Last weekend marks the tenth anniversary of Chesterfield's most successful ever FA Cup run. Today's article looks at the team that played in the FAC Semi-Final at Old Trafford against Middlesborough on 13th April 1997 and their career paths since.

Billy Mercer - born 22nd May 1969, Liverpool.

Last game for CFC:- 08.05.99 v Wigan Athletic (away league lost 1-3).

Made the journey to Bristol City when Chesterfield accepted a bid of £250,000 in October 1999. An Auto Windscreens Shield runner-up in his first season at Ashton Gate, Billy made just 25 league appearances before he was forced to retire through injury in January 2003. Later moved back to the Rotherham area, worked for a friend in a pub renovation business, before being appointed Sheffield Wednesday's goalkeeping coach for the start of the 2004/05 season.

Jamie Hewitt - born 17th May 1968, Chesterfield.

Last game for CFC:- 29.12.01v Notts County (home league won 2-1).

Continued to give good service to Chesterfield and was awarded a Testimonial in 1999. Jamie retired as a player at the end of the 2001/02 season after amassing 506 league games in total for the Spireites. Sits proudly in second place in the all-time appearance list, just behind Dave Blakey. Subsequently became Chesterfield's youth team physio, stepping up to the first-team role five years ago after Dave Rushbury was promoted to the manager's position.

Mark Jules - born 5th September 1971, Bradford.

Last game for CFC:- 27.04.99 v Luton Town (away league lost 0-1).

Moved to Halifax Town in July 1999 after appearing in 186 league games and scoring 4 goals for the Spireites. Mark then spent one season at Alfreton Town - whilst working as a meter reader. With an eye to the future also studied for a Sports Science degree, which he duly completed. Today Mark is a familiar and popular face around the club in his role as Centre of Excellence Manager, a position he has held since 2004.

Tom Curtis - born 1st March 1973, Exeter.

Last game for CFC:- 06.05.00 v Blackpool (away league drew 2-2).

Sold to Portsmouth for £50,000 on the eve of the 2000/01 season, Tom struggled to hold down a regular place down on the south coast and was loaned out to Walsall and Tranmere Rovers. Returned to this area with Mansfield Town in 2002 before a move to Chester City and then Notts County. Currently plying his trade with Conference North club Nuneaton Borough, Tom is also Head Football Coach at Loughborough University and an academy coach with Derby County.

Mark Williams - born 28th September 1970, Stalybridge.

Last game for CFC:- 08.05.99 v Wigan Athletic (away league lost 1-3).

Joined Premiership club Watford in July 1999, Mark later gave service to Wimbledon/MK Dons, Stoke City, Columbus Crew (USA) and retired from football after a spell with Rushden & Diamonds at the end of the 2004/05 season. Won 36 caps for Northern Ireland, including 4 whilst at Chesterfield. Married to the adult film star Linsey Dawn McKenzie, Mark now divides his time between London and Marbella - where he runs a company which organises golfing breaks (www.vipgolfingbreaks.com).

Sean Dyche - born 28th June 1971, Kettering.

Last game for CFC:- 30.04.97 v Bristol City (away league lost 0-2).

Like Billy Mercer, Sean was also transferred to Bristol City, signing in July 1997 for a £275,000 fee. A promotion winner with the Robbins in his first season, but was later loaned out to Luton Town. Sean then joined Millwall for the 1999/00 season and won promotion again in 2000/01. Moved onto Watford and then Northampton Town where he won a third promotion last season, received a warm welcome on his return when the Cobblers visited Saltergate last December.

Kevin Davies - born 26th March 1977, Sheffield.

Last game for CFC:- 03.05.97 v Notts County (home league won 1-0).

The first member of the team to move on, when in May 1997 was sold to Premiership club Southampton for a £750,000. A year later Blackburn Rovers splashed out a club record £7.25m. Kevin then returned to Southampton and after a loan spell with Millwall, signed for Bolton Wanderers for the start of the 2003/04 season. Baring injury and suspension has been an automatic choice for the Trotters and recently signed a new contract which will take him beyond his 33rd birthday.

Paul Holland - born 8th July 1973, Sleaford.

Last game for CFC:- 21.09.99 v Middlesborough (away L.Cup lost 1-2).

Became the third member of our Semi-Final team to join Bristol City, Paul followed a similar career path to Billy Mercer: signed in 1999, an Auto Windscreens Shield runner-up and was also forced to retire through injury. Paul returned to his first club in January 2002 when he was appointed Mansfield Town's Youth Team Manager and has since become the Stags' Assistant-Manager under Carlton Palmer, Peter Shirtliff and currently Billy Dearden.

Andy Morris  - born 17th November 1967, Sheffield.

Last game for CFC:- 21.11.98 v Fulham (away league lost 1-2).

"Bruno" joined Rochdale in December 1998, after a Testimonial and 55 league goals in 266 league games for the Spireites. Later had spells in non-league football with Scarborough and Hucknall Town. Andy returned "home" to take over the role of Chesterfield's Football in the Community Manager from Nicky Law in the summer of 2000, a role he still fills today. 

Jon Howard - born 7th October 1971, Sheffield.

Last game for CFC :- 01.03.03 v Wigan Athletic (away league lost 1-3).

After completing 236 league games and scoring 39 league goals Jon was the last member of the Semi-Final team to leave the Chesterfield playing staff. Signed for Conference club Burton Albion in March 2003, retiring a year later. Made a brief come back with Maltby Main and Dinnington Town this season, Jon is now a Worksop based driving instructor under the AA franchise and would welcome a call from any budding drivers on 0781 8410053.

Chris Perkins - born 9th January 1974, Notingham.

Last game for CFC :- 16.12.00 v Southend United (away league lost 2-3).

Chris was the only member of the Semi-Final team to leave and then rejoin the club, having signed for Hartlepool United in July 1999, he re-signed for the Spireites three months later. Signed by Lincoln City in January 2001, Chris later appeared in non-league circles for Stalybridge Celtic, Lancaster City, Rossendale United and retired from football after a spell with Chorley in the 2004/05 season. Now works for Reebok as category planning manager of football and resides in Preston.

Chris Beaumont - born 5th December 1965, Sheffield.

Last game for CFC:- 01.05.01 v Brighton & Hove Albion (away league lost 0-1).

After 158 league games and 6 league goals for Chesterfield, Chris left Saltergate in the summer of 2001. Continued his football career for the next 3 seasons with part-time clubs Ossett Town and Sheffield FC. Chris now uses the office experience he gained prior to embarking in life as a pro footballer, in running the Derbyshire Lane Post Office in Sheffield, a position he has held since November 2001 and when time allows attends Chesterfield home games with his son Oliver.

Darren Carr - born 4th September 1968, Bristol.

Last game for CFC:- 02.05.98 v Blackpool (home league drew 1-1).

Signed for Gillingham in August 1998 after 86 league appearances and 4 league goals for Chesterfield. Darren went onto to play for Brighton & Hove Albion, Rotherham United, Lincoln City, Carlisle United, Dover Athletic and finished his career with Rushden & Diamonds in 2002. Darren now lives in his native Bristol and is involved in a property development business, which he set up with a number of friends from his school days.  

BY PAUL KELLETT