Proact Stadium | Chesterfield FC | Football Ground Guide Football Ground Guide Address: Sheffield Road, Chesterfield, S41 8NZ Telephone: 01246 269300 Pitch Size: 111 x 71 yards Pitch Type: Grass Home Kit: Blue and White Away Kit: White and Blue Main Stand External View Looking Towards The South Stand East Stand View From The Away End Away & Main Stands External View WHAT IS THE PROACT STADIUM LIKE? Built at a cost of £13 million, Chesterfield’s new 10,400 capacity all seater stadium is located around one and a half miles north of the town centre. On one side is the HTM Products Main Stand. This stand has a capacity of 2,902 seats on a single tier, with a glass fronted executive lounge at the rear. The players emerge from the tunnel at the centre of the stand, whilst the centre seating of the stand is taken up by the Directors Box, Sponsors and Legends seating areas, with the press seating situated towards the North end wing section.

The stand has a graceful curved roof with white steelwork and a glazed windshield at the north end, with a ground floor and top level viewing area for disabled supporters and their helpers in the South wing section. At one side of the stand, towards the Karen Child Kop is an unusual looking stadium control tower which extends beyond the touchline. Opposite is the Spencers Solicitors Community Stand which is similar in appearance, having a curved roof line and a capacity of 3,144 seats with glazed windshields on either side, but with no executive facilities at the rear. The television camera gantry is situated in this stand below the roof steelwork. Both ends are similar affairs, both being single tiered, covered and housing just over 2,000 supporters. Unlike the other stands the roofs on these ends are not curved, but again glass windshields are in place on both sides. The only real difference is that the Karen Child Stand has two ground floor level disabled viewing areas as opposed to one in the Rubicon Print Stand. The ground is complimented at present by four modern slim corner floodlight pylons which each have 14 lights on four rows. The stadium has a pleasing balanced feel with no single stand dominating the whole ground.

Externally there are some nice touches too, with the 'wall of fame' from the clubs 'buy a brick scheme', in the South and North West corners and wide pathways that lead through the car park to the turnstile blocks from Sheffield Road. There is an electric scoreboard at one end of the ground located on the roof of the away fan stand. The only minor downside is that one corner of the stadium is overlooked by a Tesco's store and car park, which detracts from the overall look. Special thanks to Owen Pavey for providing the information and photos for this page. WHAT IS IT LIKE FOR VISITING FANS? Away supporters are normally housed in the Rubicon Print Stand at the north end of the stadium, where up to 2,112 supporters can be seated. If demand requires it then additional seating can also be made available in the Spencers Solicitors Community Stand. Conversely if your team has a small following then only part of the East Stand is allocated and not the North end. Unlike most new stadiums the fans are housed pretty close to the pitch, ensuring good views of the playing action. The leg room is good too.

The concourses are built to a high standard, with large flat screen televisions (showing Sky Sports, plus the game going on inside with commentary) to keep the fans entertained. Food on offer from the concourse includes the locally produced Jacksons Pies. The Peppered Steak and Brampton Ale Pie (£3) sounds particularly mouth watering! There are also Large Steak & Mushy Peas Pies (£3.50), Sausage Rolls (£3), Cheeseburgers (£3.20), Burgers (£3), Rollover Hot Dogs (£3) and Chicken Burgers (£3.20). Plus for the vegetarians Mexican Chilli Bean Pies (£3). Pleasingly, the refreshment areas stay open throughout the match (although no alcohol is allowed to be served after 9pm for evening games). The roof of the away end is quite low, which ensures that a relatively small number of away supporters can really make some noise. I noted that the stewards allowed standing at the back of the stand but not at the front.

When one away fan queried with one of the staff as to why this was, whilst pointing at some Chesterfield fans standing at the front of one of their stands, he was met with the response; 'That's football' with a shrug of the shoulders. In effort to further boost the atmosphere there is a drummer in the home end and on my visit a drum was also allowed into the away stand. If Chesterfield score then the tune 'Tom Hark' echoes around the stadium. Please note that cash is not accepted at the turnstiles, entrance is by ticket only. Away fans can purchase their tickets from the small portakabin located outside the Rubicon Print (North) Stand. PUBS FOR AWAY FANS Nearest to the away end of the ground, along Sheffield Road (a five minute walk, passing a Chinese/Fish & Chip shop on the way) is the Derby Tup. This pub is featured in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide and normally has ten ales available. Although the pub does not sell food, the landlord allows customers to bring in food from outside. Further on up Sheffield Road on the right is the handily located North Sea Fish and Chip shop, which was doing a brisk trade on my last visit.

Whilst up on the left is the Red Lion pub, which is serves beers from the Old Mill Brewery and shows Sky Sports. Other pubs located near to the stadium such as the Rose and Crown, plus the Crown and Anchor, do not admit away fans. Whilst the nearby Donkey Derby Pub which also offers food, is very busy on matchdays and is predominantly for home supporters. Whilst in the centre of town is the Rutland Arms, which is listed in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide. As Sarah Greenan explains; 'A pub I would recommend for away supporters is the Rutland Arms on Stephenson Place in Chesterfield. If you arrive by train and walk towards the town centre it's just upon on your left - the pub is next to the huge church with the Crooked Spire - you can't miss it! The Rutland is a very old pub and in recent years has operated as a traditional ale house with a huge range of well-kept real ales and good food as well. It welcomes home and away supporters and is a pleasure to visit. In warm weather customers spill out into the adjcent churchyard'. On St Marys Gate is a Wetherspoons outlet called the Spa Lane Vaults.

If walking up to the stadium from Chesterfield Railway Station and you like good ale, then you may wish to make a small detour to the Chesterfield Arms. The pub which is situated on Newbold Road, is listed in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide and has normally ten ales and six ciders available. Otherwise alcohol is served inside the ground in the form of; draught Carling (£3.60), Worthington (£3.50), Magners Cider (£3.60) plus bottles of Budweiser (£3.60), Wine (£3.60), Jack Daniels and Coke (£3.60), Smirnoff and Coke (£3.60) and cans of Guinness (£3.60). The latter are first placed on a vibrating platform to give the stout a head. CHESTERFIELD HOTELS - FIND AND BOOK YOURS AND HELP SUPPORT THIS WEBSITE If you require hotel accommodation in Chesterfield then first try a hotel booking service provided by Booking.com . They offer all types of accommodation to suit all tastes and pockets from; Budget Hotels, Traditional Bed & Breakfast establishments to Five Star Hotels and Serviced Apartments. Plus their booking system is straightforward and easy to use.

