Cheaper for some

May 16 2008 by David Triggs, Chester Chronicle

CHESTER have cut admission prices in some parts of the Deva Stadium for next season.

Admission for adults in the seated Liversage and Vaughan stands will cost £15 – £1 less than last season. But the Harry McNally Terrace will also be £15 – up £1 on the prices from the 2007-08 campaign.

Pensioners, juniors (under 16s) and students will be charged £10 for admission to any part of the stadium.

Tickets offering joint admission for an adult and an under 14 in the Liversage Stand will be available for most matches at £15.

Season tickets are now also on sale, with early purchase incentives for fans buying them before May 31 and June 30.

For further information, call the club on 01244 371376 or visit www.chestercityfc.net

Memorial to Rhys

THE Deva Stadium has been chosen to host the finals of a memorial tournament for Rhys Jones.

Football-mad Rhys, 11, was shot and killed by a hooded youth as he walked home from football practice in Croxteth Park, Liverpool, in August last year.

The Rhys Jones Memorial Cup was launched earlier this year by his father Steve Geoghegan, the coach of Rhys’s team, Fir Tree under 12s. Qualifying rounds will be staged at the Liverpool and Everton academies, with the semi-finals and finals played at the Deva on Friday, May 30.

A crowd of between 2,000 and 3,000 is expected.

The tournament has an anti-gun message, with the aim to encourage youngsters to join football teams not gangs.

Hackett sacked

CHESTER’S former youth team boss Jim Hackett was this week sacked by Welsh Premier League side Connah’s Quay Nomads.

On taking over the Deeside Stadium hotseat last June, Hawarden-based Hackett was faced with the task of rebuilding a squad depleted following the long-serving Nev Powell’s departure to Bangor.

He managed to steer the Deeside club to safety, but secretary and chairman Bobby Hunter has informed Hackett that his services are no longer required.

City centre shop

THE Blues will soon begin refurbishment work on their new city centre club shop.

The city council has agreed to lease the former Post Office building on Watergate Street. The shop, which will be run in association with Gazelle Sports, is to sell club merchandise, match tickets, season tickets and lottery tickets.

Managing director Bob Gray said: “There is a lot of refurbishment that needs doing. It’s going to take time.”

Looking at Mark

FORMER Liverpool and Accrington Stanley striker Mark Smyth has been invited for a pre-season trial with the Blues.

The former England under 20 international spent last season with Bangor City and Leigh RMI.

Smyth, 23, made one first-team appearance for Liverpool – in a League Cup tie at Tottenham in December 2004.

No second string

CHESTER will not run a reserve team next season.

The decision was taken for practical reasons because the Blues are likely to have a youthful squad next season, with most senior players involved in the first team.

Towards the end of last team, City’s reserve XI teams were frequently made up almost entirely of youth team players.

Date for fixtures

BLUES fans should pen Monday, June 16, into their diaries – because that’s when next season’s Football League fixtures are being announced.

They will be released at 10am on www.football-league.co.uk

The 2008/09 campaign kicks-off on Saturday, August 9.