As you go through this site you will find some badges are steeped in history, some are the result of folklore and legend, some are heraldic in nature and some are just basically nothing more than the name of the club and date formed. This is such a badge. It would have been difficult to make it interesting but for the fact they have recently added a symbol of their nickname to a new badge, so now although it does not look like it, we do have some history and folklore. (PIC 1) The badge is in the shape of a shield with the club’s name at the top. On one side of the shield are the club’s initials which are taken from the older badge. (PIC 2) Next to the initials stands the crooked church spire that gives the club its nickname, the rest is in the club colours of blue and white.
The club was formed in 1866 and were known as Chesterfield Town, changing its name in 1921. The club’s nickname is “The Spireites”, and in the town of Chesterfield is the St Marys and All Saints Parish Church. It is from this church’s famous spire that the nickname originates. (PIC 3) As I mentioned there is a bit of folklore attached to the Crooked Spire, as it is known locally, but it is not very flattering to the local ladies. It is said that the Devil himself, the original serpent the one named Satan was sitting atop of the spire when a real virgin arrived for her wedding. Old Nick was so surprised at the sight of a real virgin that he jumped up and twisted the spire. It is also said that if another virgin was to wed there then he would jump the other way and straighten the spire. So, I can’t see that happening any time soon. No, no, please don’t get me wrong not because there are no real virgins among the lovely ladies of Chesterfield, I am sure there are, but because of the real reason behind the twisted spire. It transpires that the reason for the twist is a combination of unseasoned and greenwood from which the spire is made causing it to warp, and the weight of the lead cladding used to waterproof the spire. It was built along with the rest of the church in the 14th Century and did not start to warp for a couple of centuries. It now leans about 9ft to the South but is in no danger of falling.
The name Chesterfield comes from the Latin word Castrum, meaning Roman Fort and the later Anglo-Saxon word Feld meaning, grazing land or field. So Chesterfield means a fort in the field. The Spireites play at the Proact Stadium which holds 10,504 virgins. Local rivals are Sheffields United and Wednesday. To uncover more about “The Spireites” then aspire to www.chesterfield-fc.co.uk
