Back in the big time! Chesterfield seal return to the EFL as runaway National League champions a MONTH before the end of the season – with 3-0 victory against Boreham Wood sealing the title for Paul Cook’s Spireites

Nothing sums up Chesterfield’s stormy return to the Football League better than the lyrics to the players’ walk-out music. ‘The sun is shining in the sky, there isn’t a cloud in sight… it’s no longer raining, everyone is participating in the play… and don’t you know, it’s a beautiful new day.’

Unlike Electric Light Orchestra’s 1977 hit Mr Blue Sky, there have been few blue skies at this club over the past decade, with successive relegations followed by six seasons in the abyss of non-league. But finally it’s a bright new day in Derbyshire.

Strong winds meant the blue skies were more metaphorical than literal, but eventually the corks were popped to toast a fantastic season for Paul Cook’s men. In reality, those champagne bottles have been on ice long before Christmas.

The Spireites missed out on promotion in devastating fashion last year when they were beaten by Notts County in a play-off final penalty shoot-out, but they haven’t looked back since. Cook was gracious at Wembley that day, noting that the better team won. Now there is no longer any doubt about his side’s supremacy.

Chesterfield had dropped points in five of their previous eight matches and had missed opportunities to be crowned champions during trips to Oldham and Halifax. That mistake put Wrexham’s record points haul from last season out of reach, but this team is clearly one of the best ever at this level.

The jubilant Spireites players celebrated in style on the pitch after the final whistle blew

Supporters poured onto the pitch to toast their side’s inevitable return from non-league play

Cook is the mastermind, this is the 57-year-old’s fourth promotion as a manager – one in his previous spell here, along with others at Portsmouth and Wigan – plus two as a player at Burnley and Accrington.

Dedicating the win to his late father, the Scouser said: “I have to say I lost my dad about two years ago and today would have been his birthday. I’m happy, really, happy for the supporters.

‘When I came back to Chesterfield two years ago I didn’t realize how tough this competition was! I can’t thank the players and staff (enough), it’s such a team effort. But the players get all the credit tonight.’

This match against Boreham Wood started cautiously and evenly, making it clear that neither team would have turned down a draw, whether it was to win the league or gain a valuable point in the relegation battle. But it quickly returned to the theme of Chesterfield’s season: total domination.

Captain Jamie Grimes opened the scoring in the first half with a thundering header. The 33-year-old defender, who has played for fourteen clubs during his career as a journeyman, mainly in non-league football, doubled his tally for the match and the season in the second half.

Blue torches were lit and the players lifted inflatable trophies before the real silverware was hoisted

Captain Jamie Grimes opened the scoring after sending in a header from a corner

Grimes completed the win with a close-range tap to score the three points

Boss Paul Cook was the mastermind behind the promotion – the fourth of his career in management

That was Chesterfield’s third of the day and 100th of the season after a scintillating solo run that earned a goal from Albanian youth international Armando Dobra. Before that, the usually calm Cook almost lost his half-time brew when he celebrated a nice goal from Liam Mandeville just after half-time.

“It’s not about my leadership, we have 10 or 11 leaders there,” skipper Grimes said. “It’s a whole season of work, we’ve worked so hard and made sacrifices. Now is the time to enjoy it. The manager makes you feel like you’re 10 feet tall, that’s what he delivers.”

Fans chanted ‘we’ve got our club back’ as National League staff got to work engraving Chesterfield’s name on the trophy. It would be unfair not to also identify those at the top, such as Chairman Mike Goodwin and CEO John Croot, as crucial protagonists of this success.

Croot was a program salesman as a child and went to school across the street from the old Saltergate Stadium. He’s saved the Spireites from financial ruin twice, once in 2001 and again in 2020, and it feels like the only way is the best for this fan base.

But planning for next year can wait. Not long after the final whistle, a weekend of celebrations began, with the heroic players joining cheering fans for a night on the tiles at the city’s famous leaning spire.

As they have done all season, most will follow the example of series promotion winner Cook, who quickly ended his press conference by saying: “I’ll disappear now for a few bottles of Peroni, thank you very much.” He deserves more than just a pair.