It is plain weird that Chris Day didn’t end up seeing out his playing days at the Lamex; the stopper coming to us as a spritely 32-year-old and staying for a decade. And yet, in 2018, his time at the club was up. While gaffer Dino Maamria did want Day to stay as part of his coaching time, the evergreen ‘keeper wanted a playing deal too. It wasn’t on the table. And so it was time to part company; the end of the last unbroken stand of any member of our legendary Conference-winning side of 2009-10.
Day came in just after the start of the 2008-9 campaign. Graham Westley’s second stint in charge was off to a rocky beginning and Ashley Bayes‘ place in the Boro’ goal was already up for grabs. After claiming the number one jersey, Daysey didn’t look back. And certainly for the first two seasons at the club, he didn’t have to either. In front of him was a rock hard defence; not that he was easy to beat. His debut against Crawley Town oozed confidence; maybe unsurprising given his Football League pedigree.
He made crucial saves aplenty along the way, and it wasn’t unusual for some to be just stunning too. Graham Westley, Gary Smith, Teddy Sheringham or Darren Sarll; Daysey played under them all. Even record appearance maker Ronnie Henry left the club for a time during that 10-year period. That’s why this ‘keeper is right up there in our list of appearance makers too. Well, even if younger stoppers came on by in the later years and limited Daysey’s playing time.
Chris Day: After Boro’
But let’s face it; we reckon you’d pay good money to look as good as our Chris in your early 40s. And half as agile too. After leaving us, he moved into coaching at Northampton Town.
Stats do not include expunged Chester City fixtures in 2009-10.