Chesterfield v Middlesborough FA Cup Semi Final Ticket

Another of my favourite items in the Museum collection, holds cherished memories of when the town came together to celebrate success.

FA Cup Ticket

The object is only a little over two decades old, so relatively modern in terms of the museum collection, but the memories it brings feel like yesterday, and many Chesterfield residents and ex pats may also have this little piece of Chesterfield History at home too.

For my favourite item is a FA Cup Semi Final Ticket from 1997, Chesterfield FC V Middlesbrough 13 April 1997, at Old Trafford.

The town became blue and white and the houses lining the way to Old Trafford, all the way through Stockport and beyond, lined the streets with balloons and good luck banners as the buses of supporters made their way to the ground.

Chesterfield then in the third tier took on premiership side Middlesbrough in a thrilling 3-3 score line, with an attendance of ‎49,640 people. If Jonathan Howard's shot - which appeared to cross the line after hitting the bar - had not been ruled out, the Spireites could have faced Chelsea at Wembley.

However, this was not to be and Middlesbrough went on to win the replay 3-0, but lost in the final. Everyone in Chesterfield got behind the club whether they were a football supporter or not and boy did the town party!

Kerry - visitor information and museums supervisor