For most supporters, pre-season carries little weight in terms of expectation.

The games come thick and fast, the teams usually see wholesale changes at the break, the teamsheet has plenty of trialist unknowns and the intensity of when the real competition just isn’t there.

For players it is a time to build up fitness and get sharp ahead of the big-kick off, and for the managers it is a chance to bed in a style of playing and make sure what is learned on the training ground translates to what happens on the pitch.

For strikers it is about scoring goals, for hitting the back of the net in pre-season often follows on into when the action begins in earnest. Whether it be a friendly against a local non-league minnow or Championship opposition, the confidence gained from scoring is part of the process of being ready for the season.

Tom Peers turns 31 in October. He emerged through the ranks at Chester from the academy and went on to forge an impressive non-league career with spells at Altrincham and Curzon Ashton among his stops before a return to the Blues in 2023.

He knows how it goes. Strikers are judged on goals (at National League North level Peers has scored 71 of them in 264 games), and if the goals don’t come then the questions get asked. Everyone has an opinion.

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As the National League North season rapidly approaches, Chester have just two pre-season friendlies left.

The Phil Parkinson era begins in earnest on August 8 when the Blues open up their league campaign at Chorley, but there are games against Nantwich Town on Tuesday evening and Saturday’s visit of League Two side Crewe Alexandra to refine the plans.

This week’s episode focuses on the permanent addition of ‘Trialist X’, who have known for some time to be attacking midfielder Ma’kel Campbell, as we look at why Parkinson was so keen to add him to the Blues squad.

We also talk injuries, look at the next two games and look at some of the marginal gains that Parkinson is seeking to grab away from the 90 minutes on a Saturday.

PICTURE BY RICK MATTHEWS

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Chester have completed the permanent signing of triallist Ma’kel Campbell.

The 19-year-old attacking midfielder joined the Blues at the start of pre-season having left Morecambe at the start of the summer and has impressed during his appearances against Vauxhall Motors, Fleetwood Town, Warrington Town and Stoke City.

Campbell, who came through academy systems at Arsenal, Fulham and Peterborough United, has impressed Chester manager Phil Parkinson, who had intimated earlier in the week during a conversation with The Seal that the exciting youngster was someone who they wanted to add permanently.

The only sticking point on getting a deal done was that the Blues were close to budget, but additional funds have been found to bring the London-born right-footer Campbell, who made nine National League appearances for the Shrimps in 2025/26, to the Deva Community Stadium.

Campbell, who had been a player to have caught the eye of Blues fans during pre-season with his creativity, skill and pace, is a player who fits the profile of player who Parkinson had wanted to bring into the club, the likes of Jefferson Abreu, Kofi Moore and Jack Kenny.

With the club having transitioned to a full-time training environment, although contracts remain at 44 weeks not 52, Parkinson is hoping that greater contact time with the players, and with a support staff in place, will aid development and provide a platform for younger players to thrive and continue on an upward trajectory, potentially turning that into financial gain for the football club further on down the line that can be reinvested into growing the squad and the club.

“The truth is, Ma’kel wasn’t a player I expected to be talking about a few weeks ago,” said Parkinson, speaking to club media.

“But football has a habit of presenting opportunities, and when he walked through the door, he made sure we couldn’t ignore him.

“From his very first session, he showed exactly what we’re looking for. Energy, quality, versatility, pace, bravery on the ball, and above all, a real desire to improve. He’s embraced every challenge we’ve put in front of him during his trial period, and I think everyone connected with the club has seen the attributes he can bring to this squad.

“His performances made the decision an easy one. He was a player worth fighting for, and one I wanted to take to the board to see if we could make something happen.

“I’m really pleased we’ve been able to get the deal done.

“Ma’kel is young, ambitious and desperate to prove a point. Those are the types of people we want at Chester. Players who are prepared to work, develop and put the team first while chasing their own ambitions at the same time.

“I’m looking forward to working with him this season. I believe Chester is the right environment for him to continue his development, and if we can align his individual goals with our collective ambition, I’m confident he’ll have a really positive impact.”

Earlier today the Blues signed goalkeeper Alex Brown to a one-year deal, with academy graduates Connor Murphy, Harry Deakin and Dan Kennedy all penning their first senior deals with the club.

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With Chester now fully in the swing of pre-season and the new National League North campaign just over a fortnight away, most of the Blues squad have got plenty of minutes in the tank.