Yes this site will earn a small commission if you book through them, but it will help towards the running costs of keeping this Guide going. DIRECTIONS AND CAR PARKING Leave the M1 at Junction 29 and take the A617 towards Chesterfield. At the end of the dual carriageway at the edge of the town centre, turn right onto the A61 towards Sheffield. At the first roundabout turn left and the stadium is down on the right. For the main entrance turn right into Sheffield Road and then right again into the Club car park. However the club car park is for permit holders only. There is nearby street parking available on side roads off the Sheffield road, if you arrive early enough. Don't think about parking in the nearby Tesco store, as the car park is patrolled on matchdays and you may end up having your car towed away. BY TRAIN Chesterfield Railway Station is walkable from the Proact Stadium, although it will take you between 20 and 30 minutes to walk to do so.

Alternatively, there is a taxi rank outside the station though as traffic is likely to be slow along Sheffield Road on a matchday this could end up costing you more time and money than you thought. If you wish to travel to the ground by bus a five minute walk into the town centre will enable you to catch a bus from Cavendish Street. This will take 5-15 minutes to get to the ground, depending on traffic. Come out of the station and turn left and follow the road to the left side of the Chesterfield Hotel. There is a footbridge over the A61 Inner Relief Road, which will take you into Corporation Street. At the end of the street you will see the museum on the left, and the famous crooked spire church directly ahead of you. Go over the zebra crossing and turn right, carry on this road, walk past Eyres furniture store and The Winding Wheel. Cavendish Street is the next turning on the left. Bus stops T1 and T2 are on the opposite side of the road. Walking directions from the railway station: Come out of the station and turn left.

The Chesterfield Hotel will be directly ahead of you, take the road to the right hand side and carry on over the mini roundabout, into Brewery Street, up the hill and over the A61 Inner Relief Road with Chesterfield College on your right hand side. After 5 minutes walk you will reach the end of the road at the Old Post Office Restuarant. Turn right and after a minutes walk you will come to a mini roundabout. Take the right turn into Sheffield Road. This road dips down, up and then down again for around 15 minutes. At the big roundabout with the car showrooms you will see the Donkey Derby pub in front of you and the ground further along Sheffield Road. Visiting fans must carry on past the HTM Products Stand to reach the Printabilty Stand at the north end of the ground. Shuttle Bus The Club are also have a shuttle bus which operates on matchdays (every 10 minutes 13.30 - 14.40 Saturdays and 18.20 - 19.30 weekdays). It departs from Rose Hill by the Town Hall.

The bus is also in operation after the game (last bus on Saturdays is 17.45, weekdays 22.25). The fare is £1 each way. Booking train tickets in advance will normally save you money! Find train times, prices and book tickets with Trainline. Visit the website below to see how much you can save on the price of your tickets: Chesterfield operate a category system for match tickets (A & B), whereby the most popular games cost more to watch.

Category A prices are shown below, with Category B prices shown in brackets: Home Fans: HTM Products Main Stand (Centre): Adults £26 (B £24), Over 65's/Under 19's, £21 (B £19), Under 15's £13 (B £11) HTM Products Main Stand (Wings): Adults £24 (B £22), Over 65's/Under 19's, £19 (B £17), Under 15's £12 (B £10) Spencers Solicitors Community Stand (Centre): Adults £25 (B £23), Over 65's/Under 19's, £20 (B £18), Under 15's £12 (B £10) Family areas: Adults £24 (B £22), Over 65's/Under 19's £19 (B £17), Under 15's £7 (B £5), Under 7's £4 (B £2) Karen Child Stand: Adults £22 (B £20), Over 65's/Under

 19's £15 (B £13), Under 15's £12 (B £10) Away Fans: At the Proact Stadium: 10,089 v Rotherham United, League Two, March 18th, 2011.

At Saltergate: 30,986 v Newcastle United, Division Two, April 7th, 1949. Average Attendance OTHER PLACES OF INTEREST Chesterfield is famous amongst other things for its St Mary and All Saints church with has a large crooked spire, which dominates the town centre sky line. It is near the town centre of town and clearly visible. Tours of the church are available,with excellent views of the town centre and surrounding countryside from the base of the spire. Chesterfield town centre can be reached in around 20 minutes by foot. Saturday, 16th April 2016, 1pm Jon Thomson (Sheffield United) Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Proact Stadium? Having been intending to do this fixture last season, but being unable to get a ticket, I was glad to be able to visit this time. This would be a new ground for me and a rare chance to see our team play under no pressure, as effectively our season is already over, with nothing to play for. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?

Not too bad, once I'd worked out how to head out of the station itself towards the town centre it was a case of looking for a path down the back of the college just over the A61, from where it's more or less a straight walk to the ground. What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly? With the game being moved to a 1pm kickoff for no real reason (although the Police may have requested it), I was intending to head straight to the ground for a pint, but upon reaching Sheffield Road there was a pub, called the St Helens, which was advertising it welcomed away fans, so I grabbed a pint there instead. Was fairly quiet, I don't know whether home fans were drinking elsewhere or whether the mid-90's happy hardcore they were playing put people off. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Proact Stadium? It seemed fairly similar to a lot of newer builds, looking fairly tidy with the two ends appearing identical, and the two sides the same as well. The ground looked to be a sensible design, holding what ought to be the club's typical attendance with ease.

It did have the sound of being in a shed when it started raining/hailing though. Signage was poor - the concourse indicating that my block is on the left of the stand when in fact it was on the far right, which isn't helpful. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc.. The game was the most comfortable we'd had all season - Chesterfield didn't turn up and we continued in an upturn of form, which naturally started when our season was over. An early goal from a set piece of all places set the tone, then the opposition keeper scuffed a clearance straight to Adams who slotted into an empty net. Sharp added a third in the second half, and were it not for questionable refereeing (booking one of their players, then not booking him again five minutes later for an identical foul, not giving two stonewall penalties) and a couple of sharp saves, it could easily have been six or seven and not been flattering. Didn't sample any food/drink as I rarely do in grounds, stewards seemed helpful enough, not needing to do much as seemingly the entirety of Derbyshire police was on hand, clearly expecting a riot for some reason.

Comment on getting away from the ground after the game: Easy enough on the way back walking the same way as before - ignore the signs that direct you to the right when going out of the ground for the station if your club is remotely considered to be high risk, as there was a huge police barrier blocking the exit that way. It's a decent walk back to the centre, although it seems as if there's frequent enough buses should it be too far for some. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out: Great, albeit one-sided game, good atmosphere from the away end, somewhat let down by excessive policing, standing around in their large numbers doing nothing. Saturday 23rd January 2016, 3pm Mick Richards (Millwall fan) Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Proact Stadium? I have never been to Proact Stadium before so when the fixtures came out this was a game I was looking forward to. It would be the 76th ground I've visited. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking? Myself and my nephew Craig left Basingstoke in Hampshire at 9am.

