2013–14 Chester F.C. season
The 2013–14 season was Chester's fourth season of existence and their first season in the Conference. Along with competing in the Football Conference, the club also participated in the FA Cup, FA Trophy and Cheshire Senior Cup. The season covered the period from 1 July 2013 to 30 June 2014.
Timeline
- 13 May 2013: Chester announce midfielder Dave Hankin is to be placed on the transfer list due to work commitments.
- 15 May 2013: Chester announce a pre-season friendly against Mansfield Town.
- 16 May 2013: Chester announce the departure of both Matty McGinn and Scott Brown, with Tony Gray being placed on the transfer list.
- 20 May 2013: The club celebrate their 3rd anniversary since reforming.
- 21 May 2013: Chester announce their first three signings of the season: Kevin McIntyre, a defender from Rochdale; Jason Jarrett, a midfielder from Airbus UK Broughton; Lee Pugh, a defender from Clitheroe as well as Martin Fearon signing a one-year deal with captain George Horan and John Danby being offered new contracts.
- 22 May 2013: AFC Telford United announce the signing of Wes Baynes and Matty McGinn who had been recently released from Chester.
- 23 May 2013: Chester announce the signature of Craig Mahon from Vauxhall Motors.
- 25 May 2013: Chester announce midfielder Danny Harrison has signed from Tranmere Rovers.
- 26 May 2013: Chester announce captain George Horan has signed a new contract.
- 27 May 2013: AFC Telford United complete the signing of transfer listed striker Tony Gray.
- 28 May 2013: Chester announce John Danby has agreed to a two-year deal to stay with the club.
- 29 May 2013: Chester announce the signing of Craig Lindfield from Accrington Stanley.
- 10 June 2013: Chester announce that transfer listed Dave Hankin has left to join AFC Fylde for a nominal fee while Nathan Jarman is expected to leave the club in the next few days on the completion of his paperwork.
- 17 June 2013: North Ferriby United announce the confirmation of signing striker Nathan Jarman.
- 19 June 2013: Season ticket sales have reached to 400. While Stockport County announce the signing of Iain Howard, previously released by Chester.
- 20 June 2013: Hereford United sign Dominic Collins who had been released by Chester.
- 26 June 2013: Chester announce the departure of star midfielder Antoni Sarcevic to Fleetwood Town for an undisclosed fee.
- 27 June 2013: Chester announce that have extended their sponsorship with club, it will see the South Stand be renamed to the 'Swansway Chester Stand'.
- 1 July 2013: Chester announce the signings of strikers Gareth Seddon and Jamie Reed from FC Halifax Town and York City respectively.
- 4 July 2013: Chester announce Alex Titchiner has returned to the club on loan from Fleetwood Town. The deal would see him at the club until January 2014.
- 6 July 2013: Chester announce that Joe Heath, a defender from Hereford United, has signed for the club.
- 9 July 2013: Chester announce Michael Kay has signed from Tranmere Rovers. Season ticket sales have also gone over 850.
- 13 July 2013: Southport sign former Chester player Scott Brown.
- 1 August 2013: Chester announce the return of twin brothers Lewis and Nathan Turner, again joining the club on from Leeds United this time for the entire season.
- 2 August 2013: Chester announce the squad numbers for the new season.
- 8 August 2013: Chester kick off the season with a 3–0 defeat at Barnet. Michael Kay, Danny Harrison, Jamie Reed, Jason Jarrett, Craig Lindfield, Kevin McIntyre, Gareth Seddon and Craig Mahon all make their debuts for the club.
- 13 August 2013: Chester's first home game of the season ends in disappointment as they lose 2–0 to Hereford United with 10 men.
- 23 August 2013: Chester announce the loan signings of Aidan Chippendale from Bury and Jordan Laidler from Sunderland for a month.
- 29 August 2013: Chester announce that former Premier League defender Danny Higginbotham has signed for the club from Sheffield United. Just two days ahead of the big Cross-border derby match against Wrexham.
- 31 August 2013: Chester win their first game of the season against arch rivals Wrexham, 2–0 in the first Cross-border derby since Chester's reformation and it also proved to be the club's first win at the Racecourse Ground in over 30 years. Danny Higginbotham also made his debut.
- 6 September 2013: Chester announce that striker Marc Williams has left the club.
