30th anniversary this year.
She was also only the second woman to become a fully qualified FA coach and worked with the England set up, introducing players like Karen Carney and Ellen White to the International game.
I spoke to Jane, from her home in America, about her personal journey and development of the women's game in the UK.
Phil Picken started his career at Manchester United where he developed with players like Gerard Pique, Giuseppe Rossi and, another future Chesterfield player, Tommy Lee.
He joined Chesterfield in 2005 and spent five seasons with the Spireites, including a memorable cup game against his boyhood team, Manchester City.
Phil joined me to talk about moving to Chesterfield, his memories of playing professionally and the tough times when injury sadly cut his career short.
Steve Wilkinson joined Chesterfield in 1997 after a long career in football that saw him play up front for teams like Leicester, Crewe, Mansfield and Preston.
Those three years at Chesterfield were his last as a full time professional before moving into a career at Loughborough College that has seen him work with gold medallists and professionals from a variety of different sports.
I spoke to Steve about his fascinating career inside and outside of football.
For our third 'Meet the Fan' I spoke to Australian based Spireite Liam Corry about supporting Chesterfield FC from the other side of the planet.
From early memories of the Play Off Final vs Bury to more recent history with Paul Cook's title winning team we covered classic away wins, legendary players and favourite kits.
From 2018-2021 Jonathan Smith was part of the Chesterfield squad during a turbulent time in the clubs history. Reality of life in the National League, ownership issues behind the scenes and management changing on a regular basis meant it was a testing time on and off the Pitch.
Jonathan joined me to talk about his career before Chesterfield, the managers during his time in North Derbyshire, furlough, pressure and life after a full time football career.
Jack Broadhead came through the youth system at Chesterfield FC in 2011 and an unprecedented three year contract for the youngster ensured he was at the club until 2015.
He joined me to talk about his football career including marking Jack Lester in training, loan moves, match debuts and his current role at Worksop Town FC as both a player and football development officer.
Midfielder Phil Bonnyman started his career at Glasgow Rangers in the early 1970's. He joined Chesterfield on transfer deadline day in 1980 and the Scot went on to become one of the most popular players at the club.
During his time at Chesterfield he also scored against Rangers as the Spireites went on to win the Anglo Scottish Cup in 1981.
Phil joined me to talk about his long career in football and some of the great players at Chesterfield during his time at the club.
Glynn Hurst scored one of the most memorable goals in Chesterfield history when his late goal against Luton, on the last day of the season in 2004, secured the greatest of great escapes.
He joined me to talk about his early career in South Africa and move back to the UK with Tottenham, his memories of his time at Chesterfield and his move into teaching after retirement.
Working with both Chesterfield FC Women and the Chagos Islands, Jon Cotterill-Bolsover is a performance analyst and strength and conditioning coach for various different age groups.
We spoke about his route into sport, how even the smallest club can bring data analysis into their set up and how to get fit with just a spare 20mins a day.
John Duncan has been mentioned a lot on this podcast since I started it, as many of the players I have spoken to played under his management.
Undoubtedly one of the best ever managers in Chesterfield FC history he joined me to talk about the title win in 1984/85, the playoff win in 1995 and the incredible run to the FA Cup final in 1997.
Ricky Heppolette moved over to England from India as a toddler and settled in the North West. He started his football career at Preston before joining Chesterfield in 1976 after spells at Leyton Orient and Crystal Palace.
He joined me to talk about his career in football, the years working with Arthur Cox at Chesterfield and what he got up to after he finished playing...featuring balloons and Garfield.
After starting his career as a youth player at Glasgow Rangers, Peter Leven joined Chesterfield FC after a spell at Kilmarnock.
He flourished at Chesterfield in that 2007/08 season with the Scot becoming captain and scoring some great goals from midfield. Now coaching in Russia with FC Orenburg Peter joined me to talk about his career as a player and as a coach.
When the new Chesterfield FC Women's home and away kits were released a few weeks ago they caused quite a stir. The new shirts, produced to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the club were instantly incredibly popular.
I spoke to Ric from Hope + Glory Sportswear, the company behind the shirts, to talk about their ethos, the teams they have worked with and the process behind designing and manufacturing a football shirt.
In our second 'Meet the Fan' I spoke to Darryl Carpenter, who has been supporting Chesterfield FC for over half a century.
We spoke about his favourite memories of watching the team, losing the faith in recent troubled times and how good it would be just to make one appearance for the club you love.
Tommy Lee goes down as one of the most successful and popular players in modern times at Chesterfield FC, with two league titles and a cup win under his belt.
For nearly 10 years he was a reliable presence in between the sticks at Chesterfield FC and Tommy joined me to talk about his long career with the spireites.
With his electric pace, long hair and fiery temper Dave Caldwell was a cult striker everywhere he played. With spells at clubs like Chesterfield, Mansfield and Torquay he enjoyed a successful goal scoring career in the 1980's.
