Three Chester City legends have taken the unprecedented step of thanking the club's devoted supporters following its demise.
After 125 years in existence the Conference National side, which boasted the likes of Liverpool legend Ian Rush and Arsenal's Lee Dixon during its time, was wound up last month following a series of financial problems.
The Chester City Former Players Association have issued a statement signed by Gary Talbot, Grenville Millington and Alan Tarbuck, thanking the club's loyal and passionate fans for their continued support throughout the years.
Talbot was the Blues' leading scorer in the 1960s and one of five players who netted over 20 goals in the 1964/65 campaign. He played alongside Chester-born Talbot, whilst goalkeeper Millington was an integral part of the promotion-winning side from Division Four in 1975.
The statement read: "At this sad time when the club has disappeared we want to say a big thank-you to everyone who supported us. You all helped us achieve our dreams of playing professional football.
"Without you, we wouldn’t have had our careers. Many of us were encouraged to keep our careers going despite setbacks with form and fitness.
"The way fans got behind us when we were fighting back after injury is something that still means a lot. The supporters who followed us to away games have a special place in our memories.
"Many of us are local lads, born and bred in or close to Chester. We followed City as fans when we were young. When we went on to wear the shirt ourselves the support we got was unbelievable.
"A lot of us don’t come from Chester but moved here to join the club. In many cases this changed our whole lives – we stayed, put down roots and we still love it when people come up and talk to us about the “old days.”
"We are devastated by the way the club ended but now we are all trying to be positive about the future of football in Chester. The present-day supporters are incredible, the way they are working."
In the open letter, the group also gave their backing to the supporter-owned Chester FC who are set to carry on the club's legacy and, like the club's previous incarnation, will play their home games at the Deva Stadium.
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