We set off up the A339 then onto the A34, M40, A43, M1 to Junction 29 then onto the A619 to Chesterfield arriving at 12.30pm. We had a clear run and no hold up's.We drove past the Proact Stadium and turned first right into a bit of an industrial state with had free on street parking which was a bonus. What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly? We went for a pint in the Derby Tup pub, which is a three minute walk from the Proact Stadium. This served all sorts of real ales but I had a nice pint off San Miguel lager. But as I was the driver, one pint was my limit.The pub had a good atmosphere with both sets of supporters mixing and sharing stories. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Proact Stadium? I was really impressed with the outside of the stadium and once inside even more impressed as the two side stands were different to the ends.The concourse was spacious and did not have to wait to long to be served for food or drink.

Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc.. The game set off with Chesterfileld straight on the attack and could have been 3 or 4 up before Millwall got going..Chesterfield took the lead with a 25yard bullet and well deserved lead but within two minutes of the re-start, we equalised with an headed goal through O'Brian. In the second half Millwall flew out of the traps and went 2-1 up with a well worked goal between Morrison and Gregory who scored. After that it was end to end stuff and could have been 6-6 and to be honest a draw would have been a fair result.The stewards were all helpful and polite and the atmosphere from the Millwall fans was vociferous as always but the home fans were seldom heard. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game: When leaving the stadium the Police were in my opinion heavy handed when dealing with the Millwall fans, which was poor really and the only blot on an otherwise good day out. All in all getting away from the stadium was really easy and we were home by 8.30pm which was very good.

Summary of overall thoughts of the day out: Overall a great day out and chuffed with the fact we won. The Proact is a lovely stadium and one of the better grounds I have visited over the years. Chesterfield City v Southend United League Two Saturday August 24th, 2013, 3pm John & Stephen Spooner (Southend United fans) 1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground: First visit to Chesterfields Proact Stadium. 2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking? We drove from North Wales (exiled Southend fans) via M56, A6, A623, A619, A61, 170 miles round trip, clear roads taking 2 hours to make the journey each way. It was misty and drizzly raining en-route, but there is superb scenery through the Derbyshire Dales, and a view of the famous twisted church spire on arrival. We checked the Chesterfield FC website and found maps indicating parking places. Arriving early ensured easy parking which is limited on match days. The ground was easy to find although not many signs.

We found street parking to the north of the stadium in Thompson Street by turning right after passing the ground. 3. What you did before the game pub/chippy.... home fans friendly? We took a packed meal with us and sat in car after a walk round outside of the ground. We then waited 20 minutes at the ticket office to collect our tickets which Southend United had sent up on the coach as the office said they hadn’t got any for us. The few home fans we met whilst collecting tickets from their office were friendly. The tickets were eventually traced and we entered the impressive Proact stadium relieved. 4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground? The stadium appears larger than the 10,400 capacity would indicate. The stadium is a modern and all seated and smart. We noticed two staff even walking amongst seats giving them a wipe clean. The away end is all seated and although the whole of the away end was available, the stewards insisted that the 360 or so Southend fans should sit in the centre section behind the goal.

The view is unobstructed and there is plenty of leg room, The electronic scoreboard is above the away end on the roof and can only be seen by the home fans which was disappointing. The pitch was pristine and even though it was early season in August it appeared that it had never had football played on it. 5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc. In a tight game between 2 top 5 sides, Chesterfield took the lead in the 2nd half with a Gary Roberts free kick, but Southend soon levelled via a well worked Freddy Eastwood goal. 6 minutes injury time surprised everyone and in the 85th minute Chesterfield won the match from a corner. The atmosphere was quiet until the last minute winner with both sets of expectant fans watching a tense game, even though only the 4th fixture of the new season. The stewards were ok but one seemed to delight in letting people find a seat and then waving frantically to tell them to sit only in the centre section. If the seats had been taped off as other clubs do, it would have made life easier for all concerned.

Pies looked good at £3 and there was plenty of room to stand and eat or drink on the concourse behind the seating with television showing a live game. It was a warm sunny day with little or no wind, which made for a pleasant afternoon in a new football stadium with both sides getting the ball down and attempting to play good passing football. 6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game: It was easy to get away from the ground and main roads were clearly sign posted. 7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out: We had a mostly enjoyable day out, visiting a smart stadium, despite the shock of losing in injury time. The weather was pleasantly warm after a drizzly misty start to the day. Match Attendance 5,579 Chesterfield City v Bradford City League Two Saturday April 13th, 2013, 3pm Samuel Walker (Neutral fan) 1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be)?: Over the last four years or so, I have grown a soft spot for Chesterfield, having visited games from time-to-time since visiting Saltergate in 2010.

With Leicester playing on the Friday night, my father (who's from Leicester, hence the life sentence) and I decided to take a visit to this game, and with Bradford getting to the League Cup final we felt we were in for an entertaining match, and we weren't to be disappointed. 2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking? We took the train from Leicester to Chesterfield at midday, which took just under 45 minutes. After getting some food in the town (As a general rule I avoid stadium food due to high prices) we took the bus to the ground, arriving at around 13:45. 3. What you did before the game? Pub/chippy.... home fans friendly? Being too young to drink and my father being teetotal, after purchasing our tickets we headed to the club shop to have a look round. An amusing incident occurred when a chap with a half-eaten hotdog put it on the counter by mistake whilst he was being served, and when the next chap was being served the cashier asked him "You're not going to put your sausage on the counter are you?" to much laughter and applause from everyone in the shop. Very "Carry On"!

I've been to five Chesterfield games in the past and have never experienced any trouble, with a few Chesterfield fans on the bus to the ground engaging in good-natured banter with a couple of Bradford fans. 4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground? This was my second visit to Chesterfield's new ground (now the Proact Stadium) and my impression of it is in line with many new grounds appearing around the country. It's a pleasant, tidy ground that serves its purpose, but lacks the stand out factor that Saltergate had. However, times change, and Saltergate, as characteristic as it was, was on its last legs and Chesterfield needed to up sticks and relocate. 5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc.. The game itself was very entertaining. Both Chesterfield and Bradford got behind their teams, which made for an amazing atmosphere, albeit with unoriginal songs apart from a few choruses of "Yorkshire"/"Derbyshire". Both sides came flying out of the blocks and Bradford took the lead through NahkiTendayi Darikwa's well-placed finish.

Bradford retook the lead ten minutes later after Ricky Ravenhill placed a shot into the bottom corner through a crowd of bodies. Chesterfield, to their credit, kept going to the end and got their reward with the last kick of the game after Sam Togwell poked home from an Alex Henshall corner. Final score: 2-2. A fair result on reflection. 6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game: Getting away from the ground was no problem. A line of buses was waiting outside the turnstiles and we managed to get onto a very crowded one back to the town centre. We left Chesterfield at 17:40 and arrived back at home in Leicester at around 7:15pm. 7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out: A very enjoyable and well-spent afternoon at the football. Bradford remain in the playoffs and Chesterfield have an outside chance of making the playoffs, so it'll go down to the wire. Both sets of fans were well behaved and apart from your usual football banter there were no signs of trouble brewing, with both sets getting behind their teams.

