Preview: Peterborough Sports (H)
The Blues return to competitive action after just 82 days away for a first home opening day fixture since 2018!
Peterborough Sports will be the visitors at the Deva Stadium to kick off their fourth-consecutive National League North campaign.
Calum McIntyre insisted on the importance on retainment throughout the summer after our play-off final defeat to Scunthorpe United, with a core group of the squad remaining down CH1.
Nine new faces have arrived though as the Blues look to go one step further and seal a return to the National League.
Dion Kelly-Evans and James Jones will bolster a defensive unit that was already strengthened by the return of Tom Leak on a permanent basis, whilst Fin Shrimpton will add to a strong midfield unit.
Fin Roberts has made his return to the Deva on loan from Crewe Alexandra, while Offrande Zanzala adds further firepower in forward areas alongside Tom Peers, Connor Woods and Dylan Mottley-Henry.
The Opposition
The Turbines will be looking to build on their highest ever league position from last term, a 12th-placed finish that saw the club end the season closer to the play-off spots than the drop zone.
Luke Steele and Michael Gash will have to cope without talisman Michael Gyasi for this campaign though after the striker, who netted on 15 occasions last season, put pen-to-paper on a move to King’s Lynn Town this summer.
Experienced striker Shaquile Coulthirst will look to be a direct replacement for the club in forward areas, with a record of over 68 league goals to his name in the sixth tier or higher over his career.
An ambitious move has been made at left-back courtesy of Josh Cavallo, who has decided to make the switch from Adelaide to Peterborough this summer, after six successive seasons in the A League.
The Gaffers
Player/management duo Luke Steele and Michael Gash remain in charge at PIMS Park for their fourth season in charge, after appointments in early 2023.
Whilst Steele has stepped away from the field in recent times and did not feature at all last season, Gash still hold a significant role in the squad at centre-back, after almost an entire career as a striker.
Luke started in the Peterborough United academy before he put pen to paper with Manchester United in 2002, but he failed to register an appearance for the Red Devils.
The shot-stopper made over 190 appearances between the sticks for Barnsley, and also featured for Panathinaikos in the Greek Super League between 2014-2017.
Meanwhile, Gash’s most notable stints came at Cambridge United, York City and King’s Lynn Town
The pair will be look to build on their best campaign in management as the club look to push forward towards a potential play-off berth.
One To Watch
Striker Shaquile Coulthirst has added nouse and experience to the Turbines’ frontline this summer after the departure of top scorer Gyasi.
A Tottenham Hotspur academy graduate, Coulthirst was sent to a plethora of clubs on loan spells in his younger years, including Southend United, York City and Wigan Athletic.
The 30-year-old’s most fruitful stint came with Barnet in League Two and the National League, where Coulthirst netted on 28 occasions over a three-year period.
After time with Maidstone United towards the end of last season, the forward has decided to swap the National League South for the National League North and have a positive impact on the Turbines’ attacking output.
Match Details
Saturday’s game will kick off at 15:00 at the Deva Stadium. The address for the ground is Deva Stadium, Bumpers Lane, Chester, CH1 4LT.
TICKET DETAILS
Tickets are available for the game via fanbase. Click below to secure your spot!
CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE TICKETS ONLINE!
Please note that only one kiosk will be operational in the Harry Mac, supporters stood on the terrace should go right towards the West Stand to access the kiosk.
Under The Canopy…
Live Music
16-year-old Harry Huxley, a singer-songwriter from Chester, will be putting on a live performance outside the stadium before the match!
Born and raised in Chester, Harry is now pursuing his passion for music, writing original songs and hoping to share them with a wider audience.
Come along to support local talent and follow @harryhuxmusic on Instagram to keep up with his journey. Any donations on the day to Harry will be most welcome also!
Season Ticket Cards
Season ticket cards will be available for collection from 12:00-14:55 under the Fan Canopy.
Food and Drink
Spookton Brewery will be serving a range of beers Under the Canopy – make sure you grab yourself a pint and help support the club!
Spookton started life as a result of an obsession for homebrewing modern craft beer. They launched in 2022 as a cuckoo brewery and then opened their own microbrewery and tap room in the centre of Chester last year.
The club will be bringing alcohol sales within the canopy in-house in due course, but we want to extend a huge thank you to Jon, Sam and everyone at Spookton who have been so helpful and supportive since launching the canopy. We look forward to working together in the future!
For more information, visit www.spookton.co.uk. Please note, alcohol sales will commence at midday and then stop at 2.50pm.
Bebop’s BBQ is firing up the grills and bringing the flavour to the Deva Stadium!
Come hungry and get stuck into mouthwatering smoked meats, loaded specials, and proper BBQ done right. Whether you’re there for the football or just the food – we’ve got you covered.
⚽ Great game. 💨 Big smoke. Serious flavour.
Check out Bebop’s delicious food on:
Instagram – Click Here
Facebook – Click Here
Keep It Sweet will also be on site on Saturday!
Keep It Sweet will be setting up inside the canopy area serving their delicious sweet treats including…
- Jersey Gold Ice Cream with sherbet and a flake topped with sauce
- American Fanta & Sweets
- Fresh Hot Donuts Cooked to order
- Chocolate Bars
The Blues Bar
The Blues Bar will be open both pre-match and post-match to provide ice-cold refreshments and to ramp up the atmosphere before the start of the season.
Please note that the Bar will closing post-match at 17:30 due to a party booking, we apologise for any inconvenience caused.
Car Park
Entry to the car park for non-pass holders is now priced at £5 on a match day and is cash only on arrival.
Please try to ensure that you have the correct change to avoid unnecessary queueing into the car park.
CAN’T MAKE IT? STAY UPDATED
Free commentary on Seals Live via our Match Centre: CLICK HERE
Match Updates on our Twitter/X page: CLICK HERE
HT/FT Updates on Facebook and Instagram: CLICK HERE
A full time match report on ChesterFC.com: CLICK HERE
We can’t wait to see you all at the Deva. UTS!