Club Background
The history of Chesham United dates back to the First World War when two clubs in the town, Chesham Town and Chesham Generals merged in 1917, literally creating a united Chesham. The new club went with the nickname ‘The Generals’ from this point and competed in the Spartan League, which covered London and surrounding counties.
There was a brief period in the Great Western Combination during the Second World War before the club switched to the Corinthian League following the conflict. In 1963, they became a founder member of another regional division, the Athenian League, a feeder to the better known Isthmian League.
In 1966, Chesham reached the first round of the FA Cup for the first time, defeated 6-0 at Enfield, and the in the 1967/68 campaign they reached Wembley in the FA Amateur Cup, losing to Leytonstone under the famous Twin Towers.
Having move to the Isthmian League in the early 1970s, there was a third round appearance in the FA Cup in the 1979/80 season, losing 2-0 at home to Cambridge United. Then in November 1982, The Generals faced Yeovil Town in the first round, where a single Andy Bell goal earned The Glovers a 1-0 win at The Meadow. Yeovil exited the competition in the second round that season, defeated at Southend United.
Our other two matches against Chesham came in 1986/87 and 1987/88 both in the AC Delco Cup, the league cup for the division. On 19th November 1986, Yeovil ran out 7-1 winners in a second round tie at Huish courtesy of goals from John McGinlay (3), Carl Zachhau (2), Mickey Tanner and Phil James. We then travelled to Buckinghamshire at the same stage of the competition the following season and won 3-0 with a Phil Ferns (2 – the first from the penalty spot) and Paul Randall on target.
In the Isthmian League, they were relegated to Division Two North in 1986 before being promoted back to Division One and then the Premier Division in 1991. In the 1992/93 season, they one the division but were denied promotion to the Conference due to The Meadow meeting the necessary ground standards. Even runners-up St Albans City were unable to make it up that season due to the same regulations.
Having dipped back in to Division One in 1995, Chesham were once again back at the first attempt and in 1998 they appointed former Tottenham Hotspur defender Graham Roberts, who had been sacked as Yeovil Town manager for sending a dodgy fax to one of his former clubs from the Huish Park offices. Roberts found the club struggling at the bottom of the Isthmian Premier Division and quickly set about assembling a familiar team with ex-Glovers’ captain Mickey Engwell and midfielders Graham Kemp and Steve Browne his first signings.
Roberts managed to see the club to safety but only stayed one season in Buckinghamshire and in 2002 there was another familiar face – for Yeovil fans – at the helm, ex-Glovers’ boss Colin Lippiatt. He took over at the end of the 2001/02 campaign following his sacking by Woking and was in charge at Chesham for just under 12 months when he parted company with the club again perilously close to relegation out of the Isthmian League Premier following savage budget cuts. Having hung on one more season, they were relegated in 2003 and (yet again) returned at the first time of asking albeit moving in to the Southern League rather than the Isthmian set-up.
Having bounced around between the Premier Division and Division One, the next most notable part of the club’s history came in the FA Cup first round in 2015 when beat League Two Bristol Rovers at the Memorial Ground. They lost 4-0 to Bradford City in the next round, but were back in the competition’s first round in 2016/17, losing to Peterborough United on that occasion.
Now, to bring us right up to date, the next biggest success came last season in the 2023/24 campaign as Chesham were promoted to the National League South. Under the stewardship of current bosses James Duncan and Michael Murray following an amazing run of just one defeat in their first final 18 matches.
We’ve Met Before
Previous Results for Yeovil Town First Team vs Chesham United
| 20/11/1982 | Away | FAC1 | W | 1-0 | 1433 | Andy Bell | |
| 19/11/1986 | Home | ACD2 | W | 7-1 | 1180 | John McGinlay (3), Carl Zachhau (2), Mickey Tanner, Phil James | |
| 25/11/1987 | Away | ACD2 | W | 3-0 | 289 | Phil Ferns (2), Paul Randall | |
Results Summary For Yeovil Town First Team vs Chesham United
| Home | Away | Overall | ||||||||||||
| W | D | L | F | A | W | D | L | F | A | W | D | L | F | A |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 1 |
Club Statistics
RECENT RESULTS
| 07/09/2024 | Aveley | Home | NLS | W | 3-2 | 1116 | Stevens 71, Esan 90+3, Aransibia 90+4 | |
| 14/09/2024 | Cray Valley Paper Mills | Away | FAC2Q | W | 2-0 | 272 | Grant 51, 76 | |
| 21/09/2024 | Maidstone United | Away | NLS | D | 2-2 | 2065 | Minhas 39, Grant 90+6 | |
| 28/09/2024 | Bishop’s Cleeve | Away | FAC3Q | D | 0-0 | 726 | ||
| 05/10/2024 | Bath City | Home | NLS | L | 0-1 | 1066 | ||
| 08/10/2024 | Bishop’s Cleeve | Home | FAC3QR | W | 4-0 | 564 | Connors 4, Lewis 20, 59, Gallimore 62 | |
ATTENDANCE STATISTICS
Highest Attendance: 1,507 – vs Torquay United, 26/08/2024
Lowest Attendance: 564 – vs Bishop’s Cleeve, 08/10/2024
Average Attendance: 907
CURRENT SEQUENCE STATISTICS
| Games Without A Win: | 0 | Games Without A Home Win: | 0 | |
| Games Without An Away Win: | 2 | Games Without Defeat: | 1 | |
| Games Without A Home Defeat: | 1 | Games Without An Away Defeat: | 3 | |
| Games Without A Draw: | 2 | Games Without A Score Draw: | 3 | |
| Games Without A No-Score Draw: | 2 | Games Without Scoring: | 0 | |
| Games Without Conceding: | 1 | Home Results Sequence: | LLLWLW | |
| Away Results Sequence: | WWWDDL | Overall Results Sequence: | WWDDLW |
Club Information
Address : The Meadow, Amy Lane, Chesham, Buckinghamshire, HP5 1NE. (click for map)
Tel. 01494 783 964
Chairman: Peter Brown
Club Secretary/Safety Officer:Michael Dragisic
Press Officer/Programme Editor: Ryan Woolnough
Joint managers: James Duncan & Michael Murray
Capacity : 3000
Seated : 284
Surface : Grass
Record Attendance : 2,694 – vs King’s Lynn Town – 26/12/2022
Colours : White and claret
Nickname : The Generals
Programme : £4.00 – for a special FA Cup match programme.
