Cross-border derby
The Cross-border derby is a football match played between Wrexham and Chester City/Chester.
The clubs are 12 miles apart but are Welsh and English respectively, though Chester's Deva Stadium straddles the England–Wales border, and its pitch lies entirely in Wales.
Wrexham edged the English-Welsh derby with 30 victories against Chester's 26 in Football League meetings. Between 1986 and 2005, the sides were in the same division in just one season but they were then Football League Two opponents in the three campaigns from 2005–06 to 2007–08. In 2009–10 the sides clashed again in the Conference National after Chester followed Wrexham out of the Football League. Games between the two are usually moved to Sunday, with a 12:00 kick off, minimising time for the consumption of alcohol and the risk of the two sets of supporters clashing. In the 2012–13 season, Chester won promotion to return to the Conference Premier after a three-year absence, and played Wrexham at the Racecourse ground, in a highly anticipated derby, as this was the first since Chester re-formed as a fan owned club. All away fans had to travel to the match via coaches and police escort and were unable to travel by train, unlike most years. Despite going into the game with a poor form of recent games, Chester won the match 2-0, recording their first win of the season. The most recent meeting saw Wrexham win 2-0 in March 2018. The two teams are currently separated due to Chester's relegation from the National League at the end of the 2017-18 season which sees them play their football in the National League North, one division below Wrexham.
The Cross-border derby is often considered to be one of the biggest rivalries in the lower leagues of English football, due to the close proximity of Wrexham and Chester as they are the largest settlements in the area and the only clubs in that area to have played in The Football League. The Welsh-English divide also makes it unique to other football derbies in Britain, as national identity is a large part of the two teams.
Achievements
Competition | Chester | Wrexham |
Football League | 20 seasons in tier 3 ' 15 seasons in tier 3 ' | 31 seasons in tier 3 ' 4 seasons in tier 2 ' |
FA Cup | 5th Round 1976–77 1979–80 | Quarter-final 1973–74 1977–78 1996–97 |
League Cup | Semi-final 1974–75 | Quarter-final 1960–61 1977–78 |
Head-to-head summary
Chester City vs Wrexham (1888–2009)
Chester FC vs Wrexham (2013–)
Competition | Chester wins | Draw | Wrexham wins | Goal Difference |
Conference National | 3 | 3 | 4 | 8–11 |
FA Cup | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0–0 |
FA Trophy | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0–0 |
Matches in Chester | 2 | 2 | 1 | 6–5 |
Matches in Wrexham | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2–6 |
Overall | 3 | 3 | 4 | 8–11 |
Head-to-head fixtures
Chester City vs Wrexham
Chester FC vs Wrexham
Date | Home | Score | Away | Venue | Att. | Competition |
31 Aug 2013 | Wrexham | 0–2 | Chester | Racecourse Ground | 6,037 | 2013–14 Football Conference |
19 Apr 2014 | Chester | 0–0 | Wrexham | Deva Stadium | 4,326 | 2013–14 Football Conference |