Dave joined me to tell me some funny stories from his football career, his interesting spells in Belgium and South Africa as well as his move into business after retirement.
Lee Francis spent a couple of seasons at Chesterfield FC after joining on loan from Arsenal in 1990, including playing in a playoff final in just his 5th appearance. The defender was a key member of the team until leaving the club in 1992.
He went onto play non-league football for a variety of clubs before spending four years learning the knowledge on his way to becoming a London Cabbie.
Volodymyr starting following Chesterfield FC just over 5 years ago and the supporter, who lives in Lviv in Ukraine, is now well known on social media for his love for the team.
He joined me to talk about being a long distance Spireite, what the club means to him and his highlights supporting the club.
Dave Waller was a prolific striker who found himself at Chesterfield after spells with Crewe and Shrewsbury in the 1980's. Loved by the fans he scored some amazing goals including an incredible winner vs Halifax.
He joined me to talk about his early career, the attributes needed to be a goal scorer and highlights from his career at Chesterfield which was cruelly cut short by injury.
I've had a few goalkeepers on the podcast before but Chris Marples is the first goalkeeper and wicket-keeper that I've spoken to.
We talked about juggling football and cricket throughout his career as well as his memories of playing for Chesterfield FC, Stockport County, York City and an epic cup run with Emley.
When Scott Griffiths joined Chesterfield FC on loan at the start of the 2010-11 season he joined a team that was on its way to the League 2 title, playing some amazing attacking football along the way.
Scott joined me to talk about that title winning season, his early career at Dagenham and Redbridge, a big move to Peterborough and ending his career at Luton.
After a long association with Oldham Athletic Mark Innes joined Chesterfield FC in December 2001. The left footed defender/midfielder went on to spend four years with the Spireites before moving on to Port Vale.
Mark joined me to talk about 7-0 defeats, red cards, relegation scraps and the pros and cons of being a left footer.
You can find out more about his coaching academy by visiting micacoaching.co.uk
Nicky Law celebrated promotion as a player and as a manager during his time at Chesterfield FC.
He joins us to talk about captaining the team during the playoff final win vs Bury in 1995, and the incredible 5-2 vs Mansfield in the semi final.
His tenure as manager coincided with the ownership of Darren Brown that ultimately ended with police raids and a 9pt deduction. He talks about how tough it was to be as manager that season, the reputational damage caused by that time at the club and welcomed the chance to tell his side of the story.
After a career at clubs including Telford, Doncaster and Northampton, Sean Parrish signed for Chesterfield in the Summer of 2000. He was a key member of the squad that won promotion that year in a time of turbulence behind the scenes.
We discussed his early career, the the high and lows of his time at the Spireites and his move into coaching.
19 year old old Regan Hutchinson has spent the last two seasons with the Chesterfield FC squad, making his debut vs Harrogate in 2020.
We talked about his career so far, how the pandemic has been frustrating for a young pro, the different managers he has played under and his hopes for the future.
Andy Morris scored one of the most iconic goals in Chesterfield FC history, the first goal in the 1997 FA Cup Semi Final vs Middlesbrough.
I caught up with Andy to talk about his long association with the club, his favourite matches, how the game changed and whether loyalty is a one way street.
Current Middlesbrough player and Egypt international Sam Morsy played for Chesterfield FC from 2013-2016 during a period of immense success under the management of Paul Cook.
Sam joined me to talk about the League Two winning squad, the key games from his time at the club, carrying winning form into League One and his legendary midfield partnership with Jimmy Ryan.
With nearly 400 appearances in over a decade at Chesterfield FC, Lee Rogers goes into the history books as one of the legends of the North Derbyshire club in the modern era.
Playing at Wembley twice (against Cambridge and Bury), countless local derbies and under a host of different managers he was a fixture of the late 80's and a large part of the 90's.
Lee joined us to talk about his career in the game with some side-splitting stories along the way.
A prolific striker in league football with teams like Scarborough and Halifax, Steve Norris joined Chesterfield FC in 1992 after winning a golden boot during his time in West Yorkshire.
Steve joined us to talk about what it takes to be a goalscorer, his fractious relationship with John Duncan and the epic 4-4 draw at Liverpool in 1992.
Sean O'Neill moved to England, from Belfast, as a teenager when he joined Leeds in the late 1960's. He joined Chesterfield FC in the summer of 1974 and went on to make well over 400 league appearances for the Spireites during his 12 years with the club.
We spoke about legendary Leeds players, a league title win, the Anglo Scottish Cup and running the Saltergate Social Club alongside playing.
Arsenal goalkeeping legend, coach and broadcaster Bob Wilson grew up in Chesterfield. Spending his teenage years playing for Chesterfield boys and England schoolboys he also spent time behind the goal at Saltergate watching the great Gordon Banks.
I spoke to Bob Wilson about growing up in Chesterfield, his amazing career (on and off the pitch) and the incredible work of the Willow Foundation.
