A sports-based programme is being delivered by the Chesterfield FC Community Trust to help former substance abusers with their recovery.

Called ‘A Spire Right’, the project is being held in The HUB at the Proact Stadium three times a week, from 9.30am to 1pm, over eight weeks. It is completely free and participants also receive a free bus pass to cover their travel, together with a Chesterfield FC tracksuit.

The sessions are a mixture of theory and sports and are aimed at boosting former addicts’ mental and physical wellbeing while providing them with new coping strategies.

The Community Trust’s Keith Jackson is delighted with the way the programme is shaping up. He said: “I have never been part of something so structured and so involved. It addresses the daily battle of former addicts and creates a realistic routine for people, providing them with a support network and decreasing that chance of relapsing.

“They have a classroom in the stadium, which they clean and look after and they make cups of tea in the morning. It is giving them a routine, a responsibility and something to be proud of. Coaching and participants wear the same club tracksuit, so we are all in this together. It gives them a sense of pride; they are proud of the classroom and proud to wear the club badge.

“The sessions also include aftercare, a gym membership that continues for three months after the programme finishes and opportunities to work around the club, whether it is gardening or gaining the qualifications to become a steward on match days.”

Shane, 47, who is one of the participants, praised the initiative. “It is about finding new escapes once you have recovered,” he said. “Four or five years ago there was nothing like this. Everywhere would work on the beginning part but then there would be no aftercare and that is where the recovery really starts. Here we get those opportunities.

“What is amazing for me is that I can finally look my family and friends in the eye when they ask how I am doing or if I am clean. I don’t have to lie anymore. I can actually look them in the eye and say, ‘Yeah, yeah, I’m doing just fine’. More importantly, I can stop lying to myself about it. I can finally be honest with myself about being clean and being okay.”

Leo, 32, also spoke in glowing terms about the programme. He said: “I got an email about it which featured the club logo and I didn’t think it was real because it sounded too good to be true. I can be quite restless, so a lot of classroom work could cause some issues as I may need to move about or talk too much, whereas this breaks it up.”

Gill Quayle, who works with Derbyshire County Council on their substance support schemes, urged people to grab the opportunity available to them. She said: “The combination is really useful because you can learn about different things for your health, listen to the brilliant speakers they have and then you can get some exercise.

“You will have a really full day and meet some new people, which then reduces the isolation, because sometimes you can feel on your own. You don’t realise that other people are going through what you are going through, but the truth is they are.”

The Spireites will be hosting a Show Racism the Red Card (SRtRC) event on Tuesday, December 8 at the Proact Stadium to teach young people about the dangers of racism.

The event, which runs from 9.30am to 3pm, will feature Chesterfield players and other special guests on a Q & A panel.

Pupils from a number of local schools will take part in an SRtRC workshop, ground tours and a workshop run by Global Education. They will also see a screening of the SRtRC film and have the chance to pose questions to the panel.

Ged Grebby, chief executive of SRtRC, said: “We a very grateful to Chesterfield Football Club for their support of the campaign. The team are looking forward to their trip to the Proact Stadium and to be working with the team from Chesterfield Community Trust who we know are doing some really important work in the area.”

The educational event at football club allows young people to experience a first-hand interaction with anti-racism role models in the form of professional footballers and spend time thinking critically about this important issue.

Michael Noon, the Community Trust’s sport & activity officer, said: “We are delighted to be able to support Show Racism the Red Card by hosting an event in Chesterfield. They do a lot of good work tackling racism around the UK and it’s a pleasure for us to be involved.

“By joining forces with Show Racism the Red Card to deliver a day’s workshop for local primary school children, we’re hoping it will provide awareness of the effects of racism for the next generation of Spireites and ensure the Proact Stadium remains a great place for everyone to watch football.”

During the 2014/15 season, the campaign held 33 events in England, attended by 67 current professional footballers and managers and educating 3,088 young people.

Following a short remembrance service at the former Chesterfield School,  Old Cestrefeldian and Civic Society Treasurer, Frank Gorman unveiled a blue plaque to commemorate the former grammar school and its alumni. He thanked the Civic Society and the College for their help.

Frank Gorman said:

“On a day we remember the ultimate sacrifice paid by former Chesterfield  School old boys, it is fitting that we also celebrate this great school and those former pupils whose work contributed so much to society”. 

Stuart Cutforth, Principal, Chesterfield College said:.

“We are very proud to have the old grammar school building as part of the college campus.  The blue  plaque reminds everyone of Chesterfield School’s history. The renovated school building as part of our improved campus will continue to contribute to education in Chesterfield” 

Civic Society Executive Committee member Hugh Quigley said:

“We plan a few more blue plaques to help raise public awareness of Chesterfield’s great cultural heritage.”