Chester FC: Our City, Our Community, Our Club

Whilst the majority of football fans around the country are eagerly anticipating the climax of the Premier League season, they are oblivious to a fans-owned club winning their second league title in just their second year in existence down in the lowly seventh tier of English football.

Chester FC is a club close to my heart. I've always been a Chelsea fan but growing up in Chester I went to see my local club on an almost weekly basis. Back then they were Chester City. A small town club who attracted a few thousand fans each week to watch them struggle to stay in the football league. They were never going to be a big club but they had their moments with some great cup runs. I recall being brought to tears after a 6-0 thrashing away to Middlesbrough in the FA Cup.

In the late 1990s, Chester City began to really struggle. They went into administration and were later relegated out of the Football League, ending their 69 year stay. In 2001 Stephen Vaughan became Chairman of the club and after a few years grinding it out in the Conference, City were promoted back to the Football League in 2004. However, after years of financial mismanagement and irregularities at the hands of the Vaughan family, City were relegated back to the Conference and in 2009 docked 25 points for going into administration. They were £7million in debt with £5.5million owed to Stephen Vaughan.

In February 2010, Chester City were suspended from the Conference for failing to fulfil their fixtures and a month later they were wound up. It was a dark day for football fans in Chester but a day everyone saw coming. The club was run into the ground by owners who only cared for their wallets. Owners who ultimately didn't care about the club.

That's where Chester FC comes in. In the final days of Chester City, supporter's group City Fans United put in motion plans to form a new club from ashes of the former club. Chester FC would be a club owned by the fans and run by the fans. Anyone can buy a share in the club but no matter how much money you put in, you only get one share. CFU ensured the club would always be owned by the fans.

Open top bus parade in April 2012, courtesy of ChesterFC.com

In 2010, on appeal to FA, Chester FC were instated to Northern Premier League Division One North in the 8th tier of English football winning the division at the first time of asking. A solid start to their second season kept them in contention for another promotion. One defeat in their final twenty-five league games meant they ran away with the title. They will start the 2012/13 season in the Conference North and in the second qualifying round of the FA Cup.

Chester FC are a fantastic example of how fans can run the club they love. Too many clubs are in danger of administration and liquidation. Rangers have shown that even being Champions of your nation on a regular basis might not be enough to keep the club afloat. Chester FC will never be in trouble of administration again because the fans won't let it be. They love the club and its survival is far more important than overspending for short-term glory.

Chester FC have shown how a football club should be run. Let's hope the world takes notice.