But not all players have been able to see the amount of action that they or manager Phil Parkinson would have ideally wanted, with injury issues having hampered Jack Bainbridge’s plans to get out on the green grass this summer, while others such as Jefferson Abreu and Dom McHale have had to take a watching brief over the past seven days or so.

Chester kick off their new campaign under Parkinson at Chorley on August 8, and a Blues squad that has undergone a radical transformation on the pitch, and seen significant change off it in terms of infrastructure and support staff, has had to be managed through the summer weeks to ensure that every player has the best chance of being fighting fit for the cause for the longest possible time.

The Blues have three more pre-season friendlies before heading to Victory Park in 15 days time, with a trip to Hyde United this evening followed by a visit to Nantwich Town on Tuesday night, before proceedings are wrapped up with a home encounter with EFL League Two side Crewe Alexandra on Saturday, August 1.

The next two weeks and three games are the final preparations for when the action starts in earnest, and with some players having had to sit out through injury in the last couple of games, Parkinson gave an update on the state of play.

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Making his way to the sit in the dugout for his first match in charge of Chester at the Deva Community Stadium was always going to be a special occasion for Phil Parkinson.

The Blues boss, appointed at the start of May, had made no secret that one of the compelling elements of joining the club was the fan base and how it was one one befitting of a team higher up the English pyramid.

He had anticipated that the real sense of what being Chester boss was all about would arrive when the Blues welcome King’s Lynn Town to the Deva for their first National League North home game of the season on August 15, the first competitive test on home soil for Parkinson’s new-look side.

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When Dan Ward was looking for his next chapter away from South Shields he knew he would have to travel further than he had been used to.

The central midfielder’s two-year spell at last season’s beaten National League North play-off finalists came to an end following the culmination of the 2025/26 campaign, one that had seen Ward miss the final few weeks of the season and the play-offs with a hamstring injury.

A popular figure with the Mariners, 28-year-old Ward penned a two-year deal with Chester at the start of July, with the former Spennymoor Town, St Patrick’s Athletic, Gateshead and Oldham Athletic man seen by Blues boss Phil Parkinson as having a major role to play in the club’s success this season in the midfield engine room.

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You can get occasional free public posts by signing up to The Seal, but for the full experience, including news, views, interviews, exclusives, podcasts, videos and around 250 Blues stories a year, plus access to the full archive, consider becoming a paid subscriber for £5 per month.

Another warm July Saturday and another 2-0 pre-season win for Chester.

Having kicked off their preparations for the new season in earnest against Vauxhall Motors seven days previous, and tasted a 2-0 loss at the hands of League Two side Fleetwood Town in a behind-closed-doors training ground game on the Tuesday, the Blues secured success over Northern Premier League Premier Division outfit Warrington Town at the weekend.

Second-half strikes from Sam Reed and a Nathan Woodthorpe thunderbolt did the trick in a game where Chester boss Phil Parkinson gave plenty of minutes to plenty of players, with a number of trialists handed the chance to shine once more.

On this episode of The Breakdown we discuss the weekend game, who might be the next captain of Chester (will it be Declan Weeks again?) and also which trialist may be staking a claim for consideration for a permanent deal.

We’ll also look at some of the young players to have impressed, as well as assessing what Wyll Stanway’s move to Cheltenham Town for a five-figure fee might mean for the Blues.

All this and more in today’s edition of The Breakdown.

PICTURE BY TOM GREEN

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Thank you for supporting The Seal and allowing journalism to return to the Blues at a time when local coverage of football teams is disappearing. Your support means the world.

You can get occasional free public posts by signing up to The Seal, but for the full experience, including news, views, interviews, exclusives, podcasts, videos and around 250 Blues stories a year, plus access to the full archive, consider becoming a paid subscriber for £5 per month.

Chester will be keeping an eye on the situation regarding a summer transfer for former goalkeeper Wyll Stanway.

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For Jacob Hazel, this pre-season has taken on more significance than most.

Towards the end of the 2024/25 National League season, Hazel, one of the first signings of the Phil Parkinson era at Chester this summer, suffered an ACL injury that would see him miss almost the entirety of the 2025/26 season with Boston United.

A pre-season missed, with knee surgery required to repair the ACL, Hazel, 32, had to spend much of last year and the early part of 2026 rehabilitating, doing what he could to get back out onto the pitch and contribute for the Pilgrims as he could.

