Saltergate 10 years on: Former Chesterfield captain Ian Breckin on old ground and his Spireites career

When it comes to memories of Saltergate Ian Breckin has one that he will always look back on with great fondness.
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You would be forgiven for thinking it must be the part he played in Derek Niven’s stunning 96th minute winner against Bournemouth in the final ever match at the old ground.

But Breckin said he actually can’t remember his headed assist which led to Niven’s thumping drive into the bottom corner.

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And the former centre-half honestly admitted that he can’t recall too much about the match overall.

Chesterfield FC get their promotion medals at last before their friendly game with Barnsley. Captain Ian Breckin and manager Nicky Law pictured.Chesterfield FC get their promotion medals at last before their friendly game with Barnsley. Captain Ian Breckin and manager Nicky Law pictured.
Chesterfield FC get their promotion medals at last before their friendly game with Barnsley. Captain Ian Breckin and manager Nicky Law pictured.

It was at this point the DT wondered whether he might not be the best person to speak to about Saltergate memories.

But then the ex-captain rescued our interview with this tale:

“One of the best stories I can remember was if the weather was bad, when John Duncan was there, after I first joined, was that we used to actually train under the main stand,” he said.

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“You used to be able to walk past the directors’ lounge and then there used to be a little corridor with the metal beams going across.

Ian Breckin made almost 300 appearances for the Blues across two spells.Ian Breckin made almost 300 appearances for the Blues across two spells.
Ian Breckin made almost 300 appearances for the Blues across two spells.

“The facilities weren’t very good at the time and there were not many 3G pitches knocking about so we actually trained under the stand for an hour.

“Some of us that did not have bad knees used to go in there for an hour and just do a few little silly games against the wall - a bit of passing and a few sprints up and down the corridor on the concrete.

“We used to use the Main Stand as well for pre-season. It was one of Kevin Randall’s favourite runs. You used to run around the pitch, up the stand, back down the stand and around the pitch again and continue doing that until you could not run any longer.

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“The changing rooms were terrible but back then we got on with it. We had a good group of lads.

Ian Breckin in action against Blackpool in the LDV Vans Trophy.Ian Breckin in action against Blackpool in the LDV Vans Trophy.
Ian Breckin in action against Blackpool in the LDV Vans Trophy.

“The ground was ready to be moved on. We had to move on. I know people were emotional to that ground but for the good of the club and where the club got to in the three or four years after that I don’t think anyone can argue with having to move grounds.”

Chesterfield signed Breckin in 1997 for £100,000 from Rotherham United. They used some of the money generated from the 1997 FA Cup semi-final run to bring him in.

He made almost 300 appearances for Town across two spells with the club from 1997 to 2002 and 2009 to 2011.

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The ex-defender is one of only three Chesterfield players along with Horace Wass and Ernie Moss as the only Spireites to have won two championship medals with the club (2000/01 and 2010/11).

Ian Breckin wins a header that leads to Derek Niven scoring the last ever Saltergate goal.Ian Breckin wins a header that leads to Derek Niven scoring the last ever Saltergate goal.
Ian Breckin wins a header that leads to Derek Niven scoring the last ever Saltergate goal.

“To get promoted is very difficult but to do it twice with one club is something I am very proud of,” Breckin said.

“I left my home town club to go down the road to Chesterfield which did not go down too well with a lot of my mates and fans.

“At the time I joined we had some really good players who went on and had good careers. Billy Mercer, Paul Holland, Mark Williams, Tom Curtis. We had a really, really good side. A very underestimated side.

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“I think for two years on the trot we just missed out on in the top six. We could never push onto that next level.”

In his time at the club Breckin played under managers John Duncan, Nicky Law and John Sheridan.

“John Duncan and Kevin Randall were very organised,” he explained. “They had a certain style of playing. Their teams were always very fit and disciplined and very tough to beat. We used to win games 1-0 on a regular basis.

“Shez was more of an entertainer like he was as a player. He liked us to go out and express ourselves. Go and play a wide open game and have a go at the opposition. Especially that first season at the new ground I think we played some beautiful football for that level. We had some very good players in that team as well.

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“Nicky Law made me captain and when I went back under Shez he made me captain as well. To be captain is always a privilege no matter who you are playing for and what level at. I didn’t try and make a big deal of it. I wanted everyone to try and be a leader on the pitch. I did not want me to be the leader and everyone else to just follow. When you are a captain it is about getting the best out of everyone that you can. It is something I am proud of.”

After two promotions with Wigan and four years at the City Ground Breckin came back to Chesterfield for the final season at Saltergate before helping the team win promotion to League One in the first campaign in the new stadium.

And it was previous attachment to the Spireites that swung it.

He told the DT: “When I was leaving Forest I think I had a lot of clubs that I spoke to and obviously Chesterfield were pulling my heartstrings. I probably had a few better options in terms of teams to go to but I wanted to try and give something back to Chesterfield, try and bring back a little bit of success. I knew Shez wanted to play some attractive football. I was 34 when I went back to Chesterfield and people expect you to go back to the same player and you are not. I think I contributed enough in terms of on and off the pitch.”

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Following the promotion to League One he decided to hang up his boots after making more than 700 appearances during his 18-year career.

He revealed: “I had offers to carry on playing. I was 36. I did not retire through injury. I retired on my own terms. I think I played over 700 games in total including cup games. I think the time was right for me. That final season at Chesterfield I think I featured 20-odd times and I did okay in some games and others I did rubbish. It got to the point where I did not want to go out there and know that I am going to struggle every game. I thought I can’t carry on playing at the level I am used to playing at and I think it was the right time for me to pack it in at 36 having had a good career.”

The now 44-year-old still keeps an eye on the Spireites’ results but feels it will be hard for them to get out of the National League.

He said: “To see one of your old teams like that struggling is not nice. The fans deserve better to be quite honest. It is a club which should be regularly in League One and in and around the play-offs. That is where I always see Chesterfield. I always see them as a League One team in and around that play-off area. It is a shame but I hope they can sort it out and get back into the Football League.”

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Nowadays Breckin is not currently involved in football but his 16-year-old son Kian is in the Manchester City academy and the attacking midfielder was reportedly attracting interest from Barcelona last year.

Breckin says he reminds Kian each week how lucky he is and tells him of the days Chesterfield used to play on Holmebrook Valley Park and had to “move the dog muck off before we started training.”

“I should take him there and make him do it,” he added.