On player that's made an impression in the pre season build up has been summer signing Chris Brandon. Manager Dave Rushbury had been aware of the midfielder's strengths way before he eventually signed on the dotted line and subsequently Chris's strengths as a skilful player who can break down defences, coupled with what seems to be a very high work rate, has had Spireites supporters looking forward to seeing him in a competitive situation.

The first we saw of him in a Chesterfield shirt was on the tour of Cornwall when he played, as he subsequently has, between the right wing back and the man in the centre of midfield. Since those games at Newquay and Falmouth, Chris has continued to indicate that his acquisition from Torquay United, who desperately wanted to keep him, is a good one for the Club.

Bradford born Chris (26) had a spell as a teenager with Sheffield United but aged 18 he moved into Non-League Football with Unibond League side Farsley Celtic. In the summer of 1995, he joined his home town club, Bradford Park Avenue who were also Division One Unibond men, though neither side were enjoying the best of fortunes at the time Chris was on their books.

Stafford Rangers was the next stop for the 5'7" midfielder, the former FA Trophy winners were languishing in the Dr Martens Midland Division, then he moved on briefly to Lancaster City, back to Stafford before rejoining Park Avenue back "home". 1997-98 saw PA below Worksop but above Matlock in the table and the following season they again finished in mid table but Chris had done enough to satisfy Torquay United Manager Wes Saunders to suggest he could do a job in the Football League.

So, aged 23, the little Yorkshireman at long last made his League debut. With Neville Southall in goal for the Gulls, Chris helped his new side to a 2-1 away win at Shrewsbury Town and, having finished 20th the previous season, his new side had reached 3rd place by the end of October, indeed it was a winning goal by Brando in consecutive games , 2-1 (H) to Peterborough and 2-1 (A) at Barnet, his first two senior goals, that put the men from the English Riviera in an automatic promotion place, but just 3 wins in the next 14 games saw them drop to 11th, and they ended the season in 9th, much improved on the year before. Chris's other goals that term came in League wins over Carlisle (4-1), Halifax (4-0) and Mansfield Town, 4-0 the score that day.  He also scored in the FA Cup win at Forest Green.

2000-01 was a wash out for Brando, he played at Kidderminster on the opening day but managed just one more appearance as sub that season due to a serious injury but last season he returned to be a regular Gull scoring four more goals in 31 appearances in League and Cup. He played in Torquay's 2-0 loss at Tottenham Hotspur in the Worthington Cup, Spurs included the likes of Ziege, Sheringham, Keller, Ferdinand, Rebrov and Leonhardsen and the crowd was just over 20,000.

Torquay offered Chris terms for this season but he chose to move up to the highest echelons of football he's ever played in and already he's experienced matches against the likes of Middlesbrough and Manchester United!

Welcome to Saltergate Chris!

By Phil Tooley