On March 24 this year he returned, emerging from the bench for the final five minutes in a home draw with Altrincham. From then on, he would play four more times and net twice for Boston, where he was a firm fans’ favourite.

Exiting the Jakemans Stadium wasn’t wholly unexpected for Hazel, whose spells at the likes of Boston, Darlington, Whitby Town, Frickley Athletic and Scarborough Athletic have yielded an impressive goals to games ratio, with the big striker having plundered 103 goals in 239 games during his career, which began at Chesterfield in 2012.

With a return to pre-season training for the first time since the summer of 2024, Hazel is pumped up for a new challenge with the Blues.

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Goals from Tom Peers and Jacob Hazel either side of the break delivered victory for the Blues in what was the first time fans could see a Phil Parkinson team in action.

Two separate teams were played for each half, with some notable contributions from senior players, academy prospects and trialists, but to read much into the game itself would be folly. These games are for the fitness and to ensure sharpness come the National League North season opener at Chorley on August 8.

By the time Crewe Alexandra visit the Deva Community Stadium on August 1 for the final pre-season friendly we may have some idea of the team that will start at Victory Park, although familiarity with the new faces make take a little longer for some.

This week we take a look at the first friendly, preview the week ahead and take a glance at the fixture list for the coming season.

PICTURES BY RICK MATTHEWS

Thank you for supporting The Seal and allowing journalism to return to the Blues at a time when local coverage of football teams is disappearing. Your support means the world.

You can get occasional free public posts by signing up to The Seal, but for the full experience, including news, views, interviews, exclusives, podcasts, videos and around 250 Blues stories a year, plus access to the full archive, consider becoming a paid subscriber for £5 per month.

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Thank you for supporting The Seal and allowing journalism to return to the Blues at a time when local coverage of football teams is disappearing. Your support means the world.

You can get occasional free public posts by signing up to The Seal, but for the full experience, including news, views, interviews, exclusives, podcasts, videos and around 250 Blues stories a year, plus access to the full archive, consider becoming a paid subscriber for £5 per month.

Chester have received positive news over the fitness of defender Sam Reed.

The full-back, who joined the Blues following his exit from Altrincham during the summer, is seen as a key part of manager Phil Parkinson’s plans for the coming season, with the pace and versatility of the left back likely to make him a regular fixture in the Chester starting line-up.

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Chester have signed experienced veteran midfielder Sam Foley to a one-year deal.

The 39-year-old central midfielder, who can also comfortably play at centre back, joins the Blues having left Barrow at the end of last season, a club where he played 123 EFL games over four years, including seven last season, and where he served as interim manager for the final months of the 2025/26 season.

Foley brings vast experience to a young Chester side, with his spells at Newport County, Yeovil Town, Northampton Town, Motherwell, St Mirren, Tranmere Rovers, Barrow and others, have seen him play some 664 senior appearances in professional football in a career that began at Cheltenham Town in 2006.

While his age may raise some eyebrows given the profile of the Blues squad under new manager Phil Parkinson, it is his enormous experience, leadership and skill set on the field that Parkinson feels will prove invaluable, and his versatility in being an option at both central midfield and centre back will be a major boon for what will be a small Chester squad.

“I’d like to welcome Sam to the group, who brings experience, leadership and real know-how to the dressing room,” said Parkinson.

“He gives us flexibility as well, with the ability to play in central midfield, centre-back and right-back. He has a fantastic understanding of the game from a number of different positions.

“Sam will be a huge asset for our younger professionals and for those who haven’t spent much time in a full-time environment. They’ll have someone they can learn from, lean on and watch every single day.

“I expect our younger players to use him, ask questions, listen to him and take as much as they possibly can from him because those experiences are invaluable. I think it’s a fantastic signing for Chester Football Club, both on and off the pitch.”

With Jack Bainbridge potentially missing for a number of weeks, having Foley in the building gives Parkinson vital options in central midfield areas, with Dan Ward and Declan Weeks also there. He also gives the option for an experience head at centre back, with the Blues back line this season having been big on talent and promise but perhaps short on experience, having looked in need of an older head. In Foley, the Blues certainly have that, and despite turning 40 this year, the St Albans-born veteran has kept himself in excellent physical condition, having been a regular starter at League Two level for the past five years until the second half of last season.

