Best XI Since Reformation.

GK / Danny
LB / McGinn
RB / Lewis Turner
CB / Hughes
CB / Horan
LM / Howard
CM / Sarcevic
CM / James
RM / Mahon
ST / Alabi
ST / Wilde

Danby
L Turner
Heneghan
Horan
McGinn
Mahon
Sarcevic
James
Howard
Wilde
Hannah

Sorry, I couldn't read past "Danby" without a laughter fit. I'd have him down as our worst ever 'keeper in my time supporting both Oldco and Newco.

Lynch

Heneghan - Horan - Astles - McGinn

McConville - A. Brown - Sarcevic - Howard

Wilde - Hannah


This was actually more difficult than I thought it would be, especially picking a standout for between the sticks. I had Glennon and Chapman in mind but actually I don't recall seeing some of the saves our current number one Alex Lynch has made this season since Chris McKenzie and Dave Felgate before him. Lynch can often be a joy to watch and, of course, contributed greatly to that tremendous clean sheet/unbeaten run earlier this season.

At the back, I don't expect anybody to argue with those four. The two in the middle are absolute colossi (collosuses?) - one is Newco's greatest ever captain, the other is a future captain and both are future Hall of Famers. The two full backs also brought us so much joy, even from just one goal each let alone their season-long performances at full back.

Midfield was a bit more difficult. Alex Brown is a football genius and Antoni Sarcevic would get into any all-time Oldco X1 let alone Newco. The left winger is a sung hero but I've gone for an unsung hero on the opposite flank - McConville's assist and goal record in his standout Conference season with us helped us to our highest ever league position and an enjoyable FA Cup run. He was always better centrally rather than out wide but I had to include him.

Up top, Michael Wilde is our greatest goal scorer thus far (and an outstanding 'keeper too!) and Ross Hannah hit more than 20 goals for a team that just about survived relegation which is no mean feat.

Honourable mentions (and subs bench places) for Sam Hughes, Kingsley James, Craig Mahon, Marc Williams and Chris Simm. I'm happy with that.

GK Chapman
RB Lewis Turner
LB McMinn
CB Heneghan
CB Astles 
LM Howard
CM Sarcevic
CM James 
RM McConville
CF Wilde
CF McBurnie

subs Danby, Horan, Brown, Hughes, Alabi, Hannah

wilde has to be in the matchday squad for me wherever he scored or not he gave it his all up front the late equaliser against chasetown was 1 moment the lad is a legend

I was also surprised to see Worsnop make one team - he's one of the worst goalkeepers I've ever had to watch.

Funny how differently we all see keepers. I didn't rate Chapman personally, although he was only young when he was here. Worsnop's terrible second season rules him out as well.

You tend to remember goalkeepers by their errors, and the only one I can't remember making any was Matt Glennon. Possibly Freddy Hall as well but he only played a handful of games for us.

Lynch or Roberts have as good a claim as any really.

Danby had the easiest job in the world and still managed to make it hard going sometimes.

I picked Worsnop because he was my personal favourite. A proper shot stopper, one of our best players of the season in his first season here.

It was between Worsnop, Glennon, Lynch and Roberts for me. Actually think Roberts is the most talented keeper we've had, a ton of potential

Someone questions my choice of Worsnop over Danby

But people don't even include Horan in their XI! 🤔

How many games did Lynch play in that run of clean sheets?

None. Worsnop played in 1, the rest was Roberts

Personally,

Chapman

Turner
Horan
Astles
McGinn

Mahon
Brown
Sarcevic
Howard

Wilde
Hannah

Can't have Heneghan in my team sorry, for all the joy he brought vs Wrexham the decision to join motherwell still shafted us.

There's different ways to interpret 'Best XI'. If we're really trying to name the best possible Chester team, you wouldn't really put Horan, Wilde or Howard in it as they're not Conference standard players. They all did exceptionally well at their level though.

You could argue that the likes of Danny Williams, Craig Curran, Jack Mackreth and Tom McCreadie should be in it as they all went on to better things after playing for us.

Absolutely agree. It's all personal favourites, opinions etc. No one is ever wrong in picking their own XI.

If Matty Hughes only had that one spell I'd probably include him, he was brilliant for us, unstoppable some games. His 2nd spell not so much.

One of my reasons for picking Worsnop is Barnsley away. Can't remember many keepers having a better game for us than he did that day, and after breaking his cheekbone too (you could argue he got knocked out and forgot he was Jon Worsnop that day)