The game itself was a real credit to League Two, and dad said it was one of the best games he'd seen in ages. Well worth the £15 for me! And to top it all, we even got caught on camera by the BBC's Football League Show. Chesterfield City v MK Dons League One Saturday, March 17th, 2012, 3pm Dominic Bickerton (Stoke City/Doing the 92) 1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be): With it being the FA Cup quarter finals this weekend, Stoke weren't playing until the Sunday afternoon - I can't cope without football on a Saturday, so myself and a Stokie mate (who's also doing the 92) thought we'd do a new ground and have a little trip down to Chesterfield's fairly new b2net Stadium. We picked this game mainly because it's such a crucial stage of the season for both teams: Chesterfield in 23rd position and trying to escape relegation, MK Dons in 5th and bidding for promotion. 2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?

We jumped onto a train at Sheffield and made the short 15 minute journey to Chesterfield station (a return ticket was £4.50). From the station we followed the walking directions supplied by this site and arrived at the ground after a brisk 15-20 minute walk, which did involve a few hills. The directions were easy to follow and the we found the ground very easily. 3. What you did before the game pub/chippy.... home fans friendly? We arrived at the ground about 30 mins before kick off, so we decided to just go straight through the turnstiles of the Karen Childs Kop and onto the concourse, which was showing the Everton v Sunderland FA Cup quarter final on a number of screens suspended from the ceiling. 4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground? When we first saw the ground we were quite amused by the fact that it's somewhat overshadowed by the large Tesco situated next to it. Despite this the area around the ground is modern and attractive. The ground does look very small, so we didn't really expect too much from the entire experience.

However, I was instantly impressed when we entered the stand at pitch level, and I admit that it made me feel like I was walking out as a player! The ground has a nice intimate feel and looks very tidy and well kept. It doesn't really ooze character, but that is extremely hard to come by in such a new ground. 5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc.. Me and my mate had decided that we'd lend our full support to Chesterfield and treated the game like we were cheering on our beloved Potters. The three home stands were fairly full and the Spireites were in very good voice. The Dons fans also seemed up for the game, so it was all set up to be a good, lively match. And it was. Chesterfield immediately went on the attack, looking comfortable on the ball and far better than their league position suggested. Their possession told from the off with barely three minutes on the clock when Neal Trotman nodded down a cross for Drew Talbot to slam the ball into the bottom corner of the Dons' goal; the vocal Spireites and us two Stokies celebrating like it was a last minute winner!

The traveling fans were immediately silenced and made little noise for the rest of half despite Chesterfield sitting back and inviting the Dons back into the game. The Chesterfield defence had to make a few last ditch clearances but just about made it half time with a 1-0 lead. We went down into the concourse to watch Sky Sports coverage of the other half time scores, however, we were disappointed because the screens were showing a film on ITV! So, instead of finding out other scores we trooped back out to our seats. The other facilities on the concourse were good, with fairly small orderly queues for food & drink and toilets in plentiful supply. The second half kicked off in the same manner that the first ended, Chesterfield sitting back far to deep and looking very vulnerable. The Spireites had clearly lost confidence and began to play some awful football, constantly giving the ball back to the Dons to have another effort on goal. Only a few good saves from Tommy Lee kept the score at 1-0. On 56 minutes the Dons finally made a breakthrough, the Chesterfield defence dropping deep enough to let Jay O'Shea rifle a left footed shot into the helpless Lee's bottom left corner.

John Sheridan quickly made a few changes, which instantly transformed the Spireites into the dangerous force they looked earlier in the first half. The game turned on its head, with Chesterfield looking most likely to snatch 3 points. Hearts were in the mouths of every fan in the ground, as Nicky Ajose smashed an 88th minute shot that was destined to be a fairy tale winner until the Dons 'keeper somehow got down to make a fantastic save. It would have been an amazing mental of a celebration, but we were sadly denied it and the game ran out a 1-1 draw. 6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game: After the final whistle, fans left the ground quickly from the corners between stands. We were back on the way to the station with no problems at all. 7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out: It was a great day out that cost a grand total of £22.50 (Train £4.50, Ticket £18). The match was an absolute cracker and we thoroughly enjoyed all of it. We weren't expecting much but we were pleasantly surprised with the ground and we the Chesterfield fans were very good indeed.

I wouldn't say no to going back and I'll be rooting for the Spireites to avoid the drop this season. Chesterfield City v Exeter City League One Saturday, January 7th, 2012, 3pm Steve Ellis (Exeter City fan) 1. Why were you looking forward to going to this ground? This for me, and as it was for many, was a visit to a new stadium to tick off. Unfortunately I did not get the chance to visit Saltergate so I am unable to compare differences. Also the game was a massive relegation 'six pointer', so it was one to look forward too. 2. How easy was your journey? Travelling with the supporters club by coach the trip was easy. Leaving at 7.30am and arriving at the ground just before 1pm. With the roads not being over busy we were able to take a second stop as we were well ahead of time. 3. What did you do before the game, pub/chippy? On arrival at the ground i took a visit to the club shop to purchase a match day programme for £3 before heading to the Derby Tup, just 5 minute walk from the ground.

I had arranged to meet some friends from the area there and sample many of the different ales they had on offer. It was a small pub but very friendly and reasonably priced, and it seemed to be both home and away fan friendly. 4. What you thought on seing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground? My first thoughts on seeing the ground were impressive, very modern and quite spacious. Away fans are housed in the North Stand and no matter where you sat you get a very good view and there is also plenty of leg room. I was told if your club takes a small away following then they are likely to be sat in one of the side stands (can't remember which the steward said), but with our 309 supporters and large Adam Stansfield tribute shirt we filled about three quarters of the stand. The South Stand almost mirrors the North Stand and the East and West stands are almost similar to those of Huddersfield. 5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, refreshments, toilets? The game itself was competitive and to the delight of the away fans, Exeter scored twice in the last 10 minutes in a 2-0 win.

Which resulted in a move away from the relegation zone. The atmosphere was excellent with banter flowing between both sets of supporters, stewards were helpful and unobtrusive. The refreshments were averagely priced with a good range of food and drink. If you smoke the stewards will open an exit gate behind the North Stand at half time. 6. Comment on getting away after the game? Getting away afterwards was easy as the coach was parked just behind the East Stand, took about 20 mins to leave the stadium and get through the town before getting onto the motorway, leaving just after 5pm, arriving back home at 9.30pm 7. Summary and overall thoughts of day out? A great away day with friendly home fans, a good pub, new stadium, three much needed points and a great atmosphere on the journey home. Saturday, January 7th, 2012, 3pm Gary Parker 1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be): Hadnt been to the new ground as I am trying to do the 92 by watching only Exeter City and my other true love, Tottenham.

