page_title: Chasetown F.C.
section_title: History
hierarchical_section_title: Chasetown F.C. / History
caption_attribution_description: 10/07/09 Cardiff City v Chasetown, Friendly, Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff, Wales
context_page_description: Chasetown Football Club is an English football club based in the Chasetown area of Burntwood, Staffordshire. The club plays in the Northern Premier League Division One South East and is nicknamed The Scholars, having been formed by affiliates of nearby Chase Terrace High School in the Chase Terrace area of Burntwood.
  Chasetown gained national recognition in November 2005 when the BBC televised the club's FA Cup first round home tie with Oldham Athletic, in which the team held their Football League opponents to a 1–1 draw. They went on to finish the 2005–06 season as Midland Alliance champions and thereby gain promotion to the Southern League. In the 2007–08 F.A Cup they made the third round for the first time in their history after holding Port Vale to a 1–1 draw and winning the replay 1–0. They lost the third round match 3–1 to eventual finalists Cardiff City. In doing so, they became the lowest ever ranked club to reach as far as the third round proper of the FA Cup.
context_section_description: The club was formed in 1954 as Chase Terrace Old Scholars Youth Club and initially played in the Cannock Youth League.  At the start of the 1958–59 season the club joined the Lichfield and District League, where the club spent three seasons, finishing as runners-up in the league and Challenge Cup.
  For the 1961–62 season the club stepped up to the Staffordshire County League before moving to the West Midlands (Regional) League Division One and adopting the new name of Chasetown F.C. in 1972.
  In eleven seasons in this division Chasetown never finished outside the top four, winning the championship in 1977–78, but were prevented from gaining promotion because they were playing on a park pitch at Burntwood Recreation Centre.  In 1983 the club moved to a new ground, The Scholars Ground, and gained entry to the Premier Division.  Although the Scholars initially struggled to finish outside the lower reaches of the table, the team won their first trophy in 1989–90, defeating Oldbury United to win the League Cup, soon followed by winning the Walsall Senior Cup.  Chasetown beat Blakenall at the Bescot Stadium and retained the trophy in 1992–93, beating Pelsall Villa 3–1.
  In the early 1990s, Chasetown won the West Midlands League Cup twice and finishing as runners-up in the twice.  The Scholars were among the founder members of the newly formed Midland Football Alliance in 1994 but failed to make an impression in the early seasons.
  In 2000–01 the club in a transitional period after the departure of long-serving manager Mervyn Rowe, and only escaped relegation due to the fact that no clubs were promoted from the lower division.  Present manager Charlie Blakemore returned to the club in partnership with Michael Rowe, son of previous manager Mervyn, and the club's fortunes began to turn around, with two top-half finishes.  In Blakemore's first full season in complete control of the first team, 2004–05, Chasetown won the Walsall Senior Cup for the third time and finished second to Rushall Olympic in the Midland Alliance.
  Chasetown were placed the national spotlight in November 2005 when the club reached the first round of the FA Cup for the first time in their history.  After defeating Blyth Spartans the team took on Oldham Athletic in a match broadcast live on television. A peak audience of 3.2 million people watched the game live. In front of 1,997 supporters, Chasetown took the lead through Nicky Harrison, only for veteran David Eyres to level the scores and send the game into a replay.  Chasetown took 2,436 supporters to the replay but succumbed to a 0–4 defeat.  As a result of this cup run the club was able to secure a shirt sponsorship deal with Richard Branson's Virgin Holidays for the 2006–07 season.  Meanwhile, in the league, Chasetown rallied from 14th place at Christmas, 20 points behind leaders Malvern Town, to win the Midland Alliance championship and gain promotion to the Southern League Division One Midlands.
  In 2007–08, Chasetown beat Team Bath 2–0 to reach the second round proper of the FA Cup for the first time in their history. This set up an away tie against Staffordshire rivals Port Vale, which they drew 1–1 before winning the replay 1–0 to set up a Third Round match at home to Championship side Cardiff City and making Chasetown the lowest ranked club ever to make the third round of the competition. While Chasetown lost the third round match to Cardiff City 3–1, they went ahead because of a Kevin McNaughton own goal, and held the lead until just before half-time.
  During the 2008–09 season, Chasetown's dreams of repeating their FA Cup heroics were cut short in the 3rd qualifying round by Southern League Premier Division team Evesham United, losing 2–0 after two late goals from substitute Danny Lennon and Mark Owen.
  In November 2008, Chasetown submitted plans for a new 500 seater stand to Lichfield District Council, which would increase the capacity to 3,100. The new facility would include the 500 person seated grandstand, sauna & mini gym, offices & club shop, disabled spectators area, directors' and sponsors' boxes
caption: Chasetown playing Cardiff City at the inauguration of the Cardiff City Stadium
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