22 Sep 2014 | Chester | 2–1 | Wrexham | Deva Stadium | 3,183 | 2014–15 Football Conference |
7 Mar 2015 | Wrexham | 1–0 | Chester | Racecourse Ground | 6,336 | 2014–15 Football Conference |
3 Oct 2015 | Chester | 3–2 | Wrexham | Deva Stadium | 3,741 | 2015–16 National League |
19 Mar 2016 | Wrexham | 3–0 | Chester | Racecourse Ground | 6,459 | 2015–16 National League |
24 Sep 2016 | Wrexham | 0–0 | Chester | Racecourse Ground | 5,058 | 2016–17 National League |
21 Jan 2017 | Chester | 1–1 | Wrexham | Deva Stadium | 3,961 | 2016–17 National League |
8 Nov 2017 | Chester | 0–1 | Wrexham | Deva Stadium | 4,079 | 2017–18 National League |
11 Mar 2018 | Wrexham | 2–0 | Chester | Racecourse Ground | 6,511 | 2017–18 National League |
Crossing the divide
Chester City and Wrexham
The following players have played for Chester City and Wrexham. Footballers currently playing in one of the teams are marked bold. Appearances and goals include League only.Player | Chester career | Apps | Goals | Wrexham career | Apps | Goals |
Sam Aiston | 1997–99 | 23 | 0 | 2007–08, 2008–09 | 38 | 0 |
John Anderson | 1960–61 | 17 | 15 | 1956–59, 1961–62 | 93 | 80 |
David Artell | 2005–07 | 80 | 4 | 2013, 2013–14 | 36 | 3 |
Jackie Arthur | 1946–47 | 24 | 3 | 1946 | ? | ? |
Neil Ashton | 2009–10 | 0 | 0 | 2010–15 | 204 | 9 |
Anthony Barry | 2008–10 | 43 | 1 | 2016–17 | 31 | 2 |
David Bayliss | 2004–05 | 9 | 0 | 2005–06 | 22 | 0 |
Wally Bellett | 1961–62 | 12 | 1 | 1962–63 | 2 | 0 |
Dean Bennett | 2006–08 | 32 | 1 | 2004–06 | 47 | 2 |
Gary Bennett | 1985–88, 1990–92, 1997–99 | 254 | 64 | 1992–95, 1997 | 136 | 82 |
Stan Bennion | 1963–65 | 20 | 3 | 1959–63 | 54 | 18 |
Chris Blackburn | 1999–2003 | 81 | 6 | 2010–11 | 43 | 1 |
Michael Blackwood | 1999 | 9 | 2 | 2000–02 | 46 | 2 |
Phil Bolland | 2002–06, 2006–08 | 167 | 8 | 2008 | 18 | 0 |
Terry Bradbury | 1969–71 | 90 | 2 | 1967–69 | 78 | 3 |
Drewe Broughton | 2006–07 | 14 | 2 | 2008 | 16 | 2 |
David Brown | 2001–02 | 13 | 2 | 2010–11 | 9 | 1 |
Jack Capper | 1959–61 | 37 | 0 | 1949–55 | 48 | 0 |
Paul Carden | 2000, 2000–01, 2001–05 | 166 | 3 | 2008 | 0 | 0 |
Paul Comstive | 1991–93 | 57 | 6 | 1984–87 | 99 | 8 |
Jonathan Cross | 1998–2000 | 52 | 1 | 1991–98 | 119 | 12 |
Geoff Davies | 1972–73 | 32 | 5 | 1973–75 | 67 | 15 |
Robert Davies | 1888–1891 | ? | ? | 1892–1895 | ? | ? |
Ian Edwards | 1976–79 | 104 | 36 | 1979–82 | 76 | 20 |
Jake Edwards | 2006 | 10 | 1 | 1998–2000 | 11 | 1 |
Ken Ellis | 1946–47 | 1 | 0 | 1949–50 | 5 | 0 |
George Evans | 1963–69 | 113 | 0 | 1955–63 | 175 | 9 |
Robert Evans | 1904–05 | 1 | 0 | 1905–06 | ? | ? |
Spencer Evans | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
Steve Fox | 1984–85 | 33 | 4 | 1978–82 | 142 | 10 |
Robbie Foy | 2005 | 13 | 0 | 2005–06 | 17 | 3 |
Brian Griffiths | 1958–59 | 2 | 1 | 1952–58 | 22 | 11 |
Jack Haines | 1955–56 | 47 | 8 | ? | ? | ? |
Jay Harris | 2008–09 | 31 | 0 | 2010–15, 2020- | 182 | 16 |
Jim Harvey | 1993–94 | 0 | 0 | 1987 | 6 | 0 |
Ron Hewitt | 1962–63 | 29 | 6 | 1951–57, 1959–60 | 231 | 94 |
Joe Hinnigan | 1988–90 | 54 | 2 | 1987–88 | 29 | 1 |
Reg Holland | 1966 | 6 | 0 | 1960–66 | 118 | 0 |
Chris Holroyd | 2006–08 | 47 | 4 | 2017–2019 | 60 | 16 |
