Luke Hewitson was always the number one choice for Phil Parkinson
Chester signed the goalkeeper on a two-year deal from Fleetwood Town
When Phil Parkinson finally took on the role of Chester FC manager he already knew who was going to be his number one.
Parkinson, who began in the job on May 1, had long been the man who the Blues had chosen to be the club’s permanent boss going into the 2026/27 season, making the decision on him soon after it was announced that former boss Calum McIntyre would be leaving his role at the end of the 2025/26 season, a decision that would be expedited.
Former Altrincham manager Parkinson had left his job with the Robins back in October last year but at the end of February took on the position of interim head coach at Fleetwood Town, a job he would hold until the end of the season.
With games on Fridays, Parkinson was able to watch the Blues on a Saturday but also scout for talent elsewhere, knowing that he would be the man who would lead Chester into a new era.
The goalkeeping position at Chester in recent seasons had been one that had been largely taken on by young loanees. The huge success of Harry Tyrer’s loan spell also saw successful stints from Elyh Harrison and Jimmy Storer, while Wyll Stanway a permanent member between the sticks during a successful 2023/24 season for him personally, one that would see him kick on and get a move to the EFL with Barrow, with Chester retaining a significant sell-on clause.
Last season was a mixed bag. Lewys Benjamin would start the season, on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers, but would be injured after just one game, which means that loanees such as Andrew Wogan came in, followed by George Murray-Jones from Nottingham Forest.
The latter suffered from a loss of confidence and form and would be sent back to Forest, with Bobby Jones coming on loan from Boston United, a deal that would be made permanent until the end of the 2025/26 campaign.
Jones, who was a standout at Curzon Ashton in 2024/25, had some shaky moments but grew in stature and confidence as the season progressed. He wasn’t to be kept on, however, as Parkinson, whose side will play a different style that might require his number one to be better with the ball at his feet, already knew the person he wanted to bring in. They were right at the top of his shopping list as Chester manager, with the Blues boss believing that there is a huge potential in his new goalkeeper.
“I’m delighted to get him in,” said Parkinson, speaking to The Seal.
“He was number two last season behind Jay Lynch and I didn’t realise how young he was as he had a maturity beyond his years, from the way he played to the way he spoke and handled himself away from the pitch.
“He was immersed in the first team setup at Fleetwood and he really impressed me, he has some excellent qualities. He is passionate about the project here at Chester and he really believes he can catapult his career with this move and make a big impact. I believe the same.”
A graduate of Liverpool’s Academy, where he signed professional terms back in 2021, Hewitson spent two years at Fleetwood but made just one senior appearance last season, playing in a Vertu Trophy clash with Bolton Wanderers.
But he arrived with significant pedigree. He had played under-18 Premier League and UEFA Youth League football for the Reds before getting a taste of senior football during a 42-game loan spell with Stalybridge Celtic in 2023/24.
Competition had been fierce for Hewitson’s signature when Fleetwood swooped to sign him in the summer of 2024, and having been part of an EFL first-team setup, as well as taking in loan spells elsewhere in senior football with the likes of Warrington Town, Chester feel they have a player who could be significantly impactful. He is also a player that aligns with what Parkinson and his assistant Neil Sorvel are seeking to implement from a training aspect, which is to develop younger players in a full-time environment with first team football, which eventually could turn into significant transfer fees received for the Blues.
Said Parkinson: “His signing is another that comes from what we’re trying to implement here, which is the training aspect and the chance to develop, but also the fact that this is a massive club.
“This is the reason I really wanted to come here. It is a club that has huge potential and a big fan base. When it gets going it will be a sight to behold, and that was a great selling point for me as a manager, but also for the players we are looking to attract.”
An experienced goalkeeper is crucial and Parkinson is absolutely right to prioritise this. Teams that go up from this league almost always have experienced keepers and our experiment of using young loanees had run its course.
Although we had been blessed with a few young GK, last season proved our luck had run out.
What a breath of fresh air Phil is bringing to our Summer recruitment and in my simple opinion having our own young prospect of a GK is the making of a winning successful season.