WORLD Cup legends Gordon Banks and Roger Hunt have given their seal of approval to the reborn Chester FC.

The England heroes gave their backing to the supporter-owned phoenix club at a charity golf day in aid of the Blues last Thursday.

Banks and Hunt were invited to the event, at Macdonald Portal Hotel, Golf & Spa in Tarporley, by former Chester player Gary Talbot, who helped organise the day.

Former Liverpool striker Hunt, 72, said: “I wish Chester and their supporters good luck and hope they start climbing the divisions again.

“There’s a lot of enthusiasm now. We’re playing this golf day, raising a few quid for Chester FC, and I wish them all the best.”

Banks, a team-mate of Hunt’s on that famous day in 1966 when England beat West Germany to win the World Cup at Wembley, added: “Chester deserve this. If they’re going to get out there themselves and raise money for the club, then they deserve success.”

The former Stoke and Leicester City goalkeeper was sympathetic to Chester’s plight. The cash-strapped club folded in March, but has since risen from the ashes and is looking forward to a brighter future thanks to the relentless hard work and fundraising of Blues fans.

“We should look after the small clubs because they’re part of the heritage of British football,” said Banks, 72.

“A lot of players like myself came from a small club and worked up to play for a bigger club and then England. Lots and lots of players are like that.

“When you think of all the money that comes through into football, it doesn’t come down to the lower clubs.

“Everybody finds it ridiculous that it’s just going to the top clubs playing in the Premier League and it stays there.

“It doesn’t come down to the other teams and I think that’s wrong.”

Hunt echoed his former England team-mate’s sentiments, saying: “I remember Chester many years ago. We used to play a friendly with them every year at Liverpool when Shankly was in charge.

“They’ve produced a lot of players like Ian Rush and, long before that, Johnny Molyneux. He used to play at Chester, went to play for Liverpool and then came back to Chester.

“It’s a shame that you lose a club with such traditions.”

The famous duo were joined by former Chester managers Kevin Ratcliffe and Jim Harvey at last week’s fundraising event, which was expected to raise about £4,000 for the Blues. A whole host of teams from local businesses took part.

Chester FC have appointed a general manager.

Joining the team at the Deva Stadium is Pat Cluskey, who worked at Widnes Vikings as CEO of the rugby league club’s charitable community programme.

The Blues today completed the signing of central midfielder Tom Field from Droylsden. Field has also played for Vauxhall Motors and AFC Telford.