[stainlessstephen]

General question and fully open to debate.

I am from Leek, Staffordshire. I was born, raised and thoroughly love this town, and Leek Town FC.

But why Chesterfield? I'm an outsider.

In the late 70s, my dad used to be a good bricklayer. His van fell on his back (never buy cheap Chinese tools) so took up market trading. Ashbourne to Bakewell found it's way to Chesterfield. I do remember the market place politics well, between W. Ayres, Ibbotsons, and Ernald Hill. I remember Mum and Dad calling Hill the Ayatollah...

So being tied to paper rounds and uploading a rotten Transit van, and remembering the bulldozers attacking Chesterfield in the late seventies. I overall developed a fondness for the town and eventually a true love for the football team.

As time moves on both parents have gone, but perhaps my proudest moment as a father could be converting my middle son from a Blade to a Spireite...

Intrigued to hear of other stories and journies..

[Lincs Spireite]

Simple, you can take the lad out of Derbyshire but you can't take Derbyshire out of the lad.

[warfey is a spireite]

I'm from Nottingham but watched town since 1968 lived in Leicestershire now last 30 yrs but came most matches till illness

[azul]

warfey is a spireite, on 28 August 2023 - 07:49 AM, said:

I'm from Nottingham but watched town since 1968 lived in Leicestershire now last 30 yrs but came most matches till illness

Are you ill? Get yourself a physio

[Alice Cooper]

stainlessstephen, on 28 August 2023 - 12:54 AM, said:

General question and fully open to debate.

I am from Leek, Staffordshire. I was born, raised and thoroughly love this town, and Leek Town FC.

But why Chesterfield? I'm an outsider.

In the late 70s, my dad used to be a good bricklayer. His van fell on his back (never buy cheap Chinese tools) so took up market trading. Ashbourne to Bakewell found it's way to Chesterfield. I do remember the market place politics well, between W. Ayres, Ibbotsons, and Ernald Hill. I remember Mum and Dad calling Hill the Ayatollah...

So being tied to paper rounds and uploading a rotten Transit van, and remembering the bulldozers attacking Chesterfield in the late seventies. I overall developed a fondness for the town and eventually a true love for the football team.

As time moves on both parents have gone, but perhaps my proudest moment as a father could be converting my middle son from a Blade to a Spireite...

Intrigued to hear of other stories and journies..

stainlessstephen, on 28 August 2023 - 12:54 AM, said:

General question and fully open to debate.

I am from Leek, Staffordshire. I was born, raised and thoroughly love this town, and Leek Town FC.

But why Chesterfield? I'm an outsider.

In the late 70s, my dad used to be a good bricklayer. His van fell on his back (never buy cheap Chinese tools) so took up market trading. Ashbourne to Bakewell found it's way to Chesterfield. I do remember the market place politics well, between W. Ayres, Ibbotsons, and Ernald Hill. I remember Mum and Dad calling Hill the Ayatollah...

So being tied to paper rounds and uploading a rotten Transit van, and remembering the bulldozers attacking Chesterfield in the late seventies. I overall developed a fondness for the town and eventually a true love for the football team.

As time moves on both parents have gone, but perhaps my proudest moment as a father could be converting my middle son from a Blade to a Spireite...

Intrigued to hear of other stories and journies..

Respect....You're a top man.

[hilly81]

Born in Crewe. Lived in Winsford for a few years before moving to Rochdale. Moved to Holme Hall when I was 6. Supported Liverpool (Dads team, went to a lot of games when I was young). Went to Saltergate with some school mates in 1992 and started going regularly in 1995. Never looked back. Now live back in the North West after 25 years in Chesterfield. Don’t care about Liverpool.

[DOUGLAS JARDINE]

What I love about supporting town is going on holiday being in a sports bar on a Saturday afternoon and all the premier matches on tv and hers me going mental if a goal goes in on soccer Saturday you genuine get respect from the bigger teams fans they admire a home town fan

Genuinely feel blessed I was born here and Chesterfield is my town and my club

Blueesssssss 💙

[clarevoyant.]

DOUGLAS JARDINE, on 28 August 2023 - 09:14 AM, said:

What I love about supporting town is going on holiday being in a sports bar on a Saturday afternoon and all the premier matches on tv and hers me going mental if a goal goes in on soccer Saturday you genuine get respect from the bigger teams fans they admire a home town fan

Genuinely feel blessed I was born here and Chesterfield is my town and my club

Blueesssssss 💙

Yes being born 12 miles to the north or the east could have been a total disaster.

[Carlisle_Spireite]

I'm Chesterfield born and bred and was always raised as a Spireite by my dad. We were both season ticket holders for a number of years through the early to mid 00's.
I now live in Carlisle because I met my wife here.
Would love to move nearer and get a season ticket again someday.

[stevie_b]

I'm from Yorkshire and am a die hard White Rose. Yeah, yeah, I know that you know 😆

I grew up in Chesterfield though so when I pestered Dad to take me to football, Saltergate's where we went.

Your team's your team, innit? Once you have one, you don't change. Well, most folk don't anyway ,🙂

[Osborne again]

Born in Town, but my older brother tried turning me towards Shoreham Street. It didn't work, because I've been supporting Town since the early sixties, and will do till I die. Never been a fancied club, but who cares, we're all Town aren't we.

