So, I haven't done a blog in absolutely ages, so I thought why not do a Summer Update with signings, the new manager and how last season ended. So, we ended up finishing 5th in the Blue Square Bet South with 72 points, meaning we would face Sailsbury in the play-offs. The 1st leg was played at Melbourne Park in front of a crowd of 1248, with Chelmsford winning 1-0 thanks to an Anthony Cook penalty in the 89th minute.
But, despite going to Sailsbury hoping to end their poor play-off results in recent years, they were defeated 2-0 in the 2nd leg, goals from Jamie White (44) and Stuart Sinclair (90+2), meaning the Clarets' would bow out again at the semi-final stage.
7th May 2013 - Glen Pennyfather leaves Chelmsford City
So, after 6 years in charge of the club, Glen Pennyfather's run as Chelmsford boss was over. It had been a good six years, getting promoted from the Isthmian League as champions in 2007/08, play-offs every year since being in the Conference South, which left many shocked at the departure. The hunt for a new manager was well and truly on.
22nd May 2013 - Dean Holdsworth appointed Clarets' Manager
It had been 15 days since Pennyfather had been sacked, and the Chelmsford fans had been speculating all sorts of names about who the new manager would be, names including Liam Daish, Terry Brown and Rod Stringer to name a few, but Holdsworth was also one of the names the Clarets' fans wanted. Despite suffering relegation from the Football League with moneyless Aldershot last season, he got Newport promoted last year.
New Signings & Departures
So, since he came in, there has obviously been a lot of change around our football club. The first to leave were Kenny Clark and Max Cornhill, who both departed to Dartford, as well as goalkeeper Stuart Searle who went to the Metropolitan Police. Next to go was top scorer Jamie Slabber, who scored 29 goals last season for us, but he went to Sutton United, who are very highly tipped for promotion next year. Then we made a signing of our own, Nicky Nicalou came in with some experience of winning the title at this level, he is a left-back who can also play left-midfield. More departures came however, as David Bridges left to Bury Town, Aiden Palmer left for Ebbsfleet and Adam Tann and Warren Whitely were both released after spending loans with other clubs last season. However, there was more arrivals, centre-midfielder Tom Davis was the next to join from Tonbridge, having won the Blue Square South 3 years out of 4, as well as Danny Webb from Dover, who can play centre-back and up-front. Kyle Vassell then went to Bishops Stortford, but another centre-midfielder joined in Cristian Smith, who played for AFC Telford last season, and Michael Bakare left to Dover. Former Colchester and Bishops Stortford goalkeeper Carl Pentney has also recently joined the club. Mark Haines, Justin Miller, Robbie Edmans and Dave Rainford also signed new contracts.
Pre-Season Friendlies
8th July - Chelmsford vs Leyton Orient
20th July - Chelmsford vs Stevenage
3rd August - Chelmsford vs Norwich
6th August - Heybridge vs Chelmsford
Thanks for reading and this season I hope to have more regular blogs out. Please feel free to point out any mistakes or anything you'd like to see added.
