He may have had a foot in both camps during his career, but Paul Linwood is backing Chester FC to emerge victorious from Saturday’s derby with Wrexham.

The image of Linwood’s towering header to give the Blues a 1-0 lead in Chester’s 2-0 success at the Racecourse in August 2013 is one that has graced many a Facebook cover picture and Twitter profile photo over the past two years.

And while last season’s last-gasp 2-1 home success was one to savour, the victory on Welsh soil during Chester’s first season back in non-league football’s top-tier following their reformation three years previous was a particularly poignant moment for the travelling band of Blues fans.

While Lewis Turner’s 17th minute strike proved to be the winner, it was Linwood’s header on five minutes that will forever be remembered by the Chester faithful, and a moment that Linwood himself holds dear.

“As a professional who was coming to the end of his career, you dream of moments like that, it was just an unreal feeling,” said Linwood, who played for both Chester City and Chester FC and was part of Neil Young’s squad that won the Conference North title in 2013.

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“It’s a memory that will stay with me for a long time and one of the real high points of my career. The whole day was amazing and the fans were unreal.”

Young’s side went into the game on the back of five straight league defeats and the odds were stacked firmly against them for the eagerly anticipated showdown with the old foe.

Linwood battles for possession against Wrexham

“We’d lost the first few games as we had a new squad and things hadn’t really clicked for us, but it all came right in that game and things went well from the start,” said Linwood, who played nine times for Wrexham during a loan spell at the Racecourse in 2005.

“It’s special. It’s one of the biggest derbies that there is and you can feel the passion and atmosphere on the pitch. I think we wanted it more on that day and we deserved the win.

Positive feeling

Having made 180 league appearances in two spells at Chester, Linwood has nailed his colours to the mast and has backed Steve Burr’s charges to do the business this weekend at the Lookers Vauxhall Stadium.

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“Obviously I got a bit of extra stick from Wrexham fans after scoring against them, but it’s all just friendly banter,” said 31-year-old Linwood, who is now plying his trade in the Welsh Premier League with Gap Connah’s Quay Nomads alongside former Chester skipper George Horan.

“I had some great times at Chester, though. There were some bad times but the good times far outweigh the bad and scoring against Wrexham was one of those good times.

“You would have to go for Chester this weekend. The fans get giddy for that game and they’ll be fired up for it.

“Chester have home advantage and I’d back them to make it count and get the win.”

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