Cambridge United v Chester FA Cup 1st Round 1st November chester player pen pics

Strictly speaking this is only the third meeting between Cambridge United and Chester. Chester being the reincarnation of the old Chester City club which folded in 2009. In fact, United were one of the last clubs to play against Chester City. In the 2009/10 season United beat City 4-2 at Chester and 1-0 at the Abbey. Unfortunately, because of Chester’s demise both results were expunged.

Since 1970 there have been twenty-eight meetings between the clubs United winning ten, Chester three and fifteen draws. This is the first time the clubs have met in the FA Cup.

Chester reached the first round by beating Stalybridge Celtic, Curzon Ashton and Morecambe. They are currently in 17th place in the Enterprise National League North. Their most recent match ended in a 1-2 home defeat to Bedford Town. Their line up for the match was Murray-Jones, Kelly-Evans (Zanzala 55), Leak, Arthur, Woodthorpe, Bainbridge, Murray (Weeks 46), Leigh, P. Jones, Peers (F. Roberts 78), Mottley-Henry. Scorer- Zanzala 90+4 mins. Att. 2,492.

Cambridge United come into the match sitting in 13th place in EFL League 2, Having lost their last match 0-2 at Notts County. Their line up was Eastwood, Gibbons, Morrison, Watts, Purrington (Jobe 77), Kaikai (Smith 77), Ball (Brophy 77), Mpanzu, Mayor, Kouassi, Lavery (Kachunga 36). Att. 10,996.

Cambridge United Head Coach- Neil Harris

Born 12/07/1977. Played as a striker for Cambridge City, Millwall (twice) Nottingham Forest and Southend. Millwall’s all time record goalscorer with 138 goals in 374 appearances. Has managed Millwall (twice) Cardiff City, Gillingham and Cambridge United (twice)

Chester Manager- Calum McIntyre

Appointed Chester manager in May 2022 after guiding Runcorn Linnets to the Northern Premier League play-offs. Voted Northern Premier League Manager of the Season in 22/23 as Chester went 21 unbeaten matches away and had the best defensive record in the league.

Chester F C Pen Pics

1 Lewys Benjamin G/K on a season-long loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers. Wales U/21 international.

2 Dion Kelly-Evans signed for Chester at start of this season after spending last season at Woking. Has also played at Kettering.

3 Nathan Woodthorpe Joined Chester in 2023 from Lancaster City. Has also played for Witton Albion.

4 Declan Weeks Joined Chester in 2020 after 3 seasons with Kidderminster Harriers. Started at Wolves. Welsh U/21 international.

5 Tom Leak signed on a permanent deal in 2025 after a 3 month loan spell from Boston United.

6 James Jones signed at the start of this season from Altrincham. Also played for Barrow and the New Saints.

7 Tom Peers joined Chester from Macclesfield in 2023. Also played for Curzon Ashton where he scored 24 goals in 2022/23.

8 Jack Bainbridge joined in 2024 from Marine. Played over 100 matches for Southport. Was part of youth academies at Everton, Stoke and Derby.

9 Offrande Zanzala signed in summer 2025. Previous clubs include Accrington S, Crewe, Carlisle, Barrow, Newport and Exeter.

10 Iwan Murray returned to Chester in summer 2022 after two years with Runcorn Linnets.

11 Dylan Mottley-Henry joined Chester in 2024. Started at Bradford City before spending four years at Barnsley. Also played for Tramnere Rovers.

13 George Murray-Jones G/K on loan from Nottingham Forest until January. Ex Manchester City youth and FC United of Manchester.

16 Lewis Leigh Started at Preston North End. Had loans at Bromley and Crewe where he played in the League 2 Play Off Final.

17 Connor Woods Chester paid a £12,500 transfer fee to Warrington Town, where he scored 29 goals in 92 appearances, in January 2025. Also played for Southport.

18 Pat Jones Joined Chester at the start of the season following his release from Exeter City. Started as a professional with Huddersfield Town.

25 Kevin Roberts a product of the Chester City Academy in 2007. Needs no introduction to the Abbey faithful, he played over 100 matches for the U’s from 2010 to 20014 and featured in the team that got United back into the League. Went on to play at Halifax and Wrexham before returning to Chester in 2019.

27 Festus Arthur signed in September 2025. Has played for Stockport, Hull City, Halifax, Hyde United and Southport.

33 Fin Roberts on a season-long loan from Crewe Alexandra after a short loan spell at the Deva last season.

Cambridge United Player Pen PIcs can be found here