Please support Willow Foundation by visiting www.willowfoundation.org.uk
From growing up in Dundee to joining the Leeds United youth system, alongside people like Scott Carson and James Milner, Jamie Winter enjoyed an exciting start to his footballing career.
Spells at Aberdeen, St Johnstone and Chesterfield followed and Jamie joins us from his home in Dundee to talk about Only Fools and Horses, local rivalries and square sausages.
A product of Wallsend Boys Club in the North East, Tony Lormor began his career at Newcastle United before moving on to Lincoln. After a short spell at Peterborough he moved to Chesterfield in 1994.
Tony joins us to talk about his early career and time at Chesterfield, featuring a playoff final win and epic FA Cup run. We then talked about his battles with Cancer and founding Briteside CIC, a company that supports people with the disease.
Drew Talbot joined Chesterfield on loan from Luton in 2009 and became one of the most decorated players during his time at the club, as well as a firm fan favourite.
A title winner under John Sheridan and Paul Cook, alongside a Wembley win, Drew joins the podcast to talk about those successful seasons, his positional versatility and becoming captain.
School work experience is an odd way to start your football career but that's how it began for Jamie Lowry at Chesterfield FC. A spell in the youth team followed before Jamie made his debut against Premier League opposition in West Ham.
Jamie joined the podcast to talk about cleaning the gaffer boots, scoring in the local derby against Mansfield, serious injuries and forging a career as a coach for Plymouth Argyle.
From the World Cup in 1998 to Saltergate in 2005, Paul Hall has had a fascinating career in the game that has spanned decades since making his debut for Torquay in 1990.
He spent two seasons at Chesterfield from 2005-2007 and was top goal scorer in his first season at the club. We talked about his early career, World Cup experience, time at Chesterfield and his new role as head coach for QPR's Under 23's.
Phill Walker joined Chesterfield under the management of Arthur Cox in 1977. As a fast and agile striker he quickly found his feet alongside some of the biggest names in Chesterfield FC history.
Phill joined us to talk about life under the fearsome Arthur Cox, coming face to face with his Liverpool heroes and winning the Anglo-Scottish Cup.
To mark the 40th anniversary of the Anglo-Scottish Cup win in 1981 we speak to Phill Walker, who played for Chesterfield FC at the time, about wining the cup.
Featuring the origins of the competition, playing Glasgow Rangers and beating Howard Wilkinson's Notts County in the final.
Alan O'Hare arrived at Chesterfield FC as a teenager, after working under Sam Allardyce at Bolton Wanderers, and he quickly established himself as the first choice left back in the team.
Now a recently qualified policeman Alan joins us to talk about league cup runs, bad tackles, the truth behind his last turbulent year at the club and his acting debut in the infamous Amarillo video.
After enjoying successful spells at Bolton, Carlisle and Preston, striker David Reeves signed for Chesterfield in 1997. He quickly became a crowd favourite in the town with chants of 'Reevesy' echoing around Saltergate.
David joins us to talk about his career in the game, favourite goal he ever scored and how his Chesterfield career nearly ended before it began after a misunderstanding with chairman Norton Lea.
Tom Curtis was a mainstay of the Chesterfield FC midfield for much of the 1990's and began his career at the club whilst also studying for a University degree.
As a key member of John Duncan's FA Cup Semi Final reaching team he enjoyed many happy years at Chesterfield and joins us to talk about the importance of team spirit, penalty taking duties and his subsequent move into coaching.
As a Coventry City legend, due to his long career with the club, many people don't associate Steve Ogrizovic with Chesterfied FC but that's where his football journey began.
Giving up a career in the police force to sign for the Spireites 'Oggy' played less than 20 games for Chesterfield before a big move to Bob Paisley's Liverpool.
We talk about his time at Chesterfield, his career post Spireites and life as a goalkeeper.
Aaron Downes moved from Australia to the UK as a teenager in 2004 to forge a career in English league football. After signing for Chesterfield following a successful trial he spent eight years at the club and became a firm favourite with the fans.
Now assistant manager at Torquay United we talk his career in the game, his move into coaching and the great Chesterfield League Cup run of 2006.
As captain of Chesterfield FC in the 2010/11 season, Dwayne Mattis had the honour of lifting the League 2 trophy in front of fans celebrating their first season in a brand new stadium.
He joins us to talk about life before joining Chesterfield, the talent in the league winning playing squad, taking on the captaincy and the importance of the fans to create a winning mentality.
Jamie Hewitt made his debut for Chesterfield in 1986 at the age of 17. A 17 year career at the club followed (apart from an unexpected year spent at Doncaster) with the highlight scoring the late equaliser in the 3-3 FA Cup Semi Final against Middlesbrough FC.
We talk about losing 10-0 against Gillingham, playoff finals at Wembley, that big FA Cup match and becoming the clubs physio upon retirement.