September 5, 1992 marked the beginning of a new era for Chester City Football Club.

Having been exiled at Macclesfield Town's Moss Rose home for the two seasons previous to the 1992/93 campaign, Chester's first league clash following the completion of the Deva Stadium saw them claim a 3-0 success over Burnley.

The Blues had played their first home game at the new ground on August 25 where they were beaten 2-1 by Stockport County in the Coca Cola Cup first round, second leg but the clash against the Clarets saw them bring league football to the city for the first time in over two years.

Chester had last played a competitive league game in the city on April 28, 1990, when they claimed a 2-0 win over Rotherham United in what was the final game to be played at the club's former Sealand Road home.

Video Loading

While the victory over Burnley, courtesy of goals from Neil Morton, Chris Lightfoot and the late Paul Comstive, was a welcome boost, for the 4,981 fans that were inside the Deva Stadium the real victory was bringing football back to Chester, something that was in doubt on more than one occasion.

Inititally there were plans for a 12,000 seater stadium soon were scaled down as Morrison Shand, the club's owners, bumped heads with the Chester City Council and had problems in selling off the land at Sealand Road after prospective buyers Asda pulled out.

The stadium capacity had to be scaled back to 6,000 and spades were in the ground on January 28, 1992. The construction of the Deva Stadium was completed, remarkably, before the start of the 1992/93 season, as had been required by the Football League, ensuring a return to the city for the Blues.