Spireites retro: Keeper Lomas makes his debut in Saltergate clash with Lincoln

Today's vintage Spireites image shows debutant goalkeeper Bert Lomas coming out to punch away a cross.
By The Newsroom
Published 24th Aug 2016, 08:46 BST
Updated 25th Aug 2016, 17:07 BST
Debutant goalkeeper Bert Lomas has come out to punch away a cross, but half-back Jim Smallwood (partially obscured the Lincoln and future Spireite no. 10, Ernie Whittle) is forced to complete the clearance as Chesterfield defend the Saltergate Kop goal against Lincoln on October 6th, 1951.Debutant goalkeeper Bert Lomas has come out to punch away a cross, but half-back Jim Smallwood (partially obscured the Lincoln and future Spireite no. 10, Ernie Whittle) is forced to complete the clearance as Chesterfield defend the Saltergate Kop goal against Lincoln on October 6th, 1951.
Debutant goalkeeper Bert Lomas has come out to punch away a cross, but half-back Jim Smallwood (partially obscured the Lincoln and future Spireite no. 10, Ernie Whittle) is forced to complete the clearance as Chesterfield defend the Saltergate Kop goal against Lincoln on October 6th, 1951.

But it was half-back Jim Smallwood, partially obscured the Lincoln and future Spireite number 10, Ernie Whittle, who was forced to complete the clearance as Chesterfield defend the Saltergate Kop goal against Lincoln on October 6th, 1951.

The two Chesterfield men on the left of the photo are Walter Harrison and Ken Booker.

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Almost all of the 13,288 present that day appear to be crammed into a heaving Pop Side.

The match finished in a 2-2 draw, with Chesterfield’s goals coming from Tom McLeod and a Harrison penalty - one of eight that Harrison scored that season.

Having been relegated from the second tier of English football at the end of the previous season hopes were high that the Spireites would return at the first attempt, but those hopes were dashed by a winless run of 13 games as autumn turned to winter in 1951.

But for a few memorable seasons, Chesterfield have not come too close to regaining a place in the modern EFL Championship.

For more Spireites historical gold visit www.cfchistory.com