This would be ground number 58. Exeter also have a great away following so had been looking forward to this for some time 2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking? We made great time and were At the ground just before 12, so we popped to the ground to purchase the tickets (no cash on the away turnstiles) and then found a space in the street bang opposite the stadium so we were no more than 100 yards away. Might be a bit trickier if you get there closer to kick off 3. What you did before the game pub/chippy.... home fans friendly? There is a pub about 5 mins walk from the ground called the Derby Tup, its a bit like walking into someones front room but they have superb choice of real ales (11 when we were in there) and were more than happy to cater for away fans.

We had been told they didn’t do food but that if you got something from the host of options for takeaway food nearby you were welcome to eat it in the pub, there is a wide choice of kebab shop, chippy or pizza all within 50 yards so we went for chips (no gravy though) the Landlord was very friendly and by 2 pm the pub was rammed with Exeter fans and a small scattering of home supporters and it was all very friendly, They were also happy to have my partners 13 year old son in there with no questions asked. 4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground? Not a bad little ground, a bit different to the usual bowl design of new grounds. Very easy to get to from the motorway and plenty of amenities close by, notably a huge Tesco extra for filling the car up with cheap petrol for the trip home. 5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc.. Very good facilities under the stand, beer and hot food at a decent price with a few flat screens showing the game as well.

They even indulge the smokers amongst you by opening an exit and allowing you to step outside for a smoke at half time. Stewards were all good natured and the large away following were allowed to stand throughout with no interference. Home fans were pretty quiet throughout the game but they are bottom of the league and haven’t won since September, so that’s understandable. City pretty much controlled the game and scored in the 78th & 87th minutes to wrap up a comfortable away win 6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game: A breeze due to the fact that we were parked about 100 yards away, we were on the dual carriage way out of town by 5pm and South of Birmingham just over an hour after the final whistle had gone 7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out: Great day out, good away pub, good beer, friendly locals and 3 points, what more is there to be had from an away day oop norf .. Saturday, April 2nd, 2011, 7.45pm Seb Brichet (Port Vale fan) 1.

Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be): I was looking forward to this as it would be the first time Port Vale had visited the B2net Stadium. It was also when Chesterfield Were top of the league in Great form and Port vale were returning to form. 2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking? We took the Club coach to the match which was approximately one and a half hours from Burslem. The coaches were parked just outside the away end on the road that goes to nearby Tesco, this is a good location as it ws easy to get into and out of the ground. 3. What you did before the game pub/chippy.... home fans friendly? Due to Tesco being a minutes walk from the ground we decided to go there, It is a Tesco express with many shops inside such as Greggs and Costa Coffee, We decided to go to Greggs as we had arrived early and got pretty hungry we also walked upstairs to where Costa Coffee was and got an expresso. We then walked back to the stadium but didn't really talk to any home fans due to it being pretty early. 4.

What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground? The ground looks amazing from the outside and looks like a Championship ground, we had researched it before hand and found that it fits just over 10,000 fans, it looks bigger than 10,000. When up in the stands we had a very good view from the top left of the stand, it has plenty of leg room and decent height to watch the game. The curved roofs on the left and right of us were nice and reminded me a bit like Huddersfield. The lack of a scoreboard for us to see was very annoying as we could not judge time for our half time break. All in all though the ground was good. 5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, toilets etc.. The game ended 2-0 to Chesterfield which was expected as they were 11 points clear coming into the game. Chesterfield really showed us why they were top of the league and how to play football in League Two.

The atmosphere was great as we had sold out of our allocation of just over 1,500, meaning singing all through the game, Vale fans were using the walls at the back of the stand for banging to create atmosphere. But this ended up with the letter 'P' on the Printability Stand falling off! Chesterfield fans were also in good voice and with the two goals going in it was upped even more. Stewards could have been better in my opinion, not the most polite to say the least. Toilets were very clean and modern which are pretty impressive when you compare them to vale parks toilets. 6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game: Getting away from the ground was terrible as trouble erupted between the two sets of supporters, outside the stadium. We finally got away 45 minutes after the game. 7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out: It was a Great day out due to the weather being perfect. Atmosphere being great, but pity about the stewards and trouble afterwards. Great stadium to be at and some good football, I will though still lok forward to going there again sometime in the future.

Friday, March 18th, 2011, 7.45pm Paul Thompson (Rotherham United fan) 1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be): It was our much anticipated first visit to the b2net stadium, with the added spice of the game being something of a top of the table clash and a local derby to boot. Plus the game was a sell out and was televised live on TV. 2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking? I travelled by train from Rotherham to Sheffield and then onto Chesterfield. A very simple and problem free journey which took 30 minutes in total. The ground is a fair distance from the train station though, we opted to get taxis which cost around £8.50. 3. What you did before the game pub/chippy.... home fans friendly? We took in several pubs in the town centre, starting at The Rutland, moving on to Yates's, then The Snooker Hall, and onto Chandlers, then onto the Red Lion near to the ground. We did get turned away from one or two pubs on the basis that we were away supporters.

We were cautious of trouble never being far away as this was a local derby, but we experienced no bother despite making a good noise wherever we went. I didn't see much of a police presence around the town which was surprising considering the magnitude of the game and the rivalry. 4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground? The b2net, while far superior to the old Saltergate, is basically a uniform, box standard lower league stadium, almost a replica of so many other new grounds such as Shrewsbury, Colchester, Morecambe etc, however, it stands out from normality with its arched roofs on either side of the pitch. Its neat and tidy as you'd expect for a new build, but everything was simply 'adequate', with no frills. The facilities are okay for League Two or League One, the view from the away end is good. The visitors stand is quite steep and was full on this occasion, meaning some great noise was generated. 5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, toilets etc.. Urgh! from my perspective, the less said about the game the better!

it ended in an embarrassing 5-nil defeat, Chesterfield looked worthy of their league position at the top while Rotherham looked more like a team struggling at the bottom. I found the pies to be poor and at £3, quite a rip-off too! Not recomended! The atmosphere was great though, the stewarding was relaxed if not a little disorganised, but this was the first time they've had to deal with 2,300 boisterous away fans so they can be forgiven! There were some ugly scenes towards the end of the game but order was quickly restored as baton wielding police officers took control. 6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game: A complete nightmare! Trouble erupted right outside the ground as home and away fans clashed, the police and stewards seemed to be blaming each other for this happening as the exits were supposed to be kept closed for 10 minutes to allow home fans to disperse, but this didn't happen which caused some ugly scenes in the carparks around the stadium and I have to say the police were not very quick to act.

