Today I'm going back 11 years to 2011 and a season-opening League 1 game between Tranmere Rovers and Chesterfield at Prenton Park. My trip to this stadium in the Wirral was actually my fourth but I hadn't been there for 27 years and fancied a revisit. Despite having completed English football's 92-club back in 1986 and keeping the achievement refreshed by the new members ever since, I find that, after a while there are clubs that I haven't visited for a very long time and Tranmere was definitely one of those at the time. Today the stadium in the 92 which I haven't visited for the longest time is Fulham's Craven Cottage, last visited by me in 1985. I am saving that visit to Fulham until they have completed and opened their magnificent new stand beside the Thames.
The game was no thriller and was settled in the 74th minute by former York City loanee Robbie Weir. It was his first goal in senior football and Weir has since gone on to have a decent career at Burton Albion, Leyton Orient, Chesterfield and, more recently, Crusaders in his home town of Belfast. To date Weir has made 429 appearances in total scoring just 14 goals from central midfield.
The opening day success for Tranmere, managed by former physiotherapist Les Parry, was not a sign of things to come and Rovers ended the season in a solidly mid-table12th position. The defeat for Chesterfield was however indicative of how they would fare that season and they ended up being relegated in 22nd place, eight points from safety. Champions of League 1 that season were Charlton Athletic with Sheffield Wednesday also automatically promoted and Huddersfield successfully navigated the Play-Offs. Alongside Chesterfield, fellow relegated clubs were Wycombe Wanderers, Exeter City and bottom of the table Rochdale.
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