Stuart Rimmer - Back in Town

Back in Town

Rimmer, who had become Chester's record signing at £94,000 (since broken by Gregg Blundell), made his return for Chester in a 2–0 home win over Fulham on August 17, 1991, with his first goal coming at Wigan Athletic the following week. He scored 15 goals during the season as Chester bravely avoided relegation, with his tally rising to 20 the following campaign when Chester finished bottom of Division Two. This season saw him break the Chester City Football League goalscoring record previously held by Gary Talbot, with his 84th such strike coming in a 2-1 home defeat to Mansfield Town.

The 1993–94 season ended in promotion for Chester as runners–up in Division Three but produced a mere eight goals for Rimmer as he played second fiddle to loan man Graham Lancashire in the closing stages of the campaign. The following season was even worse, as Chester were again relegated and Rimmer struggled to command a regular place under Mike Pejic and spent time on loan with Rochdale and Preston North End. But Pejic's departure in January 1995 and the appointment of new boss Derek Mann led to Rimmer becoming involved in first–team duties again. He ended the season with just two goals to his name.

The final three seasons of Rimmer's league career (1995–98) were all spent with Chester in Division Three, scoring 13, four and eight league goals respectively in the three campaigns. His final game for the club appropriately saw him have the final word, netting a late equaliser in a 1–1 home draw with Scarborough on May 2, 1998. Despite Rimmer scoring in his last three home games for the club, manager Kevin Ratcliffe opted not to renew his Chester contract.

Rimmer's departure brought to an end his long–running partnership with fellow forward Gary Bennett, who he first played up front with at Chester in 1985, with the pair enjoying three separate spells as team–mates at the club.