This was worrying, as we now had to walk the mile and half back to the train station without a police escort and through crowds of rival fans, we kept our heads down and mouths shut and experienced no trouble ourselves. 7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out: Overall I really enjoyed the short trip to Chesterfield, the only thing I didn't enjoy was the football! Tuesday, March 1st, 2011, 7.45pm Karl Jukes (Doing the 92) 1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be): I was looking forward to visiting Chesterfield to see what the new ground was like and to see also whether it was something a bit different to the normal kit box stadia that seem to be popping up all over the place. It was also a chance for me to cross another ground off my list on the way to the 92. 2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking? The journey itself was quite simple, I drove straight up the A38 and then the A61, which took me straight to the stadium, and managing to avoid any major traffic hold ups into the bargain.

It was relatively easy to spot the ground with it being a night match, seeing the tell tale glow from the floodlights in the distance. Parking proved to be easy too, finding (with blind luck) free parking on the Stand Park car park behind the couple of industrial units opposite the Stadium, and from there it was a 150m walk to the ground. 3. What you did before the game pub/chippy.... home fans friendly? Before the game I headed to the new Tesco store next to the ground, to grab a sandwich and a coffee from the in-store Costa Coffee, to help warm me up on a bitterly cold night. 4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground? The ground itself was very smart and immaculately clean, and just simple touches like the curved roof of the two stands gives it more character than some of the other new stadia. There was ample leg room as you'd expect from a new ground, and despite sitting in the front row, the view of the action was good. 5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, toilets etc..

The game itself really surprised me, I was expecting a tight, tense battle between the top two sides in the division, but what followed can only be described as total domination from Chesterfield. They ran out comfortable 4-1 winners in the end with Jack Lester grabbing the pick of the goals. Twisting and turning in the box beating 2 or 3 defenders before firing past the helpless Nikki Bull in goal. The atmosphere inside the ground was excellent, with all the noise coming from the Spireites behind the goal in the Karen Childs Stand. The stewarding was very relaxed, and the food/drinks on offer appeared to be the same sort of thing available at most football grounds, with prices around average. 6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game: Getting away from the ground after the match was easy as you'd like. No traffic to really speak of, and after a short blast up the dual carriage way I was back at the junction for the M1 to head back home. 7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out: This was one of the best trips of the season for me.

It was very easy to get to and get away from at the end of the match, fantastic stadium with good facilities, great atmosphere from the home fans and superb football on offer too. A great night's entertainment and it certainly won't be my last trip to the b2net Stadium. Chesterfield FC: Proact Stadium Guide | English Grounds | Football-Stadiums.co.uk Richard Croft [ CC BY-SA 2.0 ], via Wikimedia Commons Chesterfield Football Club moved in to The Proact Stadium in 2010 after spending over 130 years at The Recreation Ground at Saltergate. That said, the origins of the club itself are complicated to say the least. A Derbyshire Times newspaper report was unearthed recently that mentions a game between Chesterfield and Norton football clubs as far back as the second of January 1864, meaning the club was likely active in some form in 1863. The club’s official history says it wasn’t formed until 1867 as an offshoot of Chesterfield Cricket Club. The plot surrounding Chesterfield’s origins thickens even more when you look at the 1880s.

The relationship between the cricket club and the football club broke down, resulting in the football club being wound up. A new club called Chesterfield FC Was formed in 1884, changing its name to Chesterfield Town and turning professional in 1891. In 1915 the club went into voluntary liquidation before a team with the same name was formed immediately by a local businessman. They were shut down by the Football Association for illegal payments two years later. A club was re-formed in 1919 by Chesterfield Council but became a separate entity from the council in 1920. We told you it was complicated. Stats By SharonWood12 (Took Photo) [ GFDL or CC BY-SA 3.0 ], via Wikimedia Commons Most new-build stadiums are built in a ‘Bowl Style’, so The Proact Stadium goes somewhat against the grain with its more ‘English Style’ of having four separate stands. They all have names thanks to sponsorship, so these could change at any time. Here’s some information on them: The Rubicon Stand - This single-tier stand is normally used to house the away supporter and is in proportion to the rest of the ground.

The Spencers Solicitors Community Stand - As the name suggests, this single-tiered structure houses the family section. It runs along the side of the pitch and has room for over 3000 supporters. The Karen Child Stand - This is something akin to a Kop stand and welcomes the most vocal Chesterfield supporters. It’s located behind the goal and has two disabled gantries. The HTM Stand - This is the main stand in the ground and is single-tiered like the rest of the stadium. There is a row of executive boxes at the back of it, however, and it also hoses the dugouts, the players’ tunnel and the dressing rooms. Chesterfield Ticket Prices There are only two categories of matches at Chesterfield, with category A matches costing £2 more than other games. They also charge different amounts for different parts of the stadium and there’s obviously a different price for tickets for different ages.

Here are the cheapest and most expensive ticket prices for non-category A Chesterfield matches for adults and concessions, with the most expensive tickets in The West Stand and the cheapest in The South Stand: Adults: £20 - £24 Concessions: £13 - £19 How To Get Chesterfield Tickets The ticket office at The Proact Stadium is open from 9am until 5pm Monday to Friday and from 9am until 3.30pm on match day saturdays. The ticket office is closed on non-match day Saturdays. You can also buy tickets from the ticket office over the phone, or from the club’s official website. Getting To Proact Stadium End Get Directions Chesterfield is in Derbyshire and is therefore not the easiest place in the world to get to but it’s not exactly the Outer Hebrides either. Here are some of the more common transport methods you might want to consider using to get to the ground: Train - Chesterfield Railway Station is reachable on a direct line from London St. Pancras and trains take between one hour forty-five minutes to two and a half hours to get there, depending on how many stops they make.

The station is about a mile from the ground so it will take you in the region of half an hour to walk it, should you choose to. Bus - Buses 14, 25, 43, 44, 44A 50A and 78 all run from Cavendish Street, close to the train station, to just next to the ground. They journey shouldn’t take much longer than five minutes. Car - Wherever you’re coming from you want to get yourself on to the M1. Leave it at Junction 29 and at the roundabout take the second exit for the A617. At the end of that take the 4th exit and you’ll find yourself on the A61 North. From there you can follow the signs to the ground. By Air - You’ve got several airport options if you’re flying in to watch Chesterfield play. Robin Hood Doncaster-Sheffield Airport is the closest at around 30 miles away, with East Midlands more like 40 miles and Manchester Airport in the region of 50 miles away.

Taxi - A taxi from Chesterfield Railway Station to The Proact Stadium will likely cost you less than £5 and should take between 5-10 minutes, depending on traffic. Parking Near Proact Stadium There are car parks at the ground but they are for permit holders only and you need to get your permit in advance. You might find some on-street parking but the club recommends against this as there is strict enforcement in operation. Your best bet is to have a look for some of the privately run car parks in the area or, of course, the public ones. See More Hotels Near Proact Stadium Pubs & Bars Near Proact Stadium Chesterfield operates one of the largest open air markets in the UK, so it’s fair to say that it’s a town full of character and personality. Here are some of the best pre-match watering holes available to you: The Rose and Crown 388 Sheffield Road, Chesterfield, S41 8LF (01246 271 967) Located right next door to the stadium is this pub that is, as its location suggests, predominantly used by home fans. The serve cask ales and show live sports on a number of screens around the building.

