PREVIEW: Chorley vs Chester

CHORLEY kick off the 2026/27 season with a highly anticipated game at home to Chester in the Enterprise National League North.

The Magpies have made seven summer signings so far, with the most recent being the return of Anj Popoola on loan from Accrington Stanley.

After a 15th-place finish last year, they will be hoping an opening-day win can play a big part in returning to the play-offs this time around.

Pre-Season

Andy Preece’s side have certainly built their fitness up with 10 friendlies and a training camp in Alicante, Spain, making up their pre-season schedule.

Four victories came, with wins over Longridge Town, Ashton United, FC Hercule U23 and Manchester City U21s.

The return to playing gave Preece a chance to introduce his new signings Li-Bau Stowell, Max Hunt, Sam Fielding, Callum Rowe and Elliot Taylor, as well as welcome back Billy Whitehouse, Jack Hazlehurst and Popoola.

New forward Lewis Salmon also joined up with the squad but did not feature in pre-season due to fitness issues.

The new season will be the Magpies’ first without Matt Urwin in goal for almost ten years, with Mike Calveley taking over the captaincy.

Chorley’s pre-season results:

27 June – Longridge Town 0-5 Chorley

30 June – Squires Gate 1-1 (5-4 pens) Chorley

4 July – Bamber Bridge 1-0 Chorley

11 July – Chorley 1-2 Bury

14 July – Chorley 4-0 Ashton United

17 July – FC Hercules U23 0-4 Chorley

21 July – Chorley 0-0 Altrincham

25 July – Chorley 0-3 Accrington Stanley

28 July – Trafford 2-1 Chorley

31 July – Chorley 4-2 Manchester City U21s

Opposition Focus

Chester finished seventh last season, sneaking into the play-offs after a late revival, before being knocked out in the eliminator by a 98th-minute Macclesfield winner.

New boss Phil Parkinson has brought in the experience of forward Billy Waters, formerly of Oldham Athletic and Wrexham, veteran midfielder Sam Foley from Barrow and striker Jacob Hazel from Boston United.

However, they have lost last year’s Player of the Season Dylan Mottley-Henry, who has joined newly-promoted side Hednesford Town.

Parkinson has a wealth of managerial experience in non-league with eight years at Altrincham which saw two promotions to take the club to Step 1.

He then led them to fourth in the National League in 2023/24, the club’s highest league position since 1995.

After a short spell in charge of Fleetwood Town’s U21s he moved to the Deva Stadium in May.

Chester’s pre-season results:

11 July – Vaxuhall Motors 0-2 Chester

14 July – Fleetwood Town 2-0 Chester

18 July – Warrington Town 0-2 Chester

21 July – Chester 0-1 Stoke City

24 July – Hyde United 0-1 Chester

28 July – Nantwich Town 0-3 Chester

1 August – Chester 0-0 Crewe Alexandra

Head-to-Head

The Magpies went unbeaten against the Seals last season, winning 3-0 at Victory Park in August and rescuing a point with a last-gap equaliser in a 3-3 draw in the return game in January.

An early sending off for Jack Bainbridge gave Chorley the advantage at home and they put it to good use after half-time as Mike Calveley and Jack Sampson made it 2-0 before Tom Leak’s own goal rounded off an excellent day for Preece’s side.

At the Deva Stadium in the New Year, Matt Urwin’s own goal put the hosts in front before Anj Popoola levelled before the break.

By the 81st minute it was 3-2 to Chester after goals from captain Declan Weeks and Dion Kelly-Evans, either side of one for Calveley, but a late error by ‘keeper George Murray-Jones gifted Chorley a late point.

Match Details

Chorley vs Chester

Enterprise National League North

Saturday, August 8

3pm kick-off

Grant Store Victory Park Stadium, Chorley, PR7 3DU