Foley is Chester’s 12th signing of the summer, joining Luke Hewitson, George Burroughs, Jack Kenny, Jake Griffin, Sam Reed, Kofi Moore, Dominic McHale, Jefferson Abreu, Billy Waters, Dan Ward and Jacob Hazel all having arrived at the Deva Community Stadium during the close season.

Chester begin their pre-season schedule at Vauxhall Motors tomorrow afternoon (Saturday, July 11, 3pm kick off). Parkinson is expected to field two separate sides for each half to get minutes into the legs of his squad.

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The Phil Parkinson era at Chester will begin with a trip to Chorley in the Enterprise National League North on Saturday, August 8.

The Blues, who begin their pre-season schedule with a friendly at Vauxhall Motors on Saturday (3pm) will head to Victory Park to face Andy Preece’s Magpies on the opening day, before the first home game at the newly-named Deva Community Stadium on Saturday, August 15 against King’s Lynn Town.

Chester then travel to Darlington for a tricky Tuesday evening tie on the 18th before hosting newly-promoted Spalding United at the Deva on August 22.

The month of August is then rounded out with a visit to Hereford on Saturday 22, then Bank Holiday Monday (August 31) promises a bumper home crowd as title favourites and National League North new boys Morecambe, who have ex-Chester man Lewis Leigh in their ranks, come to CH1.

Boxing Day sees Chester host AFC Telford United, while the first game of 2027 on January 2 is the not-so-easy trek to North Yorkshire to face Scarborough.

The final game of the season sees Chester host Bernard Morley’s Radcliffe on April 24 (5.30pm kick off).

FIXTURES

August

• Sat 8 Aug – Chorley (A), 15:00

• Sat 15 Aug – King’s Lynn Town (H), 15:00

• Tue 18 Aug – Darlington (A), 19:45

• Sat 22 Aug – Spalding United (H), 15:00

• Sat 29 Aug – Hereford (A), 15:00

• Mon 31 Aug – Morecambe (H), 15:00

September

• Sat 5 Sep – Hebburn Town (A), 15:00

• Tue 8 Sep – Merthyr Town (H), 19:45

• Sat 12 Sep – Buxton (A), 15:00

• Sat 19 Sep – Emirates FA Cup 2Q

• Sat 26 Sep – Worksop Town (H), 15:00

October

• Sat 3 Oct – Emirates FA Cup 3Q

• Sat 10 Oct – Bedford Town (H), 15:00

• Sat 17 Oct – Spennymoor Town (A), 15:00 — FA Cup 4Q

• Sat 24 Oct – South Shields (A), 15:00

• Tue 27 Oct – Marine (H), 19:45

• Sat 31 Oct – Hednesford Town (H), 15:00

November

• Sat 7 Nov – Brackley Town (A), 15:00 — FA Cup 1st Round

• Sat 14 Nov – Isuzu FA Trophy 2nd Round

• Sat 21 Nov – Macclesfield (H), 15:00

• Tue 24 Nov – Harborough Town (A), 19:45

• Sat 28 Nov – Radcliffe (A), 15:00

December

• Sat 5 Dec – Oxford City (H), 15:00 — FA Cup 2nd Round

• Tue 8 Dec – Chorley (H), 19:45

• Sat 12 Dec – Isuzu FA Trophy 3rd Round

• Sat 19 Dec – King’s Lynn Town (A), 15:00

• Sat 26 Dec – AFC Telford United (H), 15:00 — Boxing Day

• Mon 28 Dec – Southport (A), 15:00

January

• Sat 2 Jan – Scarborough Athletic (A), 15:00

• Sat 9 Jan – Spennymoor Town (H), 15:00 — FA Cup 3rd Round

• Sat 16 Jan – Buxton (H), 15:00 — FA Trophy 4th Round

• Sat 23 Jan – Worksop Town (A), 15:00

• Tue 26 Jan – Harborough Town (H), 19:45

• Sat 30 Jan – Macclesfield (A), 15:00

February

• Sat 6 Feb – Brackley Town (H), 15:00 — FA Trophy 5th Round

• Sat 13 Feb – Hednesford Town (A), 15:00 — FA Cup 4th Round

• Tue 16 Feb – Marine (A), 19:45

• Sat 20 Feb – South Shields (H), 15:00

• Tue 23 Feb – Merthyr Town (A), 19:45

• Sat 27 Feb – Hereford (H), 15:00

March

• Sat 6 Mar – Spalding United (A), 15:00 — FA Cup 5th Round / FA Trophy 6th Round

