CHESTERFIELD 3
Grimes 28, 67, Mandeville 46
BOREHAM WOOD 0
CHESTERFIELD banished six years of hurt on a joyous afternoon when they regained the EFL status they lost in 2018.
The Spireites, who have endured some dark days in recent years, clinched the National League title in style with a comfortable home win against relegation threatened Boreham Wood.
Two goals from inspirational captain Jamie Grimes – his second was Chesterfield’s 100th league goal of the season – and a strike from Liam Mandeville sealed victory.
And at the final whistle there was the mother of all pitch invasions, despite pleas over the tannoy to stay off the playing surface.
Jubilant fans eventually made their way back to the stand and to chants of ‘bring on the champions’ the players were brought back on to the pitch two at a time.
Once they received their medals from representative from the league sponsors, Grimes lifted the trophy to the strains of the Queen hit ‘We Are The Champions’.
Manager Paul Cook, who returned to the club in February 2022 for a second spell at the club, was lauded by fans as he picked up his winners’ medal.
Cook, the only manager in the Spireites’ history to win two titles, did not emerge to meet the media, but assistant Danny Webb said: “It is amazing after losing in the play-off final last year.
“It was real heartbreak and last year was horrible. We left Wembley and thought the world was going to end, but 12 months later it feels as though it has just begun.
“It is very nice for the supporters who have gone through dark times, relegation after relegation and the club almost going out of business at one time with the Trust saving the club.”
Webb added it has been a “phenomenal achievement” to win promotion in March with five matches still to play.
He continued: “We wanted to get up by hook or by crook and records were not on our radar. We would have taken a win on the last game of the season.
“It was going to happen. The trophy was there but we were not able to touch it so we were nervous. The party was spoilt at Halifax where we took 2,500 fans in midweek and we had to make sure it was not spoilt today.”
Grimes, Chesterfield’s captain fantastic, said: “It is the pinnacle of my career and I have not processed it yet.
“I have been in play-offs and lost twice at Wembley. Losing there last year has been driving us. It still hurts and stings.
“I have been getting some stick from the staff about my goalscoring record. I never dreamed
