SPOTLIGHT ON : CHESTERFIELD FC SUPPORTER - SOPHIE

⚽ Her Game Too: Visiting Fan Q&A

With the New Year comes something a little extra special - today we’re bringing you two blogs, shining a spotlight on not one, but two fantastic female fans from the visiting team. A great way to kick off the year we thought!

At each home game, we celebrate women in football by giving a female supporter from the visiting side the chance to share her story, her passion for the game, and her love for her club.

This week, we spoke to Sophie — a proud Chesterfield FC supporter who attends both home and away matches following the Spireites. Ahead of her visit to Boundary Park, here’s what she had to say about football, fandom, and some of her favourite memories.

🔵 NAME:

Sophie

🟠 CLUB:

Chesterfield Fc

📍 HOMETOWN:

Chesterfield

🗣️ Q&A

What got you into football – and do you remember your first match?

My mum got me into football, she is a massive Manchester United fan and I grew up supporting Man Utd and watching football on the telly, as my mum had my younger brother at home so couldn’t go to Old Trafford. My grandad has been a lifelong Chesterfield fan but never took me to the matches! 😂 I then met my partner in 2020 who is a huge Chesterfield Fc fan and has been since he was around 7 years old. He went to the last game at the old Spireites home, The Recreation Ground (otherwise known as Saltergate). I started going to the Chesterfield matches with him and instantly fell in love. My partner didn’t want me going to the football with him all the time as he sat in the kop and I didn’t like it in there, so I would sit with my grandad in the East Stand of the ground. As I started going half way through the season I couldn’t get a season ticket, but as soon as the next season came around, I bought my first season ticket, and my partner renewed his to the West stand, where we have both sat ever since, at every home game! I love the club, players and community, and I won’t ever look back! Although I didn’t follow the club until 2020, my first Chesterfield game was around 2009 at the Saltergate stadium, I was 6 years old and my nanna had taken me to the match, I don’t remember much other than it being absolutely freezing, and not really enjoying it, but how times change!

Do you travel to away games often? What’s been your favourite ground to visit?

We try to travel to as many away games as possible. A few grounds that were memorable are MK Dons, York City, Eastleigh, Oldham and Grimsby, for all sorts of different reasons. However, my favourite ground to visit was Doncaster Rovers last year when the Spireites won 3-0. Doncaster were down to 9 men, we travelled in big numbers, the fans were ecstatic and James Berry scored a great goal to make it 3.

Any particular player for us to watch out for?

I would have to name 2 players to watch out for as I’d struggle to choose between these 2. The first being Ryan Stirk, for me he has not had a bad game yet for the Spireites, however he has recently come back from injury so hopefully he’s still fit for the away fixture to Oldham on New Year’s day. Another player I believe is one to watch is Ronan Darcy, he is new to the Spireites this season and doesn’t start every game. However, he is quick on the ball, and has the ability to dribble around the defence of the opposing team.

Where do you think you will finish in the league?

I think Chesterfield are doing well, we definitely could be doing worse, we are currently yo-yo ing in and out of the play off positions. As much as I’d love for Chesterfield to finish in the autos, and avoid another play off final at wembley, I believe we will just scrape the play offs in 7th position.

🏟️ Favourite stadium:

Favourite stadium in the league as it stands would probably be MK Dons. Just because it’s modern, it was clean last year when we went, they had a good selection of food, the shops on the outside of the ground were convenient and the ground was pretty easy to get to and park near. The only downside is last year we played there in December and it was absolutely freezing, and we’ve got them on 4th January this season, so more than likely be just as cold then too!

🥧 Top matchday snack?

Top match day is difficult for me as I have food intolerances, but defo opt for a diet coke and a chocolate bar… boring I know!

🚌 Home or away days?

Choosing between home and away days is soooo difficult. Being at home gives me goosebumps as Mr Blue Sky plays and the players walk out the tunnel, and having all our fans in one place. But, we are definitely louder as fans away and the atmosphere is always great. Player wise, I feel we play a lot better at home than we do away so overall I’d probably say home games are my preference.

📺 VAR – yes or no?

It would definitely be interesting if we had VAR in the league, I feel we get referees that make poor decisions more than we get referees that make good ones! Perhaps VAR would help the referees make better, more fair decisions!

👕 Dream player to sign for your club?

If we’re talking full dream land, obviously, as a Manchester United fan as well as a Chesterfield fan, I think the likes of Bruno Fernandes or Bryan Mbeumo would be brilliant, maybe in another life 😂

💬 Final thoughts?

I think it’s brilliant that you’re doing this blog to support Her Game Too, I’d not heard too much about this but have done some research and happy to be contributing on behalf of my club that I love so dearly. I do think Chesterfield have a very large

female following and it’s so nice to be a part of! 💙🤍

💙 Thank you to Sophie for taking the time to speak to us and for sharing her story and experiences as a Chesterfield FC supporter. We wish her safe travels and hope she enjoys her visit to Boundary Park. Best of luck to Chesterfield for the rest of the season.