Everything posted by Ewan Hoozarmi
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Vintage Blues pictures and film
And as pointed out previously, the big man is wearing a pair of Coventry's away shorts.
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Worst away end you been on ?
I was at that. Arrived about 10 minutes after kick-off, having almost gone through to the home end along Cold Blow Lane. My mate, who drove us that day, was jumpy enough as it was, not helped by a guy who for some reason came running out of the bushes on that long track that lead up to the away end. "I thought that was it" muttered our driver! Bloody awful place to watch football. I think we had all 3 pens behind the goal and one thing I do remember was towards the end, Micky Greenaway giving the travelling Blues a chorus of 'Zigger Zagger' from the Millwall seats along the side. Needless to say, the locals weren't happy. Lots of bemused looks!
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Vintage Blues pictures and film
I think you might be right about this being Micky's last game. In King Kerry's most recent book, he mentions how tough a task John Neal had in developing the 83/84 squad alongside the old guard. Of that old guard, Alan Hudson and Micky are named as the (alleged) bad influences. Shame really. Anyway, back to this photo and how it probably isn't his blood on that shirt - and how they may well have been the only available (and suitable) pair of shorts on the day. Interesting to see a young Stuart Pearce there too. And to think he was known as 'Psycho'. Could never have been as hard as the big fella next to him.
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Vintage Blues pictures and film
Agree about the Boro play-off. I was in the Shed with a mate that day. As 13 year-olds, we got in quite early and even then had to stand on the gangway steps rather than the terrace itself. About 30 mins before kick-off, a senior plod come down the steps and got eveyone to jam onto the terrace like sardines. Everywhere was packed that day, especially the Benches which were pretty much all standing towards the North end. When the Shed gate swung open at the final whistle and the lads ran on the pitch, there was a huge surge towards the fences where we were. Somehow I managed to hang on to my mate as everyone hurtled forward. Never experienced that before. Not like being on the pitch for a concert at Wembley a year later. With no fences or crush barriers, the lateral movement of the crowd means that everyone moves, walks and sways about 3 or 4 steps to the left - and then they all sway 3 or 4 steps back to the right where they came from. In doing so, you're constantly treading on people's ankles or feet. If you lose your footing and fall, there's nothing to stop anyone being trampled.
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Vintage Blues pictures and film
John Byrne was close to equalling Ossie's record of scoring in every round that year and only missed out when they lost to 2-0 to Liverpool in the final. Still another record we have! Still a great cup run that year, seeing as we'd rarely get past Round 4 in those days. From memory, I think we got something like 34,000 for the Sheff Utd game and yet when we played them in the league weeks later it was less than half that.
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Vintage Blues pictures and film
A couple of things strike me about this photo. The first is just how much of a gap there was between the East Stand, which you can just see on the left, and the Shed terrace. It makes it look as if the players are kicking a ball about in the park - albeit with mounted Police and an Ice Cream van looking on. The second perfectly demonstrates the huge 'crown' on the pitch back then. You can't even see the far touchline and the ground falls away closer to the camera too. This was always evident if you stood behind the East Stand and looked up through the old tunnel towards the pitch.
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Vintage Blues pictures and film
I was at this one - and so was a young future Chelsea left back Tony Dorigo. Looks like he's got his hands full trying to thwart Wee Pat. Steve Hodge looking on.
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Vintage Blues pictures and film
I'm just a bit too young to have seen Graham Wilkins in all his glory! You're right though, can't have been easy for the bloke having such a natural talent like Butch as a brother. Canners speaks favourably about Wilkins G in his book actually. In one of his first training sessions at Chelsea, Graham was encouraging him to take him on and show the other players how good he was, so I imagine it stems from that.
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Vintage Blues pictures and film
Interesting shots from the North Terrace that I've not seen before, but I think that's actually from the Charlton game that ended 1-1 and condemned us to the sod awful Play-Offs in the first place. I was at that and remember some of our lot got escorted out of the away end after it went off once we'd scored. I'm pretty sure that Judas Durie took a tumble outside the box for our penalty that day too. Terrible memories all round.
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Vintage Blues pictures and film
I was at that too. To add insult to injury, our former 'star' Roy Wegerle scored their goal from the penalty spot after Rodders inexplicably performed a one handed drag-back over the ball, right in front of the referee. We were bloody awful that day, partly due to the kit we wore I reckon. At least it was a warm afternoon.
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Vintage Blues pictures and film
The 'keeper is a lad called Paul Nicholls. Got released in 2000 and joined Havant & Waterlooville. He had a good non-League career alongside being a football agent and remains a good mate of JT. He was also his agent at one time.
