All you need to know ahead of latest home game
WHO? Chester FC – to give them their full name (more on that in a bit) – play their games at the Deva Stadium, and have done since 1992.
DO WHAT? Deva is Latin for Chester, don’t you know.
PHOENIX. The new club find themselves back in the Conference just three seasons after the old club ceased thanks to three successive title-winning campaigns. The club have gone from the Northern Premier League Division One North straight through to the Conference. Their points tally for the last three seasons reads: 97, 100, 107. Goal-wise it’s: 107, 102, 103.
FC OK? Following the old club’s (aka Chester City) liquidation, a new club formed – Chester FC. Don’t forget the FC either – it’s officially part of their name, just like AFC Bournemouth or AFC Wimbledon.
IT NEVER HAPPENED. The Hatters will be playing Chester for the 13th time in their history on Saturday, although technically it will only be the 11th time. To cut a long story short, the old Chester club had its playing record expunged in 2009/10, a season the Town drew 0-0 twice with the Blues.
ZERO ZEN. Chester were the side that the Town drew 0-0 against in January 2009 – a point which wiped the 30-point deduction during the League 2 campaign of 2008/09. Both clubs were relegated come the end of that campaign.
HEAD2HEAD. The Town drew 1-1 at the Deva Stadium back in November and overall – excluding the expunged results – the Hatters’ record is three wins, six draws and one defeat. The Town last beat Chester 46 years ago in October 1967. On that day the Town won 3-1 at the Blues’ old Sealand Road ground in October 1967 thanks to two goals from Keith Allen and one from Ian Buxton. The Hatters went onto lift the Division Four championship come the end of the season. The Town haven’t won a home game against Chester since a 1-0 victory in March 1967 in Division Four. Keith Allen got the Luton goal.
DRAWING BOARD. There have been six draws in the nine games between the two clubs, and eight draws in 11 if you count the expunged results. What’s more Chester have drawn more matches than any other team in the Skrill Premier this season with 12, although nine of those have come at home.
FUTCHER BROS. In 1974 the Town purchased Futcher brothers Ron and Paul from Chester. The pair went onto make 275 appearances between them for the Town.
CURRENT CONNECTION. Winger Shaun Whalley began his career with Chester and made his Football League debut for the club - against Cambridge in 2004.
HOW THEY DOING? Like the Town, Chester will be needing the points on Saturday, but for different reasons. The Blues currently sit one place outside the relegation zone, two points clear off Aldershot in the final relegation spot. They lost last Saturday at home to Alfreton before letting a two-goal lead slip against Southport on Tuesday in a 2-2 draw.
ON THE ROAD. Chester have won six, drawn three and lost 10 matches on their travels this season. In fact Saturday’s visitors have won two of their last three away games with victories at relegation rivals Tamworth (4-3) and Dartford (1-0). However, they lost 2-0 at another rival in the fight for survival, Aldershot in the previous away fixture.
TOWN TEAM NEWS. John Still revealed that midfielder Luke Guttridge could be out for the rest of the season with a metatarsal injury. Jonathan Smith and Danny Fitzsimons are the other two definitely out for the Hatters.
TICKET NEWS. Tickets are selling well for the game with the Oak Road again open to Town supporters. An attendance of over 8,000 is expected and Town fans are urged to buy tickets as soon as possible and collect them as early on Saturday to avoid the queues before kick-off.
LIVE & DIRECT. We’ll have all the news as it happens from Kenilworth Road. Pre-match build-up, team news, live text and audio commentary, a report, reaction, photographs and interviews. Remember to keep it lutontown.co.uk, Hatters Player and check out our ever-growing Facebook and Twitter feeds. And keep an eye on our Instagram, Vine and YouTube accounts too for good measure #COYH.