Chester FC: Fan-owned academy success

Despite the current struggles of their first team, fan-owned football club Chester have an exciting and successful youth side filled with bright stars.

KGV Community Hub - Home of Chester FC Academy

Why are they fan-owned?

Following the liquidation of Chester City in 2010, the City Fans United group (CFU) replaced Chester City with Chester FC, restarting their journey in the 8th tier of English football. In 2025, The CFU have created a financially stable club that embraces their local community and have maintained a local and loyal following. The seals are now in the 6th tier - The National League North.

Chester FC Academy

Chester FC have a thriving academy that has successfully evolved youngsters into first-team players. Their junior section consists of an U9/10s, U11/12s, and U13/14s side, and their youth section includes an U15/16s side. Their U19s youth team is a scholarship programme offered to talented local players and players that have progressed through their academy. They compete in the National League U19 Alliance North Division.

U19s on fire

To examine the position of their youth, I have followed their U19 side closely over the past few weeks. The young seals currently sit in 4th place in their league, with an unbeaten start to their 2025/26 campaign. They are 5 points behind leaders Gateshead with two games in hand. Last week, I visited the KGV Community Hub to watch them host Boston United.

Chester put on an outstanding display, comfortably winning 6-2. Their speed and link-up play in attack was phenomenal, with a mature and impressive level of communication all round. Goals galore in the first half saw the hosts 4 up in under 35 minutes. The visitors fought back in the second half, bringing the score to 4-2 on the 60th minute mark, however Chester showed resilience and composure, securing the win with two late goals.

Chester FC Academy's X account - @CFCYouthAcademy

I was not the only spectator amused by the U19's performance, with a fan on X also full of praise. "Always enjoyable watching the young lads at the KGV. Nice to watch some entertaining, attacking football, as well."

Alongside an encouraging start to their league campaign, a 4-0 win in the first round of the National League U19 Alliance Academy Cup over York City saw Chester progress into the second round, where they will travel to Blyth Spartans on the 17th of December.

Statistical analysis

The U19 side are in a promising position this season, having played six games, winning five and drawing one. Their dangerous attack has been relentless, as they average an astonishing total of 3.33 goals per game. Also, their defence has been solid and compact, keeping a clean sheet in three out of six games and averaging only 0.66 goals conceded per game.

In comparison to the first team, who average 1.5 goals per game and have kept just 2 clean sheets in 19 games, it appears that these young stars can be making first team appearances soon. However, for now, they focus on continuing their flawless form, having won their past five, as they prepare for a busy schedule before Christmas. Good luck to Chester FC's Academy and keep up the brilliant work.