There is absolutely nothing guaranteed in football – if there was, none of us would watch such a beautifully unpredictable game.
But with a 19-point lead at the summit of the National League table at the start of February, with two games in hand on nearest challengers Bromley, it would be fair to describe Chesterfield as ‘champions elect’.
That will be of immense satisfaction to Paul Cook and his players, who certainly won’t be resting on their laurels until the job is done in the National League. And even then, there may be dreams of more success to come – if they can follow in the footsteps of promoted sides that have taken to League 2 with aplomb…
Up and Up
Today’s football betting odds, as far as winning League Two are concerned, confirm the ease with which sides promoted from the National League have taken to life in the fourth tier of English football. Stockport County, in their second season in League Two, are the 8/11 favourites to lift the trophy.
Wrexham, in their maiden campaign (of this new age for the Welsh club) in the EFL ranks, are the 10/3 third favourites. And while Notts County’s season has unravelled somewhat, let’s not forget that the other promoted outfit from the National League only lost one of their opening nine games of the campaign – and promotion via the play-offs is still not out of the question.
Stockport, of course, suffered a heartbreaking defeat in the play-offs in their maiden League Two campaign in 2022/23, while in 2021/22 Sutton United were just one point from a play-off finish of their own just a year after gaining promotion from the National League.
The curtailed 2019/20 season saw Salford City in the mix for a play-off place in their first League Two campaign following ascension from the non-league ranks, while you may just recall the outstanding 2018/19 of Tranmere Rovers. The 2018 National League play-off winners would repeat the feat a year later in League Two for back-to-back promotions.
That’s a long lineage of immediate success for the National League’s promoted sides, which Chesterfield will be looking to add to in 2024/25.
Cooking Up a Storm
Cook, you may remember, guided the Spireites to the League Two title in his first tenure as club manager in 2014 – and likewise with Portsmouth in 2017.
It’s been all change at Chesterfield since, with a new generation of players to work with, but the early signs are that the 56-year-old has everything in place for further progression.
𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗹𝗱, 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗹 💙
— Chesterfield FC (@ChesterfieldFC) June 22, 2023
✍️ We are delighted to announce the signing of Will Grigg from MK Dons for an undisclosed fee on a three-year deal!#Spireites pic.twitter.com/zQZobENJqA
The average age of this Spireites squad is a shade over 26, which is perfect for a club hunting continued success. And it helps that some of the key performers, such as top goalscorer Will Grigg, are unlikely to seek pastures new after finding a happy home in the Midlands.
There’s plenty of League Two experience already in the squad too, so if Cook can keep the same side together heading into the 2024/25 campaign – perhaps while adding one or two new faces – it would take a brave sceptic to bet against Chesterfield becoming yet another promoted National League club to take to life in the EFL with immediate success.
