BLUES fans have voted overwhelmingly in favour of christening the city’s new football club ‘Chester FC’, The Chronicle can reveal.
The name will be used by the phoenix club City Fans United (CFU) hope to establish from the ashes of the now-defunct Chester City FC.
Supporters, who have been voting since last Wednesday from a shortlist of four options, were 70% in favour of Chester FC.
The simple title is a return to the name the club used for most of its 125-year history, before adding the ‘City’ suffix in 1983.
CFU press officer Jeff Banks said: “It’s been great to see so many fans having the chance to rename the club, and as the voting shows, the fans want to go back to the name Chester Football Club.
“Now we can well and truly prepare our club for the future, but carrying an important piece of history with us.”
The new name has gone down well with Blues followers.
Stephen Dobson, 42, of Mold, said: “I’m really pleased as we need to ensure that we take forward everything possible from the club that we all supported as kids into the future for our own kids. It’s also great for the former players who will now still be associated with the reformed club too.”
Paul Brighton, 36, of Broughton, added: “Having the name now means we can push forward and bring football back to our city. There is certainly a lot of hard work ahead but I feel it will be exciting and I would encourage everyone in Chester to come along and join the ride.”
More than 1,000 Chester fans from 20 countries, stretching from Canada to South Africa and Vietnam to Australia, took part in the public vote. Of the three other names shortlisted, City of Chester FC received 16% of the vote, FC Chester 9% and Chester Rovers FC 5%.
Traditional rivalries will be cast aside on Tuesday night when members of the Chester Exiles fans group stage a bucket collection at Wrexham’s Blue Square Premier match at AFC Wimbledon. All funds raised at Kingsmeadow will be donated to City Fans United.
Blues legends send thanks to fans – pages 62-63.
