On May 21, 2010, just hours after the official launch of Chester FC at the Guildhall, the reborn club unveiled its first manager.
Having sifted through more than 50 applications and conducted a series of interviews, the City Fans United board chose Neil Young as the man to lead the reformed Blues.
Click through the gallery above for a reminder of Neil Young's time in charge
He was considered a left-field appointment at the time, but history would prove the Wirral-based boss to be unquestionably the right choice, steering the club to a hat-trick of titles in three seasons of unprecedented success.
Young would part company with the Blues midway through the following season after a poor run of results but his contribution to a remarkable rise through the leagues ensured his place in club folklore forevermore.
On the fifth anniversary of his appointment, we've delved into our archives to look back at how it was reported.
How The Chronicle reported Neil Young's appointment
A major piece of the new Chester FC jigsaw fell into place tonight when the club unveiled its first manager, wrote Paul Wheelock.
Neil Young, who has an impressive recent track record at non-league level, has been chosen as the man to lead the reformed Blues next season.
The highly-rated young boss has quit his job at Colwyn Bay to take over at the Deva Stadium, where he will be assisted by Chester-born former Tranmere Rovers player Gary Jones.
Chester FC’s chief executive Steve Ashton said: "We are absolutely delighted with the appointment. Neil and Gary have shown commitment to the journey that we’re embarking on and it is proof of the potential of our reborn club.
"We look forward to being joined by Neil and Gary, and we would like to thank Colwyn Bay for the way they have conducted themselves."
Young has been involved in management since the age of 24, after injury ended his playing career early.
He had spells with Queen’s Park, Poulton Victoria, Cammell Laird and Rhyl, where he was assistant to John Hulse.
Young transformed Colwyn Bay’s fortunes after joining them early in the 2008/09 season.
In his first season, he guided the North Wales club from the relegation zone to the play-offs in First Division North of the UniBond League.
The Seagulls missed out on promotion in Young’s first campaign, but won a place in the UniBond Premier Division this season, beating Lancaster City in the play-off final.
Jones, who also played for Nottingham Forest as well as Tranmere, has been serving as Young’s assistant at Colwyn Bay.
Neil Young's first interview as Chester FC boss
New Chester boss Neil Young accepts that nothing less than promotion will do from his first season in charge – no matter what league the resurrected club kicks off in, wrote Paul Wheelock.
The Blues have lodged an appeal with the FA over its recommendation that they must start life in the Vodkat League Premier Division.
Chester officials are holding out hope that their fan-owned club could yet be bumped up a level to the UniBond League.
But be it UniBond or Vodkat, the brief remains the same for the man charged with kick-starting the Blues’ march back towards the Football League.
“If it’s the Vodkat League, we’ve got to get out of it in the first year, and I’d be silly to say otherwise,” said Young, who won promotion with Colwyn Bay to the UniBond Premier Division last season.
“Everybody knows the size of this club and what we’re trying to achieve and that’s why if it’s the UniBond, ideally again we’d want to get out of it in the first year.
“The main thing I’ve got to do now is build a team capable of what the fans expect. It’s no good me saying we’re going to consolidate because this is Chester we’re talking about.”
The appointment of Young, 35, and his assistant manager Gary Jones, also 35, was announced late on Friday. The duo have been glued to their phones ever since as they try to piece together a 20-man squad from scratch.
Young has already identified the players he wants to bring in before the Blues begin pre-season training in mid-June and he has assured supporters his recruits will have the quality to compete in whatever league the club is placed in.
“I’ve got a list of players who I wanted to sign for Colwyn Bay to help us in the UniBond Premier Division and they are the type of players I want bring to Chester,” said Young, who has signed a two-year contract.
“That list hasn’t changed even though we might not be in the UniBond.”
As part of the deal to take Young and Jones to the Deva, Chester will travel to Colwyn Bay’s Llanelian Road home for a pre-season friendly on Saturday, July 10 – which could well be the Blues’ first game since rising from the ashes of the defunct Chester City FC.