- 13 September 2013: Chester announce the loan signing of Shaq McDonald from Peterborough United. The striker linking up with the club for three months.
- 17 September 2013: Chester win their first home game of the season, beating Cheshire rivals Macclesfield Town 2–1. Gareth Seddon and Aidan Chippendale score their first goals.
- 14 October 2013: Chester are drawn at home against Gateshead in the fourth qualifying round of the FA Cup.
- 24 October 2013: Chester loan Ross Killock from Leeds United.
- 26 October 2013: Chester are knocked out of the FA Cup by losing 1–0 to Gateshead. Later on Ben Mills leaves the club.
- 31 October 2013: Chester announce two loan signings for a month from Bolton Wanderers; Conor Wilkinson and Chris Lester. The club also announce that former trialist Jamie Menagh has joined the club.
- 11 November 2013: Chester are drawn away to Runcorn Town in the first round of the Cheshire Senior Cup.
- 13 November 2013: Chester defender Danny Higginbotham gets called up for the Gibraltar squad for their first friendly since joining UEFA against Slovenia.
- 18 November 2013: Chester are drawn at home to either Barrow or Stockport County in the FA Trophy first round.
- 20 November 2013: Chester announce that Ross Killock's loan has been extended by two months while youth players Tom Peers and Sean Miller are given first team contracts.
- 27 November 2013: Chester announce John Rooney has joined the club on loan from Bury for a month.
- 28 November 2013: Chester announce the signing of George Miller on a months loan from Accrington Stanley.
- 30 November 2013: Chester are knocked out of the FA Trophy losing 2–1 to Barrow.
- 19 December 2013: Chester's first appearance on BT Sport is announced as their game against FC Halifax Town is to be shown live, with the game moving to a Thursday night.
- 1 January 2014: Chester announce the departure of defender Danny Higginbotham, leaving the club due to his commitments to the media.
- 7 January 2014: Chester announce Ross Killock's loan has again been extended, this time till the end of the season.
- 8 January 2014: Chester announce that manager Neil Young has left the club by mutual consent with Gary Jones taking control of first team matters on a caretaker basis.
- 13 January 2014: Chester announce that John Rooney has joined the club permanently following the end of his loan spell.
- 16 January 2014: Chester announce that midfielder Ashley Williams has left the club to rejoin Airbus UK Broughton. Chester are also drawn at home to Macclesfield Town in the Cheshire Senior Cup.
- 17 January 2014: Chester announce George Miller has extended his loan by another month.
- 18 January 2014: Chester announce Steve Burr as the new manager of the club and wins in his first game in charge by beating Barnet 2–1 at home. Lewis Turner and Jamie Reed provided the goals.
- 21 January 2014: Chester announce some backroom staff changes with Jon McCarthy joining the club as a first team coach while Gary Powell and Lee Worrall leave the club.
- 23 January 2014: Chester announce Andy Bond has joined the club as Steve Burr's new signing from Colchester United.
- 24 January 2014: Chester announce youth player Liam Blake has joined the first team by signing a contract till the end of the season.
- 30 January 2014: Chester announce that Matt Taylor has joined the club on loan from Forest Green Rovers.
- 5 February 2014: Chester are to be shown on BT Sport for the second time with their game at Dartford being shown on TV live.
- 7 February 2014: Chester announce that Chesterfield duo, Aaron Chapman and Matthew Brown, have joined the club on loan.
- 13 February 2014: Chester announce assistant manager Gary Jones has left the club.
- 18 February 2014: Chester are knocked out of the Cheshire Senior Cup by losing to Macclesfield Town 2–0 at home.
- 10 March 2014: Chester announce Carl Macauley has joined the club as an assistant manager after stepping down as the Vauxhall Motors boss.
- 14 March 2014: Chester announce the signing of striker Craig Hobson from Guiseley.
- 18 March 2014: Chester sign Danny Carlton on an emergency loan from Hyde.
- 19 April 2014: Chester draw 0–0 in the second Cross-border derby of the season against Wrexham.
- 22 April 2014: Chester's last game of the season against Salisbury City is to be screened on BT Sport. The club's third time to be featured on the programme.
- 26 April 2014: Chester draw the last game of the season 2–2 against Salisbury City which sees the club relegated from the Conference Premier.
Club