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1-0 Chelsea

My memories of the European Cup Winners Cup 1971. Having used all my leave at work up by going to every League and FA Cup match in the 1969-70 season, I was unable to go to the first 2 rounds against Aris and CSKA, so my first match was against Bruges in Belgium. My friend (who was with me for all the matches) and I, took the 30 minute flight from Stanstead. The Semi-Final was against Manchester City (own goal by young City keeper), and on the train home, we booked our tickets for Athens with 4S, who were running the trip. The cost was 35 Pounds for the return flight, hotel, and match ticket. The possible replay was not hastily arranged after the first match, it was set for the following Friday before we bought tickets. Almost 20 years of supporting Chelsea had taught us that the Blues never do things easily, so we each took a 50 Pound travellers cheque with us, in case it was a draw. Our flight from Stanstead was delayed by several hours, and upon arrival in Athens there was no time to go to the hotel, the bus took us straight to the ground. No fitted seats in the stadium, just big concrete slabs that we sat on. We were all up dancing and celebrating as the huge clock signified time-up, then Real equalised, and we all collapsed, unbelievably shattered. After the match we ended up drinking with some Panathinaikos fans in Omonia Square. They told us the replay tickets were on sale the following day. Next day we had a city tour of Athens and the Acropolis in the morning, booked our hotel and flight home for Saturday morning (cost 45 Pounds), and went back to the ground to buy the tickets. The queue was massive, and we joined at the back. Then a policemen who was helping to monitor the crowd saw our Chelsea scarves and rosettes and asked us if we were English. We said yes, and he motioned us to follow him. He led us to the front of the queue so we could by our tickets. We went to the big post office to phone home and let our parents know we were staying over, and later went to the Plaka for a few drinks. We got the train to the stadium the following day, and found our seats were right over the players entrance, enabling my friend to hang his large union jack. We chatted to the local fans around us, as the article says, arranging that we would support Panathinaikos at Wembley the following week against Ajax, in exchange for them shouting for Chelsea. One of the locals was a big Peter Bonetti fan and, as the teams left the pitch at half-time, I called to Peter to sign the lad's programme, and it made the lad's night for him. No messing around this time, the cup was won, and we made our way straight to the Plaka to celebrate. We thought it was easy to walk back to the hotel after celebrating, but after many glasses of Ouzo and beer, even walking a few yards was difficult. We seemed to stagger around for hours until we decided we had to get a taxi. Only time for a few hours sleep, as the flight to Heathrow was at 8am, and then it was on the tube to Fulham Broadway to be in position to cheer the team on the open-top bus. For years afterwards my friend said he had never seen a video of the replay, and it was not until 2008 that I downloaded, and sent him a copy. Sadly, he was suffering from the cancer that would take his life in a few weeks, but he did enjoy watching the match again. Nearly 50 years ago, but the memory never dies. The press cuttings in an earlier post are from my website at https://bounder.friardale.co.uk/ . Please feel free to visit and enjoy.

I posted these earlier, but are not showing, so I'll try again. Three pics taken at the ECWC match at Atvidaberg.

Celebrating after the replay !!!!

Starting out for the replay.

Some pics from the ECWC Final trip to Athens, May 1971 The stadium on the day between the 2 matches.

The East Stand under construction, and 2 photos of the old stand being demolished. Pictures taken by myself.

Hi Stumbled upon the site today. Glad to be here. Not exactly new to the Blues, my family has a great Chelsea tradition. My grandfather said he was at the first league match played at the Bridge, my dad was a regular from 1919, and he first took me to the Bridge for a reserve team match in 1953. We lived in Battersea, and it was an easy walk across Battersea Bridge. I was in the North Stand when Peter Sillett scored the penalty against Wolves on Easter saturday 1955, and stood under the North Stand for the match against Sheff Wed the day we won the championship 2 weeks later. My day wouldn't let me go on the pitch afterwards. I went to most away matches from the mid 60's to the 80's, at first by coach, later by car, including never missing a FA Cup match, home or away, 1963-1983. Great nights at Old Traafford in 1970 and in Athens 1971, when my friend and I had anticipated Chelsea doing things the hard way, and had taken enough cash with us to be able to stay over for the replay. I had a season ticket at the Bridge, first in, later under, the North Stand from 1964-74, then in the West Stand from 1974-89. I emigrated to Thailand in 1989, but I'm still able to watch the Blues, as we get all Premier League matches and Champions League matches live here. My all-time favourites include Jimmy Greaves, Ossie, The Cat, Chopper, Holly, Eddie Mac, and Zola, and the 2004-05 team has my vote as the best ever. Don't know if it's OK to post the link to my Chelsea stats website here, but I'll try, anyway. It covers all first team matches played by the blues, giving line-ups, goals scored (mostly with times), and other match stats. Great nostalgia. http://www.bounder.friardale.co.uk