Blakemore Joins Chasetown Board with Chris Brindley Appointed as Manager

Charlie Blakemore is to take up a new role as a Director at Chasetown Football Club.

Charlie, who has been manager for nearly eight years has recently been promoted at work and feels he can no longer commit the day to day time to managing the team. Charlie is Managing Director of a division of the aerospace company BAe Systems with over 5000 employees.

Chairman John Donnelly and Chief Executive Mike Joiner are delighted that Charlie will join them on the Board of Directors.

Donnelly said: "Charlie has done an amazing job over the past eight years as Manager and has really put the club on the map. We have known for some time that his career outside of football was also progressing and he feels he can just not give up the time needed anymore. Mike and I immediately asked him if he would take up a position on the board as he has both good business and football experience. He played for the club at 16, coached and managed the club and he is now a director, it is great that he has been at all levels with us now.

Charlie has managed the club to great success in his time as manager, leading the club from the lower reaches of the Midland Alliance to the Northern Premier League. In addition he led them to two famous FA Cup runs. The first culminated in playing Oldham Athletic in the First Round Proper live on Match of the Day in 2005. The second run in 2007 created FA Cup history by being the lowest ranked side in the history of the competition to reach the third round and playing Cardiff City at the Scholars ground after beating League One side Port Vale in the second round. Last season saw Chasetown reach their highest ever league position in the non league pyramid and also reach the quarter finals of the FA Trophy.

Charlie said: "It has been an unbelievable time for me and my family and we have thoroughly enjoyed it all. I am very proud of what we have all achieved in this period as it has been a real team effort. These last few years has been a great challenge for me as my career outside of football has progressed and become more and more demanding. It has been very difficult to give up the time needed every day to manage the club at this level. I have had to miss four games already this season due to work commitments.

“I am now looking forward to working with John and Mike to try and continue to progress Chasetown Football Club. I want to thank everyone who has helped me in my time as Manager at the club, we all have some special memories and I very much want to help to create some more in the future with the new management team. It is a great club with a good fan base now. We are well run with ambition to progress within our means.”

Due to this move Chris Brindley has been appointed as Manager and will take charge of all team affairs following Saturday's game with Stafford Rangers.

Chris played for Chasetown before he went on to play for Wolves, Kidderminster and Hednesford. He has also managed Hednesford and more recently Stafford Rangers in the Conference North division.

Charlie said: “John, Mike and I discussed my successor and Chris was the perfect fit. I have known Chris for a long time and I think he is a great appointment. He knows the club and the level well and has a good network. When I spoke with him about joining us he was delighted and we will all be working hard together to progress the club further".

Charlie will take charge of the team on Saturday against Stafford Rangers before handing the reins over to Chris