Chesterfield v Borehamwood Saturday 23 March 2024
9826. The most home tickets the Spireites have ever sold for a home game down on Sheffield Road got the SMH Stadium rocking long before kick off. In front of the cameras was today to be the day?
98 minutes in total, and the answer was a resounding yes!!!
After a nervous start, where Tshimanga got clear once, the goal we needed came on the 27th minute when captain Jamie Grimes headed home from a Mandeville corner. And the Spireites went in leading 1/0 at half time.
Speaking to a few fans during the interval, we all said an early second goal was needed. Little did we think it would be 46 seconds in, as Dobra weaved his way into the box and a low cross saw Mandeville fire home for 2-0, and the champion feeling was finally there.
Captain “magnificent” Grimes made it 3 after more great work from Dobra as “Champione Champione” sang out loud and proud around 4 sides of the stadium.
7 minutes of injury time just delayed the final celebrations as fans swarmed onto the pitch to celebrate 6 years of non-league football finally ending.
Boss Paul Cook took the plaudits of the crowd. The trophy was finally presented once everything was cleared and fans back behind the barriers.
Scenes we haven’t witnessed for a long time. Tears and emotions ran high. But finally, we can say CHAMPIONS and the champagne corks finally popped!
The Spireites are finally back in the EFL. And we certainly put on a show winning 30, drawing 5 and losing 6 along the way. Still 5 to play, but job done.
Total attendance 9907 with 81 travelling ‘Wood fans.
Alan Wilkinson