My sole experience with Chesterfield FC was overseeing their relegation on the computer game Football Manager before I got the sack. But this week they have impressed me more than I could ever impress my virtual squad. They are the first club to sign former Sheffield United striker Ched Evans since he was released from prison in 2014, after serving two and a half years for raping an intoxicated 19-year-old woman. Evans has always denied the charges, and in April, he had his conviction quashed by the Court of Appeal. He now faces a retrial in October. Against this backdrop, Chesterfield have given Evans the chance to ply his trade as a footballer again.
Having served his time, it seemed only fair that Evans should try to rebuild his career, which by any measure had never been particularly exceptional. Various clubs flirted with the idea of taking him, but only until an establishment of politicians, sports stars and online petition signers had their say.
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