The following ‘guidance’ has been issued by Chesham United on Friday 11th October for all supporters attending the matc:
Foul and abusive language is forbidden, we are all in favour of vocal support, but the use of swearing is outdated and not welcome at our home games, please stick with the supportive, often witty, chants that our fans are admired and respected for, and leave the abusive ones at home.
In recent weeks, we have received a number of complaints from supporters (we’re assuming this is nothing to do with Yeovil fans) and if it continues we will be left with no option other than to take action to remove people from the ground, and that is something I really do not want to have to instigate when we are having such a positive season
Additionally, we would like to remind all supporters that being in possession of a pyrotechnic device at a football match, or attempting to bring a pyrotechnic device into a football stadium, is a criminal offence. We will have professional stewards conducting searches where necessary, please do NOT attempt to enter The Meadow with such a device.
Ticketing
Chesham have confirmed the game will not be segregated, so we can all imagine we are in the National League South (albeit without beers on the terrace – you have been warned) again – hopefully with a positive result in our favour, of course. Turnstiles will be open from 1pm on matchday.
Tickets went on sale the day following The Generals’win in the third qualifying round and the match has been designated ALL TICKET – which means you will not be able to buy a ticket on the day. Turnstiles will take both cash and card payments on the day, although pre-buying tickets online, see details below, is still the easiest way.
To buy a ticket – CLICK HERE.
Prices:
Adult: £15.00
Concessions (Over-65s and Students with ID): £12.00
18-23 years: £10.00
Under-18s: £5.00
Under-12s (with a full paying adult): £1.00
Official Away Travel
The Green & White Supporters’ Club is running away travel to Chesham United on Saturday 12th October, 3p.m. kick-off.
Details are as follows:
Members: Adult £27; Concession £25
Non-Members: Adult £30; Concession £28
Coach departs Huish Park: 8.45am
To book, call Paul Hadlow on 07736 044570 (after 6.00 p.m. please).
If you are getting in touch by email, please make it clear which match you are booking for and that you give your full name, the names of people that are travelling and a contact telephone number.
You may be asked to pay a £5 deposit to reserve your seat.
Directions To The Ground
General
If you visited either Hemel Hempstead or St Albans City in the National League South last season, you will be heading to pretty much the same part of the world. The Meadow is located just to the south of Chesham town centre and is fairly close to the local motorway network with the M25 being the way most fans will arrive at the ground.
By Road
For Yeovil fans resident in the West Country you will need to take the familiar trip down the A303, M3 and M25 (clockwise) before exiting at taking Junction 18 on to the A404 to Chorleywood/Amersham. You will follow this road through Chorleywood straight through two sets of lights. You will then pass a school on your left-hand side, about 1 mile down the road from there you will see the road bear to the left with a right turn to Chenies and Latimer, take this turn and follow the road in to Chenies, this road will lead you to Chesham, you will see a manor house to your right as you follow the road for about 3 miles. You will eventually find yourself on a one way system at a ‘left turn only’ junction, you will shortly pass an open air pool to your left, follow the road under the bridge, The Meadow is the second exit off the roundabout. You will see signs for the football club, cricket club and the gym.
If you are arriving by any other direction, the club’s website has a comprehensive set of instructions (much of which is reflected in this guide) – HERE.
Parking
Due to the anticipated large attendance, Chesham have confirmed that parking will be limited and available for £5 per car. Cash only payments. The club has advised anyone wanting parking to arrive early or use public transport, see details below. They do have a number of Blue Badge spaces for disabled drivers close to the turnstiles. The advice is to arrive early to guarantee one although Chesham have said that stewards will try to find additional spaces for disabled supporters where possible.