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Vintage Blues pictures and film
I played organised 11-a-side football up until the age of 35. All the way through school and then into Old Boys football. Senior level was the highest I ever got, but I did actually get 20 minutes for Chelsea Under 11s in a friendly in 1985. (Obviously never good enough, but it is my one claim to football fame!) Anyway, you could tell the kids who were on League teams' books. They were always either quicker or stronger than you - and most were both. If you had pace you could be taught to play football to a degree. Thanks to that and some decent coaching from quality football people, some lads I remember did get to turn pro, but it really is just a handful. One guy I played with from a very young age was light-years beyond anyone else. The sort of skillful midfielder who could beat all 10 outfield players and then stick it in the top corner. He did make it to the Premier League, but only ever as a right-back! It's hard to understand just how good you have to be.
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Vintage Blues pictures and film
With all the concrete and breeze blocks on display, it looks like the back of the East Stand?
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Vintage Blues pictures and film
I always liked Davies, particularly his way of commentating on a goal. He would often almost shout the words; "...and Dixon....SCORES!" He also tipped us for the FA Cup one year by saying he thought Pat Nevin would enjoy himself at Wembley! But you're right Ersk, he is indeed a Spud. (He kept that quiet!)
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The clothing we wore to the football back then.
Not wishing to stereotype the boys north of the border, but here's a sample of what Aberdeen left in the away end after their European Cup game at Liverpool in 1980!
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Hands On: Eddie Niedzwiecki
One of our finest goalkeepers and obviously being such an important part of that team, you can't fail to love the bloke. I was lucky enough to meet Eddie back in 1989, as a mate of my Dad promoted his benefit match. I have to admit that as a 14 year old, I was pretty dumbstruck to meet him and even managed to cock up a simple 'Hello' as I stumbled over my words. Former legends are always made welcome back at the Bridge, even when they're still plying their trade at other clubs. The reception Eddie used to get when running out to warm up the opposition 'keeper was great.
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Vintage Blues pictures and film
Doesn't this photo sum up everything that was wrong with crowd control back then? Cram the away fans into the tightest Nun's crotch of a corner of terracing, while the Palace Nigels in the two other pens of the Holmesdale terrace have the freedom of Selhurst Park! I know we had a reputation back then, but even so.
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Vintage Blues pictures and film
Rugby League at the Bridge. Fulham RLFC v Cardiff in 1983. (I think the last shot has been posted on here previously.) Courtesy of Vince Taylor's excellent @Groundtastic Twitter site. (Photos by Bob Lilliman.)
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Vintage Blues pictures and film
Right, I'm going to stick my neck out here. I reckon it's the first home game back in the First Division v Sunderland on the Bank Holiday Monday. (A one-nil win with Canners getting the goal.) For some reason, I seem to recall Uncle Ken organised a chopper to bring in the Canon League Div II trophy for a fancy presentation. It must be early season, as there's green grass on the pitch! The players' kit looks about right for 1984, as does the West Stand. Happily be proven wrong though...
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Vintage Blues pictures and film
Oh go on then, I'll start with the obvious two which are Steve Francis and Dale Jasper. Honestly don't recognise any of the others. Top photo though.
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Vintage Blues pictures and film
I've always quite enjoyed the Chelsea/Rangers thing. A good mate of mine is from Ballymena and taught me a few of the songs several years ago. Before that I used to wear a Rangers shirt (the Admiral one from 1990) to the Bridge back in the day - along with a fair few others as well. I've seen Rangers at Ipswich, Arsenal and Fulham too. In fact, I was lucky enough to meet Alex McLeish at Sutton United a couple of weeks back. Started off by telling him I was a Chelsea/Rangers Blues Brother and then mentioned that I was at the Fulham pre-season friendly where Dado Prso scored a fantastic overhead kick. Have to say he was an absolute gent and had time for everyone.
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Other old stuff.
Looks like Les Briley, second right, in suit and big collar!
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Other old stuff.
Bluehaze, is that your shirt by any chance? If so, who did you use for the Gulf Air iron-on transfer? I've been thinking about doing the same on my Score Draw home shirt too!
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Other old stuff.
Not sure it's Plough Lane as they didn't have steps up to the pitch surround there. A real tough one! The guy from the Miller Lite advert is Jason Salkey, who was a regular in the Executive Club back in the 80's - until he got thrown out for allegedly pulling a knife on someone. Really surprising if that happened because he always came across as a nice bloke. Eastenders actors Chris McHallem (Rod) and Jonathan Stratt (Brad) went a lot back then too.
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Vintage Blues pictures and film
I'll second that. Fillery was in the first Chelsea side I watched as a lad and he always looked a player to me. Was pretty gutted when he left, after Venables convinced him he could become an England international at QPR. Joined Steve Wicks and Gary Chivers there as I recall. Seems odd to think of that lot being a step up from us at the time!