• Tue 9 Mar – Darlington (H), 19:45

• Sat 13 Mar – Hebburn Town (H), 15:00

• Sat 20 Mar – Morecambe (A), 15:00

• Fri 26 Mar – Southport (H), 15:00

• Mon 29 Mar – AFC Telford United (A), 15:00

April

• Sat 3 Apr – Scarborough Athletic (H), 15:00 — FA Cup 6th Round / FA Trophy Semi-Final

• Sat 10 Apr – Bedford Town (A), 15:00

• Sat 17 Apr – Oxford City (A), 15:00

• Sat 24 Apr – Radcliffe (H), 17:30 — FA Cup Semi-Final

May

• Sun 16 May – Isuzu FA Trophy Final

• Sat 22 May – Emirates FA Cup Final

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Chester manager Phil Parkinson has been clear on what the blueprint for his team would be this season and beyond.

The Blues are not a club that has wealthy benefactors who can bankroll the signings of oven-ready National League North difference makers. The budget of a fan-owned club, no matter how well backed, does not allow for such frivolity in the transfer market.

This coming season, the first under Parkinson, will be one where the make-up of the side is younger. The summer signings have shown what it will look like, and while some experience has been brought in across the pitch, with the likes of Dan Ward, Jacob Hazel and Billy Waters falling into that bracket, a lot of the players arriving are 23 and under, with a fair chunk of those under the age of 21.

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Thank you for supporting The Seal and allowing journalism to return to the Blues at a time when local coverage of football teams is disappearing. Your support means the world.

You can get occasional free public posts by signing up to The Seal, but for the full experience, including news, views, interviews, exclusives, podcasts, videos and around 250 Blues stories a year, plus access to the full archive, consider becoming a paid subscriber for £5 per month.

Chester look set to be without two of their first team stars for the next few weeks ahead of the club’s pre-season schedule kicking off this weekend.

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Having played for both Chester City and the reformed Chester FC, Kevin Roberts is part of a small group of players to have turned out for both.

Roberts, Connell Rawlinson, Paul Linwood and John Danby are also among that group, and having seen both sides of the coin, there have been plenty of teammates that each have played with during their time in blue and white stripes.

For Roberts, inducted into the Chester FC Hall of Fame earlier this year after his retirement from playing back in March, with the 36-year-old having made 239 appearances for the reformed Blues, and 115 for City across his two spells with the club. His total of 354 appearances in a Chester shirt solidifies his position as a Blues legend, even with a stint at Wrexham on his CV.

More than 700 games as a professional with spells at Cambridge United and FC Halifax Town also having seen him clock hundreds of appearances, means that Roberts will have played alongside his fair share of talented players, but who across his two Chester spells stand out the most?

We caught up with the newly-appointed Tranmere Rovers physiotherapist to see who makes the cut.

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Parkinson welcomed his 11 new recruits to the KGV, which included the most recent addition in former South Shields midfielder Dan Ward, as well as familiar faces returning to action for the Blues ahead of what promises to be a fascinating 2026/27 National League North campaign.

Among those returning was midfielder Jack Bainbridge, and we explain a little more about his status in The Breakdown this week, while we also touch on the new additions, both on and off the field, with Parkinson having built out his support staff as he looks to maximise the model, the budget and the facilities.

We also take a look at the situation with regards to potential training compensation for Lewis Leigh, after the midfielder opted not to pen a new deal at the Deva Community Stadium in favour of a two-year contract with National League North newcomers Morecambe.

All this, and more, is in this week’s edition of The Breakdown. Episode Six of the 2026/27 season.

PICTURE BY CHARLIE STOCKTON

Thank you for supporting The Seal and allowing journalism to return to the Blues at a time when local coverage of football teams is disappearing. Your support means the world.

You can get occasional free public posts by signing up to The Seal, but for the full experience, including news, views, interviews, exclusives, podcasts, videos and around 250 Blues stories a year, plus access to the full archive, consider becoming a paid subscriber for £5 per month.

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The pros and cons of Chester being a fan-owned football club have long been debated.

At a time when American millionaires curiously see some kind of growth return in investing in the lower echelons of English football, Chester’s model continues to be challenged.

