- The last four meetings between these sides have ended in a 3-3 draw, a 3-0 Chorley win, a 2-1 Chester win and a 2-0 Chester victory.
- Chester finished 7th in the 2025/26 National League North with 73 points.
- Chester are 29/20 favourites for Saturday's derby, with Chorley priced at 3/2 and the draw at 12/5.
New season, fresh start for Chester and Chorley
With the 2026/27 National League North season just about to kick-off, Chorley and Chester FC both begin Saturday's local derby on zero points and in search of a good start to the new campaign. Chester finished 7th in the 2025/26 National League North with 73 points, so they begin the season as the team with the better recent pedigree in this division, while Chorley finished lower. Chester are the narrow favourites with bookmakers at 29/20 ahead of this Saturday's match at Victory Park, however, there is little to choose between the sides and the current prices don't make a great deal of appeal. Andy Preece remains at the helm for The Magpies and Chorley are generally a well-organised, physical side that can make a mess of games when they get wide men and attackers on the ball, as well as posing a threat from set pieces. Chester are a possession-based side who will try to get men behind the defence and cause problems in behind the opposition's back-line with their overloading game. Phil Parkinson's side are likely to control the ball in this one, but it's also likely that they will have to battle for every blade of grass in what will be a tactical arm wrestle on Saturday.
Chester could outgun Chorley in a tight affair
It may be that Chorley, who are more direct and pragmatic than their opponents, could play a better game than they are currently credited for. Preece's side will be compact in defence and will try to win the second ball, cross the ball and get men into the box to give them some control over the rhythm of the game.
Preece has some good runners from midfield in the likes of Mike Calveley and an aerial threat and target man in Jack Sampson up top. Chester also have a new focal point in Jacob Hazel and Kofi Moore brings pace and penetration to Parkinson's summer rebuild. Declan Weeks is the heartbeat of the Chester midfield, a leader of men, a set piece expert and a long-range threat who can unlock games.
Chester's form in pre-season has been mixed but it has probably told us more about the summer recruitment and work that Parkinson has put in during the off-season than about the level of competition they have played. The last four games between these clubs have been even, with no clear superiority of one over the other, but with plenty of life in them, so we're going with a narrow Chester win or draw and under 2.5 goals at 73/100.
