The 2022-23 campaign was a season of agonisingly close calls and high-stakes drama for Chesterfield, as The Spireites secured a strong 3rd-place finish in the National League. Manager Paul Cook's side mounted a formidable play-off push after an intense regular season, anchored by the consistent performance of forward Liam Mandeville, whose 9 goals in the league proved a key contribution. The emotional journey culminated in a dramatic victory over Bromley in the play-off semi-final, with Mandeville scoring the extra-time winner, before a heartbreaking penalty shootout defeat to Notts County in the Wembley final. This unforgettable season remains a pivotal and painful chapter, as it marked the club's closest attempt yet to return to the English Football League.