The Rose and Crown 104 Old Road, Brampton, Chesterfield, S40 2QT (01246 563750) About ten minutes drive from the ground is this pub owned and operated by Brampton Brewery and also called The Rose And Crown. It promises a host of real ales that would delight CAMRA members and the walls are adorned with Chesterfield memorabilia so it’s a safe bet to say you’ll be able to catch up with any live sport of interest here. St Helens Inn 78 Sheffield Road, Chesterfield, S41 7LS (01246 229 975) A short walk from The Proact Stadium is this friendly pub that serves delicious home-made grub and a range of drinks. They often have live music on, welcome away supporters and, of course, show any relevant or interesting live sport. Facilities As a pretty new stadium it’s fair to say that The Proact has everything you’d expect from a brand new football ground. There are places to buy food and drink, kiosks where you can place a bet and clean, welcoming concourses beneath the seating.

Prices Hospitality Chirs Barnes / Flickr.com The club have got their hospitality game well and truly sorted, with a number of great lounges and suites available to you for your match day experience. Here we have a look at some of the options available to you: The Leengate Legends Lounge - Situated in The HTM Stand, this is the premier suite at The Proact Stadium. It has a lot of club memorabilia dotted around it and you’ll also enjoy a Bucks Fizz reception, a pre-match tour of the stadium and three-course meal. The Inspirepac Lounge - Located next to The Leengate Legends Lounge, this suite is right on the halfway line and offers excellent views of the pitch. As well as a pre-match tour of the stadium you’ll also get a three-course meal, complimentary drink and seats in the Sponsors Seating Area. The Brampton Brewery 1866 Lounge - The sponsors lounge is in The West Stand and you’ll enjoy a pre-match three-course meal here as well as a chance to meet a club legend, half-time refreshments and the opportunity to watch the presentation of The Man Of The Match award.

Private Hire New stadiums are set-up to get the most out of hospitality packages and private hire options and The Proact is no exception. There are a number of lounges available for everything from serious business conferences through to private parties or dinner dances. There’s also the ability to hold your wedding at the home of Chesterfield FC, should that take your fancy. Stadium Tours & Museum Tours of The Proact Stadium are operated by Chesterfield FC Community Trust and take in all four stands at the ground, the dugouts, the players’ tunnel, the media room and the TV interview room. There isn’t a museum at the ground but you will get to see the club’s trophy cabinet, too. Tours aren’t run very regularly, so you need to keep yours eyes peeled for when they’re on. If you’re lucky enough to catch one then it will cost you £5 if you’re an adult and £3 if you’re a child. There needs to be a minimum of fifteen people on the tour and it ends in the club’s HUB cafe with a quiz! About Chesterfield footysphere / Flickr.com We’ve already told you about the club’s confusing and dubious beginnings, so we won’t repeat ourselves about that here.

Instead we’ll tell you about how they were one of the founding member of the Football League Third Division North in 1921, remaining part of the Football League ever since then. They’ve never made it as high as the top-flight of English football, though the did play in the second-tier twice in the 1930s. Their most recent noteworthy success came in 1997 when the club reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup. It was the first time a team from outside the top two-tiers of the English game had made it that far since Plymouth Argyle managed it in 1984. Some fans might point to their 2012 victory in the Football League Trophy final as being even more noteworthy, however. The club bears the nickname of The Spireites, owing to the famous twisted spire of the town’s parish church. Perhaps it’s no surprise, then, that Chesterfield have suffered numerous twists and turns during their existence. In 2001 they were deducted nine points after it emerged that their chairman, Darren Brown, had attempted to avoid paying Chester City the fee that the FA had agreed for the sale of Luke Beckett.

Evidence of fraud emerged and he ended up letting control of the club go, with the Chesterfield Football Supporters Trust taking over. Brown had run up huge debts, though, so the club were forced into administration. Brown was later jailed for four years following a Serious Fraud Office investigation into his dealings at the club. Proact Stadium History Dema Glass chimneys on the site before the stadium was built - Stephen G Taylor [ CC BY-SA 2.0 ], via Wikimedia Commons Originally called the B2net Stadium because of sponsorship, the home of Chesterfield Football Club is now called The Proact Stadium because of…well…sponsorship. It was built on the site of the former Dema Glassworks factory, which you’d think would lead to it having a name like ‘The Chandelier’, but there you go. Originally the club was looking at building a new stadium at Wheeldon Mill, the town’s disused greyhound stadium, but Chesterfield Borough Council felt that the glassworks site would allow them regenerate the A61 corridor. The stadium hasn’t only been used for Chesterfield games. England’s under-19 and under-21 teams have both played games there and it has also hosted pop concerts and the likes.

On the outside of The East Stand is a £1.7 million community area called The Hub. It has a cafe, a playcentre, a gym, a therapy pool and a multi-use sports hall as well as classrooms and a martial arts dojo inside. Adjacent to it is The Chesterfield FC Memorial Garden that was built by the club’s supporters trust and is maintained by the Chesterfield FC Community Trust. It is a memorial to Chesterfield’s departed fans and also contains a War Memorial dedicated to the memory of the seventeen players and officials from the club who gave their lives in The Great War and The Second World War. Future Developments Chesterfield v Aldershot - By yellow book (Chesterfield v Aldershot) [ CC BY 2.0 ], via Wikimedia Commons The ground could be expanded to house up to 13,000 supporters if the corner sections are filled in, though this is unlikely to happen until and unless Chesterfield establish themselves as a regular Championship side. Proact to Stage International Games Proact to Stage International Games Posted: Thu 03 Oct 2013 Author: The Proact Stadium will host four games in the UEFA Women's European Under-17 Championship Finals, including the final.

After the tournament kicks off with England playing at AFC Telford United's New Bucks Head stadium on November 26, the young lionesses will play their next group match at the Proact on Tuesday, November 29 (kick-off 7pm). Following a group match at the stadium on Monday, December 2, one of the semi-finals will also take place at the Proact on Thursday, December 5. The Proact will then stage the final on Sunday, December 8. This will round off The Football Association's 150th anniversary celebrations, including marking 20 years of running the women's game. The men's Under-21 and Under-19 teams have previously played at the Proact. Spireites chairman Dave Allen said: "We are delighted to once again be hosting international football. "It will be a great opportunity for fans in Chesterfield and the surrounding areas to watch some top women's football. It is an honour for the club to stage the final of the competition and we hope that people will turn out in numbers for the games." We are delighted to once again be hosting international football. Dave Allen Proact Stadium | What happens next when a team moves stadium?

