Something slightly different for this morning's archive article. Back in June 2004 the Chester chairman and the editor from the Non-League Paper had words about money owed to Hereford United.
Firstly June 8th 2004:
Punches thrown at Chester dinnerA Non-League sports journalist and the Chester chairman came to blows at an end-of-season victory awards dinner reports the Chester Evening Leader.
Chairman Stephen Vaughan has refused to apologise for the bust up, claiming he acted in self-defence in the bust-up with the editor of the Non-League Newspaper, David Emery.
Mr Vaughan said the row erupted after Mr Emery approached him at a trophy dinner, telling him about an article about Chester City FC that was due to be printed the next day.
The article claimed that Chester City FC owed £18,000 in gate tickets to Hereford United a claim that is completely unfounded, said Mr Vaughan.
"It simply was not true. I told Emery he needed to get his facts right to start with. He was aware that the money had been paid after a little bit of a delay because of new FA stipulations.
"The truth is that Chester City owed Hereford United £17,200 from ticket sales from Chester City's last game of the season. Initially I had sent a cheque to Hereford Utd in the name of the management, Vaughan trading.
"Soon after, we heard of the new FA rules stipulating that third parties could not pay cheques and a letter of explanation and an apology was sent to Hereford Utd, along with a cheque transfer."
The bust-up happened in front of club shareholder directors and City FC player Daryl Clare, who was at the dinner to collect a Golden Boot award.
Mr Vaughan, a boxer for most of his life, said: "David Emery was just inviting trouble from the start. He came over to me and introduced himself at the start of the evening as the editor of the Non-League Newspaper and he started telling me about an article about the club.
"Words were exchanged between us. I made my views known and at the end of the night David came over and had a go at me."
Mr Vaughan said that things then became heated, leading to a fracas.
"I hit him; all I did was defend the club that I support that was being accused of wrong-doing. I am not apologising for it.
"Earlier in the night Mr Emery had made a suggestion that there had been a rift between me and Graham Turner, the manager of Hereford United. That was completely wrong. I had had my photograph taken with him on the night and in a speech I said I was bitterly disappointed for Hereford, who had not achieved what they wanted to in the league.
"That man spoiled the enjoyment of what should have been a great night for Chester City FC, and I have since put the matter in the hands of my solicitor."
Mr Emery could not be contacted this morning said the paper.
Secondly Wednesday June 9th 2004:
Round Two at Chester
A Sports journalist has hit back at Chester boss Stephen Vaughan after a fracas at an awards dinner according to the Chester Evening Leader.
"You hear about hooligans in the stands but you don't expect them to be running football clubs," said David Emery, editor of the Non-League Newspaper.
Mr Emery was giving his version of events after a bitter punch-up between the two men at an end-of-season awards dinner.
Mr Vaughan yesterday refused to apologise for his part in the bust-up.
Today, Mr Emery said it was a "rather unseemly squabble".
He said: "We ran a story about Hereford being owed money by Chester City and reported the comments of Graham Turner, as well as speaking to David Burford, of Chester City.
"At the dinner I went across to Stephen Vaughan and congratulated him on the championship."
Mr Emery told Mr Vaughan about the article that was due to be printed the next day. According to Mr Emery, the Chester chairman then asked him to "go outside" to discuss the matter further.
Mr Emery says nothing happened outside, but Mr Vaughan became angry and made threats.
He added: "He said he was going to sort me out. At 1am I was leaving the dinner and walked past his table.
"I said good night and he took hold of my hand. We wrestled and he tried to aim a very slow butt at me, which I managed to get out of the way of.
"We both fell to the floor and he was pulled off me."
Mr Emery said he was not totally surprised Mr Vaughan had acted in that way.
He said: "You hear about hooligans in the stands but you don't expect them to be running clubs. It was all rather unseemly. I was prepared to walk away and ignore the whole kerfuffle. We had already done our squaring up but he was not prepared to forget it."
Mr Emery is not taking the issue any further.
Mr Vaughan, a boxer for most of his life, said the row erupted after Mr Emery approached him and told him about an article about Chester City which was due to be printed the next day.
The article claimed Chester City owed £18,000 in gate tickets to Hereford United, a claim Mr Vaughan says is completely unfounded.
He said: "It simply was not true, I told Emery he needed to get his facts right to start with. He was aware the money had been paid after a little bit of a delay because of new FA stipulations.
"The truth is Chester City owed Hereford United £17,200 from ticket sales from Chester City's last game of the season. Initially I had sent a cheque to Hereford in the name of the management,Vaughan trading.
"Soon after, we heard of the new FA rules stipulating cheques could not be paid by third parties, a letter of explanation and an apology was sent to Hereford along with a cheque transfer."
The fracas happened in front of club shareholders, directors and Blues player Daryl Clare, who was at the dinner to collect his Golden Boot award.
Mr Vaughan said: "David Emery was just inviting trouble from the start. Words were exchanged, I made my views known and at the end of the night David came over and had a go at me. I hit him all I did was defend the club and I am not apologising for it."
