WELCOMING BACK: CHESTERFIELD FC SUPPORTER - ALICIA BLACKHAM

Happy New Year from everyone at Her Game Too! We hope 2026 brings good health, positivity, and plenty of good football ✨

To start the year, we caught up with a familiar face in our Visiting Fan Q&A series…

This week, we caught up with Alicia – a proud Chesterfield supporter who last featured on our blog a couple of seasons ago. With both our clubs celebrating promotion over the last couple of seasons, it felt like the perfect time to check back in ahead of Chesterfield’s visit to Boundary Park.

🔵 Name:

Alicia

🟠 Club:

Chesterfield

📍 Hometown:

Chesterfield

Since we last spoke both our teams have been promoted! What a feeling! Can you put into words how that felt?

I think it was a weird one for us because if you looked at the league table, it seemed pretty nailed on that we would be promoted for a while before we were. But you also don’t quite want to say that, because who knows what could happen in football! So I think my first feeling was relief, there were some tears. After that it’s pure joy isn’t it? It was a weekend I’ll never forget.

What’s been the highlight for you since Chesterfield has been promoted?

I don’t think I can point to a specific moment, I think it’s just the overall feeling of being back in the EFL where we feel we belong. I also only started going to away games during the national league years, so ticking off all of the league 2 grounds has been good.

🗣️ Q&A

1. Do you remember the first match you attended?


I don’t remember actually. My dad made sure I was a Spireite before I was old enough to make a conscious choice, I believe I was only 3 the first time I went to Saltergate (our former ground).

2. Who was your footballing hero growing up?


I don’t know that I’ve ever had a “hero” as such, but David Reeves is the first Chesterfield player I remember loving so I think I’ve got to say him. I was only really little when I watched him play, and he used to always come over and say hi which means a lot to young fans.

“Me, Daisy, Tom, and Matt with Paul Cook the day we won the league”

3. Do you travel to away games often? What has been your favourite League 2 ground to visit so far? 


Yes, we don’t miss many. I think I’ve only got 2 more league 2 grounds to visit now. Last season my favourite was probably Doncaster, but of this season’s league 2 I guess it’s got to be Notts just because it’s so close and we take 3000 fans so the atmosphere is great.

4. What’s the best chant or song your fans sing?
We are sailing. We only sing it when we’re about to or have won a game. At its best it gives me goosebumps.

5. Have you noticed attitudes toward female fans or the women’s game changing?

In general, yes. It would be hard to argue that it hasn’t improved compared to, for example, my parents’ generation. I have personally experienced sexist abuse at the football, sadly from our own fans. But generally I feel safe and like any issues would be dealt with by the club. As for the women’s game, the lionesses have clearly had a massive impact, but with any progress comes backlash and we’re still seeing that.

6. Match-day traditions – any lucky charms or rituals?


When I worked behind the bar at the ground I would touch my dad’s plaque that’s in the tunnel for luck. Now I don’t really have any rituals of my own, but my friend is very superstitious when it comes to football so I have it drilled into me to not wear the same clothes as last week if we lost.

“Me with the National League trophy and dad’s plaque”

7. If your club were a film or song, what would it be and why?


I guess it’s got to be we are sailing hasn’t it? See above!

8. How do you feel Chesterfield are doing this season?

Well overall. I don’t think we’ve quite hit our full potential yet, although we’re starting to see glimpses of it. The individual talent we have at the club is immense and I only see us getting better. There’s been some negativity amongst fans at times this season, but a playoff position and 2 points away from the top 3 is a pretty strong position.

9. Any particular player for us to watch out for?

There’s a few. But I’d say Lee Bonis at the moment, he can’t stop scoring!

10. ⁠Score predictions this afternoon?

2-1 Chesterfield.

11. ⁠Where do you think you will finish in the league?

I don’t want to jinx anything! I would say that the current top 7 (we’re 7th at the time of writing) is probably about right, I just think the order will be different - take from that what you will!

12. Favourite result between the two sides?

The 2-0 win at Boundary Park in 2022 when, ironically, Joe Quigley scored for us.

13. Favourite players who have featured for both teams and why?

Joe Quigley! He became a bit of a cult hero towards the end of his time playing for us after getting a lot of stick at the beginning. He’s definitely a player that I’ll always remember as part of that promotion season.

“Me in a Chesterfield shirt as a toddler with my sister”

⚡ Quick Fire Round

🏟️ Favourite stadium you have visited?

Stamford Bridge.

🥧 Top matchday snack?


Chips.

🚌 Home or away days?


Away.

📺 VAR – yes or no?


No

👕 Dream player to sign for your club?

The next Liam Mandeville.

Thanks to Alicia for catching up with us again, ahead of our match on New Year’s Day. Hopefully we both do better than a draw which has been the score the last couple of times we have met!! Enjoy your return trip to Boundary Park!

Look out for more fan voices every matchday as part of our Her Game Too Series.