History-maker to decorator: Chesterfield's Derek Niven reflects on famous Manchester City cup win and goal, fighting cancer and "disappointing end" to Spireites career

The 36-year-old, who is now more used to stroking a brush than a football, famously hit an unstoppable volley which almost burst the net as the Spireites came from behind to dump the Premier League opposition out of the Carling Cup at the second round stage back in 2006.

City were not the star-studded team of today but they still fielded an experienced line-up including the likes of Nicky Weaver, Sylvain Distin, Micah Richards, Richard Dunne, Joey Barton, Claudio Reyna and Trevor Sinclair.

It is 10 years since Town’s last match at Saltergate against Bournemouth in which Niven scored the last ever goal with another historic strike from distance but the former midfielder admits nothing will beat his rocket against the blue half of Manchester.

As well as Stuart Pearce’s side, the Blues saw off Wolves and West Ham before eventually losing to Charlton Athletic after another thriller under the Saltergate lights.

“I didn’t score that many but the ones that I did score I was happy with,” he told the DT.

“That Carling Cup run was the best cup run I ever played in. We played some big teams and we played against some great players and we showed what we could do. We lost to Charlton eventually and I missed a penalty in that game so that was not a great memory for me.

“We had a great manager at the time in Roy McFarland. I absolutely loved playing for him and I had some of my best moments in my career playing for him because he brought the best out of me. He gave me my opportunity to play in League football. He was an old school manager. I thought he was a top bloke and you just wanted to work hard for him. I was not a flare player but I gave it my all and worked hard and that was what my job was all about and he brought the best out of me.”

Two years after the cup heroics Niven faced his biggest battle of all, aged 24.

In November 2008 he underwent surgery for testicular cancer.

“It was a tough time in my life,” he said. “ I got the diagnosis and had a few months out of football which was tough but I have a strong family behind me. I had just had my son six months earlier. I fought back from it. I had a pretty mild case of it but it was still tough to learn I had cancer. But I am a fighter and I got back to playing football soon after.”

In typical Niven style the tenacious midfielder returned from his cancer scare to come off the bench and score another long-range scorcher to beat Grimsby Town in March 2009.

He said: “That was another good memory when I got back. The reception from the fans when I came on against Grimsby and I scored the winning goal so that was another special moment in my career. The fans were always good to me.”

There were more good times to come for the Scot in a Town shirt when he featured in all but five matches as Chesterfield won the League Two title in the first season at the Proact in 2010/11.

But the following campaign he found game time harder to come by and he was loaned out to Northampton in October 2011 before he was released at the end of the season.

It was another difficult moment in his career.

He explained: “I fell out of favour and did not play and went out on loan at Northampton. I got injured there and hardly played any games. I came back and sat in the stands for the rest of the time I think.

“It was a pretty disappointing end to my journey at Chesterfield. It was a sad time when I got released by the club. I would have loved to have seen out the rest of my career at Chesterfield but these things happen in football. Different managers have different opinions and they have their own players they want to bring in.

“I went to Grimsby the year after. I had a decent season there but things happen and I struggled to find a club at the end of that. I had a pretty disappointing end to my career but you can’t turn back time and you have to get on with life and that is what I have done.

“I tried to put my name about but no one took a chance. I was in my early 30s so it was quite early for me to give up playing. I felt I still had a lot to give to a Football League club or even a Conference side but for whatever reason nobody took a chance on me so I was disappointed.”

After his time at the Mariners he dropped down to join Buxton in 2013 for three seasons but by this point he had “fell out of love with the game.”

After taking a break he then had a spell at Bakewell and started to enjoy playing football again but had to call it a day after experiencing problems with his ankles.

The dad-of-two is no longer involved in the game and has taken up decorating.

“My dad is a handy guy,” he told the DT. “He helped me do a few rooms in my house. I have got a bit of patience and that’s what you need to have to be a painter and decorator. I just fell on it and I am pretty good at it. People are happy with my work. It started off pretty slow but now I have established myself. Times are tough at the moment but I have got a few jobs on.”

Overall, he made more than 300 appearances for the Spireites across nine years including many ups and downs.

From the great escape against Luton in 2004 to the memorable cup run and relegation in 2006 and promotion in 2011. Niven has experienced it all.

Looking back on his time at Chesterfield, he added: “I loved the fans and everything about the football club. Not many people have the chance to play football as a dream job and that is what I had. I had my dream job, played for a great club, had some great memories, great memories of Saltergate and I just thought it was a great football club to be part of. To have over 300 games for a club that I loved is pretty special. I loved every minute of it.

“I feel a bit sad really to see them struggling the way they have been is a real shame for the club and the town as a whole. I look out for the result every week. They are the team I look out for the most to see how they are doing. It was a special club and I loved playing for them.”