Fine Line
How the Spireites (Almost) Reached the FA Cup Final
Published on 8. March 2026
240 pages
978-1-83680-371-3 (ISBN)
Description
A Fine Line: How the Spireites (Almost) Reached the FA Cup Final is a nostalgic celebration of one of the most extraordinary underdog stories in FA Cup history.Foreword by Spireites legend Jamie HewittThe book revisits Chesterfield's remarkable 1996/97 cup run, when the Spireites came within a whisker of being the first team from outside the top two tiers to reach the FA Cup final.Filled with personal memories and behind-the-scenes insight, it includes:Exclusive interviews with Chesterfield players from the era, supporters who witnessed the cup run first-hand, sports journalists who covered it, plus a rare insight from one of English football's most famous referees, David EllerayRich, detailed anecdotes that capture how the cup run unfolded and how it affected both the club and the town of ChesterfieldPhotos of key moments and personalitiesA look at how following a football club has changed since the 1990s, including the effects of 90s culture on the gameAn exploration of the FA Cup's place in the modern football landscapeA Fine Line is a feel-good chronicle of a classic giant-killing adventure, perfect for Spireites fans and FA Cup romantics alike.