The word ‘sustainability’ gets thrown around. Is it sustainable from a competitive aspect to be a fan owned club in 2026? But is it sustainable to spend far in excess of your income to try and achieve success with fan bases that cannot support such a cost if it ever has to fall on their broad shoulders. If anything, Chester are the very epitome of sustainability in football.

The pros and cons are for another day, and there will always be another debate to be had around the subject. But as the Blues returned to pre-season training at the King George V Sports Hub on Tuesday, a £2m facility that seemed like pie in the sky throughout the years of chaos ridden private ownership, fan power has been required once again.

Tonight, England continue on their World Cup journey in North America. A collection of superstars, all paid handsomely for their club roles, will seek to take another step at a World Cup that has never been so profoundly about the money and what FIFA can squeeze out of the game and its fans.

Chester operates on the other side of the coin. Boost The Budget has been one of the most important initiatives in the reformed club’s history, and this year’s effort closes tonight. The target was £125,000 to try and give Blues boss Phil Parkinson the funds to bring in the players he feels give the club the best chance of success.

Dan Ward arrived from South Shields on a two-year deal this afternoon. His signing helped made possible by Boost The Budget donations.

For Chester, a final push before the finish line is being urged.

“It can’t be overstated just how important it is to us,” Blues boss Parkinson told The Seal.

“Our fans are our biggest strength, 100%. Being fan owned isn’t our weakness, it is our strength. Everyone is invested in the success, it means so much more than it does to many others because the fans have made it happen.

“Our supporters make the difference. They make us stronger. It’s hard to ask for more all the time, and whatever people can commit is fantastic. Every penny is important to us to make sure we maximise what we can do here.

“We all want to be successful, and I’m here to try and make that happen. The Boost the Budget is one of the biggest things that fans can do to help that task. It could be the difference maker. A player added at the right time could make the difference between us potentially winning the league or winning the play-offs, and rest assured that winning is what we are focused on here.

“It is a difficult request to ask more, but whatever can be done can make a huge impact here in ways you might not imagine.”

With Chester moving towards a model that is aiming to provide the infrastructure and surroundings for players with potential to thrive, Blues vice-chairman Green was full of praise for what has been done so far to raise more than £100,000.

“I think the success of Boost the Budget is a credit to everyone at the football club,” Green told The Seal.

“Ultimately, the nature of fan ownership means that it’s our responsibility as supporters and owners to fund the club in whatever form we do that, whether that’s through season tickets, matchday admission, lottery, going to the club shop, and Boost the Budget has become an integral part of that.

“I think we know we’ve upped the ante with the £125,000 target, but it’s getting ever, ever more competitive in the National League North and clubs are certainly increasing what they’re spending. I think Boost the Budget is the best means for us to do that as supporters.

“So, you know, for us to break the £100,000 mark again is an incredible, fantastic achievement. If we can get to £125,000, that’d be outstanding, and if we don’t quite make it, then we shouldn’t be disappointed. We should still be really proud that in what are very testing financial times for a lot of people, a lot of our supporters, the fact that people are willing to put their hand in their pocket and support their football club financially is something that makes me really proud.

“I think where Boost the Budget has been really, really helpful, and look, if we can beat £125,000, it will be even more helpful, is just helping us try and get those last bits of the puzzle together, if you like, for the squad. That last little bit of experience. I think Dan Ward is a really good example of that. A player that’s played at the top end of this division, played in the division above and done really well. A player who has got a lot of character, brings a lot of experience, but also probably at a kind of peak point in his career. A player that I think will really thrive under Phil.

“But the reality is that those experienced players are the ones that command the most interest and therefore they’re the ones that are most difficult to land because everybody’s in for them.”

Chester have signed 11 players this summer, all of them on permanent deals. Some have penned two-year contracts.

The vision is that the Blues can maximise the KGV and bring players in who have a high ceiling for growth, who can develop and thrive in a system that provides them with the surroundings to do so, and a support network of staff to be able to bring the best out of them technically, tactically, physically and mentally.

“I think we have to be really clear that in appointing Phil, we’ve brought in a manager who has got a proven track record for developing players,” said Green.

“He had tremendous success at Altrincham in identifying players from lower down the pyramid, bringing them in, building them up and then moving them on.

“That has to be what we try and do at Chester. That’s something we’ve had success with in the past and I think that’s what we are. I think we are the club of opportunity for players, that they can come here, we can give them a platform, we can support them, we can develop them. Hopefully they contribute to the success at Chester. But equally, if they move on and move into the Football League, then we’ll be really proud of that. That will, in turn, have a benefit to us as a football club from transfer fees and future sell‑ons.

