By Chris Wright
Alas, Chesterfield no longer play at Saltergate having moved to the altogether more salubrious environs of the 10,500-capacity Proact (formerly b2net) Stadium across town back in 2010, but their spiritual home will forever be Saltergate – the club’s slopy-pitched, rickety, rusty home for their first 139 years of existence.
The first incarnation of The Spireites took up residency at The New Recreation Ground (as it was then known) in 1871 after splitting from Chesterfield Cricket Club to form a football team in its own right and, while the club have rejigged themselves several times over the subsequent years, each venture played at Saltergate up until 2010.
As you’re about to see, Saltergate embodies the English football league ground perfectly; looking every single one of its 139 years with its faded wooden seats, dog-eared terraces and peeling paintwork all combining to give the ground that almost intangible air of lower league footballing romance…
Knackered, run-down and utterly beautiful.
(Photos: PA)
More in Pies’ Around The Grounds series…
Griffin Park, Brentford
De Kuip, Feyenoord
Upton Park, West Ham
San Mames, Athletic Bilbao
FC Gspon’s Ottmar Hitzfeld Stadium, The Highest Pitch In Europe
Valley Parade, Bradford City
Prenton Park, Tranmere
Wankdorf, Young Boys
Estadio Municipal, SC Braga
Home Park, Plymouth Argyle
Victoria Park, Hartlepool United
Bloomfield Road, Blackpool
Ninian Park, Cardiff City
Wankdorf Stadium, Young Boys
Portman Road, Ipswich Town
Recreation Ground, Aldershot