Richard Hope | 2004–05 | 28 | 2 | 2007–08 | 33 | 0 |
Peter Houghton | 1985–88 | 85 | 13 | 1984 | 5 | 2 |
Dennis Isherwood | 1946–47 | 3 | 0 | ? | ? | ? |
Arthur Johnson | 1962 | 3 | 0 | 1960–63 | 52 | 0 |
Colin Jones | 1959–60 | 3 | 0 | 1960–1961 | 0 | 0 |
Gordon Jones | ? | ? | ? | 1921 | 1 | 1 |
Harvey Jones | 1960–61 | 19 | 0 | 1959–60 | 13 | 0 |
Martin Lane | 1982–87, 1989–91 | 274 | 3 | 1988 | 6 | 0 |
Paul Linwood | 2006–09 | 122 | 4 | 2005 | 9 | 0 |
Jack Lipsham | 1903–06, 1907–13, 1919–21 | ? | ? | 1913–19 | ? | ? |
Gordon Livsey | 1971–72 | 44 | 0 | 1967–71 | 79 | 0 |
Brian Lloyd | 1977–81 | 94 | 0 | 1971–77 | 266 | 0 |
Stuart Mason | 1973–77 | 137 | 7 | 1966, 1968–73 | 185 | 3 |
Billy Matthews | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
Jimmy McGill | 1962–64 | 32 | 0 | 1964 | 17 | 0 |
Tony McLoughlin | 1967–68 | 4 | 0 | 1966–67 | 29 | 9 |
Sammy McMillan | 1969–70 | 18 | 0 | 1963–67 | 149 | 52 |
Mike Metcalf | 1963–69 | 221 | 68 | 1957–63 | 121 | 58 |
Grenville Millington | 1968–69, 1973–82, 1983 | 290 | 0 | 1983–84 | 13 | 0 |
Ian Moir | 1967–68 | 25 | 3 | 1968–72, 1973–75 | 165 | 20 |
Elfed Morris | 1962–68 | 167 | 69 | 1960–62 | 9 | 6 |
Bill Myerscough | 1962–63 | 36 | 10 | 1963–64 | 35 | 5 |
Sean Newton | 2007–08 | 2 | 0 | 2015–2017 | 61 | 8 |
Roger Preece | 1990–96 | 170 | 4 | 1986–90 | 111 | 12 |
Andy Provan | 1968–70 | 82 | 18 | 1970–72 | 51 | 10 |
Bernard Purdie | 1971–73 | 63 | 14 | 1968–70 | 10 | 3 |
Dennis Reeves | 1963–67 | 139 | 0 | 1967–69 | 15 | 0 |
Gordon Richards | 1958–61 | 74 | 16 | 1952–58 | 96 | 24 |
Nick Richardson | 1994, 1995–2001 | 181 | 13 | 1994 | 4 | 2 |
Kevin Roberts | 2006-09 | 81 | 7 | 2017-2019 | 72 | 0 |
John Ruddy | 2005–06 | 4 | 0 | 2007 | 5 | 0 |
Ian Rush | 1978–80 | 34 | 14 | 1998–99 | 17 | 0 |
Paul Rutherford | 2005–2009 | 38 | 1 | 2016– | 126 | 6 |
Mike Salmon | 1982 | 16 | 0 | 1987, 1987–89 | 100 | 0 |
Ronnie Sinclair | 1996–98 | 70 | 0 | 1984 | 11 | 0 |
Fred Smallwood | 1934–35 | 1 | 0 | 1933–34 | 1 | 1 |
Alex Smith | 1998–99, 2003–04 | 52 | 6 | 2004–06 | 44 | 0 |
Dean Spink | 2000–02 | 21 | 2 | 1997–2000 | 85 | 9 |
George Spruce | 1958–61 | 63 | 0 | 1948–52 | 135 | 3 |
Steve Stacey | 1969 | 1 | 0 | 1966–69 | 105 | 6 |
Tommy Tilston | 1949–51 | 22 | 7 | 1951–54 | 78 | 29 |
Brian Tinnion | 1971–72 | 3 | 0 | 1968–76 | 279 | 54 |
Graham Turner | 1968–73 | 218 | 5 | 1964–68 | 77 | 0 |
Jonathan Walters | 2006–07 | 26 | 9 | 2005–06 | 38 | 5 |
Gavin Ward | 2007–08 | 0 | 0 | 2008–09 | 54 | 0 |
Keith Webber | 1969–71 | 74 | 14 | 1964–66 | 73 | 33 |
Don Weston | 1968–69 | 3 | 0 | 1958–60, 1966–68 | 84 | 40 |
Ashley Westwood | 2006–08 | 21 | 3 | 2008–10 | 61 | 3 |
Shaun Whalley | 2004–05 | 3 | 0 | 2008–09 | 16 | 4 |
Billy White | 1961–62 | 13 | 3 | 1961 | 8 | 0 |
Danny Williams | 2004 | 5 | 0 | 1999–2001, 2004–08 | 166 | 14 |
Mike Williams | 1982–84 | 34 | 4 | 1984–91 | 178 | 3 |
Barry Wright | 1962–63 | 1 | 0 | 1959–62 | 11 | 0 |
Dick Yates | 1946–47 | 52 | 37 | 1947–48 | 31 | 18 |
Chester FC and Wrexham
The following players have played for Chester FC and Wrexham. Footballers currently playing in one of the teams are marked bold. Appearances and goals include League only.Player | Chester career | Apps | Goals | Wrexham career | Apps | Goals |