“I don’t think we should be shy about that. That’s the model. And I think we’re really excited about the likes of Luke Hewitson, Jake Griffin, Jack Kenny, Kofi Moore, Jefferson Abreu, all these players that have got huge ceilings. It’s up to us as a club to support them and unlock that potential. That will stand us in good stead.

“But obviously, I understand that supporters want to see experienced names and players with proven pedigree. I think we’ve added some real quality, experienced additions. But I’m sure Phil would be keen to add a bit more experience to the group if he can. That’s where Boost the Budget will maybe just allow us to get that one or two extra players in before the start of the season.”

Fans wishing to pledge to the club’s Boost the Budget initiative can do so by following THIS LINK.

The club expects to reveal its total in the coming days, likely by the weekend, once the Board have reconciled and accounted or all relevant related income streams for the initiative.

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Chester have completed their 11th signing of the summer with the addition of versatile central midfielder Dan Ward on a two-year deal.

Ward, 28, joins the Blues having spent the last two seasons as an important part of the team at National League North rivals South Shields, although he missed the final weeks of the campaign and the run to the play-off final, where they were beaten by Kidderminster Harriers, due to an injury sustained in early March.

He was present and training with his new teammates at the King George V Sports Hub in Blacon after completing his medical last week and joined a host of new faces as they reported for work under the stewardship of Chester boss Phil Parkinson for the first time.

Said Parkinson: “Dan joins us with a wealth of experience at this level, having been a key part of the Gateshead side that won the National League North title before competing in the National League and reaching the FA Trophy Final. He also had a spell at South Shields, so he knows exactly what this level demands.

“He’s an energetic, all-action midfielder who can affect the game at both ends of the pitch. He brings quality in possession, works tirelessly for the team and has consistently contributed with goals and assists throughout his career.

“One of Dan’s biggest strengths is his experience and versatility. He can comfortably play all three midfield roles that we look to recruit for, which gives us real flexibility and makes him a valuable asset to the squad.

“Just as importantly, from the first conversation it was clear he wanted to be part of what we’re building here. His ambition, professionalism and winning mentality are exactly the type of characteristics we want in this dressing room.”

Ward fills the midfield void left by the departure of Lewis Leigh to Morecambe last month, and he will battle it out for a midfield berth with the likes of Declan Weeks and Jack Bainbridge.

Ward played 33 times in the National League North for Shields last season, netting five times, and was a popular player for the North East club having arrived the season prior from Oldham Athletic, where he made seven National League appearances for the Latics. His career has also taken in spells with Spennymoor Town and St Patrick’s Athletic in Ireland, having come through the youth systems at Newcastle United and Middlesbrough, starting his career prior to that at Seaham Red Star.

When Ward was injured against Curzon Ashton on March 7, Shields boss Ian Watson gave a glowing tribute to the midfielder when addressing the injury post match, giving insight into the character of Chester’s new midfield man.

“I get a little bit emotional when talking about it (the injury) because he is the best guy ever,” said Watson.

“He supports everyone off the pitch, he puts the team before himself all the time.

“I could stand here and say words about him but you wouldn’t know what he’s like until you’re in the group, in the team.”

Ward joins Luke Hewitson, Sam Reed, George Burroughs, Jack Kenny, Jake Griffin, Dominic McHale, Billy Waters, Kofi Moore, Jefferson Abreu and Jacob Hazel as new members of the Chester squad for 2026/27.

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The annual ritual of players heading back on to the green turf to be put through their paces for pre-season commenced at Chester Football Club this week.

At the King George V Sports Hub in Blacon, a community training facility but one that has been transformational for what the Blues can offer players at the first-team level, the car park filled up with players and staff ready to tackle what the 2026/27 National League North threw at them.

There were some familiar faces returning in the shape of Connor Woods, Declan Weeks, Tom Peers, Nathan Woodthorpe and Jack Bainbridge, while a host of new faces, no fewer than 10, arrived at their new surroundings to train for the first time, with the likes of Luke Hewitson, Jacob Hazel, Jefferson Abreu, Billy Waters, Sam Reed, George Burroughs, Jake Griffin, Kofi Moore, Jack Kenny and Dominic McHale all suiting up in the Blues’ new khaki-coloured training gear. Another new addition to be unveiled was also training.

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