33 replies to this topic

[Scott]

[Pudge]

I don't think he was an east end boy well not at 15 anyway

My dad played with him for Middlesex County school boys ( but not sure how far the old boundaries went then)

My dad went to Fulham but left at 20

I met him in Portugal once with my dad - seemed nice enough

Haven't seen enough of him in action to comment on the footie - too young for all that

[BlueBeard]

Pudge, on Nov 9 2009, 12:36 PM, said:

I don't think he was an east end boy well not at 15 anyway

My dad played with him for Middlesex County school boys ( but not sure how far the old boundaries went then)

My dad went to Fulham but left at 20

I met him in Portugal once with my dad - seemed nice enough

Haven't seen enough of him in action to comment on the footie - too young for all that

I've just had a look at his autobiography "Greavsie" (excellent read, by the way, one of the best football biogs around)

Jimmy Greaves was born in February 1940 in Manor Park, London E12 - which is between Leyton & Ilford, just north of East Ham & Plaistow. The family were bombed out when he was six weeks old, and moved out to Dagenham.

At the age of 10, Jimmy's dad was a tube train driver on the newly extended Central Line, and the family moved to Hainault to be nearer his work. Jimmy continued his schooling at Dagenham though.

At the age of 15, Jimmy had trials for Essex Schoolboys and London Schoolboys. He was spotted by Chelsea scout Jimmy Thompson while playing for Essex Schoolboys, and the rest is fairly common knowledge.

I'm not saying you're wrong, Pudge, maybe Jimmy did play for Middlesex Schools for a while - he just didn't mention it in his book.

[Pudge]

I'll ask my dad and see if he got the photo from my Nan before she died I know he still has the velvet maroon cap and its a def a middlesex one and my Dad was born and still lives in Chelsea so I know he didn't play for Essex.

My dad's 72 but I'll ask him again

[Alex]

being a youngster didn't see him or know much about him....but all i hear from my old man is that he was the nuts. so same as the other young ones

[moi]

Pudge, on Nov 9 2009, 17:41 PM, said:

My dad's 72 but I'll ask him again

I'm not quite sure what you're implying here.

[BlueBeard]

BlueBeard, on Nov 9 2009, 13:30 PM, said:

At the age of 10, Jimmy's dad was a tube train driver on the newly extended Central Line

I'd just like to point out that it was Jimmy who was 10, and not his dad. I know kids left school earlier in those days, but that would have been a bit much

[54veteran]

Saw him score 5 against Wolves circa 1958 against the then England centre half, Billy Wright. Never seen anything like it since.

[robx1970]

am i right in saying that Chels were offered first refusals from AC but we simply didn't have the funds.


I'd like to like him a lot more same as EL TeL.

[Barry Bridges]

Speak of the devil, I believe its his 70th today!

Happy Bday Jimmy!

[pipoldchap]

Jimmy was a great player for us - my first Chelsea hero. When one on one with the keeper you could guarantee a goal - a lot of his goals were the poacher type in 6 yard box but he could dribble at pace and create something from nothing. He sometimes tried to do too much for Chelsea especially towards the end.
When he joined Spurs I used to go and watch Jimmy if Chelsea were away (sorry). I would be so cheesed off as Spurs fans were saying "just give it to Greaves" - this was my jimmy!!! In his debut for Spurs against Blackpool (I think) he scored 3 - a scissors kick and 2 headers.
There was a game Chelsea v Man City which was billed as Greaves v Law - the 2 great goalscorers of the time - Jimmy scored 3 in a 6-3 win - ah those were the days.

[secbastia]

whenever he played against ron harris he never got a look in, am i right in saying that he only scored once against chelsea

[Bovis Messroom]

Pudge, on 09 November 2009 - 12:36 PM, said:

I don't think he was an east end boy well not at 15 anyway

My dad played with him for Middlesex County school boys ( but not sure how far the old boundaries went then)

My dad went to Fulham but left at 20

I met him in Portugal once with my dad - seemed nice enough

Haven't seen enough of him in action to comment on the footie - too young for all that

Well before the GLC and boroughs the old county of Middlesex extended over all of London north of the Thames right up to the river Lea in the east end so it's quite possible he could have played in schools football for them. Like many have said, he hasn't always made a big thing about his tiime with us over the years but it was a nice to read his comments in the Sunday People recently. Was proud of his time at Chelsea, mentioned being transferred against his wishes and said Drogba would have been a great back in his era too. Said he'd love to have had him as a strike partner back then. Would be good to see him have a half time lap of the SB pitch. Long overdue.

[secbastia]

but to the majority will always be remembered as a spurs legend. In a chelsea fans eyes as soon as a player moves to spurs his reputation is tarnished aka gordon durie, gustavo poyet and to a lesser extent jason cundy. Only carlo gets away with it;