Wes Baynes | 2011–13 | 62 | 8 | 2007–11 | 74 | 8 |
James Caton | 2014 | 1 | 1 | 2015–2016 | 4 | 0 |
Elliott Durrell | 2016–17 | 46 | 8 | 2014–2015 | 30 | 4 |
Gareth Evans | 2010–11 | 1 | 0 | 2004–09 | 26 | 0 |
Luke Holden | 2011–12 | 3 | 2 | 2010 | 15 | 1 |
Blaine Hudson | 2016–17 | 32 | 2 | 2014-16 | 73 | 7 |
Johnny Hunt | 2015–17 | 92 | 4 | 2010–14, 2014–15 | 108 | 13 |
Jason Jarrett | 2013–14 | 29 | 0 | 1999–2000 | 1 | 0 |
Danny Livesey | 2018–2019 | 0 | 0 | 2014 | 16 | 0 |
Levi Mackin | 2012–13 | 16 | 1 | 2003–09 | 61 | 2 |
Danny O'Brien | 2016 | 9 | 1 | 2015 | 2 | 0 |
Jamie Reed | 2013–14 | 22 | 2 | 2005–08 | 7 | 0 |
John Rooney | 2013–16 | 112 | 25 | 2016–17 | 33 | 11 |
Christian Smith | 2011–12 | 31 | 6 | 2008–09, 2009–11 | 42 | 7 |
Lee Trundle | 2013 | 3 | 0 | 2001–03 | 94 | 27 |
Dominic Vose | 2018- | 5 | 0 | 2015–16 | 28 | 10 |
Marc Williams | 2012–13 | 50 | 10 | 2005–11 | 80 | 17 |
Chester City, Chester and Wrexham
The following players have played for Chester City, Chester FC and Wrexham. Footballers currently playing in one of the teams are marked bold. Appearances and goals include League only.Player | Chester City career | Apps | Goals | Chester career | Apps | Goals | Wrexham career | Apps | Goals |
Paul Linwood | 2006–09 | 122 | 4 | 2012–14 | 58 | 2 | 2005 | 9 | 0 |
Kevin Roberts | 2006-09 | 81 | 7 | 2019- | 0 | 0 | 2017-2019 | 72 | 0 |
Derby appearances and goals
Chester FC vs Wrexham
Below shows the most appeared players and most goals scored within a derby match between Chester and Wrexham. Appearances and Goals include all competitions.Top all time appearances
After the match played 11 March 2018.Player | Years | Played For | Apps |
John Rooney | 2013–16 2016–17 | Chester Wrexham | 7 |
Mark Carrington | 2013– | Wrexham | 7 |
Blaine Hudson | 2014–16 2016–17 | Wrexham Chester | 6 |
Johnny Hunt | 2010–14, 2014–15 2015–17 | Wrexham Chester | 6 |
Rob Evans | 2012–17 | Wrexham | 6 |
Craig Mahon | 2013–2020 | Chester | 6 |
Manny Smith | 2014-2016, 2017-2020 | Wrexham | 6 |
Ryan Astles | 2016-18 | Chester | 5 |
Neil Ashton | 2010–15 | Wrexham | 4 |
Joe Clarke | 2011–15 | Wrexham | 4 |
Ben Heneghan | 2014–16 | Chester | 4 |
Connor Jennings | 2014–16 | Wrexham | 4 |
Paul Rutherford | 2016- | Wrexham | 4 |
Tom Shaw | 2015–2018 | Chester | 4 |
Wesley York | 2014–16 | Wrexham | 4 |
- | - | - | 4 |
All time goal scorers
After the match played 11 March 2018.Player | Years | Played For | Goals |
Connor Jennings | 2014–16 | Wrexham | 2 |
John Rooney | 2013–16 2016–17 | Chester Wrexham | 1+1 |
Blaine Hudson | 2014–16 2016–17 | Wrexham Chester | 1+0 |
Dominic Vose | 2015–16 2018 | Wrexham Chester | 1+0 |
James Alabi | 2016–17 | Chester | 1 |
Nicky Deverdics | 2018–19 | Wrexham | 1 |
Rob Evans | 2012–17 | Wrexham | 1 |
Ben Heneghan | 2014–16 | Chester | 1 |
Craig Hobson | 2014–16 | Chester | 1 |
Kayden Jackson | 2015–16 | Wrexham | 1 |
Paul Linwood | 2012–14 | Chester | 1 |
Kieron Morris | 2015 | Wrexham | 1 |
Shaun Pearson | 2017- | Wrexham | 1 |
Scott Quigley | 2018 | Wrexham | 1 |
Kane Richards | 2014–17 | Chester | 1 |
Tom Shaw | 2015–2018 | Chester | 1 |
Lewis Turner | 2013, 2013–14 | Chester | 1 |