[Benno Spire]

Loving the passion being shown in this thread.I was born in Chesterfield but my family moved to Australia when I was 4. My dad tells me he took me to a game before we emigrated but can’t remember it. Returned to Chesterfield in April 1980 and my grandad took me to watch the game against Chester which was Ian Ruush last game before he moved to Liverpool and we won 3-0 I think and I was hooked. Both my daughters are now big Spireites as well.

[HoneyTrippa]

stevie_b, on 28 August 2023 - 10:41 AM, said:

I'm from Yorkshire and am a die hard White Rose. Yeah, yeah, I know that you know 😆

I grew up in Chesterfield though so when I pestered Dad to take me to football, Saltergate's where we went.

Your team's your team, innit? Once you have one, you don't change. Well, most folk don't anyway ,🙂

Total respect to you Stevie. Your a Top Lady. We hear of so many stories the other way, where people from Chesterfield are supporting the Blades or Owls. Very honourable of you. And respect to all the other posters in this thread too, living in other locations but with total dedication and commitment to the Spireites. Big Up to you all. We truly have a wonderful and diverse fanbase.

[Sussex Spireite]

I'm born and bred in Burton-upon-Trent, my parents moved from Chesterfield when Brampton Brewery closed down and my dad got a job at Ind Coope.

For my 13th birthday in 1974, my dad asked what I wanted and I said take me to a football match. I didn't specify where I wanted to go as I just naturally assumed he would take me to Derby County as they were one of the best teams around in 74 and all my mates supported them.

So one cold Saturday lunchtime in February we set off up the A38. There was no bypass around Derby in those days, so you drove through the centre. I wasn't paying much attention and before I knew it, we were driving through Belper, and the conversation went something like this:

Me: Where are we going Dad?
Dad: Chesterfield
Me: Why?
Dad: You said you wanted to go to a football match?
Me: Yes, Derby County
Dad: No son, you're going to support Chesterfield for the rest of your life like, wether you like it or not. Now put this blue and white scarf on your mum knitted you for your birthday!

And the rest is, as they say history.

[stainlessstephen]

I have so many wonderful memories of the town and our great club.

Like dad driving over the Peak District in thick fog and 6ft snow drifts, my Oric 1 computer from the shop on Stephenson St, playing on the electronic games in Martin, Boots and the Co-op, the diesel in the van freezing up at the top of Crowdecote bank, the miners' strike, Mary's cafe and Hudsons in the market hall, my first shirt from Spire Sports and wearing it at school for PE, plus the many matched won and lost, promotions and relegation and near misses.

Spireite till I die.

[trickytrevsfanclub]

I was born at Scarsdale and lived about 200 yards away from the anway end at Saltergate and could hear the roar from the ground when I was a kid. Unfortunately only went to one match, which was in 1978, with my next door neighbour before getting the bug proper in 1985 when I started going regularly with mates from school.
Big respect to all those that travel a good distance as even now I still live within easy walking distance of the ground.

[Siberian Spireite]

stainlessstephen, on 28 August 2023 - 01:18 PM, said:

I have so many wonderful memories of the town and our great club.

Like dad driving over the Peak District in thick fog and 6ft snow drifts, my Oric 1 computer from the shop on Stephenson St, playing on the electronic games in Martin, Boots and the Co-op, the diesel in the van freezing up at the top of Crowdecote bank, the miners' strike, Mary's cafe and Hudsons in the market hall, my first shirt from Spire Sports and wearing it at school for PE, plus the many matched won and lost, promotions and relegation and near misses.

Spireite till I die.

I had the day to myself yesterday so drove to Leek (from Belper) to get lunch at the Oatcake Shop and stock up there. Can’t understand why they haven’t caught on outside Staffordshire as a cob alternative. Top, top food. Followed it with a walk around Wincle and stocking up on superb Wincle beer - finished off with a lovely pint there too. It’s a great part of the world to visit.
As for Town, I moved to Walton at the age of 2. I was born in Sheffield but that wasn’t my choice.

[Johnnyspireite7]

Born in Sheffield, moved here at 3 months old, started as a Blade when I started watching football 1992 went to 1995 PSF v Derby with lads from college, never looked back.

[Sussex Spireite]

Siberian Spireite, on 28 August 2023 - 03:27 PM, said:

I had the day to myself yesterday so drove to Leek (from Belper) to get lunch at the Oatcake Shop and stock up there. Can’t understand why they haven’t caught on outside Staffordshire as a cob alternative. Top, top food. Followed it with a walk around Wincle and stocking up on superb Wincle beer - finished off with a lovely pint there too. It’s a great part of the world to visit.
As for Town, I moved to Walton at the age of 2. I was born in Sheffield but that wasn’t my choice.

Bizarrely my nearest Sainsbury's in Haywards Heath have sold Original Staffordshire Oatcakes for years.

[Siberian Spireite]

Sussex Spireite, on 28 August 2023 - 06:02 PM, said:

Bizarrely my nearest Sainsbury's in Haywards Heath have sold Original Staffordshire Oatcakes for years.

Yes, Sainsbury’s usually sell them, so I pick them up when in Matlock or Ashbourne. Wirksworth (Ken’s Supermarket) is good for the thicker Derbyshire oatcakes but you can’t beat them filled and freshly made from a proper Staffordshire oatcake shop.