There is alternate free parking on the gravel hard-standing area on The Moor (NB: height restricted entry, cars only) and payable parking in the town car parks, see the map left. These are all within about 5-10 minutes normal walking distance of the ground.
By Rail
Chesham is part of the London Underground network and is at the far west of the Metropolitan Line. If you are departing from Yeovil Junction, you will need to get on the Underground at London Waterloo, taking the Bakerloo Line to Baker Street, where you can switch on to the Metropolitan Line. Bear in mind it is about an hour from there to Chesham, you’re going all the way to the end of the line.
When you arrive at Chesham, walk out of the station and head down Station Road towards the High Street. Turn left and walk through the town until you reach a pedestrian crossing (opposite the Red Lion). Cross the road and bear left by the pub then continue walking until you pass two petrol stations which are opposite each other. At the next roundabout the third exit takes you into Chesham United’s ground. The walk from the station takes 5-10 minutes.
By Taxi
A1 Taxiline – 01494 793300 – website
Chesham Taxis – 01494 784182
Gilberts Taxi – 01494 771000 – website
Web Resources
Web Sites
Chesham United FC – Official Site
Chesham United Supporters’ Trust
Social Media
Chesham United – Official X/Twitter account
Chesham United Football Club – Official Facebook account
Chesham United – Official YouTube channel
Local Press
Bucks Free Press – Sport – mostly talks about Wycombe Wanderers
Food & Drink
With special thanks to Steve ‘Spud’ Whale for keeping up a semblance of Huish Hugh’s commitment to advising on places to eat and drink (okay, mostly drink) with this and many other Away Travel Guides.
Club Bar
The Chess Suite, the club bar at The Meadow, has a listing on the CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) website, if that’s your thing, and is accessible from inside the ground on the vast majority of match-days. Chesham have confirmed this will be open to all supporters from 1pm on matchday. However, due to the game being an FA Cup match, drinks cannot be taken in to the ground – even in a plastic container – as they would be in a National League South fixture – remember those?
Local Pubs
Mad Squirrel Tap Room: Under ten minutes from The Meadow and, if you are arriving on the Underground, you can bypass it on your way to the ground. Established in 2013 as the first of six (and counting) taprooms for Mad Squirrel Brewery. The building is right on the Market Square and, although its previous incarnation was an Italian delicatessen, it was once a pub called the Globe, so this marks a welcome return to ‘pub’ use. It is better classified as a micropub and beer shop (as reflected in the opening hours), selling an excellent range of canned beers, wines and spirits, supplemented by a neat little bar selling draught Mad Squirrel beers and cider (also available for take-out). Beers are served from a tiled wall behind the bar with 10 taps (2 cask ales, 6 craft keg beers, 1 sparkling cider, 1 still cider) all dispensed via an air compressor. Opening times: Sat 12:00-22:30
Regular beers: Mad Squirrel Range – Up to 12 Craft Keg + Cider.
Address: Mad Squirrel Tap Room – 8 Market Square, Chesham, HP5 1ES – website.
Queens Head – Under half-a-mile and ten minutes walk from The Meadow, this is a traditional ale house and restaurant situated in the old part of town. This is a lovely old pub with the River Chess flowing past the entrance to its yard and under the corner of the public bar. First licensed in 1759, many of the building’s original features have remained intact. It specialises in Thai cuisine and there is a fairly extensive lunch menu – see here – if you have time for a bite to eat before the match.
Address: Queens Head, 120 Church St, Chesham, HP5 1JD – website.
Trekkers Bar – Another one which is under a ten-minute walk from the ground and well-placed if you are coming from the Underground station. A micropub in a former barbershop on Chesham’s Market Square. Trekkers is dedicated to showcasing local breweries. Alongside the reasonably-priced cask ale offering, there are up to seven keg beers on tap, plus cider, sparkling wines and gin. The fridge and shelves offer a further national and international beer selection in bottle and can. Opening times: Sat 12:00-22:30. Regular beers: Cask Ale – Often Rebellion, Tring or Windsor & Eton + up to 7 Craft Keg
Address: 2 High St, Chesham, HP5 1EP – map.
Likelihood the Natives Will Understand You: If you managed it at Hemel Hempstead or St Albans City, there’s every chance you will get away with it this time.
Top-Tip: Don’t look for an overground train station, you’ll not find one. Underground only in this town.
Local Amenities:Like many places near London, the traditional TripAdvisor search will probably send you back in to London or maybe to Windsor as you’re in Buckinghamshire. In Chesham itself, the 12th highest-ranked ‘attraction’ is the local branch of Argos (go figure!) but otherwise there’s a museum which apparently features a chip-eating lizard (no idea), an art museum and a water feature.
Other Points Of Interest: Probably the one thing you will know about Chesham United is that the team is sponsored by Taskmaster, the popular television quiz show. The show’s creator, ‘Little’ Alex Horne, is a supporter and director of the club and The Meadow has featured in a number of episodes. He has said on his social media that he plans to attend the match with Yeovil, so something to look out for.
[No responsibility is taken for any inaccuracies. This page is entirely the product of bias and prejudice. ]