Every new ground since 1988 assessed - Football Football League at time of move: League Two League now: League One Saltergate is mourned by few outside of Chesterfield, but its closure did result in an amusing video of a fan in a wheelchair being chided for joining in with a pitch invasion . The Spireites's new home has few memorable features, but does have a stand sponsored by local lottery winner Karen Child-Smith. She supports Manchester United. Credit: ALAMY England U17s Head to Proact Stadium England U17s Head to Proact Stadium Posted: Mon 04 Aug 2014 Author: Image by: Tina Jenner The Proact Stadium will host England's U17 match with Portugal in The FA U17 International Tournament later this month. The match will take place on Friday, August 29 at the Proact Stadium, with kick off at 7:30pm. The Young Lions will be welcoming Italy, Portugal and Czech republic for the competition, with each team playing each other before the ultimate table-topper takes home the trophy.

John Peacock's side will will first take on Czech Republic in Kidderminster on Wednesday, August 27 before travelling to Chesterfield for the Portugal match. They will finish the competition by facing Italy at Burton's Pirelli Stadium on Sunday, August 31. The FA U17 International Tournament is held annually by the FA and this year will act as preparation for the First Qualifying Round of the Euro championships which take place in Cyprus in October. Tickets for the England v Portugal match at the Proact Stadium cost £3 for adults and £1.50 for U16s and can be purchased via 01246 488232 or tickets@chesterfield-fc.co.uk Related Articles 19 Jan 2017 Introducing Charlie... With the youth team back in action against Lincoln City on Saturday we spoke to young midfielder Charlie Wakefield about life at the Proact.

19 Jan 2017 PREVIEW: AFC Wimbledon Gary Caldwell takes charge of the Spireites for the first time on Saturday, when we welcome AFC Wimbledon to the Proact, here's our preview 18 Jan 2017 Gary Caldwell in Profile Following his appointment as Chesterfield manager earlier this week, we take a look at Gary's career to date. 18 Jan 2017 After 139 years, Saltergate gives way to housing and hospitality | David Conn | Football | The Guardian After 139 years, Saltergate gives way to housing and hospitality Corporate concerns override nostalgia and history as Chesterfield's venerable stadium sees its final game Chesterfield v Bournemouth, the last game at Saltergate.

Photograph: Fabio De Paola for the Guardian Saturday 8 May 2010 19.10 EDT First published on Saturday 8 May 2010 19.10 EDT Share on Messenger Close Chesterfield fans could not hold their emotions back in the closing seconds of the home game against Bournemouth, swarming on to the pitch from the Kop end after a low strike from the midfielder Derek Niven, five minutes into injury time, ensured that the club's 139-year tenure of its Saltergate ground would finish with a 2-1 victory. Rusty, rickety Saltergate, one of the oldest football grounds in England and therefore the world, played on by Chesterfield since 1871, will now be demolished and houses built on the site. The club, formed in 1866, the Football League's fourth oldest, will forge its modern future in a £13m, 10,500 all-seater stadium, its name already sold for sponsorship to b2net, a data company.

Morecambe are also leaving their old Christie Ground for a new £12m stadium, so two more long-established clubs are departing the old football homes, crammed between terraced streets. Chesterfield's farewell began with a nostalgia-fest at the town's Pomegranate Theatre, a celebration of some highlights: Football League status achieved in 1899; stints in the old Second Division which ended in relegation in 1951, periodic promotions and, shining out, the FA Cup run of 1996-1997, when John Duncan's side reached the semi-final at Old Trafford. There they drew 3-3 with a Middlesbrough side which included Juninho and Fabrizio Ravanelli, before losing the replay 3-0. Duncan recalled Nottingham Forest's players, beaten in the fifth round then, being "not too enamoured" with the cramped, ragged basics of Saltergate: "But we never thought Saltergate was anything other than a good place to be," he said.

"It is a very atmospheric home for football." At the ground, the club chairman, Barrie Hubbard, 72, who first wandered down to Saltergate to watch Chesterfield when he was eight, gazed out from the directors' box. "This is a lovely football ground, yes," he mused, sitting in the wood and steel main stand built by the football ground architect Archibald Leitch in 1936 and barely spruced up since. "But we've got nothing here. If you wanted a sandwich now I wouldn't know where to find you one. The new place will have everything. "There will be some tears today, but we have to do it, for progress." For progress, and money – or "revenue opportunities," as the club's chief executive, Carol Wilby, articulated it. At the b2net, Chesterfield will have conferencing and banqueting, and all the other earning necessities for the modern football club of which the original founders, meeting in Victorian pubs, would never have dreamed.

All this history almost ended nine years ago, when Chesterfield were taken over by Darren Brown, then 29, who purported to have cash to invest but in fact took £800,000 out, spending portions of it on smart cars and a deposit for a house, while hocking Saltergate to moneylenders. Chesterfield were saved by the fans, who rallied round to expose Brown, formed a trust which took over the club, then put it into administration to begin to piece it back together. Brown later received a four year prison sentence after pleading guilty to fraudulent trading, a brutal lesson for the Football League, which led to the introduction of the "fit and proper person test" for club owners and directors. John Croot, a trust founder member, now community director at the club itself, said yesterday of that episode: "It was horrendous, but it also brought supporters together. People realised how much the club, the ground, and all the history, meant to them, and made a huge collective effort.

The club was nearly driven out of business, but the campaign led to the platform being created for the club to rebuilt." The supporters' trust was pragmatic, recognising early that fundraising from fans could not raise the steepling sums required to fill the holes Brown left, and they asked Hubbard, and other local businessmen Mike Warner and Alan Walters, to help finance the recovery. The trust then agreed to cede its cherished ownership of the club, to allow investment on a scale which could see a new stadium built. Last year Dave Allen, the casino owner who had been the chairman for an unhappy tenure at Sheffield Wednesday, left Hillsborough and invested £4m to become the 80% owner of Chesterfield. He has loaned a further £2m towards the building of the b2net stadium, £1.6m has come in grants from the Football Foundation, and around £2.2m is being made from the sale of Saltergate for housing. In the tributes paid to the old place yesterday, some select great players – including Gordon Banks, whose career began at Chesterfield in November 1958 – and Chesterfield's occasional successes were given due prominence.

But in truth it was appropriate that despite victory over promoted Bournemouth, in the very last Football League match to end 139 years of history, results elsewhere meant Chesterfield did not make the League Two play-offs this season. The central themes of this sporting story are not triumph and glory, but longevity, loyalty, commitment. After the final whistle, the fans poured back on to the pitch again, this time milling around, taking in the last moments of Saltergate, with the club song from the 1996-97 cup run playing on the PA: " We can build our dreams". The Spireites will hope that in the brave new world of obstruction-free seating and naming rights at the b2net Stadium, there will still be space for dreams.

Question: Which English football club play their home games at Proact Stadium?
Answer: Chesterfield FC